[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 20 December 2019
Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers.
How to Follow Secure Initiative?
How to Self-evaluate your answer?
INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2020: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 1
Topic: secularism; pluralism
1. Pluralism and Secularism are essential for Indian Democracy. Do you agree. Comment. (250 words).
Why this question:
Pluralism and secularism for their sustenance require a climate of opinion and a state practice that eschews intolerance. With violence raging across the country due to the CAA bill and NRC, there are voices raising to protect secularism and promote plurality which are two of the most defining values of our Indian Constitution.
Key demand of the question:
The question wants us to discuss the significance of pluralism and secularism to our democracy.
Directive:
Comment – When asked to comment, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by explaining the concepts of Pluralism and Secularism in Indian context.
Body:
Discuss the significance of Pluralism and Secularism to Indian democracy.
- Our democratic polity is pluralist because it recognizes and endorses this plurality in (a) its federal structure, (b) linguistic and religious rights to minorities, and (c) a set of individual rights.
- It is this plurality that the Constitution endowed with a democratic polity and a secular state structure. Pluralism as a moral value seeks to ‘transpose social plurality to the level of politics, and to suggest arrangements which articulate plurality with a single political order in which all duly constituted groups and all individuals are actors on an equal footing, reflected in the uniformity of legal capacity.
- Pluralism in this modern sense presupposes citizenship.
- Secularism has both positive and negative contents.
- The positive part of secularism has been entrusted to the State to regulate by law or by an executive order. The State is prohibited to patronise any particular religion as State religion and is enjoined to observe neutrality.
- Religious tolerance and fraternity are basic features and postulates of the Constitution as a scheme for national integration and sectional or religious unity.
Further go on to define how these lead to tolerance and acceptance
Discuss the challenges in today’s India to promote plurality and secularism
Conclusion:
Conclude with balanced way forward.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government;
Why this question:
As protests against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, continue to gain momentum, the government has resorted to the coercive step of imposing Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in different cities across India. In Bengaluru, Section 144 has been imposed from December 19 to December 21.
Key demand of the question:
The question wants us to express our knowledge and understanding about the RTI act. The recent proposed changes in the RTI act and how it could lead to subversion of the objectives of right to information.
Directive:
Critically discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, all you need to do is look at the good and bad of something and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define the provision of Sec 144 CrPC. Provide the background of it being applied across various Indian cities.
- It gives the government the “power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance of apprehended danger”.
- Administrations frequently cite powers under Section 144 CrPC to prohibit assemblies of five or more individuals, or to order mobile phone companies to block voice, SMS, or Internet communications in one or more small or large geographical areas.
Body:
Discuss the various powers available under this section and how it reminds of the colonial era laws to subjugate citizens.
Discuss how the Sec 144 is misused?
- Students of different universities are peacefully protesting and registering their dissent against CAA. The imposition of Section 144 in such a scenario is extremely arbitrary.
Discuss how it affects the fundamental rights of individuals. Provide substantiations using SC judgements
- In a recent judgement in Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan vs Union of India and Anr., the Supreme Court held that it [the order to impose Section 144] was not unconstitutional but the apex court recognised the right to protest and asked the government and police to frame guidelines
Provide measures against the misuse of it
Conclusion:
Based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Why this question:
After the Uri attack of 2016, India boycotted the SAARC summit, which was to be held in Islamabad. The summit was called off after other members’ states followed suit. Soon after, India invited BIMSTEC leaders to the BRICS outreach summit in Goa in 2016. Thereafter, the 2018 BIMSTEC summit in Nepal saw the grouping pass a resolution demanding that states that “encourage, support or finance terrorism, provide sanctuaries to terrorists and terror groups” be held accountable.
Key demand of the question:
Answer is about discussing the changing foreign policy scenario of India.
Directive word
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In a few introductory lines define the current foreign policy of India.
Body:
Discuss the core points of focus of Indian foreign policy.
Trace the change in trends of India’s foreign policy in the past five years.
How and why is there a shift?
India and its neighbourhood scenario.
India – SAARC, India- BIMSTC relations.
Conclude with what is the significance of such a shift in the policy, India’s role.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Why this question:
The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), the latter jointly run by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, were partly born out of frustration with the decision-making structure at big lenders such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, where some developing countries don’t enjoy voting rights that reflect their contribution to the global economy.
Key demand of the question:
The question wants us to talk about the mandates of the two financing agencies – NDB and AIIB. Further go on to discuss how the two institutions differ from the existing multilateral institutions. Provide any examples where they have helped out nations.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
write a few introductory lines about NDB and AIIB.
Body:
Mandates of NDB and AIIB.
- The NDB has been envisaged as a “dedicated channel of alternate finance” with greater focus on emerging economies and the Global South.
- The core mandate of the AIIB is to address Asia-Pacific’s acute infrastructural needs. Its mission is “to improve economic and social development in Asia by investing in high-quality, financially viable and eco-friendly infrastructure projects”. It also aims to mobilize private capital to co-finance projects.
Difference between NDB and AIIB and existing multilateral finance institutions.
- Here you can talk about the reasons for formation, shareholding, voting rights, conditionalities etc.
Mention about any Examples where the AIIB, NDB have taken up the lead if any.
Finally, give an opinion about how AIIB and NDB are changing the dynamics of financing.
Conclusion:
based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
4. Delays and dilutions have derailed regulations of packaged and fast foods. Evaluate. (250 words)
Why this question:
The test results of the Environment Monitoring Laboratory at Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) have unmasked two anomalies:
- First, food manufacturers blatantly sell products that have unhealthy levels of nutrients.
- Second, a nexus between the industry and regulating agencies backs this brazen act.
India, therefore, urgently needs a robust law on labelling and disclosure of nutritional information on food packs.
Key demand of the question:
The question is in the backdrop of existing weak and ineffective Food Safety and Standards Regulation. One must evaluate the laws present, find the shortcomings and present measures to strengthen it.
Directive:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgment about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidences. You have to appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming a personal opinion here.
Structure of the answer
Introduction:
In brief explain what junk food is.
- A food is classified as junk if it doesn’t offer any or has very little nutritional benefits and is generally high in sugar or fat. The junk foods are also observed to be very low in fibre and very high in calories.
Body:
Then move on to explain the adverse effects of junk food on human health.
Discuss the prevailing laws to regulate the same and their shortcomings
- The existing Food Safety Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, is too weak and ineffective. Even some-thing as basic as salt is not mandatorily disclosed.
- In 2013, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country’s food regulator, set up an expert committee to regulate junk food available in schools following an order of the Delhi High Court.
- In 2014, the expert committee, comprising doctors, nutritionists, public health experts, civil society and industry, suggested labelling of calories, sugar, fat, saturated fat and salt on the front of food packs, or FoP.
- It took FSSAI a year to be ready with the draft Food Safety Standard (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018. The draft sought mandatory declaration of salt as sodium chloride. Till now, salt did not figure in food labels.
- The diluted version came in July 2019, which has seriously compromised public health, is still not acceptable, presumably to the powerful food industry. It is still not notified.
Provide measures to strengthen it.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting what should be the way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Why this question:
According to a report by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), based on a study that estimated the impact of contaminants in the air, water and workplace, India tops the world’s chart on pollution-linked deaths, followed by China and Nigeria. More than 2.3 million premature deaths caused by pollution were reported in India in 2017, the latest year for which the figures are available. In comparison, about 1.9 million people died in China, while in Nigeria the death count was 279,318, according to the report.
Key demand of the question
The question is about analysing the worsening pollution conditions in India and the associated concerns. Discuss about the various short-term measures undertaken by the Government and how policymakers have displayed little urgency on the matter. Provide serious measures to tackle the same.
Directive word
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments .
Structure of the answer
Introduction:
In a few introductory lines brief upon the worsening pollution conditions in India and the associated concerns.
Body:
The question must discuss the following points:
- Present some facts from the report, discuss the causes of the present condition.
- Impact of the air pollution in Indian cities under various heads like Health, economy, society etc.
- Provide for a detailed analysis of why have the problems turned into a menace and then move onto suggest measures to tackle the same.
Conclusion:
Give a balanced way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
Ethics by Lexicon
Key demand of the question:
The question wants us to write in detail about the meaning and importance of empathy as a value and also discuss in detail as to how empathy can be increased among civil servants.
Directive:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer
Introduction:
In a few introductory lines define what is empathy.
- Empathy It involves, first, seeing someone else’s situation from his/ her perspective, and, second, sharing that person’s emotions, including, if any, his distress.
- Empathy, is the act of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
- It occurs when you are truly trying to understand or experience someone else’s emotions, as if they were your own.
Body:
Discuss the importance of empathy.
- It helps us understand how others are feeling so we can respond appropriately to the situation.
- It is typically associated with social behaviour
- Empathy is an interpersonal skill that can be viewed as part of emotional intelligence
- Empathy can however also inhibit social actions, or even lead to immoral behaviour.
Discuss how empathy can be inculcated/ increased.
- Some people are genetically inclined to be highly empathic or not.
- it is possible to increase cognitive, emotional and behavioural empathy through formal training
- instruction about the benefits of showing empathy, how to identify emotions in others, how to feel those emotions and how to comment appropriately on them.
- providing models of a person showing empathy in response to something another has said or done.
- practice at showing empathy etc.
Conclusion:
based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
