[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 1 January 2020
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General Studies – 1
Topic: population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Why this question:
The question is from the static portions of the GS paper I.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the causes of growing population and the causes of poverty and in what way the two are interrelated.
Directive:
Critically 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. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Highlight the fact that Poor countries tend to have a high population growth and high population growth rate can lead to poverty. Both these phenomena are visible in India leading to a vicious cycle.
Body:
Discuss first the basic aspects of population, causes of population growth and its impact.
Explain in what way rapidly growing population can exacerbate poverty.
A high population increases the pressure on resources as they can support only a small number of people. It strains the ability of the government to provide for every citizen. It increases the competition for a limited number of jobs. Poverty on the other hand can also lead to an increase in population. Poor people tend to have more children so as to put them to work and support them economically. Poor also have lower access to education and healthcare and are not able to do family planning properly.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what needs to be done to overcome the situation and cure the issue.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question:
The outgoing Army chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat, was recently appointed as the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a day before he was to step down on superannuation.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the significance of CDS and in what way it can prove to be a great leap forward step.
Directive:
Deliberate – 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:
Define first who is a CDS.
Body:
The question is straight forward and there isn’t much to deliberate upon.
Explain the merits of the decision and creation of the post.
The decision to appoint a CDS is a huge step towards achieving seamless coordination and greater effectiveness in higher defence management structures by creating an enabling architecture that permits fuller expression on the part of our professional armed forces.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of the post.
Topic: Important aspects of governance
Why this question:
The article discusses in what way marking States on different parameters can incentivize performance.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the importance of Good Governance Index (GGI) and in what way it aids the different states to competitively deliver on public services.
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:
Discuss first the importance of Governance in general.
Body:
- First explain what is Good Governance Index (GGI)? – It is a tool to assess the status of governance and the impact of various interventions taken up by the State Government and UTs.
- Discuss the objectives of GGI.
- Highlight the key findings of the GGI report.
- Explain how it can help building a competitive spirit amongst different states of the country and aid in overall growth and development.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question:
The question is based on the set of NITI Aayog’s proposed 15-year plan for the Indian healthcare system that was recently released.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in what way the 15 year plan is a welcome move. Highlight the significance of such a roadmap and importance of achieving the final goals of it.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Bring out the highlights of the report.
Body:
Discuss the key findings and suggestions of the report such as – With regard to the risk pooling mechanism, even though the report has not out rightly suggested that Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), the government’s cashless health insurance scheme covering 10 crore poor families for Rs five lakh annually, should be extended to the whole of India, it discretely mentioned that PM-JAY should be considered with an eye on its potential to influence the overall healthcare transformation in India, beyond its current explicit mandate.
The report is critical of the fragmented nature of the Indian Healthcare system. It emphasizes the fact that overcoming the challenges of fragmentation across healthcare financing and service delivery will help India optimize both quality and access in the domain of healthcare services. It proposes the consolidation of small practices into larger business-like organizations.
Discuss any concerns associated with the plan.
Provide for counter arguments if any.
Conclusion:
Conclude There is a need for installing an inbuilt family physician in the health services system who acts as the first port of call for every registered patient.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Why this question:
The article emphasizes on the fact that Access to Internet must be recognized as a fundamental right to free speech, basic freedoms and the right to life. Thus the context of the question.
Key demand of the question:
Deliberate in detail as to how Digital literacy is integral for financial inclusion. Also highlight the country’s efforts in augmenting the digitization process of the economy.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Explain what you understand by digital literacy.
Body:
Focus the spurt in digital infrastructure.
Explain how digital literacy is crucial for financial inclusion.
Discuss the importance of financial inclusion for the inclusive growth of the society.
The recent growth in digital banking infrastructure could foster a cultural shift in the intensity of use of electronic modes of payments and settlement. Its adoption even in the hinterlands with the active use of business correspondents is encouraging.
Discuss concerns and challenges involved if any.
Conclusion:
Conclude with policies and measures taken by the government in this direction.
Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Why this question:
The article debates upon the need to recognize right to internet as the fundamental right.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the importance of Internet and access to it as equivalent to right to life and right to equality thus qualifying it as an integral fundamental right.
Directive:
Analyze – 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:
Internet broadband and mobile Internet services are a lifeline to people in India from all walks of life.
Body:
Discuss the significance of Internet in today’s world – People working in the technology-based gig economy — like the thousands of delivery workers for Swiggy, Dunzo and Amazon and the cab drivers of Uber and Ola — depend on the Internet for their livelihoods. It is a mode of access to education for students who do courses and take exams online. Access to the Internet is important to facilitate the promotion and enjoyment of the right to education.
Present a discussion of how right to access to the Internet can be rooted in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Highlight the need to back internet access as right to life.
Discuss concerns if any and suggest way ahead.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting significance of right to internet as a fundamental right.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.
Why this question:
Recently Attitude, Ethics, and Communication (AETCOM) strategy has been introduced in the revised undergraduate medical curriculum in the country taking inspirations from the Western world.
Key demand of the question:
Explain the connotation of Attitude, Ethics, and Communication (AETCOM) for the field of Health care sector.
Directive:
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:
Explain in brief what you understand by Attitude, Ethics, and Communication (AETCOM).
Body:
Discuss the need for Attitude, Ethics, and Communication in the field of healthcare.
Explain why ethics and inculcating right attitude is of prime importance to the field of health.
Explain with examples from everyday life to substantiate your answer better.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of Attitude, Ethics, and Communication in general.
