[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 9 January 2020
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2020: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 2
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question:
The article highlights the fact that In the coming years, Asian economies will become larger than the rest of the world combined in PPP terms, for the first time since the 19th century. Thus the question on the importance of Asian century.
Key demand of the question:
Explain first the coming of the concept of Asian century and discuss the context of India and the prospects India has in such a century.
Directive:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving 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:
Define what Asian century is;The Asian Century is the projected 21st-century dominance of Asian politics and culture, assuming certain demographic and economic trends persist.
Body:
Highlight the fact that after a gap of 200 years, Asian economies are again larger than the rest of the world’s combined. As India and China resolve their border dispute, Asia is providing the multilateral alternative to a world divided by values, and no longer by ideology.
Use illustrations from the article to bring out the context of the question.
Explain the opportunities India has.
Discuss the possible challenges from the West and the Gulf crisis.
Conclusion:
Over the coming century, cooperation between China and India can play a crucial role in reviving multilateralism and building a more united Asia.
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Why this question:
Once again, the West Asia – or the Middle East – is on the boil as Washington and Tehran ratchet up the aggression, thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the recently being witnessed Gulf crisis and the effects that it will possibly have on India and what should India do in such a situation.
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 the ongoing turmoil in the Gulf.
Body:
Explain the ongoing conflict between US and Iran.
Discuss the west Asian crisis and India’s stand.
Explain the dependence of India on West Asia for Oil.
Explain how the economy gets nudged due to the crisis.
What are the strategic interests of various countries in the region?
Suggest what should India do in such a situation?
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question:
Article highlights the true potential of the North East region and in what way it can add to the development goals of the country.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must capture the significance of NER and the richness of resources it is endowed with and in what way this fact can truly contribute to the country’s development goals.
Directive:
Elaborate – 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 the importance of NER in general.
Body:
Firstly, trace the developments from ‘Look East Policy’ of 1991 to to ‘Act East Policy’ of 2014.
Explain that the entire region with rich soil types, sufficient rainfall and diverse agro-climatic conditions is home to unique organic agri-produce with untapped export potential. This produce, its grading, packing, processing and marketing will be the dynamic key differentiators for NER someday.
Discuss various aspects of the NER and its actual potential.
Explain the challenges involved; discuss policies and schemes that have been chalked out to address these issues.
Conclusion:
Conclude that NER and its potential have a greater role to play in achieving the dream of $5 trillion economy by 2024.
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question:
The article explains that As India prepares to host the prime minister of Mauritius, PravindJugnauth, who returned to power in the recent general elections, Delhi needs to change the lens through which it sees the small island republic in the western Indian Ocean.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the importance of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean geopolitics.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must 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:
Discuss briefly the key aspects of Mauritius as a country of the Indian ocean.
Body:
Explain the history of Mauritius and the present day value.
Discuss why Mauritius should and can be made the pivot of Delhi’s island policy.
Explain the possible aspects that make the country unique and important.
Take hints from the article and explain the significance of building ties with Mauritius.
Conclusion:
Conclude what should be the approach of India in dealing with Mauritus.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Why this question:
The National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-Employed Persons has failed to gain traction as only about 25,000 persons have opted for the scheme as against the government’s target to enroll 50 lakh by March-end. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the key features,Significance of the scheme and its role in ensuring financial security of the citizens.
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:
Start by bringing out the relevance of the scheme to the agricultural setup of the country.
Body:
Explain What is Pradhan Mantri LaghuVyapariMaan-dhan Yojana?It is a voluntary and contribution based central sector scheme.The government launched the scheme, entailing monthly minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 for the entry age group of 18-40 years after attaining the age of 60 years, with effect from July 22, 2019.
Explain in detail the significance, beneficiaries it caters to.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Why this question:
The Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu called upon the scientific community to find long-term solutions to the problems faced by farmers and improve crop productivity and farmers’ income. Thus the context of the question.
Key demand of the question:
Explain how relevant it is to involve scientific community and research in developing long-term solutions to the problems faced byfarmers and improve crop productivity.
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:
In general discuss the importance of research and science in developing newer methods and discovering newer ways to address the challenges of Agriculture in the country.
Body:
Emphasis upon the critical role of technology in enhancing both the quality and quantity across the agriculture value chain from the use of inputs at the pre-production stage to post-production and marketing to improve the income of farmers.
Explain that It is the bounden duty of scientific community tofind long-term solutions to the problems faced byfarmers and improve crop productivity.Scientists need to explore ways to make cropsmore “climate-resilient, nutrition-efficient andless water consuming”.The role of technology is critical in enhancing
Both the quality and quantity across theagriculture value chain from the use of inputs atthe pre-production stage to post-production andmarketing to improve the income of farmers.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Science is significant in finding solutions and Technological innovation was a key driver inboosting economy, improving people’s lives and
Enabling better delivery of services.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
7. Discuss in detail the three primary schools of Ethics with suitable illustrations.(250 words)
Ethics by Lexicon Publications
Why this question:
The question is directly from the static portions of GS paper IV.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the three primary schools of Ethics with suitable illustrations.
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:
One can start briefly by highlighting significance of Ethics in general.
Body:
Explain that the Ethical theories provide a basis for decision-making when ethical issues are involved. These theories represent the viewpoints from which individuals or organizations seek guidance from, as they make decisions.
Then move onto discuss the three principle schools in detail.
- Consequentialism- based on the outcome of an action
- Deontological- based on duty or obligation to act
- Virtue- based on moral characteristics of performer e.g. honesty, integrity etc.
Discuss in depth each school with suitable example.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Ethical theory is a mechanism for assessing whether a particular action or rule is ethically justified and they aid in resolving ethical dilemmas at the individual and organizational level.
