[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 13 January 2020
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General Studies – 1
Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Why this question:
A Bollywood movie was released recently based on Subedar Taanaji Malusare. Thus the context of the question.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss details of who was Subedar Taanaji Malusare and his contributions to the battle of Singhagad and its outcomes.
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:
Briefly explain who Tanaaji Malusare was.
Body:
He was a Maratha military leader and a close aide of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Hailing from the Malusare clan, Taanaji is popularly remembered for the Battle of Singhagad that took place in the year 1670.
In the battle, Taanaji fought against Udaybhan Rathore, a formidable Rajput warrior, who was put in charge of Fort Kandhana (later named Singhagad) by Jai Singh.
Then discuss the significant contributions to Battle of Singhagad.
Highlight the outcomes of the battle.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of such warriors in history.
Topic: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Why this question:
The article discusses in detail the case of UK, wherein According to Wellbeing of Women Survey, 2016, one in four women in the UK considered leaving their jobs due to menopausal symptoms.
Key demand of the question:
One must explain the importance of women issues and the significance of having open conversations with respect to the problems of women openly in the society.
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:
Start with current day issues of women that require open debate.
Body:
Take hints from the article and discuss a case study.
Discuss the Indian case as to what are the causes for which women issues have always been in the back seat.
Explain what needs to be done to overcome such challenges.
Discuss the need for innovative solutions to such problems.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
Why this question:
In a landmark order, the High Court of Tripura ordered the police to refrain from prosecuting a man who was earlier arrested over a social media post. The Chief Justice in his order broadly remarked that posting on social media was tantamount to a “fundamental right” applicable to all citizens, including government employees.
Key demand of the question:
One must provide for a detailed analysis of the judgment that was passed recently in this regard.
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:
Briefly highlight the observations made in the order.
Body:
Discuss the aspects such followed:
- Explain first the importance of fundamental rights to citizens, public servants etc.
- Elaborate as to why it is important to civil servants?
- Discuss the significance of fundamental rights with respect to the case of social media.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question:
The article highlights the significance of investments in the infrastructure sector of the country and in what way it in turn boosts the economy in several different ways.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss from the article relevantly, points that justify significance of investments in infrastructure. Relate in what way it augments the employment generation capacity in the economy.
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:
Discuss what all constitutes infrastructure and how it drives other sectors of the economy.
Body:
Explain that Infrastructure is a crucial driver of economic growth. Infrastructure development not only creates employment but also has the capacity to increase consumption and can give a boost to the economy.
Discuss some gaps that are prevalently being witnessed in the infra sector.
Suggest means and ways to handle such issues.
Discuss the efforts taken by the government in this direction.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of investments and their relevance to the overall growth of the economy.
Topic: Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management. Land reforms in India.
Comprehensive Indian Geography by Khullar
Why this question:
The question is directly from the static portions of the GS paper III.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the significance of food processing industries, scope and its utility in the country.
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:
Briefly define food processing industries.
Body:
Discuss that Major industries constituting the Food processing industry are grains, sugar, edible oils, beverages and dairy products. The key sub-segments of the Food Processing industry in India are: Dairy, Fruits & Vegetables, Poultry & Meat processing, Fisheries, Food retail etc.
Suggest facts that bring out the significance of the industry.
Explain the significance and scope of it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with future avenues and opportunities that the Industry has for the Indian economy.
Topic: Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management. Land reforms in India.
Why this question:
The question is based on the problems that are being recurrently witnessed in the agricultural supply chain management in the country.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the issues concerning the Agri value chain and reasons for low returns of it and Suggest solutions to overcome such challenges.
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:
Briefly explain What is supply chain management in agriculture?
Body:
- Discuss that in Agribusiness, supply chain management (SCM) implies managing the relationships between the businesses responsible for the efficient production and supply of products from the farm level to the consumers to meet consumers’ requirements reliably in terms of quantity, quality and price
- Explain what the issue with low returns and low investments is.
- Discuss what needs to be done? Provide for cases where government has made efforts in this direction.
Conclusion:
Conclude with suitable solutions to plug in the loopholes in the system of agri value chain.
Topic: Agriculture, Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
Why this question:
The question is based on the topic of Conservation Agriculture and its importance.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the concept of Conservation Agriculture in detail and highlight the prospects of such a concept.
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:
First define What Conservation Agriculture is? – Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a farming system that can prevent losses of arable land while regenerating degraded lands.
Body:
Discuss the aspects of Conservation agriculture.
It promotes maintenance of a permanent soil cover, minimum soil disturbance, and diversification of plant species. It enhances biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface, which contribute to increased water and nutrient use efficiency and to improved and sustained crop production.
Explain the basic principles involved in it.
Discuss how CA facilitates good agronomy, such as timely operations, and improves overall land husbandry for rainfed and irrigated production. C
Conclusion:
Conclude with positive note and highlight that CA is a base for sustainable agricultural production intensification.
