[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 24 January 2020
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2020: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 1
Topic: Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Reference: Ancient India by R S Sharma class XI NCERT
Why this question:
The question is based on the contributions of ancient India to science and technology and its significance and relevance even in today’s times.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the contributions of Ancient India to science and technology of the past and even to the present.
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 India’s ancient caliber of development in science.
Body:
Explain that one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the Indian civilization has a strong tradition of science and technology. Ancient India was a land of sages and seers as well as a land of scholars and scientists. Research has shown that from making the best steel in the world to teaching the world to count, India was actively contributing to the field of science and technology centuries long before modern laboratories were set up.
Many theories and techniques discovered by the ancient Indians have created and strengthened the fundamentals of modern science and technology. While some of these groundbreaking contributions have been acknowledged, some are still unknown to most.
Quote examples of scientists, researchers etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance and relevance of such discoveries and inventions even in today’s times.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources, Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
The outbreak of a new virus in China has sent shivers through world financial markets, with investors drawing comparisons to the 2003 SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in order to assess its potential economic impact. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the impact of an outbreak of a disease upon the economy of the sufferer country in general and more specifically explain how it can lead to a sudden slump 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:
Start by mentioning the recent outbreak of Corona virus in China.
Body:
Start with fact – A 2017 paper by economists Victoria Fan, Dean Jamison and Lawrence Summers estimated that the expected annual losses from pandemic risk to be about $500 billion — or 0.6% of global income — per year, accounting for both lost income and the intrinsic cost of elevated mortality.
A paper by Jong-Wha Lee and Warwick McKibbin estimates the global economic loss due at SARS at $40 billion in 2003.
However, price action in markets indicates that the impacts of such outbreaks are limited.
After Chinese authorities reported the outbreak of SARS to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2003, the MSCI China index of shares decoupled from its global peers – but made up the lost ground in only six months.
Explain that there are both winners and losers.
Despite the disruption to the wider economy, virus outbreaks have tended to benefit pharmaceutical stocks, while tourism and travel-related stocks — hotels, airlines and luxury and consumer goods — tend to get punished.
Discuss the case of China and corona Virus outbreak.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the way forward.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
Economist Intelligence Unit released Democracy Index, India’s rankings slipped by 10 ranks to 51st place in the latest Democracy Index 2019. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the causes of such slippage in the ranking and explain why India is witnessing erosion of civil liberties.
Directive:
Critically 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. 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 findings brought out by the report that ranked India at 51st place.
Body:
- Give a brief introduction about the recent India’s ranking in the Democracy Index.
- Write about the probable reasons for the dire situation; talks about the repeal of both Article 370 and Article 35A, NRC exercise in Assam, the CAA bill etc.
- Mention the needed measures to be followed in this regard.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The editorial highlights the Myanmar’s growing dependence on China.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail why and how India needs to re-orient its foreign policy to face the challenge of increasing Chinese influence in South Asian region.
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 the fact that Myanmar in recent times seems to have abandoned its earlier stance of non-alignment in favor of closer relations with China.
Body:
One has to explain in detail the implications of China-Myanmar bonhomie; like the Increase in China’s influence in domestic politics etc.
Discuss the impact of it on India; Increasing Chinese influence in India’s immediate and extended neighborhood could affect India’s interests in future.
Explain the changes that India should fold in to address the upcoming threat.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what India should do to tackle the situation.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
The question is based on the recent fact that the finance minister had suggested extending the discussion to local sourcing of other products for mid-day meals. However, the current nutrition policy of India, increasingly influenced by commercial interests, is unlikely to enable it.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the prospects of local sourcing of products in the various nutrition based programmes that can prove to be a win-win situation to both local farmers and the nutrition programmes.
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:
Briefly highlight the need for the Government to engage in a collaborative effort with farmer groups.
Body:
Discuss the idea of local sourcing of farm products for mid-day meals scheme and other relevant nutrition based schemes.
Explain what the prospects of such an idea are.
Discuss the associated challenges and concerns involved.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what needs to be done and in what way local sourcing can be achieved without much cost on the other factors of the economy.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Reference: Vikas Pedia
Why this question:
India has successfully achieved the complete phase out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the positive impact of Phasing out of Ozone Depleting substances and also the challenges involved in doing so.
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:
India has successfully achieved the complete phase out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b, which is a chemical used by foam manufacturing enterprises and one of the most potent ozone depleting chemical after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) .(HCFC)-141 b is used mainly as a blowing agent in the production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams.
Body:
Government of India through Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Brought out a notification through which the issuance of import license for HCFC-141b is prohibited from 1st January 2020 under Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2019 issued under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Nearly 50% of the consumption of ozone depleting chemical in the country was
Attributable to HCFC-141b in the foam sector.
Discuss in detail the environmental benefits of the phase out; healing of the stratospheric ozone layer, aids climate change mitigation etc.
Explain the challenges involved in phasing out.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
Reference: News on Air
Why this question:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 32nd interaction through PRAGATI- the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation in New Delhi yesterday. Thus the context of the question.
Key demand of the question:
The question is straightforward and aims to analyse the impact of PRAGATI in ensuring accountability and transparency.
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:
In short discuss the objectives of PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation).
Body:
It is the ICT based multi-modal platform for Pro- Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Central and State Governments.
As the name suggests, is aimed at starting a culture of Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. It is also a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders.
The PRAGATI platform uniquely bundles three latest technologies: Digital data management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology. It also offers a unique combination in the direction of cooperative federalism since it brings on one stage the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States. With this, the Prime Minister is able to discuss the issues with the concerned Central and State officials with full information and latest visuals of the ground level situation.
Discuss the importance of it.
Explain challenges if any.
Conclusion:
Conclude on a positive note highlighting the need of such policies to ensure good governance in the country.
