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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2020: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 2
Topic: Role of civil services in a democracy.
1. The phenomenon of ‘politicisation of the civil service’ is rising in India. Comment.(250 words)
Reference: Governance by Lakshmikant
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of role of civil services in a democracy.
Key demand of the question:
Explain the context of politicisation of civil services in India.
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:
Briefly quote the importance of civil services.
Body:
The question is straight forward one has to discuss the factors responsible for politicisation of the civil service’ in India. Explain what you understand by politicisation of the civil service. Discuss why it is on rise.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting solutions to address the issue.
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Reference: ilo.org
Why this question:
The question is amidst the ongoing COVID-19 war that the entire world is fighting and the significance of multilevel governance and multilateralism in it.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail the possible role that multilevel governance and multilateralism would play in post COVID-19 world.
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 discuss the context of the question.
Body:
To start with, explain that the Coronavirus crisis has been instrumental in initiating a decisive and solid transformation in global governance structures as well as the world order. Discuss the following dimensions – Given the waning legitimacy of international institutions and a global resurgence of national sovereignty, can the Indian imperative withstand the political buffeting on the global stage? Is there value to boosting multilateral collaborations with international organisations? Suggest the possible role that multilateralism and governance would play in the current situation.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
The question is amidst the recent Jio-Facebook alliance and study of its impact.
Key demand of the question:
Explain the effect of Jio-Facebook alliance on the retail landscape in India; discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of the deal.
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:
Explain the context of the question.
Body:
To start with, discuss the impact of the alliance first. Explain how the deal brings new opportunities for businesses of all sizes, and especially for the millions of small businesses across the country. Then move on to highlight the concerns associated. Discuss solutions that can address such concerns.
Conclusion:
Put forward a futuristic conclusion.
Topic: Role of civil services in a democracy
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of role of civil services in a democracy.
Key demand of the question:
Explain the need for a healthy working relationship between Secretary and the Minister and in what way it is a must thing to be and why it should be organic.
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 in short importance of civil services in a democracy.
Body:
Briefly discuss the relationship between a minister and a secretary of civil services. Such answers are best explained with examples, quote an example from the recent times and provide for your analysis as to why the relationship between the two needs to be healthy and organic rather otherwise.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way ahead.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
The article brings to us insights in the sudden dip of sugar prices besides the price crash in oil that the world is witnessing.
Key demand of the question:
The student must account for distribution of sugar industry in India in detail and highlight the problems plaguing the sugar sector in the contemporary times.
Directive:
Account – 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 short explain the importance and relevance of sugar industry in India owing to the agricultural nature of the economy.
Body:
India is the world’s largest producer of sugarcane and cane sugar and contributes about 8% of the total sugar production in the world. At present, this is the second largest agro-based industry of India. Factors responsible for distribution of sugar industry use a map of India to depict the distribution and add value to your answer. Discuss the problems faced by the sugar industry in India, present the factors of the contemporary times too such as the effect of oil price crash amidst the COVID-19 fear.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting solutions as to what needs to be done to overcome these challenges.
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.
6. ‘The weaknesses of Virtue Ethics outweigh its strengths.’ Discuss. (250 words)
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon Publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of virtue ethics and its fallacies.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in what way The weaknesses of Virtue Ethics outweigh its strengths. Discuss with examples.
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 virtue ethics.
Body:
Virtue Ethics is one of the three approaches of normative ethics and is attributed to its founding fathers, Plato and Aristotle. Its emphasis is on a person’s individual character when it comes to ethical thinking as opposed to consequences and actions. Present the strengths of virtue ethics in general and then the weaknesses. Critics of virtue ethics say that this theory lacks focus when it comes to determining the types of actions that are morally acceptable and permitted from the ones that should be avoided. Instead, it concentrates more on the qualities an individual has to enhance or improve in order to become a good person etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with the justification of the statement in question.
Topic: Salient features of world’s
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon Publications
Why this question:
The question is amidst rising incidences of media influencing the policy development in negative ways.
Key demand of the question:
Explain what may be expected from the media in the development of a policy aiming at the improvement of ethical conduct in the public sector.
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:
In short explain the context in question.
Body:
To start with, Press is playing an efficient institutional role in the field of ethics. Moreover, it became clear that civil servants in general are resentful of the press, in spite of the fact that virtually all major scandals were investigated as a result of denunciations by the press. This reaction seems to stem from a perception that the press is responsible for the current deterioration of the public image of the public sector. From their standpoint, the role of the press during the past few years has been one of denunciation. Rampant competition in the media has caused irresponsible denunciations, based on insufficient investigation, unreliable sources, and distortion of facts. As a result, public institutions have been discredited, according to the prevailing opinion of the participants. A cooperative posture of the press, although desirable, is overshadowed by its tendency to highlight negative facts and ignore positive ones whenever the public sector is concerned.
Conclusion:
So, the press should act as a watchdog and whistleblower but in a competent, accurate and responsible manner. Positive facts and information relevant to society must also be published. The agenda of the press and the agenda of the government must be kept separate.
