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General Studies – 1
Topic : The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
Reference: Modern Indian history by Spectrum publications
Why the question:
The question is based on the influence of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in the national movement.
Key Demand of the question:
One has to discuss in detail the contributions of swami Vivekananda in developing the concept of nationalism in colonial India.
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:
Though growth of Nationalism is attributed to the Western influence but Swami Vivekananda’s nationalism is deeply rooted in Indian spirituality and morality. He contributed immensely to the concept of nationalism in colonial India and played a special role in steering India into the 20th Century.
Body:
Introduce by giving a brief description about the influence of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in the national movement. His nationalism was based on the ethical and moral upliftment of masses. Deep concern for masses, freedom and equality through which one expresses self, spiritual integration of the world on the basis of universal brotherhood and “Karmayoga” a system of ethics to attain freedom both political and spiritual through selfless service make the basis of his nationalism. Discuss other ideas of his spiritualism. Describe on how his spiritualist discourse developed the concepts of nationalism in what way is it relevant presently.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of his contributions.
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.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article brings to us the issues that the current urban systems are facing owing to which they are undergoing breakdown in their machinery amidst the pandemic situation.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the need of rebuilding internal systems, ensuring convergence and fixing accountability in the current urban governance structure.
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:
Briefly point out at the current conditions that the urban systems are facing in the country amidst the pandemic.
Body:
Explain that a comparative analysis of the emerging coronavirus cases across India clearly shows that rural areas have fared extremely well in comparison to urban areas in enforcing the various Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines related to the lockdowns and, consequently, in containing the overall spread of COVID-19. Discuss the fundamental reasons that have led to this gap between the urban and rural systems. Explain what measures need to be taken to empower the urban systems and its internal machinery. Suggest policies that are already in place in this direction.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic : Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Reference The Hindu
Why the question:
The article talks about the e-diplomacy experiment, its prospects and challenges.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the idea of diplomacy in digital age, its significance, prospects and 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 define what you understand by digital diplomacy.
Body:
Diplomacy in the digital age refers to new methods and modes of conducting diplomacy with the help of the Internet and ICTs and describes their impact on contemporary diplomatic practices. Technology impacts diplomacy and the way it is practiced in a number of ways, identifying new actors, tools and processes of diplomacy and international relations.
Discuss the recent summits that happened between India and other countries like Australia etc. and highlight the prospects of such diplomacy.
Discuss the challenges and concerns associated.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of changing policies and methods in changing world.
General Studies – 3
Topic : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Reference: Financial Express
Why the question:
According to the 12th edition of the Environment Performance Index (EPI 2020)—released by Yale University—India has performed poorly. Out of the 180 countries analyzed, India stood at 168. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
The answer should discuss the poor performance of the country and the underlying causes of it, it must emphasize on the urgent need to plug the gaps on the fronts of sanitation, drinking water, air quality and others.
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:
Discuss the facts brought about by the EPI and India’s status with respect to it.
Body:
India performed the worst regionally on all five key parameters for environmental health—sanitation, drinking water, air quality, heavy metals, and waste management. It seriously needs to focus on fixing air & water quality and biodiversity. Discuss the causes that have led to such poor performance. Also explain what needs to be done, highlight the policy measures that are already in place in this direction.
Conclusion:
Conclude that the government must take a hard look at the problem areas the report highlights, and, with the help of all stakeholders, act on safeguarding the environment and not only protect it from further degradation, but also try and reverse the damage wherever possible.
Topic : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Reference: Financial Express
Why the question:
COVID-19 teaches the hard lessons that every country must have a competent system of medicine closely linked with research and development, because human health can only improve through innovation. Thus the context of the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the need to bolster AYUSH system and emphasis on the need to integrate it with general system of medicine.
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 comment on the AYUSH system of medicine and its importance in India.
Body:
AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy)- a system of alternative medicine, a form of “natural therapy”- claims to treat diseases for which allopathy, or Western medicine, currently offers no cure. Discuss then the need to bolster the system amidst testing times exposed by the pandemic, discuss the importance of R&D. Highlight steps that need to be taken.
Conclusion:
Conclude by pressing on the need to revive the system so as to make the health sector more robust and ready to face inevitabilities.
General Studies – 4
Topic : Empathy
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon publications
Why the question:
The question is straightforward and is about Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of empathy and its relevance in today’s times.
Key Demand of the question:
One has to explain the concept of empathy as suggested by Mahatma Gandhi in his due course of life and explain its relevance.
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:
Define what empathy is.
Body:
Explain that Empathy is the experience of understanding another person’s thought, feelings and condition from his point of view rather than from our own. Such questions are best explained with examples. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, gave a new dimension to Ahimsa [non-violence]-an eternal, natural and the highest human value, in theory and practice. As the best and true representative of Indian Culture in his own time, Gandhi was a peacemaker’s mentor. Like other mentors of the world who were born from time-to-time on the Indian soil, Gandhi’s ideas and practices became equally adaptable in his own time for millions of his own country on the one hand, and on the other they proved to be the guiding force for people of many countries of the world. In particular, they have provided guidance to those working for freedom and justice. Moreover, they are fully capable of guiding the people today if they are applied accordingly and will continue to do so in the future. Quote Gandhian Talisman and justify.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of empathy as proposed by Mahatma Gandhi.
Topic : Citizens’ Charter
Reference: Previous year CSE mains 2018 , GS paper IV
Why the question:
The question is premised on the concept of Citizen’s Charter and its relevance in achieving organizational transparency and accountability.
Key Demand of the question:
One must identify the limitations of Citizen’s Charter and Suggest measures for greater effectiveness of Citizens’ Charter.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
One can start by briefly describing the key features of citizen’s charter and talk about its evolution.
Body:
The answer body must deal with 2 parts – Identify the limitations of Citizen’s Charter. Explain these limitations with examples and case study. Suggest measures for greater effectiveness of Citizens’ Charter, here also quote examples and brief on the possible ideas that need to be adhered.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
