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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2020: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 1
Topic : History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
Reference: World history by Norman Lowe
Why the question:
The question aims to discuss the problems faced by newly decolonized nations of Asia and Africa and to what extent they became successful in tackling such problems.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the problems associated with the decolonized nations of Asia and Africa also explain how far they could succeed in tacking these problems.
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:
Introduce by defining decolonization and reasons for it
Body:
Explain the problems faced by newly decolonized countries. After the World war II, the colonial powers came under pressure from growing nationalism in their colonies. Movements for freedom pushed these colonial powers to free the colonies from their rule and ended dependency on them. This process came to be known as decolonization.
Though, countries fought with unity to get freedom, but this decolonization process came with several hardships.
Explain by taking examples, how the situation has improved over the years
Conclusion:
Conclude that thus, the decolonization process was a challenging one but the countries have learnt a lot from their struggles. This is the reason that today focus has turned towards the third world nations for global matters.
Topic : Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Reference: Physical geography by Savindra Singh
Why the question:
The question is straight from the static portions of geography subject of GS paper I.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss different types of volcanoes; explain the reasons for most of the volcanoes are situated along the plate boundaries on the world.
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:
Introduce by defining volcanoes.
Body:
A volcano is a place where gases, ashes, and/or molten rock material i.e. lava escape to the ground. Discuss its classification briefly.
Explain the reason for formation of volcanoes along the plate boundaries.
Describe different types of volcanoes – shield volcanoes, composite volcanoes, caldera, flood basalt provinces, mid oceanic ridge volcanoes etc.
Give recent volcanic eruptions as examples and draw diagrams
Conclusion:
Conclude with their importance.
Topic : The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
Reference: Modern history of India by Bipin Chandra
Why the question:
The question is based on the principles of Gandhian non-violence and in what way it helped gain India’s independence.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the significant contributions of Gandhi to Indian freedom struggle with special reference to Gandhian methods of non-violence.
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:
Introduce briefly on Gandhi and his contributions
Body:
Explain how Gandhi made significant contributions to India’s freedom struggle – from promotion of philosophic ideals to infusing mass character into the national movement. His ideas of non-violence, satyagraha, sarvodaya, swaraj and so on have left an indelible impact on human history.
Discuss in detail the principles of non-violence propounded by him.
Examine non-violence as strategy; explain in what way it led to long –term strategy for India’s freedom struggle.
Conclusion:
Conclude with evaluation of the principle and its relevance even as of today.
General Studies – 2
Topic : Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The US has urged all its allies and partners to forgo transactions with Russia that risk triggering sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
The question is straightforward; one must explain the key features and importance of CAATSA and discuss its implications to 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:
Start by discussing what CAATSA is.
Body:
Enacted in 2017, it is a US federal law that imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia. It includes sanctions against countries that engage in significant transactions with Russia’s defence and intelligence sectors. The Act empowers the US President to impose at least five of the 12 listed sanctions on persons engaged in a “significant transaction” with Russian defence and intelligence sectors.
Discuss in detail the nuances associated with it. Explain in detail its implications upon India.
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 question is based on the ongoing issues in the South China Sea (SCS) region and the growing influence of China over it.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the growing muscularity of China in the SCS region; explain the relevant options available to India to tackle the situation.
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 explaining the importance of SCS – The South China Sea (SCS) is important not just to its littoral countries. It has been a transit point for trade since early medieval times, contains abundantly rich fisheries, and is a repository of mineral deposits and hydrocarbon reserves.
Body:
Explain the implications of growing Chinese muscularity in the SCS region.
From India’s perspective, foreign and security policy in its larger neighborhood covers the entire expanse of the Asia-Pacific and extends to the Persian Gulf and West Asia. India straddles, and is the fulcrum of, the region between the Suez and Shanghai, between West and East Asia, and between the Mediterranean and the SCS. The SCS carries merchandise to and from India. It follows that India has a stake in the SCS, just as China has in the Indian Ocean.
Take hints from the article and explain the available options before India.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions and way ahead.
General Studies – 3
Topic : Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money laundering and its prevention.
Reference: Financial Express
Why the question:
The question is about the utility and possible potential of the UAVs that Indian armed forces can harness to tackle complex security challenges.
Key Demand of the question:
One has to throw light upon the complex security challenges that India is facing and in what way UAVs can aid the Indian armed forces on multiple fronts.
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:
Give a brief introduction of India’s complex security challenges.
Body:
In the answer body explain how UAVs can aid the Indian armed forces in combating these challenges.
India faces complex internal and external security challenges on multiple fronts such as troubled
Neighborhood, lack of social cohesion, Left Wing extremism, terrorism, cyber security issues etc. In this
Scenario, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) have the potential to aid the Indian armed forces on multiple fronts such as – Easy deployment irrespective of the terrain, border monitoring and surveillance, search and rescue operations etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude that the UAVs offer multiple advantages to the armed forces; however there is a need for developing adequate regulations and standard operating procedures to optimally utilize their potential.
General Studies – 4
Topic : Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why the question:
The question is premised over the attitudes associated with homosexuality in India.
Key Demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail the factors that have been influencing the contemporary attitude of the state and the society towards homosexuality in India and discuss the changing attitude and reasons contributing to it.
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:
State the factors that are affecting currently held attitude towards homosexuality in India.
Body:
Explain that while acceptance of homosexuality has not been fully entrenched in India, there is a shift in stance of the society and state regarding it. The factors that have influenced the contemporary attitude include religion, international discourse, individual rights, legal pronouncements, advancement of medical understanding, etc.
Then state the reasons for the attitude opposing the homosexuality and discuss the factors responsible for changing social attitude towards homosexuality.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the way forward.
