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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.
1. Compare and contrast Hindustani classical music with Carnatic music. (250 words)
Reference: Indian art and culture by Nitin Singhania
Why the question:
The question is about comparing the two schools of music – Hindustani and Carnatic.
Key Demand of the question:
One has to present the key features of the two schools of the Music and provide for a detailed contrast and comparison between the two.
Directive:
Compare and contrast – provide for a detailed comparison of the two types, their features that are similar as well as different. One must provide for detailed assessment of the two.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give a brief introduction about Indian music. One can state facts, historical genesis of Indian music.
Body:
Hindustani and Carnatic music are the two main sub-genres of Indian classical music. While
Hindustani music originated in the Vedic period, Carnatic music originated during the Bhakti
Movement.
Highlight similarities between Hindustani classical and Carnatic music.
Give the differences between the two.
Conclusion:
Conclude that both the music genres are associated with great personalities such as Tansen, Amir Khusrau in Hindustani music and Tyagaraja, Syama Sastri in Carnatic music. Thus, both the genres have contributed to the enrichment of Indian classical music.
Topic: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
Reference: Modern Indian history by Bipin Chandra
Why the question:
The question is premised on the theme of Home Rule Movement and its contributions to Indian freedom struggle.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the significance and relevance of the Home rule movement of 1919; also explain why the movement faded out soon.
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:
Give a brief introduction of the Home Rule Movement. The Indian Home Rule movement was a movement in British India on the lines of Irish Home Rule movement and other home rule movements.
Body:
Enumerate its major objectives and contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
Between the years 1916 and 1918, the Indian independence movement witnessed the growth and spread of the home rule movement spearheaded by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant. The aim of the home rule movement was the attainment of home rule or a dominion status for India under the British Empire along the lines of countries like Canada and Australia. This movement was carried out through the two home rule leagues.
Discuss in detail the objectives of the movement, activities associated with it. Then the significance of it.
Then move on to discuss the reasons that led to its decline.
Conclusion:
Conclude that the movement was not a mass movement. It was restricted to educated people and college students. The leagues did not find a lot of support among Muslims, Anglo-Indians and non-Brahmins from Southern India as they thought home rule would mean a rule of the upper caste Hindu majority. Many of the moderates were satisfied with the government’s assurance of reforms (as preluded in the Montague Declaration). They did not take the movement further.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effects of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
3. What can be the geopolitical and geo-economic consequences of COVID-19? Discuss. (250 words)
Reference: weforum.org
Why the question:
The question is amidst the current pandemic the entire world is witnessing and its effect on the geopolitics and geo-economics of the world.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in detail with relevant examples the effect of covid-19 on the geopolitics and geo-economics of the 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:
As the COVID-19 corona virus outbreak continues to accelerate its spread worldwide, the international community is facing a global crisis with public health geopolitical changes/shifts and global economic repressions.
Body:
Discuss in detail the possible impacts of coivd-19 on the geopolitics and geo-economics.
COVID-19’s geopolitical impact depends heavily on the nature of the public response and the effectiveness of international cooperation. Discuss the tensions between US-China, India-China etc. Discuss how it will impact the politics around the world. Suggest solutions to address these issues. Explain how a coordinated global environment response would reinvigorate internal institutions such as WHO etc.
Discuss the impact of COVID-19 on geo-economics; economic slump, impact on markets, falling oil demands etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic : 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.
Reference: FAO
Why the question:
The question is amidst the declining land holding size in India and the challenges posed thereafter.
Key Demand of the question:
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:
Introduce briefly declining trend of land holding size as well as current scenario in this regards.
Body:
As per Agriculture Census 2015-16, the average size of operational holding has declined to 1.08 hectare in 2015-16 as compared to 1.15 hectare in 2010-11. The small and marginal holdings (<2 ha) now constitute 86%, while the large holdings (>10 ha) are merely 0.57% of the total land holdings.
Mention the challenges faced by farmers due to fragmentation of land.
Provide some suggestions to resolve the given challenges.
Conclusion:
Discuss some steps taken by government in conclusion.
Topic : Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
5. What is liquidity trap? Discuss its implications on the economy. (250 words)
Reference: Financial Express
Why the question:
The question is based on the concept of Liquidity trap and its effects on the economy in the current times.
Key Demand of the question:
Define the concept of liquidity trap in detail and explain the implications of it on 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:
A liquidity trap is a situation in which prevailing market interest rates are so low that an increase in
money supply has no effect on interest rates and people will hold this money in the form of money
balance instead of investing or spending it. In this situation, people avoid bonds under the
assumption that interest rates will soon rise, which would push bond prices down causing a capital
loss to them. This, in turn, further lowers the interest rate.
Body:
Discuss in detail, the implications of liquidity trap on the economy. Major implication of liquidity trap is that it renders expansionary monetary policy ineffective as a tool to boost economic growth. It may push the economy into recession, wages remain stagnant, Consumer prices remain low etc.
Suggest measures to overcome it; raising the interest rates, Decline in general price level, increased government spending etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Reference: The Hindu researchgate.net
Why the question:
The question is based on the importance of education to the country and in what way it should necessarily been seen as a public good.
Key Demand of the question:
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:
The private sector in the education domain has supplemented the state’s efforts in India’s progress towards universal education. Private sector has brought various positive aspects in the education sector such as more funding, better infrastructure, curriculum flexibility, increased focus on teaching quality among others.
Body:
Give a brief background of privatization of education in India.
Briefly state how private sector reduces education to the status of a commodity.
Discuss arguments in favour of education as a necessary public good. Explain the efforts of the government in this direction.
Conclusion:
All the stakeholders working in the sector should treat education as a public good, as also discussed by the draft New Education Policy. The private sector should work in tandem with the public sector in achieving the goal of universalization of education.
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.
Reference: The Hindu hindawi.com
Why the question:
The question is about the possible erosional impact that the western culture has had on the Indian value system.
Key Demand of the question:
Critically analyse the possible erosional impact that the western culture has had on the Indian value system and what needs to be done to overcome it.
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:
Explain that in present times, people around the globe are more connected with faster means of travel and communication, exchange of ideas through literature and cinema, rise of social networking etc. This aggravated contact amongst countries extends to the sphere of culture, wherein different cultures intermingle and evolve in process.
Body:
Briefly describe how westernization has led to increased exposure to the Western culture through various means.
Discuss the negative impact of increased cultural contact with the west on Indian value system. Highlight some of the key positives resulting from this contact. Explain how on the other hand, contact with the West has added to the Indian culture by both popularising and empowering it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with the point that it can be argued aggravated contact with the West has had a two-fold impact. The west has impacted India, as well as got influenced from Indian culture.
