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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: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
Key demand of the question
Literary account of foreigners have played a useful role in writing the history of ancient India. The question expects us to discuss the account of such travellers and how they enabled us to write the history of ancient India.
Directive word
Discuss – Here your discussion needs to focus on highlighting the account of foreigners and how they enabled us to understand in detail the society, polity, economy etc of Indian society.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Highlight that Foreign travelers in the past played a more profound role than tourists of the present day. They were agents of civilizational contact and exchange, bringing with them new ideas, skills and technologies and returning with new knowledge.
Body
discuss how Greek and Roman literary account has proven useful by discussion some works and highlighting it’s significance in writing the history of ancient Indian.
Hsuan-Tsang – Account during Harshavardhan’s era.
Al Beruni (AD 973 – 1048) – Mahmud of Ghazni. Culture of Indians especially the hindus.
Abdur Razzaq – Vijaynagar Empire
Fa-Hien – Account of the Gupta Period. An extensive account of society. first to talk about the caste system and shudras. Shudras were kept outside the town and entered the town by making a noise with a stick. Fahien had also mentioned about Shaiv and Vaishnav religion.
Conclusion
Highlight the impact and importance of such accounts..
General Studies – 2
Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Reference: Hindustan Times
Why this question:
The Parliament of India has also been a victim of the coronavirus pandemic. But even as having full sessions of both houses must be the goal, it is perplexing that parliamentary committees — which are important pillars in keeping the government accountable, rigorously examining an issue of public interest, and developing a cross-party consensus on issues — have been barely functional.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss importance of parliamentary standing committees, their key functions, roles and responsibilities and justify their significance.
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 are parliamentary committees. Highlight how the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the meetings of these PCs also to a halt.
Body:
Discuss in detail the following points:
What are Parliamentary standing committees? Their purposes?
Discuss the role and significance of parliamentary standing committees.
Provide alternative measures as to how to go about the parliamentary committee meetings.
Conclusion:
Conclude with their importance.
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Reference: The Hindu , The Hindu
Why this question:
The Supreme Court, in a significant decision, has confirmed that persons suffering from disabilities are also socially backward and entitled to the same benefits of relaxation as Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates in public employment and education. The Court has upheld a 2012 judgment of the Delhi High Court in Anamol Bhandari (minor) through his father/Natural Guardian v. Delhi Technological University in a significant decision.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss about the recent decision by Supreme Court that persons suffering from disabilities are also socially backward and entitled to the same benefits of relaxation as Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates in public employment and education. Discuss about the pros and Cons of the decision and provide a way forward.
Directive word:
Critically analyze- here we 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:
write a few introductory lines about the ruling of the Supreme court.
Body:
Highlight the issues faced by the Disabled in accessing the education and public employment. Substantiate your argument by providing the supporting facts and figures.
Now discuss the pros and cons of the decision of equating physically/mentally disabled vis-à-vis the socially disabled.
Provide the measures that India must take to empower the disabled.
Conclusion:
based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The question aims to discuss the significance of universities as platforms for creative thinking.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the Indian scenario of higher education, what way they are places for creative thinking.
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:
Begin with brief introduction on the current status of universities in India.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
Give a brief on the current scenario on Universities.
Discuss the issues surrounding the higher education system in the country, what are the key challenges and suggest what needs to be done to overcome the same.
Explain what can be done to ensure they become hubs for creative thinking and innovation.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question
The coronavirus onslaught has presented an unprecedented challenge for India in scale and expanse, but there are other viral diseases that the country battles year to year. One such disease is the monkey fever, which originated in Karnataka and peaks as the summer begins. It is a zoonosis like the novel coronavirus, which means it reached humans via an animal carrier.
Key demand of the question
What are zoonotic diseases and How they are a huge health risk – apart from the obvious fact that they can lead to loss of significant no of lives, what other factors exacerbates the risk. One must establish the link for rising zoonotic diseases and how our diet is influencing it.
Directive word
Examine – When you are asked to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the causes or implications if any. In the above case, discuss points as highlighted above.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – explain zoonotic diseases along with some current examples to establish the scare on account of zoonotic diseases.
Body
How they are a huge health risk – apart from the obvious fact that they can lead to loss of significant no of lives, what other factors exacerbates the risk. Explain points like ecosystem changes brought about, no vaccination etc
Examine the links of why zoonotic diseases are on the rise and how it is linked to the food/diet of humans.
Provide measures as to how right diet can help fight these zoonotic diseases and other diseases in general.
Conclusion
Mention that it is important to take proactive action, rather than reactive in this case as the health cost of an outbreak will be immense.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question aims to analyse the relationship between attitude and behaviour.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail the relationship between attitude and behaviour. In what way training can change attitude of people towards weaker sections of the society.
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 is attitude.
Body:
Explain what are the elements of attitude and behaviour, in what way the two are interrelated. attitude can be defined as what a person internalizes as its values and beliefs, what it carries to be disposed and what generally forms a character of a person. behavior finely abuts attitude. it’s a sum total summary of a person’s actions.
It can be called the visible form of attitude. or rather actions make the attitude visible in the form of person’s behavior.
Discuss the role of training in redefining and shaping one’s attitude.
Conclusion:
Conclude with suitable examples and justify the importance of the two.
Topic: Case studies.
If you are the same police officer, identify the various dimensions of the crisis. Based on your understanding, suggest measures to deal with the crisis. (250 words)
Reference: UPSC CSE 2019 mains paper.
Why this question:
The above case study shows various security challenges faced by a bordering state. As a woman police officer, you are tasked to take up these challenges and find measures to deal with the crisis.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must explain the challenges faced in the given scenario and measures to deal with crisis.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly highlight the various challenges faced by the state administration in this.
Body:
Discuss the following aspects:
Talk about the various dimensions of the crisis faced as a woman police officer dealing the case.
- Narcotics issues
- Money laundering
- Illegal drug farms
- Education stalling
- Alleged involvement of Government officials
- Patriarchy faced as woman officer
Provide the suitable measures to tackle the various issues under your capacity as a police superintendent.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced way forward.
