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General Studies – 1
Topic : Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Social empowerment
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The editorial brings to us the viewpoint that increasing age of marriage will be exercise of carceral power by state which will disproportionately affect Dalit, Adivasi women.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail in what way the issue of child marriage and its redressal should be in consonance with socio-economic realities that demand investment in education, welfare, and opportunities for women.
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:
Discuss the context of the decision of raising the legal age of marriage for women to 21 years by the government.
Body:
Start by explaining what the socio-economic realities of Women in the country are.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) data 2015-16 points to certain trends in early marriages: That rural women are likely to marry earlier than their urban counterparts; that the higher up a woman is on the wealth quintile, the later she marries. Most importantly, it establishes a direct causal link between education levels and delayed age of marriage, with the former impacting the latter, not the other way around. Women with 12 years or more of schooling are most likely to marry later.
Discuss what should be the efforts that need to be made first to improve the socio-economic indicators of women in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude with suitable solutions and suggest what needs to be done.
Topic : Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Reference: Indian art and culture by Nitin Singhania
Why the question:
The question is from the portions of GS paper I, Medieval history of India.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in what way Bhakti and Sufi movements brought a new form of religious expression amongst Muslims and Hindus also establish how they worked towards communal harmony.
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:
Briefly introduce evolution of Bhakti and Sufi movement in India.
Body:
The Medieval period is considered as an age of great cultural synthesis in India. The Turks and Mughals introduced fresh ideas and helped in giving rise to new features in the areas of religion, philosophy and ideas. Result of the same was witnessed in the form of Bhakti and Sufi movements
Explain in what way they created a new form of religious expression.
Discuss with examples how they acted against communalism and worked for communal harmony.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting their contributions to the religion system and communal harmony
General Studies – 2
Topic : India and its neighborhood- relations. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Recently Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his first address to the newly elected Parliament, has declared his intention to repeal the landmark 19th Amendment to the Constitution, and, thereafter, work towards a new constitution. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in what way Constitutional crises in India’s neighborhood have key bearing on India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy.
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 what you understand by India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy.
Body:
What is Neighbourhood first policy?
- India’s Neighbourhood First Policy focuses on cooperation and peaceful coexistence.
- It is part of India’s foreign policy that actively focuses on improving ties with India’s immediate neighbours which is being termed as Neighbourhood first policy in the media
- It was started well by inviting all heads of state/heads of government of South Asian countries in his inauguration of PM Modi first term and later held bilateral talks with all of them individually which was dubbed as a mini SAARC summit.
Then move onto explain the constitutional crisis that the neighboring countries are facing, present the case of Srilanka. Explain what bearings it has on India.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Reference: pib.gov.in
Why the question:
The article presents to us the success story of Jal Jeevan mission in the country.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in detail the contributions of Jal jeevan mission in improving water accessibility to the rural areas in the country.
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:
Start by explaining about the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Body:
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM):
It envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024. It focuses on integrated demand and supply side management of water at the local level.
Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse, would be undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes.
It is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission. JJM looks to create a janandolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.
Then discuss in what way it helps improvise upon the accessibility component of water in rural areas. One can present case study to substantiate better.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Jal Jeevan mission if implemented effectively will improve water accessibility in rural areas.
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
Reference: Hindustan Times
Why the question:
The Supreme Court recently granted two days to Bhushan to reconsider his “defiant statement” refusing to apologize for his contemptuous tweets against the judiciary.
Key Demand of the question:
The answer demands explanation on how recently Judicial activism has been on decline and how judicial overreach has taken the front seat that can act counterproductive in achieving the goals of Democracy.
Directive:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidences. You have to appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming a personal opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Explain what judicial activism and judicial overreach are.
Body:
Start by explaining the sea change in judicial approach since Keshavananda Bharti case. Except for a blip during emergency – exemplified by Shivkant Shukla v ADM Jabalpur case – judiciary has been becoming more and more active. The advent of PIL was, perhaps, the most important step in this direction.
Explain what steps have been taken by Judiciary to achieve the ideals of democracy from past to present.
Discuss in what way the judiciary is erring now and is on the path of judicial overreach, present the case of recent incidences to justify the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions to address the problem and that there is dire need to rectify the erring judiciary at this stage so as to preserve the true mandate of it.
General Studies – 4
Topic : Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Reference: 2nd ARC report / Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications
Why the question:
The question is premised on the idea of lateral entry in civil services of the country.
Key Demand of the question:
The question is straightforward; discuss how lateral entries in administration can help overcome existing inefficiencies and what its future prospects are.
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:
Present a brief introduction of lateral entry.
Body:
What is lateral entry?
It is the appointment of private sector professionals and academicians in the government organisation bypassing the traditional route.
Traditionally to get into the posts of Deputy Secretary, Director and Joint Secretary in Government organisations, the candidate has to belong to Indian Civil Services which is filled by personals from – Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Revenue Service.
Discuss the fatigue and inefficiency in the present IAS dominated administrative structure.
Discus how lateral entry will help improving the administration.
Bring out both pros and cons.
Conclusion:
Suggest some measure for further reforms in Indian Administration; any new system will take time to evolve. So one can only hope that those at the top see this through till it becomes efficient and transparent and ensure a way to keep the public informed about it objectively.
Topic: Emotional intelligence
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and aptitude by lexicon Publications
Why the question:
The question is based on the concept of emotional intelligence and its relevance in today’s life.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in what way good emotional intelligence can directly be related to the success of a person and one has to mention steps taken to develop EI in their lives.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define what you understand by emotional intelligence; Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and regulate one’s emotions and understand the emotions the others.
Body:
Explain that by improving your EQ and taking active steps to make changes, you’ll find you are more productive and can build more productive relationships around you. Emotional Intelligence is important, it’s intrinsic to who we are, and as such it impacts every facet of our lives, and most notably the workplace.
EI is important for everyone who wants to be career ready. Drawing on the work of Daniel Goleman, explain the five pillars of emotional intelligence and how they give you an advantage in the workforce.
Mention the steps that you would have taken to develop EI.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance.
