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General Studies – 1
Topic: GS-1: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Social empowerment. GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has constituted the National Council for Transgender Persons. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
The question aims to present the problems associated with transgender persons in India and the legal measure available to tackle these issues.
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 discuss who constitute transgender in India.
Body:
Transgender people are individuals of any age or sex whose appearance, personal characteristics, or behaviors differ from stereotypes about how men and women are ‘supposed’ to be.
Then move onto discuss the Problems faced by transgender – Identity crisis, discrimination, Social Problems, unemployment etc.
Discuss what the rights are given to transgender under Indian law, talk about the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2016, talk about the National Council for Transgender Persons etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude that it is essential for government and citizens of India that they ensure the Right of Transgender persons.
General Studies – 2
Topic : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Reference: Financial Express
Why the question:
The question is based on the aspects of government initiatives and policies that have created opportunities in the affordable housing segment and challenges associated with it.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the various government initiatives/policies in affordable housing sector in India and the opportunities created by it while also highlighting the associated 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 present the context of the question.
Body:
Discuss the various government initiatives/policies in affordable housing sector in India and the opportunities created by it.
Various government initiatives that aim at creating opportunities to ensure affordable housing finance, affordable technology design and affordable land and infrastructure are – “Housing for All by 2022: Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY), Affordable housing recognized at par with infrastructure, Relaxing eligibility criteria of home size from built up area to carpet area, Tax relief on home sales and reduction in holding period for long-term capital gains etc.
Discuss the underlying challenges in detail.
Briefly suggest remedial measures.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the way forward.
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
India and Bangladesh have been engaged in a long-standing dispute over water-sharing in the Teesta. Adding to the existing tensions, Bangladesh is now discussing an almost $1 billion loan from China for a comprehensive management and restoration project on the Teesta river. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the steps that Indian must take in the Teesta dispute with Bangladesh so as to conclude upon the active dispute.
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 the context; Bangladesh’s discussions with China come at a time when India is particularly wary about China following the standoff in Ladakh.
Body:
Briefly discuss the geography of the Teesta River across the two countries; Teesta river is a tributary of the Brahmaputra (known as Jamuna in Bangladesh), flowing through India and Bangladesh. It originates in the Himalayas near Chunthang, Sikkim and flows to the south through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
Then move onto discuss the long standing conflicts between the two countries.
Explain what the need of the hour is.
Conclusion:
Conclude with steps that India must proactively take at this stage.
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: News on Air
Why the question:
The Centre has written to State Governments and UTs to include all eligible disabled persons under the National Food Security Act, NFSA 2013.
Key Demand of the question:
The question is straightforward and aims to discuss the salient features of NFSA 2013 and one has to explain in what way it marks a watershed in the approach to food security from welfare to a rights-based approach.
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:
Discuss briefly the coming of the NFSA 2013.
Body:
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was introduced by the Government of India in 2013. It is responsible for the provision of subsidized food grains to the population. The enactment of the NFSA marks a watershed in the approach to food security from welfare to a rights-based approach.
The NFSA converts into legal entitlements the existing food security programmes of the Government of India. The annual allocation of foodgrain under the NFSA and other welfare schemes is about 610 Lakh Metric Tons.
Present in detail the objective of the National Food Security Act, discuss the Significance of Food Security, challenges associated.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of it.
Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Financial Express
Why the question:
The article presents to us a detailed analysis of the need of a National Competition Policy for the country.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the key role that a National Competition Policy can play for a better growth in a free market economy for India.
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:
Discuss briefly the current conditions of the economy in the country.
Body:
The article explains that there is an urgent need for deeper and long-term economic reforms which can, inter alia, enhance competitiveness by eliminating distortionary market practices to usher economic growth across sectors.
Competition policy refers to “those government measures that directly affect the behaviour of enterprises and the structure of industry” to maximise total welfare, i.e., the total of consumer’s surplus and producer’s surplus, as well as taxes collected by the government.
Discuss the pros and cons of having such a policy.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
Reference: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ,thenewhumanitarian.org
Why the question:
The article talks about significance of indigenous knowledge in the holistic approach to disaster risk reduction.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the need to mainstream indigenous traditional knowledge and link it with modern technologies for a holistic approach to disaster risk reduction.
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 with the definition of disaster risk reduction.
Body:
Briefly define the concept of disaster risk reduction and relate it with the advantages offered by indigenous traditional knowledge.
Discuss the need for mainstreaming indigenous knowledge systems by accounting for different hazards across different ecosystems.
Suggest some ways of integrating traditional knowledge domains with the modern technologies for a comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategy.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way ahead.
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.
7. A bureaucrat is needed to be politically neutral, not programme neutral. Justify. (250 words)
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by G Subba Rao and P N Chowdhary
Why the question:
The question is premised on the concept of political neutrality of the bureaucrats.
Key Demand of the question:
Directive:
Justify – When you are asked to justify, 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 using suitable case studies or/ and examples.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define first what you understand by political neutrality.
Body:
Persons working in the civil services are required to act in the course of their duties in a politically neutral manner. This includes the requirement to act impartially and to implement the Government’s policies.
Recently, there has been a debate whether bureaucracy is being neutral or not. Involvement of bureaucracy in politics has become a very controversial issue.
When caught between various political ideologies and in conflicts of opinion, officials are supposed to maintain their neutrality. But there is an opposite view—that the top civil servants are not neutral at all, on the contrary, they are very “hungry for power” and to satisfy their hunger they participate in politics.
Discuss the need for Neutral Bureaucracy, explain in what way a bureaucrat is needed to be politically neutral, not programme neutral. Explain with suitable case studies.
Conclusion:
Conclude by highlighting the importance of political neutrality for bureaucrats.
