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General Studies – 1
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.
1. Critically examine the factors affecting the marine erosion. (250 words)
Reference: The Diplomat
Why the question:
The article talks about the rising menace of marine erosion across the World and discusses the factors responsible for it.
Key Demand of the question:
Critically examine the factors affecting the marine erosion with suitable examples.
Directive:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
First briefly explain what Marine erosion is.
Body:
Marine erosion is the loss or displacement of land, or the long-term removal of sediment and rocks along the coastline due to the action of waves, currents, tides, wind-driven water, waterborne ice, or other impacts of storms.
List the factors responsible for marine erosion one by one.
Have a Para on climate change and its huge impact directly on it.
Take hints from the article, present the case study of Sagar islands of India and elucidate.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting solutions to address the issue.
General Studies – 2
Topic : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Global Hunger Index is a peer-reviewed annual report, jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels. The article presents to us quick peek into India’s status vis-à-vis Malnutrition.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the main cause for such high levels of child stunting and wasting in India and present an evaluation of how far has India fared on the GHI.
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 with basic definition of what constitutes GHI.
Body:
Discuss the methods through which it is calculated. Explain the parameters in detail.
Then explain how India fares on the different parameters in comparison to other countries?
Discuss what the main causes for such high levels of child stunting and wasting in India are.
Suggest solutions – Food insecurity, poor sanitation, inadequate housing, limited access to healthcare — all result in maternal distress that leads to the kind of slow, chronic wasting seen in Indian children.
Although India has overall food security with record levels of foodgrain production in recent years, access to healthy food is still difficult for poor households.
Conclusion:
Conclude that there is no single solution. Every kind of household deprivation that makes life difficult for women needs to be dealt with. The focus needs to be on healthy mother.
Topic : 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 Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (CPA), which came into effect on July 24, 2020, is expected to go a long way in serving the interests of consumers at large. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the transformative changes that the CPA underwent and is going to benefit the consumers in a more better and holistic way.
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:
Briefly talk about the CPA 2019.
Body:
Explain that the present law is a generation next statute intending to build upon the old 1986 law. The 1986 law intended to ‘better protect’ the interest of the consumer by providing easy dispute resolution tribunals at district, State, and national levels.
It also established Consumer Councils – again at district, State, and national levels to work towards consumer welfare. However based on the overall experience gained by the working of the old CPA, a new enactment has been brought forth with greater emphasis on enhanced overall consumer welfare.
The constitution of a CCPA, as envisaged under the new law, is expected to serve consumer welfare in a big way. The authority will be headed by a Chief Commissioner and will have sweeping powers with the investigation wing empowered to carry out search and seize operations and also register cases under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
List down a good comparison of the Act before and now.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article brings to us detailed analysis of why the idea of rooftop solar isn’t shining in sunny India.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the causes that have led to underutilization of Solar PV rooftop and suggest ways to encash these low hanging fruits.
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 with some fascinating facts such as – According to the recent BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2020, globally, renewables account for 10.4 per cent of power generation. In India, in 2019-20, renewables, excluding large hydro, accounted for around 10 per cent of electricity and within this, solar accounted for 3.6 per cent, contributed mostly by utility scale solar PV such as solar parks, whereas the share of rooftop PV was negligible.
Body:
List down the challenges that are involved in executing the idea of solar rooftop PVs.
Present the underlying challenges in detail.
Discuss the efforts of the Government in this direction.
Suggest suitable solutions.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of solar power for a tropical country like India.
Topic: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article presents to us insights on the possible role that Blockchain technology can play in transforming agriculture sector.
Key Demand of the question:
On must discuss in detail as to how Blockchain technology can prove to be pivotal in transforming Indian Agricultural sector.
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:
Brief about what Blockchain technology is in general in couple of lines.
Body:
Start by discussing first the importance of Agriculture to Indian setup; Agriculture, along with its allied sectors, is the largest source of livelihood in India with close to 70 per cent of rural households financially dependent on it. India is also one of the top 15 major exporters of agricultural products and clearly has a huge scope to increase employment opportunities across the country.
Discuss then the positives of the Blockchain technology such as Immutability, transparency and efficiency. Relate these features and their importance to agriculture, give examples to substantiate.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of such technologies to agriculture sector of the country.
Topic : Disaster and disaster management.
Reference: ndmindia.nic.in
Why the question:
The question is premised on the role and contributions of corporate sector in managing disasters in the country.
Key Demand of the question:
One has to examine the role of corporate social responsibility as an emerging avenue in managing disasters.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Corporates have always played a pivotal role in the post-disaster relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the affected areas. The Corporate sector has contributed to the developmental work through employee contribution, funds or donations.
Body:
Explain that recognising the importance of integrating the corporate sector in disaster management, govt. of India has included all disaster relief expenditure as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contribution.
The Corporate sector can play a key role in supporting and building the knowledge, capacity and skills of the community through disaster management activities ranging from mitigation and preparedness to response and recovery.
Ensuring that existing and upcoming industrial assets and infrastructure are disaster-resistant is also the responsibility of the corporate sector.
Discuss all possible benefits of CSR in disaster management and its importance.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance.
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: egyankosh.ac.in
Why the question:
The question is based on the Jeremy Bentham’s theory.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the seven norms proposed by Bentham for the measurement of pleasure.
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 referring to the theory of Bentham.
Body:
In measuring pleasure and pain, Bentham introduces the following criteria: Its intensity, duration, certainty (or uncertainty), and its nearness (or farness). He also includes its “fecundity” (more or less of the same will follow) and its “purity” (its pleasure won’t be followed by pain & vice versa).
Then explain the seven norms in detail and their relevance.
In order to measure the extent of pain or pleasure that a certain decision will create, he lays down a set of criteria divided into the categories of intensity, duration, certainty, proximity, productiveness, purity, and extent. Using these measurements, he reviews the concept of punishment and when it should be used as far as whether a punishment will create more pleasure or more pain for a society.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance.
