[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 11 November 2020

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General Studies – 1


 

Topic : , urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

1. What is a ‘city system’? Explain how and why reforming municipal bodies is crucial to reforming city systems. (250 words)

Reference: dea.gov.in

Why the question:

The question is based on the theme of City-system and the reforms in municipal bodies crucial for effective and efficient functioning of city systems.

Key Demand of the question:

Explain the concept of city-system and explain how and why reforming municipal bodies is crucial to reforming city systems.

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:

Define what city-systems are.

Body:

A city system; is a group of cities, which, in their evolution, have become interdependent because of the many relationship networks that they have and that interconnect them to a greater extent than other cities located in the environment.

Explain the importance of urban governance in the country.

Discuss the urban issues, reforms and way forward in India with suitable examples.

Explain that India has to improve its urban areas to achieve objectives of economic development. However, urban governance and management of the services is far from satisfactory. In this context, the Government has launched a reform-linked urban investment program, JNNURM and others.

Discuss how and why reforming municipal bodies is crucial to reforming city systems.

Conclusion:

Conclude with way forward.

 


General Studies – 2


 

Topic : Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

2. What is the new peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan? Analyse critically the role of Ethnicity in the conflict. (250 words)

Reference: Indian Express 

Why the question:

The article brings to us the Azerbaijanis celebrating the peace deal in Baku on November 10.

Key Demand of the question:

One has to discuss in detail what the peace deal is about between the Armenia and Azerbaijan and critically examine the role of ethnicity in such a conflict.

Directive:

Critically 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. 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:

Recently, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace deal to end the ongoing conflict between the countries. According to the deal, the countries will maintain positions in the areas where they currently hold. This means a significance gain to Azerbaijan.

Body:

Firstly discuss the context of the question; present the highlights of the deal in detail.

Azerbaijan has reclaimed over 15-20% of its lost territory in the conflict. According to the new deal, the countries will maintain the current positions they are holding. Therefore, this will benefit Azerbaijan largely.

Talk about the Nagorno-Karabakh Region, the conflict causing issues.

Then brief about the role of ethnicity in the conflict.

Conclusion:

Conclude with your opinion on such peace deals and their significance.

 

Topic : Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

3.  “The rights must be reconciled with the duties.” Examine, in the light of this statement, how fundamental duties in one citizen imply fundamental rights in other citizens. (250 words)

Reference: Indian Polity by Lakshmikant

Why the question:

The question talks about how and in what way rights are related to duties.

Key Demand of the question:

One has to justify with suitable examples how fundamental duties in one citizen imply fundamental rights in other citizens.

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:

Start by explaining how rights are related to duties; the fact that if one enjoys the right, it becomes the duty of the other not to prove an obstacle in the enjoyment of his/her right.

Body:

Firstly, explain the statement in question in detail, give examples to justify better.

Then move onto explain in what way fundamental duties in one citizen imply fundamental rights in other citizens. One must explain how are our fundamental rights and fundamental duties related to each other? Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution are important natural rights necessary for development of human beings. They are enforceable through court of law. On the other hand, Fundamental Duties though not enforceable, but always taken into account while interpreting any fundamental rights.

Conclusion:

Correlate the two and conclude with importance.

 

Topic :  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

4. Deliberate upon the advantages of remote patient monitoring system in the setting of Indian health care system.(250 words)

Reference: The Hindu 

Why the question:

The article presents to us a detailed opinion of remote monitoring system for patients in the context of Indian health care system.

Key Demand of the question:

Explain the advantages of remote patient monitoring system in the setting of Indian health care system.

Directive:

Deliberate – Weigh up to what extent something is true. Persuade the reader of your argument by citing relevant research but also remember to point out any flaws and counter- arguments as well. Conclude by stating clearly how far you agree with the original proposition.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Start by explaining what remote patient monitoring system is.

Body:

Remote patient monitoring refers to the use of a specific technology to facilitate interaction between clinicians and patients at home.

The aim of patient monitoring is to give warning of early or dangerous deterioration and to achieve this by obtaining an optimal compromise involving many design factors, clinical, engineering and economic.

List the advantages of such a system to India.

Conclusion:

Conclude with importance.

 


General Studies – 3


 

Topic : Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.

5. What are the challenges of food processing industries in India? Account for the efforts made by the government of India to overcome the same in the country. (250 words)

Reference: rbidocs.rbi.org.in

Why the question:

The question is premised on the food processing industries of India and the challenges therein.

Key Demand of the question:

One must present the challenges of food processing industries in India and account for the efforts made by the government of India to overcome the same in the country.

Directive:

Account – Weigh up to what extent something is true. Persuade the reader of your argument by citing relevant research but also remember to point out any flaws and counter- arguments as well. Conclude by stating clearly how far you are in agreement with the original proposition.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Start with some key information/statistics related to food processing industries of India.

Body:

Briefly explain what the food processing sector is.

Explain the challenges like-raw material availability, transportation issues, storage issues, etc. In the next part explain the various measures/schemes launched by the government to address the challenges faced by the sector.

Discuss then the measures taken by the government PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, Mega food parks, Cold chain, Infrastructure for agro-processing industries etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude by highlighting the importance of the sector for the country.

 

Topic : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

6. While funds are critical, proper enforcement, adequate staff and stemming the sources of pollution on the ground are vital to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) meeting its target. Comment. (250 words)

Reference: The Hindu 

Why the question:

In February 2020, the Finance Minister had announced a ₹4,400 crore package for 2020-21 to tackle air pollution in 102 of India’s most polluted cities. The funds would be used to reduce particulate matter by 20%-30% from 2017 levels by 2024 under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Key Demand of the question:

Explain that funds are critical however, proper enforcement, adequate staff and stemming the sources of pollution on the ground are vital to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) meeting its target.

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:

Brief about the current NCAP.

Body:

Start by discussing the concerns associated with the implementation of NCAP.

  • There is no clarity on what the budgetary outlays for subsequent years are likely to be.
  • Though it was the largest-ever yearly allocation by a government to specifically tackle air pollution, only half the money was finally allotted to 15 States (and 42 cities in them) in November 2020.
  • The rest will be given in January 2021 based on how cities achieve certain ‘performance parameters’ that are still being worked out by the Centre.
  • It is unclear if this amount is adequate to handle the task of improving air quality as the scale of the problem itself is unknown.
  • Historically, cites have used manual machines to measure specified pollutants and their use has been inadequate.

Substantiate why it is important to focus on proper enforcement, adequate staff and stemming the sources of pollution on the ground for effective implementation of NCAP.

Conclusion:

Conclude with way forward.

 


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.

7. Explain Absolute Ethics and Relative Ethics with relevant examples. (250 words)

Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications

Why the question:

The question is straightforward from the static portions of GS paper IV.

Key Demand of the question:

Explain Absolute Ethics and Relative Ethics with relevant examples.

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:

In the introduction define what Absolute Ethics and Relative Ethics are.

Body:

Absolute ethics are referred to as being deontological; interested in the act itself not the consequences. On the other hand relative ethics claims that the ‘right or wrong’ of a situation is dependent upon the people, time, place, culture and a range of other factors.

Compare and contrast the two schools of ethics.

Present examples to justify the two theories.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a fair and balanced opinion about the two.


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