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General Studies – 1
Topic: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Germany’s coalition government has agreed to a mandatory quota for women on the boards of listed companies in what’s being hailed as a landmark moment for Europe’s biggest economy.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the significance of Germany’s new boardroom quota for women and explain in what way it can be viewed as the next step in narrowing the gap of sexual inequality in the country.
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:
Brief about the recent move made by the government of Germany. Germany is planning to impose a mandatory quota for the number of women working in senior management positions in the country’s listed firms.
Body:
First explain the plan mooted by the government of Germany.
Since 2015, Germany, which is Europe’s biggest economy, has had a voluntary quota of 30 per cent for women on supervisory boards.
Present statistics across the world and also have a Indian dimension and discuss the need to adopt such a move in our country too.
Discuss how this helps improve the proportion of senior executive positions held by women.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of such a move.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article explains the dire need of the hour is to seize the new strategic partnerships in the Gulf region.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in detail the importance of new strategic partnerships of India in the Gulf region.
Directive:
Elucidate – 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 account for the relationships of India with the Gulf region from the past to present.
Body:
The recent External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recently is a good moment to reflect on the structural changes taking place in the Gulf and the region’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean.
First present the issues in approach towards the region. Then move on to discuss the areas of possible relationships with the Gulf. Take hints from the article and list down.
Conclusion:
Conclude that as India seeks to recalibrate its ties with the Gulf, the real challenge for South Block is to get the rest of the Indian establishment to discard outdated perceptions of the Gulf and seize the new strategic possibilities with the region.
General Studies – 3
Topic : Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Economic Times
Why the question:
The article argues against the suggestion of allowing the corporate houses in the banking sector in India. Thus the context of the question.
Key Demand of the question:
One must critically analyse the recent steps taken by RBI in giving banking licenses to corporate houses as a part of banking reforms.
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:
Give a brief background of the question; also explain what role the corporate houses play for the economy.
Body:
An Internal Working Group of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recommended that corporate houses be given bank licenses. Discuss the background of the actions taken by the RBI in this direction.
List down the advantages and disadvantages of such a move. Explain the risks involved in taking such steps.
Explain that India’s banking sector needs reform but corporate houses owning banks hardly qualifies as one. If the record of over-leveraging in the corporate world in recent years is anything to go by, the entry of corporate houses into banking is the road to punishment.
Conclusion:
Conclude with fair and balanced opinion.
Topic: Land reforms in India.
4. Discuss the primacy of land reforms to address the ongoing agrarian crisis in India. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article brings to us insights on how land reforms can be the next big game changer to address the agrarian crisis in the country.
Key Demand of the question:
One must discuss the primacy of land reforms to address the ongoing agrarian crisis in India.
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 few key statistics depicting the current conditions of agriculture in the country.
Body:
Explain that the need of the hour is to bring about Land Reforms and the focus areas must be: creation of a land record repository, digitisation and integration of all records relating to titles and encumbrances, formalising cadastral maps of all plots of land, defining a structured timeline for timely resolution of property disputes and making public land disputes data etc.
Re-emphasize upon the importance of land reforms for the country.
Discuss the efforts of the government in this direction.
Conclusion:
Thus, with an aspirational goal of India becoming a $5-trillion economy by 2025 the imperative need today is to unleash the power of land and reap fruits by bringing about the much needed Land Reforms which are waiting to see the light of the day.
Topic: Basics of cyber security; money laundering and its prevention.
Reference: Live Mint , The Hindu
Why the question:
Recently 132 countries attend 4th Global meet on criminal finances, the conference underlined the need to expand capabilities on ways to probe virtual assets and regulate virtual asset service providers to prevent money laundering. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss how Cryptocurrency can be used for money laundering, Discuss and suggest measures to curb the unlawful use of crypto currency.
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 the definition of cryptocurrency.
Body:
Recent increases in the number and quality of investigations in the field of cryptocurrency-facilitated crime and subsequent money laundering means that law enforcement and other public entities are continuing to enhance their level of knowledge and expertise in this crime area.
Discuss in detail the interlinkages of cryptocurrency and crime. Give examples to justify the same.
Explain what needs to be done to overcome the problems posed by cryptocurrency and the money laundering supported thereof.
Suggest solutions like – capacity building measures on ways to probe virtual assets, establishing clear regulatory framework to prevent money laundering, adopting ‘follow the money’ strategies against criminal proceeds, strengthening information exchange to dismantle criminal networks, and exploiting new technologies in criminal finances investigations.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic : GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article explains that the Centre and states in the country must seize opportunity to come together for water governance.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in what way JJM can be productively used to engage in a dialogue with the states about the larger water resources management agenda, beyond the mission’s goals.
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 mission, its objectives; JJM aims at providing potable water at service level of 55 liter per capita per day (lpcd) to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) by 2024.
Body:
A slew of bills on water await Parliament’s approval. Two of them, passed by the Lok Sabha, were listed for clearing by Rajya Sabha in the monsoon session The Interstate River Water Disputes Amendment Bill 2019 and the Dam Safety Bill 2019.The latest centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), too is pumping massive finances into achieving universal access to safe and secure drinking water in rural areas otherwise a domain of the states.
Discuss the need to deal with the emerging challenges of inter-state water governance.
Explain how and why water Governance is must for Sustainable Development.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the statement in question and its importance.
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.
7. Discuss the ethical aspects involved in regulation of betting and gambling. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur has ignited the debate on legalizing betting in sports, particularly in cricket. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail the ethical aspects involved in regulation of betting and gambling with suitable examples.
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 commenting on what betting and gambling are.
Body:
In India, in 2018, the Law Commission recommended that legalizing betting and gambling in the present scenario is not desirable and that a ban must be enforced on unlawful betting and gambling. It however said that if this is not possible, then regulating this activity is the viable option.
Comment on the legal status – falls in list 2 of 7th schedule; presently all gambling, except lottery, is banned in the country. Also, lotteries organized by the GoI or govt of any state falls under union list.
Present points both for and against betting and gambling; discuss the ethical concerns involved.
Conclusion:
Suggest a fair and balanced solution to address the issue ethically.