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General Studies – 1
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Reference: Chapter 12: Indian Art & Culture yojana-january-2021
Why the question:
The question is from Yojana edition Jan 2021.
Key Demand of the question:
One must discuss the impact of two major interventions – the Moghul rule (13th century onwards) and the European rule (18th century onwards) on Indian art and culture.
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 introduction about the richness of art and culture in the country from past to present.
Body:
Explain that the spirit of India is all about the values of inclusiveness, beauty, aesthetics, purity of intention, attention to detail, discipline, focus, the pursuit of perfection, willingness to connect with one’s higher self, openness, excellence, and plurality. Indian philosophy values beauty and aesthetic experiences and this inform Indian art & culture at every stage.
Account for the impact of two major interventions – the Moghul rule (13th century onwards) and the European rule (18th century onwards) on Indian art & culture.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance.
General Studies – 2
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: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article presents the scope of cooperatives and unions as the pathway for women dairy farmers.
Key Demand of the question:
One must discuss in what way cooperatives and unions can prove to be pathways to financial stability for women dairy farmers in the country.
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 contribution of women to White revolution in India.
Body:
Explain that the success of women despite a majority of dairy farmers owning only small landholdings (typically households own two to five cows) is also a testament to the success of the dairy cooperatives models that were at the heart of Operation Flood. The approach made it possible to enhance backward and forward linkages in the dairy value chain, paving the way for freeing small farmers from the clutches of middlemen, and guaranteed minimum procurement price for milk.
Then discuss the challenges facing small Dairy farmers.
Talk about the role of women and about Enhancing Bargaining Power of Women.
Give examples and explain in what way cooperatives and unions can prove to be pathways to financial stability for women dairy farmers in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude with scope of cooperatives and unions to women farmers in general.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The author of the article explains in what way Indian education system must stop chasing ‘learning outcomes’.
Key Demand of the question:
Critically analyse in what way our New Education Policy’s focus on learning outcomes can drain education of meaning, thus suggest what needs to be done and what should be the way forward.
Directive:
Critically analyse – 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:
Start with brief introduction of what constitutes – ‘Learning outcome’
Body:
LO refers to grade-appropriate, basic competencies in numeracy and literacy, which school-going children are supposed to acquire.
Discuss the recent trend of overemphasis on LO in the country. Give examples of such instances.
Explain the problems associated with NEP 2020 -due to its overemphasis on LO in detail.
Explain what needs to be done and suggest solutions.
Conclusion:
It is essential to celebrate learning as a meaning-making exercise by the teacher and the student rather than simply focusing on LO that will allow testing to take precedence over learning.
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Bangladesh to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the war of liberation and the centenary year of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the recent developments in the India-Bangladesh relationship. Explain the straining points and issues in the bilateral relation.
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:
2021 marks 50 years since the independence of Bangladesh. India has played a key role in Bangladesh’s Liberation War and the friendship continues to grow.
Body:
Trace briefly the journey of the relationship. The relationship between India and Bangladesh has vacillated through highs and lows depending on the regimes in power.
Discuss the achievements so far and present the irritants between the two.
Both the countries have solved the border issues amicably by ratifying the historic Land Boundary Agreement in 2015, where enclaves were exchanged allowing inhabitants to choose their country of residence and become citizens of either India or Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has uprooted anti-India insurgency elements from its borders, making the India-Bangladesh border one of the region’s most peaceful.
This has allowed India to make a massive redeployment of resources to its more contentious borders elsewhere along India’s borders and tension prone areas.
Conclusion:
Conclude that to make the recent gains irreversible, both countries need to continue working on the three Cs — cooperation, collaboration, and consolidation.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Reference: The hindu business line
Why the question:
The question is about discussing the prospects of Ocean Energy for India and its contributions.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the possible contributions of ocean energy to regional development apart from climate change in the country.
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 some key data or facts related to renewable energy and more specifically of the ocean energy.
Body:
Oceans cover 70% of the earth’s surface and represent an enormous amount of energy in the form of wave, tidal, marine current and thermal gradient. India has a long coastline with the estuaries and gulfs. Ocean energy is used in the form of Tidal, Wave, Current Energy and Ocean Thermal Energy.
Discuss the prospects of Ocean Energy for India in detail with spatial aspects, use a map of India to add value to your answer.
Then explain in what way it can potentially contribute to regional development apart from climate change in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance.
General Studies – 1
Topic: corporate governance.
Reference: Lexicon Publications
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of corporate governance.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the concept of corporate governance and highlight its potential to address the problems of conflict of interest in business sector.
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 define and explain corporate governance.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Explain the potential of Corporate Governance in removing Conflict of interests in business sector. Corporate governance practices such as appointment of independent directors on its boards; strict compliance of annual financial disclosures tends to remove conflict of interest among the employees of companies. This helps in minimizing the corporate corruptions and failures.
Also explain how it helps in promoting ethics in business.
Mention some limitations.
Conclusion:
Conclude that corporate governance should go beyond the realm of law, it should emanate from management culture.
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. Social media can not survive without social media ethics. Discuss. (250 words)
Reference: www.ibe.org.uk
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of social media and ethics related to it.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail in what way Social media cannot survive without social media ethics.
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 definition of social media.
Body:
Briefly define ethics and social media ethics.
Explain how social media evolved and changed its values over the period of time. Discuss the ethical issues with social media.
Discuss the Ethical issues with social media – Public or private data, Misuse of data etc.
Suggest what needs to be done and give solutions.
Conclusion:
The immense popularity of social media, both with individuals and organisations, means that maintaining ethical practices is of paramount concern. Whenever an individual or organisation uses social media for research, marketing, or any similar profit or non-profit venture, it’s vital that all work be carried out ethically, to ensure that the rights and privacy of users are protected. It is of utmost importance to respect the boundaries of others.
