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General Studies – 1
Topic: Social empowerment
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article discusses the role that Panchayat Raj can play in the development and empowerment of Women in India.
Key Demand of the question:
Question demands introspection of Panchayati Raj role in empowerment and development of women.
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:
Write about 73rd constitutional amendment act which made reservation of women in Panchayat justiciable right.
Body:
Write how Panchayati raj institution by giving political representation helped women. Role played by women in leadership role and her impact on village society. Write findings of some report to support your statement that reports that in villages where women are member or chairperson their infant mortality rate is low and female enrollment at primary school is high.
Then write political representation doesn’t mean empowerment and development. Women lack functional capability. How their work of political nature is performed by their husband. Women and especially lower-class women are denied respect.
Conclusion:
In conclusion provide way forward talk about capacity building, economic rights, representation in apex legislative bodies for making women centric law and policies.
Topic: population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Reference: Economic Times
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of Megacities and in what way they can prove to be centres of economic growth.
Key Demand of the question:
The question is to analyse the urging need for spatial development to ensure faster growth and development of the country highlighting problems faced by existing cities.
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:
Provide factual data about megacities for instance megacities comprises of 2% land but contribute 70% to GDP.
Body:
Explain why megacities are engine of growth write about amenities and facilities available at megacities which are imperative for development. Write what are obstacles which are preventing to unleash the highest potential of megacities.
Explain what spatial development means and why there is need for development of secondary cities.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing megacities are overcrowded and some are performing above their potential hence to utilize demographic dividend of country spatial development is needed.
General Studies – 2
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 article explains that the Enactment of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 in its current format damages the liberty of belief, faith and worship to all.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in what way Enactment of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 in its current format damages the liberty of belief, faith and worship to all.
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:
Start by explaining how it is an Act of colorable Legislation.
Body:
The answer body must explain why the Places of Worship Act, 1991, demands a re-look? – Presence of exceptions: Section 5 of the act states, nothing in the Act shall apply to Ram-Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid situated in Ayodhya; this stimulates the need for more such exceptions. Ultra vires to the Fundamental Rights: Since it bars the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and nullifies Article 32. Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, the Supreme Court has the power to issue writs appropriate for enforcement of all the Fundamental rights conferred by Part III of the Constitution. Thus, it has acted as colorable legislation.
Talk about Controversy over the definition of ‘Places of worship.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Reference: Times of India
Why the question:
The article analyses the challenges associated with the pledge for net-zero emissions by the mid-century.
Key Demand of the question:
Analyse the challenges associated with the pledge for net-zero emissions by the mid-century.
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:
Start with what is the pledge for net-zero emissions.
Body:
Net-zero or carbon neutrality means that the amount of CO2 produced by a country is balanced by the amount removed from the atmosphere.
According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C, global net CO2 emissions should decline by 45% by 2030, reaching net zero in 2050. Discuss the global trend.
Talk about associated issues with Carbon Neutrality.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article talks about the missing science pillar in the COVID response.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain how India’s fight against the reappearance of the coronavirus is a test necessitating strengthened data and better science.
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 brief background of COVID-19 resurgence.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Present the reasons of why coronavirus cases are rising; talks about mutations, increased testing cases, multiple super spreader events happening in schools, colleges, offices, public transport.
Discuss the role that improved science and technology can play in facing the Covid situation.
Conclusion:
India needs to increase the quantity, quality and public availability of actual data to guide decision-making.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Reference: India Express
Why the question:
The article explains why forest fires break out in the spring, and why they have been so frequent this year.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the concerns of forest fires. And explain the efforts that are being taken by the government in addressing the same.
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 data relevant to forest fires in India.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Discuss first the reasons of forest fires; Thunderstorms are the most likely natural cause for forest fires. Slash and burn techniques etc. The reasons are mainly manmade, particularly in cases where people visit forests and leave burning bidis, cigarette stubs or other inflammable materials.
Then explain the concerns posed by it. Explain why they are difficult to control.
Discuss the efforts being taken in this direction.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Reference: Down to Earth
Why the question:
The question is based on use of antibiotics in farm industry.
Key Demand of the question:
Answer must analyse the effect of use antibiotics in farm on human and animals.
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:
Provide introductory background of use antibiotics in farm industry.
Body:
Explain why there is need of use of antibiotics.
Then write how it is affecting humans.
Give evidence to explain the point.
Talk about the effect of it on animals.
Conclusion:
Conclude on way ahead & suggest measures to be taken by government and farmers.
