Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers.
How to Follow Secure Initiative?
How to Self-evaluate your answer?
STHIR – 2021: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Join IPM 3.0 to get an assured review of 2 secure answers everyday
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
1. Critically analyse the right to the life situation in India amidst the pandemic. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article presents a critical analysis of the right to the life situation in India amidst the pandemic.
Key Demand of the question:
Critically analyse the right to the life situation in India amidst the pandemic.
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:
Start with highlighting the multiple impacts of the pandemic on livelihoods.
Body:
Explain how the pandemic has led to – A health emergency more ferocious than any in independent India. Massive job losses significantly increased mass hunger and worsening nutrition. Discuss how it has led to a dire account of a humanitarian crisis in India.
Then explain how it is an example of violation of right to life? – Limited court intervention, Violation of right to life in vaccine policy, precarious situation in the informal sector, Lack of significant fiscal package etc.
Conclusion:
Suggest solutions and conclude by urgent measures to prioritise the right to life.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The question is based on the article – “Stemming the India’s health worker brain drain”.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the issue of Brain drain with health care sector of the country and need to urgently address it with long term solutions.
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:
As per OECD data, around 69,000 Indian trained doctors worked in the UK, US, Canada and Australia in 2017. In these four countries, 56,000 Indian-trained nurses were working in the same year. There is also large-scale migration of health workers.
Body:
Explain the case of Brain drain in detail – While there are strong pull factors associated with the migration of healthcare workers, in terms of higher pay and better opportunities in the destination countries, one cannot deny the strong push factors that often drive these workers to migrate abroad.
Discuss the factors responsible in detail and the role of government in preventing the brain drain.
The government’s policies to check brain drain are restrictive in nature and do not give us a real long-term solution to the problem. We require systematic changes that could range from increased investment in health infrastructure, ensuring decent pay to workers and building an overall environment that could prove to be beneficial for them and motivate them to stay in the country.
Conclusion:
Suggest what needs to be done, the role of government to prevent the prevalent conditions and put a full stop on the brain drain of the health workers.
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: Indian Express
Why the question:
As India battles a raging second wave, cases of children losing their parents to Covid-19 are also mounting. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the impact of pandemic on Children and need for the Governments to urgently reach out to children who have lost parents to Covid, with programmes designed with sensitivity.
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:
Various social media posts are getting circulated with details of children who have lost either both their parents or the only living parent to the disease and pleading for them to be adopted.
Body:
Firstly, discuss how Covid has left many orphaned children vulnerable to trafficking.
Discuss that various social media posts are getting circulated with details of children who have lost either both their parents or the only living parent to the disease and pleading for them to be adopted.
Sharing such posts are illegal under Section 80 and 81 of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015, which prohibit offering or receiving children outside the processes laid down under the Act as well as their sale and purchase. Child Marriages have also increased in the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
Discuss the provisions for Protection of Orphan Children in the country.
Account for the role of government amidst such situation. Point out to the recent initiatives.
Conclusion:
Conclude with role of the government in this direction.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The use of convalescent plasma has been dropped from the recommended treatment guidelines for COVID-19, according to an advisory from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail what is convalescent plasma therapy and what are the concerns involved in its practice.
Directive:
Elaborate – 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:
Start with what convalescent plasma therapy is.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Discuss in detail the therapy – The therapy seeks to make use of the antibodies developed in the recovered patient against the coronavirus. The whole blood or plasma from such people is taken, and the plasma is then injected into critically ill patients so that the antibodies are transferred and boost their fight against the virus. A COVID-19 patient usually develops primary immunity against the virus in 10-14 days. Therefore, if the plasma is injected at an early stage, it can possibly help fight the virus and prevent severe illness.
Discuss the concerns associated with it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
5. Evaluate the disaster preparedness and management of cyclones in India. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article explains how accurate forecasts and resilience-building hold the key to handling severe cyclones. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Evaluate the disaster preparedness and management of cyclones in India.
Directive:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidences. You have to appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming a personal opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with brief introduction on cyclones that have affected India in recent times.
Body:
Explain that Cyclone Disaster Management encompasses mitigation and preparedness measures for cyclones. The location of India in the north Indian Ocean makes it vulnerable to the tropical cyclone.
In 2019-20, India witnessed multiple cyclones including Amphan, Nisarga, Nivar, etc. The recent one being cyclone Taukte.
Discuss the importance of cyclone disaster management in India to mitigate personal and economic losses.
Throw light on the India’s cyclone disaster management initiatives from past to present.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Economic Times
Why the question:
Recently, Nirmala Sitharaman handed over the first set of homes that were completed using capital provided by GoI’s Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Investment Fund.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the challenges facing the Indian Real Estate sector owing to the pandemic while analyzing the significance of the SWAMIH scheme to address 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 key data related to Real Estate sector in the country.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Discuss the challenges facing the real estate sector in India; Delayed projects, Funding issues, Failure of Non-Banking Financing Companies (NBFCs), woes of home owners etc.
Then move on to explain the scheme proposed – SWAMIH; SWAMIH fund provides money to projects as a stand-alone entity, not to a builder. The structure of financing is self-compliant. Discuss its salient features.
Conclusion:
Thus, conclude that the SWAMIH fund provides us with an innovative financing structure that must be replicated across several capital-intensive industries.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Case Study
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications
Why the question:
The case study is based on ethical dilemma amidst disaster management and facing public uproar.
Key Demand of the question:
Analyse the case and examine the qualities of a civil servant which will be vital to manage the state of affairs.
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 with details of the case in general.
Body:
Amidst such a situation one’s response to it must be thoughtful, cogent and humane because there are various dilemmas involved. Leaving thousands unattended, when they are completely dependent on government help, would be an act of timidity and self-preservation which is unbecoming of a public servant.
Discuss the qualities of a civil servant which will be vital to manage the state of affairs.
Explain qualities such as – spirit of service, leadership, empathy, power of persuasion, emotional intelligence etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude that need to have a sensitivity of the situation and not blame people for their reactions. Empathy and support is the key to rescue people in problems.
