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General Studies – 2
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article talks of the India’s role amidst the ongoing issues between Israel- Palestine.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the role being played by India in detail in the Israel- Palestine issue.
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 brief background of the question.
Body:
The violence started recently, when Palestinian protests began in Jerusalem over an anticipated decision of the Supreme Court of Israel on the eviction of six Palestinian families a neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel’s operation “Guardian of the Walls” began with attacks on Hamas (a fundamentalist Palestinian group) tunnels close to the border fence with Israel.
India has adopted a balanced approach to the current Israeli-Palestine conflict that has pushed the volatile region into yet another cycle of violence.
Present the India’s long-standing position, discuss the dilemma before India.
Discuss the balancing act being played by India.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way ahead.
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 highlights the issues with the Supreme Court judgment in the Maratha reservation case.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the possible implications for the States of the interpretation of the 102nd Amendment by the Supreme Court in the Maratha reservation case.
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:
Discuss first the brief background of the question.
Body:
Recently, the Supreme Court of India declared as unconstitutional a Maharashtra law which provided for reservation to the Maratha community.
Present the primary findings emanated from the judgment.
Then account for the Issues with the judgment.
Justify how the findings run against the values of equality and federalism, which the Court has long regarded as integral to India’s democracy.
Conclusion:
Suggest solutions and conclude.
Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
3. Covid-19 demands a new model of citizen-focused governance, do you agree? Comment. (250 words)
Reference: Times of India
Why the question:
The article explains in detail how Covid demands a new model of citizen-focused governance.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the importance and need of a new model of citizen-focused governance model for the country.
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:
Start with brief introduction of the context of the question.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Explain first why India needs a new model of governance to tackle the menacing challenges from super cyclones to mutating viruses.
Discuss the importance of designing a smart government.
Suggest methods to inculcate better and smart governance.
Conclusion:
Conclude that a smart government is humble and lean, works with evidence-based data, is focused on citizens’ lives and livelihoods and works in partnership with citizens at every level, with a bottom-up rather than top-down approach.
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Reference: Hindustan Times
Why the question:
The article presents to us the new opportunities in India-Africa relations.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the role of India as a balancer and net security provider to Africa.
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 introduction of India-Africa relations.
Body:
Discuss India-Africa Relations from past to present.
Emphasize on the role played by India; India’s foreign policy ideas after Independence impacted African decolonization movements. Historically, Indian traders travelled regularly to the East African coast, forming relationships with local inhabitants in ports leading to the establishment of Africa-based family businesses, some of which exist even today.
This combined with the presence of an influential Indian diaspora has meant that India has meaningful, and positive, relationships with many African countries.
Discuss the need to battle the Chinese influence.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting opportunities that India has in Africa.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
British oil company Cairn Energy Plc is suing Air India in New York to seize its assets to enforce the $1.2 billion arbitration award it won against the Indian government in a retrospective tax dispute. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the concept of Retrospective taxation and the trends in India with respect to it.
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 what you understand by Retrospective taxation.
Body:
Retrospective taxation allows a country to pass a rule on taxing certain products, items or services and deals and charge companies from a time behind the date on which the law is passed.
Countries use this route to correct any anomalies in their taxation policies that have, in the past, allowed companies to take advantage of such loopholes. While governments often use a retrospective amendment to taxation laws to “clarify” existing laws, it ends up hurting companies that had knowingly or unknowingly interpreted the tax rules differently.
Apart from India, many countries including the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Australia and Italy have retrospectively taxed companies, which had taken the benefit of loopholes in the previous law.
Discuss in detail the trends in India.
Conclusion:
Suggest way forward and conclude.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of private Cryptocurrencies and issues related therein.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the nuances of private Cryptocurrencies and discuss the risks associated.
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 Cryptocurrencies are.
Body:
Age of Cryptocurrencies dawned in 2008, the aftermath of global financial meltdown and loss of trust in fiat currencies. Satoshi Nakamoto gave a new peer-to-peer payments system that would bypass the traditional financial system.
Discuss in detail the drawbacks of using cryptocurrency as a currency; Inability to generate liquidity during payments crisis, Immense volatility in prices, Inflationary pressures etc.
Explain the potential Significance of Cryptocurrencies.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
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.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article explains the outdated nature of bureaucracy.
Key Demand of the question:
One is expected to detail upon the Weberian model of traditional bureaucracy and its relevance in today’s times.
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 explaining – COVID-19 has tested the resilience of all public institutions. Despite its efforts, bureaucracy has emerged as a major concern for the ineffective response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Explain first the Weberian bureaucracy; Traditional bureaucracy is still stuck with the leadership of position over leadership of function. Leadership of function is when a person has expert knowledge of a particular responsibility in a particular situation. The role of the leader is to explain the situation instead of issuing orders.
Discuss how Bureaucracy has become an end in itself rather than a means to an end.
Explain the issues and concerns associated – the rigid adherence to rules has resulted in the rejection of innovation etc.
Conclusion:
Take hints from the article and suggest what needs to be done.
