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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: Indian Express
Why the question:
On this Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, or Vesak — India’s largest statue of the Reclining Buddha was to have been installed at Bodh Gaya. The ceremony has been put off due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the significance of initial Buddhist Stupa art and explain in what way they depicted Buddhist ideals.
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:
Stupas are one of the world’s oldest temples that host mortal remains of Buddhist monks. The structures of the Stupas are designed in a unique manner that depicts the underlying Buddhist philosophy and message.
Body:
Firstly discuss the timeline of the use of Buddhist Stupas.
Comment on the Buddhist philosophy depicted on Stupas. Anda -Anda is the spherical dome that encloses the mortal remains of Buddhist monks preserved for worship by followers. The anda represents the world mountain, which rises through the center of the Buddhist universe. Yasti – The yasti, which rises through the top of the anda, symbolizes the axis mundi, the point at the center of the universe that connects heaven and Earth.
Harmika- The yasti is surrounded by a small fence called the harmika. In Buddhist tradition, fences are used to gate off sacred areas. Torana – The toranas provide the main instructional areas, because they are covered with carvings of religious scenes and tales of the Buddha. Chhatra – The three stone disks on the yasti, called chatras for short, represent the three jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama), the Dharma (the Law) and the Sangha (the monastic community). They’re sometimes also called the Teacher, the Teaching and the Taught.
Conclusion:
Thus, Stupas can be considered as teachings of Buddha depicted in structural form, which not only acts as religious place of worship but helps in propagating message of Buddhism.
General Studies – 2
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Reference: The Print
Why the question:
India recently said the recent political developments in Nepal are its internal matters and it is for the country to deal with them under its own domestic framework and democratic processes.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the impact of Nepal’s political turmoil on India and suggest way forward.
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:
Nepal witnessed fresh political turmoil last week after President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved Parliament following unsuccessful attempts to obtain a majority to form a new government by caretaker Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and opposition leader Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Discuss in detail the political crisis Nepal has been facing off late.
Explain its impact on India in detail.
Elaborate on India’s stance.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way ahead.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Business Standard
Why the question:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has formulated a policy paper titled “Circular Economy in Electronics and Electrical Sector”.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the concept of circular economy. Giving examples, discuss its utility in India.
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:
Circular economy is a concept describing an industrial economy, which produces no wastes and no emissions through its design, considering all the phases of the life cycle of products.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Discuss the concept in detail – CE is an industrial system, which is an alternative to highly extractive and resource-intensive linear economy principle of take-make-dispose.
CE replaces the end-of-life concept and aims at retaining value of resources, products and materials at their highest by keeping them in use as long as possible, minimizing wastage at each life-cycle stage, and extracting the maximum value through reusing, repairing, recovering, remanufacturing and regenerating products and materials at the end of each service value.
Explain the opportunities provided by the CE. Discuss the status of CE in EEE in India. Need for CE approach in India.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance.
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: Indian Express
Why the question:
Dairy industry’s business operations were hit hard as the industry had to navigate the negative effects of the pandemic on logistics, an abrupt change in demand consequently impacting the supply. Thus the context.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the impact of the pandemic on the dairy sector and suggest ways for its holistic improvements.
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 key facts supporting the context of the question.
Body:
Like other food and agriculture sectors in India, the dairy industry has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, existing trends like the transition from the informal to the formal market and sector consolidation have gained momentum.
List down the issues in detail.
Explain that consumers’ increased focus on quality and food safety and the growing need to develop a sustainable supply chain will force dairy companies to carry out multiple activities at a faster pace. This will include a push toward integration and shifting product mix in favor of consumer retail products (versus basic dairy products), while also increasing engagement with farmers to source superior quality milk. This will, in turn, help farmers access the necessary inputs and services to increase their productivity and income sustainably.
Conclusion:
Suggest solutions, hint at the policies proposed by the govt. in this direction and conclude.
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Reference: Economic TImes
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of space exploration.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the evolution of space exploration journey and highlight the emerging challenges while suggesting solutions to address the same.
Directive:
Account – 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 are in agreement with the original proposition.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with key facts on the space age we are living in.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Discuss the significance of space age first. Give recent space endeavors and justify.
Highlight the challenges being faced in achieving these space journey goals.
Suggest what should be the way forward to effectively deal with the concerns..
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: role of media and social networking sites
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of censorship regime in India.
Key Demand of the question:
Account for the evolution of censorship regime in India and throw light upon the current framework governing media content in India.
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 censorship.
Body:
Discuss the history of censorship in India.
The media and entertainment industry has consistently grown and continues to grow at a global level, particularly with the advent of new mediums for distribution, supported by dynamic technological advancements. The Indian market has not only followed this global trend over the years but has also demonstrated enormous potential.
In the recent past, the Indian media and entertainment industry has witnessed a paradigm shift, both, in the volume and demand for varied content as well as in the mediums opted by viewers to access content.
Outline the current regulatory framework for the certification of films, compliances for television programs and also the trends in regulation for OTT media platforms.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of a right framework to regulate media in the country.
General Studies – 4
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. Explain the concept of utilitarianism, illustrate with its use in the government. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of Utilitarianism.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the concept of utilitarianism, illustrate with its use in the government.
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 definition of the concept of Utilitarianism.
Body:
The Utilitarian Approach assesses an action in terms of its consequences or outcomes; i.e., the net benefits and costs to all stakeholders on an individual level. It strives to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number while creating the least amount of harm or preventing the greatest amount of suffering.
The Classical Utilitarians, Bentham and Mill, were concerned with legal and social reform. If anything could be identified as the fundamental motivation behind the development of Classical Utilitarianism it would be the desire to see useless, corrupt laws and social practices changed.
In its political philosophy, utilitarianism bases the authority of government and the sanctity of individual rights upon their utility, thus providing an alternative to theories of natural law, natural rights, or social contract.
Conclusion:
Conclude suitably.
