[MISSION 2022] Insights SECURE 2022 : Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 23 August 2021

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Dear Students,

Hope you all had a productive weekend. Since Mission 2022 began last week, the response has been amazing. A lot of answers written over the past week and many amongst you started their answer writing journey. We are glad.

For our review team, it was very difficult pick out names of the best performers amongst you in terms of quality and consistency in the past week. We had initially planned to pick 3 but finally we had to pick four in the end. It was a tough task to choose four out of so many good answers. It is a happy headache to have. The following are the top performers in Secure Answer writing from the past week:

Sannidhya Sandheer

Amit Kumar Gupta

Saswata Guha

Rahul Yadav

For others, there are plenty of opportunities coming every day and every week. Make sure you write more and better this week. Do not compare yourself with others but make it point that you improve day by day. Team Insights, as always, is with you in your quest.

All the best! 🙂

General Studies – 1

Topic: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

1. When the First World War broke out in 1914, there was a growing demand for self-government among the Indian nationalists and they realised the importance of unity of effort in opposition to the British rule. Comment in the light of Lucknow pact of 1916. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Chapter-14 – A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum Publishers)

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 as mentioned in Mission-2022 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the growing demand of self-government during the first world war which became one of the reasons for the Lucknow pact.

Directive word:

Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Begin the answer by giving the context of split in the Congress into different ideologies namely – moderates and extremists, the rise of Swadeshi and Boycott movements and the formation of All India Muslim League.

Body:

Mention the various major events during the first world war and how British were playing the politics of divide and rule.

Mention the details of need for Lucknow pact and the rising sentiment of self-rule among Indians as they realised that supporting the British in the World war was only causing loss of lives and erosion of Indian revenue and the Muslim league also sensed that the British interests weren’t aligned with their interests in the World war.

Mention the joint demands of the Congress-League alliance as part of the Lucknow pact.

Conclusion:

End the answer by the impact of Lucknow pact on the national movement.

Topic: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

2. Gandhi’s leadership to the movements of peasants and workers paved the way for his larger role in Indian national movement. Following the repressive Rowlatt Act, Gandhi launched his first all India mass Satyagraha in March 1919 and it is considered as the turning point in the movement against the British Raj. Elaborate. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Chapter 14 – India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra.

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 as mentioned in Mission-2022 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about how the successes and learning of Mahatma Gandhi in his early satyagraha led his status of national leader and his first pan Indian movement.

Directive word:

Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.

Structure of the answer:

Begin the answer by describing the Gandhi – the leader of Indian national movement and his leadership style briefly.

Introduction:

Body:

Describe the initial nature of the active participants in the Indian national freedom struggle consisting of middle- and upper-class intelligentsia.

Mention the changes witnessed after the arrival of Gandhi. His initial three localised satyagrahas and how they further added to his credential as the leader of national movement.

Mention the mobilisation of the masses in the nationalist movements and its impact on the nature of outcomes to such mass led movements and the rise of Gandhi in the freedom struggle with respect Rowlatt satyagraha and how it was turning point in the Indian national movement.

Conclusion:

Conclude by highlighting that Gandhi played a key role in bringing majority of the Indian population who were directly exploited by the British, into mainstream freedom struggle.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.

3. Trace the history of how the process of selection of judges to the Supreme Court has evolved in India. The collegium system, though functional is not without flaws. Reforms are needed to ensure highest standards of justice delivery in the apex court. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

For the first time ever, the Supreme Court Collegium led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) recommended/selected as many as nine persons at one go to be appointed to the apex court.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the evolution of the process of the appointment of Judges to the SC and the reforms that are needed to existing collegium system.

Directive word:

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:

Begin the answer by tracing the journey of the process of appointments of the judges to the apex court since independence.

Body:

Mention in brief the three judges’ case and NJAC act, 2014.

Next, write about the reasons which calls for reforms to the existing collegium system. Opaqueness, lack of accountability, lack of representation from weaker sections, slow pace of appointments and lack of public faith etc.

Suggest reforms to overcome the above issues that are affecting the collegium system.

Conclusion:

Mention the importance of efficient, independent and vigilant judiciary for our democracy.

Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

4. India battled the pandemic with the best of its efforts and beyond. However, this also meant that its focus and resources were taken off non communicable diseases (NCD), which also have a high mortality rate. In the light of this statement, analyse how India can deal with the disruption to its NCD services. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has severely tested primary healthcare systems, which perform myriad functions. Maternal healthcare services, immunisation, health surveillance, and the screening and management of NCDs have all been severely disrupted. A WHO survey conducted in May 2020 among 155 countries found that low-income countries were the most affected by this disruption.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about how India can cope up to the disruptions in NCD services due the covid-19 pandemic.

Directive word:

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.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Begin by giving context regarding the disruption caused by the pandemic on the health care functions and fight against various other diseases including the NCD’s.

Body:

Mention about NCD’s, the burden of NCD’s and the reasons as to why they also need to addressed along with the pandemic. Cite facts mentioned in the article to substantiate your points. (Tip: Make a note of facts/figures/data you use in your answers in a separate book/sheet to collect it and use it in your answers and essays in the future)

Write the measures that are needed in this hour to tackle both NCD’s as well as the pandemic. Mention the steps that are needed in the long run as well after the normalcy is restored but burden of NCD’s will continue in the country.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

5. What is central bank digital currency (CBDC)? How does it work? CBDC is slowly gaining momentum and acceptance across the world. Discuss its potential benefits and challenges in India. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Live Mint

Why the question:

RBI Deputy Governor T. Rabi spoke briefly about the central bank’s plan to introduce a digital rupee, or its own version of CBDC, in the near future.

Key Demand of the question:

To explain about CBDC, the technology behind it, its potential benefits and challenges.

Directive word:

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 by explaining the emerging concept central bank digital currency (CBDC)

Body:

In the first part, explain the technology behind CBDC – Blockchain giving rise to secure digital instruments. Also, mention from where CBDC will derive its value from. Mention the growing acceptance of CBDC in India.

Next, write about potential benefits that India can accrue from CBDC. financial inclusion, the cashless society, decrease the cost of printing, expanding the digital economy and empowering citizens etc.

Next, write about potential challenges with regards to CBDC. User adoption, security, complexity, domination by Chinese and Opportunity cost due to RBI’s reluctance etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude with way forward as to how India should step up to CBDC.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

6. What does it mean for one’s duty to be determined by the categorical imperative as propounded by Kant? Explain with examples. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: plato.stanford.edu

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Philosophical Mondays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.

Key Demand of the question:

To explain how one’s duty is determined by Kant’s Categorical Imperative.

Directive word:

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 the basics of Kantian ideology of deontological ethics.

Body:

Explain Kant’s categorical imperative in detail.

Take each maxim of the imperative and write about how one’s duty should be guided by the principles and motivated by it irrespective of the ends, with suitable illustrations. The link between the maxim and one’s duty must be clear.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising the importance of duty according to Kant.

Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

7. Morality would be very shallow and almost meaningless, if the sole moral imperatives were to seek happiness and avoid the miseries for ourselves. Critically Analyse. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: A Practical Approach to Ethics Integrity and Aptitude D.K Balaji.

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Philosophical Mondays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.

Key Demand of the question:

To form a critique of hedonism. (You must remember that in the exam, UPSC may give a short description of the theory rather than name of the theory itself. You should be able to identify it to understand the core demand of the question)

Directive word:

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:

Begin by further elaborating on the theory of hedonism and its idea behind a morally justified action.

Body:

Argue as to how, though according to the theory seeking happiness and avoid the miseries may be morally justified but there may not be any point to that sort of morality which promotes self-interest.

With examples, substantiate on the point that what maybe be good or right for an individual may not be good for the society/community/country. Hence, this sort of morality is meaningless.

Conclusion:

Mention the importance of that we need to think beyond individual happiness especially in the times that we are living in.

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