[MISSION 2023] Insights SECURE : Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 2 December 2022

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General Studies – 1

Topic: geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

1. Discuss the salient features of Coral Reefs. Throw light on their location and distribution. How to protect corals from major threats that could have deleterious effects on its inherent characteristics? (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India , Insights on India

Why the question: 

A joint report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre (WHC) expressed concern about the status of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia, recommending that it “be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”

Key Demand of the question:

To write about characteristics of coral reefs, its distribution and threats they face and steps needed to prevent them.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining coral reefs.

Body:

First, in detail write about the salient features of coral reefs, its formation and types.

Next, with a help of a small representative map show their distribution across the planets.

Next, write about the major natural and anthropogenic threats to coral ecosystems across the world. Cite examples. Write about the steps that are needed to protect them.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward. 

General Studies – 2

Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.

2. Examine the implications of China’s debt trap diplomacy on India and its neighbourhood. How can India offset the instability created by the Chinese foreign debt? (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

As Sri Lanka works hard to obtain financing assurances from its diverse creditors — a pre-requisite for the provisional $2.9 billion-IMF package — the loans obtained from China, the island nation’s largest bilateral lender, have come under sharp focus.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about implications of China’s debt trap diplomacy and measures needed against it.

Directive word: 

Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate 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 by defining debt trap diplomacy.

Body:

In the first part, write about how debt trap diplomacy and the country get financially trapped. Cite examples to substantiate.

Next, write about the implications of debt trap diplomacy on India – Proxy government, hostile neighbours, threats to India’s internal security.

Next, write about the implications of debt trap diplomacy on India – violations of sovereignty, neo-colonialism, loss of economic independence, crisis and instability. Cite examples to substantiate.

Next, write about the measures that India must take in order to offset the impact of the above.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

General Studies – 3

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

3. Elaborate upon the factors affecting the GDP growth post the economy’s recovery from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Enumerate measures to withstand the current global headwinds and predicted headwinds in the upcoming year and have a sustained rate of growth.  (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

The latest official GDP estimates show the economy’s expansion decelerated in the July-September period, dragged down by year-on-year and sequential contractions in manufacturing and mining and a broad slowdown in private consumption expenditure and government spending. Gross domestic product is projected to have grown by 6.3% from the year-earlier period, a sharp deceleration from the 13.5% expansion posted in the first quarter and July-September 2021’s 8.4% pace.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the factors affecting GDP growth post covid-19 and measures needed to tackle

Directive word: 

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

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining GDP.

Body:

First, write about the various factors that drove the GDP growth and the economic recovery in the post-Covid period.

Next, give context about the potential global factors that may adversely affect India’s GDP – Ukraine crisis, Climate change, Predicted recession etc.

Next, suggest step that are needed to be taken in order to overcome the above.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

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

4. Explain the mechanism behind the functioning of e-rupee? What are the types of e-rupee? What are the advantages associated with it? (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Indian Express

Why the question:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday launched the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) — digital rupee or e-rupee (e₹) — for the common man.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the benefits of e-rupee and analyse its potential as a digital currency and future digital currencies.

Directive word: 

Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Start the answer by giving context.

Body:

Write about the mechanism on which the e-rupee works and explain the with examples.

Next, write about the various types and e-rupee and their features.

Next, write about the advantages offered by e-rupee over traditional currency and other forms of payment.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

5.  Road safety and environmental sustainability are closely intertwined concepts. Being cognisant of the latter while working on the former is the need of the hour. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

The impact of road safety goes a long way. In addition to ensuring an easier, comfortable, and more secure commute, safer roads also have a positive impact on the environment. In 2021, India reported 4,03,116 crashes, each of which adversely impacted the environment in various ways and in different degrees. Most vehicles contain toxic metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium or hexavalent chromium, which are detrimental to the environment.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the interlinks between road infrastructure and environmental sustainability, causes behind increasing road accidents and measures need to improve road safety.

Directive word: 

Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Start by giving statistic relate to road safety in the country.

Body:

Frist, write about the interlinks between road infrastructure and environmental sustainability

write about the various measures that have been taken in the recent past to improve the road infrastructure in the country.

Next, write reasons behind increasing road accidents – poor quality, lack of air bags, information deficit, overburdened roads etc.

Next, write about ways to reduce the road accidents and casualties due to it.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

General Studies – 4

Topic: ethics – in private and public relationships.

6. In your opinion, what are the five ethical principles that should govern private relationships. Why do you think they are important? (150 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Insights on India

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about ethical principles that should govern private relationships and their importance.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Start by giving context of private relationships.

Body:

First, write about the five ethical principles that should govern private relationships according to you – Care and Affection, Fidelity, Confidentiality, Truthfulness, Responsibility & Accountability, Tolerance and acceptance of minor imperfections etc.

Next, write about why the above mentioned principles are important.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Topic: Case Study

7. We’ll probably look back on 2022 as the year generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) exploded into public attention, as image-generating systems from OpenAI and Stability AI were released, prompting a flood of fantastical images on social media. Last week, researchers at Meta announced an AI system that can negotiate with humans and generate dialogue in a strategy game called Diplomacy. Venture capital investment in the field grew to $1.3 billion this year, according to Pitchbook, even as it contracted for other areas in tech.

The digital artist Beeple was shocked in August when several Twitter users generated their own versions of one of his paintings with AI-powered tools. Similar software can create music and videos. The broad term for all this is ‘generative AI’ and as we lurch to the digital future, familiar tech industry challenges like copyright and social harm are re-emerging.

Earlier this month, Meta unveiled Galactica, a language system specializing in science that could write research papers and Wikipedia articles. Within three days, Meta shut it down. Early testers found it was generating nonsense that sounded dangerously realistic, including instructions on how to make napalm in a bathtub and Wikipedia entries on the benefits of being Caucasian or how bears live in space. The eerie effect was facts mixed in so finely with hogwash that it was hard to tell the difference between the two. Political and health-related misinformation is hard enough to track when it’s written by humans.

1. 1. What are the ethical issues in the above case?
   2. Can we have ‘ethical AI’?
   3. Suggest measures that must be taken to prevent moral damage that can from AI.

Difficulty Level: Tough

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Start by giving the context.

Body:

In the body, Write about the various ethical issues in the above case study.

Next, write about your opinion on the ethicality of AI and how it can be ethical and how it is not possible it be ethical. Cite examples to substantiate.

Next, write about moral hazards that posed by AI and suggestions to prevent them from happening.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

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