[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing

Practice: 28 November 2019

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General Studies – 2

Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,

significant provisions and basic structure. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence,
determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in
private and public relationships

1) The fiercest, newest methods of justice delivery of naming and shaming cannot
eschew the oldest tenets of ethics. The due process of law must to be followed.
Discuss and present your points in the backdrop of #MeToo movement.(250 words)

The hindu

1/10
Why this question:

Recent incidents have made it evident that not all women had been entirely honest when
jumping on the #MeToo campaign. It turns out that the society at large did not verify the
narratives they received.

Key demand of the question:

One has to discuss the significance of due process of law in the delvery of justice.

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:

In brief highlight the #MeToo movement.

Body:

The #MeToo rewrote the rules of engagement. It forced men to take the idea of consent.

It pushed organizations to sit up and take notice of sexual harassment.

It ensured that due process mechanisms were set up in institutions.

Discuss the concerns posed by such a movement.

Suggest solutions to overcome them.

Conclusion:

Conclude that while addressing the issue of sexual harassment, there is a need to explore
how boundaries with respect to the rules of engagement between the opposite sexes can be
drawn and respected in far more explicit ways by all genders in new-age sexual
relationships. The digital age needs different customs and conventions.

Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and
issues arising out of their design and implementation.

2/10
2) Discuss the key features of PMAY and explain in what way they can incentivise
India’s construction and real estate sector to reduce its traditional obsession with
affluent home buyers in the cities.(250 words)

Reference

Why this question:

The Union Government has launched the Credit-linked Subsidy Services Awas Portal
(CLAP) for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Housing for All (Urban).

Key demand of the question:

One has to explain the importance of PMAY and the significant role it is playing in the
development of the housing sector.

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:

In brief discuss about the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U)

Body:

The answer must capture Significance of the scheme and its role in achieving the
“Housing for All” target, implementational challenges and measures necessary for
achieving the set target.

Also discuss the Key features of the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC).

Narrate the objectives, benefits and issues involved if any.

Conclusion:

Conclude with way forward.

Topic:Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and

responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various
quasi-judicial bodies.

3/10
3) Discuss the role that National Commission for Women in India is able to play
to strategize and tackle the problems that women face at both public and
private spheres. Give reasons in support of your answer.(250 words)

Indian polity by Laxmikanth

Why this question:

The question is from the static portions of the GS paper II polity section.

Key demand of the question:

One must elaborate on the role played by National Commission for Women in India.

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:

In brief provide for the constitutional provisions related to National Commission for
Women in India.

Body:

The question is straightforward and one has to discuss the role that National Commission
for Women in India is able to play to strategize and tackle the problems that women face
at both public and private spheres.

Take help of recent examples to aid your answer and conclude with its significant role.

Conclusion:

Suggest what more needs to be done.

Topic: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and

responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-
judicial bodies.

4/10
4) “For achieving the desired objectives, it is necessary to ensure that the
regulatory institutions remain independent and autonomous.” Discuss in the light
of the experiences in recent past.(250 words)

Indian polity by Laxmikanth

Why this question:

The question is based on the recent situations that arose around the regulatory institutions
with respect to their autonomy.

Key demand of the question:

One has to explain with relevant examples the issues and concerns around the autonomy
of the regulatory institutions.

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:

Bring out the regulatory institutions that were in news recently with the concerns of
autonomy.

Body:

Explain why autonomy is needed for clear functioning of such institutions.

Discuss the concerns involved.

Suggest solutions as to what can be done to overcome the issue and quote suitable
examples.

Conclusion:

Conclude with way forward.

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.

5/10
5) Constitutionally, India is a political community whose citizens avow the idea of
the nation as a civic entity, transcending ethnic differences, explain the statement
in the backdrop of controversies around the citizenship bill.(250 words)

The hindu

Why this question:

The question is based on the Home Minister’s declaration of a nationwide NRC during
the parliamentary session.

Key demand of the question:

One has to explain the idea of citizenship that transcends idea of the nation as a civic
entity and the ethnic differences.

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:

Provide for a background of the question, explain the context of NRC.

Body:

Explain The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register maintained by the

Government of India containing names & certain relevant information for the
identification of Indian citizens.

Discuss the concerns involved.

Highlight the idea of citizenship that is reflected in the Indian constitutional debates.

Conclusion:

Conclude with way forward.

General Studies – 3

Topic:Disaster and disaster management.

6/10
6) India being one of the most flood affected nations in the world requires
strong and healthy coordination between Centre and States for long term flood
management. Analyse.(250 words)

Financialexpress

7/10
 Why this question:

The article highlights the fact that Floods constitute 52% of all natural disasters in India.
Thus the question aims to assess the need and significance of coordination between Centre
and States for long term flood management in the country.

Key demand of the question:

One must explain the importance of coordination between Centre and States for long term
flood management.

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:

In brief quote data suggesting the flood scenario in the country.

Body:

Explain that As per the National Emergency Response Centre (NIDM), 1,614 people were
killed and 1.8 million displaced (as on September 25, 2019) in 14 states. Widespread
floods have also damaged crops, houses and infrastructure.

India is one of the most flood-affected nations in the world, after Bangladesh. Floods
constitute 52% of all natural disasters in India, and the costliest as well, with over 63% of
all damages attributed to it. Between 1980 and 2017, 70,901 people were killed, 1,395
million affected, and 56 million houses damaged due to floods.

Discuss the causative factors, suggest what methods are required to overcome them and
highlight the importance of healthy relations between centre and state to overcome the
same.

Conclusion:

Conclude with way forward.

General Studies – 4

8/10
 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) In light of rapidly changing societal dynamics, examine the role of educational

institutions in shaping the future of children especially when rise in crime among
children has lately been observed. (250 words)

9/10
Why this question:

The article examines the role of educational institutions in shaping the future of children
amidst rising crime against them in our society.

Key demand of the question:

One has to bring out the role of educational institutions in shaping the future of children in
our society.

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:

In brief narrate that the Educational institutions in our society are of considerable
importance. They shape the attitude of children and

Prepare them in behaving in a certain manner. They also help children to realize their
social goals by inculcation of cultural and social values.

Body:

Discuss first the changing societal dynamics; nuclear families and

working parents not being able to give enough attention to the children, at a time when
social media and technology is burdening the childhood with excess information,
importance of schools have become even

More. E.g. – Blue whale game challenge leading children to commit suicide.

Then move on to discuss the role educational institutions play.

Conclusion:

Conclude writing the importance of future of children.

10/10