Posted on January 23, 2020 by Insights Editor
[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 23 January 2020
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Topic: Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
1. Evaluate the impact of Central Asian contacts in moulding socio-cultural, political and economic life of ancient Indian society. (250 words)
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Why this question:
The question is to examine the impact of central Asian contacts on the Indian society.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the impact of central Asian contacts, their impact and effect on the Indian society from past to present.
Directive:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidences. You have to appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming a personal opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Briefly explain that Central Asian contacts led to the fusion of native culture with foreign culture which had impacts in all spheres of life such as moulding socio-cultural, political and economic lives.
In detail explain the impact of various features that affected our culture – Art, literature, architecture, pottery, Societal tensions and religion etc.
Discuss the political impact – the idea of Feudalism, kinship, clans etc.
Then explain the impact on economic life – New trade routes, introduction of gold coins, agriculture etc.
With the entry of the foreigners intimate contacts were established between Central Asia and India. These foreign elements were later Indianized and thus enriching the native culture and society in myriad ways.
2. Present the philosophies of 'Din-i-Ialhi' and 'Sulh-i Kul' that embodied Akbar's administration. How far do you think the present day communal tensions can be addressed through such inclusive religious practices? Explain.(250 words)
History of Medieval India class XI NCERT
The question is from the static portions of GS paper I, and it aims to analyse the Philosophies of 'Din-i-Ilahi' and 'Sulh-i Kul' and its relevance as of today.
Discuss in detail the Philosophies of 'Din-i-Ilahi' and 'Sulh-i Kul' and suggest their relevance to the society as of today.
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.
Explain that Akbar, ruler of most of South Asia in the 16th and early 17th century, rejected bigotry and made unprecedented moves to help non-Muslims feel at peace in his Mughal empire.
Discuss in detail the Philosophies of 'Din-i-Ilahi' and 'Sulh-i Kul'-
Din-i-llahi:
The quest of Akbar culminated in the Tauhid-i-ialhi (the divine monotheism) or Din-i-Illahi, the word Din was applied decades later. In 1582, this religious doctrine which combined mysticism, philosophy and nature worship was
Propounded by Akbar which recognized no prophets. Akbar declared himself the spiritual guide of his subjects. His religion Tauhid-i-illahi favored peace and tolerance.
Then discuss the elements in detail.
Din-i-Illahi was an eclectic doctrine that contained elements from very diverse fields. It overthrew almost every ceremonial rule whether Islam or Muslim, but took the good ideas from the Brahmins as well as from the missionaries and adopted "Sun" as a symbol of the worship of the creator. He started a new Illahi era.
Then discuss the relevance of the two concepts to today's society.
Conclude with importance of such secular and tolerant policies.
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
3. Analyse the Supreme Court's latest decision on the Speaker as the adjudicating authority under the anti-defection law. How far is it justified?(250 words)
In a recent judgment the Supreme Court ended Speakers' freedom to do nothing in disqualification cases. Thus the question.
Discuss in detail the pros and cons of such a judgment. Analyse how far it is justified.
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.
Briefly mention the observations made by the Apex court.
Discuss the two aspects that are clear of the judgment.
The first is that Parliament should replace the Speaker with a "permanent tribunal" or external mechanism to render quick and impartial decisions on questions of defection. Few would disagree with the Court's view that initial fears and doubts about whether Speakers would be impartial had come true. The second is its extraordinary ruling that the reference by another Bench, in 2016, of a key question to a Constitution Bench was itself unnecessary.
Take hints from the article and provide for a detailed analysis of the judgment.
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
4. The right to protest is a fundamental political right basic to our democratic society, Discuss in detail the provisions regarding the right to protest peacefully enshrined in the Indian Constitution.(250 words)
The article argues for the right to protest for the citizens. Thus the question.
Discuss in detail the background of the context of the question, explain why
Right to protest is a fundamental political right basic to our democratic society and then the constitutional provisions relating to it.
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.
Describe the background of the question – Recently, there have been public protests in India against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the proposed National Register of Citizens.
Explain that the government's handling of the protests has invited criticism from certain sections. The administrations have been blamed of arbitrary imposition of section 144.
Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1973 authorizes the Executive Magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area.
Section 144 of CrPC generally prohibits public gathering.
Section 144 has been used in the past to impose restrictions as a means to prevent protests that can lead to unrest or riots.
The administration has defended its actions, as being preventive in nature and to avoid violence and damage to public property.
Discuss the significance of right to protest as a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution.
Conclude by suggesting way forward that the people opposing the CAA have the right to protest and express their opinions. The government needs to acknowledge the right to dissent and protest for all Indians. Notably, Article 19(1)(3) states that the rights are subject to "reasonable restrictions" in the interest of public order. There is the need to ensure there is no violence or damage to public property in the protests.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
5. Gram Sabha-based forest governance is quintessential to sustain management and conservation of forests along with implementation of community forest resource rights under the Forest Right Act of the country. Elucidate.(250 words)
Live Mint
The article discusses in detail the role that Gram Sabhas have to play in managing and conserving forests in the country.
Discuss in what way Gram Sabha-based forest governance is quintessential to sustain management and conservation of forests along with implementation of community forest resource rights under the Forest Right Act of the country.
Elucidate – 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.
Briefly highlight the importance of conserving our forests.
Discuss Role of Gram Sabhas in general.
Explain why they should be given importance in the governance of the forest areas.
More than 300 million people including tribals live in and around forest areas in India, depending on forests for their sustenance and livelihood. Ecological security is the prime objective of National Forest Policy, 1988, but forest-dwelling communities cannot be separated from forests.
Explain that Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 and Forest Right Act, 2006 have gone further to empower gram Sabhas for the management of forest resources.
Take queues from the article and explain in detail the relevance.
Conclude with way forward and reassert that The gram Sabha-based forest governance has to be implemented in a large way to maintain sustainability of forests and improve their quality.
6. Explain why the crisis engulfing nature matters for business and the economies of the world countries? Analyse in the backdrop of recently released nature risk rising report by World Economic Forum (WEF). (250 words)
India Times
The World Economic Forum (WEF) released a report titled Nature Risk Rising, the first in the series of New Nature Economy (NNE) reports. Thus the question.
Discuss in detail the findings of the report; discuss why nature matters to the economies and business of the world. Highlight their importance.
Start with the fact that The World Economic Forum is launching a series of New Nature Economy (NNE) reports in 2020, making the business and economic case for safeguarding nature.
Discuss the details of the report and its key findings – The series of reports is being developed under the umbrella of the Nature Action Agenda (NAA), a platform for committed actors to catalyze public-private momentum in the run-up to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 – in Kunming, China, in October 2020.
The report explains how nature-related risks matter to business and why they must be urgently mainstreamed into risk management strategies.
Around $44 trillion of economic value generation – more than half of the world's total GDP – is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services and is therefore exposed to nature loss.
Together, the three largest sectors that are highly dependent on nature generate close to $8 trillion of gross value added (GVA): construction ($4 trillion); agriculture ($2.5 trillion); and food and beverages ($1.4 trillion), the report says.
Conclude with significance of the report.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
7. Several doubts expressed over recent official statistics in the country, examine if the present national accounting and analytical framework misses out on many key dimensions of a complex economy. Suggest solutions.(250 words)
The article highlights the fact that Reliable and trustworthy data models could improve our chances of improving our economy, amidst several doubts expressed over recent official statistics in the country.
Discuss in detail the recent issues that have been continuously pointed out at the inefficiencies and loopholes in the statistical data. And suggest what needs to be done.
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.
First discuss what the issue is around the statistical data of the country.
Highlight first the facts where doubts were expressed over statistical data like the – Base year for GDP estimation, Employment-unemployment data being withheld etc.
Then move onto discuss the importance of statistical data in general.
Explain what are the major concerns over data
Suggest way forward as to what can be done to resolve the issue.
Conclude that newer solutions should be explored and the country needs to Build more reliance and trust on public data.
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