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General Studies – 2
Topic: Introduction and Evolution of India’s Foreign Policy
Reference: mea.gov.in
Why the question:
The question is from the static portions of GS paper II , part India’s foreign policy.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the key features of India’s foreign policy since its inception.
Directive:
Elaborate – 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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
From the late 1920s on, Jawaharlal Nehru, who had a long-standing interest in world affairs among independence leaders, formulated the Congress stance on international issues. As Prime Minister from 1947, Nehru articulated India’s approach to the world.
Body:
The guiding principles of India’s Foreign Policy have been founded on Panchsheel, pragmatism and pursuit of national interest. The five principles of peaceful coexistence or Panchsheel was evolved during talks between India and the People’s Republic of China in 1954.
Explain the principles in detail.
Highlight in what way they are still relevant.
Discuss the different phases of it.
Conclusion:
Conclude that in the current phase of geopolitical transformation, India needs to follow an approach of working with multiple partners on different agendas. Therefore, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is relevant in foreign policy.
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Recently, The EU Digital Covid Certificate, or the “green pass” as it is popularly known, has been created to restore freedom of travel for the public and remove the barriers on entry placed due to the pandemic. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the concept of Green passport and explain in what way it is discriminatory.
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:
Start with what is the ‘green pass’ which will ease travel restrictions across EU.
Body:
The EU Digital Covid Certificate, or the “green pass” as it is popularly known, has been created to restore freedom of travel for the public and remove the barriers on entry placed due to the pandemic.
It is a digital proof that a person has either been vaccinated against Covid-19, or received a negative test result, or recovered from the viral infection. The document is valid across all EU countries.
While the “green pass” is expected to make the experience of travel hassle-free for people by doing away with restrictions, it is not absolutely compulsory.
The ‘vaccine passport’ has been largely touted to be a ticket back to normalcy, but it has given rise to larger concerns over intrusion, privacy and a curb on the right to free movement.
Discuss the concerns in detail.
Conclusion:
Conclude that with vaccine coverage as a percentage of population in developing countries still low compared to developed countries, such an initiative could prove to be highly discriminatory.
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
As part of the U.S.’s plan to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by September 11, the U.S. troops departed from the Bagram Air Base that had helped coordinate its long drawn war in Afghanistan. This effectively marks the end of their military operations in the country.
Key Demand of the question:
Critically analyse the impact of withdrawal of American troops from the Afghan region.
Directive:
Critically 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. 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:
Start with brief background of the question.
Body:
In a bid to end its war in Afghanistan, the US reached a deal with the Taliban in February 2020. The deal dealt with four aspects of the conflict — violence, foreign troops, intra-Afghan peace talks and the use of Afghan soil by terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Discuss the associated concerns in detail; Stalemate between Taliban and Afghan government, continued violence etc.
Throw light on India’s stakes as well.
Conclusion:
Conclude with the impact and its effect on India.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
The article suggests focusing on improving productivity and thereby the manufacturing sector to avoid the middle-income trap. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the concept of Middle income trap and explain how India can avoid the middle income trap.
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 what you understand by Middle income trap.
Body:
This trap was first conceived by World Bank economists. They found that of the 101 developing economies that could be classified as ‘middle income’ in 1960, only 13 managed to become rich nations by 2008. There is little consensus on why some countries succeed in making the transition to high-income status.
But a distinctive attribute of those that succeed in the transition to high income is productivity improvement.
Suggest how India can avoid middle-income trap.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions.
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:
The article brings to us the significant role that the private sector holds in developing the dairy sector in the country.
Key Demand of the question:
By highlighting the role of milk cooperatives explain the significant role that the private sector can play in improving the growth of Dairy sector.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with some key facts on Dairy sector in the country.
Body:
Briefly present the backdrop of Operation floods and in what way private sector played a key role therein.
Explain why Private players are essential to Dairy sector. Take hints from the article and explain in what way it supports the Dairy ecosystem.
Give examples and highlight the significance.
Conclusion:
Conclude with suitable solutions.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
6. Deliberate how Rooftop rainwater harvesting methods can ease India’s water woes. (250 words)
Reference: Down to Earth
Why the question:
The article brings to us the importance of Rooftop rainwater harvesting methods.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in what way Rooftop rainwater harvesting methods can ease India’s water woes.
Directive:
Deliberate – 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 agree with the original proposition.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by explaining that India’s rapid urban growth is expected to stress its already crumbling base of public service arrangements — especially its management of water and sanitation services, whose safe and reliable availability proved to be the first line of defence against this covid pandemic.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Discuss the concept of Rooftop Rainwater harvesting; It is the technique through which rainwater is captured from the roof catchments and stored in reservoirs. Harvested rainwater can be stored in sub-surface groundwater reservoirs by adopting artificial recharge techniques to meet the household needs through storage in tanks.
Present the water stress issues in the country.
Discuss the importance of rooftop harvesting.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications
Why the question:
The question is based on the aspects of determining Ethics in State policies and its actions.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in what way the determination of ethics in state policies and actions is not stress-free because every policy and action has both positive and negative aspects seen from different stakeholders’ perspectives.
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 the introduction first talk about the determination of ethics in state policies and actions in general.
Body:
Explain first that, state as the highest executive authority is required to perform administrative, legal and regulatory functions. Broadly, state actions and policies need to be in confirmation with the constitution, laws, judicial pronouncements, international conventions and treaties. However, there isn’t a necessary positive correlation between the legality of an outcome and its ethicality.
Discuss with examples in what way depending upon the circumstances and requirements, views of different stakeholders may not be in consonance with each other.
Give arguments to support the statement along with suitable examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude that State policies and actions must only be assessed in context of the requirements of the time and in light of them falling within the legal and constitutional framework.
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