Good Morning Friends,
Following are today’s Mains Marathon Questions.
About Mains Marathon – This is an initiative of ForumIAS to help/aid aspirants in their writing skills, which is crucial to conquering mains examination.
Every morning, we post 2-3 questions based on current affairs. The questions framed are meaningful and relevant to the exam.
Write your answers in the comment box, given below.
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Questions
1.) To bring the best out of its demographic dividend, India needs to invest massively in quality schools and higher education, as well as healthcare. Discuss
2.) Highlight the significance of the newly established Infrastructure Finance Secretariat (IFS).
Excellent! In the introduction, mention the data related the requirement for infrastructure investment in India, perhaps target of Gati Shakti. This would set the tone why a specialized body is required to drive.
thank you for the review,
about the data all i know that infrastructure costs in india about 12-13% of GDP compared to 8% of global average.
will this be relevant to this question? i thought this might become more specific?
can this be stated in introduction?
No, this is not what I’d in mind. It’s better not to mention anything, than to write something irrelevant because it sends wrong signal as if trying to bluff the examiner.
I’m unable to recall, there was some report which mentioned India’s investment need in infrastructure sector over the next decade including in urban infra. Figure was ~2-3 trillion US$, not sure. Idea was to link the argument that such huge investment requires specialized expertise for proper management.
Good answer! However, before enumerating the need for investments in education/healthcare, briefly define what is demographic dividend. Also highlight that is it is a narrow window in the demographic transition. To realize it, the population must be productive (i.e., healthy and education, absence of which will reduce the productivity). Other points are relevant and seem good. Healthcare could have been elaborated a bit more.
ok understood, I will keep in mind to start the intro with definition followed by stats.
thank you for the review.
Well structured! You began with relevant data and then provided the definition as well. You have elaborated the need for investments in education and health, but I feel You could have pointed this out right after defining demographic dividend. Content under need for health and education can be improved, e.g., You can quote the job requirement (article mentions India’s potential workforce at 1 billion in next 2 decades) and highlight how current deficiencies in India’s education and health infrastructures pose hurdle to realize this dividend. Suggestions under other approaches are nice!
Add the definition of demographic dividend in the introduction while highlighting that to realize this dividend, the population must be healthy and educated to work productively. Also there must be meaningful job opportunities. Then you can shift to the gaps in India’s current health/education set-ups which you have done. Rest seems nice!
Thank you.
Hey! I want to suggest something about this as I also have the same problem. So lately, I have started to write very small points like skill, education etc. on a rough sheet just after reading the question. It has helped me to structure the content as well. Although it takes some extra time but I believe within a few months we can write better ans without missing any imp points.
It may or may not work for you. But give it try!
Thank you so much for the idea
These are very good suggestions by @chandan Kushwaha@radhajatav:disqus and @chandan KushwahaRuchi
The idea of answer writing is to condition your mind to be able to identify the theme of the question, and distinguish what is relevant and irrelevant. Writing will help you express your thoughts within word limit.
It’s alright if you are taking time to think and write at this moment. With consistent practice, your brain will be conditioned to think that way, at that point of time you can start thinking about time management as well.
Also keep on revising stuff at frequent intervals, it will improve your ability to recall stuff. May be keep Sunday aside only for weekly revision.
Thank you for your continuous support and guidance. It helps me a lot to improve.
When I started writing the answer, I had the same idea of defining demographic dividend after the intro.
But after finishing introduction, I forgot to define it and continued with rest part.
Also I thought of mentioning need for skill development and skill india mission.I forgot that too.
This is my major problem in answer writing. Remembers many points but not able to produce on paper. Can you please suggest a solution.
You can brainstorm before writing. Write 5-6 point in every subheading of the question as a rough work. Then utilize those terms, schemes, programmes, definition, data in the writing. I don’t know whether it will work for you or not, it is working for me.
Thank you for helping out
The answer is very good in some aspects, e.g. you have defined what demographic dividend is, use of simple diagrams to elaborate the arguments.
Some suggestions:
1. While you have provided data from UN Report, be mindful of its relevance. Here the question is about India and India’s demographic dividend, so more appropriate data would have been India’s population numbers/proportion of youth or working age or dependence ratio which is favorable for economic growth. You can also mention that demographic dividend window is limited within which the benefits must be realized.
2. Similarly, while making arguments for need for health/education highlight the gaps in India’s situation at present, like poor learning outcomes, lack of skills, poor status of health outcomes (stunting/anaemia) etc.
3. In way forward, you can provide some other suggestions beyond health and education e.g., some aspirant had mentioned need to improve women labour participation.
Please review and let me know my mistakes
Great Answer! One aspect You could have addressed is the gap in India’s health and education infra at present, and how they are a potential roadblock in realizing the dividend.
Okay noted!
Thanks for the review
Please review and comment
Excellent! Very comprehensive. You could have added a bit about poor status of healthcare and how disease burden impact economic productivity.
In suggestions, its good you have mentioned the need for job creation. However, suggestion could have been to increase job creation in manufacturing through appropriate policy interventions. Rest all is great!
Thanks…
Very nice ans!
Thanks
Great answer! The use of population pyramids is great! They could be shifted though, put them right after You have defined demographic dividend.
In the point related to growth of agriculture, I think, inadequate growth of manufacturing is more appropriate (because of which transition to jobs in manufacturing hasn’t happened). Agriculture by nature can’t produce many jobs, too many people employed in agriculture, as in India, only limit productivity and lower income levels. Rest seems good.
Keep track of the word limit.
I have mentioned about industrial base in the hurdle section along with unplanned urbanisation.
Good attempt! You have listed out the issues with our health/education systems in detail. But You have missed out on linking these issues with demographic dividend.
You can begin by giving a simple definition, and how India’s demographic transition provides a window to boost economic growth (quote share of working age population or dependency ratio etc.)
Link the realization of demographic dividend being contingent upon adequate livelihood opportunities and a healthy/skilled workforce to exploit these opportunities.
Then come to the gaps and way forward You have described.
Please Review
Please Review
Good answer! You have linked poor human capital with failure to reap demographic dividend, which is good. To the point arguments, within word limit.
The definition of demographic dividend can be improved a bit to include the higher proportion of working-age population. You can quote relevant data like the proportion of this population, or the time-limit till the productive window exists.
Thanks, will include it from next time