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.
For Mains Marathon Archives click HERE→
Questions
1) India’s Current reproductive rights regulatory framework needs to be strengthened to ensure complete bodily autonomy, privacy, and inclusivity. Elaborate.
2) GST has been successful in ensuring compliance, inclusivity, and ease of business, besides other benefits. Discuss
Good one, very comprehensive and structured answer. You have adhered to what has been asked in the question and addressed the issues properly.
Some suggestions for minor improvements:
1. Define Bodily Autonomy, ideally in the introduction. Pick definition by global institutions like UNFPA or OHCHR.
2. Do mention some data regarding unsafe abortions. Data points have been provided by WHO Reports and NFHS.
3. Try not to make sweeping statements, (modern vs traditional vis-a-vis States).
4. I felt You might have crossed word limit, try to write smaller sentences. e.g. the sentence, ‘as it is gender biased…..surrogate mothers’ can be rephrased ‘Law is gender biased, excludes LGBTQ+, Surrogate mothers’
Overall very good answer!
Keep writing 🙂
Thank you very much for pointing out mistakes and valuable suggestions. I never got such a comprehensive review before. Very helpful points.Thank you.
please review it and suggests improvements
Some very good points, especially the tax arbitrage. You have listed a lots of points, so fairly comprehensive coverage.
However, in my opinion, the presentation could have been according to the question statement. i.e., rather than classifying in terms of Government, States, Economy, it should have been Compliance, Inclusivity, EoDB and Other benefits (as in the question statement) and list down the respective points.
e.g, in Compliance, You can first write in 1-2 lines what measures resulted in increased compliance, and then tell the benefits (like reduced evasion, higher revenues).
Approach to answer should be to focus on what is asked, not what You know.
In the concluding para, good You mentioned the shortcomings. One point could have been added is concerns regarding many tax slabs, and too many items in higher (18% slab) which is regressive.
Overall good answer, just some minor improvements in structuring needed.
Keep writing 🙂
Thanks for constructive feedback. I am just started writing answer but now i am gaining confidence due to ForumIAS initiative of answer writing. It was my second answer. Will try to focus on shortcomings for better answer writing.
Kindly review.
Please post again, the images are missing.
Pls review and let me know my mistakes.
Good Answer. In terms of content, wide range of points covered.
It would have been better if You could classify the points according to the question statement (compliance, ease of doing business etc.).
Also try to think of measures to keep the content brief, e.g. the Subramaniam Committee Recommendations regarding rate structure could have been put in tabular format (class of goods, proposed rate), would have saved You some repetitive words. (Good that You included this point).
Keep writing 🙂
Okay that’s a good suggestion, I’ll definitely note it. Thanku for the review.
Hello ForumIAS, I would like to know are any models answers of these mains marathon questions?
Yes, we provide reference material,,, but those are not model answers… Please check the links below.
https://blog.forumias.com/mains-marathon-upsc/
Please post answers to different questions as separate comment.
A1. The answer seems very long, Also, there is lot of stuff which you need not include in the GS answer. This approach is very relevant for the essay, but not GS. So you should directly come to the core issue. Here, You should begin with definition of Bodily Autonomy and the current regulatory framework regarding reproductive rights (MTP Act and Surrogacy Act). Highlight shortcomings of both these Acts. Then suggest ways to address these issues.
Try to identify keywords in the question and answer according to those, e.g., here keywords are:
– Regulatory framework of reproductive rights (MTP/Surrogacy Act).
– Bodily autonomy (women still dependent upon opinion of RMP for abortion).
– Privacy (certain provisions reveal identity and impact privacy).
– Inclusivity (transgenders/homosexual couples not covered in these act).
Build your answer along these lines. Try to follow word limit strictly.
Same observations for A2. Try to focus on the core of question; compliance, inclusivity, EoDB and other benefits of GST. Also briefly mention some of the concerns, then give suggestions to address those concerns.
You can refer to answers by other aspirants to see their approach.
Nice handwriting!
Keep writing 🙂
please review
Great answer! Good thing that You also covered Surrogacy Act which most other aspirants missed out. Question is about Reproductive Rights and not just MTP Act.
Some improvements can be done though:
1. Give definition of Bodily Autonomy. Highlight what provisions of MTP Act violate bodily autonomy (dependence on RMP’s opinion; specific conditions must be met for abortion, abortion not a right per se).
2. You have mentioned point related to exclusion of certain groups LGBTQ etc. Title this point under Inclusivity.
3. Some points mentioned in conclusion can be moved in the arguments of the main answer. Concluding part should be more related to way forward/suggestions for improvement etc.
Keep writing 🙂
please review this
Very Nice answer! Structured exactly according to the demand of the question. Almost all points mentioned.
Just one suggestion, don’t mention non-binding nature of recommendations of GST Council as a loophole. It was a thoughtful outcome of Union-State deliberations, the SC has also given similar view. Instead you could have included the high number of items in the 18% slab as regressive which hurt the poor.
Good one overall!
Th
ForumIAS, I am unable to access Essay topics on Saturday. Please guide me for the same!
Thanku