Q1 Discuss the impact of Covid-19 on Society. What new social problems has arisen out of it? ( GS 1 )
Negative impacts of the COVID-
1. Financial burden on the families of daily wage workers, vendors etc.
2. Hostilities against the people with travel history and Corona warriors such as doctors, nurses, pilots etc being shown by their landlords or their neighbours.
3. Panic buying leading to actual shortage of goods.
4. Due to migrants workers returning to their villages- defeminization of agriculture.
5. Since Schools not opening, MDM also affected and thus the hidden hunger issue rising up.
6. Cases of domestic violence and child abuse increasing.
7. Increased uncertainty, stress and anxiety - leading to more mental health related issues.
8. Migrant workers badly affected - unable to go to their village - dying of hunger, road accidents, heat strokes.
9. Since lesser expenses - no transport being used, energy requirements less, the personal disposable income increasing. Also the govt. need extra measures to cater to vulnerable section and to boost the economy - FD will increase.
10. The PwDs facing lot more issues due to the lack of availability, accessibility and affordability of the health care services. The stigma associated with COvid - stopping the people from being helpful, since many require human manual support.
Positives-
1. Environment impact.
2. Social institutions like family bond etc - getting stronger since more time with family.
3. Elders being taken care of.
4. The savings increasing.
4. Behavioral change in people - towards the street vendors, house help, doctors, nurses, house wives etc.
5. The duty enshrined in the FD i.e. to ensure harmony and brotherhood among its citizens - being reassured.
Way forward -
1.The DBT is proving helpful in the current situation, but the district administration need to make sure, those not having the Jan dhan account - also are addressed.
2. The MDM as being continued in states - the concerned authority need to make sure it reaches all those who are enrolled, keeping in mind the 2 gaz ki doori principle.
3.Call centers can be made active and reach out to those suffering from domestic violence, child abuse or depression.
4. The migrants workers who are stranded, can be made to stay in the closed schools or other public places - till the time proper arrangements for their transport aren't made.
The hostilities being shown against the corona warriors and against the people returning from abroad - seems relatively a whole new problem- but this seems to be a temporary issue. However the intensified version of all the already existing social issues need to be addressed with a better approach as well.
While your answer has good points, my suggestion would be to structure it better.
Impact On society - create subheadings and subpoints - Women/Labour/Children/Elderly/Disabled etc.
Similarly for social problems.
I think it would reflect more clarity of thought.
In this answer I am most likely to not read post point 3.
Point 3 was allegorical. But yes, an examiner burdened with 100 copies isn't going to read 20 points. An answer needs to be made presentable.
Every candidate has similar points. What differentiates a Dabi from a Tabi is the way the answer is written. Esp in such questions wherein you've multiple stakeholders, impact areas.
It's just a suggestion. I may be wrong.
Point 3 was allegorical. But yes, an examiner burdened with 100 copies isn't going to read 20 points. An answer needs to be made presentable.
Every candidate has similar points. What differentiates a Dabi from a Tabi is the way the answer is written. Esp in such questions wherein you've multiple stakeholders, impact areas.
It's just a suggestion. I may be wrong.
Baaki sab samjh aaya first sentence ko chor kar.
Just a way to put it. I am not specifically referring to Point 3.
Point 3 was allegorical. But yes, an examiner burdened with 100 copies isn't going to read 20 points. An answer needs to be made presentable.
Every candidate has similar points. What differentiates a Dabi from a Tabi is the way the answer is written. Esp in such questions wherein you've multiple stakeholders, impact areas.
It's just a suggestion. I may be wrong.
+1
Tabi and dabi, how did you make that up?
:p
Can anyone please point out to reasons why sex ratio is so poor in states of Haryana and Punjab?
@Yo_Yo_Choti_Singh Sir any pointers?
Many pointers can be given here.
1) Sanskritization - it's a process whereby lower rung of society tries to emulate practices of the higher rung.
2) Patriarchal Society
3) Reproductive Choices - i.e Presence of sex determination technology is misused for killing the female fetus.
4) Misuse of Modern Science - i.e. abortion has to be used in rare situations and not as a weapon against females.
5) Societal Pressure - society looks down girl chile as a burden due to lack of sanitation facilities, dowry, etc.
6) Breakdown or lethargy of Administration - to work at the village level to prevent this malpractice.
7) Traditional Institutions - like Khap Panchayat which shields this malpractice from the law and order agencies.
8) Unethical Conduct - by medical professionals who have made it abortion as a business at the local level.
-Agriculture dominated society - demand for physical work.
-Concept of Martial Race historically, prevalence today as well - enrolment in armies etc.
@upsc2020 agri can be feminised 2 no and in same way army s opening more up 2 othr gender??
That's the way forward. But feminization of agriculture is something we see more predominantly in eastern states. Haryana Punjab are yet to witness it - statistically.
@upsc2020 It will be convenient if you could specify if the question is 10 or 15 marker. Helps in framing the answer appropriately.
Apologies. Sure.
The challenges faced post lockdown ranged from debate over size of class and number of students, examination mode, mode of classes etc. This led to few educational institutes leveraging e-learning to resolve the issues.
How e-learning can resolve educational challenges
1. Deeper access into hinterland as no geographical barrier
2. Affordability with inexpensive data and rise of smartphones connections
3. Quality improvement via using interactive online quiz and games for better learning outcome
4. Promote equity as no discrimination within class. Eg As faced by minorities student when enrolled in private school via RTE
Issues with e-learning
1. Digital divide between rich and poor will have disproportionately impact on poor’s educational needs
2. Classroom is a space of socialisation for child. Eg Learning fraternity, social interaction
3. ASER report 2019 showcases disadvantages of online learning on girl child due to lower access and opportunity at home
The need is to leverage online education not as an alternative to school, but incorporate it within curriculum. Government steps of e-pathshala and diksha portal are steps in right direction to resolve accessibility issue.
- Wouldn't you agree/disagree to the statement and then present both sides ?
You've covered everything, just presenting an alternate way of putting it across with some data.
Issues with E learning:
1. Providing equity in access of bandwidth and technology - TRAI report - only 34 per cent of the total population had access to the Internet in 2017. The figure carries a vast gender disparity and rural urban division.
2. Lack of immediate availability of adequate numbers of trained manpower and mindset of both the facilitators (teachers/content e experts & taught is going to take some time in coping with the adaptability.
Conclusion:
To ensure accessibility for all, it is important to look for the judicious mix of Open Educational Resources along with delivery of education via television/satellite.
Appropriate use of OER, SWAYAM platform and integrating e-library besides encouraging the faculty to create content for Social Media, contribute on MOOCS, develop Moodle Cloud contents etc.
“Discuss some of the strategies that India can adopt to dismantle the covert and overt threats from non-state actors” (150 words)
Although it's not a difficult question, it stumped me. I wasted quite a bit of time just framing the answer.
Non State actors and threats from them - divide into covert and overt
Strategies that can be adopted by India
Conclusion
Passing this one.
some pointers
1. Introduction- define non state actors. Eg NGO, pressure groups etc
2. Body
A. Overt threats
- IB report notes 2-3% loss to gdp due to protest and stalling of developmental project.
- Promoting inciting speech and radicalising youth. Eg Zakir Naik’s Peace TV
B. Covert threats
- source of trafficking of arms, drugs, people
- exporting terrorist. Eg JeM
- implementing vested interest. Eg Compassion international engaged in conversions to Christianity
3. Strategies
- Using Darpan portal as a means to check legality and genuineness of NGO’s
- Implementation of FRCA to watch flow of illegal funds/foreign funds
- Strengthening intelligence agency, community awareness and legal remedies against such association
- Good governance ensuring welfare society, to reduce scope of non state actors and their functions
4. Conclusion - Proactive measures need to be taken to protect unity and integrity of India while also promoting pluralistic society. Government must be careful to not paint all non state actors in same light. Eg Pratham, there must be rule based and evidence based action.
Thanks ! great inputs.
How far do you agree with the view that administration in India requires specialists instead of generalists?
-
In questions like these, we have to take sides. How to make what side to choose? Should it be subjective? ( like I think that pros of generalists outweigh specialist then I should conclude by giving importance to generalists).
Or should it be balanced views? ( like generalists are more preferable but even if govt recruits specialist would be fine. etc.)
Which type of answers would garner more marks?
Balanced.
The management of public affairs isto be learnt by working in the field; coupled with a sense of dedication, professionalism, and experience from years of working as a field officer and in the secretariat, which are the key requirements to make an administrator.
However, due to growing demands oftechnical specialization, as recommended by 2nd ARC, the govt should resort to lateral recruitment to provide the right balance. They are of vital importance to provide high quality technical inputs, and raise the quality of approach to complex issues.
While there is stress on continuous training to learn specializations, lateral recruits also ought to be exposed to field postings in order to be in sync with the ground realities. The increasing need for both scientific concepts and theories as well as experiential knowledge have made the dichotomy of generalist vs. specialist meaningless. What they need is high level intellectual ability, commitment anddetermination to accomplish the desired results.
Criminalization of Politics
- February 2020 Supreme Court judgment by Justice Nariman on criminalisation in politics will first be implemented in the Bihar elections in October 2020.
- Last week’s encounter killing of Uttar Pradesh-based don Vikas Dubey by the State police brings into focus once again the nexus between politicians and criminals and has sparked off a wider debate.
Previous Reforms initiated to curb CoP:
1. Association for Democratic Reforms(ADR) v. Union of Indian, 2002: SCmade it obligatory for all candidates to file an affidavit before the returning officer, disclosing criminal cases pending against them.
2. PUCL v. Union of India, 2013: SC upheld the constitutional right of citizens to cast a negative vote in elections.
3. NOTA
4. Lily Thomas v. Union of India, 2013: SC struck down unconstitutional Section 8(4) of RPA 1951 that allowed convicted lawmakers a 3 month period for filing appeals to the higher court and to get a stay on the conviction and sentence.
5. Public Interest Foundation and Ors. v Union of India, 2014: SC directed all subordinate courts to decide on cases involving legislators within an year, or give appropriate reasons for not doing so to the CJ of HC.
What will the impact of pandemic of types of questions this year?
Want your views,
1. Disaster Management
2. Migration , Reverse migration
3. Globalized world and free movement
4. International Trade relations amidst disaster
5. Online education - I foresee an essay here.
6. E commerce - again essay
7. Role of WHO and such bodies
Etc..
@rashiv Would you want to suggest topics for making brief pointers?For GS 2- comparing Indian president with American president (since it is election year + comes under comparing constitutions)
For GS 3- a radical suggestion. Before prelims, there was an initiative where few students got together and compiled notes of 1year of Down to Earth. Willing participant chose 1 month each and they got it done. Maybe we could do that for NITI Aayog 3 year plan
Is 3 year AP worth the effort?
@rashiv Would you want to suggest topics for making brief pointers?For GS 2- comparing Indian president with American president (since it is election year + comes under comparing constitutions)
For GS 3- a radical suggestion. Before prelims, there was an initiative where few students got together and compiled notes of 1year of Down to Earth. Willing participant chose 1 month each and they got it done. Maybe we could do that for NITI Aayog 3 year plan
Is 3 year AP worth the effort?
I had made notes of the NITI strategy document quite a while back.
Attaching it to cut down some efforts here.
P.S. The notes have been divided into two documents with relevant portions from gs 2 and 3 respectively.
P.P.S. Advance apologies for the excessive clumsiness.
gs2 niti summary.pdfThat's very well summarized. :) Thank you.
Please suggest me how to prepare Gs2 (I appeared in mains 2019 and got very less marks-75 , please help me), kindly mention sources also.
1. Practice writing answers
2. Read about issues (pros-cons- way forward)
3. Get a grip on the terminology. Link answers to constitution, constitution's values, SC judgements.
4. End an answer on a +ve note, with a suggestion as far as possible.
Sources:
Newspaper, your own notes, any good GS2 compilation (Vision/Forum)
To guys who have given mains earlier. I cleared prelims by just analysing and preparing stuff around last 10 PYQ. Can it be done for Mains too? Like I pick up last 6 yrs questions and mug and understand the relevant topics..
Not really for 1,2, 3. Please stick to mains syllabus and the dynamic issues around it. You could however, use this strategy to see trend of questions. For example, questions asked under the topic of migration, History.
However, use gs 4 questions for Answer writing practice.
Can anyone tell breakup and important issues one should study for the topic - Govt policies and intervention in various sector.
I could think of NEP( education), Farm bills( Agri), in industry coal , Telecom, labour reforms....and other myriads of topics. If anyone can add and tell source to prepare ?
The sectors you can identify from Niti Aayog strategy Document. And then prepare the current issues around it. Primarlu idea should be:
1. Where we stand currently wrt that sector, Current problems/gaps in that sector
2. New interventions in sector - eg: online schooling in education sector
3. Steps taken by the Government
4. What more can be done?
5. Best practices if any?
6. World examples of best practices
Please suggest me how to prepare Gs2 (I appeared in mains 2019 and got very less marks-75 , please help me), kindly mention sources also.1. Practice writing answers
2. Read about issues (pros-cons- way forward)
3. Get a grip on the terminology. Link answers to constitution, constitution's values, SC judgements.
4. End an answer on a +ve note, with a suggestion as far as possible.
Sources:
Newspaper, your own notes, any good GS2 compilation (Vision/Forum)
I have tried to answer your question - in a question on domestic violence , should we write pros of domestic violence in the discussion video.
You can ping me / inbox me / call me if you need to discuss that further.
Thank you. ;)
How to prepare GS 3: Government Budgeting?
1. The public expenditure management is a challenge to the government of India in the context of budget-making during the post-liberalization period. Clarify it.
2. What are the reasons for the introduction of Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) act, 2003? Discuss critically its salient features and their effectiveness.
These are some questions asked previously from this topic. As you can see, the questions are most likely to revolve around your analysis of budgetary reforms.
1. Analyse the budget, check for new reforms in this FY
2. In last 5 years, what are the major changes that have been introduced in budget making? For example - Advancement of Budget presentation to February 1 (earlier presented on the last working day of February), Merger of Railway Budget with the General Budget, and Doing away with plan and non-plan expenditure. Prepare for such topics (pros cons impact)
3. Types of budget -Gender Budgeting is important
4. Post LPG reforms impact
5. Fiscal measures introduced
How to prepare GS 3: Government Budgeting?
Let me ask you a simple question here from this topic. Try to answer this.
1. India 2020 budget includes proposals aimed at attracting foreign investment and reviving economic growth. Analyze.
2. Budgets in recent past aim to foster economic growth, despite being constrained by fiscal deficit targets. Analyze.
Recent Defence agreements with Unites States of America are likely to be a game changer for Indian Armed Forces. Comment.
Foundational agreements are those the US signs with countries it has close military ties with. India and USA have entered into the following defence agreements recently:
1. Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) which allows the military of either country to use each other's bases for logistics support
2. Communications Compatibility & Security Agreement (COMCASA) which will enable allies to use the US’ secure communications equipment and systems
3. Basic Exchange Cooperation Agreement (BECA) facilitates the provision of targeting and navigation information from US systems.
The advantages for India by these include:
- enhance domain awareness about adversarial territories
- improve the accuracy of long-range weapon systems
- Predictive Intelligence to warn decision-makers of emerging global hot spots and imminent threats
However, there are concerns that the agreements open India’s military bases to US inspection. Military bases as those in India have high-technology military assets sourced from various countries, including those not friendly with the US. Though, given the recent standoffs with neighbouring nations, the defence deals are likely to give India the tactical advantage and concerns can be mitigated mutually with enhanced cooperation.
Explain why the Indian Constitution has been argued to have created a" federation with centralising tendency"
What should he the ideal structure of this question ?, I want to know Whether I am Doing misinterpretation or otherwise.
These should be the major points and answer structure in my opinion:
Jawaharlal Nehru said that “it would be injurious to the interests of the country to provide for a weak central authority which would be incapable of ensuring peace, of coordinating vital matters of common concern and of speaking effectively for the whole country in the international sphere.”
The Indian Constitution contains a large number of unitary or non-federal features. ’.
Features of Indian Constitution that reflect an centralising tendency
- Overriding authority on concurrent list
- No Territorial Integrity of States
- Constitution amendment power of Parliament
- Emergency
- Governor appointment
- Single Citizenship.
(Elaborate in 1 line on above points)
However, the Constitution of India establishes a federal system of government as it contains all the features of a federation - dual administration, division of powers, written Constitution, supremacy of Constitution, rigidity of Constitution, independent judiciary and bicameralism.
Supreme Court in Kuldip Nayar v Union of India held that Federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution of India and it is unique in its nature and is tailored according to the specific needs of the country.To govern such a diverse polity, a structure of “asymmetrical federalism” was adopted.
Thus, as stated by K.C. Wheare, in practice the Constitution of India is quasi-federal in nature and not strictly federal.
Nice answer.
Good attempt. However, the answer needs to be structured better:
The question has 3 dimensions - need RTW in rural, urban and present times.
One can start with constitutional provisions.
Mention in points why we need in urban, rural and pandemic times - popl density, growing cost of living, high incidence of unemployment, how MGNREGA has benefitted etc.
Mention challenges in process of realization of these rights.
Conclude.
Good attempt. However, the answer needs to be structured better:
The question has 3 dimensions - need RTW in rural, urban and present times.
One can start with constitutional provisions.
Mention in points why we need in urban, rural and pandemic times - popl density, growing cost of living, high incidence of unemployment, how MGNREGA has benefitted etc.
Mention challenges in process of realization of these rights.
Conclude.
Does OTT content require government regulation. Examine.One of the vision monthly summarized this very well. Doubt if I can do any more justice.
Intro : Misleading display about IAF in a biopic released on OTT.
No :
1) Freedom of creative expression
2) Pull content - so discretion for viewer
3) Age rated
4) Small production houses are finally able to reach target audience - red tape will discourage.
5) Global reach - multi jurisdiction - difficult to regulate
6) Personal device - not in public space like theatre. Individual privacy comes into picture ( Puttaswamy 2017 )
Yes :
1) Age rating does not protecting exposure to children - violence, sex at inappropriate age impact.
2) Freedom of expression is not absolute
Balanced view : Have guidelines instead with standard system of age ratings. Encourage self regulation. Also push OTT platforms to have parental controls for using apps.
Can add some facts to this:
Singapore is the most censored market for Netflix as it has the highest number of pull-out requests made by any country.
Also conclude on the following lines:
Due to Covid-19, the most affected section of the country is the economy, especially the daily wagers and workers. Amidst all this, the right of poorest workers, who are not even fully aware of the rights they hold, are being infringed at a rate more than ever. The International Labour Organization has warned that it is likely for half of the workforce to lose their employment. There is a need to make proper provisions in the labour laws and laws relating to the right to work. The measures in the mentioned laws do not consist situations such as pandemics under its purview.
Hi all,
I am a working professional preparing for CSE 2021. I work as an Assistant Manager at IRDAI. Till 2020, I have given 3 attempts, missed prelims by a very less margin. My prep was very scattered, and I changed CA sources very often and overall, I wasn't satisfied with the way it was going.
One of my friend suggested me to enroll in a year long CA program, and see whether it works! So far so good, I am really liking the format of lectures and pdf handouts. As a working professional, I can manage around 3-4 hours everyday. Previously, in these 3-4 hours, most of the time would go to scouting material, checking material... that's how I ruined previous attempts.
Now, after enrolling in this course, I am finding it very helpful and more importantly, covering everything in a structured way . So on similar lines, I am looking for any courses on Mains Static Part as well, which covers GS 1- 4 Static Part. Any suggestions!!!
Hi, I am not privy nor have enrolled for Mains Courses. But you can practice answer writing on these threads. :)
Municipal bonds should be the principal mode of financing urban infrastructure in India. Examine the statement.
Municipal bonds are bonds issued by urban local bodies- municipal bodies and municipal corporates (entities owned by municipal bodies) to raise money for financing specific projects specifically infrastructure projects.
1. These bonds are attracting attention as the ULBs urgently need money to finance infrastructural expenditure. Especially, smart cities and other urban development projects necessitates them to create finance.
2. Municipal bonds can also simultaneously deepen the long-term infrastructure financing market in India as well as redirect retail investments into liquid securities away from real estate and gold.
3. These bonds can also build strong bonds of trust between municipalities and citizens; bonds of trust that can galvanise citizen participation in cities at historic scale and to mutual financial benefit.
Bonds are not a substitute for city revenue. Cities have to ensure collecting local taxes, user charges, stamp duties, etc. Bond investors are unlikely to put money into cities unless they are convinced about their fiscal strength.
Municipal bonds should thus be a part of a larger package to strengthen city finances. International models like those followed in Denmark, Japan, South Africa etc can be emulated. In Japan, Japan Finance Corp. for Municipal Finance has a sovereign guarantee.
Pl. Review
Qus: Neither the Constitution, nor any central or state law places, any restraint on marriage. However, these marriages (even without conversion) are also not tolerated in the society and are often met with not only parental harassment, but even communal violence. Do you think freedom to marry need to be explicitly defined as a fundamental right? Critically analyse in the light of the recent events. (10 Mark)
Why define it explicitly when the SC has already stated that right to marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution ?
@upsc2020 Just wanting to be sure. It's the same as vision booklet, right?
No not the same as vision. Slightly broader.
Several incidents of massive unrest and protests in India like the recent incident in the Wistron plant are reflective of the pent-up anger of contract workers. Comment.
1. Contract workers receive roughly half the wages of those workers employed directly by firms. Also, firms make significant savings by hiring contract workers as they receive far fewer employee benefits compared to regular workers. This enables firms to reduce costs.
2. Presence of contract workers in the firms’ workforce acts as an alternative workforce to suppress the bargaining power of their regular unionised workers. A recent study found that firms’ management tend to use contract workers to their strategic advantage to not only curb the bargaining power of regular workers but also keep their wage demand in check.
3. Much of the recruitment of these contract workers are through the ‘word of mouth’ and people in the villages in the vicinity waste little time to take up any job available.
It is thus important to ensure that wages of contract workers are at par with directly hired workers when performing the same work. This is necessary not just from the lens of contract workers, but also for directly employed workers who have experienced negligible growth in their real wages as the pool of contract workers continues to expand.
Several incidents of massive unrest and protests in India like the recent incident in the Wistron plant are reflective of the pent-up anger of contract workers. Comment.1. Contract workers receive roughly half the wages of those workers employed directly by firms. Also, firms make significant savings by hiring contract workers as they receive far fewer employee benefits compared to regular workers. This enables firms to reduce costs.
2. Presence of contract workers in the firms’ workforce acts as an alternative workforce to suppress the bargaining power of their regular unionised workers. A recent study found that firms’ management tend to use contract workers to their strategic advantage to not only curb the bargaining power of regular workers but also keep their wage demand in check.
3. Much of the recruitment of these contract workers are through the ‘word of mouth’ and people in the villages in the vicinity waste little time to take up any job available.
It is thus important to ensure that wages of contract workers are at par with directly hired workers when performing the same work. This is necessary not just from the lens of contract workers, but also for directly employed workers who have experienced negligible growth in their real wages as the pool of contract workers continues to expand.
Data from the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), which covers establishments registered under the Factories Act, shows a surge in contract worker usage in the organized manufacturing sector. Over half of the increase in total employment from 7.7 million to 13.7 million between 2000-01 and 2015-16 was accounted for by contract workers.
