This is Questions Set #7, under our new segment ‘Clear IAS Mains High Value Answer Writing Test Series’. Mains High Value Answer Writing is a UPSC mains oriented program from ClearIAS.com that consists of 5 questions in each post, published around 8 pm every day. Each of the 5 questions are selected from 5 papers mentioned in UPSC Mains syllabus namely Essay, GS1, GS2, GS3 and GS4 (ethics). Selected questions of high probability to be asked UPSC mains are included in each of these mini tests. Aspirants can choose any question they wish to answer in the comment space provided below, specifying the question number and question topic.
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Questions for Answer Writing – Selections for today:
- Essay Paper: Indian bureaucracy and globalization(1500 words)
- GS 1 Paper: [World History/Communism] – Trace the evolution and growth of communism in the world. Analyze the relevance of communism as a philosophy in the present globalized world. (200 words)
- GS 2 Paper: [Polity/Federal Structure] – What are the issues and challenges pertaining to Indian federal structure? (200 words)
- GS 3 Paper: [Economy/Agriculture] – Analyze the present status of India in the domain of food security. Also explain the cropping pattern in India. (200 words)
- GS 4 Paper: [Emotional Intelligence] – What do you understand by Emotional Intelligence? Discuss the utilities and application of Emotional Intelligence in administration. (200 words)
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PS: Aspirants can select any question they wish to answer in the comment space provided below specifying the question number and question topic. Answering 3-4 questions, does not take much of your time. But for those who engage regularly in answer writing, the resultant score improvement in actual UPSC exam would be exponential.
GS2: India is a union of states or a “federation of union” with slightly powerful centre. Due to division of powers between centre and states, there is bound to be some friction in the relations. Few of them can be enumerated as:
1. Financial powers : It is a major bone of contention in the relations. As per states, devolution of power and funds is not in accordance with devolution of responsibility. States always have fear of loosing on finance side that can be seen in deference of GST, DTC. States don’t have any saying in distribution of finance: Planning commission and finance commission has no representation of states.
2. Top- down approach of planning : states find it difficult to implement the plans which are made without their consensus or without taking ground realities in account.
3. Reduced role of inter state councils and zonal councils: Bodies to accommodate federal structure are largely dysfunctional. Inter state councils don’t meet for years and years.
4. Security: Law and order is a state subject, and any interference by centre is termed as encroachment or interference or breaching with states’ autonomy. Halting of NCTC is a case to the point. Deployment of central forces in states without consensus building.
5. Indiscriminate use of article 256, and 356 against states(mostly against opposition parties’ states).
6. Centre state balance skewed towards centre- recent passing of telangna bill despite opposition of Andra pradesh legislative assembly.
7. Administrative powers: large number of regulatory bodies(UGC, AICTE) exercising power on states’ bodies like colleges, universities
There is an urgent need for “cooperative federalism” to strike a harmonious balance between centre and states.
4.
Judging the level of food security of a country requires assessment of each dimension-
1. Food availability- post green revolution india has achieved self sufficiency in food grain production.Presently it is net exporter of cereals.Its production has increased more than 100 million tonnes from last decade.It is the largest milk producer in the world and share of poultry and meat products has grown in the total exports.
2. Access to food- ability to access depend on physical and economic access. Physical access includes availability of infrastructure for food storage and economic access includes food prices personal income etc. Governments MGNREGA has improved the employment oppurtunities in rural by boosting the wages and purchasing power.Procurement and distribution of food under PDS scheme also help to augment access of food to poor.
From the present state of Indias food security and progress in the past, it can be concluded that as india has mafe a progress. But,there are lots of areas in which it need to focus upon- malnutrition,per capita availability of cereals, protein intake,poor health of women. Most of its consumption of edible oil and pulses are met through import. Proper development of infrastructure for food storage is needed which can improve food security.
CROPPING PATTERN-
Multiplicity of cropping system has been one of the feature of indian agriculture due to rainfed and dependency of large population on agriculture.
1.single cropping- growing only one crop on a particular land.
E.g., groundnut or cotton or sorghum due to limitation of rainfall
2. Multiple cropping – growing 2 or more crops on the same piece of land
E.g., rice-mustard-maize
Rice-potato-green gram
3.relay cropping- growing the succeeding crop when previou crop attend its maturity stage or sowing of the next crop immediately after the harvest of the standing crop.
E.g., paddy-lathers.
GS 2 Paper: [Polity/Federal Structure] – What are the issues and challenges pertaining to Indian federal structure? (200 words)
Ans. The major issues pertaining to Indian federal structure are-
1. Financial autonomy of States
2. Direct Tax Code
3. Appointment of Governors
4. All India Services officers related issue mainly transfers,promotion,punishments
5. Veto of State bills by Governors
6. Planning Commission’s composition and approach towards planning
7. Demand of more Central University by States
8. NCTC, NTRO
9. Abuse of article 356 and Article 123
10. Environmental clearances.
11. Mining rights and royalty
The major Challenges of Indian federal structure are-
1. Collaborative approach towards fighting Internal and external security issues like, naxalism etc.
2. Under-utilization of Central Funds
3. poor implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes
4. Local issues affecting foreign policy
5. Decentralized planning
6. Unidirectional approach towards Environmental conservation and sustainable development
7. Reconstitution of planning commission with adequate representation of states.
8. Implementation of recommendations of Finance Commission.
9. Collaborative approach towards Disaster Management.
GS 3 Paper: [Economy/Agriculture] – Analyze the present status of India in the domain of food security. Also explain the cropping pattern in India. (200 words
Ans.
Status of food security in India-
1.First Green Revolution made India self-sufficient in food grain production.
2. One of the largest country in terms of production of Milk, Dairy, Egg, vegetables etc and imports Edible oil due to huge demand and low production.Despite of all this-
3. Malnutrition is very high, stunting and underweight children resulting in huge out of pocket expenditure on health by public and Government.
4. Low Protein intake and anemic condition among girls and women common
5. Hunger is prevalent in both rural and urban areas
6. Poor warehousing capacity and inadequate distribution pattern leading to rotting and pilferage of food grain.
7. Huge subsidy is being given by government on food in order to ensure food availability and safeguard the interests of farmers(Minimum Support Price)
8. Mid Day Meal schemes is being run to provide food to school children in government.
9. Government has brought Food Security act to cover 75% rural and 50% urban population to provide 5 kg of food grain Rice, wheat, coarse cereal with provision for free daily meals to Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children.
10. Climate change has added woes to the food security of India as more than 5 lakh tons of food grain is lost due to ozone depletion, mainly wheat.
11. In order to ensure food security to its citizen India has not signed the Trade Facilitation Agreement of WTO.
Cropping pattern of India is largely monsoon dependent and therefore Single cropping, multiple cropping, relay cropping are observed in different parts of the country. Broad cropping patterns are as below-
1. Rabi Crop- From October to March mainly wheat, barley, pulse, oilseeeds
2. Kharif Crop- July to October mainly rice , maize, millet bazra
3. Zaid Crops in between the above two seasons where mainly seasonal fruits and vegetables
4. Rice, Wheat, grown mainly in northern plain, Ganga Jamuna Doab and some other parts of Deccan region
5. Jute- West Bengal
6. Tea and plantation crops- NE, Southern Peninsular and northern Himalayan region
7. Cotton- Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, UP, Telangan
8. Horticulture- Huge potential in HP, Uttarakhand, North Eastern and Southern states.
GS 4 Paper: [Emotional Intelligence] – What do you understand by Emotional Intelligence? Discuss the utilities and application of Emotional Intelligence in administration. (200 words)
Ans. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to –
1. To understand, appraise, perceive and express emotions accurately and adaptively.
2. To understand emotional knowledge.
3. To access feelings when they generate thought
4. The ability to regulation one’s emotion
5. The ability to control and channelize one’s emotion for ethical larger interest
6. The ability to understand emotional quotient of other point of view.
The utilities and application of Emotional Intelligence in administration-
1. Generally generates positive thoughts which helps in problem solving
2. Helps in better understanding of subordinates and seniors.
3. Helps in ethical decision-making
4. Better service delivery achievement of goal.
5. Generates compassion towards others.
6. Helps in maintaining work life balance.
7. Helps in motivating oneself even in difficult situations, therefore enhances performance
8. Better inter and intra organizational connectivity.
Dear ClearIAS.
The answer to above Ethics Question is the first ever answer written by me from this paper therefore may be too below par, however my request to you is give a comprehensive feedback for this question to improve my answers in future. Thanks a lot.
Hi Random,
Well written.
[Emotional Intelligence] – What do you understand by Emotional Intelligence? Discuss the utilities and application of Emotional Intelligence in administration. (200 words)
Ans : E I is the ability to perceive , control and evaluate emotions of oneself and of others .
the concept was given by salovey and mayors in 1990 and popularised through his book by daniel goleman .
weber ‘s bureaucracy prescribed impersonality and absence of emotions . but neuroscience has advocated in favour of emotions as they are intricately unterwoven with reason . emotions are what makes us human . without it , man is irrational and detached from reality .
emotionally intelligent behaviours are prequiste for building bridges of trust and mutual understanding , very much required in administration . 5 elements of E I in view of administration are – self awareness , self regulation , motivation , empathy and social skills . a person in administration who is high on these parameters is high in E I . such a person is better placed to perceive , understand , manage and use emotions not only of oneself but also of others .
applications :
selection and training
leadership roles
competency mapping
individual feedback
team builiding
conflict resolution .
emotional intelligence can be developed and nurtured in individuals with proper guidance and training . high E I is required in administration as they are to deal with public in and out of organisation and also influences the organisation’s effectiveness .
GS 2 Paper: [Polity/Federal Structure] – What are the issues and challenges pertaining to Indian federal structure? (200 words)
Federalism has been part of Indian discourse for decades with becoming more relevant after coalition era. The major issues and challenges pertaining are:
Article 2 and 3 give more comprehensive powers to Parliament. e.g- creation of Telangana state. Also Art 249,250,252 and 253 enable Parliament to legislate on subjects in the State list. There has been opposition of setting up of NCTC claiming law and order to be a State subject by some states.The Lokpal bill, amendment to Railway Police Force Act and BSF amendment bill raised arguments regarding interpretation of federalism.
The states have no say in allocation of financial resources which led to opposition of GST. There was little participation of states in formulation of policies though the growth and influence of state-based and regional parties has promoted some participation in national policy-making.
There have been arguments with states having international borders regarding foreign policy, river waters. The President’s rule, Governor’s veto power, role of inter state council has been in question many a times.
To pertain to the above challenges the model of “cooperative federalism” could go a long way in redistribution of powers and responsibilities between Union and States.
Good One. Good points like Cooperative federalism(which I missed in my answer), GST. Well covered.
GS 1 Paper: [World History/Communism] – Trace the evolution and growth of communism in the world. Analyze the relevance of communism as a philosophy in the present globalized world. (200 words)
History of Communism:
Communism concentrated on the liberation of the proletariat or the working class. The idea was given by Karl Marx and Frederich Engels in “The Communist Manifesto” in 1848. They combined their ideas with the ideals of different parties to unify the workers of Germany and called this collective thought as “Communism.” . Communism as a form of government was first implemented after the Russian Revolution by Vladimir Lenin in Russia in 1917 who added his own ideas to this philosophy which came to be called as “Marxism-Leninism.” Over the years many leaders deviated from the original idea of communism. Then The Soviet Union was formed under the rule of Josef Stalin. Stalin, instead of creating a classless society, created a society where those within the government were held above everyone else. The Soviet Union continued until its disintegration in 1991.
Relevance of Communism in globalized world:
Communism refers to classless society structured upon common ownership of means of production. Although China is opening its markets, many ideals of communism still exist. But Communism in globalized world is irrelevant. It takes away property rights. There is no incentive to produce as wealth is distributed equally among population. It impairs the ability to produce.It fails to protect individual rights and is brutal form of government.
Well written Amrit.
Alpa, You have mentioned Marxism, Leninism and Stalinism.Good, but try to generate more key ideas with few words.The limitations of communism, particularly on the incentive part is highlighted, but you can mention the human side/labour aspect in the age of globalization as well. We are sure that you will write high value answers within next few days.
Alpa, a good answer touching many key points. Our suggestion regarding the answer is that you could have structured it better. For example, highlight the constitutional aspects together in first part and non-constitutional challenges in the second part or like that. Keep writing.
You have thought about many high value points Amrit. Good. Our suggestion regarding the answer is that you could have structured it better. For example, highlight the constitutional aspects together in first part and non-constitutional aspects like PC in the second part(regarding the issues). Then highlight the present challenges in implementing policies like GST, DTC, NCTC etc. Keep writing.
A good answer Random. Our suggestion regarding the answer is that you could have structured it the following way. Highlight the constitutional aspects together in first part and non-constitutional aspects like PC in the second part (regarding the issues). Then highlight the present challenges in implementing policies like GST, DTC, NCTC etc. Keep writing.
Np, You touched availability, accessibility, malnutrition etc in the first part. Excellent. On the second part, we suggest you to take some inputs from Amrit’s answer too.
Excellent.
Good answer Amrit…We suggest some statistics on food production. When you analyze, it is always better to substantiate your arguments with some stats. Location aspects of cash crops and food crops can be presented in better detail. But well written in general.
Dear ClearIAS. It is the best forum to write answers and get a feedback with add on points. Be along with us till our milestone so that we can start the big journey.
My only concern is that it is not possible to write this much in exam. 7 minutes only. Given more time anyone can write more n more points. So how to go about it. And in questions with analysation requirement, facts hv to be substantiated, so we cbt giv so mny points in so less time.