UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: GS Paper 2 Focus
UPSC Essentials presents its weekly initiative for Mains answer writing practice. This program helps aspirants strengthen their conceptual clarity and answer-writing skills for the Civil Services Examination. Structured guidance, key discussion points, and self-evaluation prompts are provided to enhance your preparation.
Today's Practice Questions
This week's questions cover important topics from the GS Paper 2 syllabus. Aspirants should attempt these questions to assess their current preparation level and improve their answer structuring.
Question 1: India-Germany Strategic Relations
"India's engagement with Europe, particularly Germany, demonstrates a shift toward diversified strategic geography. Discuss the significance of India-Germany relations amid global geopolitical disruptions."
This question holds relevance for the International Relations section of GS Paper 2. It examines India's evolving foreign policy approach and strategic partnerships in a changing world order.
Key points to consider in your answer:
- India has actively welcomed Germany's Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific region. Germany's increased naval presence in the Indian Ocean aligns well with India's SAGAR vision for regional security and growth.
- Recent high-level visits have produced concrete outcomes. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to concluding the long-pending EU-India free trade agreement soon.
- Germany has emerged as the world's fourth-largest defense spender in recent years. This development creates new opportunities for strategic cooperation between the two countries.
- The partnership extends beyond traditional areas. Both countries emphasize collaboration in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
- Joint centers of excellence have been established focusing on digital convergence, battery technology, green transportation, and affordable healthcare.
- In the current geopolitical landscape, neither India nor Europe can rely solely on traditional partners. This reality gives strategic importance to the Indo-European framework.
- Initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and cooperation on critical minerals point toward deeper future collaboration.
Question 2: Urban Water Governance
"The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act envisioned a robust framework for urban local governance. In light of the Indore water contamination tragedy, discuss the effectiveness of monitoring systems for urban water supply in Indian cities."
This question connects constitutional provisions with practical governance challenges. It falls under the Polity and Governance section of GS Paper 2.
Important aspects to address:
- The 74th Amendment granted Urban Local Bodies significant responsibilities including water supply management. However, implementation has faced multiple challenges across Indian cities.
- The Indore tragedy highlighted systemic failures. Contaminated municipal water caused multiple fatalities and hospitalizations, exposing gaps in monitoring mechanisms.
- Smart technologies show promise in improving water supply monitoring. Smart metering systems with Automatic Meter Reading capabilities have proven effective in pilot cities.
- Sensor-based initiatives monitor water quality parameters in real time. The Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) has implemented IoT sensors to track pH, turbidity, and chlorine levels.
- Early warning systems provide regular groundwater quality alerts. The Central Ground Water Board identifies areas with high contaminant levels like nitrate and arsenic.
- Many cities struggle with aging infrastructure. Indore's water distribution network, for instance, is approximately 120 years old.
- Urban Local Bodies often face financial constraints and capacity limitations. These factors hinder effective implementation of monitoring systems despite technological advancements.
Preparation Guidance
Aspirants should structure their answers with clear introductions, well-developed bodies, and concise conclusions. Practice writing within time limits to simulate exam conditions. Regular self-evaluation against model answers helps identify areas for improvement.
Remember to incorporate relevant current affairs, constitutional provisions, and practical examples in your responses. This approach demonstrates comprehensive understanding and analytical ability to the examiner.
