Category: GS MAINS
Answer Writing Techniques for IAS Main Exam – 2
- by Manoj K. Jha
Mains examination questions of general studies unfolded many things, about word limit, approach to the questions, analytical demand of the questions and many turns and twists attached to most of the question in the form of common instructions.
By Manoj K. Jha
What is a good answer? Million dollar question! Especially in the given scenario when good marks in IAS Mains Exam is distant dream. Mains examination questions of general studies unfolded many thing, about word limit, approach to the questions, analytical demand of the question, and many turns and twists attached to most of the question in the form of common instructions i.e. Analyse, Critically Analyse, Discuss, Evaluate, Explain etc.
Here I am presenting the meaning of the common instructions attached to the Questions in the Mains paper. And few question and there model hints about content, it is just an answer hint to get some overview about attempting answer in main exam. We have not attached the word limits.
Here are some model questions:
Q 1. Central Vigilance Commission was set up by the Government to propagate the principle of zero tolerance on corruption. What steps it has taken to combat corruption? Analyse the outcomes of these steps and also assess the effectiveness of CVC.
Q 2. Critically examine the role played by Non Government Organisations (NGOs) in development process with special reference to India. Enumerate main problems facing the NGOs in India.
Q 3. “Democratic decentralization cannot be operationalised in real terms without proper fiscal decentralization”. Elaborate.
Q 4. What is micro finance? What role the self help groups play in financial intermediation?
In the IAS Mains exam there are various instructions attached to the question. Here is essence of those:-
• ANALYSE: Break up an issue/event into its component parts and explain how these relate to one another.
• ASSESS: consider the importance of something stress is given in the question.
• COMPARE: simply examine the similarities and differences.
• CONTRAST: concentrate on the differences.
• CRITIQUE: point out the limitations and usefulness of the subject in the question.
• DESCRIBE: give detailed account of a topic
• DISCUSS: explain various perspective and present a logical argument
• EVALUATE : weigh up the importance, success or value of something with evidence to support your view
• EXAMINE : give a detailed account, questioning and exploring the relevant issue
• EXPLAIN: give a precise account, with reasons for why or how it is as it is.
• ILLUSTRATE: use examples from a range of source to demonstrate your understanding of the subject.
• JUSTIFY: make a case for a particular perspective. Establish the truth through supporting evidence or logical reasoning
• REVIEW : examine how a topic has been studied and comment on value and limitations of its treatment
• To what extent… : explore the case for and against a claim
Here are solutions in the format of model hints to crack the essence of demand of such questions. You will also get an idea about the extent and dimension of content to write a good answer. Word limits are not attached to these questions.
Q. Central Vigilance Commission was set up by the Government to propagate the principle of zero tolerance on corruption. What steps it has taken to combat corruption? Analyse the outcomes of these steps and also assess the effectiveness of CVC.
Answer Hints
The CVC has evolved over time as an institution to monitor corruption of government institutions and officials through initiating investigations since its creation in 1964.
The CVC Act 2003 conferred statutory status to the CVC and the powers to exercise superintendence over functioning of the Delhi Special Police Establishment, and also to review the progress of the investigations pertaining to alleged offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The CVC publishes a list of cases where permissions are pending. The commission, as a public authority provides information under the RTI act to the citizens as requested regarding vigilance of institutions and officials on alleged corruption cases.
It has taken some new initiatives including National Anticorruption Strategy, leveraging technology to prevent corruption, integrity in public procurement, awareness campaign, and provision for whistle blowers, improving the standard of vigilance work, computerization of commission’s work, Modern Preventive Vigilance Framework and international cooperation etc. All this has made some deterrence to corruption cases, but by and large its effect has been minimal because there are many limitations of the CVC.
Although CVC is relatively independent in its functioning, it has neither resources nor powers to inquire and take action on complaints of corruption that may act as an effective deterrence against corruption. The limitations include its advisory nature due to which government may accept or reject its advice, small size of sanctioned staff (299) as compared to large number of corruption cases pertaining to central government departments and ministries.
Further, the CVC cannot direct CBI to initiate inquiries against any officer of the level of Joint Secretary and above on its own. Such permission has to be obtained from the concerned department.
It has no teeth as it does not have powers to register criminal case. It deals only with vigilance or disciplinary cases. Although the CVC has supervisory powers over CBI, it does not have the power to call for any file from CBI or to direct CBI to investigate any case in a particular manner.
And last but not the least, appointments to CVC are indirectly under the control of Govt of India, which has always raised suspicion that government prefers to appoint malleable officers.
Q. Critically examine the role played by Non Government Organisations (NGOs) in development process with special reference to India. Enumerate main problems facing the NGOs in India.
Answer Hints:
NGOs as a development alternative offer innovative and people-centred approaches to service delivery, advocacy and empowerment. NGOs fill the gaps in development activities of the government.
NGOs are grassroot organizations with better interface with people and their problems. By some estimates, India has 3.3 million NGOs or one NGO for every 400 individuals.
In India NGOs have carried on various initiatives for eradication of illiteracy, disease, exploitation of women and children and violence against them. They are also providing help in disaster management, support to street children, women involved in prostitution, pet care. In fact, these NGOs play a positive role in virtually every sector of the economy. NGOs have also acted against encroachment of human rights.
Main Problems
NGOs are, however, being set up and run by many vested interests. They become a means of money making, luxurious life for some and often alleged to be hand in glove to take funds and support from government organizations for personal benefits. Some of the NGOs act as frontal face for organizations which have ulterior motives.
Main problems facing them are shortage of funds, absence of transparency, accountability and a regulatory mechanism. It is also not known whether they use the allocated funds for the stated purpose or misuse them.
A lot of NGOs setup in India are either dormant or fraudulent, used for a wide range of illegal activities such tax evasion and misappropriation of government funds.
Q. “Democratic decentralization cannot be operationalised in real terms without proper fiscal decentralization”. Elaborate.
Answer Hints:
The Centre and states have a symbiotic relation, more so in financial arena. Although the rights of centre and states to mobilize resources through taxes and non tax sources have been clearly delineated in the constitution, the states allege that the buoyant and elastic sources are more under the control of the Centre.
The responsibilities of states to deliver welfare and development have increased overtime along with the Centre. It is important for democratic decentralization that the state governments are provided with sufficient opportunities to mobilize funds for these activities.
States carry on many of the vital development and welfare activities such as primary health care, primary education, supply of potable water and essential infrastructure including roads and electricity. Some of them have elaborate roadways services as well. All these programmes get financial support from the Centre and these programmes are also supplemented by Central programmes. In view of rising responsibility of the states it is important that they are allowed to mobilize resources for their financial needs.
The fundamental principles for devolution of funds from Centre to States are equity and efficiency. The states get funds from the Planning Commission for various development projects whereas they get their share from tax proceeds of the Centre through the Finance Commission. The transfer of resources from the Centre to the States is guided by certain principles, yet there is discontentment among states regarding inadequacy of funds.
It is also observed that the states which have developed their agriculture, industry, trade and commerce and services sector, their capacity to generate their own resources and spend on welfare and development is higher than those who have not been able to develop these sector.
In such a situation the need for financial decentralization is strongly felt. States want more transfers from Centre and they also want more powers to mobilize resources.
The finance commission has now changed its role from being a paternalistic institution to an institution that promotes fiscal discipline and reward states which focus on development, hence its criteria of financial devolution has also changed over time.
As regards vertical transfer from divisible pool of taxes, the 13th Finance Commission recommended that the share of states in the net proceeds of shareable central taxes be raised from 30.5 per cent to 32 per cent. According to the thirteenth Finance Commission’s criteria population has a weight of 25 per cent in horizontal devolution; area has 10 per cent, fiscal capacity 47.5 per cent and fiscal discipline 17.5 per cent.
The role of Planning Commission in devolving resources to the states is although formula based, political considerations lead to under financing and over financing. There is increase in recent times in non-formula based transfers, which has been criticized by the thirteenth finance commission.
If states are needed to maintain their expenditure on social sector and infrastructure it is important to give them power to mobilize additional funds from tax and non-tax sources.
The vertical and horizontal devolution still remains controversial, especially the developed states who mobilize more resources are critical of transferring more resources to backward states.
States demand expansion of the divisible pool from income tax and excise duty to other kinds of sources such as customs duty, service tax and corporate tax. They also insist that the large contributing states to the divisible pool of taxes should be rewarded for their revenue increase.
But the role of central government is to provide support to the lagging states so that they not only cover their revenue gap but also development gap. Besides excise duty and income tax, states want to include corporate tax, custom duty, corporate tax and services tax in the divisible pool of taxes.
The Centre is aware about the importance of financial decentralization, but it has its own compulsions. Its expenditure has also increased overtime, especially the non-plan expenditure. The Centre has revised its formula for the transfer of resources to states.
A number of states favour continuation of area as a criterion in the distribution formula, with some states suggesting an increase in the weightage and others suggesting a reduction. Continuation of tax effort and fiscal discipline as criteria for tax devolution has been suggested by the majority of states. Other criteria suggested by states include forest cover, length of international border, index of infrastructure, levels of backwardness, human development index, share of primary sector in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of a state, contribution to central taxes and expenditure on social sectors and infrastructure.
Whatever be the criteria there is no doubt that democratic decentralization is possible only if the states have financial wherewithal for carrying out development and welfare activities and this needs financial decentralization.
Q. What is micro finance? What role the self help groups play in financial intermediation?
Answer Hints –
Microfinance is a form of financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses or farmers lacking access to banking and related services. The two main mechanisms for the delivery of financial services to such clients are:
(1) relationship-based banking for individual entrepreneurs and small businesses; and
(2) group-based models, where several entrepreneurs come together to apply for loans and other services as a group.
Micro finance also provides many poor and near-poor households access to an appropriate range of high quality financial services, including not just credit but also savings, insurance, and fund transfers.
Self help groups are group based models of micro finance. A self-help group (SHG) is a village-based financial intermediary usually composed of 10–20 local women or men. A mixed group is generally not preferred. Most self-help groups are located in India, though SHGs can also be found in other countries, especially in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
A Self-Help Group may be registered or unregistered. It typically comprises a group of micro entrepreneurs having homogenous social and economic backgrounds; all voluntarily coming together to save regular small sums of money, mutually agreeing to contribute to a common fund and to meet their emergency needs on the basis of mutual help.
They pool their resources to become financially stable, taking loans from the money collected by that group and by making everybody in that group self-employed.
This system eliminates the need for collateral and is closely related to that of solidarity lending, widely used by micro finance institutions.
To make the book-keeping simple enough to be handled by the members, flat interest rates are used for most loan calculations.
The group members use collective wisdom and peer pressure to ensure proper end-use of credit and timely repayment.
NABARD estimates that there are 2.2 million SHGs in India, representing 33 million members, which have taken loans from banks under its linkage program to date. This does not include SHGs that have not borrowed.
Many self-help groups, especially in India, under NABARD’s SHG-bank-linkage program, borrow from banks once they have accumulated a base of their own capital and have established a track record of regular repayments.
Answer Writing Techniques for Mains
- by Manoj K. Jha
Mains examination questions of general studies unfolded many thing, about word limit, approach to the questions, analytical demand of the question, and many turns and twists.
By Manoj K. Jha
What is a good answer? Million dollar question! Especially in the given scenario when good marks in IAS Mains Exam is distant dream. In the notification for the last year’s IAS Main examination, clear instruction was given regarding the changed expected writing behaviour. Instruction in UPSC notification clearly deliberates: “Candidates should note that instead of separate Question Paper and answer book, a consolidated Question Paper-cum-Answer book, having space below each part/sub part of a question shall be provided to them for writing the answers. Candidates shall be required to attempt answer to the part/sub-part of a question strictly within the pre-defined space. Any attempt outside the pre-defined space shall not be evaluated.”
Mains examination questions of general studies unfolded many thing, about word limit, approach to the questions, analytical demand of the question, and many turn and twist attached to most of the question in the form of common instructions i.e. Analyse, Critically analyse, discuss, evaluate, explain etc.
Though I will keep writing on these issues and, also will share the exclusive model answer of UPSC in the coming month, which I had discussed in classroom with many aspirants who wrote IAS Mains exam last year. Here I am presenting the meaning of the common instructions attached to the Questions in the Mains paper.
• ANALYSE: Break up an issue/event into its component parts and explain how these relate to one another.
• ASSESS: consider the importance of something stress is given in the question.
• COMPARE: simply examine the similarities and differences.
• CONTRAST: concentrate on the differences.
• CRITIQUE: point out the limitations and usefulness of the subject in the question.
• DESCRIBE: give detailed account of a topic
• DISCUSS: explain various perspective and present a logical argument
• EVALUATE : weigh up the importance, success or value of something with evidence to support your view
• EXAMINE : give a detailed account, questioning and exploring the relevant issue
• EXPLAIN: give a precise account, with reasons for why or how it is as it is.
• ILLUSTRATE: use examples from a range of source to demonstrate your understanding of the subject.
• JUSTIFY: make a case for a particular perspective. Establish the truth through supporting evidence or logical reasoning
• REVIEW : examine how a topic has been studied and comment on value and limitations of its treatment
• To what extent… : explore the case for and against a claim
Why taming current affairs is still tough despite all the resources and ideas available at fingers?
- by Manoj K. Jha
Current Affairs for GS is an area which is by far the most important aspect of the GS paper and also perhaps the most difficult area to master. Important, because most of the questions whether they are in the prelims or the mains draw their inspiration from what is happening in the current affairs, and difficult because of its vastness and difficulty in identifying what is important and what is not.
Making Sense of Current Affairs !
Why taming current affairs is still tough despite all the resources and ideas available at fingers?
Current Affairs for GS is an area which is by far the most important aspect of the GS paper and also perhaps the most difficult area to master. Important, because most of the questions whether they are in the prelims or the mains draw their inspiration from what is happening in the current affairs, and difficult because of its vastness and difficulty in identifying what is important and what is not.
Most candidates have been found to be complaining that they have not been able to either recall or reproduce whatever they have studied in the current affairs in the sense that the factual part which is useful in the prelims cannot be recalled sometime and the analytical part which is useful in the mains cannot be related and incorporated in the descriptive answers, especially when demand is of interdisciplinary approach. However, the factual versus conceptual demand for GS is now an outdated story. Key concepts are paramount. Thus, preparing contemporary issues and developing interdisciplinary approach is the last resort to give you best hope to qualify main examination.
For example consider last two years GS mains exam paper, especially GS Paper 2 and 3.
• With a consideration towards the strategy of inclusive growth, the new Company’s Bill, 2013 has indirectly made CSR a mandatory obligation. Discuss the challenges expected in its implementation in right earnest. Also discuss other provisions in the Bill and their implications.
(The question is related to the Companies Act, 2013 promulgated by GOI)
• Discuss the rationale for introducing Good and Services Tax in India. Bring out critically the reasons for delay in roll out for its regime.
(The question is related to the controversy on GST between Centre and State and recently Standing Committee Report on this issue came up)
• Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problems of conventional energy.
(This was related to the recent collaboration between India and Germany on energy corridor)
• What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ concept of “GO AND NO GO” zones for coal mining sector.
(This was related to recent mining scams and land acquisition issues)
• Electronic cash transfer system for the welfare schemes is an ambitious project to minimize corruption, eliminate wastage and facilitate reforms. Comment.
(This was related to Aadhar and UIDAI implemented by GOI)
• ‘A national Lokpal, however strong it may be cannot resolve the problems of immorality in public affairs’. Discuss.
(This is related to Lokpal Act promulgated by GOI)
• Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences have come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.
(This is related to recent Supreme Court verdicts on pardoning power of the President)
• Two parallel run schemes of the Government viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth.
(This is related to recent controversy between Adhaar Card and NPR and verdict of Supreme Court on Adhaar Card)
• Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly proactive role in ensuring that India develops into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate the role played by judicial activism in achieving the ideals of democracy.
(This is related to the recent remarkable rise in judicial activism and its achievements in handling corruption in India)
• Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the huge growth of services vis-a-vis industry in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong industrial base?
(This is related to the recent launch of Make in India initiative with an aim to boost India`s manufacturing sector).
• Foreign direct investment in the defence sector is now said to be liberalized. What influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and economy in the short and long run?
(This is related to the recent ease in FDI cap in defence manufacturing sector by GOI)
The above questions clearly show that contemporary issues form the pillar of the IAS preparation.
People have been suggesting several strategies to prepare for current affairs but very few have really decoded the challenge. Those who manage to do so, are success stories now. Though every person may have his own way to deal with the challenge, yet by far all the successful candidates concur on certain important aspects.
Firstly, the preparation of the current affairs is not a separate activity carried out in isolation with other topics, rather; the concepts in all other areas together contribute both to the understanding and the relevance of whatever we study in current affairs.
Secondly, the study of current affairs has to be essentially based on those issues which are of contemporary importance nationally as well as internationally. This is by far the most important aspect of studying current affairs. This alone shall ensure that, whatever is studied is not only methodically arranged in the mind but is also logically reproduced in the exam. By adopting this approach, a student can even create his personal notes extensively, replete with references for current happenings on all the major issues of the time. However, this approach is best carried out only when a student is thorough with all the concepts across the various disciplines and is in a position to identify the areas where these concepts overlap and contribute to enrich the overall understanding. Once this happens, the student automatically develops the ability of identifying issues and sub-issues within the issues which on the one hand reduces the vastness of studying current affairs and on the other makes the study more methodical, enriched and easily reproducible, as now he can easily relate facts and events to issues and quote them at appropriate places.
Despite all this, a student will find that there are still some questions both in the prelims as well as in the mains examination which he does not know anything about. First of all, one must never get discouraged by such questions as no matter how well you study there will always be some areas which will remain unchartered. Even the toppers do not write answers to all the questions.
The important point is to minimize rather than eliminate the number of questions you do not know because that is what makes the difference in a competitive examination. Further, whatever you write must write well i.e. to say that whatever answers you write, you must try to make sure that you have given it the widest and most lucid treatment, within the boundaries of what is being asked in the question. Even in the preliminary exam the demand for current affairs and contemporary issues are at the higher end.
Lastly, every serious candidate must try to develop a healthy group among his peers, where he can discuss the various issues he has read and studied about. Such group discussions not only help in fine-tuning the understanding as various ideas come to forth for analysis but also allows for introduction to newer facts and perspectives along with a revision of already developed concepts and knowledge bytes.
Make a deliberate attempt to try these techniques and you will surely find definite improvement.
Economic Analysis of Time Management for UPSC
- by IAS Score
The essence of economics is resource management, so we will analyze the most important resource for civil services aspirant, i.e. Time, by using some macroeconomic tools.
Well you have given time and there can be two choices, between studying concepts and between studying facts, while for good preparation, both are equally important, neither we can write vaguely without facts, nor we can state facts only, as they would be like unconnected dots in absence of concepts.
The resource constraint here is time devoted to study, and we assume students produce two aspects to their preparation; one is understanding of concepts and second is memorizing facts. Now it would be the resource allocation to production of each which will determine, marks
Case I: Choice between concepts and facts (knowledge of both is necessary to score well)
Concept of Production Possibility Frontier (PPF)
PPF is also a similar study at national level, where given the resource constraint, economy undertakes production of two types of goods, capital goods (for future investment and producing other goods) and consumption goods, which are consumed and doesn’t lead to production of other goods, for example, Rice, cloths, etc. However, the similar good rice, when sold as seed, would be capital good, because it will be invested for future production. There can be no economic growth without investment; similarly people need to consume, in order to survive. Thus, society needs both in order to survive and grow.
PPF is also called PPC (Production Possibility Curve), reflects the different combinations of two Goods (generally capital good and consumption good, when considering PPF for national economy). It shows the maximum attainable amount of one Good, given the level of other good
It is concave to the origin, due to opportunity cost and efficiency in resource use. Which means, not all resources are efficient in production of either goods; some may be good farmers, while some may be good factory workers, and some managers. Thus, devoting all resources to say, agriculture will reduce their efficiency. And any shift of resources from here to other sector, say manufacturing, would increase efficiency of both sector. As people who were not producing much in agriculture as they were good in other activities are now freed up and are utilized to some other work, where they can work better. This concept is also called Opportunity Cost (will be discussed in detail in some later entry)
The similar extension can be applied to our topic of choice between facts and concepts would be; if we devote some time from understanding concepts whole day, to memorizing facts, the preparation would become more efficient, as reading similar things is boring and can decrease the efficiency of the time devoted and a step in opposite direction would increase it. Thus, allocation of some time from one activity to other will improve efficiency of both when moving from single activity focus.
The concept is further explained through the following figures 1 to 3:
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Case I: Choice between concepts and facts (knowledge of both is necessary to score well)
Analysis with help of Production Possibility Frontier
In case II, later we will see, how to make a choice between leisure and work, for now, let’s assume we have found our equilibrium, i.e., we know our time devoted to study, and say it comes to around 8 hours. Now how do we utilize those 8 hours.
This we will analyze through production Possibility Frontier concept. We are producing 2 products from our resource (time) that are learning concepts (on x axis) and studying facts (on y axis). Thus, we have to see what combination of production given the resource constraint will fetch us good marks.
Ideal preparation will follow both on concepts and facts and thus, the preparation frontier is concave, as points towards center would be higher in terms of marks achievement, as we will see shortly. First let us see how to improve preparation, which is parallel to increasing production in an economy, while when we consider a PPF for national economy, the curve will show national output, and each point would be a different combination of types of goods produce. For economic growth, there are only two choices for an economy, either increase resources (i.e., increase investment to for more resources to be devoted to production in future) or improve efficiency (i.e., improve technology of production). In case of students, an upwards movement in his preparation constraint (PPF) will come through either increase in time allocated to study (which certainly has its own limits, similar to increasing investment) or to improve efficiency (through concentration and peace of mind). Topper generally devote good amount of efficient time to their studies and thus, push their preparation constraint; something that you have to figure out, how?
Now, the marks would be analogous to preparation and with good strategy, marks can be maximized given the preparation (see, figure 5 below), (why marks curve are convex to the origin will be discussion in Case-II later). Now see a strategy of studying both in tandem will fetch most marks, as highest marks on a given preparation constraint can be at highest point on constraint. Out of the given curves the marks increase from M1–M2——M4. While if we study concepts only; on the first PPF, we would be at point Z1 and thus on marks M1, which is the lowest, wherein similarly, the study facts alone strategy would lead to even lesser marks. Similarly if we study both, strategically, we can see one can even achieve M4, which is much higher to M1 and will be a marked improvement in marks. Now, this is a particular equilibrium and there can be many such equilibrium as everybody’s temperament and intellect is different and different strategy would be helpful to different people.
If we go back to national economy on the similar point, we can see that What we mean by marks here, would be social welfare and a good resource allocation and production strategy can maximize social welfare.
Coming next:
Case – II: Choice between study and leisure (assuming both are necessary for a normal student in long run)
Decoding Governance for GS Mains BY S K Mishra, IAS ( retd)
- by IAS Score
Governance is very significant part of General studies paper II. Candidates are expected to know the general functioning of Central Government, state governments as well as urban and rural local bodies.
Governance is very significant part of General studies paper II. Candidates are expected to know the general functioning of Central Government, state governments as well as urban and rural local bodies. They have to understand that there is an organic linkage between union, state and local governments. They have to know the power, functions and limitations of legislature, executive and judiciary. General elections, both for union and state legislatives are now a regular phenomenon. Though constitution has created an independent Election Commission, yet the power to regulate the election has been vested in union parliament which has made R.P Act 1950 and 1951.
Candidates are expected to be aware about provision of these laws. Emphasis has also been given on constitutional, regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies. In recent past there had been various controversies, which candidates are supposed to be aware. Various policies and programme especially relating to vulnerable section of society has been emphasized. Since these schemes are in existence for quite some time, hence candidates are expected to analyze them critically. RTI, e-governance, citizen charter are citizen-centric steps needs a deeper analysis including the success area and failures. India is a democratic country; however role of Civil Servants especially in 21st Century is very significant. This aspect requires a deeper analysis. A cursory look to 2013 mains paper will reveal that most of the questions were opinion based. While answering these question, no doubt facts will be important, however the good answer requires critical analysis including offering a rational personal opinion. This is obvious as the new entrants will be required to handle these issues in the days to come. Since no authentic book has come in to market, the candidates are advised to rely on newspapers, Yojna, kurukshetra, India year book and sits of different ministries including Planning Commission.
The marking pattern had been very poor, and those who aspire to exceed 100 will have to read properly and develop a good understanding of governance.