UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice

UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 39)

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-2 to check your progress.

The relationship between India and Russia has remained remarkably stable despite fluctuations in the ties of other major nations. Discuss.

What is the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee? What is the need for legal services, and how are they provided to the public?

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.

— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.

Way forward/ conclusion

— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.

— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.

Self Evaluation

— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.

QUESTION 1: The relationship between India and Russia has remained remarkably stable despite fluctuations in the ties of other major nations. Discuss.

Introduction:

— Russia has been a long-standing and reliable partner for India. The growth of India-Russia relations has been a critical component of India’s foreign policy.

— India-Russia relations have taken on a profoundly new character, with increased cooperation in practically every area, including politics, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, and people-to-people contacts.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

— During External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow, he said that the Indo-Russian relationship has been unusually stable in the face of fluctuations in relations with other major nations.

— Since the middle of the twentieth century, India and Russia have had no substantial bilateral disagreements, and their geopolitical interests have frequently aligned to maintain a stable balance of power in Asia.

— The absence of annual summits does not indicate that the relationship has deteriorated. Bilateral commercial economic cooperation has increased during the last two years.

— India and Russia are not harking back to their old relationship. The context of the bilateral relationship with Russia has fundamentally changed. India’s GDP in 1991 was half that of Russia’s — $270 million to $518 million; India’s economy today is bigger than Russia’s by a large margin — $3.6 trillion to $2.2 trillion.

— In December 2021, a new dimension to the bilateral cooperation was added with the first 2+2 Dialogue (Foreign and Defence Ministers of both countries) taking place alongside the Summit-level talks.

Conclusion:

— India & Russia are also members and cooperate closely at several multilateral platforms such as the UN, G20, BRICS & SCO. India’s Presidency of the G20 & SCO in 2023 afforded the opportunity for officials and ministers of both countries to meet on the sidelines of various events in India.

— Maintaining a rational bilateral relationship will provide India and Russia more flexibility in an increasingly divided globe.

(Source: Express View on Jaishankar in Moscow: Not zero-sum, indianembassy-moscow.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

Trade & Economic relations

Defence & Security Cooperation

Science & Technology Cooperation