UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice

UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 40)

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.

How are Rajya Sabha MPs elected? Discuss how voting is done and votes are counted.

What is Raisina Dialogue? Discuss the thematic pillars of the dialogue.

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: How are Rajya Sabha MPs elected? Discuss how voting is done and votes are counted.

Introduction:

— Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved. To ensure continuity, one-third of its members retire after every second year, under Article 83(1) of the Constitution, and “biennial elections” are held to fill these vacancies. The term of a member is six years.

— The President nominates 12 of the 245 members, while the other 233 are representatives of the states and union territories of Delhi and Puducherry. By-elections are held to fill vacancies caused by resignation, death, or disqualification, and those elected serve the remainder of their predecessors’ terms.

— Under Article 80(3), the 12 nominated members should have special knowledge or practical experience in matters like literature, science, art etc. A nominated member may join a party within six months of taking a seat.

Body:

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

How voting is done?

— Rajya Sabha MPs are elected by MLAs through an indirect election.

— Article 80(4) provides that members shall be elected by the elected members of state Assemblies through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

— The Fourth Schedule to the Constitution provides for allocation of Rajya Sabha seats to the states and Union Territories, on the basis of the population of each state.

How votes are counted?

— The number of votes a candidate requires depends on the number of vacancies and the strength of the House. If there is only one vacancy, the required quota under the Election Commission’s Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, is calculated by taking the number of votes polled, divided it by 2, and adding 1.

For example, if 100 votes are polled in an Assembly, the Rajya Sabha candidate would need:

100/2 + 1 = 51 votes

— If there is more than one vacancy, the equation is based on an assigned value of 100 for every first-preference vote. The values of the votes credited to all candidates are totalled. The total is divided by 1 more than the number of vacancies, and 1 is added to this quotient.

For example, if 100 members of an Assembly vote for 3 Rajya Sabha vacancies, the required quota by any candidate would be

(100 × 100)/(3 + 1) + 1 = 2501

— If for any seat, candidates fail to get the specified number, the second-preference votes will be taken into account, but with a lower value.

(Source: Explained: How are Rajya Sabha MPs elected? Why are the polls important? by Manoj CG)

Points to Ponder

Why do Rajya Sabha numbers matter?

How often are Rajya Sabha elections held?