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 Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the December issue of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 QUESTION 1 Discuss the consequences of the Supreme Court's recent decision enhancing the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) authority to probe crimes related to the major scheduled offence. QUESTION 2 Discuss the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving the 'Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer' from Kuwait. How does this honour affect India's diplomatic relations with Kuwait? General points on the structure of the answers 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. THOUGHT PROCESS You may enrich your answers by some of the following points QUESTION 1: Discuss the consequences of the Supreme Court's recent decision enhancing the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) authority to probe crimes related to the major scheduled offence. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — The Supreme Court enhanced the NIA's investigative powers. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and N K Singh ruled that the NIA has the authority to investigate acts "connected" to the main Scheduled Offence that is currently being investigated, even if the connected offence was committed by a different individual who is not an accused in the Scheduled Offence. — The National Investigation Agency Act of 2008 (NIA Act) authorises the agency to investigate specific Scheduled Offences at the direction of the Central Government. The NIA Act includes a "Schedule" of statutes that contain offences that the NIA may investigate, such as those under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — In January 2020, a police Special Task Force in Mohali, Punjab, filed a FIR against a man called Sukhbir Singh for drug trafficking and illegal guns possession under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985. During interrogation, Singh said that the car he was captured in belonged to Ankush Vipan Kapoor. When authorities detained Kapoor in his shop, they discovered heroin, an illegal narcotic drug. He was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2021. — Under the NIA Act's Section 8: "While investigating any Scheduled Offence, the Agency may also investigate any other offence which the accused is alleged to have committed if the offence is connected with the Scheduled Offence" . This authorises the NIA to investigate non-Scheduled Offences if it can demonstrate a "connection" to the Scheduled Offence under investigation. — Before the Supreme Court, Kapoor claimed that he was not being investigated for a Scheduled Offence under the NIA Act because offences under the NDPS Act are not covered. He further contended that because there was no nexus between the petitioner and the alleged crime committed in Gujarat, the UAPA's Scheduled Offences could not be used against him. — The Centre, on the other hand, contended that the current inquiry into the Scheduled Offence under the UAPA was linked to the crime charged against Kapoor in Gujarat. It claimed that Kapoor is part of a terror network that smuggles drugs into Gujarat and transports them to Punjab for purification and distribution. Furthermore, it alleged that the link between Kapoor and Sukhbir Singh indicates that Kapoor is also involved in the NIA inquiry. Conclusion: Supreme Court’s verdict — The court recognised that the plain-meaning language "the accused" used in Section 8 of the NIA Act indicated that the NIA can only examine related offences committed by the specific accused under investigation — such as Sukhbir Singh in Gujarat. However, the court ruled that Section 8 must be interpreted "purposefully and meaningfully" so that the NIA can investigate related offences even if they were committed by a different person. — The court stated that "the nexus or connection between any other offence and the Scheduled Offence is of critical importance" and that this connection must exist before the NIA can investigate any other offence committed by an accused in connection with the Scheduled Offence. In the current instance, the court ruled that "there is a connection, nexus, and link" between the Scheduled offences investigated by the NIA under Sections 17/18 of the UAPA and the offences accused against Kapoor under the NDPS Act. (Source: Supreme Court expands the reach of NIA’s powers: What was the case? by Ajoy Sinha Karpuram) Points to Ponder Read about the Supreme Court Read about NIA Read about NDPS Act, UAPA Related Previous Year Questions Terrorism has become a significant threat to global peace and security.’ Evaluate the effectiveness of the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and its associated bodies in addressing and mitigating this threat at the international level. (2024) Explain the reasons for the growth of public interest litigation in India. As a result, has the Indian Supreme Court emerged as the world's most powerful judiciary? (2024) QUESTION 2: Discuss the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving the 'Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer' from Kuwait. How does this honour affect India's diplomatic relations with Kuwait? Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Wisam Mubarak al-Kabeer, or the Order of Mubarak the Great, by Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait. — The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer is the highest national award of Kuwait. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: What is the Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer? — The Kuwaiti government bestows the Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer to Heads of State, Sovereigns of Foreign Countries, and members of Foreign Royal Families as a symbol of friendship and goodwill. — Before PM Modi, recipients included Queen Elizabeth II of England, former American Presidents George HW Bush and Bill Clinton, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, among others. — The prize was established in 1974 in commemoration of Mubarak Al Sabah, better known as Mubarak al-Kabeer or Mubarak the Great, who ruled Kuwait from 1896 until 1915. Under his rule, Kuwait gained more autonomy from the Ottoman Empire. In 1899, Mubarak signed a treaty with Britain to secure his kingdom from Turkey, thereby making Egypt a British protectorate. Mubarak is well-known for his significant contribution to Kuwait's future development. Significance of the award to PM Modi — After accepting the prize, PM Modi dedicated it to "the long-standing friendship between India and Kuwait, the Indian community in Kuwait, and the 1.4 billion people of India." — A press release from the Ministry of External Affairs stated, "The conferment of the award on this historic visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait after 43 years added a special meaning to the occasion." — Kuwait is one of India's main trading partners, with bilateral trade estimated at $10.47 billion in 2023-24. It is also India's sixth largest crude supplier, providing 3% of the country's energy requirements. Indian exports to Kuwait topped $2 billion for the first time, while the Kuwait Investment Authority's investments in India surpassed $10 billion. — India and Kuwait have long had good relations, stretching back to pre-oil Kuwait, when marine trade with India was the foundation of its economy. In fact, the Indian rupee was legal money in Kuwait until 1961. Conclusion: — The year 2021-22 commemorated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. — Kuwait remains a dependable supplier of crude oil and LPG to India, meeting our critical energy requirements. — Labour and manpower concerns are central to our interactions with a huge number of workers, both white and blue collar, in Kuwait. (Source: PM Modi awarded Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer: What is this Kuwaiti honour, its significance) Points to Ponder Trade between India and Kuwait Relationship between India and other middle east countries Related Previous Year Questions Critically analyse India's evolving diplomatic, economic, and strategic relations with the Central Asian Republics (CARs), highlighting their increasing significance in regional and global geopolitics. (2024) The Indian diaspora has scaled new heights in the West. Describe its economic and political benefits for India. (2023) Previous Mains Answer Practice UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 83) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 82) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 82) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 83) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 84) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 83) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
