UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice | GS 2 (Week 15)

QUESTION 1

Russia has been India’s reliable and long-term partner. Discuss the most recent developments between the two countries.

QUESTION 2

Discuss the role and responsibilities of the Lok Sabha Speaker in ensuring the seamless functioning of the House.

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: Russia has been India’s reliable and long-term partner. Discuss the most recent developments between the two countries.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about India-Russia relations as mentioned on mea.gov.in:

— Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner for India. The development of India-Russia relations has been a key pillar of India’s foreign policy.

— India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas, including political, security, defence, trade and economy, science & technology, culture, and people-to-people ties.

— In December 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

(Also refer: indianembassy-moscow.gov.in)

Body:

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

Recent Developments

Bilateral Interaction/Visits

— Russia is an important bilateral partner, India and Russia have a crucial role to play in global security and stability.

— The Annual Summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation is the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between India and Russia.

— There are various meetings where both countries meet like — BRICS, G20 and SCO.

Security Council Cooperation

— India and Russia maintain close cooperation between the Security Council secretariats led by NSA from the Indian side and Secretary of the Russian Security Council.

Trade

— The primary mechanism at the government level for enhancing trade and economic cooperation is the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific & Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

— The free trade agreement (FTA) talks mark a step up in economic relations between the two countries. India’s imports from Russia more than quadrupled to $46.33 billion over the last fiscal year, mainly through oil.

— India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue (IRSED) is another G2G mechanism co-chaired by Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog on Indian side and Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

Defence

— India-Russia military-technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems.

— India was involved in various defence deals such as — BrahMos Missile, T-90 tanks, S-400 air defence system and Ka-226t Helicopters.

Nuclear Energy

— Russia is an important partner for India in the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is a flagship project between India and Russia in this sphere.

Space Cooperation

— India-Russia cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space dates back to about four decades. The two countries are cooperating closely under India’s first human spaceflight program “Gaganyaan”.

Science & Technology

— The new Roadmap for Bilateral STI cooperation has been developed and agreed by both sides to replace the erstwhile ILTP cooperation program. It focusses on a variety of new engagements to promote co-innovation and exchanges and will be in force for next 5 years.

(Sources: India, Russia talk free trade deal in step-up of relations, indianembassy-moscow.gov.in)

Conclusion:

Your conclusion should be short. You may include:

— Russia, traditionally India’s top source of military hardware, displaced Iraq to become India’s top supplier of crude oil.

— Russia’s efforts to improve trade with India form part of its strategy to help evade the impact of Western sanctions by boosting commerce with Asian giants including China.

— Moscow is also trying to increase or maintain cooperation with other South Asian countries, most recently agreeing to settle payments in yuan for building a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh and discussing discounted oil exports to Pakistan.

— India’s interests in Russia are many and will continue even as its investments in Central Europe expand in strategic importance and political power to determine the future of Eurasia.

(Source: India’s approach to Russia must take stock of Moscow’s imperialist history by C. Raja Mohan)

Points to Ponder

India-Russia Defence Exercises

Recent defence ties

Russia-Ukraine (places in news)

Related Previous Year Question

What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (2020)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the role and responsibilities of the Lok Sabha Speaker in ensuring the seamless functioning of the House.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about the speaker of the Lok Sabha.

— The role of the Speaker is critical in our parliamentary democracy. It has been claimed of the Speaker’s Office that, while members of Parliament represent specific constituencies, the Speaker symbolises the whole power of the House itself.

— He/she represents the majesty and power of the House over which he/she presides. As a result, it is expected that the bearer of this high-ranking position will be able to represent the House in all of its forms.

— Speaker holds Office from the date of his/her election till immediately before the first meeting of the Lok Sabha after the dissolution of the one to which he/she was elected. He/She is eligible for re-election. On the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, although the Speaker ceases to be a member of the House, he/she does not vacate his/her Office.

— Article 93 for Lok Sabha and Article 178 for state Assemblies state that these Houses “shall, as soon as may be”, choose two of its members to be Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

(Source: How are a Speaker and Deputy Speaker elected? by Chakshu Roy)

Body:

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

Role of the Speaker

In House

— He/she is guided by the provisions of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.

— He/She benefits from the Directions issued by his/her predecessors which are compiled periodically.

— He/she is assisted by the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha and senior officers of the Secretariat on parliamentary activities and on matters of practice and procedure.

— In the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker discharges his/her functions. A member from the Panel of Chairmen presides over the House in the absence of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

— The Speaker has extensive functions to perform in matters administrative, judicial and regulatory, falling under his/her domain. He/She enjoys vast authority under the Constitution and the Rules, as well as inherently.

— He/she is the ultimate arbiter and interpreter of those provisions which relate to the functioning of the House. His/Her decisions are final and binding and ordinarily cannot be questioned, challenged or criticised.

In Regulating the Business of the House

— The final authority for adopting rules for regulating its procedure rests with each House, but a perusal of the rules of the Indian Parliament would indicate that the Presiding Officers in the two Houses are given vast powers by the rules.

— If a Bill is pending before the House, it is the Speaker who decides whether he/she should allow amendments to be moved to various clauses of the Bill or not. As regards regulating discussions in the House, it is the Speaker who decides as to when a member shall speak and how long he/she shall speak.

— The Speaker is the guardian of the rights and privileges of the House, its Committees and members. It depends solely on the Speaker to refer any question of privilege to the Committee of Privileges for examination, investigation and report. It is through him/her that the decisions of the House are communicated to outside individuals and authorities.

— It is the Speaker who decides the form and manner in which the proceedings of the House is published.

— He/She also issues warrants to execute the orders of the House, wherever necessary, and delivers reprimands on behalf of the House.

— He/She certifies Money Bills and decides finally what are money matters by reason of the Lok Sabha’s overriding powers in financial matters.

— The Speaker of the Lok Sabha who presides over joint sittings called in the event of disagreement between the two Houses on a legislative measure.

(Source: sansad.in)

Conclusion:

Your conclusion should be short. You may include some of the following points as mentioned on sansad.in:

— In India, the Office of the Speaker is a live and dynamic institution that deals with the actual demands and difficulties of Parliament in carrying out its tasks.

— The Speaker is the House’s constitutional and ceremonial leader.

— He/she is the primary House spokesperson. The duty for conducting the House’s work in a way befitting the institution’s status in a representative democracy is entrusted in him/her.

(Source: sansad.in)

Points to Ponder

Role of Chairman of Rajya Sabha

Related Previous Year Question

Once a Speaker, Always a Speaker’! Do you think this practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India? (2020)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 14)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 12)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 13)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 14)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 15)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 14)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 9)

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