UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 22)

QUESTION 2

The Office of the Speaker occupies a pivotal position in our parliamentary democracy. Discuss the role and responsibility of the Speaker.

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: How the United Nations (UN) has evolved? Discuss the achievements and the failure of the UN.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about United Nations.

— On October 24, 1945, the United Nations (UN) was founded amid a period of turmoil in international relations. The UN was primarily tasked with the goal of maintaining world peace and saving future generations from the evils of war.

— The United Nations sprang from the ashes of yet another international institution founded with the goal of preventing conflict. The League of Nations was established in June 1919, following World War I, as part of the Treaty of Versailles. However, when World conflict II broke out in 1939, the League was forced to cease down, and its headquarters in Geneva remained vacant throughout the conflict.

Body:

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

— The United States joined the war in December 1941, and for the first time the term ‘United Nations’ was coined by President Roosevelt to identify those countries which were allied against the axis powers – Germany, Italy and Japan. On January 1, 1942, representatives of 26 allied nations met in Washington DC to sign the declaration of the United Nations, which basically spelt out the war objectives of the Allied powers.

— India, which was under British colonial rule at the time, was also among these nations. According to a Ministry of External Affairs release, “Independent India viewed its membership at the United Nations as an important guarantee for maintaining international peace and security.”

— The United Nations finally came into existence on October 24, 1945, after being ratified by 51 nations, which included five permanent members (France, the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the UK and the US) and 46 other signatories. The first meeting of the General Assembly took place on January 10, 1946.

Achievements and the failure of the UN

— In the previous 75 years, the United Nations has accomplished several noteworthy things. It has also broadened its focus to include a wide range of global concerns like as health, the environment, and women’s empowerment, among others.

— In 1946, it passed a resolution committing to the abolition of nuclear weapons. It established the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948 to cope with communicable illnesses like as smallpox, malaria, and HIV. At the moment, the WHO is the primary body dealing with the coronavirus epidemic.

In 1950, the UN created the High Commissioner for Refugees to take care of the millions who had been displaced due to World War II.

— In 2002, the UN established the UN criminal court to try those who have committed war crimes, genocide, and other atrocities.

— The United Nations has also been criticised. For example, in 1994, the group failed to prevent the Rwandan tragedy. In the Republic of Congo, UN peacekeeping operations were accused of sexual assault in 2005, and similar charges have also surfaced from Cambodia and Haiti. The UN peacekeeping operation in South Sudan was unable to end the violence caused by the civil conflict that erupted in 2013.

Conclusion:

— A proclamation was approved at a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly in 2020 to commemorate the UN’s 75th anniversary, as well as its aspirations for the next decade.

— “The next ten years, dubbed the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development, will be the most critical of our generation.”

(Source: How the United Nations was born on this day in 1945, and how it has evolved)

Points to Ponder

General Assembly

Security Council

Economic and Social Council

Trusteeship Council

International Court of Justice

Related Previous Year Questions

Do you think that BIMSTEC is a parallel organisation like the SAARC? What are the similarities and dissimilarities between the two? How are Indian foreign policy objectives realized by forming this new organisation? (2022)

Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the Covid-19 pandemic. (2020)

What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain different functional commissions attached to it. (2017)

QUESTION 2: The Office of the Speaker occupies a pivotal position in our parliamentary democracy. Discuss the role and responsibility of the Speaker

Introduction:

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

— The speaker of the Lok Sabha symbolises the dignity and power of the House over which he/she is presiding. 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.

— 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.

— In Lok Sabha and state legislatures, the President/Governor sets a date for the election of the Speaker, and it is the Speaker who decides the date for the election of the Deputy Speaker.

Body:

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

Role and responsibility of the Speaker

— According to the book Practice and Procedure of Parliament, published by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Speaker is “the principal spokesman of the House, he represents its collective voice and is its sole representative to the outside world”.

— The Speaker presides over the House proceedings and joint sittings of the two Houses of Parliament.

— It is the Speaker’s decision that determines whether a Bill is a Money Bill and therefore outside of the purview of the other House.

— The Deputy Speaker is independent of the Speaker, not subordinate to him, as both are elected from among the members 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.

— 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.

— The Committees of the House function under the overall direction of the Speaker. All such Committees are constituted by him/her or by the House.

— The Speaker has certain other functions to perform as the head of the Lok Sabha.

Conclusion:

— The Office of the Speaker in India is a living and dynamic institution which deals with the actual needs and problems of Parliament in the performance of its functions.

— The Constitution neither sets a time limit nor specifies the process for these elections. It leaves it to the legislatures to decide how to hold these elections. In Lok Sabha and state legislatures, the President/Governor sets a date for the election of the Speaker, and it is the Speaker who decides the date for the election of the Deputy Speaker.

(Source: Explained: How are a Speaker and Deputy Speaker elected? by Chakshu Roy, sansad.in)

Points to Ponder

Deputy Speaker

Speaker of State Legislature

Related Previous Year Questions

Discuss the role of the Vice-President of India as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. (2022)

‘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 20)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 21)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 21)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 20)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 21)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 22)

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