🚨 This story is part of our special initiative for UPSC and other competitive exams. Look out for UPSC KEY on weekdays and UPSC Essentials everyday, Weekly news express with MCQs, Key Terms of the past week, Quizzes as well as The Indian Express 360° Upsc Debate, Society & Social Justice, UPSC Mains Practice, Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik, UPSC Ethics Simplified, Experts Talk, and more. 🚨 Dear Aspirants, Thank you for joining us for LIVE sessions. Every day we receive your emails and messages, in large numbers, with queries revolving around news and UPSC preparation in general. Each letter and text makes us feel that we need to do more to simplify your examination preparation journey. You will be happy to know that we will be LIVE every week on Wednesdays, take up your queries, provide you with cues from the news, and discuss a relevant theme revolving around news and UPSC preparation in general. The popular question for this week: As most queries were related to Essays, let’s make it a theme for our upcoming LIVE session. I will take up other queries too. You can send your queries at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com or join Telegram: The Indian Express UPSC Hub or ask me Live! at 8 PM on July 19. UPSC Essentials brings to you its new initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing will cover 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. We will cover one new subject four days in a week. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-2 to check your progress. QUESTION 1 There have been recent advances in medical termination policy in India, but there is still a long way to go. Discuss. QUESTION 2 Seen as part of the “checks and balances” the Indian democracy is proud of, the post of a Governor of a state is a very interesting appointee of our political system. Discuss. 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: There have been recent advances in medical termination policy in India, but there is still a long way to go. Discuss. Introduction: A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about medical termination of pregnancy. — Abortion in India is legal as per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act passed in 1971. The Act allows termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks for a broad range of indications. The MTP Act was amended in December 2002, and the Rules, in June 2003. — The MTP Act requires only the consent of the woman for an abortion (if she is of sound mind and not a minor). Spousal or any other consent is not required. — However, in the case of a minor who has not completed the age of 18 years or a mentally ill woman, the consent of the guardian is required. (Source: www.who.int) Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 — It was introduced to “liberalise” access to abortion since the restrictive criminal provision was leading to women using unsafe and dangerous methods for the termination of pregnancy. — The act allowed termination of pregnancy by a medical practitioner in two stages: For termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks from conception, the opinion of one doctor was required. For pregnancies between 12 and 20 weeks old, the opinion of two doctors was required. — In 2021, Parliament amended the law and allowed for a termination under the opinion of one doctor for pregnancies up to 20 weeks. For pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks, the amended law requires the opinion of two doctors. — The following categories of women shall be considered eligible for termination of pregnancy under clause (b) of subsection (2) Section 3 of the Act, for a period of up to twenty-four weeks, namely: (a) survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest; (b) minors; (c) change of marital status during the ongoing pregnancy (widowhood and divorce); (d) women with physical disabilities [major disability as per criteria laid down under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (e) mentally ill women including mental retardation; (f) the foetal malformation that has substantial risk of being incompatible with life or if the child is born it may suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities to be seriously handicapped; and (g) women with pregnancy in humanitarian settings or disaster or emergency situations as may be declared by the Government. Indian Penal Code, 1860 — Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, criminalises voluntarily “causing miscarriage” even when the miscarriage is with the pregnant woman’s consent, except when the miscarriage is caused to save the woman’s life. This means that the woman herself, or anyone else including a medical practitioner, could be prosecuted for an abortion. UNFPA — According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s State of the World Population Report 2022. Between 2007-2011, 67 per cent of abortions in India were classified as unsafe. Supreme Court Judgement — The Supreme Court said it is unconstitutional to distinguish between married and unmarried women for allowing termination of pregnancy on certain exceptional grounds when the foetus is between 20-24 weeks. (Sources: Explained: What is India’s law on abortion, and why has a pregnant unmarried petitioner gone to Supreme Court in appeal? by Apurva Vishwanath, Supreme Court’s abortion ruling by Apurva Vishwanath) Conclusion: Your conclusion should be short and should end on a positive note. — The report released by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) states that both the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971, and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021, which expands the scope of the Act and provides impetus for safer abortions, are progressive and encouraging. — The MTP Act is a provider protection law, that seeks to shield the Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) from criminal liability, and as such it does not centre the pregnant woman’s needs, reproductive autonomy, and agency. (Source: Report: 67% abortions in India unsafe, cause nearly 8 deaths every day by Esha Roy) Points to Ponder What are the conditions required to be fulfilled in order to obtain an abortion? Recent amendments in the Act QUESTION 2: Seen as part of the “checks and balances” the Indian democracy is proud of, the post of a Governor of a state is a very interesting appointee of our political system. Discuss. Introduction: A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about Governor of the State. — Article 153 of the Constitution says “There shall be a Governor for each State.” A constitutional amendment in 1956 laid down that “nothing in this article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States”. — The Governor of a State is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal and he/she shall hold office during the pleasure of the President”, but his normal term of office will be five years. (Source: How are Governors appointed, and why is their role often controversial?) Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: Relationship between the Governor and the State Government — The Governor is an apolitical head who must act on the advice of the council of ministers. The Governor enjoys certain powers granted under the Constitution, such as giving or withholding assent to a Bill passed by the state legislature, or determining the time needed for a party to prove its majority, or which party must be called first do so, generally after a hung verdict in an election. — The executive power of the State shall be vested in the Governor and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution. — The Governor of a State shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends. — There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except in so far as he is by or under this Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them in his discretion. — The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, and the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor. — The Governor of each State shall appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed a Judge of a High Court to be Advocate-General for the State. — All executive action of the Government of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor. — The Governor shall from time to time summon the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session. (Source: upgovernor.gov.in, Explained: Governor’s powers, friction with states, and why this happens often by Deeptiman Tiwary) Conclusion: Your conclusion should be short. — Over the decades, Governors have been seen as acting on the behest of the central government in power at the time, and have been accused by state governments, especially those in opposition, as acting as “agents of the Centre”. Points to Ponder Qualifications for Appointment as Governor Conditions of the Governor's office Related Previous Year Questions Discuss the essential conditions for exercise of the legislative powers by the Governor. Discuss the legality of re-promulgation of ordinances by the Governor without placing them before the Legislature. (2022) Discuss the essentials of the 69th Constitutional Amendment Act and anomalies, if any, that have led to recent reported conflicts between the elected representatives and institution of Lieutenant Governor in the administration of Delhi. Do you think that this will give rise to a new trend in the functioning of Indian Federal Politics? (2016) Post your inputs and answers to points to ponder in the comment box below and engage with other aspirants too. All the best! (The UPSC Essentials Indian Express is now on Telegram- Indian Express UPSC Hub. Click here to join our YouTube channel and stay updated with the latest updates.
