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AnswerWritingTechniquesforIASMainExam2
ByManojK.Jha
What is a good answer? Million dollar question! Especially in the given scenario when good marks in IAS Mains
Exam is distant dream. Mains examination questions of general studies unfolded many thing, about word limit,
approach to the questions, analytical demand of the question, and many turns and twists attached to most of the
questionintheformofcommoninstructionsi.e.Analyse,CriticallyAnalyse,Discuss,Evaluate,Explainetc.
Here I am presenting the meaning of the common instructions attached to the Questions in the Mains paper. And
few question and there model hints about content, it is just an answer hint to get some overview about attempting
answerinmainexam.Wehavenotattachedthewordlimits.
Herearesomemodelquestions:
Q 1. Central Vigilance Commission was set up by the Government to propagate the principle of zero
toleranceoncorruption.Whatstepsithastakentocombatcorruption?Analysetheoutcomesofthesesteps
andalsoassesstheeffectivenessofCVC.
Q 2. Critically examine the role played by Non Government Organisations (NGOs) in development process
withspecialreferencetoIndia.EnumeratemainproblemsfacingtheNGOsinIndia.
Q 3. Democratic decentralization cannot be operationalised in real terms without proper fiscal
decentralization.Elaborate.
Q4.Whatismicrofinance?Whatroletheselfhelpgroupsplayinfinancialintermediation?
IntheIASMainsexamtherearevariousinstructionsattachedtothequestion.Hereisessenceofthose:
ANALYSE:Breakupanissue/eventintoitscomponentpartsandexplainhowtheserelatetooneanother.
ASSESS:considertheimportanceofsomethingstressisgiveninthequestion.
COMPARE:simplyexaminethesimilaritiesanddifferences.
CONTRAST:concentrateonthedifferences.
CRITIQUE:pointoutthelimitationsandusefulnessofthesubjectinthequestion.
DESCRIBE:givedetailedaccountofatopic
DISCUSS:explainvariousperspectiveandpresentalogicalargument
EVALUATE:weighuptheimportance,successorvalueofsomethingwithevidencetosupportyourview

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EXAMINE:giveadetailedaccount,questioningandexploringtherelevantissue
EXPLAIN:giveapreciseaccount,withreasonsforwhyorhowitisasitis.
ILLUSTRATE:useexamplesfromarangeofsourcetodemonstrateyourunderstandingofthesubject.
JUSTIFY: make a case for a particular perspective. Establish the truth through supporting evidence or logical
reasoning
REVIEW:examinehowatopichasbeenstudiedandcommentonvalueandlimitationsofitstreatment
Towhatextent...:explorethecaseforandagainstaclaim
Herearesolutionsintheformatofmodelhintstocracktheessenceofdemandofsuchquestions.Youwillalsoget
an idea about the extent and dimension of content to write a good answer. Word limits are not attached to these
questions.
Q.CentralVigilanceCommissionwassetupbytheGovernmenttopropagatetheprincipleofzerotolerance
oncorruption.Whatstepsithastakentocombatcorruption?Analysetheoutcomesofthesestepsandalso
assesstheeffectivenessofCVC.
AnswerHints
The CVC has evolved over time as an institution to monitor corruption of government institutions and officials
throughinitiatinginvestigationssinceitscreationin1964.
The CVC Act 2003 conferred statutory status to the CVC and the powers to exercise superintendence over
functioning of the Delhi Special Police Establishment, and also to review the progress of the investigations
pertainingtoallegedoffencesunderthePreventionofCorruptionAct,1988.
TheCVCpublishesalistofcaseswherepermissionsarepending.Thecommission,asapublicauthorityprovides
informationundertheRTIacttothecitizensasrequestedregardingvigilanceofinstitutionsandofficialsonalleged
corruptioncases.
It has taken some new initiatives including National Anticorruption Strategy, leveraging technology to prevent
corruption, integrity in public procurement, awareness campaign, and provision for whistle blowers, improving the
standard of vigilance work, computerization of commissions work, Modern Preventive Vigilance Framework and
internationalcooperationetc.Allthishasmadesomedeterrencetocorruptioncases,butbyandlargeitseffecthas
beenminimalbecausetherearemanylimitationsoftheCVC.
Although CVC is relatively independent in its functioning, it has neither resources nor powers to inquire and take

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actiononcomplaintsofcorruptionthatmayactasaneffectivedeterrenceagainstcorruption.Thelimitationsinclude
itsadvisorynatureduetowhichgovernmentmayacceptorrejectitsadvice,smallsizeofsanctionedstaff(299)as
comparedtolargenumberofcorruptioncasespertainingtocentralgovernmentdepartmentsandministries.
Further,theCVCcannotdirectCBItoinitiateinquiriesagainstanyofficerofthelevelofJointSecretaryandabove
onitsown.Suchpermissionhastobeobtainedfromtheconcerneddepartment.
Ithasnoteethasitdoesnothavepowerstoregistercriminalcase.Itdealsonlywithvigilanceordisciplinarycases.
Although the CVC has supervisory powers over CBI, it does not have the power to call for any file from CBI or to
directCBItoinvestigateanycaseinaparticularmanner.
Andlastbutnottheleast,appointmentstoCVCareindirectlyunderthecontrolofGovtofIndia,whichhasalways
raisedsuspicionthatgovernmentpreferstoappointmalleableofficers.
Q.CriticallyexaminetheroleplayedbyNonGovernmentOrganisations(NGOs)indevelopmentprocesswith
specialreferencetoIndia.EnumeratemainproblemsfacingtheNGOsinIndia.
AnswerHints:
NGOs as a development alternative offer innovative and peoplecentred approaches to service delivery, advocacy
andempowerment.NGOsfillthegapsindevelopmentactivitiesofthegovernment.
NGOs are grassroot organizations with better interface with people and their problems. By some estimates, India
has3.3millionNGOsoroneNGOforevery400individuals.
In India NGOs have carried on various initiatives for eradication of illiteracy, disease, exploitation of women and
childrenandviolenceagainstthem.Theyarealsoprovidinghelpindisastermanagement,supporttostreetchildren,
women involved in prostitution, pet care. In fact, these NGOs play a positive role in virtually every sector of the
economy.NGOshavealsoactedagainstencroachmentofhumanrights.
MainProblems
NGOs are, however, being set up and run by many vested interests. They become a means of money making,
luxurious life for some and often alleged to be hand in glove to take funds and support from government
organizations for personal benefits. Some of the NGOs act as frontal face for organizations which have ulterior
motives.
Main problems facing them are shortage of funds, absence of transparency, accountability and a regulatory
mechanism.Itisalsonotknownwhethertheyusetheallocatedfundsforthestatedpurposeormisusethem.
A lot of NGOs setup in India are either dormant or fraudulent, used for a wide range of illegal activities such tax
evasionandmisappropriationofgovernmentfunds.

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Q. Democratic decentralization cannot be operationalised in real terms without proper fiscal

decentralization.Elaborate.
AnswerHints:
TheCentreandstateshaveasymbioticrelation,moresoinfinancialarena.Althoughtherightsofcentreandstates
tomobilizeresourcesthroughtaxesandnontaxsourceshavebeenclearlydelineatedintheconstitution,thestates
allegethatthebuoyantandelasticsourcesaremoreunderthecontroloftheCentre.
TheresponsibilitiesofstatestodeliverwelfareanddevelopmenthaveincreasedovertimealongwiththeCentre.Itis
important for democratic decentralization that the state governments are provided with sufficient opportunities to
mobilizefundsfortheseactivities.
Statescarryonmanyofthevitaldevelopmentandwelfareactivitiessuchasprimaryhealthcare,primaryeducation,
supply of potable water and essential infrastructure including roads and electricity. Some of them have elaborate
roadwaysservicesaswell.AlltheseprogrammesgetfinancialsupportfromtheCentreandtheseprogrammesare
alsosupplementedbyCentralprogrammes.Inviewofrisingresponsibilityofthestatesitisimportantthattheyare
allowedtomobilizeresourcesfortheirfinancialneeds.
The fundamental principles for devolution of funds from Centre to States are equity and efficiency. The states get
funds from the Planning Commission for various development projects whereas they get their share from tax
proceedsoftheCentrethroughtheFinanceCommission.ThetransferofresourcesfromtheCentretotheStatesis
guidedbycertainprinciples,yetthereisdiscontentmentamongstatesregardinginadequacyoffunds.
It is also observed that the states which have developed their agriculture, industry, trade and commerce and
servicessector,theircapacitytogeneratetheirownresourcesandspendonwelfareanddevelopmentishigherthan
thosewhohavenotbeenabletodevelopthesesector.
Insuchasituationtheneedforfinancialdecentralizationisstronglyfelt.StateswantmoretransfersfromCentreand
theyalsowantmorepowerstomobilizeresources.
The finance commission has now changed its role from being a paternalistic institution to an institution that
promotes fiscal discipline and reward states which focus on development, hence its criteria of financial devolution
hasalsochangedovertime.
Asregardsverticaltransferfromdivisiblepooloftaxes,the13thFinanceCommissionrecommendedthattheshare
ofstatesinthenetproceedsofshareablecentraltaxesberaisedfrom30.5percentto32percent.Accordingtothe
thirteenthFinanceCommissionscriteriapopulationhasaweightof25percentinhorizontaldevolutionareahas10
percent,fiscalcapacity47.5percentandfiscaldiscipline17.5percent.

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The role of Planning Commission in devolving resources to the states is although formula based, political
considerations lead to under financing and over financing. There is increase in recent times in nonformula based
transfers,whichhasbeencriticizedbythethirteenthfinancecommission.
If states are needed to maintain their expenditure on social sector and infrastructure it is important to give them
powertomobilizeadditionalfundsfromtaxandnontaxsources.
Theverticalandhorizontaldevolutionstillremainscontroversial,especiallythedevelopedstateswhomobilizemore
resourcesarecriticaloftransferringmoreresourcestobackwardstates.
Statesdemandexpansionofthedivisiblepoolfromincometaxandexcisedutytootherkindsofsourcessuchas
customsduty,servicetaxandcorporatetax.Theyalsoinsistthatthelargecontributingstatestothedivisiblepool
oftaxesshouldberewardedfortheirrevenueincrease.
But the role of central government is to provide support to the lagging states so that they not only cover their
revenuegapbutalsodevelopmentgap.Besidesexcisedutyandincometax,stateswanttoincludecorporatetax,
customduty,corporatetaxandservicestaxinthedivisiblepooloftaxes.
The Centre is aware about the importance of financial decentralization, but it has its own compulsions. Its
expenditurehasalsoincreasedovertime,especiallythenonplanexpenditure.TheCentrehasreviseditsformulafor
thetransferofresourcestostates.
Anumberofstatesfavourcontinuationofareaasacriterioninthedistributionformula,withsomestatessuggesting
an increase in the weightage and others suggesting a reduction. Continuation of tax effort and fiscal discipline as
criteria for tax devolution has been suggested by the majority of states. Other criteria suggested by states include
forest cover, length of international border, index of infrastructure, levels of backwardness, human development
index,shareofprimarysectorinGrossStateDomesticProduct(GSDP)ofastate,contributiontocentraltaxesand
expenditureonsocialsectorsandinfrastructure.
Whatever be the criteria there is no doubt that democratic decentralization is possible only if the states have
financialwherewithalforcarryingoutdevelopmentandwelfareactivitiesandthisneedsfinancialdecentralization.
Q.Whatismicrofinance?Whatroletheselfhelpgroupsplayinfinancialintermediation?
AnswerHints
Microfinance is a form of financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses or farmers lacking access to
bankingandrelatedservices.Thetwomainmechanismsforthedeliveryoffinancialservicestosuchclientsare:
(1)relationshipbasedbankingforindividualentrepreneursandsmallbusinessesand
(2) groupbased models, where several entrepreneurs come together to apply for loans and other services as a

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group.
Micro finance also provides many poor and nearpoor households access to an appropriate range of high quality
financialservices,includingnotjustcreditbutalsosavings,insurance,andfundtransfers.
Self help groups are group based models of micro finance. A selfhelp group (SHG) is a villagebased financial
intermediary usually composed of 1020 local women or men. A mixed group is generally not preferred. Most self
help groups are located in India, though SHGs can also be found in other countries, especially in South Asia and
SoutheastAsia.
ASelfHelpGroupmayberegisteredorunregistered.Ittypicallycomprisesagroupofmicroentrepreneurshaving
homogenous social and economic backgrounds all voluntarily coming together to save regular small sums of
money, mutually agreeing to contribute to a common fund and to meet their emergency needs on the basis of
mutualhelp.
Theypooltheirresourcestobecomefinanciallystable,takingloansfromthemoneycollectedbythatgroupandby
makingeverybodyinthatgroupselfemployed.
This system eliminates the need for collateral and is closely related to that of solidarity lending, widely used by
microfinanceinstitutions.
Tomakethebookkeepingsimpleenoughtobehandledbythemembers,flatinterestratesareusedformostloan
calculations.
The group members use collective wisdom and peer pressure to ensure proper enduse of credit and timely
repayment.
NABARD estimates that there are 2.2 million SHGs in India, representing 33 million members, which have taken
loansfrombanksunderitslinkageprogramtodate.ThisdoesnotincludeSHGsthathavenotborrowed.
Many selfhelp groups, especially in India, under NABARD's SHGbanklinkage program, borrow from banks once
theyhaveaccumulatedabaseoftheirowncapitalandhaveestablishedatrackrecordofregularrepayments.

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