Sakshi Education
I want to begin by congratulating those who cleared the Preliminary Examination and getting ready for the Mains Examination in the month of December.
You have 5 papers ahead of you- General Essay and four papers of General Studies.
Enjoy writing the Essay
While writing the Essay, differentiate it from General Studies. Different people have different styles. Find out which is your own style that makes you feel comfortable. You may quote from great people. Be insightful... Be constructive all the time and never be dismissive and narrow. It shows your personality. Be respectful of our leaders. Optimism is the only way ahead. Don’t look cynical. Examiner should enjoy reading what you have written. He/she can do so if you have enjoyed writing it.
Multiple Essays this year!
For the General Essay, this year onwards there is a hint that you may have to write more than one Essay. Some topics that you can practice are related to
Firstly, last year the number of words you had to write was a burden. But don’t bother. Write well. Word limit need not be taken very rigidly. Don’t exceed it. Be mindful of quality.
Comment, Elaborate, Illustrate, Analyse, or be Critical
Secondly, there are some people who excel when they put it across in point form. Some excel either way. Also, some answers can be written in point form, for example, National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy or amendments being proposed to Motor Vehicles Act or amendments to Juvenile Justice Act etc. But analytical answers may be written either way. For example, need for crop diversification in India. Choose your style.
Thirdly, see what the paper-setter wants you to do - comment, elaborate, illustrate, analyse, or be critical. Each of these mandates has a separate meaning. Answer accordingly.
Fourthly, don’t over-present facts. Analysis is important and facts establish your diligence.
Finally, if you “spoil” any paper, for any reason, let it not spoil your mood. You never know how you wrote till results have come. Keep your confidence at healthy levels.
Important topics
In History- including post-Independence India, the topics for the season are
Social issues could be targeting youth and Indian culture after globalization. Adoption related issues in India, Rural society and how it is impacted since LPG policies had begun in 1991 also.
Polity- Important Topics
In Polity and Governance, issues like –
For Ethics and other Issues, be yourself. See implications for different courses of action in “case studies”. Get ready with good quotations about power, wealth, duty (Dharma), honesty and integrity. Reflect a lot. Balance between being politically correct and the practical ways of dealing. There are no model ways dealing. Different leaders have different approaches. Universal answers are difficult to construct.
You have 5 papers ahead of you- General Essay and four papers of General Studies.
Enjoy writing the Essay
While writing the Essay, differentiate it from General Studies. Different people have different styles. Find out which is your own style that makes you feel comfortable. You may quote from great people. Be insightful... Be constructive all the time and never be dismissive and narrow. It shows your personality. Be respectful of our leaders. Optimism is the only way ahead. Don’t look cynical. Examiner should enjoy reading what you have written. He/she can do so if you have enjoyed writing it.
Multiple Essays this year!
For the General Essay, this year onwards there is a hint that you may have to write more than one Essay. Some topics that you can practice are related to
- the role of opposition;
- rights of children;
- smart cities;
- cleanliness as a behavioural challenge;
- presidential developments in parliamentary democracy and the effects;
- A close neighbor is better than a distant relative;
- Minimum government and maximum governance etc.
Firstly, last year the number of words you had to write was a burden. But don’t bother. Write well. Word limit need not be taken very rigidly. Don’t exceed it. Be mindful of quality.
Comment, Elaborate, Illustrate, Analyse, or be Critical
Secondly, there are some people who excel when they put it across in point form. Some excel either way. Also, some answers can be written in point form, for example, National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy or amendments being proposed to Motor Vehicles Act or amendments to Juvenile Justice Act etc. But analytical answers may be written either way. For example, need for crop diversification in India. Choose your style.
Thirdly, see what the paper-setter wants you to do - comment, elaborate, illustrate, analyse, or be critical. Each of these mandates has a separate meaning. Answer accordingly.
Fourthly, don’t over-present facts. Analysis is important and facts establish your diligence.
Finally, if you “spoil” any paper, for any reason, let it not spoil your mood. You never know how you wrote till results have come. Keep your confidence at healthy levels.
Important topics
In History- including post-Independence India, the topics for the season are
- World War 1;
- Ghadar party;
- Gandhiji’s return to India (1915);
- Arab Politics since 1914;
- Tibet issue (1950-59);
- Panchsheel;
- Henderson Brooks report;
- Shimla Agreement 1972;
- National Emergency 1975;
- Janata Party 1977-79;
- Kargil War 1999 etc.
- Aichi targets,
- Cyclones,
- El Nino and Drought;
- Extreme Weather Events;
- Agro-forestry Policy 2014.
Social issues could be targeting youth and Indian culture after globalization. Adoption related issues in India, Rural society and how it is impacted since LPG policies had begun in 1991 also.
Polity- Important Topics
In Polity and Governance, issues like –
- Leader of Opposition;
- Death Penalty;
- Presidential System of Democracy;
- Uniform Civil Code;
- Article 370;
- Cooperative Federalism;
- Raising of royalties on minerals;
- NJAC vs Collegium system in the appointment of judges to higher judiciary;
- PMO
For Ethics and other Issues, be yourself. See implications for different courses of action in “case studies”. Get ready with good quotations about power, wealth, duty (Dharma), honesty and integrity. Reflect a lot. Balance between being politically correct and the practical ways of dealing. There are no model ways dealing. Different leaders have different approaches. Universal answers are difficult to construct.
Published date : 25 Oct 2014 12:20PM
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