Directives Explained: Examine,

Critically Examine, Analyse and

Critically Analyse
by INSIGHTS[1] July 4, 2014
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[toc]

Introduction
We see lots of Directive words being given in UPSC Civil Services
Mains General Studies and Optional question papers every year. For
example, in last years (2013) General Studies Paper 2,[2] out of 25
questions, 23 questions had clear Directives ranging from Discuss to
Elucidate ( Other Directives given Comment, Examine,
Critically Examine, Analyse, Critically Evaluate, Assess,
Outline, Justify and Discuss Critically.)
These directives are not randomly given. They serve a purpose. In
every question, when they are given, they demand specific response
from candidates. In the above mentioned question pape[3]r, every

directive would have been just Discuss. But we see diverse directives
including a directive that expects candidate to Discuss Critically the
given question.

What is a Directive?
It is an instruction that tells you what to do with content words given
in the question. Directives are also called as Task Words. They ask you
to follow a clear path throughout your answer/essay. You need to
follow its instruction to make your answer relevant.

But, What are Content Words?

These words/phrases in the question tell you which ideas and concepts
are required to be dealt with in your answer.These words guide you to
establish the general focus of your answer.
But only directives and content words do not sufficiently guide you to
write a complete answer. There is something else called as Limiting
Words/phrases.

Limiting Words
These words/phrases limit the scope of your answer. You may be asked
to comment on an event that took place only after certain year (For
example, Comment on Indias defence policy since Kargil war). Here,
the particular year is the limiting word i.e. Year 1999. You should
never write anything related to defence policy that is before 1999.

Even word limit is part of this. Limiting words create a boundary lest
you wander away from the demand of the question.
In this article, we will take up Questions that appeared in 2013 Mains
as an example and explain all the three Key words mentioned above.
In this article, we will discuss only two key directives - Examine and
Analyse and their variants.

The Question
The concept of Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme is almost a century
old in India with early beginnings in Madras Presidency in pre
Independent India. The scheme as again been given impetus in
most states in the last two decades. Critically examine its twin
objectives, latest mandates and success. (Question 8, General
Studies-2, CSE-2013, 200 words)[4]
(Refer this to frame your answer)
Key Words in the Question
Directive:
In this question, the directive used is Critically Examine. First we
should know the clear meaning of examine and what does it direct
us to do in our answer.
When asked to Examine, we have to look into the topic (content
words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts
and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should

explain why these facts and issues are important and their
implications.
If in the above question, the directive was just Examine and not
Critically Examine, what difference would have it made?
The word Critically is usually added when the examiner clearly
demands a fair judgement from you. You can not take a single stance,
or be blind to other facts.
In the above question, the directive Critically Examine is given
because at the end of the question you are asked to examine its
Success too. Someone might think that it is not good to write
negative things about the Mid Day Meal scheme because UPSC likes
only positive answers and the question itself is asking to write about
success alone. Its wrong. Here, you should talk about its
shortcomings too. You can not just write a glowing tribute to the
scheme and try to impress the examiner.
But, if the directive was just Examine, can we just mention only
positive or negative facts?
No. You still have to balance your answer with fair judgement, but
emphasis should be more on establishing facts, not worrying much
about good or bad about those facts.
In the same question paper (Q 18, CSE-2013, GS-2[5]), see this
question:
The proposed withdrawal of International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) from Afghanistan in 2014 is fraught with major

security implications for the countries of the region. Examine in

light of the fact that India is faced with a plethora of challenges
and needs to safeguard its own strategic interests.(200 Words)
In the above question you are just asked to establish facts and explain
the implications. You dont have to necessarily take both positions:
i.e. the need for India to fill the vacuum once USA evacuates from
Afghanistan or for it to just stay away and focus on tightening its
security apparatus at home. As it is clearly given in the question to
support the directive that in light of the fact that India is faced with a
plethora of challenges and needs to safeguard its own strategic
interests, you need to objectively establish facts here. If it was
Critically examine, it was imperative for you to talk both about
Indias involvement and non-involvement and their implications. But
to this question you can safely answer that Indias non-involvement in
the internal affairs of Afghanistan, or military adventurism, or getting
entangled in regional geopolitics is good for its own security.
What if the directive was Analyse in the question (on Mid Day
meal scheme)?
When asked to analyse, we have to break the question into parts and
carefully examine their details and interrelationships. Analyse is
digging deeper than examine but into every aspect of the question.
In the question on MDM, already various parts are given in the
question itself. History of MDM, Twin Objective (Education and
Health of children), latest mandates and success of the scheme. These
are interrelated. In the answer you should clearly talk about their
interrelationship. When analysing twin objectives, you have to
examine in detail educational and health aspects of the scheme

provisions, their impact, shortcomings etc.

It appears to be a challenge to think about directives in the exam
hall and frame a coherent and relevant answer. But if you go there
with sufficient practice, these things will be easy to manage even
in the pressure situation of the exam.
Though many toppers suggest that one should just go with the
flow or write a simple answer, I dont think UPSC is stupid to give
so many directives in all its question papers. Understanding the
demand of the question actually solves the 50 per cent of the
problem. Directives help a great deal in this regard (along with
content words and limiting words, of which we will talk shortly)
Usually the directive analyse is given whenever that question
demands a detailed examination of various parts.
For example,
In the same question paper, UPSC gave the following question with
the directive analyse':
Though Citizens charters have been formulated by many public
service delivery organizations, there is no corresponding
improvement in the level of citizens satisfaction and quality of
services being provided. Analyse.(200 Words)
In the above question, you need to identify content words to
properly analyse the question in your answer. Citizens charters,
public service delivery organizations (this is the most important one
here many organizations from Panchayat to PMO come here),

citizens satisfaction and quality of services are the content words

here. You have to examine these in-depth and establish their
interrelationship in the answer.
If the directive was Critically analyse in the above question, all you
need to do is to be fair in your argument. Some may argue that
Citizens Charters are just futile exercise and nothing else. Even
though the question itself has a negative tone, you have to examine
positive aspects and explain them well.
Critically is usually added to the directive when the topic is
controversial or issues related to it clearly have both positives and
negatives. You can go through previous year papers and check it
yourself.
Content Words
In the first question (MDM), content words are: concept of MDM, its
history, its twin objectives, its new mandates, its success and effect on
states.
Limiting Words
If you observe carefully, the limiting words are Latest mandates
you should not talk lengthily about past mandates; in Two decades
you dont have to write about its effect from time immemorial.
Once you identify these key words in a given question, your job
becomes easier. You just have to fill the content as demanded by the
question. Remember, relevance is most important in your answer. If
you maintain relevance till the end while meeting the demand of the

question at the same time, examiner will be impressed.

Wait, there is one more key word!
Context Words
In the second question (Indias role in Afghanistan) we saw that the
directive word is followed by a specific context. In may questions we
see such a context given such as in the light of.. type questions.
Here, you dont have to write anything extra regarding the context.
You just have to maintain a boundary in your answer within the
context.
Thus, these four key words/phrases actually help you understand the
demand of the question better and make your job easy. Thats why you
should first try to understand these words and use them when you do
writing practice here [6]or at home.
With more practice you will be able to clearly differentiate between
different directives. Without going through these words you can still
get decent marks. But to be in the top league your answers must be
clear, logical, relevant and straight to the point. This is why few
people get very good marks in General Studies papers. If you practice
with these points in mind, slowly you will learn to see things with
different perspective altogether the perspective which UPSC expects
from you.
In the next article, we shall discuss other directive words: Comment,
Discuss and Elucidate.

References:
http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/content.php?pid=99122&sid=2561380
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/468867/5299ASU_TertiaryEssayWritingWeb.pdf (extremely useful for essay
writing)
http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writingresources/essay-terms (for definitions of Directive words)

Links
1. http://www.insightsonindia.com/author/vinay-g-b/
2. http://www.upsc.gov.in/questionpaper/2013/CSM%202013/GS%20II.pdf
3. http://www.upsc.gov.in/questionpaper/2013/CSM%202013/GS%20II.pdf
4. http://www.upsc.gov.in/questionpaper/2013/CSM%202013/GS%20II.pdf
5. http://www.upsc.gov.in/questionpaper/2013/CSM%202013/GS%20II.pdf
6. http://insightsonindia.com/secure-2014-strategy-for-upsc-civilservice-2014/