La ex Mains Program 2019

Free Micro schedule for 107 days with 3 Questions per day@ La Excellence Bangalore

Date-19.06.2019

Day-15

Test-13

GS2 Syllabus: Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business,
powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Structure, organization and functioning of
the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure
groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity

Questions

1. ‘The emergence of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in contemporary times points to the slow
but steady withdrawal of the state from developmental activities’. Examine the role of
the SHGs in developmental activities and the measures taken by the Government of
India to promote the SHGs. (250W|15M)

Approach:

1. Underlying Theme: role of Government in developmental activities after the

emergence of SHGs in India.
2. Keywords: Examine – Inspect thoroughly to understand the situation i.e. It expects a
Good understanding of the SHGs and their role in the developmental process
3. Introduction :

o One can introduce the topic, by defining what an SHG is.

4. Body

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 o You can talk about various aspects in which the SHG’s function in the Society and
their overall impact on the Society. Example: they help in social mobilization,
finance, capacity building, organizing the poor in small groups, Bank credit and
government subsidy

o Give examples on how SHG is achieving the above aspects. Examples: in the
form of better credit , access to banking infrastructure [Financial inclusion],
capacity building through Skill development etc

o Secondly, SHGs usually consist of Women and so one can speak about how
economic empowerment of women can lead to Social empowerment. [Position
in the family]

o Spillover effects of such activities on the greater society [Education and Health]

o PART 2 of the answer , The role of Government in promoting SHGs

 You have to talk about various schemes that the government has come
up to promote SHG activity Ex: NRLM

 Bank – SHG linkage; Role of NABARD ,RBI recognition;

 Handholding for skilling through various programmes

 Government involving SHGs in promotion of various schemes like Swachh

Bharat

5. Conclusion

o Link the conclusion to the statement given – One can say that while government
is doing its role in poverty alleviation , education and other developmental
activity , The SHG’s have played a role in bottom up developmental activity and
thus speeded up the process of development and empowerment.

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 2. Do you think there are enough provisions in India to ensure accountability of
bureaucracy to citizens? (150W|10M)

1. Underlying Theme : Aims at understanding the provisions available to citizens to

hold the bureaucracy accountable for their actions

2. Introduction : What is accountability and Why the bureaucracy , a body of experts

need to be accountable to the citizens

3. Body

o Give a brief account about the various ways one can hold the bureaucrats
accountable
 Legislative Accountability
 Judicial Accountability
 Media including social media
 Civil Society and Voluntary organizations
 Other means : speak about social audit , citizen charters, RTI and so
on
 Don’t forget to mention Lokpal in India

Next analyze whether the provisions are sufficient to hold the bureaucracy accountable. That is,
speak on the shortcomings of the above provisions like lack of protection to whistleblowers in
India, time involved in judicial proceedings, cost in PIL, rampant politicization of bureaucracy is
also on the rise which makes it hard to bring accountability of bureaucracy to citizen. Civil
society and Voluntary organizations have suffered in recent times due to some controversial

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government regulation, some aspects of PoCA which has made it difficult to hold a part of
bureaucracy accountable etc

4. Conclusion

While taking into account various shortcomings in holding the bureaucracy

accountable, one can speak about various changes that are being brought in to
promote accountability – Social Audit Compulsory in Meghalaya, Role of grievance
redressal mechanisms and conclude on a positive note (appointing Lokpal is a
welcome move also)

3. In Indian democracy, legislatures are losing central place to executive. Comment

(150W|10M)
1. Underlying Theme: Undermining of legislative significance in present times.
2. KEYWORD: Comment – Expects you to have an opinion on the topic while
supporting your opinion with facts and examples. One can also point out extremities
that do not fall in line with the given opinion
3. Introduction
a. Write a few lines on the significance of legislature in a democracy. Example:
A genuine democracy is inconceivable without a representative, efficient and
effective legislature. The legislature also helps people in holding the
representatives accountable.
4. Body
 Give arguments to show why you think the significance of legislature is reducing.
 Cabinet initiates policies, sets the agenda for governance and carries them through. This
has led some critics to remark that the Parliament has declined.
 Frequent resort to ordinance route is also discouraging
 Indian situation when the ruling party has majority in the Parliament – Aadhar bill
passing.

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  Parliament does not meet or work long enough (Frequent walkouts and adjournments
have reduced the role the legislature plays in holding the government accountable)
 Role of the Party whip etc
 Most of the lawmakers that are elected find hard to understand the complexity involved
in the lawmaking process in India.
 The allocation of time for MPs to speak is proportional to the strength of their political
party; this is a regressive mechanism
 The recommendations of most of the committee in parliament are not binding.

5. Conclusion: Give your personal opinion on the issue based on the arguments made
above.

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