SYNOPSIS [26th June,2020] Day 15: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)
1. What according to you is the most important human value? Why? Substantiate.
Demand of the question:
It expects students to define human values and why are they important. Students should also write about one most important value with relevant examples.
Introduction:
Humankind is going through a new and unprecedented experience with the rapidly spreading Covid-19 pandemic. A major challenge is to protect human health and dignity and to respect universal values in the current context.
Body:
Human Values are prioritized principles – ideas – traits which individual-society feels worthy to practice to guide their conduct and decisions.
Roy Disney claimed that, ‘It’s not hard to make decisions once you know what your values are.’ Thus, all values have great importance, but tolerance as a human value has special significance.
Tolerance can be defined as ‘Harmony in differences’.
World in very diverse, human life is diverse this diversity creates a wide scope for differences. Differences can be in ideology, culture, values, way of life, ambitious, etc.
Tolerance helps to:
Encourage liberty, dignity, equality, equity, justice, fraternity, brotherhood.
Maintain peace and communal harmony.
Make friends
Communal harmony
Create ecosystem to develop consensus
Base for inclusive democracy
Conclusion:
With determined practice of tolerance along with all other human values we can realize the goal of ‘Sabka Sath – Sabka Vikas and Vasudeva Kutumbakam’.
2. Is there a difference between a strong leader and strong leadership? Explain with the help of suitable examples
Demand of the question:
It expects students to define and differentiate between leader and leadership with relevant examples.
Introduction:
A strong leader is Primus inter pares (first among equals) by virtue of his ability while strong leadership is the quality of ability. Leadership is by virtue of his actions that deploy leader’s ability.
Body:
| Strong Leader | Strong Leadership |
| Leader is entity with ability | Leadership is qualitative ability of collective effort |
| Leader can be selected – elected | Leadership has to be nurtured and cultivated |
| One can be leader by birth | Leadership has to be by worth |
| Leader must be brave, fearless, risk-taker | Leadership needs empathy, compassion, inclusive nature. |
| A leader can be influential | Leadership is using this influence to organize people toward an objective |
| A leader can be Visionary | Leadership is to cast this vision on subordinates to achieve a set objective |
| Leader can be self-motivated. | Leadership lies in motivating others |
| Leader should led from the front | Leadership is leading from front |
| Leader recognises opportunity | Leadership encashes the opportunity |
| Leader should have ability to make tough decisions | Ability to implement tough decisions and be accountable for them is leadership |
| Leader can go alone to make anything right | Leadership takes every one along to make anything right. |
But, Leader and Leadership are not always different, only few good leaders are equipped with the leadership abilities.
Example:
Many times people with leadership skills are not formally considered as leaders especially social reformers.
Example: Noble peace prize winner Kailash Satyarthi generated a change in the lives of vulnerable children through his leadership skill. But such people require no formal tags to perform their duty.
Conclusion:
Thus, integration of Leader and Leadership is needed to realize the true potential of an Individual and society.
3. Is it ethical for a political party to leverage political gains at the time of an external crisis? Critically comment.
Demand of the question:
It expects students to write about ethics in politics. Students should also relate ethics in politics with political ethics during external crisis and reveal both positive and negative aspects.
Introduction:
Political ethics is the practice of making moral judgments about political goals and political action. During external crisis the political goals and action of a political party are expected to be aligned with the national interest.
Body:
Political ethics is divided into two branches:
In judging whether a political parties leverage for political gains is justified in external crisis, we should consider:
Thus, it can be ethical for a political party to leverage political gains at the time of an external crisis:
However, it may not be ethical for a political party to leverage political gains at the time of an external crisis:
Conclusion:
To what extent does the end justify the means in politics? is a long pending question, hence, political parties are expected to take a balanced stand that protects universal rights of innocent citizens of both the parties involved in the external crisis that values life over death, love over hate and peace over threat.
