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UPSC MAINS ESSENTIALS - ANSWER WRITING PRACTICE (24/12/2024)

UPSC MAINS ESSENTIALS 

 
 
Exclusive for Subscribers Daily: Analyze the concept of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) and assess its benefits and drawbacks and Discuss the controversies surrounding the approval of Donanemab for Alzheimer's disease, focusing on its safety and efficacy for the UPSC Exam? Discover more insights in the UPSC Exam Notes for December 24, 2024

UPSC Exam Notes presents a dedicated initiative to help you excel in Mains answer writing practice. This program covers both static and dynamic components of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus across various General Studies (GS) papers. Each session is crafted to provide valuable insights and techniques to improve your answer-writing skills, aiming to enrich your preparation for the UPSC CSE Mains. Start with today’s answer-writing exercise based on GS-3 topics to evaluate and track your progress.

🚨 Additionally, UPSC Exam Notes releases its November issue of the monthly magazine, packed with critical content, expert analyses, and recent updates to assist your preparation. Dive into the issue to enhance your knowledge base. We welcome your feedback and insights in the comments or via email. 🚨

UPSC Exam Notes offers guidance on structuring Mains answers effectively to maximize your score and presentation.

Introduction

  • Begin your answer with a concise introduction of 3-5 lines. Avoid one-liner introductions as they often lack context.
  • Start by providing basic information, definitions, or key facts from trusted sources to set the foundation for your answer.

Body

  • This is the core of your answer. Analyze the question carefully to understand its requirements and address each aspect fully.
  • Use a mix of points and short paragraphs for clarity. Avoid long paragraphs or purely point-based responses, as balanced formatting enhances readability.
  • Incorporate data from reliable sources, such as government publications, to strengthen your arguments and make your answer more credible.
  • Analyze based on the question’s demand, but avoid over-analysis, which may dilute the answer’s impact.
  • Highlight key terms by underlining, helping your response stand out and improving its presentation.
  • Use flowcharts or tree diagrams where relevant to organize information efficiently, saving time and boosting clarity. These should be applied thoughtfully and only when they add real value.

Way Forward/Conclusion

  • Conclude on a positive, forward-looking note. Highlight potential solutions or the broader implications of your analysis.
  • If an unresolved issue is crucial to the topic, briefly mention it, but avoid repeating points from the introduction or body.
  • Where applicable, reference findings from relevant national or international reports, surveys, or quotations to add weight to your conclusion.

Self-Evaluation

This is a crucial step in answer-writing practice. UPSC Exam Notes provides evaluation guidelines to help you critically assess your responses and refine your thought process for future improvement.
 
Question 1.Examine the concept of direct seeding of rice (DSR), along with its potential advantages and disadvantages.
 

Model Answer (Approach Outline):

This is not a definitive model answer but an approach to tackling the question effectively.

Introduction:

— Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) is a method of cultivating rice by directly sowing seeds into the soil, rather than transplanting seedlings from a nursery. This method is also referred to as the ‘tar-wattar’ technique.

How DSR Works:

— Traditionally, paddy farmers first create nurseries to plant seeds. After 25-35 days, the seedlings are harvested and transplanted into flooded fields. This method is labor-intensive and requires a lot of water but is known for improving crop health and increasing yields.

— In DSR, paddy seeds are directly sown about 20-30 days before traditional transplantation. The field is irrigated and leveled with lasers before sowing, typically using a seed drill or a similar seeding tool. Proper seed preparation is crucial, which involves soaking the seeds in a fungicide solution for eight hours and drying them for half a day before planting.

— The irrigation cycle begins 21 days after sowing, followed by 14-17 additional waterings at 7-10 day intervals, depending on soil conditions and monsoon patterns. The final irrigation is done 10 days before harvest, totaling 25-27 irrigation cycles.

Body:


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