UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on National Security Advisor and Sustainable agricultural development in India (Week 59)

QUESTION 2

In light of recent agricultural reforms and farmer protests, analyse the significance of bridging the trust deficit between farmers and policymakers for sustainable agricultural development in India.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.

— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.

Way forward/ conclusion

— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.

— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.

Self Evaluation

— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.

THOUGHT PROCESS

You may enrich your answers by some of the following points

QUESTION 1: Discuss the role and significance of India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) in shaping the country’s strategic policies and decision-making processes.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— The National Security Advisor (NSA) is the senior member of the Indian National Security Council and the prime minister’s principal foreign and national security policy advisor.

— The NSA presides over an organisation, with an ANSA and three deputy NSAs. The new role of the NSA appears more advisory and less operational.

— The NSA would deal with the National Security Advisory Board and the Strategic Policy Group. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the three service chiefs, the Union defence, home, foreign and other secretaries are also required to report to the NSA, each of them also reports to a minister in their daily functioning.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Role and significance of India’s National Security Advisor

— The role and responsibility of the NSA and of the National Security Council have evolved with time and changing circumstances.

— The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister is generally in charge of the civil bureaucracy; however, turf conflicts are certain to occur if the NSA becomes an activist, organising meetings with the Cabinet Secretary and other government secretaries.

— PM Modi has not only elevated the rank of NSA to that of cabinet minister, but has also widened the remit by integrating national security management with higher defence management.

— The NSA receives all intelligence reports (R&AW and IB) and coordinates their presentation to the Prime Minister.

— The NSA participates in high-level diplomatic conversations on security issues.

— The National Security Agency serves as the secretary of the Prime Minister-led National Security Council.

Conclusion:

— The Kargil Review Committee, chaired by K Subrahmanyam, advised that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) report directly to the Prime Minister. The political leadership has done a disservice to the military forces by elevating the NSA to cabinet status and the CDS to the post of Union government secretary.

— The changes made to the security architecture have raised many questions down the line, both within the civil and military bureaucracies.

(Source: What it means — and could mean — to be India’s National Security Advisor by Sanjaya Baru)

Points to Ponder

Strategic Policy Group

What is ANSA?

Kargil Review Committee

Chief of Defence Staff

Related Previous Year Questions

What are the internal security challenges being faced by India? Give out the role of Central Intelligence and Investigative Agencies tasked to counter such threats. (2023)

Analyse the multidimensional challenges posed by external state and non-state actors, to the internal security of India. Also discuss measures required to be taken to combat these threats. (2021)

QUESTION 2: In light of recent agricultural reforms and farmer protests, analyse the significance of bridging the trust deficit between farmers and policymakers for sustainable agricultural development in India.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Trust is the core of any relationship, whether in a family, among friends, or between farmers and policymakers. Transparency in activities is required to develop confidence. Without it, any action by any side can be misinterpreted, resulting in the breakdown of relationships and policies.

— If the country’s agriculture is to be put on a rapid and sustainable track, it must first address the trust deficit with farmers.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

— Climate change is already looming over us, and agricultural will suffer significantly unless we take aggressive action. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) claims to have developed more than 2,000 climate-resilient seed types for various crops.

— The marginal gains from investing in climate-resilient agriculture and promoting climate-smart agriculture are extremely substantial. The additional financing for ICAR should be directed only towards developing climate-resilient and climate-smart agriculture.

— In the medium term, the crop insurance system, the PM-Fasal Bima Yojana (PM-FBY), requires improvement. The All-Weather Stations (AWS) were not fixed, plots were not continuously monitored using high-tech Low Earth Orbits (LEOs), crop loss algorithms were not adequately established, and so on. PM-FBY was established in 2016 following consecutive droughts in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

— Improvements to the yield estimation system based on technology (YES-TECH) and the Weather Information Network and Data System (WINDS) have raised optimism while reducing human participation.

— In 2023-24, the area covered by PM-FBY was around 61 million hectares, accounting for roughly 40% of the gross cropped area in the states that opted for PM-FBY. This has created the prospect that the technological infusion has earned the trust of insurers, re-insurers, and farmers.

Conclusion:

— The easiest method to bridge the trust gap with farmers is to establish two agri-councils, one with representatives from each state, say two per state, one owner cultivator and one renter.

— The second council will be made up of each state’s agriculture ministers, similar to the GST council. Both councils must meet at least twice a year, at the start of the Center’s annual kharif and rabi conferences.

(Source: Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s priority should be to bridge trust deficit with farmers by Ashok Gulati)

Points to Ponder

PM-FBY

Sustainable agriculture

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Related Previous Year Questions

What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (2021)

Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). (2016)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 57)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 58)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 58)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 57)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 57)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 58)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.