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GAUGING GENERAL STUDIES 2
The second paper in the second half of the exam day in the mains examination is your General studies paper 2 – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations. This paper consists of 250 marks in mains examination.
Section Breakdown
1. Constitution: Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies, Federal structure, Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies forms the major component of the ‘Constitution’ portion. To built the foundation for Basics, one must thoroughly read Standard books and reference materials. This section has significant weightage in Prelims as well as Mains, hence, during the preparation aspirants must bear in mind their mains syllabus. Pre cum mains approach is the key.
2. Governance: The second portion i.e. ‘Governance’ entails Important Aspects of Governance, E-governance; Citizens Charters, Transparency & Accountability, Institutional and other measures, Role of Civil Services in a Democracy, The Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. UPSC focuses on Macro headers for this part. In-depth study is required for each topic ranging from provisions, applications, models to successes, limitations, and potential. One should know how to contextualise recent examples and quote them in answers.
3. Social Justice: Social Justice forms an extremely essential component of the paper, which is generally avoided by the aspirants. It consists of:
- Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger.
- Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education and Human Resources.
- Performance, Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Better working of these social sectors.
Education and Health should be the focus area for every aspirant. In a similar manner, Vulnerable Sections of the society is to be covered.
4. International Relations: Candidate should focus and do impact evaluation of neighbouring countries and major global players regularly in news:
- Neighbouring countries (eg: Afghanistan, China, Sri Lanka, Pakistan).
- Impact of global events (For example: What is the impact of Russian – Ukraine war on India).
- India and its Role in major international institutions (World Bank, UN etc.).
It is expected by UPSC that candidates should be well aware about India’s Stand on major International events. Regular eye on the newspaper and coverage of events of past one year will suffice your preparation.
Sources and References
One of the best studies ever produced for the government was ARC 2. Even though the studies have been out for more than ten years, their information is still invaluable. Read thorough reports, but just retain recommendations.
Covering current affairs:
A daily reading of English newspaper should be a daily ritual. The following are worth your attention from an examination perspective:
- The Big Picture debate on RSTV.
- All India Radio news broadcast.
But you need to have greater objectivity while you are reading the articles in the newspaper, which sometimes are leftist in nature. That is why you need to look for articles with opposing viewpoints and fair arguments.
Answer writing in General studies paper-2
The questions are more factual in their orientation, so should be your answers in the UPSC examination hall.
- For a question about the Governor: Reference Article 153 in your introduction.
- For a question regarding the Civil Services: Reference Article 312.
If there are any technical phrases, such as “Social Audit,” “Political Democracy,” or “Parliamentary Sovereignty,” define them in your introduction by explaining to the examiner what you mean by each.
Supreme Court Rulings: Decisions made by the Supreme Court are crucial. Compile a list of significant rulings, both recent and historical. For instance, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Shreya Singhal vs Union of India case will greatly enhance your responses to a question on free expression.
Contentious Topics: Even if it isn’t stated in the question, it is usually a good idea to present both sides. For example: "Do you believe that the Civil Services require substantial changes?"
- Mention the need for fundamental reforms in a subheading.
- Explain why drastic reforms are detrimental as a reaction.
- Add views of committees like ARC 2 / Hota / Surendranath at the end to represent a balanced point of view.
For content worth 200 words on topics like the RPA Act, SHG, and e-Government, among others, consult any reputable coaching resource. To support your arguments, cite recent newspaper articles and issues.
Statistics & Verifiable Reports
Emphasize upon the laws and regulations in great detail. Aspirant should memorize the most recent statistics on:
- Poverty and Health.
- Women’s employment.
- Reports from organizations like Lancet, Transparency International, UNICEF, FAO, etc.
The Conclusion
Use attractive keywords with an optimistic personality. Your examiner shall see you as a hopeful, insightful and positive candidate. Try and conclude your answer with a recommendation or observation from a committee or commission:
- Center-State relations: Conclude with the Punchhi Commission.
- Death Penalty: End with NCRWC and the Law Commission.
- General Finish: Include Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Preamble, Fundamental Rights or DPSP.
”Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha
As we all believe, life begins anew every day. Employ your today to make your tomorrow better and work hard with unique courage everyday to achieve your goals.
