UPSC Essentials Brings your initiative to practice Writing an answer key. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of UPSC Civil Services Syllabus under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as you value your UPSC CSE Mains. Try to write today’s answers to questions related to related topics GS-2 To check your progress.
Critically examine the problems encountered in the implementation of India’s Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Discuss the reasons for the recent farmers’ march demanding its implementation.
Question 2
Discuss the historical significance of the Panama Canal in US-Latin American relations, focusing on the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977.
General points in the structure of answers
introduction
– An introduction to the answer is required and should be limited to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.
– It may contain basic information with some definitions from reliable sources and authentic facts.
the body
– This is the central part of the answer and must understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.
– The answer should be written as a mixture of bullet points and short paragraphs instead of using long paragraphs or just bullet points.
– Make your answer more comprehensive by using facts from official government sources. Analysis is important depending on the demand of the question, but don’t over analyze.
– Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances the presentation of the answer.
– Using flowcharts/tree-diagrams in answers saves a lot of time and increases your score. However, it should be used logically and only where necessary.
The Way Forward / Conclusion
– The answer should end on a positive note and should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel an important issue should be highlighted, you can add it to your conclusion. Do not try to repeat any point from the body or introduction.
– You can use national and international reports or surveys, quotes etc. in your answer.
Self assessment
– This is the most important part of our main answer writing exercise. UPSC Essentials A thought process will provide some guiding points or ideas that will help you evaluate your answers.
Thought process
You can enrich your answers by following points
Question 1: Critically examine the problems encountered in the implementation of India’s Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Discuss the reasons for the recent farmers’ march demanding its implementation.
Introduction:
– The Center enacted the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013 (also known as the Land Acquisition Act, 2013) to replace the old Land Acquisition Act of 1894.
– The 2013 Act establishes a modern framework for land acquisition, ensuring appropriate compensation and rehabilitation for affected communities. The Act took effect on January 1, 2014. Some changes were made in 2015.
body:
– Since February, Punjab farmers have been camping along the Khanauri and Shambhu borders of Punjab and Haryana, demanding legal status to the minimum support price (MSP) of crops, along with dozens of other demands from the central government. The most important demand is the implementation of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013.
Salient features of this Act
– The most important elements of the Act are its fair compensation and consent requirements. Landowners are entitled to compensation of double the market value in cities and four times the market value in rural areas. Furthermore, 70% of affected households must approve public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives, while 80% of private company land acquisitions require consent.
– Irrigation is restricted beyond the restrictions prescribed by the State Governments to acquire multi-cropped land. If such productive land is acquired, the government should create an equal amount of barren land for agricultural use. If a person is dissatisfied with the award given under the Act, they can seek redress from the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (LARR) Authority.
– The Act also requires a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) to determine the social, environmental and economic consequences of land acquisition. Further, the Act includes provisions for rehabilitation and rehabilitation (R&R), which provides benefits to the affected families such as:
(i) Housing for Displaced Families.
(ii) Financial assistance for job loss.
(iii) Dependent families receive income from employment or annuity.
(iv) Infrastructural development in resettlement areas includes roads, schools and health services.
Conclusion:
– “Both the central and state governments are responsible for not implementing the Act in its original form,” said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of Bharati Kisan Union.
– He referred to the ongoing situation in Noida, where 160 farmers were recently arrested in protest against the lack of “fair” compensation for state-acquired property for projects like the Yamuna Motorway.
– The Land Acquisition Act of 2013 is a progressive regulation that provides fair remuneration and financial security to farmers. Its permit clause allows farmers to decide whether their land can be bought, allowing them to resist expropriation.
– The Act’s rehabilitation measures help displaced families by providing livelihood assistance and critical infrastructure at resettlement sites.
(source: Why are the protesting farmers demanding the implementation of the Land Acquisition Act 2013 Anju Agnihotri Chaba)
Points to ponder
Read about the Land Acquisition Act of 2013
Why are the farmers demanding its implementation when the Act has been implemented?
Related Previous Year Questions
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 has been insufficient to promote an incentive-based system for children’s education rather than creating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyze. (2022)
What are the aims and objectives of the recently passed and enforced Public Examinations (Prevention of Improper Means) Act, 2024? Are university/state education board exams also covered under the act? (2024)
Question 2: Discuss the historical significance of the Panama Canal in US-Latin American relations, focusing on the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977.
Introduction:
– The Panama Canal had long been envisioned, due to the high cost and time required to travel from one ocean to another by circumnavigating South America.
– It was built between 1904 and 1914, mainly due to American contributions. Until then, the region’s unique terrain made building a canal problematic. France had already abandoned similar projects due to their huge costs.
body:
– Colombia ruled Panama until 1903, when an American-backed coup helped the country gain independence. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 gave the United States the right to build and maintain the canal, as well as permanent rights to the Panama Canal Zone.
– However, according to the Office of the U.S. Government Historian website, the Panamanian representative entered the treaty negotiations without formal government approval and had not lived in Panama for 17 years. This led many Panamanians to dispute the treaty’s legality.
America’s role in building the Panama Canal
– The United States’ solution to the engineering difficulty was a system of compartments with “locked” or opening and closing entrance and exit doors. The locks act as water elevators, lifting ships from sea level to Gatun Lake (26 meters above sea level), allowing ships to travel through the canal channel.
– Although the construction efforts were ultimately successful, they came at a high cost – more than $300 million for the most expensive construction project in American history, as well as the deaths of thousands of workers.
– The canal now receives about 14,000 transits each year, but this number has declined in recent years due to lake erosion. About 6% (by value) of global trade goes through it.
Conclusion:
– In the 1970s, presidential candidate Jimmy Carter also opposed the treaty, but changed his mind after his victory in 1976. The Torrijos-Carter Pact was signed the following year, giving the United States the ability to militarize the Panama Canal against “any threat to its neutrality.” Furthermore, the Panama Canal Zone will expire on October 1, 1979, and the canal will be returned to Panamanians on December 31, 1999. There is no mention of Trump’s “one dollar” in the post.
– Recently, US President-elect Donald Trump accused Panama of charging exorbitant fees to allow US ships to use the Panama Canal, an artificial canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
(source: Trump threatens to demand return of Panama Canal: What is its history, significance? By Rishika Singh)
Points to ponder
Read about the Torrijos-Carter Treaty
Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903
Previous Year Related Questions
“The West is promoting India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China’s supply chain and to strategically counter China’s political and economic hegemony.” Explain this statement with examples. (2024)
Critically analyze India’s evolving diplomatic, economic, and strategic relations with the Central Asian Republics (CARs), highlighting their growing importance in regional and global geopolitics. (2024)
Previous Key Answers Practice
UPSC Essential: Key Answers Practice – GS 1 (Week 81)
UPSC Essential: Key Answers Practice – GS 1 (Week 82)
UPSC Essential: Key Answers Practice – GS 2 (Week 82)
UPSC Essential: Key Answers Practice – GS 2 (Week 81)
UPSC Essential: Key Answers Practice – GS 3 (Week 82)
UPSC Essential: Key Answers Practice – GS 3 (Week 83)
Subscribe Visit our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with last week’s news hints.
Stay updated with the latest UPSC Articles By joining us Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC HubAnd follow us Instagram and X.
Why should you buy our membership?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be confused and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package