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UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing . It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-2 to check your progress. The NITI Aayog CEO recently emphasized the need for a broader conversation on India’s potential participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership ( RCEP ). Critically analyse the economic, political, and strategic implications of India’s decision to stay out of RCEP. How can the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) transform governance in India? Critically evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of integrating AI into India’s governance framework. 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. QUESTION 1: The NITI Aayog CEO recently emphasized the need for a broader conversation on India’s potential participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Critically analyse the economic, political, and strategic implications of India’s decision to stay out of RCEP. N ote: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a comprehensive free trade deal negotiated by ASEAN ’s ten member states and its free trade agreement (FTA) partners China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. India withdrew from the RCEP in 2019 after commencing negotiations in 2013. — In the context of global regional trading arrangements, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would cover the western flank, the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) the middle flank, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) the eastern flank. As a result, the RCEP is strategically important for India, both in terms of its eastward strategy and the breadth of its engagement. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: Implications of India’s decision to stay out of RCEP — The argument was that staying out of such trade agreements, not being deeply integrated with the global value chains that run through these regions, was difficult to reconcile with the objective of becoming a global manufacturing hub, capturing export opportunities and foreign capital. — There were fears that the protectionist tendencies that appeared to influence policy, tariff and non-tariff barriers, and other country-specific constraints would limit the gains that may potentially result from rising trade conflicts between China and the United States, as well as the China plus one approach. — According to a recent Oxford Economics analysis, while India has “benefited from US trade rerouting away from China,” the gains have been “significantly lower” when compared to other Asian countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Furthermore, the research notes that the country has “not been able to attract a notably greater portion of global foreign direct investment, even as FDI flows to China plummeted”. — As mentioned in this paper, Subrahmanyam believes that India is passing up the “China plus one” opportunity and should consider joining agreements such as the RCEP and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership. — Supply chain disruptions have been common, and western countries, particularly the United States, have leaned towards protectionism. Geopolitical and security factors are increasingly influencing trade policy. Conclusion: — India must reconsider its trading policies. While the government has signed trade deals with countries such as the UAE and Australia, progress on other agreements, such as those with the EU and the United Kingdom, has been slow. — The “Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating RCEP,” adopted by Economic Ministers in August 2012, establishes some principles such as broader and deeper engagement with significant improvements over existing FTAs while recognising countries’ individual and diverse circumstances; facilitating countries’ engagement in global and regional supply chains; and taking into account participating countries’ different levels of development, among others. (Source: Niti Aayog CEO’s comment on RCEP: Call for a wider conversation , ) Points to Ponder RCEP members Benefits and challenges of joining RCEP for India Related Previous Year Questions The Doctrine of Democratic Governance makes it necessary that the public perception of the integrity and commitment of civil servants becomes absolutely positive. Discuss. (2024) ‘The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China’s supply chain and strategically to counter China’s political and economic dominance.’ Explain this statement with examples. (2024) QUESTION 2: How can the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) transform governance in India? Critically evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of integrating AI into India’s governance framework. N ote: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — AI refers to machines’ ability to do cognitive functions such as thinking, perception, learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. — With amazing breakthroughs in data gathering, processing, and computation power, intelligent systems may now be deployed to handle a wide range of activities, enable communication, and boost productivity. — Using technology and developing a vision of digital public infrastructure (DPI), the Indian government has transformed governance from leaky and dysfunctional to one in which the state directly serves citizens. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: Benefits of integrating AI into India’s governance framework — The rate of digitisation is rapidly increasing. Currently, 90 crore Indians have Internet access, and by 2026, this figure will have risen to 120 crore, becoming India the world’s most connected and digitalised country. — GovAI can and will accelerate the IndiaAI ecosystem, resulting in a vast network of companies and innovators developing AI models, solutions, and platforms. — As more Indians access and use the internet and the digital environment, they consume and generate massive amounts of data. This makes India one of the world’s largest data repositories. DPIs and digitalisation have transformed governments into vast stores of personal and non-personal data. — The combination of DPI and AI allows the government to become more efficient and ensure that the same resources can be used to make an impact across a broader spectrum of society. — AI can also benefit various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, infrastructure, fisheries, animal husbandry, national disaster and climate prediction, smart mobility and transportation. Challenges — Lack of broad-based competence in AI research and implementation. — Lack of enabling data ecosystems: access to intelligent data — High resource costs and low awareness for the use of AI. — Privacy and security, particularly a lack of explicit legislation regarding data anonymisation. — There is no collaborative strategy to the adoption and implementation of AI. Conclusion: — GovAI will make governance sharper, more targeted, and bring the idea of maximum governance to life. India has the chance to demonstrate this innovative use of AI in governance, just as it did with IndiaDPI. This will necessitate a long-term, trusted, and structural collaboration between the government and entrepreneurs and startups in the innovation ecosystem, with the goal of developing these models, intellectual property, and platforms/apps centred on governance. — India is now the Chair of GPAI (Global Partnership of AI) and has spearheaded efforts to ensure that trusted partnerships play a leading role in influencing the future of technology and AI. (Source: It’s time for the age of GovAI — reimagining governance with AI by Rajeev Chandrasekhar , ) Points to Ponder Role of AI in healthcare What are the solutions to counter challenges to AI in governance? Related Previous Year Questions e-governance, as a critical tool of governance, has ushered in effectiveness, transparency and accountability in governments. What inadequacies hamper the enhancement of these features? (2023) e-Governance is not just about the routine application of digital technology in service delivery processes. It is as much about multifarious interactions for ensuring transparency and accountability. In this context, evaluate the role of the ‘Interactive Service Model’ of e-Governance. (2024) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 77) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 78) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 78) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 77) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 78) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 79) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub , and follow us on Instagram and X. None
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