This document contains practice questions from Plutus IAS for the UPSC Mains exam on topics related to the formation of new states and boundaries in India. It also provides guidance on developing strong answer writing skills for the UPSC Mains exam, emphasizing the importance of carefully reading and understanding the question, structuring the answer, and using the appropriate style based on terms like "discuss", "explain", and "critically examine." The document advises students to focus on substance over length and relate their answers to the context, content, and demands of the question.

1. Plutus IAS
UPSC Mains
Answer Writing Skills
By Prince sir

2. Plutus IAS
Lets Practise MCQs
Q. Which of the statement/statements is correct regarding the
formation of a new state:
a) The relevant Bill can only be introduced in the Rajya Sabha
with the recommendation of the President.
b) President’s recommendation is not required.
c) The relevant Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, with
the recommendation of the President.
d) The relevant Bill may be introduced in either house of
Parliament only on the recommendation of the President.
Ans. ??

3. Plutus IAS
Lets Practise MCQs
Q. The States of the Indian Union can be reorganised or their
boundaries altered by:
A) The Union Parliament by a simple majority in the ordinary
process of legislation.
B) Two-thirds majority of both the Houses of Parliament.
C) Two-thirds majority of both the Houses of Parliament and the
consent of the legislature of the concerned States.
D) An executive order of the Union Government with the consent
of the concerned State Governments.
Ans. ??

4. Plutus IAS
Lets Practise MCQs
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The Parliament is empowered to alter the boundaries of any existing State of
India.
2. A Bill pertaining to the alteration of the boundaries of any existing State of
India can be introduced only in the Rajya Sabha and only on the
recommendation of the President of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. ??

5. Plutus IAS
Lets Practise MCQs
Q. Which of the statements regarding the formation of a new state:
1. The opinion of the state legislature is not binding on the President.
2. The opinion of the state legislature is binding on the President.
3. The Bill needs to be passed by the Parliament by a simple majority.
4. The Bill needs to be passed by the Parliament by a Special Majority.
Which of the above statements is/are correct
a) 1 only
b) 1 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) 1 & 4 only
Ans. ??

6. Plutus IAS
UPSC Mains
Answer Writing Skills
By Prince sir

7. Plutus IAS
ENHANCE YOUR WRITING SKILL
THE PREFACE:
❖ Generally, the aspirants’ main focus is to write answers so that the
paper is completed on time.
❖ In that intense pressure, it hardly matters what exactly is being asked
by the question, especially the key terms used in the questions and
the prefix or the suffix mentioned in the question.
❖ For examples, Analyse/Describe/Explain, etc., therefore, there is a
mismatch between the demand of the question and what actually has
been written.
❖ Most students know their subject, the concepts, theories and topics
but they do not know how to present them.

8. Plutus IAS
Remember: “EXAMINATION IS AN ART AND NOT
NECESSARILY A TEST OF KNOWLEDGE.”
For every question of GS and Optional you follow a pattern
of writing answers in which you normally first introduce the
topic or the problem, then you write all aspects in different
paragraphs and then you write a good conclusion.
You have not written anything wrong but you don’t get good
marks. The question is why?

9. Plutus IAS
THE THREE PRINCIPLES THAT YOU IGNORE IN
UNDERSTANDING QUESTIONS:
❖ You did not read the questions very sincerely
❖ You did not care for the directions or commands or
demands or whatever you may call it
like Discus, critically examine, explain, illustrate etc.
❖ You did not give attention to the context of the
question, parts of the question and the
interrelation of the questions.

10. Plutus IAS
Read the Question Again and Again:
❖ Your job is not to write an article but to answer a
question. Underline the keyword of the question.
❖ Elucidate/ Discuss/ Critically Analyze:
➢ Many aspirants seem to be really confused
about what they should write if the UPSC
mains answer writing question uses any of
these keywords.

11. Plutus IAS
Structure Your Answer:
❖ You have 250 words to write your answer. Spend the first 30 words to
introduce the problem.
❖ Spend at least 170-180 words to the main point of the question.
❖ Ideally, there should be two or three main points which you should write
about. If there are more points than that, you may also use bullet points to
make your point.
❖ In this main body, always provide the critique of the points you make.
There should never be a total endorsement of any idea. At least one
major critique has to be provided.
❖ In the end, you must provide a conclusion. It might be “what is the final
takeaway” kind of a couple of sentences, but it is absolutely necessary.
❖ There is no way your content should end without a conclusion.

12. Plutus IAS
Diagrams, Maps:
❖ Use diagrams and maps as and where you can, make it a part
of your UPSC answer writing practice.
❖ They save time in explaining a concept or an idea.
❖ Also, they save the examiner from the monotony of reading
texts all the time. But use then, when they are needed, do not
push it.
Handwriting:
❖ First, try writing bigger and leave more space between words
and sentences.
❖ Second, make sure that you write in a straight line on an
unruled paper.

13. Plutus IAS
PLEASE, PLEASE AND PLEASE
❖ Read the questions as sincerely as possible.
❖ Write first that question and answer, you are most
prepared.
❖ Focus on the substance of the answer rather than
length.
❖ There should be a balance between quantity and
quality.
❖ Relate with context, content and command of the
question.

14. Plutus IAS
The philosophy of 3Cs for
good answer:
❖ Context
❖ Content
❖ Command

15. Plutus IAS
THE LENGTH OF THE ANSWER HAS LESS
RELEVANCE THAN THE SUBSTANCE
❖ There is a limit on the maximum words but not one on
the minimum but then the words must be adequate.
❖ Standard Approach: First paragraph in written essay
form and the rest in points but the last paragraph of
conclusion should be in essay form.
❖ There can be changes in this scheme if there is
expediency.

16. Plutus IAS
Read the question carefully and decide on
three things:
1. What is the exact meaning of the
question?
2. How many parts does the question have?
3. What are the directions, demands or
commands of the question?

17. Plutus IAS
Explanations:
1. How better one understands the meaning depends upon the
level of knowledge and
understanding on the subject-matter /topic on which question
has been framed.
2. The context of the question means largely why/when/what of
the question.
3. A question can have different parts which may require
answering to all parts.
4. One should have better understanding of Prefixes and
Suffixes which determine the
command and direction of the question.

18. Plutus IAS
Terminologies: Meaning & Demands
❖ UNDERSTANDING TERMINOLOGIES
USED IN QUESTIONS.
❖ It is the prefix or suffix of the question
which determines direction and
command of the answer.

19. Plutus IAS
Discuss:
❖ In discussion, you have to write two or all the
aspects of an issue. Don’t criticize,
❖ simply present all the sides in an analytical
manner.
❖ As the conclusion, you should write a brief
summary of all the sides.

20. Plutus IAS
Critically Discuss:
❖ Discuss is an elaboration in which all the aspects of a problem, issue and a
phenomenon are to be presented.
❖ Critically discuss refers to examine either two aspects or aspects by examining
❖ aspects. It has two aspects.
➢ One has to present all the aspects by examining its pros and cons.
➢ One does not only present all aspects but evaluate the different aspects.
❖ For example:
❖ One has to critically discuss the Gandhian view of nonviolence.
➢ In this one has to see the positive points of nonviolence and one must give
the
example of India`s national struggle.
➢ Then one has to severely criticize the concept of non-violence and cite all
the negative aspects of nonviolence.

21. Plutus IAS
Explain:
❖ It is also a common directive.
❖ You write the meaning of the problem, all aspects involved in it.
❖ Explain is the answer to all ‘WHY’. It touches and explores all
aspects.
❖ For example:
➢ Why smart city programme, this has to be written in `explain smart
city.
❖ Explanations require you to explain or convince by providing this
context.
❖ In simple terms you write all aspects without any criticism and your
opinion.

22. Plutus IAS
Critically examine, Examine and Evaluate:
❖ These all indicate the similar meaning.
❖ You first write a brief statement of what the idea or
presentation is. Only then you evaluate, criticize or examine.
❖ Examine does not mean only a rejection of the idea it also
means support and praise.
❖ In such questions you do not criticise on your own.
❖ You are not eligible to criticise as scholars. Criticise on the
basis of scholar`s views.
❖ In nutshell, you should demolish the proposition.

23. Plutus IAS
Comment:
❖ In comment, you write the different aspects of a problem or issue or the
topic in an analytical manner and you also give your opinion.
❖ In comment the whole problem or issue is presented and different
aspects and different views are presented related to the issue or the
problem.
❖ No criticisms are to be attempted. Criticism is the view of a scholar and
comment is your view.
❖ In comment one has to give one's view on any particular issue. In
comment one has the liberty to make any comments showing the for or
against views.
❖ The comment is not baseless. It requires you to do a general perusal and
then you comment. This general perusal is also a type of evaluation.

24. Plutus IAS
Critically Comment:
❖ Critically commenting is a double evaluation in simple terms.
❖ Critically commenting requires you to show all the aspects with an evaluation which
is systematic and on concrete grounds.
❖ One has to meticulously see one by one all issues on certain criteria.
❖ This evaluation must indicate the merits and demerits of the given topic or problem.
❖ Critically comment therefore, indicate to comment after evaluation in a systematic
way.
❖ For example:
➢ if one has to comment on the question of nationalism, one can simply say
nationalism is sacrosanct and nobody should be allowed to say anything against
it. The other non-critical comment can be that nationalism has many bases and
there can be different views on it.
➢ Critical comment has to go by an evaluation of the principle of nationalism and
then one takes a position.
➢ One has to evaluate both the consequences of nationalism and also the positive
effects of nationalism.

25. Plutus IAS
Analyse:
❖ It is also a very frequent directive. You simply
remember one analogy.
❖ As the medical students dissect insects or
human organs in their laboratories so you
analyse a problem.
❖ You go deeper, you want to see the inner
meanings.

26. Plutus IAS
Critically Analyse:
❖ Critically analyzing means one is an intense drain inspector. One does
not only show the underlying causes of a phenomenon but show all
other dimensions.
❖ Critically analyzing requires any one to show the underlying causes
but also the plus and minus of any cause. This refers to seeing and
imagining all the interrelated aspects of the causes. This is in-depth and
analyzes underlying and interrelated causes.
➢ For example, one has to critically analyze the problem of black
money in India. One has to write the sources of black money, the
causes of black money, why it is difficult to identify black money, and
how other countries like the USA have done this.
❖ Critically analyzing does not mean you have to have more rather deeper
causes in very brief.

27. Plutus IAS
Describe:
❖ It is the simplest directive.
❖ Describe is the description of a phenomenon
or a simple statement of facts.
❖ In describe neither you criticise nor you analyse.
❖ You directly write about the features.

28. Plutus IAS
Illustrate, Elucidate, Enumerate and Elaborate:
❖ They are almost identical terms.
❖ Normally in central services examinations
`describe` is not given but other queries are there.
❖ In all these cases you state the facts or arguments
in a straightforward manner.
❖ No criticisms should be attempted. Detailed
description is required.

29. Plutus IAS
Distinguish:
❖ It indicates a directive when you have to write the differences
between two or more phenomena.
❖ You distinguish all aspects.
Compare:
❖ It is a directive in which you first, in very brief present the meanings of
the phenomena you are to compare.
❖ Then you write the differences as well as similarities of the two.
❖ In the conclusion when you are summarizing, write what is more:
the similarities or the differences.

30. Plutus IAS
Substantiate:
❖ It means you have to prove a particular
proposition.
❖ You give only positive aspects.
❖ You present your arguments as a lawyer.
❖ You convince the examiner.

31. Plutus IAS
Evaluation of all Answers on 8 essential parameters and their weightage
1. Introduction - whether it is aligned as per the demands of the question, strong, with
definition of key terms. 15%
2. Analytical Competence: Question is dissected well - all parts have been aptly
covered - no part is under or over discussed - content is relevant. 20%
3. Language Competence - lucid, cogent, and grammatically consistent - shows clarity
of thought and expression. 10%
4. Content Competence: Facts covered aptly as per needs of question - neither too
less nor too many. 10%
5. Contextual Competence: Analysis is aligned as per the needs of the question. 15%
6. Structure - Presentations Competence: Value addition - underlining, highlighting,
diagram, graphs, etc. - adequately done. 10%
7. Words limit - words are within limits without compromising content required. 5%
8. Conclusion - is powerful, expresses way forward, positive, strong, leaving an impact
on the examiner. 15%

32. Plutus IAS
Things to Remember:
❖ For prelims related news try to understand the context of
the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be
easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given
options.
❖ Whenever any international place will be in news, you
should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and
also exploring other geographical locations nearby
including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the
national places.)
❖ Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use
of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

33. Plutus IAS
Things to Remember:
❖ For economy related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should
focus on terms and how these are related with various economic
aspects, for example if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate
with prevailing prices rises, shortage of essential supplies,
banking rates etc.
❖ For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various
dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which
occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view
will be covered in ED.
❖ Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this
content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

34. Plutus IAS
Let's Look at the Answers Written by some of You:

35. Plutus IAS
Best Wishes
Thank You