General Studies 2023 GS Paper III 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Discuss

Q9

Winning of 'Hearts and Minds' in terrorism-affected areas is an essential step in restoring the trust of the population. Discuss the measures adopted by the Government in this respect as part of the conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir. (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

आतंकवाद-प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में जनसमुदाय का विश्वास बहाल करने में 'दिल और दिमाग' जीतना एक आवश्यक कदम है। इस संबंध में जम्मू और कश्मीर में संघर्ष समाधान के भाग के रूप में सरकार द्वारा अपनाए गए उपायों पर चर्चा कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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Directive word: Discuss

This question asks you to discuss. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'discuss' requires a balanced examination of multiple government measures with their rationale and impact. Structure as: brief context on why hearts and minds matter → 3-4 specific measures (developmental, democratic, security-related) → brief assessment of effectiveness.

Key points expected

Mention of developmental measures: PM's Development Package (₹80,068 crore), road connectivity, power projects, tourism promotion
Democratic measures: Panchayat elections (2018-2020), District Development Councils (2020), delimitation and reservation for STs
Security-cum-welfare measures: Operation Sadbhavana (Army), surrender policy, rehabilitation of former militants
Digital empowerment and youth engagement: Udaan scheme, skill development, sports initiatives like Khelo India
Post-2019 measures: Abrogation of Article 370 followed by UT status, industrial investment, new domicile rules

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	2	Recognizes 'discuss' requires multi-dimensional coverage (developmental, political, security) rather than listing; balances pre-2019 and post-2019 measures; shows awareness that 'hearts and minds' is a counter-insurgency concept requiring both soft and hard power elements.	Covers some measures but treats directive as 'list' rather than 'discuss'; misses either developmental or democratic dimension; no temporal balance.	Misinterprets directive as 'describe' or 'explain' single measure; focuses only on security or only on development; ignores conflict resolution context.
Content depth & accuracy	20%	2	Includes specific schemes with accurate nomenclature (Operation Sadbhavana, Udaan, Himayat, Sparsh); distinguishes between central and UT government initiatives; mentions at least one measure from each category (infrastructure, democracy, rehabilitation).	Generic references like 'development schemes' or 'elections' without specifics; conflates measures from different time periods; minor factual errors in scheme names.	Vague statements like 'government is doing development'; factually incorrect measures; confuses J&K with other conflict zones; irrelevant content on Pakistan or terrorism unrelated to trust-building.
Structure & flow	20%	2	Clear thematic organization (e.g., economic, political, security) or chronological progression; smooth transitions between measures; 150-word discipline maintained with no abrupt jumps; intro establishes why trust matters, body delivers measures.	Some organization visible but inconsistent; either too descriptive in one area or too brief in others; word count slightly off; conclusion feels tagged on.	Random listing without logic; no paragraph breaks; grossly over or under word limit; no identifiable introduction or conclusion.
Examples / case-law / data	20%	2	Cites specific data: PM package amount, DDC elections (276 seats, 70% turnout in 2020), Operation Sadbhavana projects (schools, medical camps); mentions specific districts or recent industrial investments (J&K Global Investors Summit 2023).	One or two specific examples but imprecise data; generic reference to 'high voter turnout' without figures; no recent post-2019 examples.	No concrete examples; only generic references like 'many roads built' or 'people voted'; examples from other states or countries.
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	2	Brief critical assessment: acknowledges limitations (delays in package implementation, continued militancy) or suggests way forward (faster job creation, political dialogue); recognizes hearts and minds as ongoing process, not endpoint.	Generic positive conclusion without nuance; mere summary of points; no recognition of challenges or need for sustained effort.	No conclusion; abrupt end; purely descriptive with no analytical element; unrealistic claims of complete success or failure.

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