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General Studies 2025 GS Paper II 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Elaborate

GS Paper II — Q9

India-Africa digital partnership is achieving mutual respect, co-development and long-term institutional partnerships. Elaborate…

India-Africa digital partnership is achieving mutual respect, co-development and long-term institutional partnerships. Elaborate. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

भारत-अफ्रीका डिजिटल साझेदारी आपसी सम्मान, सह-विकास और दीर्घकालिक संस्थागत साझेदारी प्राप्त कर रही है। विस्तार से बताइए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

India’s digital engagement with Africa transcends conventional donor-recipient dynamics, adopting a demand-driven approach rooted in mutual respect for African digital sovereignty and local priorities.

Co-development thrives through joint R&D, technology transfer, and infrastructure projects. Upgrading the landmark Pan-African e-Network, the e-VBAB (e-VidyaBharti and e-ArogyaBharti) network delivers tele-education and tele-medicine across the continent. Collaborations also expand into digital public goods like payment systems, solar-powered rural connectivity, and startup incubation through initiatives like the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE).

Long-term institutional partnerships are sustained via the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) framework, concessional EXIM Bank Lines of Credit (LOC) for telecom infrastructure, CII Africa offices, and institutionalized capacity-building programs.

Strategically, this model counters digital colonialism by fostering South-South cooperation. Grounded in shared democratic values of digital governance, the partnership reinforces collective bargaining for UN reforms and advances Global South leadership.

What "Elaborate" is asking you to do

Give the full detailed account the question has compressed into a line — every dimension of it, with specifics. Elaborate rewards completeness and detail rather than clarification or argument: the examiner is checking whether you can fill out a topic without being told what its parts are.

Structure that answers it

State the proposition → first dimension in detail → second dimension in detail → the part the statement leaves implicit → the consolidated picture

Where marks are lost

Repeating the statement at greater length instead of adding substance. Elaborate also punishes narrowness: omitting a whole dimension costs more here than anywhere else in this family.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS2 International Relations. explain: definition/context > points in order > small example > short close Full marks: Detailed analysis of specific digital initiatives and institutional frameworks (IAF) with examples.

Key points expected

  • Mention India-Africa Forum (IAF) as institutional framework
  • Identify specific digital initiatives (e.g., e-governance, e-health, e-education)
  • Explain the 'co-development' aspect (capacity building, tech transfer)
  • Reference a specific agreement or summit (e.g., IAF-3, IAF-4)

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Context of partnership > 3-4 pillars of cooperation > example > short close 10 marks · 150 words

    explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close

    Must cover

    • Mention India-Africa Forum (IAF) as institutional framework
    • Identify specific digital initiatives (e.g., e-governance, e-health, e-education)
    • Explain the 'co-development' aspect (capacity building, tech transfer)
    • Reference a specific agreement or summit (e.g., IAF-3, IAF-4)

    Loses marks

    • Reciting general diplomatic history without digital focus
    • Ignoring the 'institutional' aspect of the partnership
    • Failing to mention the 'mutual respect' or 'co-development' angle

    Earns more

    • Mention 'Digital India' initiatives being shared with Africa
    • Reference specific African partners (e.g., Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia)
    • Mention 'Digital India-Africa' partnership or specific MoUs
    • Reference the 'Digital India' mission as a model

    Extra mark

    • Mention specific data on digital connectivity or trade
    • Reference specific Indian companies (e.g., TCS, Infosys) in Africa

Practice this exact question

Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.

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