Mains answer practice — GS 2: Questions on G7 and conducting Census 2027 digitally (Week 107)
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.
🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨
Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of conducting Census 2027 utilising a fully digital enumeration method.
What is the G7? What are its key developments? Discuss the strategic significance of inviting India to the 2025 Canada summit.
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: Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of conducting Census 2027 utilising a fully digital enumeration method.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— The government has declared that the 16th Census of India will be held in two stages, with reference dates set for March 1, 2027 for most of the country and October 1, 2026 for snow-bound and inaccessible regions such as Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
— This census marks a significant milestone because it will feature the first nationwide caste enumeration since 1931.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:
The Census serves multiple critical functions:
— It serves as the foundation for the creation of electoral constituencies and the allocation of seats to Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
— Central grants to states and districts are frequently population-based, as are subsidies and ration allocations.
— Census data is used by ministries ranging from Education to Rural Development to locate schools, basic health care facilities, and infrastructure projects.
— It aids the judiciary, planners, and scholars in understanding migration, urbanisation, employment, and fertility patterns.
— The Census is also necessary for the execution of constitutional obligations. According to Article 82 of the Constitution, constituencies must be delimited using the most recent Census. Articles 330 and 332 reserve legislative seats for SCs and STs depending on population proportions.
How is the 2027 Census proposed to be conducted?
— The 2027 Census will be India's first digital census, featuring mobile apps, online self-enumeration, and near-real-time monitoring. It's also the first time since 1931 that caste data would be collected for all communities.
— In a notable departure from 2011, the 2027 Census will include self-enumeration for the first time, allowing households to go into a government portal or use an app to fill out their own information. Once self-enumeration is completed, the system generates a unique ID. Individuals who self-enumerated will only need to provide this ID when the Census enumerator comes to their home.
— Enumerators would also use mobile devices or smartphones preinstalled with the Census application. While a dual system with paper enumeration is planned, sources say it is predicted that all enumerators will utilise the digital media because cellphones are now ubiquitous and the pay for a digital census is higher. This digitisation is supposed to eliminate errors, speed up processing, and allow for better quality control.
Conclusion:
— Digital literacy among enumerators is a serious issue. To address this, comprehensive training modules, simulations, and region-specific language interfaces have been developed. The software features intuitive prompts, drop-down options, and offline sync.
— Quality control consists of managers evaluating flagged forms and Census officers conducting periodic checks. Errors such as unrealistic age ranges or duplicate entries may be detected and corrected before submission.
(Source: Explained: How India conducts its Census — and what is new in 2027)
Points to Ponder
Read more about Census
How digital challenges will be addressed in Census 2027?
Related Previous Year Questions
What changes has the Union Government recently introduced in the domain of Centre-State relations? Suggest measures to be adopted to build the trust between the Centre and the States and for strengthening federalism. (2024)
QUESTION 2: What is the G7? What are its key developments? Discuss the strategic significance of inviting India to the 2025 Canada summit.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— The Group was established as a platform for economic and financial cooperation in response to the 1973 energy crisis. The first Summit of Heads of State and Government was held in 1975 in Rambouillet, France.
— The G7 meeting provides a forum for member countries to address their common values and concerns. While the G7's initial focus was on international economic policy, in the 1980s it expanded its mandate to encompass foreign policy and security matters.
— Canada is chairing this year's G7 Summit, which will be attended by the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Carney has also invited the presidents of non-member countries India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and Ukraine, as well as the head of NATO.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:
Key developments
— In 1997, the G7 countries agreed to contribute $300 million to efforts to mitigate the effects of the Chernobyl reactor catastrophe.
— At the 2002 summit, participants agreed to undertake a coordinated response to combat the threat of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the Global Fund, an innovative finance vehicle that has disbursed over $45 billion in relief.
— The Global Apollo Program was inaugurated during the 2015 G7 conference. The Apollo Program, designed to combat climate change through renewable energy research and development, was established by the United Kingdom but did not gain traction until the other G7 countries decided to finance it.
Significance of inviting India to the 2025 Canada summit
— India's invitation represents a growing global consensus in a divided international order and goes beyond a mere symbolic gesture.
— India's foreign policy approach, which is multi-alignment in principle and strategic autonomy in practice, has become more significant.
— India's economy is growing and it has surpassed the UK to become the fifth largest economy, with a GDP of almost $3.7 trillion in 2024.
— Canada's invitation to India recognises that without support from nations that reflect the goals of the Global South.
Conclusion:
— Due to its exclusion of China and India, two of the biggest economies in the world, the G7 has come under fire for being out of date and ineffectual in recent decades. Though others argue against it, citing India's significantly lower GDP per capita in comparison to other states, several think tanks have urged for India to join the organisation.
(Source: 5 things to look out for in this year's G7 Summit in Canada, What is the G7?)
Points to Ponder
Read more about G7
What are the key agendas for 2025 Summit
Related Previous Year Questions
'Virus of Conflict is affecting the functioning of the SCO' In the light of the above statement, point out the role of India in mitigating the problems. (2023)
'The expansion and strengthening of NATO and a stronger US-Europe strategic partnership works well for India.' What is your opinion about this statement ? Give reasons and examples to support your answer. (2023)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 106)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 107)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 106)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 105)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 106)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 105)
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump warns Iran of retaliatory action after US bombed 3 nuclear sites with 'bunker busting' bombs - The Economic Times Video
On June 21, 2025, the United States conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. While confirming the USAF action, President Donald Trump described the operation as "successful," stating that B-2 stealth bombers, likely carrying GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator "bunker buster" bombs, targeted these sites, with a focus on the heavily fortified Fordow facility. The strikes were part of an escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, with the U.S. directly joining Israel's efforts to disrupt Iran's nuclear program.
India Gazette
23 minutes ago
- India Gazette
"Hope it will lead to a better future for Middle East": Israeli President thanks US after "precision" strikes in Iran
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 22 (ANI): Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday, thanked US President Donald Trump for the 'brave step' taken by the United States of America in conducting strikes on three nuclear sites of Iran. Herzog said that the strikes show how the principles of 'liberty, responsibility and security' have triumphed, with the American action resulting as a brave step towards the security and safety of the world. He expressed hope that the action would help fasten the release of Israeli hostages and lead to a better future in West Asia. Herzog wrote on X, 'In the pages of human history, this is a moment when the principles of liberty, responsibility, and security have triumphed. A decisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope. Thank you, @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. Thank you, United States of America. This brave step serves the security and safety of the entire free world. I hope it will lead to a better future for the Middle East -- and help advance the urgent release of our hostages held in captivity in Gaza.' \ His remarks follow after Trump announced that United States conducted 'massive precision strikes' on the three key nuclear facilities in Iran- Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. Trump also threatened of retaliation if peace is not achieved soon in Iran. The Embassy of Iran in India acknowledged that the sites had been hit and called it 'savage aggression--an act in violation of international laws', stressing particularly on the NPT. It further accused the the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of indifference and complicity and said that it expects the international community to condemn these actions. As per a report in the CNN citing a US official, the US used six B-2 bombers to drop a dozen 'bunker buster' bombs on the Fordow nuclear site. Navy submarines fired 30 TLAM cruise missiles at two other sites, Natanz and Isfahan, and a B2 dropped two bunker busters on Natanz. The underground site at Fordow and the larger Natanz plant were Iran's two primary uranium enrichment facilities, out of which Natanz had already been hit by Israel with smaller weapons earlier in the week, the New York Times reported. The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its ninth day on Saturday, with the US now joining in support of Israel. The conflict started after Israel, on June 13, launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, dubbed 'Operation Rising Lion.' In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a large-scale drone and missile operation, 'Operation True Promise 3', targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres. (ANI)
NDTV
25 minutes ago
- NDTV
US Bombers Flew 37 Hours Non-Stop, Refuelled Mid-Air To Hit Iran Nuclear Sites
Washington: US B-2 Spirit bombers flew non-stop for about 37 hours from Missouri to deliver what President Donald Trump called a "very successful attack" on Iran's nuclear programme early Sunday. The stealth bombers, refuelling several times mid-air, struck three key Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. "Fordow is gone," Trump said, referring to the heavily fortified underground facility long considered Tehran's most secure nuclear site. He praised the mission as an " amazing success" and warned Iran that they should "make peace immediately or they'll get hit again." The strikes, carried out with a combination of bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles, were the most direct US military action against Iran in years. Trump said six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, and around 30 Tomahawk missiles targeted other nuclear installations. The Pentagon confirmed B-2 bombers were used in the attack, which came after days of rising tensions and a week of escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. On Saturday, the US had repositioned B-2 bombers to the Pacific island of Guam. These aircraft are capable of deploying the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to destroy deeply buried targets like Fordow. An Iranian official, cited by Tasnim news agency, confirmed damage to part of the Fordow site from "enemy airstrikes." The US strike followed a series of Israeli operations on Iranian nuclear facilities in recent days. While Israel has successfully carried out covert operations in the past, experts believe it lacked the firepower to breach Fordow's defences. Trump's decision to join the campaign marked a major escalation. "All US planes are safely on their way home," Trump posted on Truth Social, congratulating "our great American Warriors." He is expected to address the nation in a televised Oval Office speech later on the day. The Israeli government said it coordinated closely with Washington, and Trump spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the strikes. The attack comes after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran, claiming Tehran was weeks away from building a nuclear bomb. More than 400 people have reportedly died in Iran, and over 3,500 have been injured. In Israel, at least 14 people have been killed and over 1,200 injured in retaliatory missile strikes, the worst flare-up between the two adversaries in recent history.
