GS3 2017 Q11 15 marks 250 words Government Budgeting

UPSC Mains 2017 GS3 Q11 — Government Budgeting

One of the intended objectives of the Union Budget 2017-18 is to 'transform, energise and clean India'. Analyse the measures proposed in the Budget 2017-18 to achieve the objective. (Answer in 250 words)

Question Decoded — examiner's intent

Directive verbs
Analyse
Scope keywords
Union Budget 2017-18transform, energise and clean Indiameasures proposedachieve the objective
Implicit sub-parts
  • What were the specific components of the 'TEC' (Transform, Energize, Clean) agenda?
  • How do the proposed measures in governance and infrastructure correlate to 'Transform'?
  • Which fiscal and youth-centric policies aimed to 'Energize' the economy and society?
  • What specific measures were introduced to 'Clean' India in terms of political funding and tax transparency?
  • How effective were these measures in addressing the underlying economic challenges of that fiscal year?
Common pitfalls
  • Spending too much time on general budget definitions instead of the specific TEC theme.
  • Failing to categorize measures under the three specific headers: Transform, Energize, and Clean.
  • Ignoring the 'Clean India' aspect regarding political funding (e.g., Electoral Bonds) which was a landmark move in this specific budget.
  • Omitting the post-demonetization context which necessitated the 'Clean' and 'Energize' focus.
Dimensions required
Fiscal PolicyGovernance and TransparencyInfrastructure and Rural DevelopmentDigital EconomyPolitical Reforms
Marks allocation hint

Allocate 50 words to the introduction and defining the TEC agenda. Devote approximately 50-60 words to each of the three pillars (Transform, Energize, Clean) with specific policy examples like PMGSY for transform and electoral bonds for clean. Use the final 30-40 words for a concluding critical analysis of the long-term impact of these reforms.

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