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 August 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.comQUESTION 1Recently, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court raised concerns regarding the sweeping exemption carved out by the Constitution Bench in the 2014 case of Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust vs Union of India. What is the core constitutional issue involved? Discuss in the light of relevant Constitutional Articles.QUESTION 2Discuss how India and Japan’s strategic partnership integrates the areas of security, infrastructure, and economic cooperation to strengthen India’s long-term growth trajectory.General points on the structure of the answersIntroduction— 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.Story continues below this ad— 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/ conclusionStory continues below this ad— 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.THOUGHT PROCESSYou may enrich your answers by some of the following pointsQUESTION 1: Recently, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court raised concerns regarding the sweeping exemption carved out by the Constitution Bench in the 2014 case of Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust vs Union of India. What is the core constitutional issue involved? Discuss in the light of relevant Constitutional Articles.Story continues below this adNote: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.Introduction:— In 2014, the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench in Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust vs Union of India carved out a sweeping exemption: minority schools, aided (receiving government funding) or unaided, need not comply with the Right to Education Act of 2009.— It meant no compulsion to follow its norms, such as the 25% quota for disadvantaged students. But on September 1, a two-judge bench led by Justice Dipankar Datta questioned whether this blanket immunity was ever justified.Body:You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:Story continues below this ad— The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act operationalises Article 21A of the Constitution, guaranteeing free elementary education for children aged 6–14.— It requires:(i) Government schools provide free education to all enrolled children.(ii) Aided schools to provide free seats proportionate to the aid they receive.(iii) Private unaided schools to reserve 25% of entry-level seats for children from disadvantaged groups, reimbursed by the State (Section 12(1)(c) of RTE Act).Story continues below this ad— The Act set standards on pupil-teacher ratios, teacher eligibility, infrastructure, and banned corporal punishment and capitation fees. It also placed an obligation on all schools to contribute to universal education.— The law exempted only institutions imparting primarily religious instruction (like madrasas or Vedic pathshalas). It did not initially exempt schools run by minority communities, though Section 1(4) said its application was “subject to Articles 29 and 30” of the Constitution, which protect the cultural and educational rights of linguistic and religious minorities.— When the RTE came into effect on April 1, 2010, private schools and minority groups resisted, saying the 25% quota infringed upon their autonomy. The Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan argued in the Supreme Court that the Act violated Article 19(1)(g) (on freedom of occupation) and Article 30(1) (on minority rights).Conclusion:— A five-judge Constitution Bench in Pramati examined whether the RTE could apply to minority schools. It upheld the validity of Articles 15(5) and 21A as part of the Constitution’s basic framework, but concluded the RTE Act could not be forced on minority institutions without violating Article 30(1).Story continues below this ad— The court held that the 25% quota could alter the composition of minority schools, undermining their character. It ruled that “if the RTE Act is made applicable to minority schools, aided or unaided, the right of the minorities under Article 30(1)… will stand abrogated,” and so, such provisions were deemed unconstitutional for minority institutions.— Pramati will now come up before a larger bench, likely of seven judges. If overturned, minority schools, especially those receiving aid, may once again be required to comply with RTE provisions.(Source: Why Supreme Court wants to revisit Right to Education exemption for minority schools)Points to PonderRead more about Article 21(a) and Article 30Read about Pramati caseRelated Previous Year QuestionsRight to privacy is intrinsic to life and personal liberty and is inherently protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. Explain. In this reference, discuss the law relating to DNA testing of a child in the womb to establish its paternity. (2024)Story continues below this ad“The Constitution of India is a living instrument with capabilities of enormous dynamism. It is a constitution made for a progressive society.” Illustrate with special reference to the expanding horizons of the right to life and personal liberty. (2023)QUESTION 2: Discuss how India and Japan’s strategic partnership integrates the areas of security, infrastructure, and economic cooperation to strengthen India’s long-term growth trajectory.Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.Introduction:— The Indian Prime Minister travelled to Japan for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. The leaders of these two nations have met earlier on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane last October, and on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in Canada this June.— India-Japan bilateral relations were elevated to Global Partnership in 2000, Strategic and Global Partnership in 2006, and Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014.Body:You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:— The partnership between India and Japan, two of Asia’s leading democracies and among the world’s top five economies, is rooted in civilizational ties that have been reinforced by convergence in their regional and global outlooks.— India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) align closely with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) policy. Japan leads IPOI’s connectivity pillar, and is India’s largest Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) donor.— Cooperation between the countries extends to plurilateral platforms such as the Quad, International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).Realms of cooperationDefence and Security— Key agreements on defence and security include the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation (2008), Defence Cooperation and Exchanges MoU (2014), Information Protection Agreement (2015), Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (2020), and co-development of the UNICORN naval mast (2024).Trade and Investment— Imports from Japan continue to outweigh exports. India’s main exports are chemicals, vehicles, aluminium, and seafood; imports include machinery, steel, copper, and reactors.— Japan is India’s fifth-largest source of FDI, with $43.2 billion cumulative investment up to December 2024. Annual inflows have been strong – $3.1 billion in 2023-24 and $1.36 billion in 2024-25 (Apr-Dec).Business— Around 1,400 Japanese companies with nearly 5,000 establishments operate in India; more than 100 Indian companies are present in Japan. Profitability is high, and there are expansion plans.Emerging focus areas— Digital cooperation (semiconductors, startups), clean energy, supply chain resilience, industrial competitiveness, and skill development.Multilateral and Regional Cooperation— India and Japan coordinate closely with the US and Australia (QUAD) to ensure a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.— The two countries are looking to diversify and secure supply chains through the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI), which also involves Australia.Tourism— 2023-24 was celebrated as the Year of Tourism Exchange, with the theme “Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji”.Conclusion:— Japan has been India’s largest ODA donor since 1958, supporting critical infrastructure and human development projects. ODA disbursement stood at about JPY 580 billion ($4.5 billion) in 2023-24.— The flagship Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail is the flagship project symbolising advanced technology transfer and skill development. The latest tranche of JPY 300 billion ($2.2 billion) was signed in March 2023.— About 54,000 Indians live in Japan, mainly IT professionals and engineers. The PM is expected to meet with heads of provincial governments and prefectures to forge partnerships between Japanese local governments and Indian state governments and municipalities.(Source: Explained: As PM Modi lands in Tokyo, an overview of the India-Japan relationship)Points to PonderRead more about India-Japan relationsRead about recent developments in India-Japan relationsRelated Previous Year Questions‘India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.’ Discuss India’s role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in the light of the preceding statement. (2022)How will I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and USA) grouping transform India’s position in global politics? (2022)Previous Mains Answer PracticeUPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 118)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 117)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 116)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 117)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 117)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 115)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.