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 1Discuss the provisions of the single transferable vote system and secret ballot in the election of the Vice-President of India.QUESTION 2Educate Girls, the first Indian organisation to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award, was recognised for its efforts in challenging deep-rooted cultural stereotypes by promoting girls’ education in rural India. Discuss how such international recognition contributes to grassroots empowerment and strengthens community-led development initiatives.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: Discuss the provisions of the single transferable vote system and secret ballot in the election of the Vice-President of India.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:— As per Article 66 of the Constitution of India, the Vice-President is elected by the members of the Electoral College consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.— The Electoral College consists of 233 elected members of the Rajya Sabha (currently, five seats are vacant), 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha, and 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha (currently, one seat is vacant), adding up to 788 members (currently, 782 members). In the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, the elector has to mark preferences against the names of the candidates.Body:You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:Secret ballot in the electionStory continues below this ad— The voting at such elections shall be done by a secret ballot. In this system, electors are required to mark their preferences against the names of the candidates. Preferences may be indicated using the international form of Indian numerals, Roman numerals, or any recognised Indian language. An elector can mark as many preferences as there are candidates. However, marking the first preference is mandatory for the ballot to be considered valid, other preferences are optional.— Votes must be marked using only the specific pen provided by the Presiding Officer at the polling station.— To be declared elected, a candidate must secure a minimum number of votes — known as the quota. This quota is calculated by dividing the total number of valid votes by two and adding one (any fractions are ignored). If no candidate reaches the quota in the first count, the one with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are transferred to the remaining candidates based on second preferences. This process continues until a candidate reaches the quota.Conclusion:— The Vice-President may leave office before the end of his term by resigning to the President, or he “may be removed…by a resolution of the Council of States passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the House of the People”.Story continues below this ad— Article 71 of the Constitution deals with “Matters relating to, or connected with, the election of a President or Vice-President”. It says that “all doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a President or Vice-President shall be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose decision shall be final”.(Source: Vice President Election 2025: Process to elect Vice President of India, who can contest, powers, perks, When is the Vice-Presidential polls? All you need to know)Points to PonderRead more about Vice-President of IndiaRead more about election process and removal of Vice-President of IndiaRelated Previous Year QuestionDiscuss the role of the Vice-President of India as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. (2022)Story continues below this adQUESTION 2: Educate Girls, the first Indian organisation to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award, was recognised for its efforts in challenging deep-rooted cultural stereotypes by promoting girls’ education in rural India. Discuss how such international recognition contributes to grassroots empowerment and strengthens community-led development initiatives.Let me know if you’d like a model answer outline or key points for this question as well.Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.Introduction:— The Foundation to Educate Girls Globally, also known as Educate Girls, was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award, becoming the first Indian organisation to receive the prize.Story continues below this ad— An official statement from the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) said it was honouring the group for its “commitment to addressing cultural stereotyping through the education of girls and young women, liberating them from the bondage of illiteracy and infusing them with skills, courage, and agency to achieve their full human potential.”Body:You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:— Launched in 1958, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, widely considered to be Asia’s equivalent to the Nobel Prize, recognises outstanding leadership and communitarian contributions in Asia.— The award was set up in 1957 by trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, created by the wealthy Rockefeller family in the United States, and the Philippine government. Over 300 organisations and individuals have been recognised over the decades, and the award is given out every year on August 31, on former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay’s birth anniversary.— Educate Girls identified the neediest communities in terms of girls’ education, brought unschooled or out-of-school girls into the classroom, and worked to keep them there until they were able to acquire credentials for higher education and gainful employment.— “Educate Girls” founder Safeena Husain stated that the organisation is still dedicated to breaking the cycle of illiteracy and poverty for females. She stated that by expanding our initiatives, deepening government collaborations, and incorporating community-led solutions, we hope to create a brighter, more equitable future with the tagline “one girl at a time”.— The phrase “one girl at a time” reflects their core mission of effecting change through targeted, grassroots efforts such as community mobilisation, government collaboration, and personalised support to overcome barriers such as household chores and poverty, as well as to foster a societal shift towards valuing girls’ education as a fundamental right.Conclusion:— Two individuals, Shaahina Ali from the Maldives and Flaviano Antonio L Villanueva, have also been awarded this year for their public service. Past Indian recipients include former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, journalist Ravish Kumar, activist Bezwada Wilson and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk.(Source: Indian NGO ‘Educate Girls’ wins Ramon Magsaysay Award: What is this honour, http://www.newsonair.gov.in)Points to PonderRead more about Ramon Magsaysay AwardRelated Previous Year QuestionsThe crucial aspect of development process has been the inadequate attention paid to Human Resource Development in India. Suggest measures that can address this inadequacy. (2023)National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (2020)Previous Mains Answer PracticeUPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 118)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 119)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 118)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 118)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.