In your answer, it is not necessary to include all points mentioned here. Students are advised to select and organize relevant content based on the provided editorial and the allocated word limit.

Answer Length Guide:

150 words – 10 marker
200–225 words – 15 marker
300 words – 20 marker
350 words – 25 marker
Essay-type answers – 1000 to 1200 words

Past Questions (UPSC Mains)

GS Paper II – Governance & Social Justice – 2019: “Evaluate the impact of welfare schemes on electoral politics.” This editorial critiques Bihar’s poll-eve measures.
GS Paper III – Indian Economy – 2018: “Discuss the fiscal challenges of populist welfare schemes.” This editorial highlights Bihar’s subsidy costs.

Probable UPSC Mains Questions

GS Paper II – Governance & Social Justice – Q1: “How do poll-eve welfare schemes influence voter behavior?”
GS Paper III – Indian Economy – Q2: “Assess the fiscal sustainability of Bihar’s welfare measures.”
GS Paper I – Indian Society – Q3: “Discuss the societal impact of targeted welfare for women and youth.”
GS Paper IV – Ethics and Human Interface – Q4: “Examine ethical concerns in electoral welfare promises.”

Introduction (Sets the context with a striking fact and three sentences to outline the issue, highlight developments, and state significance, ensuring clarity and relevance for high marks.)
Bihar’s ₹19,792 crore welfare budget targets 1.67 crore households before the 2025 elections. Free electricity, women’s job quotas, and hiked pensions aim to sway voters. These measures, echoing RJD promises, lack strategic vision. Sustainable governance must balance welfare with fiscal prudence.

Keywords / Important Terms (Using technical terms catches the evaluator’s eye, demonstrating precise knowledge and alignment with UPSC’s analytical expectations for top scores.)

Free Electricity: 125 units, 1.67 crore households, ₹19,792 crore subsidy.
Social Pension: ₹1,100/month, 1.11 crore beneficiaries.
Women’s Quota: 35% reservation, Bihar-domiciled women.
Mukhyamantri Pratigya Yojana: ₹4,000–₹6,000 internship stipends.
Punaura Dham: ₹882.87 crore for religious tourism.
Kutir Jyoti Yojana: Free solar for 58 lakh BPL families.
Bihar Youth Commission: Enhances youth employability.

Flowchart (Visualizes complex dynamics, enhancing conceptual clarity, which impresses evaluators by showing structured thinking.)

Purpose: To map Bihar’s welfare-electoral strategy.
Triggers: 2025 elections, RJD’s rival promises.
Linkages: Welfare schemes → voter appeal → fiscal strain.
Outcomes: Electoral gains, debt risks, or coalition shifts.

Core Issues / Root Causes (Identifying systemic issues with examples demonstrates depth, critical for scoring high by showcasing analytical rigor.)

Populist Competition: Nitish mimics RJD’s 200-unit free power promise.
Fiscal Strain: ₹19,792 crore subsidy burdens budget.
Lack of Vision: Ad-hoc schemes without long-term planning.
Migration Woes: 75 lakh Biharis excluded from benefits.

Impact Analysis (Multi-dimensional analysis with examples shows comprehensive understanding, boosting marks by addressing diverse aspects.)

Social: Empowers women, youth; excludes migrants.
Economic: ₹19,792 crore risks fiscal deficit.
Political: Bolsters NDA’s voter base, strains JD(U)-BJP ties.
Cultural: ₹882.87 crore boosts religious tourism.
Ethical: Short-term populism undermines governance.

Government Schemes / Policy Interventions (Linking specific schemes to issues shows policy awareness, earning marks for practical relevance.)

Mukhyamantri Pratigya Yojana: ₹685 crore for internships.
Kutir Jyoti Yojana: Free solar for 58 lakh BPL homes.
Social Security Pension: ₹1,227.27 crore for 1.11 crore beneficiaries.

Way Forward / Solutions (Feasible, structured solutions reflect forward-thinking, impressing evaluators with actionable insights.)

Fiscal Prudence: Cap subsidies, prioritize revenue generation.
Long-term Planning: Align schemes with Bihar’s 10.3% GSDP growth.
Migrant Inclusion: Extend benefits to 75 lakh migrants.
Transparent Execution: Monitor via DBT, RTPS counters.
Youth Focus: Scale up Bihar Youth Commission initiatives.

Ethical Dimensions (Highlighting ethical aspects aligns with GS Paper IV, enhancing marks by showing ethical sensitivity.)

Equity: Ensure migrant, marginalized inclusion.
Accountability: Avoid populist promises for votes.

Conclusion (Summarizes key elements, offers a positive, visionary opinion, and reiterates the introduction’s sentiment with a mature, impactful tone for higher scores.)
Bihar’s welfare spree risks fiscal instability for electoral gains. Sustainable schemes with inclusive planning can ensure lasting development. Ethical governance must prioritize Bihar’s long-term prosperity.

Editorials