UPSC Civil Services · 2022 · GS 4

Corporate Governance

In contemporary world, corporate sector’s contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing. In doing so, they are bringing in unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you find that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfill the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate world for which the CSR is mandated? Critically examine.

Original exam: 10 marks

Official UPSC paper archive ↗

This question is available to read here. The practice button generates a fresh question from the same paper. Here, practise an answer plan in keywords. Choose your timer on the next screen. Feedback uses our common 15-point practice rubric, rather than the paper’s original mark allocation.

Brainstorm this paper →

This theme in the news

GS 3 · Environment & disasters

Illegal Excavation of Lake Bed for Party Event: Environmental and Governance Implications

Following the illegal excavation of approximately 45,72,058 cubic feet of sand from a lake bed to level a site for a political function, a criminal case has been registered against Tamil Nadu Minister E.V. Velu and other organizers. This incident, which reportedly resulted in an estimated loss of ₹8.22 crore to the state exchequer, serves as a poignant example of the tension between political event management and the urgent need for environmental preservation. The case raises critical questions regarding the failure of local monitoring mechanisms, the accountability of public figures, and the protection of essential water resources against unauthorized land use.

GS 3 · Environment & disasters

Ecological Aftermath of the MSC Elsa 3 Shipwreck

The MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck, which occurred in May 2025, has emerged as a significant source of marine pollution due to the release of nurdles, or pre-production plastic pellets. Recent findings from a two-year impact study conducted by the Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI), commissioned by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), confirm that these pollutants remain persistent in the coastal environment. The study highlights the complex challenges of managing solid microplastic spills and emphasizes the urgent need for long-term ecological monitoring and improved maritime disaster response frameworks to protect marine biodiversity and local livelihoods.

GS 3 · Environment & disasters

Supreme Court Issues Notice on Plea in Sinking of MSC Elsa 3

In September 2026, the Supreme Court of India, through a Bench led by Justice K.V. Viswanathan, issued a formal notice to Elsa 3 Maritime Inc., the owning company of the vessel MSC Elsa 3, in response to a legal plea concerning its sinking. The judicial intervention highlights pressing concerns regarding maritime safety, environmental restitution, salvage liabilities, and the complex jurisdictional challenges involved in holding foreign-flagged commercial vessel operators accountable for coastal disasters in Indian waters.