GS 1 · 10 marks
Revolt and Mutiny
The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat?
Read the full question →OFFICIAL QUESTION PAPERS · UPSC CIVIL SERVICES MAINS
UPSC Mains 2014:
read the demand, then plan.
Read 82 questions from this year below, organised by paper and theme. Official paper downloads are also included where available.
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- Underline the directive and separate every clause. Identify what the question states and what a complete answer must infer.
- Plan one argument for each substantive demand. Connect cause, consequence and a relevant limitation.
- Choose evidence that supports the argument; a long list of facts cannot replace it.
- Compare your plan with another year’s question on the same theme. Notice how the demand changes.
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GS 1 · 10 marks
Cryosphere
Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Colonial rule and impact
Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence.
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Women and Associated concerns
How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India?
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Primary sector
Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?
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Family
The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.
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Women and Associated concerns
Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.
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Climatology
Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree?
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Miscellaneous
Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Foreign influence on Independent India’s policies
The New Economic Policy - 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate.
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Natural resources Potential
How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?
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Bhakti and Sufi movement
Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu/Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.
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Primary sector
Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Cyclone
Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?
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Geomorphology
Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of Fold Mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.
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Miscellaneous
What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self-image as a world power?
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Revolt and Mutiny
In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?
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Civilizations & Highlights
To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss.
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Secularism
How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?
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Anti-colonial struggles
What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India?
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Buddhism
Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.
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Secondary sector
Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world.
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Oceanography
Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world.
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Women and Associated concerns
Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Judiciary
Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly proactive role in ensuring that India develops into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate the role played by judicial activism in achieving the ideals of democracy.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Structural reforms and Actions
Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the Government is mulling over the proposal for increased FDI in news media for quite some time. What difference would an increase in FDI make? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Government Schemes and Policies
Two parallel run schemes of the Government viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Efficacy of Welfare and Development Schemes
Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
International Funding Agencies
Some of the International funding agencies have special terms for economic participation stipulating a substantial component of the aid to be used for sourcing equipment from the leading countries. Discuss on merits of such terms and if, there exists a strong case not to accept such conditions in the Indian context.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Statutory Bodies
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of the above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Civil Services
Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organisation been the cause of slow change in India? Critically examine.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Sectoral Regulatory Bodies
The setting up of a Rail Tariff Authority to regulate fares will subject the cash strapped Indian Railways to demand subsidy for obligation to operate non-profitable routes and services. Taking into account the experience in the power sector, discuss if the proposed reform is expected to benefit the consumers, the Indian Railways or the private container operators.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Education
Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/ criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Parliamentary Privileges
The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Union Executive
The size of the cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far the efficacy of a government then is inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Federalism
Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, but it is equally true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a strong Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism. Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
WTO
The aim of Information Technology Agreements (ITAs) is to lower all taxes and tariffs on information technology products by signatories to zero. What impact should such agreements have on India’s interests?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Human Resources
An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
SHGs
The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting participation in development programmes is facing socio-cultural hurdles. Examine.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Fundamental Rights
What do you understand by the concept “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Union Executive
Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Bilateral Relations
With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
WTO
WTO is an important international institution where decisions taken affect countries in profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India’s stand on the latest round of talks on Food security.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
International Funding Agencies
India has recently signed to become founding a New Development Bank (NDB) and also the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) .How will the role of the two Banks be different? Discuss the significance of these two Banks for India.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
UNFCCC
Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Transport
National urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people instead of moving vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies of the government in this regard.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Demographic Dividend
While we flaunt India’s demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping rates of employability. What are we missing while doing so? Where will the jobs that India desperately needs come from? Explain.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Medical and Health Technologies
Can overuse and the availability of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription, the contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Intellectual Property Rights
In a globalised world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms – copyrights, patents and trade secrets.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Maritime Security challenges
In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65° East to 78° east in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime organisation. What impact does this have on India’s maritime security concerns?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
PPP X Infrastructure
Explain how private public partnership agreements, in longer gestation infrastructure projects, can transfer unsuitable liabilities to the future. What arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that successive generations’ capacities are not compromised?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Tech in Agriculture Credit
“In the villages itself no form of credit organization will be suitable except the cooperative society”. All India Rural Credit Survey. Discuss this statement in the background of agricultural finance in India. What constraints and challenges do financial institutions supplying agricultural finance face? How can technology be used to better reach and serve rural clients?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
LPG Reform and Impact
Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the huge growth of services vis-a-vis industry in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong industrial base?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Threat from External state and Non-state actors
China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an economic corridor. What thread does it dispose for India’s security? Critically examine.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Agri-Marketing
There is also a point of view that agriculture produce market committees (APMCs) set up under the state acts have not only impeded the development of agriculture but also have been the cause of food inflation in India. Critically examine.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Airports X Infrastructure
International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive soverignity over the airspace above the territory. What do you understand by airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggests ways to contain the threat.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Border Area Management
How illegal transborder migration does pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such migration.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Threat from External state and Non-state actors
The diverse nature of India as a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of radicalism which has been in her neighbourhood. Discuss along with the strategies to be adopted to counter this environment.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
FDI
Foreign direct investment in the defence sector is now said to be liberalised. What influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and economy in the short and long run?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
EIA
Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Drought
Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National disaster management authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Achievements of Indians in S&T
Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer oriented. Critically comment.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Act based
The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1 January 2014. What implication would it have on industrialisation and agriculture in India?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Inclusive Growth X Capitalism
Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to wide disparities between the rich and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism driving inclusive growth in India? Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Ethics in Private and Public sphere
In the context of defence services, ‘patriotism’ demands readiness to even lay down one’s life in protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism imply in everyday civil life? Explain with illustrations and justify your answer.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Attitude for Individuals
What factors affect the formation of a person’s attitude towards social problems? In our society, contrasting attitudes are prevalent about many social problems. What contrasting attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society? How do you explain the existence of these contrasting attitudes?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Probity in Governance
What do you understand by ‘probity’ in public life? What are the difficulties in practicing it in the present times? How can these difficulties be overcome?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
You are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You have been transferred to a remote district to head a department that is notorious for its inefficiency and callousness. You find that the main cause of the poor state of affairs is the indiscipline of a section of employees. They do not work themselves and also disrupt the working of others. You first warned the troublemakers to mend their ways or else fa…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Crisis of Ethical Values
We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Teachings of Great Leaders
Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings giving specific examples, describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
Suppose one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services, comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public service. He raises the following points : 1. In the present times, when unethical environment is quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot of problems in one’s career. It may also cause hardship to …
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Normative Ethics (Deontology vs Teleology)
Human beings should always be treated as ‘ends’ in themselves and never as merely ‘means’. Explain the meaning and significance of this statement, giving its implications in the modern techno-economic society.
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Utilization of public funds
There is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Ethics in Private and Public sphere
What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
Suppose you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialized electronic equipment used by a government department. You have submitted your bid for the supply of this equipment to the department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are better than those of the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding a hefty bribe for approving the tender. Getting the order is important both fo…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Integrity
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. What do you understand by this statement? Explain your stand with illustrations from the modern context.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
Rameshwar successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited about the opportunity that he would get through the civil services to serve the country. However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are not as rosy as he had imagined. He found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department assigned to him. For example, funds under various scheme…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Consequences of Ethics
The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this situation for personal well-being and for societal well-being? What can you do at the personal level to make yourself trustworthy?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Challenges of Corruption
It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Accountability and Ethical Governance
What does ‘accountability’ mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Value Based Questions
All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to you? Explain with examples.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
In our country, the migration of rural people to towns and cities is increasing drastically. This is causing serious problems both in the rural as well as in the urban areas. In fact, things are becoming really unmanageable. Can you analyze this problem in detail and indicate not only the socio-economic but also the emotional and attitudinal factors responsible for this problem? Also, distinctly b…
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