GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Social empowerment
Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste.
Read the full question →OFFICIAL QUESTION PAPERS · UPSC CIVIL SERVICES MAINS
UPSC Mains 2015:
read the demand, then plan.
Read 77 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 · 12.5 marks
Gandhi X Indian Leaders of Freedom Struggle
How different would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Gandhi X Indian Leaders of Freedom Struggle
Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Acts and their Features
It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Tertiary sector
The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand reaching the limits of their ecological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically evaluate.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Rock-cut Architecture as Historical Sources
Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also a tine aesthetic sense comparable to modern painting. Critically evaluate this comment.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Oceanography
Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Urban Planning
Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop of rural urban integration.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
World wars
To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Energy
What are the economic significances of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible environmental consequences?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Population and associated issues
Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Globalisation
Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Miscellaneous
Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Tribes & Related Issues
How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Civilizations & Highlights
The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Diversity and pluralism
Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Industrial Revolution
Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Population and associated issues
Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Water Management
India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 12.5 marks
Monsoon
How far do you agree that the behavior of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscapes? Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
SHGs
The Self-Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP), which is India’s own innovation, has proved to be one of the most effective poverty alleviation and women empowerment programmes. Elucidate.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Civil Society
Examine critically the recent changes in the rules governing foreign funding of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 1976.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Bilateral Relations
Increasing interest of India in Africa has its pros and cons. Critically examine.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Local Self Government
In absence of a well-educated and organized local level government system, `Panchayats’ and ‘Samitis’ have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instruments of governance. Critically discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Education
The quality of higher education in India requires major improvements to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would help improve the quality of higher and technical education in the country? Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Federalism
The concept of cooperative federalism has been increasingly emphasized in recent years. Highlight the drawbacks in the existing structure and the extent to which cooperative federalism would answer the shortcomings.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Health
Public health system has limitations in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that the private sector could help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives would you suggest?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Informal associations and their role in polity
Khap Panchayats have been in the news for functioning as extra-constitutional authorities, often delivering pronouncements amounting to human rights violations. Discuss critically the actions taken by the legislative, executive and the judiciary to set the things right in this regard.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Fundamental Rights
Does the right to clean environment entail legal regulations on burning crackers during Diwali? Discuss in the light of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and Judgement(s) of the Apex Court in this regard.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Neighbourhood
Project `Mausam’ is considered a unique foreign policy initiative of the Indian Government to improve relationship with its neighbors. Does the project have a strategic dimension? Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Neighbourhood
Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India-Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchanges could help generate goodwill between the two countries? Discuss with suitable examples.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Transaparency and Accountability
If amendment bill to the Whistleblowers Act, 2011 tabled in the Parliament is passed, there may be no one left to protect. Critically evaluate.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Executive Vs Legislature
Resorting to ordinances has always raised concern on violation of the spirit of separation of powers doctrine. While noting the rationales justifying the power to promulgate ordinances, analyze whether the decisions of the Supreme Court on the issue have further facilitated resorting to this power. Should the power to promulgate ordinances be repealed?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Transaparency and Accountability
In the light of the Satyam Scandal (2009), discuss the changes brought in corporate governance to ensure transparency, accountability.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Alternate Dispute Resolution
What are the major changes brought in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 through the recent Ordinance promulgated by the President? How far will it improve India’s dispute resolution mechanism? Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Poverty
Though there have been several different estimates of poverty in India, all indicate reduction in poverty levels over time. Do you agree? Critically examine with reference to urban and rural poverty indicators.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
United Nations and its Agencies
Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in UN Security Council.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
DPSP
Discuss the possible factors that inhibit India from enacting for its citizens a uniform civil code as provided for in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Civil Society
How can the role of NGOs be strengthened in India for development works relating to protection of the environment? Discuss throwing light on the major constraints.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 12.5 marks
Sectoral Regulatory Bodies
For achieving the desired objectives, it is necessary to ensure that the regulatory institutions remain independent and autonomous. Discuss in the light of the experiences in recent past.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Earthquake
The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
IT
Discuss the advantage and security implications of cloud hosting of servers vis-a-vis in-house machine-based hosting for government businesses.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Manufacturing Sector
Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’ programme and radical labour reforms. Discuss with logical arguments.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Act based
Human rights activists constantly highlight the view that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of human rights abuses by the security forces. What sections of AFSPA are opposed by the activists? Critically evaluate the requirement with reference to the view held by the Apex Court.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Balance of Payment
Craze for gold in Indians have led to a surge in import of gold in recent years and put pressure on balance of payments and external value of rupee. In view of this, examine the merits of Gold Monetization Scheme.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Contract farming & Land leasing
In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture non-viable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Non-Farm Activities (Livestock)
Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sectors in India
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Intellectual Property Rights
India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) which has a database containing formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations is proving a powerful weapon in the country’s fight against erroneous patents. Discuss the pros and cons making this database publicly available under open-source licensing
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Digital Media and Security Threats
Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted in Indian youth joining the ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous for the internal security of our country?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Renewable Energy
To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for the thermal power producers and the related industry?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Agriculture Subsidy
In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Unemployment
The nature of economic growth in India in described as jobless growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Special Economic Zones
There is a clear acknowledement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool of industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognizing this potential, the whole instrumentality of SEZs requires augmentation. Discuss the issues plaguing the success of SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and administration.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Water Pollution and Related Issues
The Namami Gange and National mission for clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Left-Wing Extremism
The persisting drives of the government for development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who face multiple displacements with Malkangiri and naxalbari foci, discuss the corrective strategies needed to win the left wing extremism (LWE) doctrine affected citizens back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Food Processing Sector
What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in developing the food processing industry in India? Can e-commerce help in overcoming these bottlenecks?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Space Technology
What do you understand by ‘Standard Positioning Systems’ and ‘Protection Positioning Systems’ in the GPS era? Discuss the advantages India perceives from its ambitious IRNSS programme employing just seven satellites.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Tech in Farm Productivity and Income
How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regards?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Robotics
What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots? Discuss the initiatives that can propel research in premier research institutes for substantive and gainful innovation.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 12.5 marks
Cyber security
Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a “Digital Armed Force” to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 outlining the challenges perceived in its effective implementation.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Transparency X RTI
Some recent developments such as introduction of RTI Act, media and judicial activism, etc., are proving helpful in bringing about greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government. However, it is also being observed that at times the mechanisms are misused. Another negative effect is that the officers are now afraid to take prompt decisions. Analyze this situation in de…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Attitude for Civil Servants
Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as the bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. A) Distinguish between these two terms and write their merits and demerits. B) Is it possible to balance the two to create a better administration for the faster development of our country?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 25 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
You are recently posted as district development officer of a district. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in the rural areas of your district on the issue of sending girls to schools. The elders of the village feel that many problems have come up because girls are being educated and they are stepping out of the safe environment of the household. They are of the view th…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
“Case-Study: To do Drug Research on non-profitable disease or not? One of the scientists working in the R & D laboratory of a major pharmaceutical company discovers that one of the company’s best selling veterinary drugs, B has the potential to cure a currently incurable liver disease that is prevalent in tribal areas. However, developing a variant of the drug suitable for human beings entailed a …
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Plato
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Transparency X RTI
Today we find that in spite of various measures like prescribing codes of conduct, setting up vigilance cells/commissions, RTI, active media and strengthening of legal mechanisms, corrupt practices are not coming under control. A) Evaluate the effectiveness of these measures with justifications. B) Suggest more effective strategies to tackle this menace.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Value Based Questions
Social values are more important than economic values. Discuss the above statement with examples in the context of inclusive growth of a nation.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Laws, Rules, Regulations and Conscience as Ethical Guidance
A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also has to have a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties.” Do you agree? Explain with the help of two examples, where (i) an act is ethically right, but not legally and (ii) an act is legally right, but not ethically.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
You are the Sarpanch of a Panchayat. There is a primary school run by the government in your area. Midday meals are provided to the children attending the school. The Headmaster has now appointed a new cook in the school to prepare the meals. However, when it is found that the cook is from Dalit community, almost half of the children belonging to higher castes are not allowed to take meals by thei…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Applied Ethics x Environment
What is meant by ‘environmental ethics’? Why is it important to study? Discuss any one environmental issue from the viewpoint of environmental ethics.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Mahatma Gandhi
“The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Trustworthiness and Fortitude
How do the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service? Explain with examples.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Term Based
Differentiate between the following (200 words); a) Law and Ethics; b) Ethical management and Management of ethics; c) Discrimination and Preferential treatment; d) Personal ethics and Professional ethics
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Conflict of interest
Public servants are likely to confront with the issues of ‘Conflict of Interest’. What do you understand by the term ‘Conflict of Interest’ and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest situation, how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Ethical Issues in International Relations and funding
At the international level, the bilateral relations between most nations are governed on the policy of promoting one’s own national interest without any regard for the interest of other nations. This leads to conflicts and tensions between the nations. How can ethical consideration help resolve such tensions? Discuss with specific examples.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 25 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
You are heading a district administration in a particular department. Your senior officer calls you from the State Headquarters and tells you that a plot in Rampur village is to have a building constructed on it for a school. A visit is scheduled during which he will visit the site along with the chief engineer and the senior architect. He wants you to check out all the papers relating to it and t…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
Now-a-days, there is an increasing thrust on economic development all around the globe. At the same time, there is also an increasing concern about environmental degradation caused by development. Many a time, we face a direct conflict between developmental activity and environmental quality. It is neither feasible to stop or curtail the development process, nor it is advisable to keep degrading t…
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