GS 1 · 15 marks
Secularism
Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer.
Read the full question →OFFICIAL QUESTION PAPERS · UPSC CIVIL SERVICES MAINS
UPSC Mains 2022:
read the demand, then plan.
Read 78 questions from this year below, organised by paper and theme. Official paper downloads are also included where available.
Make a past paper work harder for you.
- 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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Assamese (Compulsory)
Bengali (Compulsory)
English (Compulsory)
Gujarati (Compulsory)
Hindi (Compulsory)
Kannada (Compulsory)
Kashmiri (Compulsory)
Malayalam (Compulsory)
Marathi (Compulsory)
Nepali (Compulsory)
Odia (Compulsory)
Punjabi (Compulsory)
Sanskrit (Compulsory)
Sindhi (Compulsory)
Tamil (Compulsory)
Telugu (Compulsory)
Urdu (Compulsory)
Assamese Literature
Bengali Literature
English Literature
Gujarati Literature
Hindi Literature
Kannada Literature
Maithili Literature
Malayalam Literature
Manipuri Literature
Marathi Literature
Punjabi Literature
Sanskrit Literature
Sindhi Literature Paper - I (Devanagari)
Sindhi Literature Paper - II (Devanagari)
Tamil Literature
Telugu Literature
Urdu Literature
Agriculture
Animal Hus. and Vet. Sc.
Anthropology
Botany
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Commerce and Accountancy
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Geography
Geology
History
Law
Management
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Science
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science and IR
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
Statistics
Zoology
Essay
GS 1
GS 2
GS 3
GS 4
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GS 1 · 10 marks
Family
Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work From Home’ on family relationships.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Colonial rule and impact
Why did the armies of the British East India Company - mostly comprising of Indian soldiers-win consistently against the more numerous and better equipped armies of the then Indian rulers ? Give reasons.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Tertiary sector
Mention the significance of straits and isthmus in international trade.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Globalisation
Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
States Reorganistion
The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Cyclone
Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological Department.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Primary sector
Describing the distribution of rubber producing countries, indicate the major environmental issues faced by them.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Climatology
Troposphere is a very significant atmospheric layer that determines weather processes. How?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Natural resources Potential
Discuss the natural resource potentials of ‘Deccan Trap’.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Diversity and pluralism
Analyse the salience of ‘sect’ in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Colonial rule and impact
Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century ? Give reasons.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Sculptures and Significance
Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Energy
Examine the potential of wind energy in India and explain the reasons for their limited spatial spread.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Kingdoms & Highlights
Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage and culture.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Geomorphology
Describe the characteristics and types of primary rocks.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Emerging Urbanisation Trends
How is the growth of Tier 2 cities related to the rise of a new middle class with an emphasis on the culture of consumption?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Sculptures and Significance
How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Tribes & Related Issues
Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific contexts should they be considered as a single category ?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Case Laws
The most significant achievement of modern law in India in the constitutionalization of environmental problems by the Supreme Court. Discuss this statement with the help of relevant case laws.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Groupings involving Immediate and Extended neighbours
Do you think that BIMSTEC is a parallel organisation like the SAARC? What are the similarities and dissimilarities between the two? How are Indian foreign policy objectives realized by forming this new organisation?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Election Dispute and Disqualification
Discuss the procedures to decide the disputes arising out of the election of a Member of the Parliament or State Legislature under The Representation of the People Act, 1951. What are the grounds on which the election of any returned candidate may be declared void? What remedy is available to the aggrieved party against the decision? Refer to the case laws.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Constitutional Comparison
Critically examine the procedures through which the Presidents of India and France are elected.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Constitutional Bodies
Discuss the role of the National Commission for Backward Classes in the wake of its transformation from a statutory body to a constitutional body.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Political Parties
While the national political parties in India favour centralisation, the regional parties are in favour of State autonomy. Comment.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Energy X Foreign Policy
Clean energy is the order of the day. Describe briefly India’s changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Groupings beyond South Asia
How will I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and USA) grouping transform India’s position in global politics ?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Presiding Officers
Discuss the role of the Vice-President of India as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
MCC
Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in the light of the evolution of the Model Code of Conduct.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Executive Vs Legislature
Discuss the essential conditions for exercise of the legislative powers by the Governor. Discuss the legality of re-promulgation of ordinances by the Governor without placing them before the Legislature.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Education
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting incentive-based system for children’s education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Transaparency and Accountability
Reforming the government delivery system through the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme is a progressive step, but it has its limitations too. Comment.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Government Schemes and Policies
The Gati-Shakti Yojana needs meticulous coordination between the government and the private sector to achieve the goal of connectivity. Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Disables
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 remains only a legal document without intense sensitisation of government functionaries and citizens regarding disability. Comment.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Fundamental Rights
Right of movement and residence throughout the territory of India are freely available to the Indian citizens, but these rights are not absolute. Comment
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Poverty
Besides the welfare schemes, India needs deft management of inflation and unemployment to serve the poor and the underprivileged sections of the society. Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Neighbourhood
India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.’ Discuss India’s role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka the light of the preceding statement.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Donor Agencies
Do you agree with the view that increasing dependence on donor agencies for development reduces the importance of community participation in the development process ? Justify your answer.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Local Self Government
To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots ?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Miscellaneous
The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges in the community. What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken to meet them ?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
General Science
Each year a large amount of plant material, cellulose, is deposited on the surface of Planet Earth. What are the natural processes this cellulose undergoes before yielding carbon dioxide, water and other end products ?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Mining and Erosion
Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard ?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Agri-Marketing
What are the main bottlenecks in upstream and downstream process of marketing of agricultural products in India ?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Renewable Energy
Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030 ? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective ? Explain.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
UNFCCC
Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Integrated Farming System
What is Integrated Farming System ? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India ?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
PDS
What are the major challenges of Public Distribution System (PDS) in India ? How can it be made effective and transparent ?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Medical and Health Technologies
What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines ?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Air Pollution and Related Issues
Discuss in detail the photochemical smog emphasizing its formation, effects and mitigation. Explain the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Cloudburst
Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudburst in the context of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
PPP X Infrastructure
Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in infrastructural projects ? Examine the role of PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in India.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Economic Growth
Economic growth in the recent past has been led by increase in labour activity.” Explain this statement. Suggest the growth pattern that will lead to creation of more jobs without compromising labour productivity.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Maritime Security challenges
What are the maritime security challenges in India ? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Food Processing Sector
Elaborate the scope and significance of the food processing industry in India.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Space Technology
Launched on 25th December, 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes ? What are the key goals of this mission ? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Cyber security
What are the different elements of cyber security ? Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Organized Crime and Terrorism
Discuss the types of organised crimes. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Financial Inclusion
Is inclusive growth possible under market economy ? State the significance of financial inclusion in achieving economic growth in India.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Left-Wing Extremism
Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues gest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Ethical Issues in International Relations and funding
Russia and Ukraine war has been going on for the last seven months. Different countries have taken independent stands and actions keeping in view their own national interests. We are all aware that war has its own impact on the different aspects of society, including human tragedy. What are those ethical issues that are crucial to be considered while launching the war and its continuation so far? …
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Potter Stewart
Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.’-Potter Stewart .
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Accountability and Ethical Governance
What do you understand by term ‘good governance’? How far recent initiatives in terms of e-Governance steps taken by the State have helped the beneficiaries? Discuss with suitable examples.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Consequences of Ethics
It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions would ensure in smooth functioning of an organization/system. If so, what does ethics seek to promote in human life? How do ethical values assist in the resolution of conflicts faced by him in his day-to-day functioning?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Quality of Service Delivery
Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. An officer being engrossed with the periphery, ignoring the core issues before him, is no rare in the bureaucracy. Do you agree that such preoccupation of an administrator leads to travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance? Critically evaluate.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
“You are appointed as an officer heading the section in Environment Pollution Control Board to ensure compliance and its follow-up. In that region, there were large number of small and medium industries which had been granted clearance. You learnt that these industries provide employment to many migrant worker. Most of the industrial units have got environmental clearance certificate in their poss…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
“Rakesh was working as a Joint Commissioner in Transport department of a city. As a part of his job profile, among others, he was entrusted with the task of overseeing the control and functioning of City Transport Department. A case strike by drivers’ union of City Transport Department over the issue of compensation to a driver who died on duty while driving the bus came up before him for decision…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
Pawan is working as an officer in the State Government for the last ten years. As a part of the routine transfer, he was posted to another department. He joined a new office along with five other colleagues. The head of the office was a senior officer conversant with the functioning of the office. As a part of general inquiry, Pawan gathered that his senior officer carries the reputation of being …
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Applied Ethics x Technology
Online methodology is being used for day-to-day meetings, institutional approvals in the administration and for teaching and learning in education sector to the extent telemedicine in the health sector is getting popular with the approvals of the competent authority. No doubt it has advantages and disadvantages for both the beneficiaries and system at large. Describe and discuss the ethical issues…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Attitude for Civil Servants
The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are same, yet there is difference in the performance. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Term Based
Write short notes on the following in 30 words each : (i) Constitutional morality (ii) Conflict of interest (iii) Probity in public life (iv) Challenges of digitalization (v) Devotion to duty
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
“The Supreme Court has banned mining in the Aravalli Hills to stop degradation the forest cover and to maintain ecological balance. However, the stone mining to still prevalent in the border district of the affected State with connivance of certain corrupt forest officials and politicians. Young and dynamic SP who was recently posted in the affected district promised to himself to stop this menace…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.” – Abdul Kalam.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
“Ramesh is State Civil Services Officer who got the opportunity of getting posted to the capital of a border State after rendering 20 years of service. Ramesh’s mother has recently been detected cancer and has been admitted in the leading cancer hospital of the city. His two adolescent children have also got admission in one of the best public schools of the town. After settling down in his appoin…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
“Prabhat was working as Vice President (Marketing) at Sterling Electric Ltd., a reputed multinational company. But presently the company was passing through the difficult times as the sales were continuously showing downward trend in the last two quarters. His division, which hitherto had been a major revenue contributor to the company’s financial health, was now desperately trying to procure some…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Challenges of Corruption
Whistle blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities, wrongdoing and misconduct to the concerned authorities, runs the risk of being exposed to grave danger, physical harm and victimization by the vested interests, accused persons and his team. What policy measures would you suggest to strengthen protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle blower?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Dalai Lama
“Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.” Dalai Lama.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Empathy and Compassion
Apart from intellectual competency and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
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 responsibi…
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