GS 1 · 15 marks
Tribes & Related Issues
Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.
Read the full question →OFFICIAL QUESTION PAPERS · UPSC CIVIL SERVICES MAINS
UPSC Mains 2025:
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Assamese Literature
Bodo Literature
English Literature
Gujarati Literature
Hindi Literature
Kannada Literature
Kashmiri Literature
Maithili Literature
Malayalam Literature
Manipuri Literature
Marathi Literature
Punjabi Literature
Sanskrit Literature
Sindhi (Devnagari) Literature
Tamil Literature
Telugu Literature
Urdu Literature
Agriculture
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
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 International Relation
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
Statistics
Zoology
GS 1
GS 2
GS 3
GS 4
Essay
Assamese (Compulsory)
Bengali (Compulsory)
Bodo (Compulsory)
English (Compulsory)
Gujarati (Compulsory)
Hindi (Compulsory)
Kannada (Compulsory)
Kashimiri (Compulsory)
Maithili (Compulsory)
Malayalam (Compulsory)
Marathi (Compulsory)
Nepali (Compulsory)
Odia Compulsory)
Punjabi (Compulsory)
Sanskrit (Compulsory)
Sindhi (Devanagari) (Compulsory)
Tamil (Compulsory)
Telugu (Compulsory)
Urdu (Compulsory)
Read the questions online
GS 1 · 10 marks
Climate change
How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Energy
Give a geographical explanation of the distribution of off-shore oil reserves of the world. How are they different from the on-shore occurrences of oil reserves?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Globalisation
How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Consolidation after Independence
Trace India’s consolidation process during early phase of independence in terms of polity, economy, education and international relations.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Primary sector
What are non-farm primary activities? How are these activities related to physiographic features in India? Discuss with suitable examples.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Socio-religious reform
Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Globalisation
Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Energy
Explain briefly the ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India with suitable examples.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Tsunamis
What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their consequences? Explain with examples.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Civilizations & Highlights
Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Land use planning
How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones be effectively used along with GIS and RS techniques in locational and areal planning?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Natural resources Potential
Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
American and French revolution
The French Revolution has enduring relevance to the contemporary world. Explain.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Development and Related issues
‘Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 15 marks
Geomorphology
Discuss how the changes in shape and sizes of continents and ocean basins of the planet take place due to tectonic movements of the crustal masses.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Miscellaneous
The ethos of civil service in India stand for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness – Elucidate.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Kingdoms & Highlights
‘The sculptors filled the Chandella artform with resilient vigor and breadth of life.’ Elucidate.
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Urban Poverty and Migration
How does smart city in India, address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice?
Read the full question →GS 1 · 10 marks
Kings & Contributions
Examine the main aspects of Akbar’s religious syncretism.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Civil Society
Civil Society Organizations are often perceived as being anti-State actors rather than non-State actors. Do you agree? Justify.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Constitutional Comparison
Discuss the evolution of collegium system in India. Critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the system on appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India and that of the USA.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Union Executive
The Attorney General of India plays a crucial role in guiding the legal framework of the Union Government and ensuring sound governance through legal counsel.” Discuss his responsibilities, rights and limitations in this regard.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Pressure Groups
What are environmental pressure groups? Discuss their role in raising awareness, influencing policies and advocating for environmental protection in India.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Geo-politics affecting India’s Interest
With the waning of globalization, post-Cold War world is becoming a site of sovereign nationalism. Elucidate.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Bilateral Relations
India–Africa digital partnership is achieving mutual respect, co-development and long-term institutional partnerships. Elaborate.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Women
Women’s social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
E-governance
E-governance projects have a built-in bias towards technology and back-end integration than user-centric designs. Examine.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Energy X Foreign Policy
“Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India’s foreign policy, and is linked with India’s overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries.” How would you integrate energy security with India’s foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Amendments
Indian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Election Dispute and Disqualification
Discuss the ‘corrupt practices’ for the purpose of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Analyze whether the increase in the assets of the legislators and/or their associates, disproportionate to their known sources of income, would constitute ‘undue influence’ and consequently a corrupt practice.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Tribunal
Comment on the need of administrative tribunals as compared to the court system. Assess the impact of the recent tribal reforms through rationalization of tribunals made in 2021.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Constitutional Comparison
Compare and contrast the President’s power to pardon in India and in the USA. Are there any limits to it in both the countries? What are ‘preemptive pardons’?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
United Nations and its Agencies
“The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance.” Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Federalism
Examine the evolving pattern of Centre-State financial relations in the context of planned development in India. How far have the recent reforms impacted the fiscal federalism in India?
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Statutory Bodies
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 10 marks
Union Territory
Discuss the nature of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. Briefly describe the powers and functions of the Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Constitutional Morality
“Constitutional morality is the fulcrum which acts as an essential check upon the high functionaries and citizens alike...” In view of the above observation of the Supreme Court, explain the concept of constitutional morality and its application to ensure balance between judicial independence and judicial accountability in India.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Structural reforms and Actions
“In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution, defeating the objectives of development.” Critically evaluate.
Read the full question →GS 2 · 15 marks
Poverty
Inequality in the ownership pattern of resources is one of the major causes of poverty. Discuss in the context of ‘paradox of poverty’.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Agri-Marketing
Elaborate the scope and significance of supply chain management of agricultural commodities in India.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Manufacturing Sector
India aims to become a semiconductor manufacturing hub. What are the challenges faced by the semiconductor industry in India? Mention the salient features of the India Semiconductor Mission.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Air Pollution and Related Issues
What is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)? What is the potential role of CCUS in tackling climate change?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Water Pollution and Related Issues
Seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifers is a major concern in India. What are the causes of seawater intrusion and the remedial measures to combat this hazard?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Nuclear Technology
The fusion energy programme in India has steadily evolved over the past few decades. Mention India’s contributions to the international fusion energy project International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). What will be the implications of the success of this project for the future of global energy?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Water Pollution and Related Issues
Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
N-E Insurgency
What are the major challenges to internal security and peace process in the North-Eastern States? Map the various peace accords and agreements initiated by the government in the past decade.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Bio-Technology
How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology play a crucial role in this endeavour?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Protectionism and Currency Manipulations
What are the challenges before the Indian economy when the world is moving away from free trade and multilateralism to protectionism and bilateralism? How can these challenges be met?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Inclusive Growth
Distinguish between the Human Development Index (HDI) and Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) with special reference to India. Why is the IHDI considered a better indicator of inclusive growth?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Crop Diversification
Explain the factors influencing the decision of the farmers on the selection of high value crops in India.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Mining and Erosion
Mineral resources are fundamental to the country economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the environmental hazard due to mining.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Organized Crime and Terrorism
Terrorism is a global scourge. How has it manifested in India? Elaborate with contemporary examples. What are the counter measures adopted by the State? Explain.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Food Processing Sector
Examine the scope of the food processing industries in India. Elaborate the measures taken by the government in the food processing industries for generating employment opportunities.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Maritime Security challenges
Why is maritime security vital to protect India’s sea trade? Discuss maritime and coastal security challenges and the way forward.
Read the full question →GS 3 · 10 marks
Left-Wing Extremism
The Government of India recently stated that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) will be eliminated by 2026. What do you understand by LWE and how are the people affected by it? What measures have been taken by the government to eliminate LWE?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
UNFCCC
Write a review on India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) intended by India been updated in 2022?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Manufacturing Sector
Discuss the rationale of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. What are its achievements? In what way can the functioning and outcomes of the scheme be improved?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Tech in Farm Productivity and Income
How does nanotechnology offer significant advancements in the field of agriculture? How can this technology help to uplift the socio-economic status of farmers?
Read the full question →GS 3 · 15 marks
Fiscal Policy
Explain how the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) can be used as a tool for assessing the fiscal performance of states in India. In what way would it encourage the states to adopt prudent and sustainable fiscal policies?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Social influence and persuasion
“For any kind of social re-engineering by successfully implementing welfare schemes, a civil servant must use reason and critical thinking in an ethical framework.” Justify this statement with suitable examples.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Swami Vivekananda
“The strength of a society is not in its laws, but in the morality of its people.” – Swami Vivekananda
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Ethical Issues in International Relations and funding
Carl von Clausewitz once said, “War is a diplomacy by other means.” Critically analyse the above statement in the present context of contemporary geo-political conflict.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Public/Civil Service Values
“One who is devoted to one’s duty attains highest perfection in life.” Analyse this statement with reference to sense of responsibility and personal fulfilment as a civil servant.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Tirukkural
“Those who in trouble untroubled are, Will trouble trouble itself.” – Thiruvalluvar
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Work Culture
It is said that for an ethical work culture, there must be code of ethics in place in every organisation. To ensure value-based and compliance-based work culture, what suitable measures would you adopt in your work place?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Applied Ethics x Technology
In the present digital age, social media has revolutionised our way of communication and interaction. However, it has raised several ethical issues and challenges. Describe the key ethical dilemmas in this regard.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
“Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Program, MGNREGA was earlier known as National Rural Employment Scheme, NREGA. It is an Indian Social Welfare Program that aimed at fulfilling the ‘Right to Work’ provisions made in the Constitution. MGNREGA was launched in 2006 under Rural Employment Sector by the Ministry of Rural Development. Main objective of the program is to give legal guar…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Accountability and Ethical Governance
“Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment but a product of civil education and adherence of the rule of law.” Examine the significance of constitutional morality for public servant highlighting the role in promoting good governance and ensuring accountability in public administration.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Utilization of public funds
India is an emerging economic power of the world as it has recently secured the status of fourth largest economy of the world as per IMF projection. However, it has been observed that in some sectors, allocated funds remain either under-utilised or misutilised. What specific measures would you recommend for ensuring accountability in this regard to stop leakages and gaining the status of third lar…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
”Ashok is Divisional Commissioner of one of the border districts of the North East State. A few years back, Military has taken over the neighbouring country after overthrowing the elected civil government. Civil law situation is prevailing in the country especially in last two years. However, internal situation further deteriorated due to rebel groups taking over control of certain populated areas…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Applied Ethics x Environment
Keeping the national security in mind, examine the ethical dilemmas related to controversies over environmental clearance of development projects in ecologically sensitive border areas in the country.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Attitude for Civil Servants
To achieve holistic development goal, a civil servant acts as an enabler and active facilitator of growth rather than a regulator. What specific measures would you suggest to achieve this goal?
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
“Rajesh is a Group A officer with nine years of service. He is posted as Administrative Officer in an Oil Public Sector undertaking. As an Administrative Officer he is responsible for managing and coordinating various administrative tasks to ensure smooth functioning of office. He also manages office supplies, equipment etc. Rajesh is now sufficient senior and is expecting his next promotion in JA…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
William James
“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.” – William James
Read the full question →GS 4 · 10 marks
Teachings of Great Leaders
What are the major teachings of Mahavir? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
In line with the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Indian Constitution, the government has a constitutional obligation to ensure basic needs – Roti, Kapda aur Makan (Food, Clothes and Shelter) – for the under-privileged. Pursuing this mandate, the district administration proposed clearing a portion of forest land to develop housing for the homeless and economically weaker secti…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
Subhash is Secretary, PWD in the State Government. He is a senior officer, known for his competence, integrity and dedication to work. He enjoys the trust and confidence of Minister incharge of PWD and Programme Implementation. As a part of his job profile, he is responsible for policy formulations, execution of projects relating to infrastructure initiatives in the State. Besides, he oversees the…
Read the full question →GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
Vijay is the Deputy Commissioner of a remote district of Himachal Pradesh. For the last two years, he has been in this region. In the month of August, heavy rains lashed the complete state followed by cloudbursts in the upper reaches of the said district. The damage was very heavy in the complete state, especially in the affected district. The complete road network and telecommunication were disru…
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