2017 · GS 3 · 10 marks
N-E Insurgency
The north-eastern region of India has been infested with insurgency for a very long time. Analyze the major reasons for the survival of armed insurgency in this region.
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UPSC Mains PYQs.
Thirteen years, organised by theme.
Search 1,043 questions across GS 1–4, including ethics case studies. Read them here, connect recurring demands and build an answer plan.
1043 questions · Page 29 of 44
2017 · GS 3 · 15 marks
Tsunami
On December 2004, tsumani brought havoc on 14 countries including India. Discuss the factors responsible for occurrence of Tsunami and its effects on life and economy. In the light of guidelines of NDMA (2010) describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 10 marks
Medical and Health Technologies
Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity in India to treat a wide variety of medical conditions including Leukaemia, Thalassemia, damaged cornea and several burns. Describe briefly what stem cell therapy is and what advantages it has over other treatments?
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 10 marks
Food Processing Sector
What are the reasons for poor acceptance of cost effective small processing unit? How the food processing unit will be helpful to uplift the socio-economic status of poor farmers?
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 10 marks
River Iinking and Impact
Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the environment.
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 10 marks
Labour-intensive X Capital-intensive Export
Account for the failure of the manufacturing sector in achieving the goal of labour-intensive exports. Suggest measures for more labour intensive rather capital-intensive export.
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 10 marks
Economic Growth
Among several factors for India’s potential growth, savings rate is the most effective one. Do you agree? What are the other factors available for growth potential?
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 10 marks
Cyber security
Discuss the potential threats of Cyber attack and the security framework to prevent it.
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 15 marks
Crop Diversification
What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilize the yield of the crop in the system?
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 15 marks
Organized Crime and Terrorism
The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding?
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 15 marks
Climate Change
‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 15 marks
Inclusive Growth
What are the salient features of ‘inclusive growth’? Has India been experiencing such a growth process? Analyze and suggest measures for inclusive growth.
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 15 marks
Mob Violence
Mob violence is emerging as a serious law and order problem in India. By giving suitable examples, analyze the causes and consequences of such violence.
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 15 marks
LPG Reform and Impact
“Industrial growth rate has lagged behind in the overall growth of Gross-Domestic-Product(GDP) in the post-reform period” Give reasons. How far the recent changes in Industrial Policy are capable of increasing the industrial growth rate?
Read question →2017 · GS 3 · 15 marks
Current Budget
One of the intended objectives of Union Budget 2017-18 is to ‘transform, energize and clean India’. Analyse the measures proposed in the Budget 2017-18 to achieve the objective.
Read question →2017 · GS 4 · 10 marks
Ethical Issues in International Relations and funding
Strength, peace and security are considered to be the pillars of international relations. Elucidate.
Read question →2017 · GS 4 · 10 marks
Integrity
One of the tests of integrity is complete refusal to be compromised. Explain with reference to a real life example.
Read question →2017 · GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
You are aspiring to become an IAS officer and you have cleared various stages and now you have been selected for the personal interview. On the day of the interview, on the way to the venue you saw an accident where a mother and child who happen to be your relatives were badly injured. They needed immediate help. What would you have done in such a situation? Justify your action.
Read question →2017 · GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
A building permitted for three floors, while being extended illegally to 6 floors by a builder, collapses. As a consequence, a number of innocent labourers including women and children died. These labourers are migrants of different places. The government immediately announced cash relief to the aggrieved families and arrested the builder. Give reasons for such incidents taking place across the country. Suggest measures to prevent their occurrence.
Read question →2017 · GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
You are the manager of a spare parts company A and you have to negotiate a deal with the manager of a large manufacturing company B. The deal is highly competitive and sealing the deal is critical for your company. The deal is being worked out over a dinner. After dinner the manager of manufacturing company B offered to drop you to the hotel in his car. On the way to hotel he happens to hit motorcycle injuring the motorcyclist badly. You know the manager was driving fast and thus lost control. The law enforcement officer comes to investigate th…
Read question →2017 · GS 4 · 10 marks
Teachings of Great Leaders
“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them.” – Napoleon Bonaparte. Stating examples mention the rulers (i) who have harmed society and country, (ii) who worked for the development of society and country.
Read question →2017 · GS 4 · 10 marks
EI in Administration
How will you apply emotional intelligence in administrative practices?
Read question →2017 · GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
You are a Public Information Officer (PIO) in a government department. You are aware that the RTI Act 2005 envisages transparency and accountability in administration. The act has functioned as a check on the supposedly arbitrarily administrative behaviour and actions. However, as a PIO you have observed that there are citizens who filed RTI applications not for themselves but on behalf of such stakeholders who purportedly want to have access to information to further their own interests. At the same time there are these RTI activists who routi…
Read question →2017 · GS 4 · 20 marks
Ethical dilemmas and stakeholder reasoning
You are an honest and responsible civil servant. You often observe the following: 1. There is a general perception that adhering to ethical conduct one may face difficulties to oneself and cause problems for the family, whereas unfair practices may help to reach the career goals. 2. When the number of people adopting unfair means is large, a small minority having a penchant towards ethical means makes no difference. 3. Sticking to ethical means is detrimental to the larger developmental goals 4. While one may not involve oneself in large unethi…
Read question →The expanded collection is transcribed from the supplied theme-wise compilation. Original marks and wording are retained where available; consult the official paper if an extraction looks unclear.