Mains Marathon

Day 42: Essay

Day 41: You are a senior Indian diplomat posted in a strategically important country. Recently, India has been negotiating a crucial defence cooperation agreement with the host nation, which could significantly boost India's regional influence and access to critical technology. The negotiations are in the final stages.

Day 41: You are a senior officer serving as the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the State Urban Development Department. One day, you receive an RTI application from a journalist requesting details of tenders and financial allocations made to a high-profile Smart City project over the past three years. The requested documents include internal file notings, approval memos, correspondence with private contractors, and minutes of meetings.

Day 41: You are the District Collector of a semi-urban district in eastern India. Six months ago, a key road bridge over a river was inaugurated with great fanfare. Built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and co-funded by the state government, it was projected as a symbol of rural connectivity and development.

Day 41: You are the District Magistrate of a mineral-rich region in central India. The Union Ministry of Mines has approved a large-scale bauxite mining project in your district, which promises significant economic development—jobs for local youth, revenue for the state, and improved infrastructure. The project is backed by a prominent multinational corporation and enjoys political support at both the state and central levels.

Day 40: You are serving as the Director of a prestigious government department under the Ministry of Skill Development. One morning, a junior female officer visits your office visibly distressed and submits a written complaint against a senior officer, alleging ongoing sexual harassment in the form of repeated suggestive comments, inappropriate text messages, and uncomfortable advances. She explains that while she values her job and respects the institution, she now fears attending office due to emotional distress and a sense of insecurity.

Day 40: You are a senior officer and a member of India’s official delegation to an international climate summit. The conference is at a critical juncture where developed countries are insisting that all nations, including developing economies like India, adopt higher emission reduction targets immediately. These nations argue that the urgency of climate change requires unified and ambitious global action to avoid catastrophic consequences.

Day 40: Abhay Kumar is an IPS officer recently posted as Superintendent of Police in a district located at the junction of three states, known for its history of naxalite insurgency and growing radicalization among youth. Over the past few years, violent incidents have declined due to sustained developmental efforts and community outreach programs.

Day 40: Anita is a young IAS officer posted as the Director of the State Digital Governance Mission (SDGM). Her department has launched a major project integrating health, education, ration, land, and police data of citizens into a single digital identity system called "JanSuraksha ID". The objective is to streamline service delivery, reduce corruption, and ensure better targeting of welfare schemes.

Day 39: “Empathy is not about weakness; it is the strength to see through another’s eyes.”Critically analyse the role of empathy and compassion in ensuring dignified and inclusive service delivery to the marginalised.(250 words)

Day 39: “A civil servant is not a servant of the ruling party, but of the Constitution.”Examine the importance of non-partisanship in maintaining ethical neutrality in public service.(250 words)

Day 39: “Ethical leadership begins with ethical character.”Identify five ethical traits that distinguish an ethically robust civil servant from a merely efficient one.(150 words)

Day 39: “Integrity without accountability is ornamental; accountability without integrity is oppressive.”Discuss their interrelationship in public administration.(150 words)

Day 38: "Moral attitudes define character; political attitudes define citizenship."Examine the interrelationship between moral and political attitudes in shaping an ethically responsible public life.(250 words)

Day 38: “Children learn values not by instruction, but by observation.”Analyze the impact of role modelling by parents, teachers, and societal figures on the ethical development of youth.(250 words)