Mains Practice Questions

Q. Discuss the geophysical characteristics of Circum- Pacific Zone.

Q. Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have. (UPSC Mains, 2020)

Q. Rajesh Kumar is a senior public servant, with a reputation of honesty and forthrightness, currently posted in the Finance Ministry as Head of the Budget Division. His department is presently busy in organising the budgetary support to the states, four of which are due to go to the polls within the financial year.

This year’s annual budget had allotted 78300 crores for National Housing Scheme (NHS), a centrally sponsored social housing scheme for the weaker sections of society. 775 crores have been drawn for NHS till June.

The Ministry of Commerce had long been pursuing a case for setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in a southern state to boost exports. After two years of detailed discussions between the centre and state, the Union Cabinet approved the project in August. Process was initiated to acquire the necessary land.

Eighteen months ago, a leading Public Sector Unit (PSU) had projected the need for setting up a large natural gas processing plant in a northern state for the regional gas grid. The required land is already in possession of the PSU. The gas grid is an essential component of the national energy security strategy. After three rounds of global bidding the project was allotted to an MNC, M/s XYZ Hydrocarbons. The first tranche of payment to the MNC is scheduled to be made in December.

Finance Ministry was asked for a timely allocation of an additional 6000 crores for these two developmental projects. It was decided to recommend re-appropriation of this entire amount from the NHS allocation. The file was forwarded to Budget Department for their comments and further processing. On studying the case file, Rajesh Kumar realized that this re-appropriation may cause inordinate delay in the execution of NHS, a project much publicized in the rallies of senior politicians. Correspondingly, non-availability of finances would cause financial loss in the SEZ and national embarrassment due to delayed payment in an international project.

Rajesh Kumar discussed the matter with his seniors. He was conveyed that this politically sensitive situation needs to be processed immediately. Rajesh Kumar realized that diversion of funds. from NHS could raise difficult questions for the government in the Parliament.

Discuss the following with reference to this case:

a. Ethical issues involved in re-appropriation of funds from a welfare project to the developmental projects.

b. Given the need for proper utilization of public funds, discuss the options available to Rajesh Kumar. Is resigning a worthy option? (250 words) (UPSC GS-4 Mains 2020)

Q. “Education is not an injunction, it is an effective and pervasive tool for all-round development of an individual and social transformation”. Examine the New Education Policy, 2020 (NEP, 2020) in light of the above statement. (UPSC GS-4 Mains 2020)

Q. What are the challenges and opportunities of the food processing sector in the country? How can the income of the farmers be substantially increased by encouraging food processing? (UPSC GS-3 Mains, 2020)

Q.  “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance”. In this context suggest reforms in the Civil Service for strengthening democracy.  (UPSC GS-2 Mains 2020).

Q.The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples. (150 words) (UPSC GS-1 Mains 2020).

Q. Life is long journey between human being and being humane. (UPSC Mains, 2020)

Q. What are the main constraints in transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India? (150 words) (UPSC GS-3 Mains 2020).

Q. Discuss the role of ethics and values in enhancing the following three major components of Comprehensive National Power(CNP) viz. human capital, soft power(culture and policies), and social harmony. (150 words) (UPSC GS-4 Mains 2020).

Q. Explain intra-generational and inter-generational issues of equity from the perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable development. (150 words) (UPSC GS-3 Mains 2020).

Q. “Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have a profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss. (150 words) (UPSC GS-2 Mains 2020)

Q. During the Industrial revolution the deplorable working conditions of labourers especially for the women and children negated the sense of employment. Comment. (150 words)

Essay Topic

We have not inherited Earth from our fathers, we have borrowed it from our children.

You are part of a football team at an international tournament representing your country. Your team has played really well to reach the final. However, a day before the final match you witness the best forward players who scored the maximum goals in the tournament were injecting something using a syringe in private. When you approach them, they explain that it is a performance enhancing drug which is very common in such competitions and they suggested, you should take the same as well. When you enquire more about it, you get to know that those players have been taking the drug throughout the tournament at the advice of the coach himself. You discuss this issue with the coach but he tells you to ignore all this and concentrate on your own performance and threatens you of dire consequences if you reveal this to anyone.

a. Highlight the stakeholders and their ethical issues in this case

b. Discuss your course of action in such a scenario.

c. What long term measures would you suggest to stop the usage of such unfair means in sports.

Q. Discussing the main challenges in upholding highest ethical standards in civil services, suggest effective measures to overcome such challenges.

Q. Hybrid Warfare is a multi-pronged warfare methodology, thus to negate it, the response should also be holistic in nature. Discuss. (250 words)

Q. Contrary to popular perception, India’s sex ratio at birth declined even as per capita income increased. Discuss. (250 words)

Q. Discussing the impacts of Micro Climatic zones shifting in India, suggest measures required to mitigate its impact. (250 words)

Essay Topic

The covid pandemic revealed the urgent need for greater national and international cooperation.

Q. “Lack of knowledge confuses the intellect, while education provides the knowledge to the true soul- Rabindranath Tagore” Elaborate this quote in the present context? (150 Words)

Q. In India it is said that the wealth hierarchy mimics the caste hierarchy. In the light of this statement establish the relationship between caste and economic inequality in India and highlight the initiatives taken to address the caste inequality. (150 words)

Q. Explaining the significance of digital lending, discuss the measures to be taken to make digital lending more responsible in India. (250 Words)

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Essay Topic

Freedom is to live with dignity.

Q. Signing of various defence agreements will allow India and the US to act together and get into a better position to shape the regional and global environment. Critically analyse in the light of recently signed Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. (250 words)

Q. “An independent judiciary enjoying public confidence is a basic necessity of the rule of law.” In light of the statement, discuss the need of Code of Conduct to be followed by the judges. (150 words)

Q. ”Liberalising the entry of new operators in the public transport may be the path for improving services and facilitating growth of the sector.” In the light of the given statement critically analyse the idea of privatisation of railways. (250 words)

Q. The ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy signals India’s commitment to improve ties with its immediate neighbours but faces challenges of regional diplomacy. Discuss. (250 words)

Q. Communalism is one of the most serious problems that India faces today. Critically examine the factors responsible and suggest ways to deal with it. (250 words)