Q. Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is often described as a "bridge technology" in the global transition to net-zero. Examine its potential and challenges in the Indian context. (250 words)

Q.The Human Development Index (HDI) shows potential, while the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) reveals performance. Discuss with reference to India. (150 words)

Q.“Administrative tribunals are an essential adjunct to the justice delivery system in India.”Examine the rationale of the recent tribunal reforms and their impact on speedy justice. (250 words)

Q.“Energy security is not just an economic necessity but also a geopolitical lever.” How should India recalibrate its energy diplomacy in the era of great power rivalry? (150 words)

Q.“Is the rise of protectionism and trade nationalism a reversal of globalization or merely a correction to its excesses?” Critically evaluate.(250 words)

Q.“The architectural and sculptural idiom of the Chandellas demonstrates both structural sophistication and narrative depth.”Discuss.(150 words)

Essay:

Q.1.Civilization advances when man masters nature, but regresses when he forgets his own nature.
Q.2.Power today lies not in weapons, but in narratives.

Case Study

Arjun is an IAS officer posted as District Magistrate (DM) in a backward district. The district has recently been declared as an “Aspirational District” and is receiving special funds for education, health, and infrastructure development.

During a routine review, Arjun discovers that a large portion of the education funds have been diverted by middle-level officials to construct a new VIP Guest House. The justification given is that frequent visits of ministers and senior bureaucrats require better accommodation facilities, which indirectly helps the district by attracting more attention and projects.

Arjun confronts the officials, but they argue that:

• The project has political backing and halting it will upset powerful leaders.
• The guest house is “technically within public interest.”
• Exposing the misuse might delay other ongoing schemes due to political retaliation.

At the same time, Arjun receives a complaint from local civil society groups that several schools lack even basic facilities like toilets, clean drinking water, and teachers. He realizes that continuing the misuse of funds will directly harm the education of children, worsening inequality.

If he resists, he risks straining relations with political leaders, possible transfer, and jeopardizing his ability to work in the district. If he complies, the basic rights of children will be sacrificed.

Questions

(a) What are the ethical dilemmas faced by Arjun in this case?
(b) If you were guiding young civil servants on this case, what ethical principles and leadership qualities would you emphasize for handling such dilemmas in public life?
(c) Suggest the most appropriate course of action for Arjun, balancing administrative pragmatism with ethical responsibility.

Q. Can true impartiality coexist with empathy, or does empathy inevitably lead to bias? Critically analyze in the context of public service. (150 words)

Q. Can strict adherence to duty ever override compassion? Analyze with reference to Kantian ethics and public administration. (150 words)

Q. “The Himalayan region is simultaneously India’s water tower and disaster epicenter.” Critically examine in light of glacier retreat and hydropower expansion. (250 words)

Q. Analyze how data has emerged as the ‘new factor of production’ in India’s economy. What challenges arise in terms of regulation, ownership, and privacy? (250 words)

Q. “Social justice demands not charity, but accessibility and dignity.” Evaluate India’s efforts to empower persons with disabilities in light of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. (150 words)

Q. How far has BRICS succeeded as a collective voice of the Global South? Suggest ways in which India can strengthen its engagement with the grouping without undermining its core interests. (250 words)

Q. “The two World Wars were less about ideology and more about geography and resources.” Critically evaluate. (150 words)

Q. “Landforms are not static, they are living records of earth’s processes.” Discuss with suitable examples from India. (150 words)

Q 1. Every finish line is the beginning of a new race.

Q 2. Without education wisdom is lost, without wisdom development is lost.

You are posted as the District Magistrate of a metropolitan city. The State Government has recently rolled out an Artificial Intelligence based Predictive Policing System aimed at preventing crime by analyzing large amounts of citizen data such as CCTV feeds, mobile records, and online activity patterns.

While the system has shown early success in reducing street crimes and improving response times, several concerns have emerged. Civil society groups and digital rights activists allege that the technology disproportionately targets marginalized communities, leading to bias and profiling. Citizens have also raised objections over the lack of consent in data collection and the possibility of mass surveillance.

Meanwhile, the Home Department is pressuring you to expand the use of AI tools across all police stations, citing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and better law enforcement outcomes. At the same time, a section of police officers informally confide that blind reliance on AI tools may undermine their professional judgment and discretion.
You are expected to prepare a report for the State Government balancing the twin imperatives of public safety and protection of fundamental rights.

a). What would be your immediate response to the concerns raised regarding predictive policing?
b). Identify and discuss the ethical issues involved in this case.
c). If asked to justify the use of AI for public safety, what logical and ethical arguments would you present?
d). As a public servant, what measures would you recommend to ensure accountability, fairness, and respect for citizens’ rights while using AI in governance?
(250 words)

Q. “Conscience is the voice of the soul, not the echo of society.” Analyze the role of conscience in decision-making for public servants. (150 words)

Q. Public service is often described as a balance between compassion and detachment. Analyze this statement with suitable examples. (150 words)

Q. Technological sovereignty is emerging as the cornerstone of national power in the 21st century. Examine how India can achieve self-reliance in semiconductors, space technology, and critical minerals while staying embedded in global value chains.(250 words)

Q. Do structural interventions such as embankments and dams provide long-term solutions to floods, or do they create new vulnerabilities? Critically evaluate. (150 words)

Q. “Trade tariffs have evolved from economic shields into geopolitical weapons, reshaping alliances and rivalries in the 21st century.” Examine in the Indian context. (250 words)

Q. “Federalism in India is not a fixed arrangement but a continuous negotiation between Union and States.” Examine this statement with reference to recent fiscal and political developments. (250 words)

Q. Account for the shift in the location of the textile industry from the Ganga-Yamuna plain to the peninsular region of India. (150 words)

Q. Classical dance forms are repositories of devotion, storytelling, and aesthetics. Explain with reference to the Natya Shastra. (150 words)

Q.1.Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. (1200 words)

Q.2.Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory. (1200 words)

You are posted as the District Magistrate (DM) in a mineral-rich tribal district of central India. The district is home to significant reserves of iron ore, bauxite, and coal, making it a hub of mining activities. However, in recent years, illegal mining has become rampant, causing severe environmental degradation—forests are being cleared without permission, rivers are turning toxic due to slurry discharge, and agricultural land is becoming infertile.

Local communities, especially tribal groups, depend on forests and rivers for their livelihood. They are now losing access to clean water, forest produce, and fertile soil, creating discontent. Civil society organisations have documented cases where labourers, including women and even minors, are forced to work in unsafe conditions without proper safety gear. Frequent accidents, respiratory diseases, and lack of compensation for injuries have worsened the humanitarian crisis.

At the same time, mining activities bring employment and revenue to the region. Thousands of families depend on mining-related jobs, and shutting down operations abruptly could lead to unemployment and unrest. Local political leaders, some with direct business interests, exert pressure on you to adopt a “soft approach” towards the mining companies. Several lower-level officials in the mining and police departments are allegedly complicit, receiving bribes to overlook violations.

The judiciary, acting on petitions from NGOs, has now directed the district administration to submit a comprehensive plan to curb illegal mining. The media has been running campaigns questioning the administration’s inaction, putting your office under public scrutiny. However, taking strict action may invite political backlash, threats, and economic disruption.

A. Identify the major ethical issues involved in this case.
B. How would you balance economic interests, political pressures, and your duty towards environmental protection and labour welfare?
C. What measures would you take to ensure accountability and transparency in the administration to curb corruption in this case?
D. State the ethical values that should guide you.                                             (250 words)  

Q. Sun Tzu remarked, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” How far is this applicable in current international relations? (150 words)

Q. Jainism emphasized Syadvada (doctrine of conditional predication) and Anekantavada (doctrine of multiplicity of viewpoints). Examine their relevance in strengthening democratic discourse and tolerance in a plural society. (150 words)