Q. With growing recognition of ecosystem services in economic and policy discourse, examine how biodiversity conservation must move beyond protected-area approaches toward landscape-level and community-centric strategies. ( 250 words ).

Q. With continuing conflicts and geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia, analyse how energy price volatility and supply-chain disruptions pose challenges to India’s economic stability and growth prospects. (250 words).

Q. Discuss how Governors' discretionary powers in appointing or dismissing Chief Ministers—seen in recent demands for physical support letters from MLAs or contested resignations—blur constitutional propriety with political expediency.

Q. "Energy transition in India is shifting dependency from oil-rich nations to mineral-rich nations." Critically analyse.

Q. “Political representation of women does not automatically translate into substantive empowerment.” Critically examine. (150 words)

Q. “India's groundwater crisis is not a geographical inevitability caused by rainfall deficits, but an artificially engineered disaster driven by skewed agricultural procurement policies.” Discuss. (250 words)

Essay Topics

1. "Development without justice is merely a different form of exploitation."

2. "The doubter is the true man of science, but the believer is the true man of action."

Case Study

You are the District Collector of a sensitive, hilly, and underdeveloped district. A major infrastructure project is to be built through a dense forest region, requiring the clearance of thousands of trees and the relocation of an indigenous tribe that has lived there for generations.

The highway is crucial for national security and economic development, offering faster transport, boosting local trade, and enabling security forces access to a remote border area. Environmental activists are heavily protesting, highlighting the irreversible loss of biodiversity, impact on water sources, and the violation of tribal rights, claiming the relocation site is unsuitable for their livelihood.

The State Government is pressing for immediate clearance, stating that the funds will lapse, and the project is vital for the region. The tribals are being incited by activists to not move and are preparing to obstruct the machinery, potentially leading to a law-and-order situation.

Considering your role, answer the following questions:

(a) Identify the ethical dilemmas involved in this case.
(b) What are the options available to you, and what are their respective merits and demerits?
(c) Which option will you choose and why?

Q. Analyse the role of social skills in the context of increasing use and role of social media in cyber crimes. (150 Words)

Q. How would you assess the desirability of Gandhian view regarding ends and means in the context of public fund management? Discuss with suitable examples. (150 Words)

Q. In the context of increasing incidence of heatwaves and deteriorating air quality, critically examine how slow-onset disasters challenge conventional disaster management frameworks and necessitate a reorientation of policy responses. (250 words )

Q. In the backdrop of rapid technological diffusion, analyse how low-cost disruptive technologies are altering the asymmetry between state and non-state actors. (250 words)

Q. In the context of deepening strategic engagement between India and Germany amid global economic and geopolitical shifts, analyse how India–Germany relations are evolving from trade-centric ties to a broader strategic partnership.(250 words).

Q. In the backdrop of increasing contractual employment and outsourcing in public services, examine how state capacity and accountability are being redefined in governance. (250 words)

Q. In the backdrop of economic competition and strategic rivalries, analyse how imperialism reshaped global trade networks and reinforced structural inequalities between regions.(150 words)

Q. In the context of rising aspirations and changing livelihood patterns, analyse how inter-generational mobility is reshaping social hierarchies and identities in India. (150 words)

Essay Topics

1. “Silence can preserve peace, but it can also perpetuate injustice.”

2. “The pursuit of certainty often limits the scope of progress.”

Ms. Nandita Roy is serving as the District Magistrate of a district known for its industrial growth. A young contractual employee working in a government-run skill development centre files a confidential complaint alleging sexual harassment by a senior officer who oversees multiple welfare programmes in the district.

The complainant states that she was subjected to inappropriate remarks, unwelcome advances, and implicit threats regarding contract renewal if she did not comply. She fears retaliation, social stigma, and loss of livelihood if her identity becomes public. She requests strict action but also seeks protection and confidentiality.

The accused officer is a highly influential figure with a strong track record in programme implementation and enjoys close connections with political leaders. Some senior officials informally advise Ms. Roy to “handle the matter quietly” to avoid administrative disruption and negative publicity. There are also concerns that a formal inquiry may affect ongoing projects and demoralise the bureaucracy.

On the other hand, women’s groups and local NGOs, having become aware of the issue, are demanding transparency, accountability, and a fair inquiry. The media has started reporting on the case, framing it as a test of the administration’s commitment to gender justice.

Further complicating the situation, the district lacks a fully functional Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), and previous complaints in other departments have reportedly been ignored.

Ms. Roy must decide how to respond in a manner that ensures justice for the complainant, upholds due process, protects institutional integrity, and sends the right message regarding workplace ethics.

Questions

1. What are the ethical issues involved in this case?

2. What options are available to Ms. Roy? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each option.

3. What should be the most appropriate course of action for Ms. Roy? Justify your answer in terms of ethical values, gender justice, and administrative responsibility.

Q. In organisational environments shaped by incentives and peer behaviour, examine how ethical conduct is influenced more by institutional culture than by formal codes of conduct. (150 words)

Q. In complex governance situations involving competing interests and uncertainty, examine how ethical decision-making often requires balancing principles, consequences and contextual judgment. (150 words).

Q. “Deep tech innovations are increasingly shaping national power and economic competitiveness in the 21st century.” Discuss. (150 words)

Q. “Despite policy push through initiatives like Make in India, India’s manufacturing sector has struggled to achieve its desired share in GDP.” Examine the structural bottlenecks and suggest a roadmap for sustainable manufacturing growth. (250 words)

Q. “Urban poverty and informalization of labour pose new challenges to social justice”. Discuss. (150 words)

Q. “In an era marked by shifting geopolitical alignments and the rise of minilateral groupings, examine the relevance of multilateralism in India’s foreign policy. How can India leverage multilateral platforms to advance its strategic autonomy and global leadership ambitions?” (250 words)

Q. “The Swadeshi Movement was a turning point in India’s struggle for independence.” Discuss its achievements and limitations. (150 words)

Q. “Landforms are the result of a dynamic balance between endogenic and exogenic forces.” Elaborate with suitable examples. (150 words)

Essay Topics

1. “Power without legitimacy is fragile, and legitimacy without accountability is dangerous.”

2. “Comfort often becomes the greatest obstacle to change.”

Case Study

You are posted as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in an industrial region where a large number of small-scale brick kilns operate. Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued strict directions to shut down all kilns that do not comply with new environmental norms, including the adoption of zig-zag technology to reduce air pollution. Inspections reveal that nearly 60% of the kilns in your jurisdiction are non-compliant.

While implementing the order, you receive representations from kiln owners stating that they lack the financial capacity to upgrade their technology immediately. Workers employed in these kilns, many of whom are migrant laborers, fear sudden unemployment and loss of livelihood. Local political representatives are also pressuring you to delay enforcement, citing possible social unrest and economic distress in the region. At the same time, environmental groups and public health activists are demanding strict and immediate action, highlighting the severe air pollution and its impact on public health, especially children and the elderly.

You are aware that non-compliance with NGT orders may invite legal consequences and reflect poorly on your administrative integrity, while strict enforcement may lead to economic hardship and social tensions.

Questions:

Q1. What are the key ethical issues involved in this situation?

Q2. What are the options available to you in handling this situation? Critically evaluate each option.

Q3. What course of action would you adopt and how would you balance environmental responsibility with socio-economic concerns?

Q. “A welfare state must integrate the ethics of care with the ethics of justice.” Discuss the relevance of this statement in policymaking. (150 words)

Q. “An administrator must balance the ethics of conviction with the ethics of responsibility.” Examine this statement in the context of public service decision-making with suitable examples. (150 words)