Mains Practice Questions

Q.“India’s engagement with Africa has moved towards a development-centric and demand-driven partnership. Critically evaluate the key drivers and challenges shaping this evolving relationship. (250 words)

Q. Compare and contrast the doctrine of Parliamentary supremacy in the UK with the concept of Constitutional supremacy in India. (150 words)

Q. India–Sri Lanka relations have evolved from historical and cultural closeness to strategic engagement shaped by geopolitical realities. Discuss the major challenges in the relationship and suggest measures to strengthen mutual trust. (250 words)

Q. The inadequate devolution of the 3Fs—Funds, Functions, and Functionaries—remains the biggest bottleneck in empowering PRIs. Analyse the challenges and recommend practical reforms for effective decentralisation. (250 words)

Q. The India–US partnership has moved from a transactional to a transformational phase. Critically assess this evolution in the context of emerging global power shifts.(250 words)

Q. “Constitutionalism is not merely about limiting power, but about enabling good governance.” Examine how the Indian Constitution balances restraint and empowerment of the State. (150 words)

Q. “India’s multilateralism is guided by both moral leadership and strategic pragmatism.” Discuss this duality with examples from India’s role in the SCO and BRICS. (150 words)

Q. Evaluate the potential of Mission Karmayogi in transforming India’s bureaucracy from a rule-based to a role-based system. What institutional challenges could hinder its success? (250 words)

Q.“Engagement without formal recognition” sums up India’s approach to the Taliban-led regime in Afghanistan. Critically examine this policy in terms of India’s security, economic and ethical interests. (250 words)

Q.“Despite being the ‘pharmacy of the world’, India lacks a robust paediatric drug regulatory framework.”Critically analyse the challenges in ensuring safety, quality, and ethical standards in medicines intended for children in India. (150 words)

Q. India’s foreign policy demonstrates a delicate balance between strategic cooperation with the United States and the pursuit of autonomy in relations with Russia and China. Comment.

Q. Do you think the recurrent resort to ordinances by the Executive undermines the principles of separation of powers and parliamentary accountability in India? Discuss.

Q. Transparency is the cornerstone of democracy, but without accountability, it risks becoming ornamental. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the Right to Information Act, 2005, in promoting transparency, accountability, and participatory governance in India. (150 words)

Q. Examine the key factors driving women’s empowerment in India and analyse the major barriers that continue to impede its full realization. (150 words)

Q. "South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) aims to promote knowledge sharing and sustainable development among developing countries." Examine India’s role in SSTC and its impact on global development partnerships. (250 words)

Q. Criminal defamation in India often conflicts with the right to freedom of speech. Critically examine the need to decriminalize defamation and suggest reforms to balance free speech and protection of reputation. (150 words)

Q. Inclusion of transgender persons tests the resilience of India’s equality framework. Discuss the obstacles and policy interventions required to ensure their full participation in society. (150 words)

Q. Ladakh’s demand for Sixth Schedule inclusion tests the balance between national integration and regional autonomy. Critically examine the need and challenges in granting Sixth Schedule protections to this strategically sensitive Union Territory. (250 words)

Q.The Saudi-Pakistan Mutual Defence Pact marks a potential reconfiguration of regional security dynamics. Critically analyse its implications for India’s strategic calculus. (250 words)

Q.“Environmental pressure groups are often seen as catalysts of participatory democracy.”
To what extent have they succeeded in reconciling development imperatives with ecological sustainability in 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. “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. “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. “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. The India-Africa partnership seeks to balance historical solidarity with contemporary demands of digital, trade, and climate cooperation. Examine the opportunities and challenges in institutionalising this balance. (250 words)

Q. “As the chief legal advisor to the Union, the Attorney General of India safeguards the government’s adherence to law.” Critically examine the constitutional status, powers, and limitations of this office. (150 words)

Q. "Strategic autonomy is no longer about non-alignment but about multi-alignment." Discuss how India can champion the Global South agenda while deepening cooperation with Western nations. (250 words)

Q."Judicial independence and judicial accountability are two sides of the same coin." Analyse the challenges in maintaining this balance in India. (150 words)