Mains Practice Questions

Q. India's engagement with the United States is characterized by enhanced strategic cooperation without abandoning strategic autonomy.” Assess how this duality affects bilateral relations in light of evolving global and regional geopolitics. (250 words)

Q. Parliamentary oversight is central to democratic accountability, yet its effectiveness has weakened over time. Discuss the causes and suggest measures to strengthen legislative scrutiny. (250 words).

Q. India’s foreign policy is increasingly shaped by pragmatic engagement rather than ideological alignment. Analyse how this approach affects India’s relations with major powers and regional groupings. (250 words)

Q. Outcome-based governance has emerged as a central theme in public administration reforms. Discuss its significance, limitations, and the institutional prerequisites required to translate budgetary allocations into measurable social outcomes. (250 words).

Q. “Discuss the role of the India–EU FTA in strengthening India’s strategic autonomy amid global trade fragmentation.” (250 words)

Q. “Assess the effectiveness of State interventions in ensuring social justice amid persistent structural inequalities, with reference to constitutional mandates, welfare policies, and institutional mechanisms.”(250 words)

Q. How does deglobalisation challenge the principles of liberal international economic order? Examine its impact on developing countries, particularly in terms of growth, employment, and technology access. (250 words)

Q. Examine the challenges faced by Urban Local Bodies in India in delivering basic services in the context of rapid urbanisation. How can institutional and financial reforms enhance urban governance? (250 words)

Q. The effectiveness of regional groupings depends not only on institutional design but also on political will among member states.Critically analyse this statement with suitable examples. (250 words)

Q. How has competitive federalism complemented or conflicted with co-operative federalism in India? Illustrate your answer with recent policy initiatives and inter-state dynamics.(250 words)

Q.“India’s governance challenge lies not in the absence of reforms but in persistent gaps in implementation.” Critically examine. (250 words)

Q.“Constitutional provisions by themselves are insufficient to sustain democratic governance unless they are animated by constitutional morality.” Discuss. (250 words)

Q. While civil society organisations act as watchdogs of democracy, concerns regarding their transparency and accountability have also emerged. Critically analyse this paradox in the Indian context. (250 words)

Q. The ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and West Asia have exposed the limitations of existing international security architectures.Critically analyse how these developments affect global stability and India’s strategic interests.(250 words)

Q. Judicial activism is both a safeguard and a challenge to democratic governance. Critically examine.(250 words)

Q. “India’s engagement with Africa is moving from solidarity to strategic partnership.” Critically analyse. (250 words)

Q.“Executive dominance often undermines institutional checks and balances in governance.” Discuss (150 Words)

Q. India’s relations with Russia continue to evolve amid shifting global geopolitics. Examine the strategic, economic, and geopolitical dimensions of contemporary India–Russia engagement. (250 Words)

Q. While digital governance initiatives aim to create more accountable and transparent governance,they often risk exacerbating existing socio-economic inequalities.Analyze this paradox in the light of India’s push of ‘ Digital Public Infrastructure’(DPI). (250 word)

Q. “India’s approach to evolving multipolar world order is characterised by the Multi alignment and strategic autonomy.” Analyze the effectiveness of this approach in securing India’s core national interests,particularly in dealing with challenges posed by the rise of China. (250 words)

Q. “India’s rise will depend not only on power projection but on norm-setting in the global order.”
Analyse India’s ability to shape global rules on technology, trade, and climate. (150 words)

Q. “The Indian model of secularism is not about the separation of religion and State, but the principled engagement of the State with all religions.”Discuss this statement in light of recent policy debates. (250 words)

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)