Q. Evaluate the role of parliamentary committees in ensuring legislative oversight and policy accountability. (150 words)

Q. Critically examine how India’s neighbourhood policy seeks to balance strategic and security concerns with the objectives of regional economic integration. (250 words)

Q. Critically assess the impact of colonial land revenue settlements on India’s agrarian economy, and patterns of land ownership. (250 words)

Q. Western Disturbances are crucial to India’s winter rainfall pattern, yet their variability poses both opportunities and risks for Indian agriculture. Discuss (150 words)

Essay Topics

1. Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good.

2. The world is full of educated derelicts.

Case Study

You are a young field athlete, proudly representing India in your debut at an international championship. While staying at the athletes' village, you accidentally enter the common restroom and see a few senior team members injecting themselves with an unidentified substance. Suspicious, you ask them about it. They explain that it's a ‘recovery booster, a performance-enhancing drug (PED) that supposedly helps with endurance and muscle repair.

They further suggest that using it is common practice, especially in global competitions, and if you want to remain competitive and secure your place in the team, you should consider taking it too. Later, while contemplating whether to approach the coach, you learn from another junior athlete that the team coach is not only aware but has allegedly recommended its use, citing ‘national interest’ and ‘medal pressure.’

Questions:

(a) What are the key ethical dilemmas involved in this situation?

(b) What are the possible courses of action available to you in this scenario?

(c) What course of action would you choose and why?

Q. What are the key components of emotional intelligence, and to what extent can they be developed through learning and experience?(150 words)

Q. A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live-Martin Luther King Jr. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context? (150 words)

Q. Critically examine the role of Indian intelligence agencies in countering terrorism. In light of existing challenges, do you think structural reforms are needed to enhance coordination?(250 words)

Q. How does the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) contribute to reducing vulnerability in coastal states?(150 words)

Q. Discuss the structural and socio-cultural factors hinder transgender persons from effectively accessing welfare schemes in India. Also, propose specific measures to overcome these barriers and ensure their better inclusion. (250 words)

Q. Evaluate the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations, particularly regarding carbon border taxes and quality control orders, and their impact on bilateral economic relations. (250 words)

Q. Examine how the spiritual and emotive principles enshrined in the Natya Shastra have guided the evolution of Indian classical dance forms. (150 words)

Q. Critically analyse the continuity and transformation of traditional social values in contemporary Indian society.(250 words)

Essay Topics

1. That government is best which governs least.

2. A leader is a dealer in hope.

Case Study

As the District Magistrate of a city with a sizable transgender population, you are confronted with a growing number of public complaints about aggressive begging by some members of the transgender community at busy traffic intersections. Commuters report feeling harassed or coerced into giving money, and traffic police raise concerns about disruptions and safety hazards at junctions.

Upon investigation, you find that many transgender individuals have limited access to education or employment due to deep-rooted social stigma and exclusion. Several transgender advocacy groups acknowledge the complaints but assert that, for many in the community, begging remains the only viable source of livelihood given the persistent discrimination they face in mainstream employment sectors.

You are under pressure to act swiftly to restore public order and ensure road safety, but you are also mindful of the need to uphold dignity, rights, and social justice for a historically marginalized community.

Questions:

(a) What are the key ethical dilemmas involved in balancing public order with the rights and dignity of transgenders? How do prevailing societal attitudes shape these dilemmas?

(b) What policy interventions could you consider to address both the immediate concerns and the long-term welfare of the transgender community?

Q. How does the idea that 'forgiveness is the attribute of the strong' reflect strength of character in personal and societal contexts?(150 words)

Q. To what extent is the crisis of ethical values in contemporary society a result of a limited understanding of what constitutes a good life?(150 words)

Q. To what extent can gender budgeting serve as a tool for women empowerment in India? Discuss its status and key requirements for effective implementation. (250 words)

Q. What is the ecological significance of wetlands? Discuss the Ramsar Convention’s approach with reference to wetland conservation efforts in India?(150 words)

Q. Examine the role of the Vice-President of India as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha in upholding federalism and parliamentary discipline. (150 words)

Q. Analyse the key challenges and geopolitical hurdles India faces in its quest for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. (250 words)

Q. Analyze how the characteristics of the troposphere make it the principal layer for weather phenomena. (150 words)

Q. How did Bhakti literature shape Indian culture, and what was the nature of its expression across regions?(250 words)

Essay Topics

1. Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

2. The enemy is fear. We think it is hate but it is fear.

Case Study

You have recently been appointed as a District Labour Officer in a state where tourism plays a key role in the local economy. During a routine check, you discover that a large hotel in the area has been violating the Minimum Wages Act by not paying its workers the mandated wages. The hotel owner is a powerful local political leader with strong ties to influential officials in the state. You decide to initiate a preliminary inquiry, as you have the authority to take suo-motu cognizance of such violations. However, when you approach the workers, none of them are willing to file formal complaints, fearing retaliation from the hotel management and the loss of their jobs. At the same time, your investigation catches the attention of higher authorities, who begin pressuring you to drop the inquiry, citing the hotel owner’s political influence.

This situation presents an ethical dilemma. While the violation of workers’ rights is clear, you face a conflict between your duty to uphold the law and the pressure from higher authorities to ignore the issue. The decision you make will have significant consequences, both for the workers and your career.

Questions:

(a) Identify the issues involved in this case?

(b) Evaluate the following options and suggest preferred course of action, with reasons:

1. Drop the matter as advised informally by higher authorities.

2. Persuade the hotel owner to fix the violations.

3. Submit a detailed report and seek formal directions.

4. Serve notice and begin legal action under the Minimum Wages Act.

(c) What can be the recommended course of action?

Q. Aristotle's concept of 'Virtue Ethics' focuses on the development of good character traits. How can this philosophy be integrated into the ethical framework of public service in modern democracies? (150 words)

Q. Corruption is often described as a moral failure that erodes the social fabric of a nation. In your opinion, what ethical principles should guide anti-corruption measures? (150 words)

Q. Evaluate whether steady GDP growth and low inflation indicate a well-performing Indian economy. Justify your argument. (150 Words)

Q. What factors have contributed to the growing activity in biotechnology in India, and how has this development benefited the biopharmaceutical sector? (250 Words)