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)

Q. “Borders today are as much digital as they are physical.” Analyze India’s vulnerabilities to cyber intrusions and digital espionage. Suggest an integrated cyber defense and digital sovereignty strategy. (250 words)

Q. How far can carbon farming and regenerative agriculture provide India with both climate resilience and export competitiveness? Discuss. (150 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. Has the 'gig economy' truly empowered the youth in India, or has it created a new class of precarious workers without social security? Analyze with suitable examples.(250 words)

Q. The emergence of the Mauryan Empire was not merely a political consolidation but also a cultural and intellectual watershed. Discuss. (150 words)

Essay

Q.1.The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable. (1200 words)
Q.2.The purpose of life is to find your gift. The meaning of life is to give it away. (1200 words)

Case Studies

You are posted as the District Magistrate in a prominent pilgrimage town in North India that attracts lakhs of devotees every year during a major festival. On the main day of the event, a tragic stampede occurs near the entry gates of the temple complex, leading to the death of over 50 devotees and injuring hundreds. Preliminary reports indicate that poor crowd management, inadequate barricading, and negligence in traffic diversion contributed to the chaos.

Eyewitnesses reveal that local vendors had illegally encroached upon key passageways, while influential religious organisations resisted stricter crowd-control measures citing “devotee inconvenience.” Political leaders had also pressured the administration to allow maximum entry, as restrictions would upset religious sentiments before elections.

Your internal inquiry shows lapses at multiple levels: police and civic officials ignored standard operating procedures for crowd control, corruption was involved in issuing special entry passes for VIPs, and emergency medical response was delayed due to poor coordination between the health department and local NGOs.

The media has labelled the incident a “man-made disaster,” while families of victims demand accountability and justice. An inquiry commission is to be set up, and you are tasked with preparing a comprehensive report and action plan to prevent such tragedies in the future.

A. Identify and discuss the ethical issues involved in this case.

B. How would you balance religious sentiments, political pressure, and your responsibility to ensure public safety?

C. How would you ensure accountability among officials and fairness to victims?

D. Suggest key measures for long-term prevention of stampedes and state the ethical values that should guide you. (250 words)

Q. ” True gender equality in public service is achieved not only when women enter the system, but when the system itself adapts to their needs without compromising standards of probity.”Examine the challenges women officers encounter in administration and suggest reforms to enhance their efficiency and uphold probity. (150 words)

Q. “Trustworthiness ensures credibility, fortitude ensures continuity.”Critically evaluate this statement with illustrations from public administration. (150 words)

Q. “Narco-terrorism is the silent war on youth.”Analyze how narco-terrorism affects India’s demographic dividend. Suggest preventive and rehabilitative measures to shield the young population from this menace. (250 words)

Q. “Care work is the invisible scaffolding of the economy.” How can recognising and integrating care work reshape labour markets and raise the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)? (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)

Q. “India’s water crisis is less about scarcity and more about mismanagement.”Critically analyse this statement with reference to unsustainable agricultural practices, inequitable urban consumption, and recurring interstate river disputes. (250 words)

Q. “Persian literary culture in India was a bridge, not a boundary.” Examine with reference to medieval socio-political contexts. (150 words)

Essay Topics

1. The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.
2. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Q. "Ethics in public administration operates at the intersection of personal virtue, professional integrity, and societal responsibility”.Discuss. (150 words)

Q. Examine the concept of 'moral injury' and its implications for professionals in law enforcement and administrative services. (150 words)

Q. Climate justice and carbon markets have gained prominence in international negotiations. Critically evaluate India’s position on these concepts and their relevance for equitable sustainable development. (250 words)

Q. Analyze the structural, financial, and regulatory challenges in formalizing India’s informal sector while preserving its employment generation potential. (250 words)

Q. “The shadow of untouchability still lingers in the alleys of progress.”Analyze the challenges in enforcing laws against manual scavenging and evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. (250 words)

Q. Examine the constitutional role of the Vice President of India. Assess how effectively this office contributes to upholding and promoting federalism in the Indian political system. (150 words)

Q. "Globalisation exports goods and imports values."Critically evaluate the impact of global cultural flows on India’s family systems and traditional value structures. (250words)

Q. Trace the evolution of tribal and peasant movements in colonial India between 1850 and 1947. Evaluate their role in shaping nationalist politics. (150 words)

Essay

Q.1.Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. (1200 words)
Q.2.We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. (1200 words)

Case Studies

You are posted as the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation in a major North Indian city located along the Yamuna River. The river is the city’s lifeline, providing water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural needs. Over the years, however, the Yamuna has become heavily polluted due to untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and religious offerings. A recent National Green Tribunal report has criticised your corporation for failing to meet sewage treatment targets and for allowing illegal industrial discharges.

On assuming office, you discover that several textile and dyeing units are secretly releasing untreated waste into the river at night. Many sewage treatment plants under your jurisdiction are either non-functional or operating far below capacity, partly due to corruption in maintenance contracts. Religious organisations continue to immerse idols and floral offerings into the river, citing cultural tradition, and have mobilised public sentiment against any restrictions.

Environmental activists are running a campaign that is gaining national attention, while the local media have started linking rising cases of skin ailments and loss of aquatic life directly to the state of the river. Political leaders, however, advise you to go slow on enforcement until after the upcoming elections, warning that strict action against industries or religious groups may provoke unrest. Meanwhile, the government has directed you to prepare a detailed action plan for river rejuvenation.

A. Identify and discuss the ethical issues involved in this case.
B. How would you balance environmental duty with political and cultural pressures?
C. How would you ensure accountability in industrial compliance and transparency in sewage treatment operations?
D. Suggest key measures for sustainable river management and state the ethical values that should guide you. (250 words)

Q."Integrity without knowledge is useless and knowledge without integrity is dreadful." Examine how the balance between ethical integrity and professional competence is vital in public service. (150 words)