Q. Technological sovereignty is emerging as the cornerstone of national power in the 21st century. Examine how India can achieve self-reliance in semiconductors, space technology, and critical minerals while staying embedded in global value chains.(250 words)

Q. Do structural interventions such as embankments and dams provide long-term solutions to floods, or do they create new vulnerabilities? Critically evaluate. (150 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. “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. Account for the shift in the location of the textile industry from the Ganga-Yamuna plain to the peninsular region of India. (150 words)

Q. Classical dance forms are repositories of devotion, storytelling, and aesthetics. Explain with reference to the Natya Shastra. (150 words)

Q.1.Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. (1200 words)

Q.2.Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory. (1200 words)

You are posted as the District Magistrate (DM) in a mineral-rich tribal district of central India. The district is home to significant reserves of iron ore, bauxite, and coal, making it a hub of mining activities. However, in recent years, illegal mining has become rampant, causing severe environmental degradation—forests are being cleared without permission, rivers are turning toxic due to slurry discharge, and agricultural land is becoming infertile.

Local communities, especially tribal groups, depend on forests and rivers for their livelihood. They are now losing access to clean water, forest produce, and fertile soil, creating discontent. Civil society organisations have documented cases where labourers, including women and even minors, are forced to work in unsafe conditions without proper safety gear. Frequent accidents, respiratory diseases, and lack of compensation for injuries have worsened the humanitarian crisis.

At the same time, mining activities bring employment and revenue to the region. Thousands of families depend on mining-related jobs, and shutting down operations abruptly could lead to unemployment and unrest. Local political leaders, some with direct business interests, exert pressure on you to adopt a “soft approach” towards the mining companies. Several lower-level officials in the mining and police departments are allegedly complicit, receiving bribes to overlook violations.

The judiciary, acting on petitions from NGOs, has now directed the district administration to submit a comprehensive plan to curb illegal mining. The media has been running campaigns questioning the administration’s inaction, putting your office under public scrutiny. However, taking strict action may invite political backlash, threats, and economic disruption.

A. Identify the major ethical issues involved in this case.
B. How would you balance economic interests, political pressures, and your duty towards environmental protection and labour welfare?
C. What measures would you take to ensure accountability and transparency in the administration to curb corruption in this case?
D. State the ethical values that should guide you.                                             (250 words)  

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)