Q. Do values precede laws, or do laws shape values? Examine with reference to the evolution of ethical norms in society. (150 words)

Q. Analyse the factors contributing to insurgency in India’s North-Eastern states and assess the effectiveness of government interventions and peace accords in the past decade. (250 words)

Q.” India faces significant food wastage due to inefficiencies in the movement of produce from farms to consumers.”Examine the role of a farm-to-fork supply chain in ensuring food security and minimising post-harvest losses in India. (150 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. “The right to choose a life partner is a facet of fundamental rights under Article 21.” Discuss in light of honour killings and the challenges faced by inter-caste and inter-faith marriages in India. (250 words)

Q. Assess the impact of climate change on agriculture, migration, and resource utilization in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. (150 words)

Essay

1. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last you create what you will. (1200 words)
2. You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. (1200 words)

Case Studies

You are Rahul, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer posted as the District Development Officer in an agrarian district hit by seasonal unemployment and distress migration. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) has been a lifeline here—providing wage employment and creating rural assets. Recently, however, local activists and a whistleblower collective have compiled a dossier alleging massive corruption in MNREGA implementation across several Gram Panchayats.

The dossier alleges the following irregularities: ghost beneficiaries and fake job-cards on muster rolls; inflated measurement and bills for rural works (roads, water harvesting structures) with poor or no physical progress; collusion between local contractors, panchayat functionaries and a few junior officials who split commissions; delayed wage payments that force workers to accept bribes for expedited pay; and deliberate misclassification of work to route funds to private contractors. A recent Social Audit showed many assets either not created or of sub-standard quality. Previous audit notes from the State Rural Development Department had flagged similar issues but resulted in token action.

A Central Ministry team is scheduled to visit the district next week to assess MNREGA outcomes. You are instructed by your political superiors and some senior district officials to present reports that attribute shortfalls to “operational constraints” and natural factors (poor monsoons, migration) while avoiding mention of systemic corruption. You are warned that exposing the truth may lead to transfer, adverse remarks in your record, and targeted political backlash against your family. Conversely, if you comply, millions of workers will continue to be deprived, and corruption will persist.

Local villagers, labour unions, and civil society groups demand a full, transparent public report, prosecution of culprits, timely wage payments, and restoration of genuine MNREGA works. National-level media and a public interest petition in the High Court have also drawn attention to the district’s problems.

Questions

1. What are the ethical dilemmas faced by Rahul in this case?
2. Evaluate the options available to him and the possible consequences of each option.
3. Suggest the best course of action for Rahul.
4. Justify your recommendation with ethical reasoning and principles of good governance.
(250 words)

Q. “Public trust in institutions is often eroded not by the absence of laws, but by the erosion of ethical values.”Critically analyse this statement with reference to the challenges of accountability, discretion, and corruption in civil services. (150 words)

Q. “Social re-engineering through welfare policies requires not only administrative efficiency but also ethical reasoning and critical analysis by civil servants.”Discuss with suitable illustrations. (150 words)

Q. Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is often described as a "bridge technology" in the global transition to net-zero. Examine its potential and challenges in the Indian context. (250 words)

Q.The Human Development Index (HDI) shows potential, while the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) reveals performance. Discuss with reference to 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.“Is the rise of protectionism and trade nationalism a reversal of globalization or merely a correction to its excesses?” Critically evaluate.(250 words)

Q.“The architectural and sculptural idiom of the Chandellas demonstrates both structural sophistication and narrative depth.”Discuss.(150 words)

Essay:

Q.1.Civilization advances when man masters nature, but regresses when he forgets his own nature.
Q.2.Power today lies not in weapons, but in narratives.

Case Study

Arjun is an IAS officer posted as District Magistrate (DM) in a backward district. The district has recently been declared as an “Aspirational District” and is receiving special funds for education, health, and infrastructure development.

During a routine review, Arjun discovers that a large portion of the education funds have been diverted by middle-level officials to construct a new VIP Guest House. The justification given is that frequent visits of ministers and senior bureaucrats require better accommodation facilities, which indirectly helps the district by attracting more attention and projects.

Arjun confronts the officials, but they argue that:

i. The project has political backing and halting it will upset powerful leaders.

ii. The guest house is “technically within public interest.”

iii. Exposing the misuse might delay other ongoing schemes due to political retaliation.

At the same time, Arjun receives a complaint from local civil society groups that several schools lack even basic facilities like toilets, clean drinking water, and teachers. He realizes that continuing the misuse of funds will directly harm the education of children, worsening inequality.

If he resists, he risks straining relations with political leaders, possible transfer, and jeopardizing his ability to work in the district. If he complies, the basic rights of children will be sacrificed.

Questions

(a) What are the ethical dilemmas faced by Arjun in this case?
(b) If you were guiding young civil servants on this case, what ethical principles and leadership qualities would you emphasize for handling such dilemmas in public life?
(c) Suggest the most appropriate course of action for Arjun, balancing administrative pragmatism with ethical responsibility.

Q. Can true impartiality coexist with empathy, or does empathy inevitably lead to bias? Critically analyze in the context of public service. (150 words)

Q. Can strict adherence to duty ever override compassion? Analyze with reference to Kantian ethics and public administration. (150 words)

Q. “The Himalayan region is simultaneously India’s water tower and disaster epicenter.” Critically examine in light of glacier retreat and hydropower expansion. (250 words)

Q. Analyze how data has emerged as the ‘new factor of production’ in India’s economy. What challenges arise in terms of regulation, ownership, and privacy? (250 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. “The two World Wars were less about ideology and more about geography and resources.” Critically evaluate. (150 words)

Q. “Landforms are not static, they are living records of earth’s processes.” Discuss with suitable examples from India. (150 words)

Q 1. Every finish line is the beginning of a new race.

Q 2. Without education wisdom is lost, without wisdom development is lost.

You are posted as the District Magistrate of a metropolitan city. The State Government has recently rolled out an Artificial Intelligence based Predictive Policing System aimed at preventing crime by analyzing large amounts of citizen data such as CCTV feeds, mobile records, and online activity patterns.

While the system has shown early success in reducing street crimes and improving response times, several concerns have emerged. Civil society groups and digital rights activists allege that the technology disproportionately targets marginalized communities, leading to bias and profiling. Citizens have also raised objections over the lack of consent in data collection and the possibility of mass surveillance.

Meanwhile, the Home Department is pressuring you to expand the use of AI tools across all police stations, citing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and better law enforcement outcomes. At the same time, a section of police officers informally confide that blind reliance on AI tools may undermine their professional judgment and discretion.
You are expected to prepare a report for the State Government balancing the twin imperatives of public safety and protection of fundamental rights.

a). What would be your immediate response to the concerns raised regarding predictive policing?
b). Identify and discuss the ethical issues involved in this case.
c). If asked to justify the use of AI for public safety, what logical and ethical arguments would you present?
d). As a public servant, what measures would you recommend to ensure accountability, fairness, and respect for citizens’ rights while using AI in governance?
(250 words)

Q. “Conscience is the voice of the soul, not the echo of society.” Analyze the role of conscience in decision-making for public servants. (150 words)