Mains Practice Questions

At 9 pm on Saturday evening, Rashika, a Joint Secretary, was still engrossed in her work in her office. Her husband, Vikram, is an executive in an MNC and frequently out of town in connection with his work. Their two children aged 5 and 3 are looked after by their domestic helper. At 9.30 pm her superior, Mr. Suresh calls her and asks her to prepare a detailed note on an important matter to be discussed in a meeting in the Ministry. She realises that she will have to work on Sunday to finish the additional task given by her superior. She reflects on how she had looked forward to this posting and had worked long hours for months to achieve it. She had kept the welfare of people uppermost in discharging her duties. She feels that she has not done enogh justice to her family and she has not fulfilled her duties in discharging essential social obligations. Even as recently as last month she had to leave her sick child in the nanny's care as she had to work in the office. Now she feels that she must draw a line, beyond which her personal life should take precedence over her professional responsibilities- She thinks that there should be reasonable limits to the work ethics such as punctuality, hard work. dedication to duty and selfless service.

A. Discuss the ethical issues involved in this case.
B. Briefly describe at least four laws that have been enacted by the Government with respect to providing a healthy, safe and equitable working environment for women.
C. Imagine you are in a similar situation. What suggestions would you make to mitigate such working conditions? (Answer in 250 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?
‘‘The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer’’. –Mahatma Gandhi (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. What does this quotation convey to you in the present context?
‘‘To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves.’’ –Jawaharlal Nehru (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures. (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Discuss the role of the Competition Commission of India in containing the abuse of dominant position by the Multi-National Corporations in India. Refer to the recent decisions. (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. e-governance, as a critical tool of governance, has ushered in effectiveness, transparency and accountability in governments. What inadequacies hamper the enhancement of these features? (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Why is the world today confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources? (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. How are the fjords formed? Why do they constitute some of the most picturesque areas of the world? (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Essay Topics

1. Not all who wander are lost.

2. Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.

Case Studies

A Iandslide occurred in the middle of the night on 20th July, 2023 in a remote mountain hamlet, approximately 60 kilometres from Uttarkashi. The landslide was caused by torrential rains and has resulted in large-scale destruction of property and life. You, as District Magistrate of that area, have rushed to the spot with a team of doctors, NGOs, media and police along with numerous support staff to oversee the rescue operations. A man came running to you with a request for urgent medical help for his pregnant wife who is in labour and is losing blood. You directed your medical team to examine his wife. They return and convey to you that this woman needs blood transfusion immediately. Upon enquiry, you come to know that a few blood collection bags and blood group test kits are available in the ambulance accompanying your team. Few people of your team have already volunteered to donate blood. Being a physician who has graduated from AIIMS, you know that blood for transfusion needs to be procured only through a recognized blood bank. Your team members are divided on this issue; some favour transfusion, while Home others oppose it. The doctors in the team are ready to facilitate the delivery provided they are not penalized for transfusion. Now you are in a dilemma. Your professional training emphasizes on prioritising service to humanity and saving lives of individuals.

1. What are the ethical issues involved in this case ?
2. Evaluate the options available to you, being District Magistrate of the area. (Answer in 250 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Corruption is the manifestation of the failure of core values in the society.’’ In Your opinion what measures can be adopted to uplift the core values in the society? (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. In the context of work environment, differentiate between ‘coercion’ and ‘undue influence’ with suitable examples. (Answer in 150 words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (Al). How does Al help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of Al in healthcare? (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Discuss several ways in which microorganisms can help in meeting the current fuel shortage. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Discuss the role of Presiding Officers of state legislatures in maintaining order and impartiality in conducting legislative work and in facilitating best democratic practices. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. The crucial aspect of development process has been the inadequate attention paid to Human Resource Development in India. Suggest measures that can address this inadequacy. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Discuss the consequence of Climate change on the food security in tropical countries. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Bring out the socio-economic effects of the introduction of railways in different countries of the world. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Essay Topics

1. Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.

2. Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.

Case Studies

You are working as an exeutive in a nationalized bank for several years. One day one of your close colleagues tells you that her father is suffering from heart disease and needs surgery immediately to survive. She also tells you that she has no insurance and the operation will cost about Rs. 10 lakh. You are also aware of the fact that her husband is no more and that she is from a lower middle class family. You are empathetic about her situation. However, apart from expressing your sympathy, you do not have the resources to fund her.

A few weeks later, you ask her about the well-being of her father and she informs you about his successful surgery and that he is recovering. She then confides in you that the bank manager was kind enough to facilitate the release of 10 lakh from a dormant account of someone to pay for the operation with a promise that it should be confidential and be repaid at the earliest. She has already started paying it back and will continue to do so until it is all returned.

A. What are the ethical issues involved?

B. Evaluate the behavior of the bank manager from an ethical point of view.

C. How would you react to the situation?

Q. What do you understand by “moral integrity” and “professional efficiency" in the context of corporate governance in India? Illustrate with suitable examples. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. International aid is an accepted form of helping ‘resource-challenged’ nations. Comment on ‘ethics in contemporary international aid’. Support your answer with suitable examples. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. How does e-Technology help farmers in production and marketing of agricultural produce? Explain it. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. State the objectives and measures of land reforms in India. Discuss how land ceiling policy on landholding can be considered as an effective reform under economic criteria. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. ‘‘The states in India seem reluctant to empower urban local bodies both functionally as well as financially.’’ Comment. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Compare and contrast the British and Indian approaches to Parliamentary sovereignty. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. Explain the role of geographical factors towards the development of Ancient India. (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Q. What was the difference between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in their approach towards education and nationalism? (150 Words, UPSC Mains 2023)

Essay Topics