Mains Practice Questions

Q. What is Quantum Supremacy? Also, discuss the possible applications of quantum computers in different fields.(150 words)

Q. “The world today witnesses increasing factors of instability, uncertainty and insecurity. It is of great significance for the BRICS nations to reach consensus on multiple important issues concerning global security and development”. Discuss the possible areas where the nations can collaborate.

Q. Discuss the key challenges India is facing in terms of the digitisation of judiciary and suggest measures that can be taken to overcome these challenges.

Q. Discuss the contribution of the Chola in the development of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. (150 words)

Q. Cultural preservation is required along with modernity. Discuss. Also discuss the challenges faced in engaging with modernity. (150 words)

Essay Topic

1. Awareness of spirituality counters communalism.
2. Truth of conscience is the fallacy of society.

Case Study

An elevated corridor is being constructed to reduce traffic congestion in the capital of a particular State. You have been selected as project manager of this prestigious project on your professional competence and experience. The deadline is to complete the project in next two years by 30 June, 2021, since this project is to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister before the elections are announced in the second week of July 2021. While carrying out the surprise inspection by inspecting team, a minor crack was noticed in one of the piers of the elevated corridor possibly due to poor material used. You immediately informed the chief engineer and stopped further work. It was assessed by you that minimum three piers of the elevated corridor have to be demolished and reconstructed. But this process will delay the project minimum by four to six months. But the chief engineer overruled the observation of inspecting team on the ground that it was a minor crack which will not in any way impact the strength and durability of the bridge. He ordered you to overlook the observation of inspecting team and continue working with same speed and tempo. He informed you that the minister does not want any delay as he wants the Chief Minister to inaugurate the elevated corridor before the elections are declared. Also informed you that the contractor is far relative of the minister and he wants him to finish the project. He also gave you hint that your further promotion as additional chief engineer is under consideration with the ministry. However, you strongly felt that the minor crack in the pier of the elevated corridor will adversely affect the health and life of the bridge and therefore it will be very dangerous not to repair the elevated corridor.

(a) Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a project manager?
(b) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by the project manager?
(c) What are the professional challenges likely to be faced by the project manager and his response to overcome such challenges?
(d) What can be the consequences of overlooking the observation raised by the inspecting team?

Q. “Earn while you learn scheme needs to be strengthened to make vocational education and skill training meaningful.” Comment. (150 Words)

Q. How impartiality and non-partisanship play a vital role in ensuring a neutral approach in public service? Illustrate your answer with suitable examples. (150 Words)

Q. Examine the relevance of the following terms in the context of civil service: (150 Words)
(i) Integrity
(ii) Impartiality
(iii) Objectivity
(iv) Tolerance

Q. What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (250 Words)

Q. Keeping in view of India’s internal security, analyse the impact of cross-border cyber-attacks. Also, discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated attacks. (150 Words)

Q. “Pressure groups play a vital role in influencing public policy making in India.” Explain how the business associations contribute to public policies. (150 Words)

Q. “Besides being a moral imperative of a Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition for sustainable development.” Analyse. (150 Words)

Q. What were the circumstances leading up to the American War of Independence? Explain (150 Words)

Q. Discuss the vital role played by India in effectuating the “Armistice Agreement, 1953”, that ended the Korean War. (250 Words)

Essay Topic

1) Existence precedes essence.
2) Water is not a problem but politics over the sharing of water is.

Q. Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, coupled with lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification. (250 Words)

Q. What is the key difference between sympathy, empathy and compassion? Highlight the role of empathy in shaping leadership. (150 Words)

Q. How can Emotional Intelligence (EI) help in administration and governance in India? (150 Words)

Q. Analyse the importance of the development of Anti-satellite weapons for strategic military purposes. Will India’s Anti-satellite weapon test spark an arms race in space? (150 words)

Q. The crisis of Kashmir is embedded in the crisis of development in Kashmir. Comment. (150 words)

Q. “Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu? (250 Words)

Q. Do Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees keep the administrations on its toes and inspire reverence for parliamentary control? Evaluate the working of such committees with suitable examples. (250 Words)

Essay Topic

1. Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be.

2. The Earth is not for Humans Only.

Q. Analyse the distinguishing features of the notion of Right to Equality in the Constitutions of the USA and India. (250 Words)

Q. “Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups or downs you come across in your life”- A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Elucidate. (150 Words)

Q. Ethics and politics are the fields completely opposite to each other. Do you agree? (150 Words)

Case study

Pollution is severely affecting the health of people in a metropolitan city. One of the major causes of this environmental calamity is widespread stubble burning by farmers in the surrounding regions after harvesting paddy crop. Despite an outright ban imposed by the government and the introduction of subsidy packages for buying advance machines to dispose stubble, stubble burning remains unabated. The cause for farmers’ indifference towards machines is the belief that the use of machines like happy seeders leads to a fall in the output of successive crops. Recently, the state High Court has called for stringent implementation of the ban order in the neighbouring district of the state capital. You are the District magistrate of one of these districts and want to get rid of this polluting activity. However, your efforts are not yielding desirable results on the ground because of the politicization of this practice. Now, the local leaders are pressuring you to ignore the ban for this season and send deceptive data to the High Court otherwise they will lose support in the election. Although you are against stubble burning, you genuinely sympathize with the farmers for their predicaments.

The district also has a history of farmers’ movements which were at times violent. You are well aware of this and want to avoid any untoward incident of violence or agitation in this politically charged atmosphere.

(a) Identify the various issues involved in the case.
(b) As a District Magistrate of the concerned area, what will be your course of action in resolving the issue? (250 Words)

Q. To what extent are international organizations and collaborations effective in controlling terror financing across the globe? (150 words)