Mains Practice Questions

Q. “Financial inclusion is an essential tool in pursuit of social justice”. In light of the given statement, examine the role of digital technology in furthering the cause of financial inclusion.(250 words)

Q. The decision to go without “Question Hour” during the Monsoon Session of Parliament has evoked serious concerns about the democratic functioning of the institution and erodes constitutional mandate of parliamentary oversight over executive action. Discuss. (250 words)

Q. Covid-19 looks like a “bend but won’t break crisis” for globalization. Discuss how isolationism forced by Covid-19 pandemic has paused the growth of globalisation in the world. (250 words)

Essay Topic

Future belongs to countries with grains, not guns.

A coaching centre in an area dominated by migrant workers and daily wage earners, caters to a specific group of women students – those who come from financially poor backgrounds and have dropped out of formal schooling due to familial pressure as well as financial issues. The girls come from such families who will marry them off if they don’t study and pass their exams.

However, the centre has always struggled with poor finances for many years and lacks basic infrastructure and facilities such as laptops or Wi-Fi. Moreover, after a nationwide lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, teaching has become more difficult. The teachers at the centre continue to teach students even when their salaries stopped coming due to the financial crisis that the centre faces. Not only the centre but the students also do not have laptops/mobile with a proper internet connection. Also, the students as well as the teachers are not very well versed with technology.

You are the manager of the centre, identify the various ethical issues of the given case. Based on your understanding, suggest measures to deal with the crisis. (250 words)

Q. What do you understand by the term ‘Gandhian Ethics’? Discuss with examples the application of the Gandhian ethics in public service. (150 words)

Q. “India is one of the major hubs of illicit drug trade.” Discuss the statement in the light of drug abuse problems in India especially in the border areas. (150 words)

Q. Health outcomes are the result of an interaction of forces ranging from the level of expertise of health personnel to the civic sense of a population. Comment. (250 words)

Q. Urbanization has long been associated with human development and progress, but it has been observed that urban settings can also lead to significant inequalities and health problems. Discuss the statement. (250 words)

Essay Topic

"Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world."

Q. “India’s distinct economic and demographic position allows it to shape, influence and constrain global technology rules that serve its strategic interests”. Discuss the statement in the wake of the ban of Chinese apps. (250 words)

Q. Genuine engagement with media ethics seems to be declining in the present times. Discuss the ethical issues that plague Indian journalism. (250 words)

Q. Discuss how far Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) has been useful for our environment as well as society? (250 words)

Q. The US seeks to formalise ties with countries of the Indo-Pacific region similar to something like the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) with an aim to counter China. Discuss the prospects and challenges for India to become a regional power. (250 words)

Q. The roots of the disintegration of the Mughal empire may be found in the Indian economy and external incursions. Discuss. (250 words)

Essay Topic

Politics without principle is a social sin.

Q. “Sub-categorisation of reserved classes in India is needed for more inclusive affirmative actions.” Discuss the statement in the light of the recent judgement of the Supreme Court. (250 words)

Q. What do you understand by the theory of utilitarianism? Critically analyse the usefulness of the theory. (150 words)

Q. Covid-19 crisis is an opportunity to pursue the goal of a self-reliant India. In the light of the statement, discuss how can India succeed in attracting manufacturing firms and jobs from China? (250 words)

Q. “The poverty line in India may not permit a comfortable existence, but allows above subsistence existence”. Critically examine the concept of poverty line in India. (250 words)

Q. Landslides are more than just a natural phenomena. Discuss the statement and suggest the ways to mitigate the disaster. (250 words)

Essay Topic

An unexamined life is not worth living.

Q. The artists of Indus valley Civilisation surely had fine artistic sensibilities and a vivid imagination. Substantiate the statement with examples.

Q. “It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude.” Do you agree with the statement? Substantiate with examples. (250 words)

Q. Without a focus on habitat conservation, success of project Tiger may lead to human-animal conflict. Discuss. (250 words)

Q. The government’s recent proposal to raise the legal age of marriage to 21 years for women is a step towards women empowerment. Critically analyse. (150 words)

Q. "An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to bring women empowerment." Substantiate this statement with suitable examples. (250 words)

Essay Topic

Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.

Hundreds of people have died in a district of Punjab after consuming spurious liquor. The police have conducted several raids to catch the culprits responsible for this mishap. The raiding teams seized large quantities of "lahan" - the raw material for making liquor - from various villages and dhabas in the region around the district border. The preliminary investigation has confirmed a long-established system of illicit liquor outlets in the whole state.

It is alleged by the media that the hooch tragedy is the direct and natural consequence of the patronage given by the leaders, including ministers and MLAs for turning a blind eye to the rampant illicit liquor trade in the state.

Meanwhile, the state government is under attack from opposition parties for not taking immediate and adequate action. The state government in a hasty response transferred district magistrate and suspended several police officials for negligence of duty.

You are the newly appointed district magistrate of the region.

a. Identify the stakeholders and the ethical issues involved in the case.

b. What best course of action will you adopt to resolve the issues in this case?

c. What long term steps will you take to make sure such incidents do not occur in future.

Q. “Corruption is an important manifestation of the failure of ethics.” In the light of the statement discuss the various reasons for the prevalence of corruption and measures needed to eradicate it. (250 words)