Mains Practice Questions

Q. “Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s founding statesman, was a great figure whose legacy transcended national boundaries”. Comment. (250 words)

Q. “The caste-based discrimination in India is different from the racial discrimination in the USA”. Evaluate. (250 Words)

Essay Topic

If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things.

You are a Chief Medical officer running a hospital in a primarily lower-income neighborhood, where many of your patients are recent migrants from different parts of the country. You are granted a fixed annual budget of Rs.1 crore through your local public health department, and it is unlikely that you can obtain additional funding for any year. Traditionally, you have used your entire budget for the past several years.

One day, a frightened, thin young man appears to the clinic with a folder of medical records. He is accompanied by his aunt, who explains to you that he was recently diagnosed with a rare type of cancer that, if untreated, will result in his death within six months. After further inquiry, you determine that his cancer is treatable, but will require Rs. 50 Lakh (Half of the total annual budget) to save his life.

Treating this single patient means that there will not be enough money to treat all of the other patients who come to the clinic over the course of the year. In other words, his medication is not cost-effective because for the same amount invested in supplying the clinic, the hospital could prevent many more deaths or disability adjusted life years for a greater number of patients. However, allowing a patient to die of a treatable condition feels wrong on many levels.

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

b. What are the options available to you? Which one do you think will be the most appropriate step that can be taken and why?

Q. “Building of social capital plays a crucial role in good governance, economic development and social harmony of the nation”. Discuss (250 Words)

Q. In order to make a truly Atma Nirbhar Bharat, the economic stimulus needs to complemented by bold reforms. Discuss. (250 words)

Q. “Sedition law is a colonial relic and given its chilling effect on freedom of speech, the law must be repealed.” Discuss. (250 words)

Q. “The second World War was the result of nationalistic tensions, unresolved issues, and economic depression”. Discuss (250 words)

Essay Topic

True friendship can exist only between equals.

Q. “The needs of migrants should be addressed through a concerted national policy.” In the light of the statement critically examine the utility of One Nation One Ration Card scheme. (250 words)

Q. What do you understand by ethical dilemmas? Give examples of some of the ethical dilemmas faced by the civil servants in present times. (250 words)

Q. Diluting labour laws are crucial for dealing with the employment crisis in India. Critically Analyse. (250 words)

Q. “Recent geopolitical developments in India’s neighbourhood, requires a reset in India-Nepal relations.” Critically Analyse the statement in context of India-Nepal- China triangulation. (250 words).

Essay Topic

The measure of a man is what he does with power

You are the manager of a reputed firm. One of your employees has just been diagnosed with a treatable form of cancer. He has confided in you about the status of his health. He has also asked you not to say a word to anyone because he considers his health to be a personal matter. Over the next few months, this employee is absent frequently, especially during his radiation treatments. His absences are not a major problem for the company because he can work from home.

However, some of your other employees think that their co-worker is getting special treatment, and they are ready to go to your boss to complain. This would create unnecessary and unhelpful problems for the sick employee if other employees complain about him.

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

b. How would you handle this situation? Suggest most appropriate course of action. (250 words).

Q. Examine the Stoic's models of ethics in terms of its suitability for modern civil servants? (150 words)

Q. “MSMEs sector is referred to as the growth engine of the Indian economy”. In light of this statement discuss the challenges and solution pertaining to the MSMEs sector in India. (250 words)

Q. Discuss the importance of the Non-Alignment Movement in India’s foreign policy, in contemporary times. (250 words).

Q. What do you understand by Western Disturbances? Discuss its impact on Indian weather systems. (250 words)

Essay Topic

Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice

Q. Discuss how the Shraman tradition marked the beginning of new religious and social movements in ancient India? (150 words)

Q. Discuss the various ethical values enshrined in the Indian Constitution? (150 words)

Q. In pursuit of doubling farmer’s income, Indian agricultural policy must emphasize converting farmers to agripreneurs. Comment. (250 words).

Q. Discuss the importance of public services reforms in ensuring good governance in India. (250 words)

Q. “Next to war, famine and pandemic the worst thing that can happen to agriculture is absentee-landlordism”. Analyse this statement with reference to the land revenue system of Britishers in India. (250 words)

Essay Topic

"A life lived in fear is a life half lived"

You are the manager of a company that has been worst affected by the lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic. All the businesses of the company have been halted and there is no source of revenue generation in the company during the lockdown. Due to this, the company will not be able to sustain for long and pay full salaries to all of its employees. Moreover, the government plans to extend the lockdown period in order to tackle the spread of the infectious disease.

As a manager, you have to decide on cutting down the salaries of the workers and lay off some of them in order to keep the company running. However, your decision will leave many poor workers without any source of income.

a. Identify the ethical dilemmas involved in the case.

b. What are the possible courses of actions available to you? Which one do you think will be the most appropriate step that can be taken and why?

Q. Discuss the differences between teleological and deontological systems of ethics? (150 words)

Q. Discuss the term Antibiotic resistance and steps to control it. (250 words)

Q. Discuss India's position in getting closer to permanent membership of UNSC.(250 words)