In April 2023, we had published 300 posts.
GS-I: Indian Culture
1. Discuss the factors on account of which the architecture of the Tughlaq period was massive and simple.
2. Akbar's Tomb at Sikandara is the best example of Akbar's style. Elucidate.
3. Why Laurie Baker is known as the "conscience keeper of Indian architecture"and "Gandhi of Indian architecture"? Evaluate his architectural style.
4. Mathura art represents an important formative stage in the history of Indian art that gave impetus to other arts. Examine.
5. What are the main features of Palladian Style and Victorian Gothic Style? Give some examples of monuments built in these styles in India.
6. Discuss the salient Features of Indo-Islamic Architecture. What new elements were added to the Indian architecture by the Muslims?
7. While keeping monuments at Mandu in foci, throw light on the rainwater harvesting system. Can Mandu's antique water system be restored and revived? Can it help to solve the drinking water problem in the surrounding areas? Discuss.
8. Discuss the distinctive features of the Nagara style of Indian architecture and also state the important varieties of this style and their chief features.
9. What are the common features and problems of contemporary Indian sculpture and contemporary Indian painting? Discuss with suitable examples.
10. Abhinavgupta had created some great works of importance on almost all fields such as intellectual, moral, religious and spiritual. However, they are not finding recognition as they should have got? What do you think are the reasons and what can be done to address the problems? Discuss citing relevance of Abhinavagupta's teaching to contemporary society and world.
11. What was the indirect influence of the personalities and experience of Babar and Humayun on the subsequent art of India?
12. The arts nurtured in satras in Assam are part of a living cultural tradition. Elucidate their origin and evolution and their contribution to India's art forms.
13. Mention the distinctive features of Vesara style and discuss how it developed under the Chalukyas and the Hoysalas describing the architecture of one temple of each dynasty.
14. Discuss the salient features of the Mughal Architecture. How it was different from the earlier architecture of Delhi Sultanate?
15. The sculpture of the Maurya period clearly demonstrates the influence of foreign countries on Indian art. Examine critically.
16. Differentiate between the Marga Sangeet and Pathya Sangeet of ancient India.
17. How was Islamic architecture modified by Hindu master builders?
18. The Vijayanagar empire is credited for promoting art, culture, architecture, scientific innovations and their legacy has been said to be preserved and revered till date. List the important rulers of the Vijayanagar Kingdom with their achievements. Also briefly explain the contribution of Vijayanagar Era to Indian Society ?
19. What are the recently proposed amendments to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958? Do you think that the proposed "public purpose" in these amendments could be a flawed notion of the government? Critically discuss.
20. To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization?
GS-I: Indian Society
1. Delineate the relationship between social mobility and equality. Highlight the impediments in ensuring it.
2. The menace of child marriage still persists in India despite various initiatives taken by the government. Examine the reasons and its impact. Also, suggest remedial measures.
3. Coarse cereals have been gradually edged out of the diet basket of Indian's. Critically examine the reasons. In your view, why coarse cereals should be promoted?
4. The Economic Survey 2017-18 discusses about the so called "son meta-preference"prevailing among Indian parents. Throw light on the positive and negative implications of such phenomenon on demography.
5. While on one hand the Indian society is mimicking the west, on the other there are attempts to revive the conservative traditional outlook. Comment.
6. While caste in politics has done a lot of damage, caste in economics can be a vehicle for India’s development. Explain.
7. Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.
8. In the last two decades, the population in the Southern states has stabilised, however it still remains a dream for the northern states. Analyse the reasons behind this trend.
9. Examine the need of a new policy for the planning and management of cities in a sustainable manner.
10. It has been observed that though the demands of regional movements may be legitimate but their methods and approaches are often conservative and traditional in nature, generally advocating status-quo in social issues. Critically discuss in context of India.
11. India has made a significant progress in ensuring better representation of women in Indian armed forces. However, much more still needs to be done. Discuss.
12. Examine the need of urgent investment in human capital formation for India.
13. What are the main difficulties faced by migrant labourers? Why they continue to be the most vulnerable lot in India?
14. Self Help Groups (SHGs) plays an important role in upliftment of disadvantaged sections of society by developing rural areas. Elucidate. Further, mention the constraint faced by SHGs and how they can be addressed.
15. Explain "Gini Coefficient"and ways to measure it. Discuss the reasons for continuous rise in India's Gini coefficient.
16. How social influence changes one's behaviour in personal and professional life? Support your answer with real life examples.
17. What are the reasons of the anti-globalization calls in developed world in recent times? Discuss highlighting impacts of protectionism on India's interests.
18. While keeping basin of river Cauvery in focus, discus the impact of demography on cropping pattern, water use pattern and land use pattern.
19. Give an outline of a National Urban Policy of India to act as a solution to various urban problems.
20. What do you understand by Agriculture Worker? Critically examine the trend population of agriculture worker in India's total population since independence.
GS-I: Modern Indian History
1. Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase.
2. Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom.
3. “Both Gandhi and Ambedkar strove for the improvement of the cause of depressed classes. However, both had fundamental differences on different political and social issues.” Elucidate.
4. The Drain of Wealth fostered industrialization in England at the cost of Indian industrialization. Elucidate.
5. The educational changes in 19th century seem to be more effective in setting the pace and direction of political changes in India than what one would expect from economic and technological change. Discuss critically.
6. Discuss the reasons of the emergence of the left-wing within the congress in late British Era. To what extent, it was able to influence the programme and policy of the congress? Elucidate.
7. Critically elucidate the circumstances in which Gandhi and Ambedkar developed different perspectives in context with the amelioration of problems of depressed classes.
8. As far as possible, there should be complete popular control in local bodies and largest possible independence from them from outside control. Do you think that the above basic principle of the Mont-ford Report was inculcated in the Government of India act 1919? Substantiate your answer with relevant features of the Government of India Act 1919.
9. "Latitude, not attitude made the west rule". Do you agree with this? Discuss keeping in focus various geographical and historical events.
10. Critically examine the differences between the attitude of Indian National Congress and Muslim League over the issue of independence of India.
11. Despite an enduring commitment to the production of knowledge about India, the British made little effort at any time explicitly to construct an ordering system of ideology for their imperial enterprise. Discuss.
12. It is time to recreate Gandhi’s notion of Satyagraha. Does the statement hold importance in present times of increasing violence against minorities?
13. Critically discuss Dr. Ambedkar’s rationale behind his ideal of “Annihilation of caste”.
14. What were socio-political implications of Aryan Invasion Theory? Discuss.
15. Critically elucidate the various phases of merger of Sikkim into Union of India while keeping in focus the 35th and 36th amendment of the Indian Constitution.
16. Has the formation of linguistic states strengthened the cause of Indian unity?
17. The ideology of Swadeshi had brought a coherent relationship in economics, politics, religion and philosophy. Discuss
18. Explain how the uprising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British policies towards colonial India.
19. "Dr. B R Ambedkar single handedly struggled for the upliftment of the dalits and the downtrodden low castes, giving them social equality, self respect and political empowerment."Critically analyze his role throwing light on the movements he led.
20. Discuss the role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in pre and post independent India? Was India in a position to fulfil his absence specially during the integration phase of princely states after Independence ?
GS-I: Modern World History
1. (a) Explain why the Nazis wanted control over the media.(b) How far would you agree or disagree with the view that the various forms of Nazi propaganda had very little impact on the German people by 1939?
2. 'Japan's recovery after the Second World War was not without its associated problems.' How far do you agree with this view?
3. How far did the Tsar Nicholas II fulfill the promises made in the 1905 October Manifesto by the outbreak of war in 1914?
4. How far would you agree that it was mainly help from outside that made the Nationalist victory in the Spanish Civil War possible?
5. What problems were germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula?
6. Explain what changes and problems were experienced by Japan in the years after 1990.
7. How far would you agree that the February/March revolution which overthrew the Russian monarchy was a 'spontaneous uprising'?
8. How far would you agree that the impact of the First World War on Russia was the main reason for the downfall of Nicholas II in 1917?
9. How far was popular dissatisfaction with the Provisional Government responsible for its overthrow in October/November 1917?
10. "Napoleon was the child of the French Revolution."Justify.
11. Explain why the Tsarist regime was able to survive the 1905 revolution but was overthrown in February/March 1917.
12. How far would you agree that the main reason for Hitler's persecution of the Jews was that he was committed to racial purity?
13. How far would you agree that it was the world economic crisis which caused Japan to fall under military rule in the early 1930s?
14. How far was the popularity of Nazi ideology responsible for the success of the Nazi Party in the elections of 1930 to 1932? (a) Explain why Hitler introduced the Enabling Law in March 1933.(b) 'Hitler's dictatorship was complete by August 1934 and it was achieved entirely by legal means.' Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.
15. To what extent did Hitler bring about a political, economic and social revolution in Nazi Germany in the years 1933 to 1939?
16. How far would you agree that it was political intrigue rather than the economic situation that enabled Hitler to come to power in Germany in January 1933?
17. (a) Explain why the Nazis encouraged membership of the Hitler Youth and the League of German Maidens.(b) 'In the years 1933 to 1939 there was support for the Nazis from all sections of German society.' Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.
18. To what extent, the outbreak of Second World War in 1939 placed the whole question of India's political future into a new perspective? Discuss briefly highlighting the key events that immediately followed September, 1939.
19. Assess the reasons for the outbreak of civil war in Spain in 1936.
20. Elucidate the factors that made British colonization more effective amongst their other European counterparts like France, Spain and Portugal.
GS-I: World Geography
1. Both the moist subtropical and moist continental climates are found on eastern sides of continents in the midlatitudes. What are the major factors that determine their temperature and precipitation cycles? How do these two climates differ?
2. The third pole of the earth not only important for geographical reasons but also for economic and civilizational aspects of the Indian Subcontinent. Explaining the importance of the region, examine the consequences of its changing features.
3. If the Earth's axis were tilted at 40° to the plane of the ecliptic instead of 23½°, what would be the effects of this change on (1) global climate and seasons (2) seasons and climate of India?
4. Explain the process of formation of a rift valley, emphasizing on the Great Rift Valley system.
5. What is El Nino? Has the extreme El Niño become more often?
6. Explain the causes of the Indian Monsoon.
7. What are the conditions for a hurricane to form? Enumerate various categories of Hurricanes as per Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.
8. Explain the features of the rare-earth metals. Where do they come from?
9. Account for the spatial distribution of food gathering as main economic activity around the world.
10. With suitable examples, discuss the various landforms associated with volcanic activities.
11. Though the population of hunter-gatherers have declined drastically around the world, there are some tribes which have managed to maintain much of their identity as hunter-gatherers even in this era. Discuss while citing suitable examples.
12. Discuss the spatial distribution of nomadic pastoralism around the world and explain the concept of transhumance.
13. Explain the formation of tropical cyclones. Also, illustrate the global distribution of these cyclones.
14. How are plateaus formed? Also briefly discuss the features of the Deccan Plateau and its economic significance.
15. Winter Solstice and its Significance
16. Had there been no Himalayas, what would have been the winter climate in north India?
17. What are rare earths ? Also elaborate on the usage and importance of such minerals ?
18. What is the Heat Wave? Explain the after effects of Heat wave on living beings and also on the economy.
19. What could be the possible reasons of the slower-than-expected progress of the western branch of the Southwest monsoon in 2019?
20. Why in your opinion does India need to shape its domestic consensus in the growing unpredictable global environment and along with other resource constraints?
GS-II: Constitution of India & Polity
1. Do you think the water related challenges which India is bound to face in the future can be checked by a Pact between the Centre and the States?
2. Electoral verdict as delivered in 2019 general elections has shocked and surprised all political pundits. Critically analyse if the verdict of 2019 has demonstrated that the electorates have matured in making political choices.
3. Why India needs a Simple Language Commission?
4. Is there a provision in Indian constitution for Uniform Civil Code? Explain the Pros and cons of the Uniform Civil Code.
5. How the proposed higher education bill proposes for a watershed change in the Higher Education Sector in India?
6. Do you think that it is not a good idea to pass a legislation for overcoming the effects of court verdicts. Discuss this in the light of the latest Bill on reservation in Central Academic Cadre which gives relief to disadvantaged sections of society.
7. One Nation One Election is the need of the hour. Critically analyze.
8. Enumerate the composition and functions of the GST Council.
9. Do you think the concerns raised by the Opposition about the PM�s One nation, One Election are valid? Is One Nation, Two Elections a valid alternative to it? Comment.
10. Define Cooperative Federalism. What is the role of NITI Aayog in achieving the goal of cooperative federalism?
11. Why the 11 judge bench of Supreme Court struck the recommendation to suspend the UK parliament for 5 weeks?
12. Do you think the anti-defection law is faced with a serious challenge in the last 34 years as it is being grossly ignored? Comment.
13. Leader of opposition holds a place of immense importance. Discuss the significance of Leader of opposition.
14. Differentiate by-elections from normal elections. How does the procedure of election followed in a country affects its political stability?
15. The Delhi High Court has ruled that the Central Administrative Tribunal can exercise the same jurisdiction and powers as a High Court in respect of its contempt proceedings. Analyse the Jurisdiction of the CAT In India.
16. Give an account of the President�s rule in India. What are the conditions in which it can be applied in a state?
17. What are your views regarding the extent of user vulnerability in digital media?
18. In a historical judgement, the Union Cabinet approved 124th Constitutional Amendment Act. Critically analyse its features along with the recent issues.
19. The miracle arc of universe is long but it bends towards justice. Discuss the concerns related to the removal of judges in India and ways to reform it.
20. What is anti defection law? Discuss the features of the law and other exceptions under it in detail.
GS-II: Governance
1. The National Digital Health Mission has the potential to transform the healthcare system, but the concerns around data privacy needs to be addressed. Examine.
2. What are the key features of the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018?
3. Critically discuss the divergent views on liberalizing the defence sector in India.
4. What are the recommendations of the Shekatkar committee constituted to recommend measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces?
5. Is there any regulatory mechanism in India to make NGOs answerable on utilizing public money? Discuss while keeping in focus January, 2017 Supreme Court directives to central government.
6. Discuss the extent, cause and measures taken against the frivolous Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India.
7. Even after 15 years of enactment, the RTI faces multiple issues in its effective implementation. Critically discuss while suggesting measures to address challenges in effective implementation of the RTI Act.
8. What are the main features of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2015 (LARR Act)?
9. How far has the governance in India achieved the twin objectives of transparency and accountability? Discuss.
10. Critically examine the key features and provisions of Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015 towards improving India's dispute resolution mechanism and making India a Hub of Arbitration.
11. Critically examine the steps taken by the Government of India to stop opportunistic takeover by firms from countries with which India has border tensions.
12. What are the steps being taken to prevent the banking frauds?
13. After the NDA government came to power in May 2014, FCRA licenses of more than twenty thousand NGOs have been cancelled by the Home Ministry. Do you agree with the view that the policy of curbing foreign funds to the Indian NGOs is appropriate and should be more aggressively applied? Give arguments.
14. What is a Fugitive Economic Offender? Outline the objectives and rationale of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill 2017 despite of presence of several laws on economic offenders in place.
15. One of the aims of the governance is to ensure that the activities of an organization are run in an efficient manner to attain its predesigned objectives. To what extent, Big Data can be helpful in this direction? With suitable examples, discuss its importance in private as well as public sector.
16. India does not have a Parliamentary Budget Office so far? What are different proposals towards this and how establishment of a Parliamentary Budget office can help? Discuss highlighting major issues.
17. Lateral entry in civil services can help to address challenges faced by civil services in India by introducing domain specialists, but it has its own set of problems.
18. What are the major issues in India's political finance regime? To what extent, the current government efforts fix these issues? Discuss in the light of two amendments to the Finance Bill, 2017.
19. Can appointment of Social media executives for each district in India mark the journey towards the inclusive governance?
20. Examine how the use of data in governance can play a crucial role to transform it. Discuss the associated challenges and remedial measures.
GS-II: International Relations
1. What significance does the swearing-in ceremony carry for the BIMSTEC?
2. Outline the salient features of India’s nuclear policy and explain the reasons for India’s refusal to sign the C.T.B.T.
3. Why it is said that a great game is unfolding in Middle East in recent years in the backdrop of Turkey-Saudi Rivalry?
4. The G4 nations should pursue the idea of with or without veto UNSC reforms, as this will break the deadlock in negotiations. Do you agree? Discuss.
5. One of the strongest criticisms of the World Bank has been the way in which it is governed. Critically analyze the statement.
6. Examine the latest phase of Indo-Iran relations.
7. It is said that the clear mandate won by the Modi government will give it a new edge on the geopolitical space. Comment
8. What is the significance of the internal security pact between India and China?
9. In around three years of existence, critically discuss what change the New Development Bank has been able to bring in global / regional economic and political power.
10. How India-EU relations are experiencing a transformative shift?
11. Why India does not want to ratify the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction? Discuss critically.
12. Examine the key differences between the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs. Why is that US could have a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran but such a breakthrough with North Korea appears to be far away?
13. Critically examine the role of Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet in Post-Jasmine Revolution phase.
14. The proposed India-Japan Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) is being seen as a potential alternative to the One-Belt-One-Road (OBOR) initiative of China. How the former is different from later? What will be the practical difficulties faced by AAGC?
15. While highlighting the importance of hydrological data for India, critically discuss how water has emerged as a new divide in Sino-Indian relations in recent years. Is there some kind of international arrangement with hydrological data sharing between co-riparian countries?
16. In terms of development & economic co-operation, India has played a prominent role in Afghanistan, however, in case of security forces co-operation, India's approach has been rather restrained. Discuss.
17. What were the major recommendations of the ’Group of Ministers’ on Indian National Security System?
18. Discuss the global response to President George Bush’s ‘National Missile Defence Plan’ (NMD).
19. The international corridors are increasingly being seen as drivers of economic development in recent times. Elucidate the significance of International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC) for India while drawing its comparisons with One Belt One Road of China.
20. Modi�s and Nehru�s politics are inverted mirror images of each other. Comment.
GS-II: Social Justice
1. Characterise the LGBTQ+ movement along with recent supreme court rulings related to this matter in India.
2. What are Non communicable Diseases? Enumerate the provisions of the National Programme for prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and strokes (NPCDCS).
3. Throw some light on the contribution of world food programme (WFP) in India’s efforts of addressing issue of hunger & malnutrition.
4. The education system needs change, not polishing up. Critically analyze the statement in context of recent Draft national education policy.
5. Enumerate the concerns related to the antibacterial resistance. What are the factors responsible for its occurrence?
6. Why it is necessary to explore to solve the challenges of NRC in a humane way?
7. What are the issues related to Primary Health Care in India? Enumerate the ways to solve the issues related to PHC?
8. The potential of tourism industry in India can be harnessed sustainably by promoting eco-tourism. Enumerate the steps taken by government in this context, also discuss the associated challenges.
9. What are the determining factors of the new version of the Code on Wages Bill, cleared by the Union Cabinet?
10. Why the Supreme Court has withdrawn its earlier order which diluted the provisions of the SC/ST Act?
11. Why Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus has become a cause of concern?
12. What are the findings of the Niti Aayog’s School Education Quality Index?
13. What are the findings of the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey?
14. Examine the trends in Notified TB Cases.
15. What are the components of the new framework proposed by the government to sustain 100 per cent ODF status?
16. What is the plan formulated by the Ministry of Human Resources Development to reduce the dropout rates in IITs?
17. What are Fixed Dose Combination Drugs (FDCs)? Enumerate the concerns associated and despite all the harms why they are so popular in India?
18. Why government is collecting data on SC, ST employee in Private Firms?
19. In the light of the All India Survey on Higher Education 2018-19, discuss the social composition of teachers in the Higher Education Institutions.
20. Many critical issues related to Intellectual property regime has been raised after Covid pandemic along with demand for liberalisation of public health related goods and services. Discuss.
GS-III: Economy & Economic Development
1. Despite of dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar energy, rooftop solar plants are not very popular in India. Account for the key stumbling blocks in realizing India's rooftop solar power goals.
2. What is the significance of putting various economic sectors in the Harmonized Master List of Infrastructure Sub-sectors? Discuss taking examples of recent sectors placed in this list.
3. What is Gini coefficient? Discuss the factors that led to rise in Gini coefficient in country over last few decades.
4. What is Academic inflation?
5. What are the reasons for poor acceptance of cost-effective small processing unit? How the food processing unit will be helpful to upliftment of socio-economic status of poor farmers?
6. How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diversity and economy of farmers? What is the significance of crop insurance, minimum support price and food processing for small and marginal farmers?
7. What are major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilize the yield of crops in the system?
8. What are the reasons for viability crisis in agriculture? Explain with special reference to Minimum Support Price Scheme.
9. "While Green Revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains, it has also led to many unintended ecological and socioeconomic repercussions in the country". Do you agree? Discuss with the help of examples.
10. How can Methanol Economy be helpful for India? What are major roadblocks in to use Methanol as an alternative fuel? Discuss the current government policy towards promoting extensive use of Methanol in cooking gas and transportation fuel in India.
11. What is a "dark fibre"in terms of stock trading? Explain the recent controversy pertaining to National Stock Exchange (NSE) and algorithm trading.
12. In what respects, India's food value chain is different from more established markets around the world? Discuss.
13. How the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill together make difference in the life of a common man? How they would affect public policy in financial matters? Critically discuss.
14. Elucidate the reasons that led to failure of National Land Records Management / Modernization Programme. In the light of its failures, examine the prospects of Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP), which is being pushed by current government.
15. The Food Processing Industry in India suffers from long and fragmented supply chain. Can contract farming provide plausible solution to this problem? Discuss.
16. How India’s rating upgrade by international agencies/organizations help the country foster through globalization? Critically examine.
17. Discuss three key changes India's development policy planning after abolition of Planning Commission.
18. What is Academic inflation? How academic inflation deflated the quality education in the country over last decade?
19. Enforcement of contract is one of the key areas towards further increasing ease of doing business in India. What are the key loopholes in current contract law to be plugged? Discuss
20. Discuss the recommendations of Ramesh Chand Committee Report of March 2015 with respect to the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Why the government is reluctant to accept these recommendations?
21. With appropriate figures, discuss the significance of household sector in Indian economy.
22. The Government of India, along with few other countries has urged UN to declare 2018 as the 'International Year of Millets'. Discuss the advantages of production and consumption of millets in comparison to other cereal crops such as Wheat and Paddy.
23. How the nation is going towards achieving the ambition of “transform, energize and clean India” through budgetary measures. Discuss.
24. Coal will continue to be India's chief source of power beyond 2047 because of the high "social costs of renewable". Explain the so called "Carbon Imperialism" in the light of this statement.
25. “From both economic and environmental standpoints, cultivation of pulses make sense.” Explain.
26. Account for the failure of the manufacturing sector in achieving the goal of labour-intensive exports. Suggest measures for more labour-intensive rather than capital-intensive exports.
27. Analyze the key challenges to India's food processing industry from production to consumption.
28. Discuss the socio-economic and environmental consequences of wheat-paddy cycle becoming the dominant cropping pattern on states in northern India.
29. The Banking Correspondent Model was launched in 2006 to provide banking services at reasonable costs to the poor people. After over a decade, to what extent this model has been able to achieve its stated objectives? Critically discuss its success and failures.
30. "While Green Revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains, it has also led to many unintended ecological and socioeconomic repercussions in the country". Discuss with the help of examples.
31. To make Indian banking and financial sector more competitive, should RBI dilute the restrictions imposed on foreign banks?
32. How the Differentiated Bank Licensing (DBL) is different from that of Universal Bank Licensing? Discuss elucidating the RBI measures to promote differentiated banking.
33. Industrial growth rate has lagged-behind in the overall growth of Gross-Domestic-Product (GDP) in the port-reform period. Give reasons. How far the recent changes in Industrial Policy are capable of increasing industrial growth rate?
34. “Despite large number of reforms by the current government, the massive potential of our manufacturing hub still remains untapped.” Examine the reasons behind the same. What steps can be taken to boost the sector?
35. What are the flaws in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act that are adversely affecting both the producer and consumers? Discuss the control measures formulated by the agriculture ministry under the Model APMC Act, 2017 to combat the problem.
36. What are the salient features of "inclusive growth"? Has India been experiencing such a growth process? Analyze and suggest measures for inclusive growth.
37. While establishing "access to food" as a crucial link between food security and climate change, provide contours of India's stand on food security in WTO.
38. Contrast the role of private corporate sector vis-à-vis public sector in their respective share of investment in Indian Agriculture.
39. Urban Transport should be to "move people instead of vehicles". However, most big cities in India have failed to realize this goal in their public transport system. Discuss the reasons while suggesting how can India improve its public transport system?
40. One of the objectives of the government's FAME scheme is that the country's public transport should be 100 per cent electric. What are challenges to achieve this over-ambitious goal? Discuss.
GS-III: Environment & Disaster Management
1. How the Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) in Odisha can aid in averting the harmful impacts of the cyclones?
2. Dangers of untreated sludge to Ganga
3. Harnessing Natural Gas
4. How the community participation has aided in reviving the lost glory of Manas National Park?
5. Water crisis in India & what India can learn from other countries
6. Why most Indian cities are failing to tackle Air Pollution?
7. What are major differences between the Bharat stage IV and Bharat stage VI? What would be possible impacts of SC verdict on upgrading to BSVI norms?
8. Discuss the major policy loopholes in effective Urban Solid Waste Management in India. Suggest measures to address these loopholes.
9. Water Scarcity & Atal Bhujal Yojana
10. What are the key spatial variations in India's ability to sustain drought?
11. What are the major findings of the WHO report on air pollution and child health?
12. What are the key findings of the special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?
13. Climate Change & EU’s Plan
14. Why most measures taken to tackle pollution (in NCR) are episodic rather than strategic responses?
15. What do you understand by Roundtable sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Green Palm. Discuss in light of environmental issues created by constant increase in production and demand of Oil Palm.
16. Degradation of the Amazon Basin
17. Cold across North India and Climate Change
18. Failure of CoP25
19. Briefly discuss about the coastal regulation guidelines in light of Mumbai’s coastal road project.
20. How the emission trading scheme can aid India in curbing the emissions?
GS-III: Internal & External Security
1. What is Cert-Fin? Discuss its role and impact on India's cybersecurity architecture.
2. Northeast India was at the forefront of economic development and prosperity during British India but has faced marginalisation since Independence. In this context, discuss some of the steps taken to replenish the past glory of the region.
3. What is Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism? Throw light on concerns and challenges in its adoption.
4. The national security architecture needs to be robust enough to deal with present and evolving threats. Elaborating the statement, discuss the recent steps for modernizing national security architecture.
5. Discuss the potential of “Integrated Law Enforcement Centres” and “Smart walls” on India’s border areas to address the prevailing security challenges.
6. Discuss the demographic and security related dangers created in India by illegal immigrants. What legislative and administrative measures have been taken so far to address the issue?
7. How artificial intelligence (AI) can help Indian armed forces?
8. India is becoming a major destination as well as a transit hub for drug trafficking in South Asia. Discuss the reasons behind it and also its implications on the internal security of India.
9. What is an Integrated Theatre Command (ITC)? How can it strengthen India's military muscle? Explain.
10. How the internal security challenges in Nagaland are different from that in Manipur and Tripura? Explain.
11. Effective border management can only be done by developing the border areas. Discuss, in this context, how the Border Area Development Programme can help to solve the problems associated with border areas.
12. Discuss the challenges in dealing with bioterrorism. What are the existing measures that India has to counter biological attacks? Is there a need for Bio-terrorism law? Analyze.
13. "Lack of digital literacy together with unregulated growth of social media is posing serious threats to the stability of the society."Substantiate.
14. What do you understand by Evidence-Based Policing (EBP)? How EBP can mitigate the problems faced by police personnel in India? Explain.
15. How social media acts as a threat to the internal security of India? Suggest ways which can help government to check anti-India activities on social media.
16. How is Naxalism different from Maoism in India? Throw light on main reasons for the spread of Naxalism and Maoism in the country.
17. Why north-eastern states are demanding a separate time zone? What would be the implications if India adopts two time zones?
18. What is free movement regime? How does the border management pact will regulate the free movement regime?
19. Critically analyze the lack of development as backward linkage for Extremism in India.
20. How the proposed concept of "Border Protection Grid"would prevent illegal intrusion in India? Explain.
GS-III: Science & Technology
1. Explain how DNA Profiling has revolutionized criminal investigations.
2. Relevance of Space Force
3. Electric vehicles are neither cost effective nor sustainable. Discuss critically.
4. Drone Based Aerial Mapping of India: Need, Drawbacks and Issues
5. Discuss the objectives and major achievements of Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) since its formation.
6. Differentiate between 4G and 5G technologies while throwing light upon current challenges towards adoption of 5G Wireless technology in India.
7. Elucidate the technical and ethical issues around Gene Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy and Synthetic Biology.
8. Differentiate between asteroids and minor planets. While enumerating three minor planets, discuss their significance.
9. What are different types of small satellites based on their size? Discuss the multiple advantages that small satellites offer over the conventional ones.
10. "Genetic sequencing is the future of medicine."Evaluate.
11. What are various tools and techniques deployed by ISRO for land degradation assessment in the country? Discuss the steps taken by the government in past years to combat desertification in the country.
12. What are perovskite solar cells? Explain why these cells are more efficient that conventional silicon solar cells.
13. What are the pros and cons of using biogas to address India’s transportation needs? Suggest some ways to promote its adoption.
14. Domestic internet and Data
15. In what circumstances and for what purpose, the Section 3(d) in the Indian Patent Law, 1970 was amended? Discuss its utility for Indian Patent Office while granting patents, particularly in pharmaceutical products.
16. Explore the key differences between Cognitive Computing and Artificial Intelligence. Discuss the prospects and consequences of application of these technologies in manufacturing sector.
17. What are Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)? Discuss the prospects and challenges of adoption of this technology in India.
18. To what extent, Chandrayaan-1 and Mars Orbitter Mission have been able to achieve their stated objectives? Discuss citing their tangible achievements.
19. What do you understand by mobile virtual network operator (MVNO)? Do you think there is a need to introduce MVNO in the Indian Telecom Market? Discuss.
20. ISRO Successfully Launches 13 US Nano Satellites With CARTOSAT-3
GS-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
1. The value of empathy comes not from understanding the other person's feelings, but what you do as a result of this. (a)Describe empathy as a value. (b)Narrate an event when you actually felt empathy. How was it helpful for the other person?
2. 2017 Mock Test -12 : Ethics and Integrity: Case Study-1
3. Differentiate between aptitude and intelligence. Examine their role in the life of a civil servant.
4. Importance of Implicit attitude in Civil Services
5. Draw connections between the ethical challenges of biotechnology and ethical issues related to abortion, animal welfare, and personal privacy.
6. 2018 – Case Study – 5
7. “Social justice for economically weaker sections, irrespective of caste and religion, is the need of the hour.” In this context, critically examine the steps taken by government over last few years to achieve social justice. (250 words, 15 Marks)
8. 2017 Mock Test 8: GS-IV: Ethics Case Study -4
9. 2018-Case Study – 6
10. What is Committed Bureaucracy?
11. Philanthropy even after being a part of the Indian culture and various religions has been very minuscule in India. In this context, highlight its significance and state the factors that are holding back philanthropy in India.
12. Discuss the challenges faced in curbing custodial violence. Also highlight the legal concerns associated with it and ways to address this issue.
13. 2017 Mock Test 8 – GS-IV: Ethics Case Study – 2
14. With suitable examples, explain that “Ethics is a science of values”.
15. How does emotional intelligence impact an administrator’s ability to accept responsibility and distribute tasks effectively? Discuss with suitable examples.
16. There have been calls for self-regulating mechanism for Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms similar to print media, instead for government regulation. Discuss.
17. 2017 Mock Test -8: GS-IV: Ethics Case Study -3
18. What do you understand by ethics? Explain the primary purpose of Ethics as a branch of philosophy.
19. Tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections are two essential virtues in civil servants that are needed for India's balanced development. Discuss.
20. With suitable examples, examine the nature of Ethics as a science or art or a combination of both.
