Archives: Questions

Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the goods and services tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017. (10 Marks)

Answer:  The goods and services tax (GST), introduced in India on 1 July 2017, replaced a host of indirect taxes… Continue reading Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the goods and services tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017. (10 Marks)

Do you think that the constitution of India does not accept the principle of strict separation of powers rather it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balances’? Explain. (10 Marks)

Mentors Comments: It’s a direct question based on the static portion of the polity. So you will not have many… Continue reading Do you think that the constitution of India does not accept the principle of strict separation of powers rather it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balances’? Explain. (10 Marks)

Define work culture. Explain in what way work culture is shaped through the observations and experiences of the individual in the workplace. Illustrate with suitable examples. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Ethics by Lexicon publications Explain what work culture is and then discuss how it is defined and shaped… Continue reading Define work culture. Explain in what way work culture is shaped through the observations and experiences of the individual in the workplace. Illustrate with suitable examples. (15 Marks)

What is the Hypersonic Glide Vehicles? Explain how they make the missile defence systems obsolete and what are its implications for India? (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-hype-over-hypersonics/article30659477.ece In intro briefly state what the term hypersonic means in the conventional sense. In the body, explain… Continue reading What is the Hypersonic Glide Vehicles? Explain how they make the missile defence systems obsolete and what are its implications for India? (15 Marks)

‘The process of interpretation of the Constitution of India has undergone a sort of evolution since its inception’. Examine the above statement with examples. (15 Marks)

Mentor’s comment: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-four-phases-of-constitutional-interpretation/article30653706.ece In the intro, briefly explain one of the most important roles of the judiciary i.e. interpretation of… Continue reading ‘The process of interpretation of the Constitution of India has undergone a sort of evolution since its inception’. Examine the above statement with examples. (15 Marks)

You are a Secretary in a government department. Your Minister has proposed an unemployment grant, which is expected to cost the public exchequer heavily. Having already made the decision, he asks you to come up with research to support the scheme. Despite your best efforts, you fail to find socio-economic benefit in it. You approach the Minister with relevant facts and studies and ask him to reconsider his decision. Instead, he asks you to suppress the negative impacts and actively promote the scheme through mass media as the perceived social impacts are more important than economic impacts. Elections are due in a short time and the political party currently in power is expected to win. You are also due for promotion at the same time. You are expected to fully cooperate in the situation and make the scheme a success, however flawed its foundations may be. (a) List the different stakeholders in the above situation and mention their prospective interests. (b) Discuss the ethical dilemma which you face in this situation. (c) Some of the alternatives for you to handle the situation could be: (i) Do as asked by the Minister. (ii) Insist on publication of results and let the public decide whether it wants the scheme. (iii) Call a press conference and brief the media about the results and the callous attitude of the Minister. Suggest any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action, giving reasons for it. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: List the facts of the case, mention various stakeholders. The prospective interest must be inferred from the facts.… Continue reading You are a Secretary in a government department. Your Minister has proposed an unemployment grant, which is expected to cost the public exchequer heavily. Having already made the decision, he asks you to come up with research to support the scheme. Despite your best efforts, you fail to find socio-economic benefit in it. You approach the Minister with relevant facts and studies and ask him to reconsider his decision. Instead, he asks you to suppress the negative impacts and actively promote the scheme through mass media as the perceived social impacts are more important than economic impacts. Elections are due in a short time and the political party currently in power is expected to win. You are also due for promotion at the same time. You are expected to fully cooperate in the situation and make the scheme a success, however flawed its foundations may be. (a) List the different stakeholders in the above situation and mention their prospective interests. (b) Discuss the ethical dilemma which you face in this situation. (c) Some of the alternatives for you to handle the situation could be: (i) Do as asked by the Minister. (ii) Insist on publication of results and let the public decide whether it wants the scheme. (iii) Call a press conference and brief the media about the results and the callous attitude of the Minister. Suggest any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action, giving reasons for it. (15 Marks)

‘This year India is about to be the largest cotton producer surpassing China in output, yet for all that India lags behind the other major cotton-producing countries in terms of productivity (yield per unit area)’. In light of the above statement explain the reason for the low productivity of cotton and suggest ways to increase it. (15 Marks)

Mentor’s Comment: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-flawed-spin-to-indias-cotton-story/article30627778.ece In the intro, briefly state the importance of cotton as a crop to the farmers of India.… Continue reading ‘This year India is about to be the largest cotton producer surpassing China in output, yet for all that India lags behind the other major cotton-producing countries in terms of productivity (yield per unit area)’. In light of the above statement explain the reason for the low productivity of cotton and suggest ways to increase it. (15 Marks)

Socialism has lost its meaning because of the various forms of socialism in practice. Evaluate in context of the various forms of socialism in practice during 19th and 20th century. (15 Marks) 

Mentors Comments: The question makes an assertion that socialism has lost its meaning because of the various forms of socialism… Continue reading Socialism has lost its meaning because of the various forms of socialism in practice. Evaluate in context of the various forms of socialism in practice during 19th and 20th century. (15 Marks) 

Do you agree with the view that the huge presence of the informal sector in the Indian economy would make the government spending to revive the economy more beneficial than what would appear in the official figures. (15 Marks)

Mentor’s comment: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/economy-slowdown-gdp-growth-development-where-demand-has-gone-6230425/ In the intro, briefly explain what do you mean by informal sector. In the body, explain how… Continue reading Do you agree with the view that the huge presence of the informal sector in the Indian economy would make the government spending to revive the economy more beneficial than what would appear in the official figures. (15 Marks)

“Replacing the Speaker with “permanent tribunal” as adjudicating authority under anti-defection law would be a step in the right direction to achieve the objectives sought under the law”. Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentor’s comment: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/ending-inaction/article30627769.ece In the intro, briefly explain what is an anti-defection law. In the body, explain various cases in… Continue reading “Replacing the Speaker with “permanent tribunal” as adjudicating authority under anti-defection law would be a step in the right direction to achieve the objectives sought under the law”. Comment. (15 Marks)

You are posted in a district as a public servant responsible for looking into the matters of violation of Right to Education Act. You came across a case in which a poor farmer had beaten his daughter for not going to take her fifth class annual exams. Eventually, he tied her up with his motorbike and took her to the examination hall. Corporal punishment to the children by parents or teachers is a punishable offence with three-month jail term. When you enquired about it the poor farmer explained that he had done so for ensuring a better future for her daughter as he does not want his children to live in poverty in which he is living. He also says that his economic condition is poor and if he is taken to jail his children will face severe hardships. (a) What are the options available to you? (b) Evaluate each of these options and choose the option which you would adopt, giving reasons. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Introduce your answer by identifying the ethical dilemma involved in this case for you, as a public servant.… Continue reading You are posted in a district as a public servant responsible for looking into the matters of violation of Right to Education Act. You came across a case in which a poor farmer had beaten his daughter for not going to take her fifth class annual exams. Eventually, he tied her up with his motorbike and took her to the examination hall. Corporal punishment to the children by parents or teachers is a punishable offence with three-month jail term. When you enquired about it the poor farmer explained that he had done so for ensuring a better future for her daughter as he does not want his children to live in poverty in which he is living. He also says that his economic condition is poor and if he is taken to jail his children will face severe hardships. (a) What are the options available to you? (b) Evaluate each of these options and choose the option which you would adopt, giving reasons. (15 Marks)

Although Great Britain suffered temporarily due to the American Revolution, it eventually became an even more powerful and expansive empire as a result of it and strengthened its stronghold in the East. Examine. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: The question expects us to examine whether the loss of British Control in America led to changes in… Continue reading Although Great Britain suffered temporarily due to the American Revolution, it eventually became an even more powerful and expansive empire as a result of it and strengthened its stronghold in the East. Examine. (15 Marks)

In the face of acute famine in the district, you, as an area officer, have instructed your subordinates to procure food grains from the FCI godowns located in the adjoining districts. This would make the food grains available to the public through PDS shops. Considering the gravity of the situation, this task has to be done immediately, because the majority of the people in the district are poor, and therefore can’t buy the food at the market prices. However, you were told that all the truck operators have formed a cartel and are asking for three times the usual transportation rate, in order to exploit the situation. This would nullify your effort, as the prices of the food grains would increase due to high transportation charges. (a) Following are some suggested options. Please evaluate the merits and demerits of each of the options: 1) Threaten the truck owners of severe consequences if they do not fall in line and cancel their transportation permits. 2) Transport the food grains by Railways, though it may take a week. 3) Agree to pay the truck owners the transportation charges they are demanding, so as to ensure the availability of food grains, but searching for alternative and affordable transportation. However, take legal actions against the truck owners at a later time. 4) Asking the state government for sending some help. (b) Also indicate (without necessarily restricting to the above options) the course of action you would like to follow, giving proper reasons for the same. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: The answer should begin with the context and the gravity of the situation. In this context, one should… Continue reading In the face of acute famine in the district, you, as an area officer, have instructed your subordinates to procure food grains from the FCI godowns located in the adjoining districts. This would make the food grains available to the public through PDS shops. Considering the gravity of the situation, this task has to be done immediately, because the majority of the people in the district are poor, and therefore can’t buy the food at the market prices. However, you were told that all the truck operators have formed a cartel and are asking for three times the usual transportation rate, in order to exploit the situation. This would nullify your effort, as the prices of the food grains would increase due to high transportation charges. (a) Following are some suggested options. Please evaluate the merits and demerits of each of the options: 1) Threaten the truck owners of severe consequences if they do not fall in line and cancel their transportation permits. 2) Transport the food grains by Railways, though it may take a week. 3) Agree to pay the truck owners the transportation charges they are demanding, so as to ensure the availability of food grains, but searching for alternative and affordable transportation. However, take legal actions against the truck owners at a later time. 4) Asking the state government for sending some help. (b) Also indicate (without necessarily restricting to the above options) the course of action you would like to follow, giving proper reasons for the same. (15 Marks)

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