Archives: Questions

“The Indian urban and rural life is viewed as the two faces of the same coin. They are mutually interdependent and both have a greater impact of globalization.” In the light of the given statement, compare and contrast implications of Globalization on rural and urban society in India and examine how they are different from each other. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: http://www.ijemr.net/DOC/GlobalisationAndItsEffectOnRuralIndia(54-56).pdf http://www.scienceandnature.org/IJEMS-Vol5(4)-Oct2014/IJEMS%20Vol5(4)-8.pdf The question is in the context of the Effects of globalization on Indian society and more… Continue reading “The Indian urban and rural life is viewed as the two faces of the same coin. They are mutually interdependent and both have a greater impact of globalization.” In the light of the given statement, compare and contrast implications of Globalization on rural and urban society in India and examine how they are different from each other. (15 Marks)

You are the leader of a 5 member team that has been assigned to carry out social impact assessment of a project proposed in a Naxal area. Members have been allotted a remote village each to conduct surveys and ascertain views of local people. You are under strict instructions not to disclose the identity of respondents outside the project. While compiling data, you are puzzled by the responses from one of the villages. You accompany the point-person for that village the next day for verification. You randomly pick a person from the list of respondents and ask her for clarification of the response she had given earlier. She seems confused and denies any knowledge of the survey being conducted, let alone she is questioned. You try to verify this from other respondents and get similar replies. This raises serious doubts about the integrity and credibility of the survey process. (a) What are the ethical issues involved in the situation? (b) As a team leader accountable for the credibility of the survey and working on a hard timeline, what are the possible options before you? List their merits and demerits. (c) Giving reasons, state the course of action you would follow. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Apart from covering the integrity of the team member, ethical issues should also include giving him/her benefit of… Continue reading You are the leader of a 5 member team that has been assigned to carry out social impact assessment of a project proposed in a Naxal area. Members have been allotted a remote village each to conduct surveys and ascertain views of local people. You are under strict instructions not to disclose the identity of respondents outside the project. While compiling data, you are puzzled by the responses from one of the villages. You accompany the point-person for that village the next day for verification. You randomly pick a person from the list of respondents and ask her for clarification of the response she had given earlier. She seems confused and denies any knowledge of the survey being conducted, let alone she is questioned. You try to verify this from other respondents and get similar replies. This raises serious doubts about the integrity and credibility of the survey process. (a) What are the ethical issues involved in the situation? (b) As a team leader accountable for the credibility of the survey and working on a hard timeline, what are the possible options before you? List their merits and demerits. (c) Giving reasons, state the course of action you would follow. (15 Marks)

India’s dependence on oil could well be described as the chink in its armour. In light of the statement above, discuss how India could leverage science and technology to end its dependence on oil? (15 Marks)

Mentor’s comment: India’s dependence on oil has always been its weakness which has always exposed it to security threats and… Continue reading India’s dependence on oil could well be described as the chink in its armour. In light of the statement above, discuss how India could leverage science and technology to end its dependence on oil? (15 Marks)

With the rapidly changing circumstances in the Middle East India might have to walk the tight rope of maintaining the relations with the U.S. and Iran’. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Mentor’s comment: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/qassem-soleimani-quds-iran-us-donald-trump-india-6203258/ “In what ways would the ongoing controversy US-Iran Nuclear Pact controversy affects the national interests of India?… Continue reading With the rapidly changing circumstances in the Middle East India might have to walk the tight rope of maintaining the relations with the U.S. and Iran’. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Urbanization is not a side effect of economic growth; it is an integral part of the process. Do you think Indian Urbanization has helped in India’s socio-economic growth? Discuss. (15 Marks)

  Mentors Comments: https://www.worldbank.org/en/webarchives/archive?url=httpzzxxweb.worldbank.org/archive/website01291/WEB/0__CO-22.HTM The question is based on the theme of urbanization and its impact on socio-economic growth. The… Continue reading Urbanization is not a side effect of economic growth; it is an integral part of the process. Do you think Indian Urbanization has helped in India’s socio-economic growth? Discuss. (15 Marks)

Developing countries are often very vulnerable to exploitation by multinational corporations. They support industrialization but lack of infrastructure is a major limiting factor. Further, without suitable laws and regulations, developing nations are ill-prepared for such endeavours. In their efforts to attract business, these nations often overlook the health and safety violations by the corporations doing business within their borders. Drawn by low-cost labour, new markets, and lower operation costs, corporations have little incentive to address environmental and human risks once they are entrenched. In this situation, there is an imminent threat of disaster. Discuss some feasible strategies to balance economic development and safety and security of people at large in developing countries with special emphasis on India. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Discuss the character of MNCs first with specific examples showing their disregard for human welfare. Then discuss various… Continue reading Developing countries are often very vulnerable to exploitation by multinational corporations. They support industrialization but lack of infrastructure is a major limiting factor. Further, without suitable laws and regulations, developing nations are ill-prepared for such endeavours. In their efforts to attract business, these nations often overlook the health and safety violations by the corporations doing business within their borders. Drawn by low-cost labour, new markets, and lower operation costs, corporations have little incentive to address environmental and human risks once they are entrenched. In this situation, there is an imminent threat of disaster. Discuss some feasible strategies to balance economic development and safety and security of people at large in developing countries with special emphasis on India. (15 Marks)

Despite the reformative steps taken by the Government, there is still a large scope for improving the efficiencies in the grain management system under the National Food Security Act(NFSA). Elaborate. (15 Marks)

Mentor’s comment: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/indian-economy-gdp-growth-agriculture-crisis-grain-management-farmers-6201226/ “What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make food grain distribution system more effective”… Continue reading Despite the reformative steps taken by the Government, there is still a large scope for improving the efficiencies in the grain management system under the National Food Security Act(NFSA). Elaborate. (15 Marks)

In India, debate on secularism often degenerates into a polarising polemic from both the sides- its defenders and opponents. In the light of the statement above, discuss the arguments made by the supporters of secularism and problems associated with it. (15 Marks)

Mentor’s comment: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-constitution-secularism-caa-nrc-bjp-6201235/ The article elaborates on the quality of ongoing political and social discourse on the issue of secularism… Continue reading In India, debate on secularism often degenerates into a polarising polemic from both the sides- its defenders and opponents. In the light of the statement above, discuss the arguments made by the supporters of secularism and problems associated with it. (15 Marks)

With the economy swinging fast between structural and cyclical slowdowns, analyse the effects of potential changes that can be made to direct tax regime of the country on the economy of the country. (15 Marks)

Mentor’s comment: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-the-fm-tweak-direct-taxes-to-spur-the-economy/article30463062.ece The article discuss the various possible changes that could be made to the direct tax structure and… Continue reading With the economy swinging fast between structural and cyclical slowdowns, analyse the effects of potential changes that can be made to direct tax regime of the country on the economy of the country. (15 Marks)

Despite various interventions and amendments, Anti-Defection Law has not proved to be an effective deterrent against defection. In light of the above statement discuss the measures to make the law more effective. (15 Marks)

Mentor’s comment: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/when-defection-is-a-mere-detour-for-an-mla/article30463693.ece  The article deals with the recent events including the Supreme Court Judgement in the case of application… Continue reading Despite various interventions and amendments, Anti-Defection Law has not proved to be an effective deterrent against defection. In light of the above statement discuss the measures to make the law more effective. (15 Marks)

In the wake of the worldwide campaign #MeToo, where women have related their experience of facing sexual harassment and abuse at the workplace, discuss the objectives and significance of SHe-box? (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=185900 The Ministry of Women and Child Development has linked SHe-Box, the online portal to report complaints of… Continue reading In the wake of the worldwide campaign #MeToo, where women have related their experience of facing sexual harassment and abuse at the workplace, discuss the objectives and significance of SHe-box? (15 Marks)

There is a perception that there is a lack of concern shown by the philosophy of capitalism towards human welfare. Do you agree with this perception? Evaluate the role of government in doing a balancing act between the interest of industrial class and the interest of the people. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/aqq3rGFH6Ir81HsT5sZpiI/Opinion–Reforming-capitalism-for-human-welfare.html The article discusses the lack of concern shown by the philosophy of capitalism towards human welfare and… Continue reading There is a perception that there is a lack of concern shown by the philosophy of capitalism towards human welfare. Do you agree with this perception? Evaluate the role of government in doing a balancing act between the interest of industrial class and the interest of the people. (15 Marks)

Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana has managed to increase formalization in existing companies. Examine. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/pm-modis-job-promotion-scheme-gains-momentum-lowers-costs-for-employers/1376605/ Government schemes are important for mains. There can either be a direct question on schemes or information… Continue reading Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana has managed to increase formalization in existing companies. Examine. (15 Marks)

Both sexual harassment and the kinds of responses from the accused in the MeToo Campaign lay bare a critical failure of our education system. Do you agree? Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentor Comments: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-gender curriculum/article25540532.ece?homepage=true The article examines the role of education in ending sexism and misogyny that the present education… Continue reading Both sexual harassment and the kinds of responses from the accused in the MeToo Campaign lay bare a critical failure of our education system. Do you agree? Comment. (15 Marks)

You are a Head of Department in a premier University. Recently a clerical staff in your department was terminated from the job as he was found under the influence of alcohol during office hours. In the previous month, there were a lot of complaints regarding his poor quality of work, tardiness and some incoherent behaviour. Later you came to know that this change in behaviour was concurrent with the death of his wife after a prolonged illness. It has also made him debt-ridden. This may be further compounded by the fact that he has a daughter to marry off soon and a differently-abled son to take care of. He desperately needs a job. He has applied for a position at a private University and has already given your name as a reference. He pleads you to give him a good recommendation and not mention his drinking, which he assures you is now under control. He also asks you to mention that he voluntarily left the University to address a family medical crisis and that the University was pleased with his work. You like this person and believe that he is a good worker when he is not drinking. But you doubt whether he has really overcome his drinking problem. Valid arguments can be advanced, both, for rejecting his plea with the consequence that his condition may become even worse and for accepting his plea with a noble intention, but keeping the third party in dark. What could those arguments be? Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma? If so, outline the main elements of this third way, pointing out its merits. (15 Marks) 

Mentors Comments: The answer must show an ethical conflict between the need to abide by the rules of recruitment (i.e.… Continue reading You are a Head of Department in a premier University. Recently a clerical staff in your department was terminated from the job as he was found under the influence of alcohol during office hours. In the previous month, there were a lot of complaints regarding his poor quality of work, tardiness and some incoherent behaviour. Later you came to know that this change in behaviour was concurrent with the death of his wife after a prolonged illness. It has also made him debt-ridden. This may be further compounded by the fact that he has a daughter to marry off soon and a differently-abled son to take care of. He desperately needs a job. He has applied for a position at a private University and has already given your name as a reference. He pleads you to give him a good recommendation and not mention his drinking, which he assures you is now under control. He also asks you to mention that he voluntarily left the University to address a family medical crisis and that the University was pleased with his work. You like this person and believe that he is a good worker when he is not drinking. But you doubt whether he has really overcome his drinking problem. Valid arguments can be advanced, both, for rejecting his plea with the consequence that his condition may become even worse and for accepting his plea with a noble intention, but keeping the third party in dark. What could those arguments be? Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma? If so, outline the main elements of this third way, pointing out its merits. (15 Marks) 

The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding? (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Mention your understanding of terrorism. Highlight the reasons for terrorism. Mention various steps that need to be taken… Continue reading The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding? (15 Marks)

RTI is an effective means to bring in transparency and accountability in administration. Only if it’s institutions are preserved. Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-duty-to-publish-on-rti-and-locus-standi-of-applicants/article30341726.ece Highlight the significance of RTI legislation. What are the limitations in its path to effectiveness? Suggest steps… Continue reading RTI is an effective means to bring in transparency and accountability in administration. Only if it’s institutions are preserved. Comment. (15 Marks)

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