Archives: Questions

Farmers, mainly smallholders, across India continue to face various constraints in carrying out farming activities. What are the constraints faced by the smallholders? Suggest the ways to deal with the issue.10 marks

Mentor’s comment- In the intro, mention the report by the World Bank titled Enabling the Business of Agriculture (EBA). In… Continue reading Farmers, mainly smallholders, across India continue to face various constraints in carrying out farming activities. What are the constraints faced by the smallholders? Suggest the ways to deal with the issue.10 marks

Discuss the factors that contributed to India’s growing engagement with the Quad. What are the implications of India’s engagement on the regional geopolitical concerns? 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/quad-strategic-opportunity-or-quagmire/article34029799.ece In the intro, briefly introduce the Quad. In the body, discuss the circumstance which led to India’s… Continue reading Discuss the factors that contributed to India’s growing engagement with the Quad. What are the implications of India’s engagement on the regional geopolitical concerns? 10 marks

The debate on the benefits and costs of public versus private banks is not new. It is more relevant in India today as it seeks to privatise public banks. In light of this, examine the factors driving privatisation of banks in India. 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/privatise-public-sector-banks-banking-sector-rbi-nirmala-sitharaman-7219966/ In the intro, mention the proposal of bank privatisation in India. In the body, mention the various… Continue reading The debate on the benefits and costs of public versus private banks is not new. It is more relevant in India today as it seeks to privatise public banks. In light of this, examine the factors driving privatisation of banks in India. 10 marks

‘India’s expanding partnership with the US is marked by a fascinating political puzzle. It also rests in the continuing underestimation of Delhi’s capacity to rework its great power relations to meet India’s changing interests and circumstances.’ In light of this, examine the factors shaping India’s relationship with the U.S and how these factors have transformed the relationship.10 marks

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/quad-group-india-us-relations-joe-biden-7219965/ In the intro, mention the recent digital meet of the Quad foreign minister after just a few… Continue reading ‘India’s expanding partnership with the US is marked by a fascinating political puzzle. It also rests in the continuing underestimation of Delhi’s capacity to rework its great power relations to meet India’s changing interests and circumstances.’ In light of this, examine the factors shaping India’s relationship with the U.S and how these factors have transformed the relationship.10 marks

You are transferred to Food and Civil Supplies department of Mirzapur as the Assistant Director. Before you report, you make a call to a college friend of yours who is a local news reporter to enquire about the affairs of the district. He tells you that, corruption is rampant across the administration including the Food and Civil Supplies Department. Not only that, those officers who do not fall in line are coerced to give in by force by local politicians and their goons. As you report, you see that many of trucks carrying grains to be distributed as PDS are being diverted to the black market for rebranding and selling at higher prices. You immediately swing in to action and stop the trucks for inspection and you ascertain that indeed they were being diverted for the black market. You ask the local station to book a case but the SHO refuses citing political pressure. But irrespective of that you do not allow the trucks to move and seize them for the time being. Next day you are visited by Mr Munna Tripathi, who is the son of the local MLA. He offers you a hefty bribe which you out rightly refuse. Upon refusing he threatens you with dire consequences if the trucks are not allowed to leave within the next 24 hours. What are the options in front of you? Analyze the pros and cons of the each. Which option will you choose? 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- In the introduction mention the facts of the case and the major ethical issues involved along with the… Continue reading You are transferred to Food and Civil Supplies department of Mirzapur as the Assistant Director. Before you report, you make a call to a college friend of yours who is a local news reporter to enquire about the affairs of the district. He tells you that, corruption is rampant across the administration including the Food and Civil Supplies Department. Not only that, those officers who do not fall in line are coerced to give in by force by local politicians and their goons. As you report, you see that many of trucks carrying grains to be distributed as PDS are being diverted to the black market for rebranding and selling at higher prices. You immediately swing in to action and stop the trucks for inspection and you ascertain that indeed they were being diverted for the black market. You ask the local station to book a case but the SHO refuses citing political pressure. But irrespective of that you do not allow the trucks to move and seize them for the time being. Next day you are visited by Mr Munna Tripathi, who is the son of the local MLA. He offers you a hefty bribe which you out rightly refuse. Upon refusing he threatens you with dire consequences if the trucks are not allowed to leave within the next 24 hours. What are the options in front of you? Analyze the pros and cons of the each. Which option will you choose? 10 marks

Mr. Julian Assange was indicted in 2019 on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act of U.S.A for obtaining and publishing secret military and diplomatic documents. He was charged with violating the Computers Fraud and Abuse Act in the U.S. The publication of the material exposed wrongdoing by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, and rights groups have hailed their release as valuable information for the public. Mr. Assange’s promotion of government transparency has made him a hero to many, but he has also been criticized as a publicity seeker with an erratic personality. On the other hand, the U.S. government considers Mr. Assange an individual who has put lives at risk by revealing names of U.S. personnel and informants who provided valuable information in dangerous places like war zones. In 2012, Mr. Assange entered the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to escape an extradition request from Sweden, where he faced rape accusations. He spent seven years in the embassy, but was arrested by the British police in 2019, and later sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for skipping bail when he entered the embassy. The charges in Sweden have been dropped, and Mr. Assange has completed his 50-week sentence. He is not accused of any crime outside the United States, but he remains at the Belmarsh prison in London while Britain decides on his extradition. His bail requests have so far been rejected. Several doctors have said that Mr. Assange suffers from depression and memory loss and could attempt to kill himself if he were extradited. Personal liberty still eludes WikiLeaks founder and Editor-in-Chief Julian Assange, despite a ruling by a United Nations legal panel that has declared his confinement “arbitrary and illegal”. Analyse ethical issues involved in the above case. Should Mr Julian Assange be pardoned? State your opinion. 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- Start by giving the context of the case study. In the body identify and mention in detail all… Continue reading Mr. Julian Assange was indicted in 2019 on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act of U.S.A for obtaining and publishing secret military and diplomatic documents. He was charged with violating the Computers Fraud and Abuse Act in the U.S. The publication of the material exposed wrongdoing by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, and rights groups have hailed their release as valuable information for the public. Mr. Assange’s promotion of government transparency has made him a hero to many, but he has also been criticized as a publicity seeker with an erratic personality. On the other hand, the U.S. government considers Mr. Assange an individual who has put lives at risk by revealing names of U.S. personnel and informants who provided valuable information in dangerous places like war zones. In 2012, Mr. Assange entered the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to escape an extradition request from Sweden, where he faced rape accusations. He spent seven years in the embassy, but was arrested by the British police in 2019, and later sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for skipping bail when he entered the embassy. The charges in Sweden have been dropped, and Mr. Assange has completed his 50-week sentence. He is not accused of any crime outside the United States, but he remains at the Belmarsh prison in London while Britain decides on his extradition. His bail requests have so far been rejected. Several doctors have said that Mr. Assange suffers from depression and memory loss and could attempt to kill himself if he were extradited. Personal liberty still eludes WikiLeaks founder and Editor-in-Chief Julian Assange, despite a ruling by a United Nations legal panel that has declared his confinement “arbitrary and illegal”. Analyse ethical issues involved in the above case. Should Mr Julian Assange be pardoned? State your opinion. 10 marks

The 26th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on the Climate Change will be important because this will be the first occasion after the Paris Climate agreement that countries will be expected to “ratchet up” the nationally determined commitments they made as part of that agreement. In light of this, examine the factors that should form the basis of India’s stance at the negotiations. 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/climate-change-cop-un-convention-paris-climate-agreement-7216163/ In the intro, mention the nationally determined contributions. In the body, mention the factors that form the… Continue reading The 26th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on the Climate Change will be important because this will be the first occasion after the Paris Climate agreement that countries will be expected to “ratchet up” the nationally determined commitments they made as part of that agreement. In light of this, examine the factors that should form the basis of India’s stance at the negotiations. 10 marks

While seeking to develop digital health infrastructure through the National Digital Health Mission, we should be mindful of certain considerations for design choices and policies to achieve the desired social objectives. Comment. 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/national-digital-health-mission-harsh-vardhan-healthcare-sector-7218715/ In the body, mention the objectives of the National Digital Health Mission. In the body, mention issues such… Continue reading While seeking to develop digital health infrastructure through the National Digital Health Mission, we should be mindful of certain considerations for design choices and policies to achieve the desired social objectives. Comment. 10 marks

Deliberate on the archaic, gendered constructs and divisions present even today in our country and their deep but differential impacts on women and men with suitable illustrations. 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- Start by explaining the fact that Indian women have been shouldering a debilitating burden of unpaid household and… Continue reading Deliberate on the archaic, gendered constructs and divisions present even today in our country and their deep but differential impacts on women and men with suitable illustrations. 10 marks

Discuss the various aspects of the ‘Reforms-Linked, Result-Based Scheme for Distribution’ (RLRBSD), what are the challenges in its success? 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/power-struggle-centres-reform-scheme-is-a-mere-bailout-package-for-discoms/2206553/ In the intro, mention the staggering debt of the discoms. In the body, mention the objectives related… Continue reading Discuss the various aspects of the ‘Reforms-Linked, Result-Based Scheme for Distribution’ (RLRBSD), what are the challenges in its success? 10 marks

There has been a growing pattern of domicile based employment preference. Besides the issue of the constitutionality of such policies, what are the other implications? 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/haryana-bill-local-candidiates-reservation-7214632/ In the intro, mention that Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh are the states which have either… Continue reading There has been a growing pattern of domicile based employment preference. Besides the issue of the constitutionality of such policies, what are the other implications? 10 marks

“To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful.” Discuss in the light of relevance of the virtue of truth in Public administration. 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- Start with the definition of the virtue of “Truth”. In the answer body first briefly explain the meaning… Continue reading “To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful.” Discuss in the light of relevance of the virtue of truth in Public administration. 10 marks

The Permanent Court of Arbitration decisions against India in the Vodafone and Cairn cases points to the necessity to rethink in India’s approach to the Bilateral Investment Treaties. In light of this, examine the issues with India’s stand its implications. 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/despite-arbitration-tug-of-war-mutual-settlement-is-key/article33983317.ece In the intro, briefly describe the purpose of bilateral investment treaties (BITs). In the body, briefly mention… Continue reading The Permanent Court of Arbitration decisions against India in the Vodafone and Cairn cases points to the necessity to rethink in India’s approach to the Bilateral Investment Treaties. In light of this, examine the issues with India’s stand its implications. 10 marks

India needs to realise that in today’s fragmented world the power of any aspiring global player depends on the number and quality of its bi- and multilateral relationships. In light of this, examine the potential of India’s partnership with the European Union. 10 marks

Mentor’s comment- https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/recalibrating-relations-with-eu/article33974083.ece In the intro, mention the democratic thread running between the two. In the body, mention growing assertiveness of… Continue reading India needs to realise that in today’s fragmented world the power of any aspiring global player depends on the number and quality of its bi- and multilateral relationships. In light of this, examine the potential of India’s partnership with the European Union. 10 marks

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