UPSC Mains 2024 GS2

GS2 — Polity · IR · Governance — 20 questions. Click any question for full text, examiner-intent decoding, source citations, cross-year examiner pattern, and a structured answer skeleton.

  1. Q1 Electoral reforms
    Free

    Examine the need for electoreal reforms as suggested by various commities with particular reference ‘‘one nation–one election’’ principle. (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  2. Q2 Alternative Dispute Resolution
    Free

    Explain and distinguish between Lok Adalats and Arbitration Tribunals, Whether they intertain civil as well as criminal cases? (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  3. Q3 Parliamentary Sovereignty
    Free

    ‘‘The gowth of cabinet system has practicallly resulted in the marginalisation of the parliamentary supremacy.’’ Elucidate (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  4. Q4 CAG Audit Powers
    Pro

    ‘‘The duty of the Comptroller and Auditor General is not merely to ensure the legality of expenditure but also its propriety.’’ Comment. (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  5. Q5 Local Self Government
    Pro

    Analyse the role of local bodies in providing good governance at local level and bring out the pros and cons merging the rural local bodies with the urban local bodies. (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  6. Q6 Civil Society Organizations
    Pro

    Public charitable trusts have the potential to make India's development more inclusive as they relate to certain vital public issues. Comment. (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  7. Q7 Human Capital Development
    Pro

    Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle? (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  8. Q8 Civil Service Ethics
    Pro

    The Doctrine of Democratic Governance makes it necessary that the public perception of the integrity and commitment of civil servants becomes absolutely positive. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  9. Q9 International Relations Geopolitics
    Pro

    ‘The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China's supply chain and as a strategically to counter China's political and econimic dominance.’ Explain this statement with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  10. Q10 Central Asia Relations
    Pro

    Critically analyse India's evolving diplomatic, economic and strategic relations with the Central Asian Republics (CARs) highlighting their increasing significance in regional and global geopolitics. (Answer in 150 words) 10

    10 marks · 150 words
  11. Q11 Education Sector Legislation
    Pro

    What are the aims and objects of recently passed and enforced, The Public Emamination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examminations, too, are covered under the Act? (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words
  12. Q12 Fundamental Rights Privacy
    Pro

    Right to privacy is intrinsic to life and personal liberty and is inherently protected under Article 21 of the constitution. Explain. In this reference discuss the law relating to D.N.A. testing of child in the womb to establish its paternity. (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words
  13. Q13 Centre-State Relations
    Pro

    What changes has the Union Government recently introduced in the domain of Centre-State relations? Suggest measures to be adopted to build the trust between the Centre and the States and for strengthening federalism. (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words
  14. Q14 Judicial Activism PIL
    Pro

    Explain the reasons for the growth of public interest litigation in India. As a result of it, has the Indian Supreme Court emerged as the world's most powerful judiciary? (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words
  15. Q15 Comparative Secularism
    Pro

    Discuss India as a secular state and compare with the secular principles of the US constituion. (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words
  16. Q16 Citizen Charters Governance
    Pro

    The Citizens' charter has been a landmark initiatice in ensuring citizen-centric administration. But it is yet to reach its full potential. Identify the factors hindering the realisation of its promise and suggest measures to overcome them. (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words
  17. Q17 Public Healthcare Policy
    Pro

    In a crucial domain like the public healthcare system the Indian State should paly a vital role to contain the adverse impact of marketisation of the system. Suggest some measures through which the State can enhance the reach of public healthcare at the grassroots level. (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words
  18. Q18 E-Governance Models
    Pro

    e-governance is not just about the routine application of digital technology in service delivery process. It is as much about multifarious interactions for ensuring transparency and accountability. In this context evaluate the role of the ‘Interactive Service Model’ of e-governance. (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words
  19. Q19 Global Counter-Terrorism
    Pro

    ‘Terrorism has become a significant threat to global peace and security.’ Evaluate the effectivencess of the United Nations Security Council's Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) and its associated bodies in addressing and mitigating this threat at the international level. (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words
  20. Q20 India-Maldives Relations
    Pro

    Discuss the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of Maldives for India with a focus on global trade and energy flows. Further also discuss how this relationship affects India's maritime security and regional stabiltiy amidst international competition? (Answer in 250 words) 15

    15 marks · 250 words