Why now a days,
Coaching Institution losing their relevance in UPSC exams?
Where the Questions
of UPSC which stands out of coaching class materials picked from? Is it from
Mars or Jupiter?
Or
Or
Is the UPSC more
creative in framing question?
"The secret to creativity is to knowing how to
hide your sources."
Is UPSC hiding its
source?
An Analysis
Question Source for UPSC 2014 Mains
Essay Paper
NO Specific
Answer for Essays, This paper is to test your thought flow and clarity, GS type
of Answer will not fetch good mark. Its score most of the time aid the
Elimination process. People often with equal scores in GS Paper & Optional
paper might have a wide valley-gap in their marks of Essay Paper (Ex. 30 marks
Vs 150 marks). This paper some time decides one getting in to the service.
Section-A (125
marks)
Write any one of the following essay
in 1000-1200 words.
1.
With greater power
comes greater responsibility.
Hint: As the biggest Country India also had the ‘biggest responsibility’ –
Our PM
Other Perspective: http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility-114100500643_1.html
(this could have been used if asked in GS)
2.
Is the growing
level of competition good for the youth?
3.
Are the
standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress?
Hint:
4.
Words are sharper
than the two-edged sword.
Write any one of the following essay
in 1000-1200 words.
1.
Was it the policy
paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our
country?
Hint: “Decade of Decay Book” launched before election – policy paralysis of the previous
government.
2.
Is sting operation
an invasion on privacy?
3.
Fifty Golds in
Olympics: Can this be a reality for India?
4.
Tourism: Can this
be the next big thing for India?
Hint: Discussions triggered in
Mygov.nic.in –
1. Best Practices for Tourism by State Governments and Across the
World
2. Balance Growth in Tourism and Environment.
3. Make Popular Destinations More Tourist Friendly.
General Studies - Paper I
Culture
(40m)
Syllabus
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms,
Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
1.
To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus
Valley Civilization provided inputs
to the present day urbanization? Discuss.
Hint/
Source:
US Anthropologist – IVC – Urbanization &
collapse – reason for the destruction lies in Economic, Social & Climate
Factors.
Another popular Guy also triggered this debate
on IVC & Urbanization - UNESCO – Proto Urbanization (Press Release)
Sarazm (Where land Begins)
– Architecture & Town model; Metallurgy & Handicraft; Trans Eurasian
Trade Route; Production of Manufacturing Goods;
2.
Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.
Hint/
Source:
The Buddhist Heritage of
Pakistan: Art of Gandhara reveals the complex cultural influences — from
Scytho-Parthian to Greco-Roman traditions – The Beauty of Ancient
Globalization. From Gandhara to Taxila - global civilization - the
Hindu-Buddhist-Indo-Greek
3.
Taxila university was one of the oldest
universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of
different disciplines. Its strategic
location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not
considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.
Hint/
Source: Strategic ‘location’ – PM
candidate – misinterpret Taxila in the Place of Nalanda during Election
Campaign J :P
http://www.aicte-india.org/downloads/ancient.pdf
(you
can find this same line in this document without even a letter missing)
Arthasasthra composed in
Taxila… Chandra Gupta, Ayurvedi healer Charka studies in Taxila.. Strategist
Kautilya was the Senior Faculty. Vedas & 18 Arts been taught there for
students from their 16years of Age. Attracted students across the world until
its destruction in 5th century BCE, Place of Religious &
Historic sanctity – seat of Vedic studies – in many reference there is
disagreement to consider it as an University;
4.
Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim
societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.
Hint/
Source: (Sep 2015 to Nov 2015)
Many articles on Sufism – who triggered it? 19th Century Muslim
Mystic or Modern days Sufi Saint Sai Baba Controversy – High Court &
Supreme Court ruling.
Sufi Saints of Medieval
time – Bhakti movement – Concept of Moksha from Bhagavat Gita; Persian &
Arabic element in to classical music – musical influence for spiritual ecstasy;
Rituals of visiting Tomb of Sufi saint/ shrine – Architecture – love towards
God; failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or outward structure of H/M Societies Just
to refer: Amir Khusrow, Salim Chishti, Najmuddin Kubra; progressive step is
they build bridge across religions. They trigger one’s thinking.
1.
The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many
empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat?
Hint/
Source:
2.
Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of
the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence.
Hint/ Source:
3.
In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in
the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?
Hint/ Source:
http://www.niticentral.com/2014/11/25/ajit-doval-subhash-bose-british-india-246597.html
(Our Senior already cautioned us about the question – trigger Bose
Vs Gandhi Debate)
Syllabus
Topic: History of the world will include events from 18th century such as
industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries,
colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism,
capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
1.
What were the major political, economic and social developments
in the world which motivated the anti-colonial
struggle in India?
2.
What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How
did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self-image as a world power?
3.
The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the
policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate.
|
Role Of Women
|
1.
How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India?
|
|
Hint/ Source:
Justice Ganguly case, Verma Committee, 1997 Vishaka Guidelines,
Sexual Harrassment bill, Now Uber Case
AIR Spotlight – Dailogue on Women Safety & Responsibility of
the Society.
|
|
|
Population Issues
|
2.
Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give
your arguments.
|
|
Hint/ Source:
|
|
|
Population Issues
|
3.
The life cycle of a joint
family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.
|
|
Hint/ Source: 70% Business in India
are Family Controlled.
|
|
|
Role Of Women / Poverty-Development
|
4.
Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that
are driving increasing feminization of
agriculture in India.
|
|
Hint/ Source:
Women form half of the workforce in Agriculture
– Bihar State Report. (Aug 2014)
|
|
|
Secularism
|
5.
How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the
debates in the West?
|
|
Hint/ Source:
Debate on Secularism – a marketing gimmick to confuse voter. Term
‘Secularism’ honour of Jawaharalal Nehru’s 125th Birth
Anniversary. It is obvious to know that Indian Secularism is different from
that of the Western connotation.
The Big Picture RSTV – Are these elections a
|
|
1.
Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam
to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain.
Hint/ Source:
Royal and costly Brew of Darjeeling Brand – to
be available in bags. (July 2014 – Times of India, ET)
2.
Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and
Steel industry in the world.
Hint/ Source:
Jharkhand shuts 12 iron ore mines, it hits the Steel Industries
3.
Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the
eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?
1.
Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and
Philippines archipelagos.
2.
Why is the world’s fold mountain systems located along the
margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global
distribution of Fold Mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.
1.
Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay
of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?
2.
Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an
outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree?
3.
Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan
glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.
1.
Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which
can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world.
2.
How does India see its place in the economic space of rising
natural resource rich Africa?
Hint/
Source:
General Studies
- Paper II
Constitution
(50m)
1.
Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the
judiciary has played a highly proactive role in ensuring that India develops
into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate the role played
by judicial activism in achieving
the ideals of democracy.
Hint/
Source:
2.
Though the federal
principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its
basic features, but it is equally true that federalism under the Indian
Constitution leans in favour of a strong
Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism.
Discuss.
Hint/ Source:
3.
The ‘Powers, Privileges and
Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of
the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess the
reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?
Hint/ Source:
4.
Instances of President’s delay
in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of
justice. Should there be a time limit
specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.
Hint/ Source: 21st Jan 2015 – AIR News Analysis – SC on Mercy Petition
5.
What do you understand by the concept “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also?
Why do the films in India stand on a
slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss.
Hint/ Source:
|
syllabus topic
|
Question asked
|
|
structure-functioning
of executive
|
The size of the
cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the
Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far the efficacy of a government
then is inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss.
|
|
Hint/ Source: Minimum Government with Maximum Governance
10th July 2014 – RSTV Policy Watch- PM developing direct line of communication
with the bureaucracy.
|
|
|
role of civil
service
|
Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organisation
been the cause of slow change in India? Critically examine.
|
|
Hint/ Source:
|
|
|
Various bodies
|
National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) in India
can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other
mechanisms that ensure the accountability
of a government. In light of the above observation assess the role of
NHRC as an effective complement to the
judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights
standards.
|
|
Hint/ Source: Importance of NHRC arises at many instants past span of 10
months’ time – IPC 377, Communal Violence bill empowers NHRC (Frontline
Article), Delhi medical negligence.
|
|
Syllabus
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various
sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
1.
Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news media like
a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the Government is
mulling over the proposal for increased
FDI in news media for quite some time. What difference would an increase in
FDI make? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
Hint/ Source:
2.
The setting up of a Rail
Tariff Authority to regulate fares will subject the cash strapped Indian
Railways to demand subsidy for obligation to operate non-profitable routes and
services. Taking into account the experience
in the power sector, discuss if the proposed reform is expected to benefit
the consumers, the Indian Railways or the private container operators.
Hint/ Source: 21st June 2014 – All
India Radio – News Analysis – Hike in Railway Fair, 8th July
2014 – Interview with Railway minister;
1.
The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting participation in development
programmes is facing socio-cultural
hurdles. Examine.
Hint/ Source:
2.
Do government’s schemes
for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required
social resources for them, lead to their
exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics?
Hint/ Source:
3.
An athlete participates
in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s
glory; victors are showered with cash
incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state
sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement.
Hint/ Source:
4.
Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status,
allowed more academic independence
in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges.
Hint/ Source:
5th Feb 2014 – All India Radio News Analysis – Economic
Criteria in Reservation in Selection.
Academic Independence - http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ugc-on-iit-controversy-letter-misconstrued-as-encroachment/1/379021.html
5.
Two parallel run schemes of the Government viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary
and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also
litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run
concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental
benefits and equitable growth.
Hint/
Source:
1.
With respect to the South
China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need
for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over
flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.
Hint/
Source:
China’s
New Maritime Silk Route (24 Feb 2014 – India’s World RSTV)
Direction
of India China Ties (24 Sep 2014 – India’s World RSTV)
India
rebuff China in Arunachal Border (21st Oct 2014 – India’s World
RSTV)
China’s
Interest in Afghan (10th Nov 2014 – India’s World RSTV)
2.
The aim of Information Technology Agreements (ITAs)
is to lower all taxes and tariffs on
information technology products by signatories to zero. What impact should such agreements have on India’s interests?
Hint/ Source: Hindu Business Line (11
July 2014) – Interview with Shaktikanta Das, Revenue Secy. (he triggered this
discuss in this Interview.)
3.
Some of the International
funding agencies have special terms for economic participation stipulating
a substantial component of the aid to be used for sourcing equipment from the leading countries. Discuss on
merits of such terms and if, there exists a strong case not to accept such
conditions in the Indian context.
Hint/ Source:
4.
India has recently signed to become founding a New Development
Bank (NDB) and also the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
.How will the role of the two Banks be different? Discuss the significance of
these two Banks for India.
Hint/ Source: 22nd July 2014
– RSTV: India’s World – BRICS Bank
China’s AIIB on the lines of ADB; 27th July – RSTV: Policy Watch – BRICS Bank
5.
WTO is an important international institution where decisions
taken affect countries in profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how
binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India’s stand on the latest
round of talks on Food security.
Hint/
Source: 28 July 2014 – RSTV:Policy
Watch – India oppose TFA.
4th Aug
2014 - AIR News Analysis.
29th July 2014
– RSTV:The Big Picture – WTO
Negotiation – will India stick to its stand
General Studies - Paper III
Economy
(5 Qs | 62.5 marks)
1.
Normally countries shift
from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services.
What are the reasons for the huge growth of services vis-a-vis industry in the
country? Can India become a developed
country without a strong industrial base?
Hint/
Source: Debate trigger at Make in
India campaign
24th July 2014
– RSTV Policy Watch – Key
fundamental macro-economic Data
2.
While we found India’s
demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping rates of employability. What are we missing while doing so? Where will the
jobs that India desperately needs come from? Explain.
Hint/
Source: 24th July – All
India Radio – News Analysis – Focus on Skill Development;
1st July 2014 –
RSTV Policy Watch – Jobs &
employment - India Exclusion Report (2013-14)
3.
The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation and
resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1 January 2014. What
implication would it have on industrialization
and agriculture in India?
Hint/
Source:
Transparency in Land
Acquisition bill – (31st Aug 2013 – RSTV: The Big Picture) also in many other debates of RSTV – LARR
compensation & transparency had a say.
4.
Capitalism has guided the world
economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to
wide disparities between the rich and the poor. In this light, would it be
correct to believe and adopt capitalism
driving inclusive growth in India? Discuss. (Statement lifted from Business-world column, 27th June 2014)
Hint/
Source: linking Capitalism &
Inclusive Growth – India being a Mixed Economy – compromise neither Welfare
State nor Capitalist State. (Simple debate trigger on this line would have
helped better)
The
Big Picture - RSTV – 13th Aug 2014 – Crony Capitalism – Debate trigger after
usage of this term by RBI Gov.
5.
Foreign direct investment in the defence sector is now said to
be liberalized. What influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and
economy in the short and long run?
Hint/
Source: FDI in Railway, Defence has been hiked.
ET, Business Standards,
and RSTV Policy Watch (. (June – Aug 2014)
Policy
Watch – RSTV – 12th Aug 2014
FDI in Railway, Defence
has been hiked.
Linking FDI in Defence
with Market http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-07/news/52556152_1_fdi-limits-fdi-hike-rajat-rajgarhia
Also Defence Capability –
AIR News Analysis – 26th Jan 2014
Syllabus
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.;
Investment models.
1.
Explain how private public partnership agreements, in longer
gestation infrastructure projects, can transfer
unsuitable liabilities to the future. What arrangements need to be put in
place to ensure that successive generations’ capacities are not compromised?
Hint/ Source: 26 June 2014 – Policy Watch – Challenges in Infrastructure Sector
2.
National urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people
instead of moving vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies
of the government in this regard.
Hint/
Source:
1.
There is also a point of view that agriculture produce market
committees (APMCs) set up under the state acts have not only impeded the
development of agriculture but also have been the cause of food inflation in
India. Critically examine.
Hint/ Source: The Big Picture RSTV – Does APMC Act need Reform?
2.
“In the villages itself no form of credit organisation will be suitable except the cooperative society.” – All Indian rural credit survey. Discuss
this statement in the background of agriculture
finance in India. What constrain and
challenges do financial institutions supplying agricultural finances? How
can technology be used to better
reach and serve rural clients?
Hint/
Source: Agri Financing – Capital
formation for Agri – Cooperative Society & Technology – Linking all this Aspects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAe0xgISoX8&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzoqQsGjmamTu6f453RWpm_I&index=31(The Big Picture – Global
Agri Price Crash – Impact on India -6th Nov 2014)
2nd Aug 2014
–AIR News Analysis – Science & Technology for Agriculture.
1.
Can overuse and the
availability of antibiotics without
doctor’s prescription, the contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What
are the available mechanisms for monitoring
and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.
Hint/
Source: Important guy have triggered this discussion in May 2014
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/amr-report/en/
(WHO press release, 30 May 2014)
28th July –
RSTV Policy Watch - Health Care in India
2.
Scientific research in
Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as
attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer oriented.
Critically comment.
Hint/
Source:
3.
In a globalised world, intellectual
property rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms –
copyrights, patents and trade secrets.
Hint/
Source: From Basics- Most Expected.
Khadi- Trade mark Issue
with German, Bayer’s Nexavar.
India in IPR ‘Watch List’
(30 May 2014)
1.
Should the pursuit of carbon
credit and clean development
mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a
massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s
energy needs for economic growth. Issue discussed in Business world 21st
January 2014, and sufficient bullets available
2.
Drought has been recognized
as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and
lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September
2010 guidelines from the National disaster management authority, discuss the
mechanism for preparedness to deal with
the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India.
Hint/
Source: Debates triggered on these lines – All India Radio – News Analysis / Spotlight: 20th July
2014 – Monsoon & Agri Prospective, 10th June & 28th
June – preparedness to tackle Deficit Monsoon, 1st July – Impact of
monsoon, 31st July – role of NDMA; 8th Aug – Govt’s
Initiatives in Rain Deficit states;
10th July 2014
– Policy Watch RSTV – RBI Bi-monthly
policy Review – RBI Gov. – preparedness to Tackle Deficit Monsoon – El Nino
3.
Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly
undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal
plants located at Pitheads.
Hint/
Source:
24th July 2014
– AIR News Analysis – Interview with
MoEFCC
24th Aug &
25th Sep – Coal Block Allocation & SC verdict.
7th June 2014 –
AIR News Analysis – Online
Environmental Clearance.
1. The diverse nature of
India as a multi-religious and multi-ethnic
society is not immune to the impact
of radicalism which has been in her
neighborhood. Discuss along with the strategies to be adopted to counter
this environment. (Been in news after Al-Qaeda threat to India and US report on
counter-terror measures in India).
Hint/ Source:
Srilankan Ethinic Crisis – RSTV:
India’s World
Al- Qaeda comes to Indian Subcontinent – RSTV: India’s World – 10th Sep 2014
2. International civil aviation laws provide all
countries complete and exclusive severity over the airspace above the territory. What do you understand by airspace?
What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace?
Discuss the challenges which this
poses and suggests ways to contain the
threat.
Hint/ Source:
3. How illegal transborder migration does pose
a threat to India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bring out
the factors which give impetus to such migration. (Been in news for a
long time due to election speeches of Modi and issue of Rohingya migrants.)
Hint/ Source:
Will LBA check illegal Migration? – 2nd Dec 2014 – RSTV:
The Big Picture
4. In 2012, the
longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65° East to 78° east in the
Arabian Sea by International Maritime organisation. What impact does this have
on India’s maritime security concerns? (Statement resurfaced Hindu 14/Jan/14 but not much hardcore points.
Same with NewIndianexpress)
Hint/ Source:
5. China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development
of an economic corridor. What thread
does it dispose for India’s security? Critically examine. (Talks were on going
since mid-2013s, but official launch news appeared in 1st Dec’14 Hindu. Moral of the story: one should
keep reading it even if exam is near.)
Hint/ Source:
General Studies - Paper IV
SECTION—A
(Bol-bachchan Questions) 130m
Each
of the following questions is worth 10 marks and 150 words.
1.
All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does
happiness mean to you? Explain with examples.
Hint/ Source: (UPSC demand Bit
Introspection rather than completion of syllabus)
2.
What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all
the more important in public administration?
Hint/ Source:
3.
In the context of defence services, ‘patriotism’ demands readiness to even lay down one’s life in
protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism imply in everyday civil life? Explain with
illustrations and justify your answer.
Hint/ Source: (General Topic – mere discussion/ brainstorming would help, And for
information I have handled a Discussion on this topic to Anna University first
years, an year back)
Swachh Bharat – ‘It is not
Politics, but patriotism’ – Shri Narendra Modi – on 2nd Oct
2014.
4.
What do you understand by ‘probity’
in public life? What are the difficulties in practicing it in the present
times? How can these difficulties be overcome?
Hint/
Source: Polity and Criminality – BS Editorial – Court Raise bar on Probity
in public life – criminality in politics.
5.
“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is
dangerous and dreadful.” What do you understand by this statement? Explain your
stand with illustrations from the modern context.
Hint/ Source:
6.
“Human beings should always be treated as ‘ends’ in themselves and never as merely `means’.”
Explain the meaning and significance of this statement, giving its implications
in the modern techno-economic society.
Hint/ Source:
7.
Which eminent personality
has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings giving specific examples, describe how
you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development.
Hint/ Source:
8.
There is a heavy ethical
responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of
power, handle huge amounts of public
funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and
environment. What steps have you taken
to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility?
Hint/ Source:
9.
The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this
situation for personal well-being and for societal well-being? What can you do
at the personal level to make yourself
trustworthy?
10. It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However,
there is no dearth of instances where affluent
and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic
causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples.
Hint/ Source: 2G, CWG, Coal Scam, Sahara, Reliance.
11. What factors affect
the formation of a person’s attitude
towards social problems? In our society, contrasting attitudes are
prevalent about many social problems. What contrasting
attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society? How do you
explain the existence of these contrasting attitudes?
Hint/ Source:
12. What does
‘accountability’ mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted
to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants?
Hint/ Source:
13. We are witnessing
increasing instances of sexual violence
against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it,
the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace.
Hint/ Source:
Now-a-days,
there is an increasing thrust on economic development all around the globe. At
the same time, there is also an increasing concern
about environmental degradation caused by development. Many a time, we face
a direct conflict between developmental activity and environmental quality. It
is neither feasible to stop or curtail the development process, nor it is
advisable to keep degrading the environment, as it threatens our very survival.
Discuss
some feasible strategies which could be adopted to eliminate this conflict and
which could lead to sustainable development. 250 words
Suppose
one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services, comes to
you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public
service. He raises the following points :
1.
In the present times, when unethical environment is quite
prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot
of problems in one’s career. It may also cause hardship to the family members
as well as risk to one’s life. Why should we not be pragmatic and follow the path
of least resistance, and be happy with doing whatever good we can?
2.
When so many people are adopting wrong means and are grossly
harming the system, what difference would it make if only a small minority
tries to be ethical? They are going to be rather ineffective and are bound to
get frustrated.
3.
If we become fussy about ethical considerations, will it not
hamper the economic progress of our country? After all, in the present age of
high competition, we cannot afford to be left behind in the race of development.
4.
It is understandable that we should not get involved in grossly
unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gratifications and doing
small favours increases everybody’s motivation. It also makes the system more
efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices?
Critically
analyze the above viewpoints. On the basis of this analysis, what will be your
advice to your friend? 250 words.
You
are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You have been transferred to a remote
district to head a department that is notorious for its inefficiency and
callousness. You find that the main cause of the poor state of affairs is the
indiscipline of a section of employees. They do not work themselves and also
disrupt the working of others. You first warned the troublemakers to mend their
ways or else face disciplinary action. When the warning had little effect, you
issued a show cause notice to the ringleaders. As a retaliatory measure, these
troublemakers instigated a woman employee amongst them to file a complaint of
sexual harassment against you with the Women’s Commission. The Commission
promptly seeks your explanation. The matter is also publicized in the media to
embarrass you further. Some of the options to handle this situation could be as
follows :
1.
Give your explanation to the Commission and go soft on the
disciplinary action.
2.
Ignore the Commission and proceed firmly with the disciplinary
action.
3.
Brief your higher-ups, seek directions from them and act
accordingly.
Suggest
any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course
of action, giving your reasons for it.
Suppose
you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialized electronic equipment
used by a government department. You have submitted your bid for the supply of
this equipment to the department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are
better than those of the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding a
hefty bribe for approving the tender. Getting the order is important both for
you and for your company. Not getting the order would mean closing a production
line. It may also affect your own career. However, as a value-conscious person,
you do not want to give bribe.
Valid
arguments can be advanced both for giving the bribe and getting the order, and
for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the loss of the order. What those
arguments could 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. 250 words.
Rameshwar
successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited
about the opportunity that he would get through the civil services to serve the
country. However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are
not as rosy as he had imagined.
He
found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department assigned to him.
For example, funds under various schemes and grants were being misappropriated.
The official facilities were frequently being used for personal needs by the
officers and staff. After some time, he noticed that the process of recruiting
the staff was also not up to the mark. Prospective candidates were required to
write an examination in which a lot of cheating was going on. Some candidates
were provided external help in the examination. Rameshwar brought these
incidents to the notice of his seniors. However, he was advised to keep his
eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all these things which were taking place
with the connivance of the higher-ups. Rameshwar felt highly disillusioned and
uncomfortable. He comes to you seeking your advice.
Indicate
various options that you think are available in this situation. How would you help
him to evaluate these options and choose the most appropriate path to be
adopted? 250 words.
In
our country, the migration of rural people to towns and cities is increasing
drastically. This is causing serious problems both in the rural as well as in
the urban areas. In fact, things are becoming really unmanageable. Can you
analyze this problem in detail and indicate not only the socio-economic but
also the emotional and attitudinal factors responsible for this problem? Also,
distinctly bring out why—
1.
Educated rural youth are trying to shift to urban areas;
2.
Landless poor people are migrating to urban slums;
3.
Even some farmers are selling off their land and trying to
settle in urban areas taking up petty jobs.
4.
What feasible steps can you suggest which will be effective in
controlling this serious problem of our country?
Final findings:
As an Aspiring Civil
Servant, what UPSC direct us to understand is the Ground Reality rather than
common man’s grass tip knowledge. So, to get better picture of the functioning
of Government we need to follow.
1. Interviews/ opinions of
Secretaries, Experts, Govt. Advisors (RSTV, Hindu Business Line AIR News
Analysis) – It help us to get inside about the Government functioning.
2. Trigger Debate on Essential Topics – Inputs can
be from various Newspapers – The
Hindu the base material, apart from this many debates are triggered by (The
Guardian, New Indian Express, The Economic Times, Business Standards, The
Guardian, New York Times) – It is not necessary that we must have read all the
20-25 pages of the newspaper.
3. Major Issues covered by
popular magazine which has their own Online Version free of cost. (Frontline, Outlook-India, the Economist,
India Today)
Unreachable:
How much we can stretch? Is this What UPSC expecting from us?
|
Source
|
Pages / Content
|
Remarks
|
|
Newspapers
|
25pages X 10 Newspapers
|
250 pages of A3 size every day, It is impossible for any
Individual even from Mars.
(The Hindu, Economic Times, Business Standard, The Guardian, New
Indian Express, Times of India)
|
|
Magazines
|
Frontline – 2 per month
The Economist – 4 per month
Outlook India – 2 per month
Yojana, Kurukshetra, Down to Earth, Science Reporter – 1 per month
|
Each magazine has pages ranging from 75 – 150 even 200. So minimum
calculation –
(150 X 2) = 300 pages per
month
(200 X 4) = 800 pages per
month
(75 X 2) = 150 pages per
month
(50 X 4) = 200 pages per month
|
|
TV Debates & Radio Debates
|
News Analysis/ Spotlight (All India Radio) – every day 15 minutes
Current Affairs (All India Radio) – every week 30 minutes
Country Wide & Money Talk (All India Radio) – every week 30 +
30 Minutes
RSTV Debates – Policy watch, India’s World, The Big Picture,
Science Monitor, Eureka, State of Economy – every week 30 minutes each
|
Time Required by an Individual
(15 minutes X 7) = 105minutes per week.
(30 minutes X 3) = 90 minutes per week.
(30 minutes X 6) = 180 minutes per week.
|
|
Other Sources of content
|
PRS India, Simply Decoded, Mrunal.org, Insight on India, Vision
IAS, Mission IAS…. Etc.
|
Summary of Important Bills 3-4 pages in PRS, Important Topics in
Simply decoded with 2-3 pages… etc. Approximately it would aggregate to some
100-150 pages per month.
|
|
All together what we
required is
|
|
Person capable of covering 2000
pages every week excluding Newspaper. 8-9 hours every week exclusively for listening to these TV &
Radio Debates. And all above have to revise these points frequently. (and I
didn’t include writing practice)
|
So
Conclusion:
It is not necessary that everyone must have gone through all these
Articles from different Magazines, Programs, and News Daily. And it is also not
a practical methodology. And also the UPSC don’t expect to these things, but
simply they want us to think on these lines.
So what will be a Workable Plan?
What simply we can do is?
People often term this Smart work
rather hard work.
We can trigger a discussion and brainstorming
on these topics. And to be careful, it should be a mere discussion rather than
dragging it in to Debate. As we can allot only a day per week for this purpose,
we should be more cautious about the time. So with this frequent discuss all
through the weeks of Preparation will give a crystal clear understanding of
issues & events, the UPSC questions can be answered with that general
intellect. Obviously, it is not that easy to brainstorm on a naïve topic
at the Exam hall, but this method will accumulate sufficient points to score 5/10 on each question, which is more
than sufficient to stand above the crowd.
Once in a week we must
make a way for discussion (10-15 guys) each taking responsibility for one
particular source of Information. For eg.
One can take RSTV Policy watch, another on AIR News Analysis, Other on
Frontline and etc. Each topic can be give 15-20minutes, so altogether one
single day can accommodate that week’s prospective areas of UPSC.
Triggering discussion on the topics appeared in those sources and
consolidating points for future revision
will make it much reliable than any source from market.
This is no way a substitute
for an Individual effort. The Daily “The Hindu” is Basic source; everyone
should follow it daily irrespective of these discussions. The changing pattern
of UPSC, demand an extra push from us. This crowd-sourcing concept of Dr.Vivekanandan IRS, would give that required
Dynamism.
No comments:
Post a Comment