UPSC Mains-2019 – General Studies 2 Trend Analysis

No Questions Why UPSC Asked this question?
01 Do you think the Constitution of India does not accept the principle of strict separation of powers rather it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balance’? Explain. (10 Marks)
  1. Static Portion
  2. Doctrine of Separation of Powers
  3. Hint: Examples of Article 50, Articles 121 and 211 and Article 361 to explain how separation of powers are part of constitution.
02 “The Central Administrative Tribunal which was established for redressal of grievances and complaints by or against central government employees nowadays is exercising its powers as an independent judicial authority.” Explain. (10 Marks)
  1. Central administrative tribunal which was established under Art 323A of Indian constitution
  2. Hint: Recent verdict of Delhi High Court on CAT and its powers. (June 04 2019)
03 What are the methods used by the farmer’s organizations to influence the policy-makers in India and how effective are these methods? (10 Marks)
  1. Role of pressure groups
  2. Hint: Examples of farmer’s protest march in Maharashtra
  3. Farmer’s destroying their produce over price fall issues across MP
  4. Remunerative prices (MSP) and sugarcane (Fair and remunerative prices)
04 From the resolution of contentious issues regarding distribution of legislative powers by the courts, ‘Principle of Federal Supremacy’ and ‘Harmonious Construction’ have emerged. Explain. (10 Marks)
  1. analytical questions
  2. what is the doctrine of federal supremacy and Harmonious construction?
  3. how the Principle of federal supremacy was upheld and how Harmonious construction has emerged.
05 What can France learn from the Indian Constitution’s approach to secularism? (10 Marks)
  1. Static Portion
  2. Comparison of constitution- Secularism
  3. Hintvarious protests in France in form of ban on Islamic dress like Burqa, veil, then raise in islamophobia, ban on halal meat, few years back Charlie Hebdo issue etc.
06 Despite Consistent experience of high growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive. (10 Marks)
  1. Human development indicators in India – India’s rank in HDI (130). (September 14 2018)
  2. Reasons for India’s declining performance of HDI.
07 There is a growing divergence in the relationship between poverty and hunger in India. The shrinking of social expenditure by the government is forcing the poor to spend more on non-food essential items squeezing their food-budget – Elucidate. (10 marks)
  1. Poverty and Hunger are inter-related
  2. HintOnly 3% of GDP is spent on education,
  3. 1.4% on Health, and
  4. more than 70% health expenditure are out of pocket,
  5. 22% of Indians live below poverty line.
08 There is a growing divergence in the relationship between poverty and hunger in India. The shrinking of social expenditure by the government is forcing the poor to spend more on non-food essential items squeezing their food-budget – Elucidate. (10 marks)
  1. Importance of ICT
  2. E-governance problems such as-illiteracy , infrastructure development issues, various implementation issues , lack of awareness about various schemes.
  3. government programs in areas of ICT like Digital India, Bharat Net, NeGP etc
09 ‘The time has come for India and Japan to build a strong contemporary relationship, one involving global and strategic partnership that will have a great significance for Asia and the world as a whole.’ Comment. (10 marks)
  1. India-Japan relations in terms of Strategic and global Significance.
  2. Role of Quad,etc (September 06 2019)
  3. India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue
  4. nuclear deal,
  5. bilateral agreements,
  6. military ‘exercise malabar’
10 ‘Too little cash, too much politics, leave UNESCO fighting for life.’ Discuss the statement in the light of US’ withdrawal and its accusation of the cultural body as being ‘anti-Israel bias’. (10 marks)
  1. US pulls out of UNESCO(October 12 2017)
  2. against the organization for being Anti-Israel
  3. impact of US pull out and
  4. future of the UNESCO
11 On what grounds a people’s representative can be disqualified under the representation of people act, 1951? Also, mention the remedies available to such person against his disqualification. (15 marks)
  1. Static Portion
  2. Mention on what grounds people’s representative can be disqualified
  3. Mention remedies to protect them
12 “Parliament’s power to amend the constitution is limited power and it cannot be enlarged into absolute power”. In light of this statement explain whether parliament under article 368 of the constitution can destroy the Basic structure of the constitution by expanding its amending power? (15 marks)
  1. Is there a need to amend the Constitution – to make it relevant to changing times.
  2. Hintrecent GST Constitution amendment
  3. article 368
  4. Keshavanand bharati case
  5. Minerva Mill v. Union of India (1980)
13 “The reservation of seats for women in the institution of local self-government has had a limited impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian political process”. Comment. (15 marks)
  1. local governance level –positive impacts as well as negatives of women reservation in India(June 14 2019)
  2. significance of local self-government (Democratic decentralisation, transparency & accountability)
  3. landmark 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts
14 “The Attorney-General is the chief legal adviser and lawyer of the Government of India.” Discuss  (15 Marks)
  1. Static Portion
  2. the role and duties of Attorney-General of India
  3. (August 02 2019).
15 Individual parliamentarian’s role as the national lawmaker is on a decline, which in turn, has adversely impacted the quality of debates and their outcome. Discuss. (15 marks)
  1. Role of parliamentarian’s , who play a significant role in law making process of the country.
  2. Tyranny of Political Parties through instruments of Whip and Anti-defection law
16 ‘In the context of the neo-liberal paradigm of developmental planning, multi-level planning is expected to make operations cost-effective and remove many implementation blockages’- Discuss (15 marks)
  1. How in the era of neo-liberal paradigm, multi-level planning has brought inefficiency in governance made the implementation process smooth.
  2. Hint: NITI Aayog replaced Planning commission.
  3. Work of NITI not as a think-tank , but as Action tank
  4. Multi-level planning is expected to reduce regional disparities and bring more equity in development
17 The need for cooperation among various service sectors has been an inherent component of development discourse. Partnership bridges the gap among the sectors. It also sets in motion a culture of ‘collaboration’ and ‘team spirit’. In the light of statements above examine India’s development process. (15 marks)
  1. Significance of cooperation in service sectors, in Country’s Development
  2. Co-operation among various sectors such as Education, skill development, Health sector,etc
  3. Co-operation among tourism, transport, hospitality,etc
18 Performance of welfare schemes that are implemented for vulnerable sections is not so effective due to the absence of their awareness and active involvement at all stages of the policy process. Discuss (15 marks)
  1. low effectiveness of the welfare schemes for vulnerable sections
  2. Reasons- lack of awareness , lack of participation
19 “The long sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the emerging global order.’ Elaborate (15 Marks)
  1. India’s changing position as a leader of the least developed nations to the new role it has acquired being one of the leaders of the new global order.
  2. India’s various bilateral , multilateral in different countries
  3. Hint:Indian no longer discriminates between Israel, Palestine, US, Russia etc.
  4. Modern India has its own national interests
20 What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India’s national self-esteem and ambitions’. Explain with suitable examples. (15 Marks)
  1. Changing nature of India’s relations with US
  2. Hint: Trade-war Issue
  3. H1 B Visa Issue
  4. Protectionism measure recently taken by the US,
  5. US hate-India’s relationship with Iran , etc

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