| No. |
Question |
Why UPSC Asked this question? |
| 01 |
Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the Government in this regard. (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- Highlight the key policy interventions to boost domestic manufacturing and MSMEs
- How Manufacturing sector can help to increase economic growth
- Present policies of government to boost manufacturing sector
- What more can be done?
Hint: Policy emphasis has been on developing India’s manufacturing sector
Did You Notice
- PYQs: Account for the failure of manufacturing sector in achieving the goal of labour-intensive exports rather than capital-intensive exports. Suggest measures for more labour-intensive rather than capital-intensive exports. (2017)
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| 02 |
What is the status of digitalization in the Indian economy? Examine the problems faced in this regard and suggest improvements. (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- Current status of digitalization in the Indian economy:
- Problems Faced in Digitalization:
- Suggestions for Improvement:
Hint: .Governments focus on public digital infrastructure
Did You Notice
- PYQs: Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is necessary for bringing unbanked to the institutional finance fold. Do you agree with this for financial inclusion of the poorer section of the Indian society? Give arguments to justify your opinion. (2016)
- PYQs: Is inclusive growth possible under market economy? State the significance of financial inclusion in achieving economic growth in India (2022)
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| 03 |
How does e-Technology help farmers in production and marketing of agricultural produce? Explain it. (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- Importance of Agriculture –
- E technology in aid of farmers
- Role in Increasing Production of Agricultural Produce
- Role in the marketing of agricultural produce
Hint: .Government is developing Agri-stack in the farming sector
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regards? (2015)
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| 04 |
State the objectives and measures of land reforms in India. Discuss how land ceiling policy on landholding can be considered as an effective reform under economic criteria. (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- Objectives of land reforms in India:
- Measures taken to implement land reforms in the country:
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .
- How did land reforms in some parts of the country help to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginal and small farmers? (2021)
- Discuss the role of land reforms in agricultural development. Identify the factors that were responsible for the success of land reforms in India. (2016)
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| 05 |
Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of AI in the healthcare? (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- AI’s Role in Clinical diagnosis:
- Implications on Privacy of an individual:
- Unregulated Use:
Hint: .Artificial Intelligence is in news
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .What do you understand by nanotechnology and how is it helping in the health sector? (2020)
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| 06 |
Discuss several ways in which microorganisms can help in meeting the current fuel shortage. (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- Several ways in which microorganisms can help in meeting the current fuel shortage
- Benefits of fuel generation using microorganisms:
- Challenges in the process
Hint: .Increasing focus on biofuels
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .Why is there so much activity in the field of biotechnology in our country? How has this activity benefitted the field of biopharma? (2018)
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| 07 |
Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures. (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- Causes of Dam Failures
- Examples of Large Dam Failures
Hint: .Dam failure at Vishnu Prayag and enactment of Dam Safety Act, 2021
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| 08 |
What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- Impacts of oil pollution on marine ecosystem
- Oil pollution is particularly harmful for a country like India due to following reasons:
Hint: .Oil spills along India’s coast
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions for management and handling of hazardous wastes in India?
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| 09 |
Winning of ‘Hearts and Minds’ in terrorism affected areas is an essential step in restoring the trust of the population. Discuss the measures adopted by the Government in this respect as part of the conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir. (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- Winning of ‘Hearts and Minds’ refers
- WHAM Concerns
- WHAM measures
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism. 2022
- PYQs What are the sound determinants of left-wing extremism in Eastern part of India? What strategy should Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas?
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| 10 |
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders to ferry arms/ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat. (Answer in 150 words) 10 |
- Threat to Internal Security posed by UAVs:
- Measures being taken to tackle this threat
- Concerns with the measures
Hint: .UAVs were used for narco-terrorism and attacking military establishment
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .For effective border area management, discuss the steps required to be taken to deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage favourable perception among locals (2020)
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| 11 |
Most of the unemployment in India is structural in nature. Examine the methodology adopted to compute unemployment in the country and suggest improvements. (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Why is most of the unemployment structural in India?
- Key Methodology adopted to compute unemployment in India:
- Suggestive Measures:
Hint: .There has debates on India’s measurement of employment in the context of newly introduced PLFS survey for employment status.
Did You Notice
- PYQs: Define potential GDP and explain its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP
- PYQs Explain the difference between computing methodology of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) before the year 2015 and after the year 2015
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| 12 |
Distinguish between ‘care economy’ and ‘monetized economy’. How can care economy be brought into monetized economy through women empowerment? (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Difference between Care Economy and Monetised Economy
- Integrating the Care Economy into the Monetized Economy through Women Empowerment:
Hint: .Care economy and silver economy is in debate
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .Women empowerment in India needs gender budgeting. What are the requirements and status of gender budgeting in the Indian context?
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| 13 |
Explain the changes in cropping pattern in India in the context of changes in consumption pattern and marketing conditions. (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Factors affecting the change in cropping pattern:
- Consumption Pattern:
- Market Conditions:
Hint: .Cropping pattern is changing due to shift away from rice-wheat system towards crop diversification
Did You Notice
- PYQs: What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilize the yield of the crop in the system? (2017)
- PYQs What are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India? (2020)
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| 14 |
What are the direct and indirect subsidies provided to farm sector in India? Discuss the issues raised by the World Trade Organization(WTP) in relation to agricultural subsidies. (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Direct subsidies
- Indirect Subsidies:
- Issues raised by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to agricultural subsidies
Hint: Debate over Agri-subsidies in India and challenges against such subsidies in WTO have been in news
Did You Notice
- PYQs: What are the different types of agriculture subsidies given to farmers at the national and state levels? Critically analyze the agriculture subsidy regime with the reference to the distortions created by it. (2013)
- PYQs Food security bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India. Critically discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along with the concerns it has generated in WTO (2013)
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| 15 |
The adoption of electric vehicles is rapidly growing worldwide. How do electric vehicles contribute to reducing carbon emissions and what are the key benefits they offer compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles? (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Contribution in reducing carbon emissions
- Benefits compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles
Hint: .Electric vehicles are a focus area with FAME scheme aiming to boost use of EVs in India.
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to the conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our Government for this purpose? (2020)
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| 16 |
What is the main task of India’s third mood mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the ‘Virtual Launch Control Centre’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota. (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Countries that have successfully landed on the moon:
- Propulsion Module:
- Role of Virtual Launch Control Centre (VLCC):
Hint: .Successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 Mission
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions including the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbitter Mission, but has not ventured into manned space mission, both in terms of technology and logistics? Explain critically. (2017)
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| 17 |
Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India’s wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites. (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Objectives of NPCA
- Approach- Four Pronged
- Examples of India’s Wetlands of International Importance
- Issues/ Challenges with Implementation of NPCA
- Way Forward
Hint: .Wetland protection is a critical concern
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India.(2018)
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| 18 |
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Impacts of sea level rise in India and the other countries in the Indian ocean
- Environmental Impact
- Economic impacts
- Social Impact
- Political Impact
- Measures Taken in India
Hint: .Highlight the key implications of sea level rise
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (2022)
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| 19 |
What are the internal security challenges being faced by India? Give out the role of Central Intelligence and Investigative Agencies tasked to counter such threats. (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Internal Security Challenges being faced by India
- Traditional threats:
- Non-traditional threats:
- Role of Central Intelligence and Investigative agencies
Hint: .Crackdown by NIA in Kerala
Did You Notice
- PYQs: .Analyze internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard . (2020)
- PYQs How far are India’s internal security challenges linked with border management, particularly in view of the long porous borders with most countries of South Asia and Myanmar?
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| 20 |
Give out the major sources of terror funding in India and efforts being made to curtail these sources. In the light of this, also discuss the aim and objective of the ‘ No Money for Terror [NMFT]’ Conference recently held at New Delhi in November 2022. (Answer in 250 words) 15 |
- Major sources of terror funding in India
- National efforts to curtail terror funding
- No Money for Terror (NMFT) Conference
Hint: .No Money for Terror (NMFT Conference) was organised in India
Did You Notice
- PYQs: . Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels.
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