GS4 (Ethics)
What role does the family play in instilling moral values in a child? How is the changing nature of families in India affecting this education?
GS4 (Ethics)
What role does the family play in instilling moral values in a child? How is the changing nature of families in India affecting this education?
GS3 (Agriculture)
With rising incomes, Indians are starting to consume more proteins. This is resulting in higher consumption of items such as meat. Unfortunately, modern rearing practices of livestock result in very high usage of antibiotics. What are the reasons for such high usage? What problems can it lead to?
Background – Bloomberg
Similar Previous Year Question – Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics in India without Doctor’s prescription, be contributors to the emergence of drug resistant diseases? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved. [2014]
GS2 (Polity and Governance)
After more than two decades of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments being passed, have they fulfilled their promise? Discuss their achievements and shortcomings.
GS1 (Modern India)
What role did the social and religious reform movements play in the Indian freedom struggle? Give examples of movements which helped the freedom struggle, and also examples of movements which held back the freedom struggle.
GS4 (Ethics)
Despite many attempts by the Prime Minister and the govt., the Swacch Bharat campaign has not caught on with the public. This failure is present in other spheres also, e.g. a failure on part of public to follow traffic rules. What are the reasons for this? How can we instill the people with such important values as cleanliness?
GS3 (Science and Technology)
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.
Previous Year 2014 Question
GS2 (International Relations)
In its quest for a clean and reliable source of energy, India has been trying to strike nuclear deals with many nations and groups. Describe India’s efforts and progress in the area in recent years. Why has progress been so slow?
Click here for some background.
Similar Previous Year Question: Subsequent to the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) waiver in 2008, what are the agreements on Nuclear Energy that India has signed with different countries ? [2011]
GS1 (Modern India)
Although the Marathas ruled over vast amounts of territory, they were easily defeated by the British. What were the reasons behind the failure of the Marathas to resist the English?

Dear Mitron,
I welcome you all to New Delhi for this landmark conference, the first after the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
First boley to maximum important for UPSC guys giving Prelims in 2017! Also research about Sendai Network and its predecessor. Kuch bhi pooch saktey hain.
2015 was a momentous year! Apart from the Sendai Framework, the international community adopted two other major frameworks to shape the future of humanity:
For my UPSC Mitrons, make sure you have your notes made on both of them!
Disaster Risk Reduction has a pivotal role in supporting adaptation to climate change as well as sustainable development.
Use this line to flaunt your breadth of inter-connecting issues in your mains and essay papers!
Seven of the top ten countries in the world in terms of number of deaths due to disasters are in the Asia-Pacific. That’s a heck of a statistic to have!
A quarter century ago, only a handful of Asian nations had national disaster management institutions. Today, over thirty Asian countries have dedicated institutions leading disaster risk management efforts. After the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, the five worst affected countries brought in new laws for disaster risk management.
What has India done for Tsunami relief and preparedness?
Hint: We now have a fully functional Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System. Along with its Australian and Indonesian counterparts, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services is mandated to issue regional tsunami bulletins.
First, all development sectors must imbibe the principles of disaster risk management. This will ensure that all development projects – airports, roads, canals, hospitals, schools, bridges – are built to appropriate standards and contribute to the resilience of communities they seek to serve.
In India, the ‘housing for all’ programme and ‘smart cities’ initiative represent such opportunities.
Second, work towards risk coverage for all – starting from poor households to small and medium enterprises to multi-national corporations to nation states.
In India, we have taken bold steps to ensure financial inclusion and risk insurance for the poorest. The Jan Dhan Yojana has brought millions of people into the banking system. The Suraksha Bima Yojana provides risk insurance to millions who need it the most. We have launched the Fasal Bima Yojana, which will provide risk cover to millions of farmers.
Third, encourage greater involvement and leadership of women in disaster risk management. Women are disproportionately affected by disasters. They also have unique strengths and insights.
Fourth, invest in risk mapping globally. For mapping risks related to hazards such as earthquakes we have widely accepted standards and parameters. Based on these, in India, we have mapped seismic zones, with five as highest seismic risk and two as low risk.
Fifth, leverage technology to enhance the efficiency of our disaster risk management efforts
What are the technological efforts/ inventions from India’s side on Disaster Reduction Plan?
Sixth, develop a network of universities to work on disaster issues. After all, universities have social responsibilities too. Over the first five years of the Sendai Framework, we should develop a global network of universities working together on problems of disaster risk management.
Seventh, utilize the opportunities provided by social media and mobile technologies. Social media is transforming disaster response. How so?
Eighth, build on local capacity and initiative. The task of disaster risk management, particularly in rapidly growing economies, is so huge that formal institutions of the state can at best be instrumental in creating the enabling conditions.
Can you give instances of local involvement in India’s case?
Ninth, ensure that the opportunity to learn from a disaster is not wasted. After every disaster there are papers and reports on lessons learnt that are rarely applied.
And finally, bring about greater cohesion in international response to disasters.

In India, we are committed to walk the talk on the implementation of Sendai Framework. In June this year, India’s National Disaster Management Plan was released which is aligned with the priorities set out in the Sendai Framework.
To read through related news on Disaster Management – Read this Newstrail
To read more by Confused Billi – click here