[7th January 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The Collegium and changes — it may still be early days

PYQ Relevance: Q) Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgement on ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014’ with reference to appointment of judges of higher judiciary in India.(UPSC CSE 2017) Q) The judicial systems in India and the UK seem to be converging as well as diverging in recent times. Highlight the key points of convergence… Continue reading

[6th January 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: The outlook for India in the year ahead

PYQ Relevance: Q) South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context. Comment. (UPSC CSE 2016) Q) Clean energy is the order of the day.’ Describe briefly India’s changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics. (UPSC CSE 2022) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC Mains has always focused on… Continue reading

[4th January 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The looming threat to federalism and democratic tenets

PYQ Relevance: Q) ‘Simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies will limit the amount of time and money spent in electioneering but it will reduce the government’s accountability to the people’ Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2024) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on topics like ‘Election Commission of India’ (2022) and ‘Simultaneous… Continue reading

[3rd January 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Reflections as the world grows more ‘polarised’

PYQ Relevance: Q) Hatred is destructive of a person’s wisdom and conscience that can poison a nation’s spirit. Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer. (UPSC CSE 2020) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on ‘tolerance, assimilation and pluralism’ (2022) and ‘spirit and tolerance’ (2017). In the book Polarization: What Everyone Needs… Continue reading

[2nd January 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: The sorry state of India’s parliamentary proceedings

PYQ Relevance:Q) To what extent, in your view, the Parliament can ensure accountability of the executive in India? (UPSC CSE 2021) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on Parliamentary Sessions (2017 & 2018) and Parliamentary Powers (2021). The recently concluded Winter Session of Parliament has been criticized for lacking productivity due to frequent disruptions.… Continue reading

[31st December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: States and the danger of poorly manufactured drugs

PYQ Relevance:Q) How is the government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies? (UPSC CSE 2019) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC Mains has always focused on Drug regulation (2013) and Patent Issues in India (2018). India ranks as the third largest producer of pharmaceuticals in terms of volume and fourteenth largest in… Continue reading

[30th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Incidents on loop, but it’s escape for regulator, airlines

PYQ Relevance: Q. What is the need for expanding the regional air connectivity in India? In this context, discuss the government’s UDAN Scheme and its achievements. (CSE 2024) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on the development of Airports (2017), and ‘application in aviation ’ (2013). The December 5, 2024, incident involving an Air… Continue reading

[27th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Tapping into Kazakhstan’s rare earths potential

PYQ Relevance: Q) A number of outside powers have entrenched themselves in Central Asia, which is a zone of interest to India. Discuss the implications, in this context, of India’s joining the Ashgabat Agreement, in 2018. (UPSC CSE 2018) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on ‘Central Asia’ (2018) and ‘distribution of minerals’ (2021).… Continue reading

[26th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Nagapattinam’s journey of resilience

PYQ Relevance: Q) On December 2004, tsunami brought havoc on fourteen countries including India. Discuss the factors responsible for occurrence of tsunamis and its effects on life and economy. In the light of guidelines of NDMA (2010) describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. (UPSC CSE 2017) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC… Continue reading

[25th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Myth of meritocracy, caste-based disparities in IT sector

PYQ Relevance: Q) The caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. (UPSC CSE 2018) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on the ‘Right to Equality’ (2021) and ‘Multi-cultural Indian Society’ (2020). Oxfam India Report (2022) indicates that 97% of surveyed Dalits reported experiencing… Continue reading

[24th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: The GATT-ification of the World Trade Organization

PYQ Relevance: Q) What are the key areas of reform if the WTO has to survive in the present context of ‘Trade War’, especially keeping in mind the interest of India? (UPSC CSE 2018) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on topics like ‘WTO’ (2018) and ‘International Trading routes’ (2022). An Allianz Trade survey… Continue reading

[23rd December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Pointing the beacon at India’s undersea warfare power

PYQ Relevance: Q) What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve maritime security. (UPSC CSE 2022) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on topics like ‘Indo-Pacific’ (2020) and ‘Maritime Security’ (2022). Since late 2023, the Indian Navy has responded to numerous piracy incidents in… Continue reading

[21st December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: It is for historians to dig for tell-tale remains, not bigots

PYQ Relevance: Q) Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer. (UPSC CSE 2022) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC Mains have previously focused on the ‘Indian concept of secularism’ (2018) as well as the ‘tolerance, assimilation and pluralism’ of India (in 2022). Archaeologists typically dig… Continue reading

[19th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Section 6A of the Citizenship Act — why it fails Assam?

PYQ Relevance:Q) Consider the following statements: 1. Aadhaar card can be used as proof of citizenship or domicile. 2. Once issued, the Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2018)(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Mentor’s Comment: UPSC… Continue reading

[18th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: The legal gaps in India’s unregulated AI surveillance

PYQ Relevance: Q) “The emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Digital Revolution) has initiated e-Governance as an integral part of government”. Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2020) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC Mains have focused on the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution (Digital Revolution)’ (in 2020), and ‘different types of cyber crimes ’ (2021). In 2019, India announced plans to create… Continue reading

[17th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Levy a higher GST rate on tobacco, sugared beverages

PYQ Relevance: Q) “Besides being a moral imperative of a Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition for sustainable development.” Analyse. (UPSC CSE 2021) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on major issues like the Conflict of interest in the public sector (2017) and Life Expectancy (2022). Tobacco is responsible for approximately… Continue reading

[16th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Let’s talk about ‘one candidate, multiple constituencies’

PYQ Relevance:Q) Discuss the procedures to decide the disputes arising out of the election of a Member of the Parliament or State Legislature under The Representation of the People Act, 1951. What are the grounds on which the election of any returned candidate may be declared void? What remedy is available to the aggrieved party… Continue reading

[14th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Wounding the spirit of the Constitution of India

PYQ Relevance:Q) Do you think that Constitution of India does not accept principle of strict separation of powers rather it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balance’? Explain. (UPSC CSE 2019) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on major issues like Constitutional Principles (2019) and Basic structure (2014 and 2019) of our… Continue reading

[13th December 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Pakistan at the UNSC, the points of its compass

PYQ Relevance: Q) Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in the UNSC. (UPSC CSE 2015) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC Mains have previously ‘ India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in the UNSC’ (in 2015). Pakistan will join the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a… Continue reading

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