Mentor Comment: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/imd-warns-of-heat-waves-warmer-than-normal-summer-63783 https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/145167/heatwave-in-india https://researchmatters.in/news/indias-new-heat-wave-prediction-system-could-be-our-first-line-defence-against-scorching-heat The question is in the context of the heat waves in most parts of the country every year.  The question expects us to first highlight that heatwaves have become quite frequent. Thereafter, we need to examine the adverse socio-economic and health impact of heatwaves and analyze how India should deal… Continue reading A recent assessment by the World Meteorological Organisation has declared heat waves as the deadliest extreme weather event in the years 2015–2019, causing more than 8,900 deaths globally. Therefore, assessing geographic variability in heatwave vulnerability should become the basis for planning in India to tackle the brunt of heatwaves. Discuss the statement in the context of recent heatwave incidents often witnessed by the country. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Give 1-2 examples of how India’s traditional knowledge has been misused by foreign companies. Mention and discuss the terms, bioprospecting, and biopiracy. Discuss how India tries to protect it’s traditional knowledge. Answer: Bioprospecting is the search for plant and animal species from which medicinal drugs and other commercially valuable compounds can be obtained.… Continue reading How is the government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies? (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: What is the state of migration in India? Discuss our current approach to deal with migrants. Mention changing patterns in migration and the need to align with the same. Source:   https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/international-migrants-day-illegal-migrants-india-us-nrc-6172237/   Answer: Census 2011 data reveals that 45.36 crore Indians (37 per cent) in India are domestic migrants – now settled in a… Continue reading The migrant policy of the country has to evolve keeping in mind the changing patterns of migration in the country. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Source: Ethics by Lexicon publications. The question is based on Cooper’s Ethical Decision Model and its utility in public services for ethical decision making. One is expected to bring out the importance of model ethical conduct at the workplace. The answer must first elaborate on what is ethical decision making. Then explain in… Continue reading Discuss the importance and usefulness of Cooper’s ethical decision model in ethical decision making in public services. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: The question is quite straightforward in its demand.  In the introduction explain what fold mountains are. You can draw a diagram to show how they are formed. In the main body, explain why fold mountains are formed at the margins of continents – fold mountains are formed from the folding of crust and… Continue reading Why are 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. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.avensonline.org/wp-content/uploads/JES-2471-4879-03-0017.pdf Define carrying capacity. Mention how carrying capacity is violated through modern development practices. Highlight how it can be balanced with development needs and how that protects ecology. Answer: The Earth is currently experiencing a 6th mass extinction age primarily caused by anthropogenic factors. Earth Overshoot Day shows how humans are consuming much… Continue reading Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/navigating-the-indo-pacific-6170525/ Introduce with the idea of the Indo- Pacific and its relevance. Then discuss India’s role in it. Mention various challenges India faces in the region. Mention the ways through which India can assert its role. Answer: The acceptance of the Indo-Pacific as a single strategic construct linking the contiguous waters of… Continue reading India has to find a way to work in the Indo – Pacific and assert its unique identity. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Class 8 NCERT – Resources and development geography The question is based on the location factor of the raw material and its significance in deciding the location of the Steel and Heavy industry per se. In the intro, in brief, highlight the locations of coal-iron resources in India. In the main body, first,… Continue reading Even after local coal-iron resources are depleted, the steel and heavy engineering industries do not frequently shift their location, why? Analyse. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Introduce what PDS is. In the 1st part of the main body, highlight its objectives. Mention the challenges faced by the system. Give the steps taken by the government and mention their relevance. What more can be done to make the system better? Answer: The Centre is proposed food subsidy allocation for 2019-20… Continue reading PDS evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of food grains at affordable prices. But there are various issues associated with the PDS System in India. What are the reformative steps taken by the government to make food grain distribution system more effective? (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: What is the 6thschedule? In the main body, discuss what autonomy does it grant to NE states? Identity issues facing NE and explain how the 6th schedule fails to prevent the same? Provide the way forward. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/in-the-name-of-a-majority/article30289562.ece  Answer: The recent Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 which aims to give citizenship to persecuted minorities from… Continue reading The autonomy provided under the 6th schedule of the constitution is not enough to protect the unique cultural and ethnic identities of the North East. Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mahatma-gandhi-understood-the-pain-of-others-5436457/ The question wants us to express our knowledge and understanding of Gandhi’s values of humanism and his contribution to the same endeavour. In the introduction, write a few introductory lines about the role of Mahatma Gandhi towards the freedom struggle and in eradicating/ fighting against various social evils in the society. In… Continue reading Mahatma Gandhi’s vision and voice have a rare resonance in numerous hearts around the world because it springs from the timeless humanistic vision. Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.simplypsychology.org/attitudes.html The question wants us to express our knowledge and understanding of the linkage between attitude and behaviour. We have to discuss to what extent can attitude determine the behaviour of a person. In the introduction, write a few introductory lines about the meaning of attitude. E.g An attitude is “a relatively enduring… Continue reading “The strength with which an attitude is held is often a good predictor of behaviour. The stronger the attitude the more likely it should affect behavior. We often or usually expect the behaviour of a person to be consistent with the attitudes that they hold.” Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: The question expects us to explain the raw material needed for the generation of atomic energy and explain the distribution of the resource. In the introduction explain why countries like India see nuclear energy as a crucial part of their energy matrix. Explain about the Indian three-stage nuclear programme – Indian Nuclear power… Continue reading For rapidly developing economy such as India, nuclear energy can make a vitally important contribution to growth. Discuss the availability of raw material required for “the generation of atomic energy in India and in the world.” (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: In the 1st part of the main body, define a tribunal, with examples. Mention their constitutional role and validity Explain how tribunals curtail jurisdiction of courts. End the answer with a balanced way forward and conclusion. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/devaluing-high-courts/article19944799.ece Answer: A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court struck down in entirety Rules framed by the… Continue reading How far do you agree with the view that tribunals curtail the jurisdiction of ordinary courts? In view of the above, discuss the constitutional validity and competency of the tribunals in India. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Define stagflation in the intro. In the 1st part of the main body, discuss what are the risks with it? Give proofs to the argument that India is experiencing stagflation In the end, give solutions to the problem. Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/twin-troubles/article30300279.ece Answer: Former prime minister and economist Manmohan Singh has cautioned that while India is… Continue reading What do you understand by stagflation? Discuss the economic risks associated with it. Is India experiencing such a phase? Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comment: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/nirmal_shekar/Sport-needs-an-ethical-revolution/article14475939.ece In the introduction, discuss how corruption is prevalent in almost all walks of life yet sports holds special value for the citizens and hence the expectations from the sporting arenas are more. In the 1st part of the main body, discuss what are the implications of corruption in sports in comparison to… Continue reading Why do we demand far higher standards of ethical behaviour from sportsmen and teams when other areas of human activity in most societies are riven by corruption? Critically comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboniferous#Rocks_and_coal https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/01/why-was-most-of-the-earths-coal-made-all-at-once/ The question wants us to discuss as to why most of the world’s coal was formed during a particular period/ era- Carboniferous period. Write a few introductory lines about the importance of coal and introduce the Carboniferous period. In the main body, discuss why most of the coal was formed during… Continue reading Why was most of the Earth’s coal made all at once during the Carboniferous period? Discuss. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Mention the clear definition of Public Expenditure Management. Reason what changed after liberalisation, that necessitated the changes in budget making, with examples. Also, provide ways to strengthen the budget-making process on the whole.  Answer: Public expenditure management (PEM) is the approach of prudent use of government financial resources so as to achieve good… Continue reading The public expenditure management is a challenge to the government of India in the context of budget-making during the post-liberalization period. Clarify it. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/staggering-spread/article30279713.ece  Give reasons for the continuing Judiciary – Executive tussle. Mention briefly, how, the tussle is affecting Judiciary as an institution. Provide suggestions to simplify judicial appointments along with tackling the accountability issues arising out of the same. Answer: Recently Indian Law Minister stated in Lok Sabha that as of 2019 there are… Continue reading Explore the reasons in the continuing logjam over Judicial Appointments. Provide a way out of the same. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/leadership-ethics/resources/the-ceo-of-starbucks-and-the-practice-of-ethical-leadership/ Discuss what would be your response and how will you handle various ethical issues involved in the question. Discuss the ethical issues at hand. E.g Bias and racism; lack of application of mind and retrieval of facts necessary for action etc Take the help of the article attached to the question and… Continue reading One year after becoming CEO of Starbucks, You are faced with a leadership test when two black men were arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks.  The men were waiting to meet a business associate, but they didn’t purchase anything while they were waiting. The store manager asked them to leave, and they refused, explaining that they were there to meet someone. The manager called the police because the men refused to leave, and the police arrested them.   Another patron at Starbucks recorded the arrest on her cell phone, and it quickly went viral. In an interview after the arrest, the woman who took the video mentions that she had been sitting there for a while, and she wasn’t asked to leave even though she didn’t order anything.  Additionally, the video shows the business associate of the black men show up during the arrest, and he asks the manager and the police what the men had done wrong. The general public and those who witnessed the arrest labelled it as discriminatory and racist. What should be your response in this matter? Discuss the ethical issues involved in the incident. (15 Marks)