Mentors Comments: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/the-adivasi-in-the-mirror/article22914025.ece  Atrocities on Adivasis is in news forever. This question is asked to sensitise you and also to test how objectively you can comment on this issue. Moreover, it’s directly related to syllabus under the Indian society as well as topics in the GS paper 2. You should write your opinion why atrocities… Continue reading Critically comment why discrimination and atrocities against Adivasis in India continues unabated, even in states that are educationally advanced. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: ARC has recommended this step. It’s important in the larger context of civil services reforms in India.   http://arc.gov.in/10th/ARC_10thReport_Ch16.pdf Your opinion regarding giving public service values and code of ethics a statutory backing is needed. You should write briefly on public service values and code of ethics and then justify why they should be… Continue reading Do you think the public service values and the Code of Ethics should be given a statutory backing? Justify. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/ZXepFqThFaEfhihxaH0aYI/The-gap-between-a-singleparty-system-and-democracy.html Recently Xi Jinping has praised China’s one-party system and it has given rise to debate on merits and demerits of such a system. This topic is related to the GS-1 topic and is important. You should analyse if one-party system such as China’s is better than the democratic system like India and… Continue reading Is one party system like that of China’s one-party system better than traditional multi-party democracies? Analyse. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Define what Separation of Powers is. 2. Show which constitution is based on the strict separation of powers. 3. Prove how the constitution of India is based on checks and balances?   Answer: The doctrine of Separation of Power refers to the model of governance where the executive, legislative and judicial powers… Continue reading 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 balances’? Explain. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/taking-stock-of-the-anti-aids-fight/article30142280.ece 1. Mention the state of HIV/ AIDS prevalence in India. 2. List down the challenges in tackling the disease 3. Highlight new strategies and approaches in the struggle against HIV. Answer: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), adopted by member countries of the United Nations in 2015, set a target of ending the epidemics of… Continue reading What challenges are facing India in the battle against HIV/AIDS? Find alternative approaches to tackle the resurgence of the disease. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: What are the initial goals of Civil Services in India? What are the gaps between initial design and the current state of working of civil services? Suggest reforms for the same. Answer: Sardar Patel famously called the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) “the steel frame” of India’s government machinery. It has played a critical… Continue reading Initially, Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context. Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services. Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/getting-organ-donation-to-tick-again/article30118791.ece What is the importance of organ donation in India and it’s current status? What are the challenges for the same? Highlight solutions to tackle the issues around it. Answer: The shortage of organs is virtually a universal problem but Asia lags behind much of the rest of the world. India lags far… Continue reading Despite its immense benefits, what are the challenges in mainstreaming organ donation in India? (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: One has to present an account on worsening patient-physician relationship in India, explain what Medical ethics is. Start by defining what you understand by Medical ethics. In the main body, explain that Medical ethics deals with the right choices of conduct in the field of human health. It deals with the distinction between… Continue reading What do you understand by medical ethics? Discuss and also inspect its significance in the context of worsening patient-physician relationship in India. (15 Marks)

Mentors COmments: World history by Norman Lowe Introduce with the how Italy was fragment across various principalities and the need for unification. The first part of the main body should elaborate on Mazzini and his contribution in kindling Italian Nationalism. Young Italy as an organization and spread of nationalism must be explored. Cavour as Brain.… Continue reading Italy was united by the heart of Mazzini, the sword of Garibaldi and the brain of Cavour. Elucidate. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Highlight the importance of the Indian Ocean and the great power struggle in the region Mention how Mauritius plays a significant role in the region Mention the benefits for India and opportunities Mauritius offers Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/pravind-jugnauth-a-new-mould-for-mauritius-military-bases-6147423/ Answer: Mauritius is a sovereign entity with a unique national culture and an international identity of its… Continue reading Mauritius holds significance for India’s role in the Indian Ocean. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Give examples of military intrusion by China in the neighbourhood. Highlight the economic tools used by it, to push forward the military agenda. Discuss the impact in India and how it can be dealt with. Answer: China has managed nearly double-digit growth rates since it began economic reform and opening in 1978 although… Continue reading China is using its economic relations and positive trade surplus as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia’, In the light of this statement, discuss its impact on India as her neighbour. (15 Marks)

  Participation, transparency, legitimacy and responsiveness form the pillars of good governance. The concept of good governance was applied in India through the passing of Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment. Right to Information Act, 2005 forms a basic requisite of good governance and the Act has played and is… Continue reading Q.4) Has RTI been successful in bringing transparency into governance? Critically evaluate. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Although the question is highly subjective (and you are completely free to take whatever stance you want to take), it offers crucial insights into the realpolitik of present India. It also helps us understand the nature of Indian society, and how it associates itself with secularism, regionalism and federalism. The question wants us… Continue reading In recent years, Indian political narrative has witnessed a marked shift in its stance towards the values of secularism, regionalism and federalism. Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Mention the definition of a Joint session and it’s goals. Enumerate, in what instances the sessions would happen and when it won’t. Answer: India has a bicameral legislature, passage of any bill requires concurrence of both houses (the lower house, Lok Sabha and the upper house, Rajya Sabha). The Constitution makers foresaw such… Continue reading The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding joint session of the two houses of the Parliament. Enumerate the occasions when this would normally happen and also the occasions when it cannot, with reasons thereof. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Mention the state of global temperature rise. Explain the reasons for the continued gap in meeting climate change targets, both at national and international level. Suggest technological and policy level ways to address the same. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/widening-gap/article30109742.ece Answer: The UN’s Emissions Gap Report comes as a sharp warning to countries preparing to meet in… Continue reading The recent Emissions Gap report confirms that the action against climate change is not enough. Suggest concrete steps to prevent a further rise in global temperatures. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: One must explain what conflict of interest, why does it arise is, what are the causative factors that lead to such situations and what should be done to overcome it. In brief, discuss the significance of understanding the conflict of interest in public services in general.  In the main body, explain the concept… Continue reading Examine the causative factors and circumstances that lead to a conflict of interest for a public servant and suggest ways to resolve them. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments:   The question examines the role played by Mahatma Gandhi’s in Noakhali, where widespread communal riots had broken out after Partition. In the introduction, first, explain what the Noakhali incident was. Communal violence had broken out on October 10, 1946, and rapidly swept the district of Noakhali; poor Hindu families slaughtered, women raped… Continue reading Narrate the situation of two-nation theory that was put forth in Noakhali during the partition and the role that Mahatma Gandhi played in resolving the situation. (15 Marks)

(a) What are the options available to you? The District Magistrate may send the police to control the crowd and assure the agitating people that the culprit would not be spared and the law would take its own course. The persons leading the agitating people should be invited to discuss the issue with the administration… Continue reading There was a day-light murder of a very popular social activist who always raised the issue of poor and downtrodden before District Administration. He was very popular among the downtrodden. A strong and determined crowed of ten thousand people have assembled at the collectorate with the dead body demanding immediate action against the accused police officials who have failed to provide necessary security to the leader. People suspect that there is a hand of one powerful leader from the ruling party. You are the head of the District Administration? (a) What are the options available to you? (7.5 Marks) (b) Evaluate the merits and demerits of each option and choose the option which you consider best, giving reasons? (7.5 Marks)

Mentors Comment: The art and culture questions in GS are mostly straightforward and their requirements are simple. You don’t have to, generally, provide a balanced or nuanced position nor provide the way forward. All you need are factual points. The approach of the answer will be conventional. All you have to discuss is the salient… Continue reading The art and architecture of the Mauryan Empire constitutes the culminating point of the progress of Indian art. Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Introduce with a line or two on parliamentary committees. 2. Mention the significance of these bodies. Briefly touch upon their limitations. 3. Focus specifically on the Estimates Committee, it’s role, and, significance. Answer: The functions of Parliament are varied, complex and voluminous. It has neither time nor expertise to control to make… Continue reading Why do you think the committees are considered to be useful for parliamentary work?  Discuss, in this context, the role of the Estimates Committee. (15 Marks)