Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss the provisions of the new rules. 2. Mention how the rules further the problem, then solving it. 3. Provide solutions for the same. Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-broken-promise-of-decent-and-fair-wages/article30070255.ece Answer: The new Parliament passed the Code on Wages Bill, 2019 mandating a minimum wage across the country in its first session itself. This law mandates a universal minimum payment of ₹178… Continue reading The proposed rules to Wage Code Bill do not solve the problem of minimum wages but exacerbate it. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Answer:   (a) What steps parents can take to stop such a new and pervasive kind of menace due to the unrestricted use of computers and mobile phones? In the contemporary world, we suffer from information explosion and are consumed by the influence of technology where the rational mind takes over the emotional mind. As… Continue reading Due to the contemporary developments in the information technology and convergence, the accesses of adults and children to media including variety of entertainment have increased. The children have impressionable minds and the quality of entertainment would have a bearing on them even when they grow adults. One moderately rich family has two children who have given mobile phones to their children with internet connection so that they can complement their studies with huge amounts of information and aids available on the internet. Father encourage children to ‘grow with the technology of their times’ and rather than ‘forcing discipline’ on them. However, there is also the misuse of information technology. The students are engaging in many undesirable activities outside the school, especially their exposure to many computer games (Blue Whale Challenge, Dead Space 2, Mortal Kombat, Medal of Honour, Call of Duty Black OPS, New Vegas etc.), which are known to be fatal and addictive, impinging on their education and value systems. Answer the following questions: (a) What steps parents can take to stop such new and pervasive kind of menace due to the unrestricted use of the computers and mobile phones? (5 Marks) (b) What is the importance of “forced discipline” in this case? (5 Marks) (c) How can discipline be sustained for a long time without discontent of the subjects? (5 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Briefly introduce what happened during the process of liberalization 2. Discuss the impact of Liberalisation on Indian companies – both benefits and challenges 3. Discuss any steps to strengthen the domestic industry Answer: Liberalization is defined as laws or rules being liberalized, or relaxed, by a government. Economic liberalization is generally described… Continue reading Examine the impact of liberalization on companies owned by Indians. Are the competing with the MNCs satisfactorily? (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Introduce with the recent events in Sri Lanka. 2. Discuss, how these may have an impact. With references to the past. 3. Mention what India could do, to avert damage. Source:  https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/gotabya-rajapaksa-sri-lanka-president-elections-6135260/ Answer:   India is the only neighbour of Sri Lanka, separated by the Palk Strait; both nations occupy a strategic position… Continue reading Discuss how the recent political changes in Sri Lanka may have an impact on India and on the subcontinent. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comment: Understand the requirement of the question question: what is water scarcity that India is facing for introduction and some data points like niti aayog’s report  or NABARD survey highlights etc; while highlighting the regions that face this challenge, discuss what are the reason for water scarcity through agriculture and their implications; in the… Continue reading Highlighting the water-stressed regions of India, discuss how reforming agriculture will go a long way in ensuring water security in India. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Introduce with Art 280 and briefly mention the functions of Finance Commissions. 2. Explain how it is constituted. 3. Discuss the ToR of 15th FC and its challenges. Answer: The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under article 280 of the Constitution, mainly to give its recommendations on the distribution of… Continue reading  How is the Finance Commission of India constituted? What do you about the terms of reference of the recently constituted Finance Commission? Discuss. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Introduce with a definition of FTA or with the recent debate on RCEP 2. Mention the acclaimed benefits of FTAs 3. Prove how many barriers come in the way of realising goals of FTAs https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-myths-around-free-trade-agreements/article30030647.ece Answer: India decided not to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This decision can be seen in the… Continue reading There are limitations in realizing the goals of FTAs. Always, signing an FTA may not necessarily ‘free’ trade. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Professional ethics assesses the moral dimension of human activity in the occupations of politics, law, medicine, engineering, journalism, management, accountancy and other occupations that aspire to professional status. It is concerned with the standards and moral conduct that govern the profession and its members. More specifically, professional ethics examines issues, problems, and the social responsibility… Continue reading In the Contemporary World, the need for professional ethics is increasing. Why the social control over the use of professional skill is required? Explain by choosing an example from any profession. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comment: Quite a straightforward question and the demands are clearly stated. Diagram will fetch you more marks in geography-related questions. So don’t hesitate to use them here. Start with the intro which will be based on the first part of the question: What are landslides and how do they occur. It’s up to you… Continue reading What are landslides and how do they occur? What are the causes of more frequent occurrence of landslides in Himalayas than in the Western Ghats? (15 Marks)

The individual is the first building block of the value architecture. The values that a person holds have been derived from family, friends, neighbors, teachers, mass media and so on. The family value system inculcates the moral values of tolerance, non-violence, sympathy, compassion, harmony, etc. But the development of values and the sense of one’s… Continue reading ‘Weak value system in families eventually transcend to weak social, political and administrative systems, leading in turn to degeneration of the whole nation’. Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Introduce by mentioning a few rural development approaches being followed 2. Discuss where the ideas of rural poverty in theory and reality differ 3. Suggest solutions for effective action against the problem Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/rural-poor-agriculture-inflation-agrarian-crisis-6127696/ Answer: India continues to have a large population, which is certainly, not able to afford basic things, whichever poverty… Continue reading The discussions of rural poverty do not factor in the changes on the ground. Comment. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: Mention briefly, the objectives and role of NCW Highlight the issues women face in public and private spheres. Now show the actions taken by NCW in these spheres Comment on where its activity is relevant and give proper examples. Suggest way forwards Answer: National Commission for Women is a statutory organization formed in… Continue reading Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face in both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comment: ‘Data’  is the keyword here. It is responsible for the location of the AI industry. It is responsible for the slow growth of the Indian AI ecosystem. And it is the solution of making India a superpower in AI.  In the intro, tell what is AI and how it will drive the next… Continue reading The fourth industrial revolution will be based on artificial intelligence which in turn depends on ‘data’. What are the factors affecting the location of AI industry globally? Where does India stand in this context? (15 Marks)

Conscience is the intrinsic intuitive capacity to discriminate between right and wrong. “Inner Voice” is important especially in democracy as it has various participants such as citizens, NGOs, corporates to be administered by the politicians who are elected by them only. But at an indel, every person has a conscience which assists them in taking… Continue reading What is conscience? How does it act as a source of ethical guidance for the public servants. Discuss with examples. (15 marks)

Mentors Comments: China has threatened to curb the export of rare earth minerals to the US as the trade war between the world’s two largest economies escalates, The Asian country is the world’s largest producer and consumer of rare earth minerals.  In a few introductory lines define Rare earth minerals – Rare earth elements (REE)… Continue reading What are a Rare Earth Minerals? Why are they strategically important? Discuss  their uses from strategic, developmental and environmental perspective (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Highlight the health issues plaguing the country, especially due to lack of water, sanitation 2. Discuss how Swachh Bharat tried to rectify these, but is limited 3. Provide your view and give solutions https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/quality-on-tap-on-report-of-ministry-of-consumer-affairs/article30000474.ece Answer: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) was an unprecedented nationwide initiative aimed to inspire the public to voluntarily clean… Continue reading Swachh Bharat should lead to Swasth Bharat. Discuss the limitations of Swachh Bharat in building a healthy India. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Mention briefly, the provisions of the 15th FC ToR 2. What challenges do they pose for federalism? 3. How to rectify the same? https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-five-trillion-economy-nirmala-sitharaman-pm-modi-gdp-6124752/ Answer: Fiscal relations in India between the union and state governments have undergone significant changes in recent years. The constitution of the 15th Finance Commission (15th FC) and… Continue reading In the context of 15th Finance commission ToR, examine the diminishing space of states in federalism. (15 Marks)

Mentors Comment: The role and discussion on big data have been increasing day by day and it has been made more important after B N Srikrishna report on data protection and privacy. The question revolves around the big data and its impact on governance in India with development initiatives and improving transparency being the keywords.… Continue reading From transforming development initiatives to improving transparency, Big Data analytics could have a major impact on the way the government in India works. Comment? (15 Marks)

Mentors Comments: 1. Introduce the state of maternal health in India. 2. Highlight the existing mechanisms to support pregnant women 3. Provide alternative ways to redress the issue  https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-mother-of-non-issues-on-maternity-entitlements/article30009380.ece Answer: The health of women and children is at the forefront of the development agenda. Women and children stand at the end of the health-care queue.… Continue reading If we invest in maternal health, we’re investing in our future. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Work culture is an important part of any organization, especially when it has to provide citizen-centric service to the public at large. Recently the government has noticed the need of reinventing the work culture because of various issues ranging from delay in the delivery of service to failed mechanism to address the increasing public grievances… Continue reading The government offices in India need to be reinvented in terms of the work culture. Critically discuss the present work culture in India in government offices. Also suggest some ways to improve the work culture in government settings. (15 marks)