Mentors Comments: 1. Present the recent case of tensions in the Middle East and the reasons behind it 2. What are the causes of continuing tensions in the region 3. How does that impact India – economy, people, strategic, etc., 4. What could India do, to contain the impact Answer: West Asia is currently in… Continue reading If West Asia burns, India faces heat. Discuss in the background of continuing tensions in the Middle East and the challenges it poses for India. (200 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Present the numbers on disinvestment targets and achievements 2. Discuss how it is useful for the economy – revenue, efficiency, etc., 3. Present the challenges in making an effective disinvestment policy – selling at lower prices, etc. Answer: Disinvestment, or divestment, refers to the act of a business or government selling or… Continue reading Why do governments resort to selling off the family silver, to raise revenues? Critically examine the relevance of disinvestment. (200 Words)

When the country attained independence, we had a set of political leaders who had sacrificed everything they had for the Nation. They were all of impeccable status and had unquestionable credentials. However down the years, gradually but firmly greed for money and wealth put loyalty to the country and its people into oblivion. This has… Continue reading Our politicians profess to live for the people, and swear by them in every speech. But there is no other section of humanity, which so flagrantly robs the people and works against their interests. Substantiate with examples. (200 words)

Affirmative action policies have been a matter of intense debate. India has one of the largest programs for affirmative action in the form of reservations across educational institutions and government jobs for its socially disadvantaged groups – the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Further, it has various… Continue reading Affirmative action policies are objectionable because they come at the expense of recognition of merit.’ Discuss.( 200 Words)

Mentors Comment: Issue of GM crop is quite old and have been in the current affairs domain since last couple of years because of the various stands taken by governments and litigation in SC.  Discuss GM crops, its features and its present scope in India in the intro. Then discuss the concerns that are raised… Continue reading A wealth of research shows that GM crops make for good science and good economics and India needs to embrace both? Discuss. (200 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss the objective behind introducing the legislation. 2. What are its provisions – also slightly touch their need 3. Discuss various challenges it poses – punishments, the autonomy of states, etc., 4. Give way ahead – both on road safety and the provisions of the act https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/at-a-rossroads/article28801088.ece  The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill,… Continue reading What are the provisions of the recently passed Motor Vehicles Act? What are the issues surrounding it? (200 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Define Fertility Rate and give the number for India 2. Briefly highlight its significance in population growth 3. Discuss the challenges facing India – literacy, regional variations, health, etc., 4. Touch briefly on solutions to address the issue https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/opinion-the-country-s-population-can-be-an-asset-it-is-not-a-liability-1568313646428.html  Answer: The total fertility rate (TFR) in simple terms refers to the total… Continue reading What is Total Fertility Rate? Why is the number significant? What challenges does India face in achieving the Replacement Rate of fertility? (200 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. What is Sedition? What are the provisions of Sedition Law in India? 2. Discuss the need for sedition law in India. Also, debate its relevance. How it is against democratic principles. 3. Provide solutions on the ways to balance free speech and national security. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/why-sedition-law-has-lost-meaning-supreme-court-democracy-5993643/ Answer: Sedition is defined in Section 124… Continue reading What is Sedition? Does the sedition law have a place in a democracy like India? (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss ZBNF and its features 2. What are its proposed benefits? Also, discuss the challenges raised by several scientists recently. 3. Provide alternate solutions for sustainable agriculture like organic farming, precision agriculture techniques, etc., https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/zero-budget-natural-farming-budget-2019-5997848/  Answer: Zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawing from traditional Indian practices.… Continue reading What is ZBNF? Discuss concerns raised on its efficacy. Provide various approaches to balance the need for agricultural productivity and environmental conservation. (250 Words)

Answer: a) ‘Rule of law’ is a fundamental requirement for a democratic polity? Rule of law is an Aristotelian concept which implies that the law of the land is supreme. Every position of influence – be it the elected representatives or the President has to abide by the law of the land. It provides for… Continue reading a) ‘Rule of law’ is a fundamental requirement for a democratic polity? b)What do you think of India’s performance on this parameter? (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. What is the state of inequalities in the world? 2. What are the reasons, write briefly. 3. What impact does inequalities have on realizing other goals? Explain clearly. 4. Give a brief on steps to be taken https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/opinion-the-quest-for-inclusive-growth-to-combat-inequality/amp-1568315510011.html Answer: The United Nations describes inequality as the state of not being equal, especially… Continue reading Rising inequalities takes the world away from realizing SDGs. Comment. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Write about the US announcement. 2. What are the reasons for the recent announcement? 3. What benefits and challenges does it pose for Afghanistan and India in particular? https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/in-afghan-peace-derailment-a-wagon-of-hope/article29411231.ece Answer: The US and the Taliban had been making great headway in the negotiations to facilitate the end of the US’s longest war. … Continue reading  What will be the consequences of the US suspension of talks with the Taliban? What steps should India take to minimize the damage? (250 Words)

About Impartiality Impartiality is a norm of justice holding that decisions should be based on objective standards, instead of on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for unsuitable reasons. Impartiality is acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different… Continue reading Explain the meaning and significance of the following values in the context of civil service. a). Impartiality b). Integrity c). Selflessness d). Empathy (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: The idea of forming a ‘bad bank’ in India was initially floated in 2017 when the Economic Survey suggested setting up a Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency (PARA). Along with it, RBI floated the idea of  PAMCs and NAMCs on the lines of Bad Banks. Therefore, it’s an important topic, given the challenge… Continue reading What is a bad bank? Can it help create good banks in India? Critically analyse. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. What is the concurrent list and how it benefits? 2. What are the issues surrounding concurrent list and federalism 3. What steps are suggested by various commissions to eliminate discretion of centre wrt concurrent list Link : https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thenewsminute.com/article/explainer-why-kcr-s-call-dismissing-concurrent-list-part-larger-fight-93285%3famp   Answer: The Constitution provides a scheme for demarcation of powers through three ‘lists’… Continue reading Removing the concurrent list strengthens federalism in India. Discuss. (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: 1. Give the definition of desertification and various dimensions of it 2. List various causes of desertification and analyze them 3. Mention the steps that can be taken to address the growing desertification Link: https://www.google.com/amp/s/wap.business-standard.com/article-amp/current-affairs/as-india-hosts-desertification-meet-30-of-its-land-is-already-degraded-119090200088_1.html Answer: Desertification is the process by which the biological productivity of drylands (arid and semiarid lands) is reduced… Continue reading What do you understand by desertification? What are it’s causes and what steps can be taken to address it? (250 Words)

a.) Identify three crucial problems that are an obstacle to practical solutions. Also discuss why these are ‘crucial problem’. Such problems arise because of ‘indifference’ of the hospital administration, failure of the relevant agencies to fulfill their duties such as cleaning and waste management department and law enforcement agencies and also whistleblowers and lastly lack… Continue reading There is a dispensary in a rural area. It is the sole medical center in the region and provides health care facilities to people. But the dispensary is not following the biomedical rules and disposes a large quantity of waste in its backyard, which is affecting the health of the nearby people and is also affecting the animals. You are health inspector of the region and got the complaint related to it. This hospital is governed by family members of the district collector under which you work. Even public do not care much about this problem, as this is the sole hospital in that vicinity and they trust hospital as treatment and hospitality is good. Media and NGO’s staff gets treatment at low charges and sometimes free also. You have already warned hospital about their responsibility but they don’t take you very seriously. (a) Identify three crucial problems that are obstacle to practical solution. Also discuss why these are ‘crucial problem’. (b) Find different steps for solution to this problem and argue their capacity to achieve desired results. (c) Suggest the best course of action, that can help addressing the problem in this case. Why?