💥UPSC 2026, 2027 UAP Mentorship Aug Batch
Talk to Mentor

Archives: Questions

What do you understand by ‘convective storms’? Why are they climatically atypical? (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: In the first part of the question, the requirement is simple: Describe what is convective storms and what are its basic characteristics. In the second part, you have to describe how convective storms are unlike other climatic phenomenons (Because of unpredictability and nature) and how it affects things on Earth. Discuss the effects… Continue reading What do you understand by ‘convective storms’? Why are they climatically atypical? (250 Words)

What do you understand by fiscal federalism? Why is it needed in India? What are the challenges we face in realizing this objective? (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Define fiscal federalism 2. What are the various constitutional provisions, laws and institutions for ensuring FF? 3. What challenges does the FF in India face? How to resolve them? Answer: Fiscal federalism, financial relations between units of governments in a federal government system. It is part of the broader public finance discipline.… Continue reading What do you understand by fiscal federalism? Why is it needed in India? What are the challenges we face in realizing this objective? (250 Words)

What are the challenges facing the power sector in India? Discuss solutions for each and every stage of power sector development keeping in mind the future energy requirements of the country. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Mention a few vital stats or reports highlighting the state of the power sector in India. 2. List down the challenges from T&D losses, Discom trouble to the challenge from renewables and climate change 3. Offer solutions to ti each and every problem. Highlight need for diversification of energy sources https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/opinion-it-s-time-to-look-for-permanent-solutions-to-fix-an-ailing-sector-1568141712336.html Answer:… Continue reading What are the challenges facing the power sector in India? Discuss solutions for each and every stage of power sector development keeping in mind the future energy requirements of the country. (250 Words)

You are an education minister of a state. Recently, lot of reports on how women teachers of secondary school dresses up came and emphasized that many teachers wear ungracious and western type of attire which are against Indian cultural ethos while they are in school. People from one cultural group meet you and wants you to clear your mind about that to the public. There is an opinion in air that such things put indelible mark on the impressionable minds of the adolescent students about ‘image of teachers’ in general and ‘women’ in particular. Public expects something from you in the given situation. Answer the following questions related to it: (a) As a minister, when public is expecting something from you, what would you do to safeguard the Indian cultural ethos regarding teachers and women on dress matters? (b) You are a minister in official capacity and a public representative, but you must also have your personal opinion than the public expectations. Do you think that dress is a matter of personal choice and there should be no official dictate regarding it? (c) Also, can you say that what matters is the quality of education and not the type of dress teachers wear? (d) There must be views from both the sides, one may go with you and other will criticize you. Give arguments for and against the dress code for teachers in schools. (250 Words)

Answer: (a) As a minister, when the public is expecting something from you, what would you do to safeguard the Indian cultural ethos regarding teachers and women on dress matters? Dress code is a matter of discipline as well as cultural ethos and identity. The Minister should suggest the stakeholders to seek a consensus with… Continue reading You are an education minister of a state. Recently, lot of reports on how women teachers of secondary school dresses up came and emphasized that many teachers wear ungracious and western type of attire which are against Indian cultural ethos while they are in school. People from one cultural group meet you and wants you to clear your mind about that to the public. There is an opinion in air that such things put indelible mark on the impressionable minds of the adolescent students about ‘image of teachers’ in general and ‘women’ in particular. Public expects something from you in the given situation. Answer the following questions related to it: (a) As a minister, when public is expecting something from you, what would you do to safeguard the Indian cultural ethos regarding teachers and women on dress matters? (b) You are a minister in official capacity and a public representative, but you must also have your personal opinion than the public expectations. Do you think that dress is a matter of personal choice and there should be no official dictate regarding it? (c) Also, can you say that what matters is the quality of education and not the type of dress teachers wear? (d) There must be views from both the sides, one may go with you and other will criticize you. Give arguments for and against the dress code for teachers in schools. (250 Words)

Fall in Rupees is a blessing in disguise for Indian economy which is suffering from double cancer of stagnant industrial growth and lack of job creation? Critically discuss. (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: Briefly discuss the reasons for the weakening of rupee in the intro and then in the next subheading, discuss the recent scenarios of industrial growth and employment in India. These two will form your first part of the answer. Then discuss how a weak Indian rupee is helpful for our industry as well… Continue reading Fall in Rupees is a blessing in disguise for Indian economy which is suffering from double cancer of stagnant industrial growth and lack of job creation? Critically discuss. (250 Words)

Chandrayaan 2 is a leap ahead for Indian science. Discuss. What steps should India take to benefit from the rapidly growing space industry? (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss how Chandrayaan 2 mission positions India with respect to the global space industry 2. What challenges do we still face wrt benefitting from the space industry and related opportunities 3. Suggest steps to rectify the same. Also, project a future of the space industry. https://livemint.com/opinion/columns/opinion-ready-to-reveal-secrets-from-the-right-side-of-the-moon-1567688782738.html Answer: On 2 September, the Vikram lander… Continue reading Chandrayaan 2 is a leap ahead for Indian science. Discuss. What steps should India take to benefit from the rapidly growing space industry? (250 Words)

The pipeline between India and Nepal should spur trade and connectivity in the region. Comment. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss the facts on just launched pipeline. What are the intended benefits of the project. 2. Mention challenges facing connectivity in the South Asian region 3. Suggest solutions to boost the economy of the region as a whole https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-india-nepal-pipeline-that-is-set-for-inauguration-5980625/ Answer: Physical connectivity is directly co-related to trade, investment and development. The greater… Continue reading The pipeline between India and Nepal should spur trade and connectivity in the region. Comment. (250 Words)

Manual Scavenging is quite a common social stigma attached with them in the society. One day few manual scavengers, employed to clean sewer and toilets inside the District Court complex by the Public Works Department,were neither given any safety equipment, nor gloves. When the advocates in the court premises opposed this, the engineer ignored them by denoting the manual scavenging as “a small work” with no hazards involved. When opposed by few advocates, it led to a fight between PWD workers and advocates. Later advocates called a press conference and raised the issue – “We saw few workers who were clad in their inners and were inside the drain cleaning it with bare hands. We (lawyers) got together and opposed it but the engineers did not listen to us. Despite the Supreme Court passing a judgment on this issue, it is shocking that even in court complexes manual scavenging continues. Even government organizations are not following the government rules.” You are a district administration head. Due to the above stated case, following situation arises: (a) All those involved in the manual scavenging and others ad hoc safai karamchari went on strike and demanded for better livelihood. When you called all the community members for a meeting to discuss the issue, no one turned up. (b) Advocates came to you and demanded for stringent action against the official and threatened to go on strike. (c) When you called to PWD official for understanding their version of the issue, they told you that it was an urgent assignment pressurized from above; thus they did not have time going for scheduled procedure. They felt very demotivated. What are the best options available to solve the above stated problems? How will you effectively address all the issues? And also discuss limitations of each course of action. (250 Words)

Answer: (a) All those involved in the manual scavenging and others ad hoc safai karamchari went on strike and demanded for better livelihood. When you called all the community members for a meeting to discuss the issue, no one turned up. Actions should start from “building trust” and not “aggravating suspicion”. This point should be… Continue reading Manual Scavenging is quite a common social stigma attached with them in the society. One day few manual scavengers, employed to clean sewer and toilets inside the District Court complex by the Public Works Department,were neither given any safety equipment, nor gloves. When the advocates in the court premises opposed this, the engineer ignored them by denoting the manual scavenging as “a small work” with no hazards involved. When opposed by few advocates, it led to a fight between PWD workers and advocates. Later advocates called a press conference and raised the issue – “We saw few workers who were clad in their inners and were inside the drain cleaning it with bare hands. We (lawyers) got together and opposed it but the engineers did not listen to us. Despite the Supreme Court passing a judgment on this issue, it is shocking that even in court complexes manual scavenging continues. Even government organizations are not following the government rules.” You are a district administration head. Due to the above stated case, following situation arises: (a) All those involved in the manual scavenging and others ad hoc safai karamchari went on strike and demanded for better livelihood. When you called all the community members for a meeting to discuss the issue, no one turned up. (b) Advocates came to you and demanded for stringent action against the official and threatened to go on strike. (c) When you called to PWD official for understanding their version of the issue, they told you that it was an urgent assignment pressurized from above; thus they did not have time going for scheduled procedure. They felt very demotivated. What are the best options available to solve the above stated problems? How will you effectively address all the issues? And also discuss limitations of each course of action. (250 Words)

Instead of a Universal Basic Income, what India needs is rationalization of subsidies, better targeting, and operational efficiency. Comment. (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: UBI is not a new concept in Indian history and before Economic Survey pondered about it, erstwhile Planning Commission had already discussed the idea couple of decades ago. Simply put, the question asks about the rationale behind UBI and doing away from subsidies. Whether it is good for India? If not then what… Continue reading Instead of a Universal Basic Income, what India needs is rationalization of subsidies, better targeting, and operational efficiency. Comment. (250 Words)

Complying to WTO puts a burden on developing nations. It is high time India rethinks its obligation to WTO. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss WTO – India relation briefly 2. Discuss why WTO has been burdensome – TRIPS, Doha Development Agenda, etc., 3. However, argue how WTO has, in fact, helped developing countries, quoting the recent WTO win on solar dispute against the US Link: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-minor-win-for-india-at-wto/article29376593.ece Answer: The World Trade Organization is an intergovernmental organization… Continue reading Complying to WTO puts a burden on developing nations. It is high time India rethinks its obligation to WTO. (250 Words)

India should welcome ENDS to prevent further tobacco-related deaths in the future. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss ENDS and how it is better than traditional tobacco 2. Prove how India has failed to prevent smoking-related deaths despite a ban on ENDS and several other steps 3. Discuss how other nations are embracing ENDS to reduce tobacco consumption Link: https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/india-s-vape-ban-only-deprives-smokers-of-safer-options-1568051174845.html   Answer: E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that work by… Continue reading India should welcome ENDS to prevent further tobacco-related deaths in the future. (250 Words)

There is generally a difference between two groups of civil servants- one group always think in terms of public interest and tries to devise programmes and policies that best serve the public interest while there is another group, which in the name of public interest devises programmes and policies which run political campaigns of the government in power. The Home Minister has called a special meeting of the civil servants to listen to their problems in serving public interest and find ways for improvement. Suppose you are in the first group, whose sole concern is public interest and you are attending the meeting. Answer the following questions based on the above case: (a) Would you make a point that, it is an intolerable abuse of power to serve the political campaign of the ruling party in the name of serving public or national interest? Why? (b) Do you agree that civil servants should follow the commands of the ruling class, which has a compulsion to fulfill commitments expressed in their manifesto based on which they have won electoral mandates? (c) How a civil servant can maintain political neutrality, which is one of the most important attributes of a good officer? Discuss with respect to the above case where one group of civil servants is fitted against you and they have their own opinion and reason for such stand. (d) If your Home Minister is willing to be with the other side, then how will you present your case to the Home Minister?

a.) Would you make a point that, it is an intolerable abuse of power to serve the political campaign of the rulingparty in the name of serving public or national interest? Why? Yes, I would try to make this point. The civil servants are public servants and not political agents. All the powers and privileges… Continue reading There is generally a difference between two groups of civil servants- one group always think in terms of public interest and tries to devise programmes and policies that best serve the public interest while there is another group, which in the name of public interest devises programmes and policies which run political campaigns of the government in power. The Home Minister has called a special meeting of the civil servants to listen to their problems in serving public interest and find ways for improvement. Suppose you are in the first group, whose sole concern is public interest and you are attending the meeting. Answer the following questions based on the above case: (a) Would you make a point that, it is an intolerable abuse of power to serve the political campaign of the ruling party in the name of serving public or national interest? Why? (b) Do you agree that civil servants should follow the commands of the ruling class, which has a compulsion to fulfill commitments expressed in their manifesto based on which they have won electoral mandates? (c) How a civil servant can maintain political neutrality, which is one of the most important attributes of a good officer? Discuss with respect to the above case where one group of civil servants is fitted against you and they have their own opinion and reason for such stand. (d) If your Home Minister is willing to be with the other side, then how will you present your case to the Home Minister?

Regulatory institutions in India are still a “work in progress”, and they have not attained the kind of maturity that is needed for the emerging economy. Comment. (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: It’s a straightforward question. In the discussion, you have to discuss the regulatory framework in India. Regulatory bodies are important because substantial power to make laws has shifted from elected representatives to technocrats sitting in regulatory bodies. In the intro give the present scenario of regulatory bodies in India. Highlight their functioning. In… Continue reading Regulatory institutions in India are still a “work in progress”, and they have not attained the kind of maturity that is needed for the emerging economy. Comment. (250 Words)

Argue for and against the privatisation of Public Sector Banks in India. What do you think is the need of the hour to reform the Indian banking scenario. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss the proposal of privatization being mooted by several committees and economists. 2. What are the benefits of the proposal? What challenges does it pose? 3. What are the immediate steps to be taken to address Banking sector challenges? https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/opinion-the-case-for-privatizing-public-sector-banks-1567967550243.html   Answer: Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India is fragmented, with some… Continue reading Argue for and against the privatisation of Public Sector Banks in India. What do you think is the need of the hour to reform the Indian banking scenario. (250 Words)

Local Self Governments remain eternally dependent on the states for fulfilling their mandate. Discuss. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss the constitutionally mandated role of LSGs 2. What is stifling them from realizing the objectives – what are states doing and not doing to prevent them from realizing the full potential 3. Suggest steps to improve the state of LSGs and bring in grassroots development https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/throttled-at-the-grass-roots/article29369019.ece Answer: Local Self Government is… Continue reading Local Self Governments remain eternally dependent on the states for fulfilling their mandate. Discuss. (250 Words)

You are officer in charge for transfer and posting of personnel of a particular department. This position is very difficult mainly for two reasons- (i) people closer to the power corridor try to influence you and (ii) women officers often send requests to postpone transfer orders on the pretext of family responsibilities. Consider the following situations and give your views with suitable explanations. (a) A Cabinet Minister sends a D.O letter to you regarding posting of an official on a supposedly ‘lucrative assignment’ for which you have already decided about the name of a more competent officer with a good track record of honesty, integrity, probity and timely delivery. What will you do? (b) As per the rules in your department, every officer needs to be transferred from one destination to other after three years. A woman officer comes to you with a request that as the new destination allotted to her is far flung and remote, she would fail to provide medical treatment to her ageing and sick in-laws who need constant clinical help. But according to her innate qualities and high level of expertise, the new destination would need only officer like her to deliver best results and meet official targets. What will you do? (c) The position of incharge of transfer and posting provides a very lucrative opportunity to make money and cultivate liaison for a life time. One should not be ‘too idealistic’ to ignore such opportunities and adopt ‘pragmatic approach’. Do you agree? Give reasons. (250 Words)

Answer: (a) A Cabinet Minister sends a D.O letter to you regarding the posting of an official on a supposedly ‘lucrative assignment’ for which you have already decided about the name of a more competent officer with a good track record of honesty, integrity, probity and timely delivery. What will you do? An administrative job… Continue reading You are officer in charge for transfer and posting of personnel of a particular department. This position is very difficult mainly for two reasons- (i) people closer to the power corridor try to influence you and (ii) women officers often send requests to postpone transfer orders on the pretext of family responsibilities. Consider the following situations and give your views with suitable explanations. (a) A Cabinet Minister sends a D.O letter to you regarding posting of an official on a supposedly ‘lucrative assignment’ for which you have already decided about the name of a more competent officer with a good track record of honesty, integrity, probity and timely delivery. What will you do? (b) As per the rules in your department, every officer needs to be transferred from one destination to other after three years. A woman officer comes to you with a request that as the new destination allotted to her is far flung and remote, she would fail to provide medical treatment to her ageing and sick in-laws who need constant clinical help. But according to her innate qualities and high level of expertise, the new destination would need only officer like her to deliver best results and meet official targets. What will you do? (c) The position of incharge of transfer and posting provides a very lucrative opportunity to make money and cultivate liaison for a life time. One should not be ‘too idealistic’ to ignore such opportunities and adopt ‘pragmatic approach’. Do you agree? Give reasons. (250 Words)

Despite being the pivot of Indian democracy, the civil services have performed rather poorly when it comes to administering the routine. Discuss. (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: In recent times, you must have seen posts on social media about public servants donning various hats that do not belong to their core areas. They were supposed to work routine stuff according to their service domains but lately, they have been going off track and doing all kinds of other stuff. The… Continue reading Despite being the pivot of Indian democracy, the civil services have performed rather poorly when it comes to administering the routine. Discuss. (250 Words)

Persuasion is a potent, weapon in the hands of civil servants. Critically examine illustrate through one example. (250 words)

Persuasion can be defined as a conscious attempt by an individual to change the attitude or behavior of a group through the transmission of some message. The civil servants have to work, generally with teams and people belonging to different departments. Persuasion has been perceived as a potent weapon in the hands of civil servants… Continue reading Persuasion is a potent, weapon in the hands of civil servants. Critically examine illustrate through one example. (250 words)

What is the reason for special provisions for the Scheduled Tribes in the constitution of India? Are these provisions successful in ameliorating their conditions? (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Give a brief comment on the various provisions in constitution targeted at the scheduled tribes 2. What are the reasons for their continued backwardness? 3. What solutions would you offer to address their ongoing issues? https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/without-land-or-recourse/article26344370.ece Answer: India being a welfare state, aims to ensure the economic and social prosperity of all… Continue reading What is the reason for special provisions for the Scheduled Tribes in the constitution of India? Are these provisions successful in ameliorating their conditions? (250 Words)

India is rated high on climate vulnerability. Mention the reasons for the same and suggest efficient adaptation and mitigation mechanisms. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Give any decent fact from any report which highlights India’s vulnerability 2. What are the reasons for India’s vulnerability – explore all the climate, socio-economic and disaster-related reasons. 3. Provide both adaptation and mitigation mechanisms https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/indias-climate-score-high-on-vulnerability-low-on-resilience/article29334520.ece Answer: Climate change is no more an environmental concern. It has emerged as the biggest developmental… Continue reading India is rated high on climate vulnerability. Mention the reasons for the same and suggest efficient adaptation and mitigation mechanisms. (250 Words)

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.