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Climate change is real. Its impact on India is high. What steps do you think India should put on a priority basis to tackle climate change and its effects? (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Climate change – facts: India specific 2. What are the unique threats India faces 3. What can be done to address the impact? Answer: Climate change is certainly without argument the most serious global environmental crisis that we face. It is not the only environmental problem, but it is unique in its multi-scalar characteristic,… Continue reading Climate change is real. Its impact on India is high. What steps do you think India should put on a priority basis to tackle climate change and its effects? (250 Words)

Right to Privacy in India remains a judgement even after two years. Critically discuss. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Introduce with the K S Puttaswamy judgement 2. Why it remains unfulfilled – what are the challenges 3. What is the way ahead for privacy in India The right to privacy in India has developed through a series of decisions over the past 60 years. The Supreme Court of India (SCI) verdict in Justice… Continue reading Right to Privacy in India remains a judgement even after two years. Critically discuss. (250 Words)

Realising the Sustainable Development Goals needs more than just programmes and policies. Discuss. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Briefly discuss India’s position on SDG 2. What are the gaps 3. How to fulfill them The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a set of universal goals that meet the urgent environmental, political and economic challenges facing the world. The 17 SDGs are integrated—that is, they recognize that action in one area will… Continue reading Realising the Sustainable Development Goals needs more than just programmes and policies. Discuss. (250 Words)

Take the civil service out of government and the country will collapse, take politics out of government and the country will flourish. Analyse. (250 words)

The civil service is a subdivision of government which is usually grouped with the Executive, and without which governments cannot function. The civil services by the quality of its knowledge, experience and understanding of public affairs support the chosen representatives to device effectual policy and have great responsibility to implement these policies for the welfare… Continue reading Take the civil service out of government and the country will collapse, take politics out of government and the country will flourish. Analyse. (250 words)

Despite their critical role in biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation, grasslands are amongst the most neglected ecosystems in India. Comment. (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: This is quite straightforward question and you should not have much trouble with it. Start with discussion on grasslands and their spread in India. Next discussion will focus on their importance in the ecology of our nation. How they support our ever growing cattle stocks, how they are the home of some of… Continue reading Despite their critical role in biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation, grasslands are amongst the most neglected ecosystems in India. Comment. (250 Words)

The debate around National Register of Citizens (NRC) should not be viewed as a human rights issue, but as a strategic and security issue. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Briefly explain NRC and what the debate surrounding it 2. Discuss both the human rights and strategic dimensions of the debate Answer: The National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise is among the most ambitious experiments the Indian state has undertaken. The NRC is the list of Indian citizens and was prepared in 1951,… Continue reading The debate around National Register of Citizens (NRC) should not be viewed as a human rights issue, but as a strategic and security issue. (250 Words)

What is No First Use Doctrine? Did it serve India? Do you agree that it is high time India adopts an aggressive nuclear posture? (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Define/ briefly explain what NFU is 2. List down how it benefited India 3. Debate for and against India abrogating NFU Answer: No First Use doctrine is a commitment to not be the first to use a nuclear weapon in a conflict i.e. nuclear weapons to be used only in case of… Continue reading What is No First Use Doctrine? Did it serve India? Do you agree that it is high time India adopts an aggressive nuclear posture? (250 Words)

Suppose you are a headmaster of a government higher secondary school where there is a student of class X who is diagnosed with AIDS. The children in the class discriminate him on various grounds and you have also been getting calls from the parents of other students in the class that they are against the continuance of his studies with their children. You call the parents of the AIDS affected student and tell his parents about the same and that you are under pressure from other parents to expel their child from school. What will be the right course for you on ethical and professional grounds? Evaluate the following options and suggest which course of action would you take along with justification. (1)Rusticate the student. (2)Let the student continue his studies and make separate sitting arrangements for him. (3) Keep the student as usual in the classroom and make efforts to convince the students and their parents that AIDS in not contagious. If some of them are not convinced, you ask them to seek admission elsewhere rather than expelling the AIDS affected student. (250 words)

The headmaster of the school is not only a civil servant but a role model in the vicinity. Teaching and grooming the impressionable young boys is his service and a mission. He should leave an indelible mark in the minds of young boys about moral values such as helping the disabled and diseased and standing… Continue reading Suppose you are a headmaster of a government higher secondary school where there is a student of class X who is diagnosed with AIDS. The children in the class discriminate him on various grounds and you have also been getting calls from the parents of other students in the class that they are against the continuance of his studies with their children. You call the parents of the AIDS affected student and tell his parents about the same and that you are under pressure from other parents to expel their child from school. What will be the right course for you on ethical and professional grounds? Evaluate the following options and suggest which course of action would you take along with justification. (1)Rusticate the student. (2)Let the student continue his studies and make separate sitting arrangements for him. (3) Keep the student as usual in the classroom and make efforts to convince the students and their parents that AIDS in not contagious. If some of them are not convinced, you ask them to seek admission elsewhere rather than expelling the AIDS affected student. (250 words)

Despite war-mongering and aggressive rhetoric on an upswing in international politics in recent years, diplomacy has remained critical. Comment. (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: The answer is both traditional as well as current based. You have to provide the role of diplomacy in recent times which has averted international crisis by bringing peace in those situations. Doklam crisis, summits between Korean leaders, Trump-Kim meet, diplomatic relations between US and Cuba, negotiations between Afghanistan govt and Taliban etc… Continue reading Despite war-mongering and aggressive rhetoric on an upswing in international politics in recent years, diplomacy has remained critical. Comment. (250 Words)

Do you think privacy should be relegated behind state security? Debate in the context of recent Aadhaar social media linkage issue. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Briefly mention the issue in news 2. Argue for and against both privacy and security. Discuss what are the issues of privacy that get violated if Aadhaar is linked to social sites, then discuss and debate on what are the advantages of doing the same. 3. Give a stand of your choice.… Continue reading Do you think privacy should be relegated behind state security? Debate in the context of recent Aadhaar social media linkage issue. (250 Words)

What are the problems of WTO led trade regime. What reforms do you suggest to ensure that world trade runs sustainably to uplift the poor across the world. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: The question highlights the various factors that have led to the weakening of WTO led trade regime and how the policies of WTO have impacted developing countries such as India which are important in combating poverty. At a time when trade war between us and China has had significant bearing on economies of… Continue reading What are the problems of WTO led trade regime. What reforms do you suggest to ensure that world trade runs sustainably to uplift the poor across the world. (250 Words)

In a municipal town, there are some primary schools and dispensaries where children, especially those living in slums, receive their primary education and basic health care. The schools have good buildings, infrastructure and teachers. However, the quality of primary education is far from satisfactory. The teachers don’t come on time. One day when you went to visit the school, you found out that the learning outcomes of the students is very poor. Similarly, the dispensaries are having good facilities but they hardly live up to the expectations of the people. Whenever poor people approach the health officials (doctors), they are shouted back. The people complain that the doctors are usually absent and are engaged in private practice. As a young and promising Municipal Commissioner of corporation, you want to improve the situation. Based on the situation stated above, answer the following questions. (250 words) (a) How you would improve the working of the dispensary and ensure that doctors and paramedical staff are made accountable? (b) What steps should be taken so that the quality of primary education improves? What are the limitations before you? (c) How to strengthen moral responsibility among teachers and health officials? What would be its effect on the overall performance of the dispensaries and schools?

(a) To improve the working of dispensary and ensure the accountability of the doctors and other staff members, the commissioner can make citizen charter. This will ensure that everyone realised his or her responsibilities. But since it will not be a legal document, if it does not work, the condition may not improve. He can… Continue reading In a municipal town, there are some primary schools and dispensaries where children, especially those living in slums, receive their primary education and basic health care. The schools have good buildings, infrastructure and teachers. However, the quality of primary education is far from satisfactory. The teachers don’t come on time. One day when you went to visit the school, you found out that the learning outcomes of the students is very poor. Similarly, the dispensaries are having good facilities but they hardly live up to the expectations of the people. Whenever poor people approach the health officials (doctors), they are shouted back. The people complain that the doctors are usually absent and are engaged in private practice. As a young and promising Municipal Commissioner of corporation, you want to improve the situation. Based on the situation stated above, answer the following questions. (250 words) (a) How you would improve the working of the dispensary and ensure that doctors and paramedical staff are made accountable? (b) What steps should be taken so that the quality of primary education improves? What are the limitations before you? (c) How to strengthen moral responsibility among teachers and health officials? What would be its effect on the overall performance of the dispensaries and schools?

Why did Buddhism spread outside India but Jainism could not? (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: As mentioned earlier, art and culture questions are factual and straightforward. This question is same too. Briefly introduce both the religions and then jump to the reasons for Buddhism spreading out while Jainism failing to do so. Role of royal patronage, characteristics of the religion, flexibility in practices and support from academicians and… Continue reading Why did Buddhism spread outside India but Jainism could not? (250 Words)

What do you understand by Crisis of Conscience? Have you faced it in your life? How did you resolve it? (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Define crisis of conscience 2. Mention the event in your life- how it involved a crisis 3. Explain, neatly, how you resolved it. Answer: Conscience is inner moral sense of a person which guides him/her to regulate his behaviour. Conscience comes to play when a person is in moral dilemma and need deep assessment of… Continue reading What do you understand by Crisis of Conscience? Have you faced it in your life? How did you resolve it? (250 Words)

The Afghanistan crisis shows no signs of respite even after 18 years of war. What does the future hold for Afghanistan and especially for India? (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Start with the recent bombing incident. 2. Provide reasons for the extended conflict. 3. Mention all the implications, for Afghanistan and India. 4. Provide suitable solutions. Answer: With the passage of time, the conflict has not only become more intense – it has also become more complicated. A recent suicide attack at… Continue reading The Afghanistan crisis shows no signs of respite even after 18 years of war. What does the future hold for Afghanistan and especially for India? (250 Words)

You have been preparing for a government job exam from two years and you finally get a call for an interview. On the day of the interview, your bus suffers a fault and it stops in the middle of nowhere. You are getting late and in one hour you should be present at the interview venue. The bus driver tells that all the passengers should search for an alternative to reach their destinations if they are getting late. So, you try to look for a lift from the cars passing on the road. After 15 minutes, you finally manage to get lift. At the same time, another lady comes to you and requests you to let him go as his mother is in hospital and she is critically injured. There is only one seat. What will you do in such a situation? Will you allow the lady to go to the city first? What are the options before you? Discuss them with their merits and demerits? (250 words)

Conflicting priorities in life pose challenge to an individual’s emotional intelligence and the strength of his/her ethical framework. The case presents an ethical dilemma where one has to choose between his personal well-being by attending the interview and social responsibility of helping the lady by allowing her to take the lift as her mother is… Continue reading You have been preparing for a government job exam from two years and you finally get a call for an interview. On the day of the interview, your bus suffers a fault and it stops in the middle of nowhere. You are getting late and in one hour you should be present at the interview venue. The bus driver tells that all the passengers should search for an alternative to reach their destinations if they are getting late. So, you try to look for a lift from the cars passing on the road. After 15 minutes, you finally manage to get lift. At the same time, another lady comes to you and requests you to let him go as his mother is in hospital and she is critically injured. There is only one seat. What will you do in such a situation? Will you allow the lady to go to the city first? What are the options before you? Discuss them with their merits and demerits? (250 words)

Rapid urbanisation is an inevitable truth of the 21st century. In this context, explain the concept of Urban Forestry and highlight its link with India’s urbanisation strategy. (250 Words)

Mentors Comment: This is quite straightforward question and not a difficult one. The first statement (Rapid urbanisation is an inevitable truth of the 21st century) gives you the context or the background against which you have to base your answer. The second statement (Urban forestry and highlight its link with India’s urbanisation strategy) gives you… Continue reading Rapid urbanisation is an inevitable truth of the 21st century. In this context, explain the concept of Urban Forestry and highlight its link with India’s urbanisation strategy. (250 Words)

Do you think the recently passed Surrogacy bill addresses all the socio-economic dimensions of the problem in India? Critically discuss. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. List the provisions of the law 2. Discuss why it has several limitations in terms of social economic dimensions when it comes to surrogacy in India. 3. Provide alternative views to the stand taken by the bill. Answer: The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2019 was introduced in the Lok Sabha with to facilitate altruistic… Continue reading Do you think the recently passed Surrogacy bill addresses all the socio-economic dimensions of the problem in India? Critically discuss. (250 Words)

Economists are worried about a slowdown in the growth of Indian economy and recent growth numbers substantiate it. What are the reasons for the same? Offer solutions. (250 Words)

Mentors Comments: 1. Discuss in brief about the slowing down of growth across the globe and India in particular. 2. Explain the reasons behind the same. 3. Provide solutions. Answer: India recently surpassed France to become the sixth largest nominal GDP globally and is looking strong to take over United Kingdom in near times. However,… Continue reading Economists are worried about a slowdown in the growth of Indian economy and recent growth numbers substantiate it. What are the reasons for the same? Offer solutions. (250 Words)

You are in charge of women welfare in a government organization. There comes a case of molestation against a very senior officer by a woman employee in your office. In view of the fact that these days molestation charges are levied against many upright officers by the instigation of peers due to rivalry or by women workers who are not allowed undue advantages with regard to punctuality, promotion and annual performance evaluation, you as a woman welfare officer need to be extra cautious in judgment. As an upright woman government officer what are the moral and professional issues that you would like to enquire during the process of enquiry against the officer charged with the allegation of molestation. Give reasons. (250 words)

In cases when molestation charges are levied against the upright officers by the instigation of peers due to rivalry or by women workers who are not allowed undue advantages with regard to punctuality and promotion a woman welfare officer examining such cases needs to be extra cautious in judgement and such cases need to be… Continue reading You are in charge of women welfare in a government organization. There comes a case of molestation against a very senior officer by a woman employee in your office. In view of the fact that these days molestation charges are levied against many upright officers by the instigation of peers due to rivalry or by women workers who are not allowed undue advantages with regard to punctuality, promotion and annual performance evaluation, you as a woman welfare officer need to be extra cautious in judgment. As an upright woman government officer what are the moral and professional issues that you would like to enquire during the process of enquiry against the officer charged with the allegation of molestation. Give reasons. (250 words)

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