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The office of the speaker is an exalted constitutional position. Mentioning its powers discuss how the office is important for the legitimacy of the government of the day. (250 W/ 15 M)

Mentor’s Comment: The question is important in the concern of speaker’s powers and authorities in the house. The introduction should discuss about India’s adoption of Westministerial form of government where speaker has considerable power and independence authority. Explain the reasons and importance for such power and independence authority. If possible bring example to support your… Continue reading The office of the speaker is an exalted constitutional position. Mentioning its powers discuss how the office is important for the legitimacy of the government of the day. (250 W/ 15 M)

Discuss the reasons why Social Movements in India are losing potency and their impact to challenge dominant cultures is eroding? (150 W/ 10 M)

Mentors Comment: Social movements, in our times, are represented in events like  protests post Delhi Gangrape of 2012 or Anna Hazare’s Jantar Mantar andolan etc. So just think of them and imagine what went wrong with those movements? Why were they not successful in challenging dominant cultures of the time and why they fizzled out.… Continue reading Discuss the reasons why Social Movements in India are losing potency and their impact to challenge dominant cultures is eroding? (150 W/ 10 M)

Ethics Case Study: You are posted as a DM in a small district. Your district suffers from socially backward problems like child marriage, female infanticide, dowry, etc. One day, a girl of about 18 years who is well educated, comes to you and informs you about her neighbors who are getting their daughter married at an age of 15 years. She tells you that she tried to convince her parents but was unsuccessful. You immediately reach the spot of marriage. You see that all the preparations have been made. When you talk to the family, you come to know that the family is not well educated and thinks that girls should be married early as they it’s the common practice in the whole village and they cannot go against it. Given below are some options. Discuss them with their merits and demerits. Also suggest which course of action would you take and why? a) Convince the family and ask them not to send their daughter to her in-laws place despite marriage being performed. b) Talk to the girl and know her stand as that is most important. c) Take strict action against the family under the law against child marriage. d) Initiating a drive in the area in order to prevent such incidents in future. (150 W/ 10 M)

Mentor’s Comment: The case study has been taken from the burning issue of Child Marriage which is still prevalent in Different cities and villages in India. A general discussion on ethical perspective is important here. However, the question itself provides the course of action with options hence we only need to analyze their pros and… Continue reading Ethics Case Study: You are posted as a DM in a small district. Your district suffers from socially backward problems like child marriage, female infanticide, dowry, etc. One day, a girl of about 18 years who is well educated, comes to you and informs you about her neighbors who are getting their daughter married at an age of 15 years. She tells you that she tried to convince her parents but was unsuccessful. You immediately reach the spot of marriage. You see that all the preparations have been made. When you talk to the family, you come to know that the family is not well educated and thinks that girls should be married early as they it’s the common practice in the whole village and they cannot go against it. Given below are some options. Discuss them with their merits and demerits. Also suggest which course of action would you take and why? a) Convince the family and ask them not to send their daughter to her in-laws place despite marriage being performed. b) Talk to the girl and know her stand as that is most important. c) Take strict action against the family under the law against child marriage. d) Initiating a drive in the area in order to prevent such incidents in future. (150 W/ 10 M)

Can recently launched Project “Sashakt” solve the mess of India’s banking sector? Critically Discuss. (150 W/ 10 M)

Mentor’s Comment: Introduction should talk about the aim of new project Sashakt and how it will be implemented. Further, mention the advantages with project Shashakt. Points like bank level settlements for NPAs, empowers banks for high haircuts, Vertical settlement of loans, Will be beneficial for banks at initial level settlements, use of external experts to… Continue reading Can recently launched Project “Sashakt” solve the mess of India’s banking sector? Critically Discuss. (150 W/ 10 M)

How is time maintained globally? Examine the recent proposal for two time zones from India’s national timekeeper. (150 W/10 M)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/should-india-have-two-time-zones-national-timekeeper-adds-new-arguments-5408216/ Mentor’s Comment: The recent demand of two time zones is based on the huge difference in daylight times between the country’s longitudinal extremes and the costs associated with following the same time zones. The introduction should discuss about the new proposal of two time zones by the National time keeper. Further, need to… Continue reading How is time maintained globally? Examine the recent proposal for two time zones from India’s national timekeeper. (150 W/10 M)

Without commonly shared and widely entrenched moral values and obligations, neither the law, nor democratic government, nor even the market economy will function properly. What do you understand by this statement? Explain with illustration in the contemporary times. (200 W 12½ M)

Mentor’s Comment: Mention about sharing of moral values by community and society members in the form of universal agreement and which cannot be framed by enforcing laws. Bring sufficient example(s) to support your point. How lack of these values and shared agreement among individual and community leads to chaos kind of situation in democracy, governance… Continue reading Without commonly shared and widely entrenched moral values and obligations, neither the law, nor democratic government, nor even the market economy will function properly. What do you understand by this statement? Explain with illustration in the contemporary times. (200 W 12½ M)

Farm loan waiver is a usual business in the time of election. However, despite being a populist measure it yet seems ineffective. Analyze the reason(s) and the consequences behind such phenomenon and suggest suitable measures which suit both the farmers as well as the government. (200 W/ 12½ M)

Source: https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-why-do-farmers-need-more-than-loan-waivers/ Model Answer: Farm Loan Waivers: A business usual with elections After the recent Assembly elections, the new governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh announced farm loan waivers, a key promise. Last year, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu announced waivers as farmers were in distress. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Haryana are… Continue reading Farm loan waiver is a usual business in the time of election. However, despite being a populist measure it yet seems ineffective. Analyze the reason(s) and the consequences behind such phenomenon and suggest suitable measures which suit both the farmers as well as the government. (200 W/ 12½ M)

Instead of agonizing over what China is doing in Nepal, Delhi would do well to fast-track the delivery on its own commitments to its Himalayan neighbour. Comment? (150 W 10 M)

Mentor’s Comment: India Nepal strategic ties dates back to 1816 with the treaty of Sugauli, which later flourished under the British and further cooperation increased after India’s independence. Introduction should talk in general about India-Nepal relation. Further, need to talk what are the recent issues in relations. Nepal thinks India interfering in Nepal’s internal affairs,… Continue reading Instead of agonizing over what China is doing in Nepal, Delhi would do well to fast-track the delivery on its own commitments to its Himalayan neighbour. Comment? (150 W 10 M)

Geography influences almost every aspect of human life. Highlight the link between physical geography and contemporary Indian politics. (250 W/ 15 M)

Mentor’s Comment: This type of question in Paper One of GS is quite common and they combine some aspects of India like culture, society, religion with the geographic spread of our nation. Start with an introductory paragraph regarding the first statement as in how geography influences human life in general and then in the same… Continue reading Geography influences almost every aspect of human life. Highlight the link between physical geography and contemporary Indian politics. (250 W/ 15 M)

Accountability is the need of the hour for Civil Servants. Analyse. (150 W/ 10 M)

Mentor’s Comment: Mention the essence of Accountability. If possible bring example. Further, mention about the power of Civil Servants which is being derived from Constitution. Also mention various mechanism through which Civil Servants are made accountable i.e. constitutional, statutory and executive. Despite these all accountability has been a controversial issue. Mention solutions to make bureaucrats… Continue reading Accountability is the need of the hour for Civil Servants. Analyse. (150 W/ 10 M)

e-Commerce Industry has seen unprecedented growth in recent years paving the way for increased FDI. However, with growing trends of market imperfection, govt. has notified tighter rules governing e-commerce platforms. Mention the effective changes brought and analyze their implications on e-commerce business. (200 W/ 12½ M)

Source: https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-strange-deal-on-new-e-commerce-policy/   Model Answer: New guidelines for e-commerce Tighter rules governing e-commerce platforms were notified by the government They are designed to level the playing field for all vendors in an online marketplace These impose restrictions on related-party transactions, preferential treatment to suppliers, and inventory dumping All of these were market imperfections that had… Continue reading e-Commerce Industry has seen unprecedented growth in recent years paving the way for increased FDI. However, with growing trends of market imperfection, govt. has notified tighter rules governing e-commerce platforms. Mention the effective changes brought and analyze their implications on e-commerce business. (200 W/ 12½ M)

A complete restriction on betting has not eradicated it but has sent the activity ‘underground’ covered in the murky undertakings of the crime syndicates. In the light of the above statement critically analyse the recent proposal of Law commission to regulate gambling and betting on sports in India? (250 W/ 15 M)

Mentor’s comment: Introduce by bringing general meaning of gambling and betting or defining it. Also mention the Law Commission 276th report which was prepared in pursuance of the SC order where SC asked to study the possibility of legalizing betting in India. Further, mention consequences that ensue due to unregulated gambling and betting in India.… Continue reading A complete restriction on betting has not eradicated it but has sent the activity ‘underground’ covered in the murky undertakings of the crime syndicates. In the light of the above statement critically analyse the recent proposal of Law commission to regulate gambling and betting on sports in India? (250 W/ 15 M)

Why did the ‘moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the national about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century? (150 W/ 10 M)

Mentor’s Comment: Introduction should explain about the nature of the Moderates i.e. their demand of equality, British rule as an act to bring modernization, they equated liberty with class privileges and overall their politics was very limited. Also their two pronged methodology i.e. to create a strong public opinion and to persuade the British to… Continue reading Why did the ‘moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the national about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century? (150 W/ 10 M)

Economic Sanctions, conditional on the severity of the coercion, might cause significant civilian pain by worsening public health conditions, economic well-being, and physical security of the populace in target countries. Assess the morality of Economic Sanctions. (150 W/ 10 M)

Mentor’s Comment: Explain about the Economic Sanction in general and how it affects general public life making it vulnerable. The sanctions usually involve Positive incentive and Negative sanctions. Next, mention about the morality of economic sanctions based on the values of just cause, right intensions, limited objective, last resorts, discrimination and proportionality etc. Next, bring… Continue reading Economic Sanctions, conditional on the severity of the coercion, might cause significant civilian pain by worsening public health conditions, economic well-being, and physical security of the populace in target countries. Assess the morality of Economic Sanctions. (150 W/ 10 M)

Police reforms in India require structural changes making the establishment more independent and resistant to external influences. Comment. (150 W/ 10 M)

Mentor’s Comment: The legacy of British Policing still continues in India. However, with the change in time and modes of crime the time is eagerly demanding to infuse reforms in Police. Introduction should talk in general about the changes needed and British legacy. Further the main body should discuss about why the structural changes/reforms are… Continue reading Police reforms in India require structural changes making the establishment more independent and resistant to external influences. Comment. (150 W/ 10 M)

A judge may hold his court in Hindi, but he must speak in English when addressing the Supreme Court, as the CJI ruled recently inviting several criticism of being snobbish and elitist. Examine with justification whether the court has committed any wrong by its response in the above rulings. (200 W/ 12½ M)

Mentor’s Comment: This question seems to be very basic but the intention here is to make you aware and learn the various provisions related to language in our constitution. The introduction should start with constitutional schemes in relation to language in Part XVII titled ‘Official Language’ groups in our Constitution i.e. Language of the Union,… Continue reading A judge may hold his court in Hindi, but he must speak in English when addressing the Supreme Court, as the CJI ruled recently inviting several criticism of being snobbish and elitist. Examine with justification whether the court has committed any wrong by its response in the above rulings. (200 W/ 12½ M)

What are polymetallic nodules? What is their significance and distribution? Critically analyse India’s efforts to extract these. (250 W/15 M)

Mentors Comment: Once again straightforward but lengthy question. The demands of the question are clear. Define polymetallic nodules, its distribution, its significance and India’s efforts to extract polymetallic nodules. Hence to score better, use flowcharts to save space and time. The structure of the answer will be in the requirements of the question as defined… Continue reading What are polymetallic nodules? What is their significance and distribution? Critically analyse India’s efforts to extract these. (250 W/15 M)

Ethics Case Study: You are a District Magistrate recently posted in a district where a three year old girl is allegedly sexually assaulted in her school. On the day of incidence, father picked up the children (4 year old baby boy with 3 year old girl) to home. The girl was quite silent all the way to home and as she reached home, she started crying in front of her mother. She was even resisting her mother from changing her school uniform. When forcefully asked she explained everything. The parents immediately took her to nearest hospital where, after hours of medical examination, the incidence of sexual assault is being confirmed. When the victim and her four-year-old brother, who studies in the same school, were shown photos of male members of the school staff, both instantly pointed to the school watchman and said he was “the uncle who would buy them mithai (sweets)”. The police have now arrested the 30-year-old watchman as the prime suspect. The next morning, a protest in front of the school by members of the Students’ Association went awry when a scuffle broke out after they were asked to disperse by the police. Many of them were injured, and one girl was detained by the police. 1. Identify the ethical issues involved and discuss what course of actions is available with you as a DM. Do you think sexual education or awareness should be imparted to the school children even to the smaller kids? If yes, suggest the processes how it could be done? (250 W/ 15 M)

Case Study taken from: Sexual harassment of a 3 year girl in NOIDA School by a watchman.

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