đź’ĄUPSC 2026, 2027 UAP Mentorship September Batch
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Q.2 What are the factors affecting the police as an institution in India? Suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

Mentor’s comment- https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/efficiency-of-police-institution-is-decreasing/ In the intro, mention the significance of police as an institution in a country. In the body mention factors such as police-political class nexus, lack of training, high vacancies, lack of infrastructure etc. In the suggestions mention need to implement Prakash Singh case directive, implementing directives from D K Basu case, adequate… Continue reading Q.2 What are the factors affecting the police as an institution in India? Suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

Q.3 Over the last decade, banks have increasingly shifted away from providing credit to industry, favouring instead lending to consumers. What are the factors responsible for this shift? What are its implications for the economy? (10 Marks)

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/what-the-rbis-financial-stability-report-reveals-about-the-banking-sector-8071499/ In the intro, mention the   RBI’s latest Financial Stability Report (FSR) giving the banking system a reasonably clean bill of health. In the body mention the reasons for the shift such as lessons learned from the global financial crisis and lending boom of 2004-2009. That created issue from both the supply… Continue reading Q.3 Over the last decade, banks have increasingly shifted away from providing credit to industry, favouring instead lending to consumers. What are the factors responsible for this shift? What are its implications for the economy? (10 Marks)

Q.2 As India and Switzerland get ready to commemorate the 75th anniversary of their friendship next year, there can be no better tribute to our friendship and partnership than by working together for lasting peace through bilateral and multilateral engagements. Comment. (10 Marks)

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/delhi-to-bern-drawing-closer-india-switzerland-8064548/ In the intro, mention the 75th anniversary of Treaty of Friendship next year. In the body mention the various areas in which two countries are collaborating on digital transformation, sustainability, health, life sciences, medtech, infrastructure, cleantech, fintech, blockchain, AI and robotics. Also mention that innovation and investment continue to be the primary drivers… Continue reading Q.2 As India and Switzerland get ready to commemorate the 75th anniversary of their friendship next year, there can be no better tribute to our friendship and partnership than by working together for lasting peace through bilateral and multilateral engagements. Comment. (10 Marks)

Q.3 Is India an outlier when it comes to tax-GDP ratio? Give reasons in support of your argument. (10 Marks)

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-wrong-diagnosis-india-tax-gdp-ratio-quality-of-expenditure-8076901/ https://www.livemint.com/Industry/7UAyR2aM3Yh8rBeTD28WHL/Is-India-an-outlier-when-it-comes-to-taxGDP-ratio.html In the intro, mention that  IMF has released their World Revenue Longitudinal Data set from 1990-2019 which allows for comparing the tax collection among the countries. In the body mention link between average income level and tax collection and problems with India’s comparison with other high income countries among G-20. In… Continue reading Q.3 Is India an outlier when it comes to tax-GDP ratio? Give reasons in support of your argument. (10 Marks)

Q.2 The media’s immense power to shape narratives regarding public conceptions of justice makes it a close associate of the justice system, bringing with it a responsibility to uphold the basic principles of our justice system. In context of this, examine the challenges posed by the media trial and suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

Mentor’s comment- https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/fair-trial-goes-beyond-courts-to-the-police-and-media/article65751075.ece In the intro, mention the ongoing case in which Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties asked the Supreme Court to issue guidelines to the police. In the body, mention how media coverage shapes the narrative in the case and its implications for the rights of various stakeholders and role of police in providing… Continue reading Q.2 The media’s immense power to shape narratives regarding public conceptions of justice makes it a close associate of the justice system, bringing with it a responsibility to uphold the basic principles of our justice system. In context of this, examine the challenges posed by the media trial and suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

Q.4 The opportunities and threats created by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) require leaders across business, government and civil society to understand the importance of values and ethics in technological development. Elucidate. (10 Marks)

Mentor’s Comments- Introduce the answer by briefly writing about opportunities presented by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Mention the threats created by AI. Highlight the significance of understanding the role of values and ethics in technological development for government, business leaders and civil society. Conclude accordingly.

Q.3 What are the implications of increased share of indirect taxes in gross tax revenue in India? (10 Marks)

Mentor’s comment- https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-fight-for-fiscal-autonomy/article65746575.ece https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-taxation-policy-fiscal-deficit-covid-impact-on-economy-indirect-tax-revenue-6549290/ In the intro, mention briefly about indirect taxes. In the body mention the share of indirect taxes in gross tax revenue and how indirect taxes affect the poor disproportionately. In the next part, mention the effects of such tax structures. In the conclusion mention the need for course correction in the… Continue reading Q.3 What are the implications of increased share of indirect taxes in gross tax revenue in India? (10 Marks)

Q.2 There is no question that the bilateral relationship dominated by endless contentions at the turn of the millennium has transformed into a very productive partnership. For both Delhi and Dhaka, the reinvention of the bilateral relationship has been one of the most significant successes of their recent foreign policies. Comment. (10 Marks)

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-bangladesh-pakistan-what-east-can-teach-west-8078070/ In the intro, mention rapid transformation of India’s ties with Bangladesh which stands in contrast with India’s ties with Pakistan. In the body, mention efforts to address bilateral problems after 2010 such as border settlement, river water sharing, cross-border terrorism, market access to Bangladeshi goods, and connectivity. In the next part, mention how… Continue reading Q.2 There is no question that the bilateral relationship dominated by endless contentions at the turn of the millennium has transformed into a very productive partnership. For both Delhi and Dhaka, the reinvention of the bilateral relationship has been one of the most significant successes of their recent foreign policies. Comment. (10 Marks)

Q.3 What is the Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) initiative? How does it seek to utilise the positive impact that individual and community behaviours can have on climate action? (10 Marks)

Mentor’s comment- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/breathing-life-into-the-climate-narrative-climate-change-modi-cop26-8071495/ In the intro, mention the launch of the initiative/ In the body mention the important role individuals and community can play in climate action. In the next part write about the LiFE initiative and how it can compel the world to consume responsible, produce responsibly and live responsibly. Conclude by mentioning that… Continue reading Q.3 What is the Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) initiative? How does it seek to utilise the positive impact that individual and community behaviours can have on climate action? (10 Marks)

Q.2 What lessons India can learn from the recent Taiwan-China standoff? (10 Marks)

Mentor’s Comments- https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/lessons-for-india-from-the-taiwan-standoff/article65732968.ece In the intro mention crisis over visit of US House Speaker to Taiwan. In the body, mention need to articulate red lines, avoiding appeasement and recognition that economic and trade relations are two way process. Conclude by mentioning the need to act on these lessons in dealing with challenges posed by China’s… Continue reading Q.2 What lessons India can learn from the recent Taiwan-China standoff? (10 Marks)

Q.4 An Indian company is active in the telecom sector and is the majority owner of a telecom company based in other geographies across the world. At one of its European headquarters, there emerged whistleblowing allegations that a local executive was bribing local government officials in order to obtain telecom cabling and construction contracts from the local government. The kickbacks were allegedly paid through a third-party consultant. More specifically, there were allegations that the executive, the third party, and a government official had some sort of business interest in common, possibly shareholdings in a limited company or the joint ownership of an undisclosed asset. The company is thought to be particularly close to the ruling dispensation in India and the news has now raised pressure to put its business operations in India under scanner as well. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) What are the ethical challenges in the given case? (b) Identify the different stakeholders and their interests. (c) As the CEO of the firm, how would you respond to the given situation? (20 Marks)

Mentor’s Comments- Start with a very brief summary of the case. Mention the stakeholders and list the ethical challenges involved. Evaluate your options and bring out the most appropriate response that you will opt for. Conclude accordingly.

Q.3 India is getting a demographic dividend that will last nearly 30 years. How it handles this windfall will determine if it will rise to the top of the economic league table by the end of this century. In context of this examine the various factors that are in India’s favour when compared with the China of the 1970s when it embarked on economic reforms. (10 Marks)

Mentor’s comment- https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/reaping-the-demographic-dividend/article65720792.ece In the intro, mention the UN report World Population Prospects 2022. In the body mention various factors that are in India’s favour when compared with the China of 1970s such as openness of its society, availability of IT technologies in India, better administrative system, favourable gender ratio, no urban-rural divide etc. Conclude… Continue reading Q.3 India is getting a demographic dividend that will last nearly 30 years. How it handles this windfall will determine if it will rise to the top of the economic league table by the end of this century. In context of this examine the various factors that are in India’s favour when compared with the China of the 1970s when it embarked on economic reforms. (10 Marks)

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