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Q: How have the newly notified rules eased the process of granting Indian citizenship to specific communities under the CAA? What arguments have been presented for challenging its constitutionality? What is the significance of the government’s assertion that the CAA does not affect legal, democratic, or secular rights?
Q: What are the restrictions on judges and senior government officials with respect to their employment when it comes to other posts within the government or in the private sphere? Can a former judge join a political party and contest elections?
Q: Why is the spent fuel from nuclear power plants dangerous? How can they be stored safely with minimum human contact? How are countries with major nuclear power programmes storing nuclear waste? Does India have nuclear waste reprocessing plants?
Q: India’s key energy problem is the inadequate effective demand for energy, especially from poor rural households in India and an underdeveloped market for energy. Elaborate.
Q: India recently signed trade agreement with European Free Trade Association (EFTA). What is the significance of the deal? Why it marks a shift, could be a template for bigger deals?
Q: What did the latest WTO ministerial meeting at Abu Dhabi broadly achieve? What were India’s objectives?
Q: Why is India building a naval base in the Lakshadweep? What is its strategic importance?
Q: What are the constitutional provisions under which MPs and MLAs enjoy immunity from prosecution when it comes to voting or making a speech in Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies? Is such a legislative privilege unqualified? Why did the court overrule its P. V. Narasimha Rao judgment?
Q: Increasing women’s representation in green jobs will lead to benefits such as boosting a low-carbon and environmentally sustainable economy. Elaborate.
Q: Why is the core-loading event of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor being hailed as a milestone? What does the reactor do? Why has the event taken so long to materialise? What led to the delays? What are small modular reactors?
Q: In 2023, India reached its ‘Plastic Overshoot Day’ on January 6. Discuss why and how rmpowering local bodies and creating the necessary infrastructure for waste management in the Indian Himalayan Region need immediate attention?
Q: What are some of the goals laid down by the Indian Space Research Organisation? Why is a crewed flight technologically ambitious? How many test flights are scheduled before the space mission with a crew takes place?
Q: Discuss how death penalty sentencing reform initiated by the Supreme Court of India has failed to percolate to trial courts. What are the implications of the death penalty crisis in India?
Q: Despite their key role in the waste value chain ecosystem, waste pickers face systemic marginalisation, severe health hazards and exclusion from legal protection. Discuss why integrating informal waste pickers into waste management frameworks becomes increasingly evident.
Q: Agitations by different State governments in New Delhi have highlighted many disquieting issues in the practice of fiscal federalism in India. In light of this, the 16th FC must take initiative to correct historical wrongs in vertical devolution through compensations to the States. Discuss and Comment.
Q: How much do developed countries spend on research and development? Has the Ministry of Science and Technology consistently under-utilised its budget? How much does the private sector contribute to India’s R&D funding?
Q: The persistence of outdated frameworks in the conduct of the scientific meetings in India is affecting its scientific practice. Comment.
Q: By penalising consensual relations and violating individual autonomy, the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Bill erodes constitutional rights to liberty, privacy and equality. Discuss and comment.
Q: What is the Supreme Court’s interim order on the Forest Act? How are forests protected under the Act? What were the changes proposed by the Union government?
Q: India's goal of reaching net zero presents a crucial challenge and opportunity. Its success depends on financing key sectors effectively, thus, shaping the pace of decarbonisation. Elaborate.
Q: While ASEAN is an essential player in Indo-Pacific affairs, its influence over the emerging security shifts in the region is being questioned due to its growing vulnerabilities to power politics. Comment.
Q: What is the role of the Finance Commission? What is the basis for allocation of tax revenue to various States? Has the percentage share of the divisible pool of taxes been reducing for southern States? What are the potential solutions?
Q: Highlight the need for financial autonomy for the effective functioning of local governance. What are the various sources available for Panchayats to generate revenue? Why despite efforts towards decentralization, many panchayats still rely heavily on grants for revenue.
Q: Give a brief note on the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act). Discuss the broad contours of the act that could prove to be a landmark in the history of AI regulation.
Q: Discuss the significance of recent Supreme Court ruling in India, which upheld the necessity of specialized qualifications for primary school teaching. Highlight the need for better training programs and government support for primary school teacher education.
What are electoral bonds? What were the changes made in existing laws to allow the donor to maintain anonymity? Why did the Supreme Court invalidate electoral bonds? | Explained
Discuss how the Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down India’s electoral bonds scheme marks a significant victory for transparency in democracy.
Highlight the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice, to enhance the quality of legal education in India, boosting research and addressing other issues.
Give a brief note on the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act). Discuss the broad contours of the act that could prove to be a landmark in the history of AI regulation.
Q: Why has the notification of the Thanthai Periyar Sanctuary in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu left forest-dwellers wary? How should national parks and sanctuaries be notified? What was the ‘historical injustice’ the Forest Rights Act was supposed to rectify?
Q: What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)? Is legalising MSP a cure for India's agriculture problem? Discuss the importance of adopting a multi-pronged approach to address concerns in the agricultural sector.
Q: What does the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seventh visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) holds for the critical relationship between the two nations? Also give a brief outline of India-Gulf relations?
Q: How will the Uniform Civil Code Bill impact divorce, inheritance of property, and live-in relationships? What are the penalties if the new law is violated? Has any community been left outside its purview?
Q: Of the target of grid-connected 175 GW of renewables by 2022, the share of the solar sector was 100 GW, which included a solar rooftop capacity of 40 GW. Out of this, India have only about 11 GW in place. Give reasons for failure to achieve set targets? Also discuss the potential of the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Sarvoday Yojana (PMSY).
Q: The high-powered committee announced in the interim Budget needs to adopt an interdisciplinary approach if it is to tackle issues that affect family planning, maternal and child health, education, employment, and socio-economic development in India. Elaborate.
Q: Discuss the significant changes on marriage, adoption, and related aspects under the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2024.
Q: What does delimitation mean and what are the constitutional provisions which deal with it? Why were the seats frozen as per the 1971 Census? Will the fresh exercise go against the federal principle, giving an advantage to certain States over others?
Q: Discuss the success of a decentralized approach to tackling malnutrition in Uttar Pradesh by empowering women through community-based micro-enterprises.
Q: What was the debate surrounding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the Constituent Assembly? Can a State government implement a State-wide UCC? Why has the Supreme Court not given a definite order regarding the implementation of a UCC?
Q: Why was the fiscal deficit estimate announced in the recent Union Budget considered to be ambitious? How does a government fund its expenditure? What is the difference between fiscal deficit and national debt? How much is the Centre expected to borrow from the market?
Q: The Northern Sea Route is an essential element to harness India’s Interests in the Arctic. Elaborate.
Q: What provisional measures did the International Court of Justice order in the case South Africa brought against Israel on its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip? Can the interim ruling be enforced by the ICJ? What is the verdict’s impact and what happens next?
Q: The India and France partnership, which is now moving from government domains to commercial and civil spaces, reflects maturity and resilience. Illustrate.
Q: Discuss how lack of accurate data on internal migration of women engenders policy-making, which is poorly informed about the needs, motivations, and conditions of female migrants?
Q: What are the various benefits of holding Lok Sabha and State elections at the same time? How would simultaneous elections go against the federal character of the Constitution? What are international practices on the same in other Parliamentary democracies?
Q: Which does Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi’s recent visit in countries of Africa holds for China? What has been the history of the relationship between Africa and China? What is China’s foreign policy of non-interference?
Q: What led to the Punjab government moving the Supreme Court against the Centre on increasing the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force in the State? What has the top court observed in its preliminary hearing? What is the bone of contention?
Q: While temperatures have been pretty low since December in north India, what has led to regions like Himachal Pradesh not receiving any snow? Is India in the midst of a snow drought? How do western disturbances play a part in the lingering dense fog?
Q: Discuss how the case of South Africa instituting proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice over the Gaza war is a vital stress test of the ‘rules-based international order’?
Q: Discuss the challenges and policy recommendations for fostering growth in India's semiconductor industry, focusing on the Design-Linked Incentive scheme and potential reforms.
Q: Why has a high-level committee been formed post Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise to the Madiga community in Telangana? What has the community been demanding since 1994? Can Parliament sub-categorise castes within the Scheduled Castes?
Q: The newly enacted Post Office Act, 2023 does not make any provision for procedural safeguards to dispel fears of misuse of the substantive provision on interception. Critically analyse
Q: How has a confrontation between Israel and Hamas snowballed into a regional security crisis? Who are the key players in operation and why are they pulling in different directions? What are the apprehensions of a prolonged war for the region and the world?
Q: What is the strategic importance of Chabahar port for both Iran and India? What is the nature of India’s involvement in the Chabahar port?
Q: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 can help ensure that a holistic approach towards the integration of technology with different functional requirements of the sector is undertaken. Elaborate.
Q: Why did the island of Nauru shift its diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China? What is the 1992 consensus? Do the younger generation of Taiwan identify with China?
Q: On what basis has the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly refused to disqualify the MLAs? What is the history behind the anti-defection law? How can anti-defection laws be made stronger and impartial?
Q: In the Shiv Sena case in Maharashtra, the question as to which faction is the real party cannot be decided by the Speaker as the Tenth Schedule does not require him to decide this. Discuss and Comment.
Q: Has Israel violated the provisions of the Genocide Convention in its ongoing military campaign in Gaza? What are the allegations? What are the powers of the International Court of Justice? How long will it take for a ruling and is it binding?
Q: How GM mustard was developed, why the question of its approval has now reached Supreme Court?
Q: Indian agritech is making impressive strides and expanding its global footprint, but it is still at a nascent stage and has penetrated only 1 percent of its potential market value. Elaborate.
Q: Discuss how recent Maldives fiasco can turn into a perennial source of regional friction with serious implications for the Indian Ocean region’s economic prosperity and political stability.
Q: With further increase in tigers and Tiger Reserves, and tiger corridors to link them up, India’s tiger terrain is set to become a hotspot not for biodiversity but anxiety and conflict. Critically analyse.
Q: What are the sections on hit-and-run in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that have irked the sector? Why there is need to revisit the Section 106 (2) of BNS?
Q: Why are girls getting married early despite receiving an education? Have the cash incentives for girls to study not been effective? What is the feedback from the districts? Is it a social problem or a political issue? What is the link between child marriage and poor maternal health?
Q: What are the roots of the IS’s rivalry against Iran? Why did the IS target a memorial event of slain Iranian General Qassem Soleimani? Why has IS declared war on Iran? What is the Islamic Republic’s medium and long-term strategy to take on the IS?
Q: Reforming the examination system to ensure its credibility is a key way to improve educational standards. Elaborate.
Q: Online gaming addiction remains under-recognised by the Indian government and its policymakers. Discuss how China’s success in regulating online gaming could serve as a crucial lesson for India?
Q: Prioritising access to blood and its products remains fundamental to building a resilient global health architecture. Elaborate.
Q: Created in the shadow of the Cold War the global nuclear order (GNO) has held reasonably well, but is facing pressures under changing geopolitics. Comment and discuss
Q: What does the Union government’s draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill mean for OTT platforms and content creators? How will the government ensure fair representation within the Content Evaluation Committee? What measures are proposed to prevent abuse of power during unannounced inspections?
Q: Why is the Ukraine conflict still going on? What is happening in Gaza? Why is Israel not heeding a ceasefire call? What is Russia’s position? How have the U.S. and China reacted? What is India’s take on the conflicts? How do the wars affect the Global South?
Q: Rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities need to be multidisciplinary, multicomponent and holistic. Elaborate.
Q: India is making strides towards a sustainable, low-carbon future, with climate-resilient pathways being forged at national and state levels. Discuss the prospects of fusion of climate-conscious social development with corporate strategy in this pathway.
Q: What factors contribute to SLIM’s significantly lower weight compared to other lunar exploration missions, and how does this impact its mission objectives? How will SLIM affect what India and Japan are planning for their joint Lunar Polar Exploration mission?
Q: Highlight the global framework for menstrual leave. What is India’s stand on menstrual leave policy? Discuss related issues and way out.
Q: Implementing Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), needs more urgency in terms of treating adaptation on a par with mitigation in the face of extreme climate events. Comment and Discuss.
Q: Why were the British-era criminal laws in India proposed to be replaced by revised Bills, and what were the main legislative areas targeted for change? How does the inclusion of UAPA’s definition of a ‘terrorist act’ in the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita Bill, 2023 differ from the previous definition included in the original Bill?
Q: How does the government plan to consolidate the law for wireless networks and Internet service providers? Has the licensing procedure been eased for telecom operators? What are the concerns raised by digital rights groups?
Q: What are green credits and what opportunities do they present? Discuss how it's a way to turn eco-friendly aspirations into tangible actions, planting the seeds for a greener future worldwide?
Q: What are the key features and issues of the Post Office Bill, 2023? What do prior Supreme Court rulings say about the state’s surveillance powers? What have experts opined?
Q: What came of the first global stocktake at 2023 Conference of Parties? What were the novel mechanisms introduced with respect to accelerating green finance? Why did India not sign the health and methane reduction declarations?
Q: Combined with nutrition literacy and effective food labelling, tax on High-Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) foods can help improve health outcomes. Elaborate.
Q: Discuss how in a creative interpretation of Article 200, the Chief Justice of India’s recent judgment has also protected the entire constitutional system from the depredations of Governors?
Q: What does The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Office and Terms of Office) Bill, 2023 passed by the Rajya Sabha say? How is the new mechanism different from the one spelled out by the Supreme Court?
Q: What are the key aspects of the judgment and how will it affect Centre-State relations? What has the Supreme Court ruled about the President’s role during President’s rule? What did it say about restoring statehood to Jammu & Kashmir?
Q: After repeated flooding in Chennia, the key issue now is to decode Chennai’s urban and peri-urban hydrology, its ecosystem in its totality, and make meaningful and scientific interventions. Elaborate.
Q: The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference was recently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). What were the most important decisions and where they fell short? Highlight some key resolutions on fossil fuels, methane emissions, funds to fight global warming, among others discussed at COP 28.
Q: The Article 370 judgment, shaped by constitutional monism, raises critical concerns about its impact on federalism in India. Comment.
Q: Indigenous peoples represent 6 per cent of the world’s population are at the frontlines of the climate crisis. Discuss the impact of climate change on lives, livelihoods and food security of the Indigenous peoples.
Q: Give a brief detail of the world's first comprehensive laws to regulate the use of artificial intelligence formed by the European Union.
Q: Discuss how due to the changing global conditions, the erstwhile export-led growth strategy may not be available to India any more. Also discuss strategies for India on relying relatively more on domestic growth drivers.
Q: Where do the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups live in India? What is their population? Why is so little known about them? When was the last count done? How is the Pradhan Mantri-Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) scheme expected to benefit PVTGs?
Q: Close collaboration between India and Australia can pave the way to extract critical minerals by undertaking seabed mining in a responsible and sustainable manner. Elaborate.
Q: Why are deepfakes dangerous? How are deepfakes being used to spread misinformation in political campaigns? What are the international best practices? What should be the regulatory response according to experts?
Q: What are privileges committees? Discuss the role of ethics committee. How to reconcile privileges of the House and democratic representation?
Q: What did the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), under the United Nations Environment Programme, in its third round of negotiations discuss? How do they aim to end plastic pollution? What did the ‘zero draft’ say and was it endorsed by the end of the meeting?
Q: What are the likely Opportunities and Challenges posed by the India-UK Free Trade Agreement? What are the likely impact of the India-UK FTA on the partner countries?
Q: What are the grounds on which the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs recommended to re-criminalise the offence which was revoked from the Indian Penal Code in 2018? What is the history of the adultery law in India?
Q: Has health been discussed in previous UN Conference of Parties? What are the expected health-related outcomes at COP-28? How can public health become resilient to climate change, and who will finance this transformation? What challenges do experts foresee?
Q: In India, perverse incentives created by public institutions and the skill gap among officials have eroded the ability to form and implement sound policies. Comment.
Q: When did Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections start happening at different points in time? What are the arguments for and against conducting simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and local bodies? What are the constitutional impediments?
Q: Why was rat-hole mining banned in Meghalaya by the National Green Tribunal? How does it compromise the safety and health of the miners? What are the hazardous effects of rat-hole mining on the environment?
Q: Sustainable development goals in the littorals remain unrealised, as voices from littoral states in Asia, Africa, and the Southern Pacific are ignored by the developed countries. Elaborate.
Q: Javier Milei, the recent winner of Argentina’s presidential election, is in news for focusing on dollarisation as a “medium-term” goal. What is dollarization? Can dollarization save an economy? Justify your answer with valid examples.
Q: The Uttarkashi tunnel collapse has thrown light on the major flaws in the infrastructure development in the Indian Himalayan Region. Discuss and comment.
Q: What is India’s stance vis-a-vis the West and the Global South? Is it now closer to Western countries than the Global South, and how will this impact India’s relations with different powers in West Asia? What about India’s relations with Iran, Israel’s chief rival?
Q: Discuss how the intersection of climate vulnerability and agricultural importance places India at a unique juncture where climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption is not merely desirable but essential.
Q: How has the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ affected global climate policies since the UNFCCC in 1992? Why have the disproportionate historical carbon emissions of developed countries impacted the global carbon budget? What stance should India adopt at COP 28 regarding its fair share of the carbon budget?
Q: There is a strong link between animal cruelty and child abuse and there is an urgent need to investigate it further in the Indian context. Discuss and comment.
Q: What does the ‘new and additional finance’ clause in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change mean? Why do rich and developed economies want to keep the definition of climate finance vague?
Q: The Indian military’s strategic embrace of emerging technologies, encompassing AI, cyber, and unmanned systems, should not be imagined as a ‘plug and play’. Fully realising the potential of emerging technologies in the military requires altering existing organisations and approaches. Comment.
Q: What are the options before a Governor when they receive a Bill for assent from the State Legislative Assembly? Do Governors have powers of discretion and when can they use it?
Q: What’s happening in the border States of the northeast because of the civil war in Myanmar? How have ethnic organisations responded to the junta crackdown?
Q: It is high time to consider a Production Linked Incentive scheme and other such incentives for boosting domestic manufacturing of critical components, particularly space electronics in India. Comment.
Q: Why are the Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes against sub-categorising? What are the legal challenges?
Q: In not finding room for same-sex marriages in the Special Marriage Act, the Supreme Court misinterpreted the Constitution and failed to look at its own precedents. Comment.
Q: Discuss how as portable sources of electric power, batteries are at the foundation of convenience and sustainability? What led to the invention of the electric battery? What are the types of batteries?
Q: What is the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023? What did the 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee decide with respect to the amendment Bill tabled in Parliament? Why do the Central and State governments insist on the right to convert forest land for non-forest purposes?
Q: India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) model is a key offering to the world and is being considered, adopted or adapted by nations at varying stages of development. Comment.
Q: The World Food Programme has identified the Odisha Millets Mission as one of the best practices that can be replicated in other countries. Discuss how it offers key learnings to other governments on getting the momentum going on millets?
Q: When was the decision to establish a loss and damage fund taken and in which Conference of Parties did member states take concrete steps to bring this fund to fruition? What is the role of the Transitional Committee? Have the meetings by this committee been successful?
Q: In light of high import dependencies and export bans imposed by resource-rich countries, countries need to create secure critical mineral supply chains. Comment and discuss.
Q: What is mixed member proportional (MMP) system? Discuss how a split voting system allows voters to choose candidates based on merit while ensuring that their party preference determines legislative composition?
Q: Data show that India is home to some of the most polluted cities in the world. The overall development strategy of urban development in India needs a paradigm shift. The need now is to turn to sustainable and “ecological urbanization”. Comment.
Q: How many countries voted for a resolution calling for an ‘immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce’ in the Israel-Hamas conflict at the United Nations General Assembly? What has been India’s historical stance on Palestine?
Q: Air pollution has worsened in Delhi in the last decade. While the smog’s presence is more pronounced in the winter months, policymakers must bear in mind that it is a continuous concern throughout the year. Comment.
Q: Discuss the role of Biosphere Reserves as Pockets of hope in the face of the climate crisis
Q: What event brought about a paradigm shift in the way the U.S. looked at the Israel? What is the basis of the ‘the special relationship’ between the two countries? How do pro-Israeli forces exert a strong influence in the U.S. public sphere?
Q: Climate finance is essential for trust in climate change negotiations, especially in COP 28. What are the concerns of developing nations related to disparities between pledged amounts and actual commitments and what are the ways to address these issue?
Q: The COVID-19 pandemic extracted a heavy mortality toll across the world and this has been a huge global public health concern. Discuss the need for task force of national experts to analyse civil registration data in India.
Q: Discuss how the office of Speakers of the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies is posing a threat to the stability of elected governments.
Q: Why has the National Crime Records Bureau cautioned against the misuse of the database by ensuring identification and deployment of appropriate safeguards allowing only designated officials to access the data in real time? What are the concerns?
Q: Give a brief note on recently launched draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns in India. Discuss how it is a significant step toward safeguarding consumers and what are the loopholes, challenges associated?
Q: The New Delhi Declaration’s policy commitments in the health sector emphasise the role of the G20 in revising the existing financial and global health governance discussions. Comment.
Q: The economic impact of the non-participation of married women in the workforce in India is considerable, given their substantial representation among the working-age population. The female participation in the labour market did not exhibit an upward trend but rather a U-shaped curve. Illustrate.
Q: Discuss how the opening up of the Chattogram Port for transit and transhipment of goods and allowing regular movement is a powerful testimony of the India-Bangladesh partnership.
Q: In the face of recent disasters in Himalayan states, involving the local population and grass-roots bodies in determining the carrying capacity of the Indian Himalayan Region is the only viable strategy in the Himalaya ecological restoration. Comment.
Q: Why did the court not allow the Special Marriage Act to be used for queer couples to get married? Will the legislature be open to enacting a law to make same-sex marriage legal?
Q: Give a brief note on Supreme Court’s recent observations made in Rajesh & Anr. vs The State of Madhya Pradesh, emphasising the need to devise a consistent and dependable code of investigation.
Q: Highlight the challenges ailing India's food system. Discuss how a triad approach that engages all three sides of the food system: consumers, producers, and middlemen, can ensure truly sustainable food system.
Q: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could prove to be as radical a game-changer in the world of the 21st century as the Industrial Revolution was in the 18th century. Comment. Also discuss the catastrophic consequences of AGI.
Q: Critically analyse the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022. Discuss how an inordinate number of species have been included in the new schedules of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022, with no consultation, process or logic.
Q: The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) process, especially concerning the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), requires a comprehensive review. Exploring tools like strategic environmental assessment can be more effective in addressing the cumulative impact of development in regions like the IHR. Comment.
Q: Highlight the need to adopt innovative and collaborative approaches for improved management, conservation and availability of scarce water resources in India and around the globe.
Q: Highlight how is the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s (IORA) a key bloc for India? Has the grouping managed to keep out big power rivalries? What are its focus areas?
Discuss how the current global economic situation presents an opportunity for India and Bangladesh to collaborate and emerge stronger in the years ahead.
Is there a relation between caste, religion, poverty and discrimination? What do the social, economic indicators show? Does this pattern extend to education and employment? Is the informal sector disproportionately populated by Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes?
Highlight the Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernisation Program (V-VMP). Discuss why the vehicle scrappage policy should be implemented as it would allow for greater mobility and enable municipal sweepers to keep the roads clean?
Q: What is Professor Goldin’s (Winner of Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences for 2023) claim about the inconsistency of women’s participation in the labour market? How do expectations of future careers play a role in women’s employment rate? How did the introduction of the birth control pill change the trajectory of women’s careers?
Q: How are Scheduled Areas identified and governed? What did the Bhuria committee in 1995 recommend? How have the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, or PESA, in 1996 changed governance of Scheduled Areas?
Highlight the transformative potential of cotton within the T&A industry. Discuss how a powerful symbol of transformation within the fashion industry, the ‘white gold’ can indeed become more ‘fashionable’ in its cultivation methods and a beacon of hope for a more sustainable and biodiverse tomorrow.
How do the work of the three Physics Nobel laureates demonstrate a way to create short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid fashion in which electrons move or change energy? What are the applications of this discovery?
Aligning higher education with the United Nations SDGs
Q: Discuss the role of unhealthy ultra-processed foods and beverages in India’s growing diabetes burden. Also discuss how only a legal framework o can safeguard people from the strategies of the food industry.
Q: Recognising the complexity and interconnectedness of the climate polycrisis, it is crucial in developing a holistic approach to help bring the nation under one carbon accounting framework. Comment and discuss.
Q: Why has the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announced its closure? Are the consulates of Afghanistan also shutting down? What is the current state of the relationship between India and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan?
Q: How does the Official Prison Statistics India report label ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’ deaths? Why do courts and experts think this classification is vague? Is the lack of space in prison facilities one of the leading factors resulting in custodial deaths?
Q: It is critical to create and nurture age-responsive healthcare systems that ensure equitable access to person-centred care and services for all older persons and their families who are affected by tuberculosis. Comment and discuss.
Q: Why does the government favour Aadhaar-based authentication for rations under the public distribution system and government-to-citizen cash transfer programmes such as wage payments in MGNREGS? What are some common problems faced by rights-holders?
Q: The National Ignition Facility (NIF) experiment has opened up a new avenue for achieving nuclear fusion. India should invest in it since it can help India achieve its net-zero carbon emissions goals. Elaborate.
Q: Reforming India’s kidney transplant laws is not only a matter of urgency but also a humanitarian imperative. Discuss how innovative kidney exchange methods face legal roadblocks, worsening a massive kidney shortage in India and what needs to be done?
Q: ‘The recognition of unpaid labour and equitable sharing of household duties will ultimately dictate whether substantive reform in gender equality is achieved through efforts like women’s reservation Bill in the Parliament’. Elaborate.
Q: Climate change has heightened the global risk of infectious diseases. Protecting ecosystems, fostering collaboration and embracing the ‘One Health’ paradigm would be the best defences. Comment.
Q: Many cutting-edge AI deployments are not designed specifically for children even though they are accessed by them. Discuss how can the upcoming Digital India Act (DIA) better protect children’s interests when interacting with AI?
Q: What does 'One Nation, One Election' mean? Discuss why and how implementing simultaneous elections will be deeply problematic in a parliamentary democracy?
Q: Why will the implementation be delayed by several years? When will the Census and delimitation exercise take place? Why are some parties demanding a sub-quota for women from Other Backward Classes?
Q: While progress has been made under Poshan Maah, India's size, diversity, and numerous challenges make it a persistent issue that demands constant attention. Comment and discuss.
Q: Competition Commission of India (CCI)’s recent draft regulations on settling competition law infringements set it on the same path of failure as the EU’s ‘commitments’ regime’. Comment.
Q: SDGs are not enough for global sustainability. Discus how adopting ‘Sustainable Consumption Goals (SCG)’ by OECD countries could provide a complementary approach to achieving global sustainability.
Q: How is the Constitution amended? What are the different procedures for amending provisions in the Indian Constitution? Can constitutional amendments be struck down for want of ratification by States? Is there a time-limit prescribed for ratification?
Q: Quantum computing is one of the fastest-growing areas in technology in recent times. Highlight some of the major international initiatives in quantum computing and the hurdles they may face in the future.
Q: Although biohacking offers opportunities for improved health, the rapid growth of biohacking has raised significant ethical, social, and regulatory concerns. Elaborate.
Q: What is the blueprint of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor? Will it also influence the politics of the region? Is it going to pose a challenge to China’s Belt and Road Initiative?
Q: At COP28, developing countries should consider the global target of tripling renewable energy capacity from current levels by 2030 only if the North commits to equitable absolute targets domestically. Comment.
Q: Biofuels play a critical role in ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, which is vital in a circular economy, and helps address climate change. Discuss how India can strengthen the development of sustainable biofuels, in addition to promoting ethanol uptake?
Q: How might climate change affect farming and food security in India in the future? How the El Niño and is connected with other climate phenomena and food security in India? Discuss strategies for mitigation and adaption in the long run.
Q: Ensuring that Indians have permanent access to a healthy diet is the most important task of economic policy today. Discuss the need for second green revolution to strengthen supply side and role of states in its success.
Q: What is the ‘deceitful means’ clause in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023? How have courts previously dealt with cases of consent and rape under IPC?
Q: What are the issues, apart from the Ukraine war, on which there is consensus in the New Delhi declaration? Why is the summit important to India and the Global South?
Q: Discuss various provisions and changes introduced in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 bill aimed at replacing the existing legal framework in India. What does the proposed legislation to overhaul criminal justice system mean?
Q: Any loss of language is not only a loss of linguistic diversity but also a loss in terms of the associated cultural variations, opinions, views and knowledge. Elaborate.
Q: To reduce its digital carbon footprint, India must acknowledge the extent of its footprint and frame policies for its reduction. Comment.
Q: Why did the Mizoram Assembly pass a resolution against the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023? Why is the Forest (Conservation) Act not applicable in Nagaland? What are the special constitutional provisions for Nagaland and Mizoram?
Q: Discuss how gender equality and environmental sustainability goals, are interconnected particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Why women are considered to be highly vulnerable and disproportionately affected by climate change? How women-led climate action can provide the solution?
Q: There is an urgent need for sustainable and resilient food systems to guarantee sustainable diets that are nutritious and aligned with the evolving ecosystem and climate change. Elaborate.
Q: Has the Right to Information been weakened over the years? What are the recent concerns of activists about dilution of the Right to Information?
Q: A just and green transition must respond to the economic and labour systems of the Global South can unlock the real potential for green employment generation. Comment and discuss.
Q: Discuss why Uniform Civil Code (UCC) must focus on the ‘best interests of child’ principle in all custody disputes, including the point of biological ties, the rights of adoptive, single, surrogate and even LGBT parents. With the help of recent court cases, highlight the social and psychological impact of custody decisions on children's well-being.
Q: Give a brief outline of the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023. What are the major issues that could potentially limit the scope and impact of the bill and how it need to be aligned with global best practices?
Q: Understanding sexual consent is important not only to learn about violation and abuse, but also to maintain healthy relationships. Discuss the above statement while highlighting the need for comprehensive sexuality education to address the issue of child abuse.
Q: India’s Himalayan region is being destroyed by greed outstripping the need along with manipulative political, bureaucratic and real estate lobbies. Discuss the above statement in context of recent disasters unfolding in Uttarakhand.
Q: Give a brief outline of major upcoming projects of the Indian Space Research Organisation after the success of Chandrayaan-3. What are some of the other things it is working on now besides producing rockets and developing satellite systems?
Q: Elaborate how by focusing on cleantech solutions to bolster livelihoods, especially in rural areas, India can achieve an inclusive green transformation.
Q: What is the significance of the Arctic region for India’s interests? Why is India involved in Murmansk’s Cargo Traffic? How long has India been engaged with the Arctic region? What is the NSR? How does the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor impact NSR?
Q: Approximately 91% of India’s workforce working in the informal sector, highlight the issues related to social security coverage and implementation in the country.
Q: Give a brief note on the provisions of Section 8(4) of the Representation of People Act (RP Act) and impacts of its striking down in the Lily Thomas vs Union of India (2013) on the careers of India’s legislators?
Q: Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity, and developing nations of the Global South are expected to be the most vulnerable to climate-induced health risks. Discuss the impact of extreme heat and its consequences for health. What should be the adaptive policies and responses to overcome the situation?
Q: The issue of social isolation among senior citizens is a pressing concern which demands a comprehensive and adaptable strategy. Comment and discuss.
Q: Will India and China have the opportunity to have bilateral talks on the Line of Actual Control dispute? How will fruitful discussions have a bearing on the G20 summit in Delhi next month? Will Russian President Vladimir Putin attend the meeting?
Q: Elaborate how the India-Japan partnership is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the global semiconductor landscape?
Q: Highlight the significance of the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act and its recent amendment via the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023. What are the challenges in obtaining accurate cause of death certificates and suggest remedies.
Q: Highlight the urgency of addressing gender-specific repercussions within agricultural adaptation efforts, by investigating challenges from changing weather patterns and extreme events, exploring economic implications, discussing cultural impacts on gender roles and examining adaptive strategies.
Q: Examine the issues, particularly on methodology relating to the multidimensional poverty index, and discuss why consumption-based poverty estimates are still very relevant?
Q: Discuss how a combination of institutional frameworks and policy changes has ensured a profound transformation in India's defence policy?
Q: What are the issues involved in the legal challenge to the removal of Kashmir’s special status? Could it have been unilaterally removed?
Q: Recent studies predict that the widespread impacts of climate change will intensify further, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation and adaptation. A move towards universal business sustainability will need a multi-stakeholder approach, legal enforcement, and government policies. Comment.
Q: The Indian government has immense potential to guide the lithium industry down a path that is both sustainable and economically beneficial. Comment.
Q: What are small nuclear modular reactors? What differentiates them from conventional nuclear power plants? How can they contribute to decarbonisation? How will they affect India’s demand for and use of uranium? What legal and regulatory changes do they entail?
Q: Discuss why the current health system needs to give way to a comprehensive health system approach, keeping in mind the vulnerability of urban households to climate change-led events in India?
Q: Is India import-dependent for critical and deep-seated minerals? Why is it essential to get the private sector to explore these minerals? Has India’s existing mining policy attracted private-sector investment? How does the Mines and Minerals Bill 2023 plan to do that?
Q: How are sugarcane farmers impacted by the excess sugar production? What measures can be taken to prevent India’s agricultural sector from collapsing due to the sugar surplus? How have excessive sugarcane subsidies affected India’s competitiveness in the global sugar market? What are the implications of sugarcane over-cultivation?
Q: How is the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 different from its previous iteration? What are the domains where it has made advances and the ones where it is lacking?
Q: In order for India to expand its energy basket to meet its growing energy and environmental needs, it must utilize nuclear energy. Discuss why?
Q: With respect to India’s recent push to integrate ‘AYUSH’ medicinal systems into mainstream health care to achieve universal health coverage, discuss why India’s path to universal health care must be grounded in evidence-based and ethics-driven medicine.
Q: Highlight with the help of valid arguments, how the deep tech startups are the main route through which India is taking technology risks, a crucial element of any country’s process to build new capabilities.
Q: The South Asia’s new economic openness, India’s vigorous neighbourhood policies, and Western support for an India-centred regionalism in South Asia could transform the Subcontinent's economic landscape. Comment.
Q: With rising fuel prices and increasing supply pressures, India needs a clean, sustainable and affordable e-cooking solution, one that also reduces its dependence on imports and increases energy security. Discuss and comment.
Q: Empowering seasonal migrant workers in Maharashtra’s sugar cane industry is crucial to fostering inclusive economic growth and protecting human rights. Elaborate
Q: Discuss how policy should be tapered to nurture the capital-intensive semiconductor industry? In which area does India have expertise and how can it be leveraged better?
Q: Correcting excessive cesses, freezing the weight for income distance criterion, and sharper monitoring of fiscal deficit are the areas that need attention of the Sixteenth Finance Commission. Elaborate.
Q: The primary criticism of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, is that it do not really contribute to regenerating natural forest, but rather incentivise afforestation for commercial ends. Comment.
Q: Discuss how can agri-tech be sensitised to the critical challenges of India’s agricultural sector? How can artificial intelligence (AI) be applied constructively to address issues related to agriculture more inclusively?
Q: Recently, Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023 was passed by Rajasthan Assembly. Discuss how this law has been drawn from workers’ struggles of the past, to formulate a law that will protect workers into the future?
Q: Highlight the significance of first G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group established by India. Discuss why the G20 must build on what India has started to prevent disasters?
Q: Decentralisation and community partnerships can help state governments link marginalised communities to livelihoods in the sanitation space. Discuss the above statement with the help of urban reforms model being implemented in Odisha.
Q: Why has a single joint statement not been released so far at any G20 Ministerial meeting? What is the bone of contention? What are the ‘Bali Paragraphs’ and why are they being incorporated in the current document?
Q: Highlight the growing trend of Internet shutdown in India and the impact of an Internet shutdown on information dissemination.
Q: The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 (DPDP Bill, 2022), is expected in Parliament during the Monsoon session of 2023. What are the gaps in this legislation? How it violates privacy of citizens?
Q: Discuss how incorporating the two cardinal principles, i.e., ‘equitable and reasonable utilisation’ and the ‘no harm rule’, in the Indus Water treaty will help reduce tensions between India and Pakistan?
Q: The pursuit of sustainable development cannot be effectively undertaken without the full and equal participation of women at all levels of decision-making and policy development. Elaborate.
Q: The combination of uniformly gender unjust personal laws and a disempowered LGBT population points to the advantage of having a universal civil code which encompasses all Indians. Discuss
Q: Considering the ever-changing nature of the job market, it is crucial to embrace technological advancements to pursue new opportunities. Discuss
Q: What is the controversy surrounding the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023? Why have suggestions to the Joint Parliamentary Committee regarding the changes not been taken on board? Is the Bill diluting the 1996 Godavarman Thirumulpad judgment?
Q: By prioritising regional economic integration, the I2U2 Business Forum can establish a strong foundation for a robust West Asian regional architecture. Comment.
Q: The NSE IX–SGX GIFT Connect creates a financial corridor between India and Singapore, and can drive deeper liquidity for the Nifty. Elaborate.
Q: There is a realisation that the South China Sea problem requires a political framework, which can only be created through quiet dialogue. Elaborate.
Q: India's demographic transition has brought about significant changes in the lives of women. Discuss the challenges and practical strategies for harnessing the potential of this transition.
Q: In order to foster women-led development across various sectors in India, it is imperative to prioritize reproductive autonomy as a core component. Discuss.
Q: World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Dispute Settlement System (DSS) is dysfunctional by late 2019. It is likely that any solution to the ongoing crisis would require the negotiation of wide-reaching institutional and structural reforms between WTO member states. Comment.
Q: Which are the industries likely to be impacted if supply of gallium and germanium are controlled? What are the particularities of the restrictions being imposed? Is it a response to Western sanctions? How will India be affected?
Q: Biobanks host data fundamental to biological research and require governance to ensure that the results reach people across different countries equitably. Discuss how India can play help address the dissonance between the Global South and Global North in biobanking practices?
Q: Highlight the reforms needed for further internationalisation of the rupee. What lessons India could learn from China’s example in internationalising the Renminbi?
Q: The creative economy is one of the youngest and fastest-growing sectors, with unique challenges. Discuss how a collaborative model can help meet the challenges faced by the creative economy and promote the economic contribution of culture.
Q: India's introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) marked a significant milestone in the country's taxation history. There is potential for further growth and harmonization in the future. Elaborate
Q: Discuss how the National Research Foundation (NRF) will play a pivotal role in seeding, nurturing and promoting research, innovation and development across India.
Q: Constructive interventions can ignite an institutionalised impetus for unleashing the true market potential of Green hydrogen (GH2) in diverse sectors. Elaborate.
Q: Highlight China’s new law on foreign relations? What are the political and economic ramifications? What it holds for India?
Q: Highlight the potential of India-Africa relations, challenges in the way and a roadmap for enhanced cooperation.
Q: There is a need to acknowledge the rare earth elements (REEs) sector as a ‘strategic sector’ in India with policy interventions to make it lucrative for entrepreneurs with adequate incentivisation. Discuss
Q: In a region that is increasingly defined by cooperation based on like-mindedness, shared interests, and common concerns, the Philippines-India ties are crucial to the stability of the Indo-Pacific. Comment.
Q: Tamil Nadu’s impressive and consistent performance in higher education shows that quality and inclusion can be achieved together and consistently. Elaborate.
Q: The proposed ‘Digital India Bill’ holds out the promise of not only upgrading the current legal regime but also redefining the contours of how technology is regulated. Comment.
Q: The Law Commission of India should aim to eliminate only those practices that do not meet the benchmarks set by the Constitution of India. Comment.
Q: With General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signing a memorandum of understanding to co-produce F414 engines in India, how will it boost IAF strength?
Q: India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is not only opening India’s access to the UAE market but also helping to expand the footprint of Indian startups in other geographies in West Asia and North Africa. Comment.
Q: Discuss the concept and future prospects of a Professor of Practice (PoP). Also discuss how it can could help bridge the gap between academia and the professional world?
Q: The National Mental Health Programme and the decentralised District Mental Health Programme remain focused on the patient but neglect the caregiver. The situation of the caregiver is similar to that of the ‘boiling frog’ where the individual might not be aware of the emotional strain, and hence will not request for support. Comment.
Q: Discuss why India’s earlier attempts to set up semiconductor fabrication plant failed and examine alternate approaches. What lessons could India take from China, a major semiconductor hub?
Q: World Refugee Day (June 20) is a reminder of our collective responsibility as global citizens and a call for engagement and empathy. Refugees can be a source of prosperity in any nation where they take refuge. Elaborate.
Q: A lightweight payment and settlement system, by not being reliant on the internet, can be an important building block for a resilient financial ecosystem of any economy, as it can be invaluable in times of adversity. Elaborate.
Q: Waste management and climate change are closely inter-related. Discuss why it is important to integrate climate considerations in waste management and broader urban planning frameworks?
Q: Discuss how recent announcement of Russia and Iran developing efficient functioning of the North-South Trade Corridor (NSTC) will help India to produce a viable transit solution in the region.
Q: The most important steps taken during the recent visit of the US Secretary of Defence in June 2023 to India was towards strengthening the bilateral defence relationship by creating a road map to promote collaboration in the defence industry. Comment.
Q: India’s law of taxation is built on precepts which emanate out of a larger commitment to the rule of law, in particular to values of legality and certainty. Upholding these principles requires a commitment not only from the legislature but also from our courts too. Comment.
Q: The SCO is an attractive forum for regional states, but its internal contradictions are a cause for concern. Keeping the view the upcoming 23rd Summit of SCO, discuss what are the opportunities and challenges for India in this era of fragile geopolitical contestations?
Q: India beholds a colossal opportunity to add to its nation’s demographic dividend by investing in nutrition interventions in adolescent girls. Comment.
Q: Why did a multi-train crash happen at Balasore in Odisha despite the stretch being equipped with the ‘error-proof’ electronic interlocking system? What could have caused the error? What are the basic components of an electronic interlocking signal system?
Q: To assure passengers of safety after Balasore accident, Railways needs to instil discipline at a systemic level, move away from individual-centred approaches and ensure greater coordination between operations and maintenance. Elaborate.
Q: Keeping in view the recent collision in Balasore, Odisha, work towards devising a safer system in the Indian Railways should begin in earnest start without waiting for any inquiry report. Comment.
Q: As the need and interest for a functional regional organisation grow amongst the Bay of Bengal countries to address emerging economic and security concerns, the time is ripe for BIMSTEC to carve its niche in the region. Comment.
Q: States are critical actors in India’s energy transition as there is a multi-tier governance of energy production and usage. Comment. Also discuss ways to bridge the ambitions and implementation gaps between the Centre and the States.
Q: What are the pros and cons of deepfake technology? Discuss how the weaponisation of deepfakes can have a massive impact on the economy, personal freedom, and national security? Also discuss the role of civil society oversight to promote awareness and encourage advancement and innovation.
Q: The state of the wrestlers’ protests points to the changed state of ‘citizen activism’ that India once saw a decade ago. Comment.
Q: Why do differences persist between India and China on the Depsang Plains and Demchok? What is the status of talks? Where do the two sides stand after the flare-up that began in May 2020? Where have buffer zones been created during the disengagement process?
Q: Why the European Union’s Carbon Border Tax Mechanism is an important issue in the ongoing India-EU free trade agreement negotiations? Discuss how India should work with the EU to secure gains on CBAM and ensure smooth onboarding for Indian exporters to maximize the benefits of a bilateral deal?
Q: What are the challenges in the way of growth of manufacturing sector in India? Discuss why the economic reforms of 1991 and the current initiatives failed to boost the manufacturing sector growth?
Q: What is causing China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia? How does the Global Security Initiative challenge the ASEAN countries? Why is the increasing proximity of the U.S. with the Philippines worrisome for China?
Q: India turning a net exporter of toys is mainly due to rising protectionism and less, perhaps, on account of expanding domestic capabilities. Critically analyse.
Q: Amidst rising anti-China protests in Central Asian countries, China attempts to project it as a partner and not a hegemon during the recent China-Central Asia Summit. Comment.
Q: Discuss the significance of menstrual health as a public health concern. What are the challenges faced by women in urban spaces and steps needed to address them?
Q: What are the norms being laid down for the first digital Census of India? Why has the National Population Register been made compulsory for those who want to fill the form digitally? Are the Census and NPR mandatory exercises?
Q: China’s growing footprint in Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Indian Ocean has prompted closer cooperation between the Quad and organisations such as ASEAN, PIF, and IORA. Elaborate.
Q: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, offer a springboard from where India can project power, exert influence, strike friendships in its eastern neighbourhood. Comment.
Q: G20 should take the lead in formulating disaster risk mitigation strategies that can play a decisive role in limiting the fallout from natural disasters. Comment.
Q: Discuss how BRICS offers a diplomatic forum and development financing, outside of the Western mainstream?
Q: From mobilising capital for renewable energy infrastructure to establishing a robust supply-chain for critical minerals, the opportunities for India and Australia to collaborate are many. Comment.
Q: What is genome sequencing and why is it important? Why is the reference genome map considered one of the most important scientific breakthroughs? What is the difference between a reference map and a pangenome map? How is India hoping to benefit from the latest genome map?
Q: How has the Supreme Court validated Tamil Nadu’s stand on Jallikattu? Will it be applicable to similar races in other States? How has the court dealt with animal rights?
Q: India has made commendable efforts towards the adoption, localisation, and achievement of the SDGs. As the first city in India to join the growing global movement on localisation of Sustainable Development Goals, Bhopal’s drive should encourage other Indian cities to follow the path. Comment.
Q: As India gears to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2027, a strongly networked material infrastructure in the country will be crucial’. In the given scenario, what are the prospects and challenges of India’s National Quantum Mission?
Q: The constitutional design of a parliamentary democracy envisages a chain of accountability. Keeping in view the recent Supreme Court judgement, discuss how anti-defection law contradicts the democratic principle of accountability of legislators to their voters?
Q: The initiation of a Gig Workers Welfare Board by Rajasthan Government is a win for platform workers, but there are many challenges ahead such as covering the gaps in labour rights. Comment.
Q: Discuss the role of the G20’s new Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRRWG) in supporting countries to strengthen their financial risk management capabilities.
Q: Why are millets popular sources of nutrition? What are the different parts of a millet kernel? How are nutrients in millets affected by processing and polishing? Can millets thrive in harsh, resource-poor conditions?
Q: The regenerative agriculture holds enormous potential to restore soil health and productivity in degraded landscapes while delivering financial benefits to smallholder farmers. Discuss how Regenerative Agriculture can reduce India’s agricultural carbon footprint while boosting farmer income?
Q: India cannot remain immune to the destructive capability of nuclear weapons. For India, any step towards initiating nuclear arms control in Southern Asia is a tall order amidst complex nuclear politics and contestations. Elaborate.
Q: The Special Marriage Act still has fewer takers, but the law should hold out more potential than the current public imagination allows for and must aim to improve the lives of the more marginalised. Justify the above statement in the context of ongoing case for marriage equality.
Q: Give a brief outline of the Indian Space Policy 2023, recently launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). What are the gaps need to be addressed to successfully launch India into the Second Space Age?
Q: Seizing the new strategic opportunities in the Gulf would require long overdue modernisation of India’s strategic discourse, a conscious effort to change outdated narratives. Comment.
Q: With its strong historical and cultural ties to Buddhism, India is well-positioned to play a leading role in shaping the discourse around Buddhist issues on the global stage. Comment.
Q: What is the importance of a water-body census? What are some of the shortcomings with respect to the data collected? Does the data give insight into natural ecosystems and how water bodies sustain them?
Q: Discuss various challenges before India’s year-long presidency of the G-20, and leadership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Q: As India marches towards its vision of a financially sound and digitalised power sector through smart metering interventions, it must pursue a user-centric design and deployment strategy. Comment.
Q: India holds the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for 2023. As Russia, China vie for upper hand, what the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) means for India?
Q: Highlight the role of the Engagement Group for Supreme Audit Institutions (SAls) of G20 countries in promoting inter-generational equity and addressing climate change concerns.
Q: Who is a ‘gig worker’ and what is ‘platform work’? Do the new Labour Codes protect the rights of gig workers? What laws have foreign jurisdictions enacted to regulate the gig economy?
Q: In India, over time, matters involving an inexplicable delay in exercising powers by various authorities have been brought under the ambit of judicial review by constitutional courts. The time has come to evolve a new constitutional architecture that would deliver on the demands for a time-bound constitutional delivery mechanism. Comment.
Q: Discuss how lessons from India’s recent mobilisation for COVID-19 could be adapted for the success of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
Q: India’s economic diplomacy towards Nepal seems to be a win-win situation for both as cooperation in the hydropower and energy sector expand. Comment
Q: India may have achieved suffrage early, but women still face significant barriers to political participation and do not have the right to govern. It is time to acknowledge the systematic exclusion of women from politics and demand action to create a more equitable political landscape. Elaborate.
Q: In most Indian cities, urban policies and initiatives are ‘exclusionary’ in nature and the current approach should be to address the concerns of deprived sections of society who are playing a critical role in the functioning of cities. Comment.
Q: What are the provisions of the Indian nuclear liability law? What does it say about supplier liability in the event of a nuclear accident? Why do some provisions in the law continue to make foreign companies wary of signing deals with India? What has the government said on the issue?
Q: The upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet highlights China’s growing role in Inner Asia. Critically analyse the given statement and also discuss the growing challenges for India.
Q: Pumped storage and battery technology are perfect complements in the India’s energy storage ecosystem. Give a brief note on the recently issued guidelines on pumped storage. What factors need to be considered to make it succeed in Indian context?
Q: The goal of connecting a large part of South Asia with Southeast Asia can be steered by the troika of Bangladesh, India and Japan using the Northeast as a focal point. Critically examine the challenges and opportunities associated with this troika.
Q: CRISPR technology has implications beyond possible warfare in multiple fields of research, ranging from agriculture, food production, biotechnology, food enhancement, and medicine As genetic engineering continues to grow and find more avenues of impact, the need to optimise and regulate this technology will also heighten. Elaborate.
Q: ‘The Chengalpattu Botanical Garden (CBG) in Tamil Nadu will be India’s largest botanical garden. As an example of complex engineering, botanical gardens represent the richness of life on earth and a metric of national success in science and outreach.’ Comment.
Q: ‘The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that together, we can overcome unprecedented adversity. It’s time to redefine India’s and the world’s TB elimination response with innovation and research being central drivers of change’. Comment.
Q: Elaborate how India is an essential partner in the plan of the United Arab Emirates to strengthen food security in the Global South. Also discuss how India’s ability to operationalise the world’s largest food supply chains is strengthening the India-UAE food security partnership in a variety of ways.
Q: The Media One judgment has underlined the institutional capacity of the court in troubled political times. Elaborate.
Q: Over a longer term, heatwaves are predicted to become more intense, prolonged and frequent because of climate change. Policymakers must take mitigatory action early, while instituting structural infrastructure measures to help Indians adapt. Comment.
Q: ‘India’s presidency of the G20 provides a unique opportunity for India to lead important healthcare priorities and play a huge role in addressing the fundamental causes of global health inequities’. Comment.
Q: Elaborate how India’s new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 seeks to integrate India further into global value chains and to make India an export hub.
Q: ‘The need for independent institutions and a system of checks and balances is essential to prevent the arbitrary use of power by the government. The appointment process of key constitutional positions needs to be safeguarded from the whims of the executive’. Keeping in mind the above statement, discuss the need to set up a well-defined criteria and procedure for the appointment of the CAG of India.
Q: What are the conditions under which a party can lose its standing as a national party? How does a State party gain or lose its status? What are the benefits of recognition?
Q: The former President of the U.S. Woodrow Wilson once remarked, ‘It is not far from the truth to say that Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in Committee rooms is Congress at work.’ Discuss the given statement in context of Parliamentary committees constituted by Indian Parliament.
Q: ‘Despite the Bhutan-India relationship largely being defined by continuity, China is using its intimidation tactics to set the agenda for the region and threaten India’s security and status’. Comment.
Q: Why has Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization? What led to Finland’s decision of staying neutral during and since the Cold War? What is the Paasikivi line? How has Russia responded to this move by its neighbour? Did the Russia-Ukraine war influence Finland’s decision?
Q: ‘The Indian private sector is responding to the demands of the Second Space Age. It is poised for take-off, as a transformative growth multiplier like the IT industry did for the national economy in the 1990s’. Elaborate.
Q: What will the amendments to the IT Rules, 2021, allow the Press Information Bureau to do on news flagged by the government as misinformation? Will this open up social media companies to legal action? Will online betting and gambling games be completely banned?
Q: What are the challenges and implications of rupee an ‘international currency’ on a par with the dollar and the rest? Why is India making this move? What are the risks involved?
Q: Evaluate the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023, recently introduced in Lok Sabha. Discuss how it addresses not only the contemporary issues such as climate change, carbon neutrality, etc. but also the security and strategic interests of the nation.
Q: The UN 2023 Water Conference took place within the context of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) and not within the context of legally binding legal instruments on regulation of trans-boundary river water courses. Critically analyse.
Q: ‘The outcome of the legal tussle in the U.S. between four major publishers and the Internet Archive will have ramifications for ‘Controlled Digital Lending’ initiatives across the world’. Comment.
Q: Discuss the fundamental role of carbon pricing in the transition to a decarbonized economy. Give a brief outline of main types of carbon pricing and viable best practice in case of India.
Q: According to estimates by the Indian Council of Medical Research, India is home to more than two million individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A national programme for autism and neurodevelopmental conditions, supported by an articulated time-bound strategy, can pave the way forward for improving the lives of autistic people’. Comment.
Q: Why has the UN asked the International Court of Justice to give an ‘advisory opinion’ on whether countries have legal obligations to protect people from climate extremities? Which country brought this issue to the UN? What is India’s position?
Q: The current brown-to-green transition movement in India needs policy firmness, regulatory heft, and supportive investment markets. In this background discuss the scope of green taxonomy and challenges and lack of consensus on green taxonomy in Indian financial sector.
Q: Discuss how the Vaikom Satyagraha is a symbol of social justice and symbolises the eradication of caste barriers.
Q: Why is Russia planning to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus? Is Russia violating any international agreements by stationing such weapons in an ally country? How are relations between Russia and Belarus? Will this escalate the Russia-Ukraine war?
Q: ‘Data protection is a complex subject and India must create room for sectoral experts to weigh in to safeguard the interests of citizens more effectively’. Comment.
Q: ‘India’s G20 presidency would play an important role in promoting individual and collective actions to facilitate the transition towards a sustainable blue economy’. Comment.
Q: The law on criminal defamation needs review as every elected political person faces the danger of being put out of the electoral process for years. Discuss the given statement in the light of recent disqualification of Member of Parliament from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi.
Q: Where are mega parks coming up in the first phase under the PM MITRA scheme? What has been the reaction to the announcement from MSMEs, which dominate the textiles and apparel industry? How is the new initiative different from earlier textile park schemes?
Q: ‘While new initiatives, platforms, and exercises attest to the growing synergy in Indo-African defence and security partnership, the true potential continues to remain untapped’. Discuss.
Q: A functional and healthy democracy must encourage the development of journalism as an institution that can ask difficult questions to the establishment. Comment.
Q: Highlight the challenges to ending TB as a global health emergency. Discuss the role of India’s G20 presidency in road to eliminating TB.
‘China’s Global Security Initiative, which is a vision of a future security order, is vastly different from China’s recent track record of external engagement’. Comment.
Q: Give a brief note on India’s role and experience as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2021-2022.
Q: ‘The year 2023 will mark the 50th year of the diplomatic relationship between South Korea and India. Also, South Korea recently in its Indo-Pacific strategy has stated India as a special strategic partner’. In this background, discuss why both countries need to move beyond the normative approach towards a robust bilateral relationship?
Q: Keeping in mind the widening gender gap in the Indian workforce, discuss proactive steps to create an inclusive workplace that values diversity and promotes gender equality based on the specific needs and circumstances of every workplace.
Q: ‘The new thrust on millets by the government is welcome. But, to succeed as a global superfood, India needs to rework its millet strategy’. Elaborate.
Q: Give a brief note on ongoing income support programmes for farmers in India. Discuss how a crop-neutral income support programme in India will incentivise farmers to cultivate crops based on market demand and local climatic conditions.
Q: When are countries categorised in the least developed countries list? How did Bhutan qualify for graduation from the list? What are the challenges facing Bhutan?
Q: ‘Defence cooperation between US, UK and Australia highlights the opportunity for India to develop a unique set of arrangements with the US and its allies.’ Comment.
What has led to the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran? What initially led to the breakdown of relations? Why is the U.S. deprioritising the West Asian region? Is China emerging as a new great power in West Asia?
Q: What are environment, social and governance regulations and how do they differ from corporate social responsibility rules? Why are the regulations important for the Indian economy? Will ESG compliance help Indian companies play a more prominent role in global supply chains?
Q: Recently, the Government roped in cryptocurrency trade in anti-money laundering law. Discuss how will the money trail in cryptocurrency transactions be tracked by intelligence units?
Q: Globally, natural disasters are on the rise. A bundling together of complementary start-ups could help tackle the global challenge of natural disaster and sustainable development. Discuss the prospects of this opportunity in front of the Startup20 Engagement Group of G20 with India taking the lead.
How are artificial general and narrow intelligence systems different from each other? What are the possible ways in which AI can disrupt jobs and industries?
Q: ‘Women can harness digital tools for improving nutrition schemes and initiatives, while also using them to create economic opportunities that ensure long-term food and nutrition security’. Elaborate.
Q: Why should multilateralism be given importance in today’s global order? How can the G-20 help in multilateral reform? Can multiple minilateral groupings become an alternative mode of multilateral cooperation? Why would global powers be averse to the idea of reform in multilateral institutions?
‘The goal of doubling farmers’ income can’t be seen in isolation from the need to promote sustainable and diversified agriculture’. Critically analyse.
Q: How do market indices work? Are Indian retail investors embracing ‘passive’ index-based investing? Why is SEBI bringing Index makers under regulatory purview?
Clean energy solutions have the potential to transform rural livelihoods and they are transforming women’s livelihoods at the grassroots in India, but they need to be scaled up. Discuss ways to scale up this impact from thousands of women to millions of them?
Discuss the importance of sustaining human capital investments to recover and boost economic growth, and to ensure greater resilience of South Asian populations and systems in the face of future crises.
Turkey earthquake, tremors in Joshimath, carry a warning for Indian cities. What are the challenges in India’s current policy on earthquake preparedness and required approach? How missing urban policy for earthquake preparedness in India need to be addressed?
Give a brief note on Vanuatu’s initiative launched to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).‘Regardless of the ICJ initiative outcome, any acknowledged responsibility for loss and damage caused by climate change will only have meaningful effects when countries redress them’. Discuss
What is the New START treaty? What does Russia’s decision mean for the global arms control architecture? Will it start an arms race?
‘Technical innovation in India’s renewable energy policy is deepening a highly uneven energy landscape’. Critically analyse the given statement in the light of recent launch of Indian Oil Corporation’s patented solar cook-stove at the India Energy Week 2023.
Q: Why are Dalit rights activists calling the Seattle City Council ban on caste discrimination historic? How will it impact movements across America and the world for equal rights? What are the anti-caste laws in India?
Q: ‘The frequency and targets of cyberattacks on India reflects still-inadequate protection measures afforded to critical information infrastructure in India. India’s G-20 presidentship and summit 2023 are ideal opportunities for the crafting of a comprehensive domestic and global cyber security framework’. Discuss.
‘Startup20, a ground-breaking initiative under the G20, aims to create a global platform for startups to thrive. Whether it's climate change, poverty, or inequality, Startup20 empowers startups to make a real impact and drive positive change’. Elaborate.
India is one of the recognized mega-diverse countries of the world and the sum and variation of biodiversity, is essential to the future of planet Earth. Highlight some of the key programs taken by the government to promote green growth and biodiversity conservation.
‘The Constitution recognises the importance of the office of the Deputy Speaker. Therefore, the House cannot treat it as a post of no importance or redundant’. Comment.
‘For an equal, gender-balanced workplace in India, there is dire need to improve the workplace environment for women. Addressing the deep-rooted structural and cultural violence which puts women in a disadvantageous position is an essentialprerequisite’.
‘The new organ donation guidelines by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministrywill help, but to see a meaningful difference, India needs many more donors’. Comment.
Q: What is the regulatory framework in place to protect investors from share market volatility? Does the Securities and Exchange Board of India have the powers to act in the interest of investors? What are the laws to help SEBI? When can it step in?
‘Growing security threats and volatile geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific have put Pacific Island Countries (PICs) under the global spotlight. Galvanising G20 support for PICs and further strengthening its Pacific policies will contribute to the realisation of India’s aim to become a global power in the future with a vision of multipolar world order’.
Q: In a democratic set-up, the Parliamentary Constituencies (PCs) offer a natural unit for policy deliberation and governance. Discuss how timely and accessible data at the PC-level can transform the work of MPs by bringing to light the most critical issues and at-risk populations in need of targeted interventions.
‘As the current G-20 president, and as a vulnerable country, India has a key role in ensuring that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) remains high on the global health agenda’. Elaborate.
What is the significance of the new resources of lithium discovered in Jammu & Kashmir? What are the environmental concerns around its extraction procedure? What are the geostrategic implications considering the geopolitical sensitivity of the area?
‘Whether or not disaster risk is factored into investment decisions in urban development will have a decisive influence on the future of disaster risk reduction. India’s flawed urban journey points to the need for having a multi- generational process in place’. Comment.
‘Religious groups are vested with rights so that independent members can come together to fulfil collective desires. At the heart of this guarantee is the individual. Therefore, howsoever essential a practice might be to faith, it cannot be allowed to undermine the dignity of the individual’. Discuss the above statement in the light of recent reconsideration of 1962 judgment in Sardar Syedna Taher Saifuddin Saheb v. State of Bombay and the right of Dawoodi Bohra community to excommunicate its members.
Q: Is a rupture between multiple tectonic plates responsible for the widespread devastation in Turkey? What is a strike-slip fault? What can quake-prone regions learn from Chile and Japan?
Q: ‘India’s urban centres are ailing due to lack of funds. A multi-pronged strategy including fiscal stimuli, civic action needs to be deployed to bridge the gap’. Illustrate.
2023 marks 25 years of India and France’s strategic partnership.France has not only consistently backed India’s position on various international issues, but has also established itself as India’s second-largest defense supplier. Give a brief account of their bilateral relations and upcoming further collaborations.
The Nordic countries are ready to offer their technologies and expertise to India as it moves towards a green, digital, and innovative future. Discuss how Nordics and India can deliver key technologies and solutions to stop climate change and boost green growth?
‘In light of the Russia-Ukraine war, new global defence engagements open up possibilities for modernising India’s defence industrial base in partnership with friendly states’. Comment.
‘The Assam government should use a mass campaign to educate parents, rather than a coercive criminal law, to deal with the problem of child marriages. Instead of criminalising child marriage. Assam CM should heed PM Modi’s call of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’. Elaborate.
India’s G-20 presidency is an opportunity to negotiate a deal for itself while also shaping international cooperation on just energy transitions. What can India offer and seek from a multilateral JET-Partnership?
Q: Why have mangroves got a Budget push? How many varieties grow in India? What is the ecosystem required to grow and sustain mangrove forests?
Q: ‘The Union Budget 2023 provides a boost to the energy transition but fails to address the critical need to synergise climate adaptation with India’s development goals’. Comment.
It was the robustness of the infrastructure sector that helped the Indian economy withstand the peril in the economy brought down by the pandemic. In successive budgets, the infrastructure sector has stayed at the core of policy announcements and fund allocations. Highlight the steps taken by the FY24 Budget to further boost the infrastructure sector.
Q: ‘Faced with the challenge of increasing infrastructure spending while continuing with fiscal consolidation, the Finance Minister’s balancing act has given India a well-crafted Budget’. Comment.
What are its implications of new Sino-Russian alliance for India? If the growing relationship develops into a Russian dependency on China, discuss how it will constrain India’s options.
Examine the use bilateral dispute settlement mechanisms for modification of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and its practical implications for both India and Pakistan.
‘NREGA is underperforming because its most basic design principles have been forgotten or willfully ignored’. The top down “reforms” are ailing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act’. Discuss prevalent policy flaws and suitable roadmap for its inclusive implementation.
Q: Are provisions of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act being diluted by custom and personal laws? What are the consequences of girls getting married before they become adults? What needs to be done to prevent child marriage?
Q: ‘Despite several challenges to its democracy, the embedded values of India’s constitutional morality have played a pivotal role in strengthening it.’ Illustrate.
Q: Why is the Japanese government flushing 1.25 million tonnes of wastewater into the Pacific Ocean? How will this discharge affect the ocean? Has the TEPCO treated the water? What impact will this decision have globally?
Q: ‘Beyond bilateral ties, India’s renewed engagement with Egypt is about consolidating India’s new coalition with moderate Sunni states in the Middle East, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It could help promote peace and stability in the Middle East and South Asia’. Elaborate.
‘Terrorist crimes, cybercrimes, drug trafficking, etc, are important subjects. But if we neglect the issues at the level of the police station, it will be like raising a superstructure on foundations of sand.’ Elaborate.
What is the Ken-Betwa link? What are the legal problems with the approval granted to the KBLP?Discuss how it will impact Panna Tiger Reserve?
‘A recent report by the World Bank on financing India’s urban infrastructure needs, focuses on private investments ameliorating urban problems. It is another reminder of the tragedy which Indian urbanisation is witnessing policy paralysis from the top’. Comment.
Q: To what extent is the ‘one-child policy’ responsible for China’s shrinking population? Why has the country now announced a ‘three-child policy’ including financial inducements? Will this help stop the slide?
Q: ‘The powers of local elected officials remain curtailed by State governments and local bureaucrats in multiple ways, thereby diluting the spirit of the constitutional amendments aimed at local empowerment. Sarpanchs need to have administrative or financial autonomy for meaningful decentralization’. Comment.
Ten years have passed since the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, came into effect. A decade is a reasonable time period to analyse how this legislation has been functioning and how far it has achieved its stated objectives. Discuss need to take a review of the way the Act has been implemented, as there are still imperfections despite its impact.
What mandate does the Forest Rights Act give gram sabhas? What is the difference between reserve forests, protected areas, community forest resource and ecologically sensitive zones? What were the problems with the implementation of ESZs? Why were there protests in Kerala against ESZs?
Why is there opposition against the new Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM)? What will be the administrative and logistical challenges? Are there doubts regarding the existing EVMs? What are VVPATs and why were they introduced inside the voting units?
‘Election Commission’s initiative to enfranchise migrant voters is a step in the right direction but the consensus approach is imperative not only to keep intact the democratic heritage of the Commission but to help further entrench its popular trust and institutional integrity.’ Elaborate.
‘For India, there are clear economic and strategic payoffs to investing in critical emerging technologies (CETs) development, and without the right enabling measures, both sustained economic growth and national security would be under a cloud’. Discuss.
Q: What is land subsidence and why does it happen? What are the reasons for recent Joshimath crisis and how it is linked with ongoing infrastructure and development project?
Give a brief on constitutional provisions related special address at the first session of Parliament as well as State Legislative Assembly and to both Houses wherever the State also has a Legislative Council. What is the purpose of this convention being followed in India?
Discuss BRICS’s future as a forum of constructive dialogue and as a promoter for a multipolar shift in world politics, giving more visibility to Global South’s perspective, in current scenario.
Q: The rates and number of both preterm births and stillbirths are unacceptably high and drive the neonatal, infant and child mortalities upwards in India. Discuss how a majority of them can be prevented by scaling up known and proven interventions and improving the quality of health services.
‘The Kashi-Tamil Sangamam upholds the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Sreshtha Bharat’. It has ignited a new cultural zeal in India and whetted the country’s appetite for more.’ Elaborate.
Q: ‘The recent Joshimath episode is a warning that the Himalayan environment is at a tipping point and it may not be able to withstand another push generated by intrusive anthropogenic activities. Comment.
Discuss why India cannot afford to further delay its Census? What are the implications of Census delay?
Q: What has the Australian Strategic Policy Institute found about the clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Yangtse area of the Tawang region in Arunachal Pradesh? Give a suitable way out to avoid skirmish in future.
‘With no global consensus or frameworks in place, cryptocurrency regulation is one area where India can lead the way by leveraging the G20 presidency’. Comment.
What are the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission? What are the two umbrella sub-programmes under the Mission? Why does the country want to be a leading exporter of green hydrogen?
December 2022, marks the 30th anniversary of the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments. Discuss why debates on federalism should include larger discussions on how power should be divided and shared between governments at the Union, State, and local level?
‘Legislating to prevent animal cruelty is no longer an option; it transforms into a binding duty cast on the state’. Elaborate
‘Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.’ In the light of above statement discuss how the judiciary, executive, and legislature must work together to help to decarcerate and stop building more prisons in India?
What are the ways in which AI-manipulated digital media can impact the lives of individuals as well as influence the public discourse? How is it employed by various groups and how can society overcome the ‘infodemic’?
Q: Give a brief note on remote electronic voting machines (RVMs) newly devised by the Election Commission of India (ECI). How significant is the migrant vote? What are the challenges to remote voting?
Q: ‘The Swedish presidency could prove to be favourable for India as it could provide fresh impetus to the India-EU FTA’. Elaborate.
What is the dispute between the States of Karnataka and Maharashtra? What is the Mahajan Commission? How does the dispute resonate in the cultural arena?
What is the Jan Vishwas Bill tabled by the Union government in Parliament and what are its objectives? Is it the solution to the problem of overcriminalisation? What are the shortcomings of the Bill and how can it be overcome?
The Government of India has framed many policies for the rapid growth of the manufacturing sector but to no avail. Discuss the role of properly equipped civil servants in execution of such policies. Or Discuss ways to equip IAS officers to become much more effective in dealing with the manufacturing sector as well as other areas of development?
‘The Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) is an emerging digital public good (DPG) that has the potential to democratise and transform India’s digital lending landscape’. Comment.
‘Democratic and transparent consultations help achieve the objectives of ensuring the rights of forest dwellers and fulfilling conservation. If there are plans to declare areas as ‘protected’, there must first be consultations with the local population first.’ Comment.
Q: What was the Indian government’s response to the war in Ukraine and the stand-off with China on the Line of Actual Control? Where does it stand on Russia?
Achieving the ‘Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’ (GBF) targets will require strong leadership and mechanisms to ensure that countries adhere to the commitments. Discuss how China’s missed opportunity presents India with an opportunity to offer credible climate leadership?
What are the different stages of a rocket launch? How does uncontrolled re-entries of rockets into the Earth’s orbit cause damage? What are the dangers and how they can be minimized?
‘With the Rajya Sabha Standing Committee on Health expressing concern over the high cost of cancer treatment, the Government invoking Section 100 of the Patents Act is a way forward’. Elaborate.
Recently, questions were raised on the manner in which Election Commission of India (ECI) is constituted, and Election Commissioners appointed. The case is pending before the Supreme Court of India. Or Discuss why in sorting out the method by which the Election Commission of India is constituted, the guiding principle must be functional and effective independence from the executive?
The recently passed Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 empowers the Government to establish carbon markets in India and specify a carbon credit trading scheme. Give a brief note on carbon markets, types and various challenges surrounding them.
Why was there an emphasis on criminal jurisprudence behind the penal provisions in the GST law? Should imposing penal laws be discouraged to attract investors and businesses? What are the recommendations of the 48th GST Council meeting?
Q: What do quantum computers do that classic computers cannot? What are the elements that need to be in place before practical quantum computers become a reality? How long will it take to gain quantum supremacy?
The silent women led changes are transforming our society politically and economically. What are the challenges that remain in women fulfilling their true potential as modern nation builders of India?
Q: ‘The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) can leverage their strategic position and use it to their advantage to make the larger powers acknowledge their security interests and issues’. Elaborate.
Recently, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), California, had conducted a fusion test that produced 153% as much energy as went into triggering it. Or Q: Discuss how use of the fusion process for generating electricity at a commercial scale is decades away, but the latest experiment by US scientists is still a big deal? Or Q: How is their method different from the one being used by ITER, of which India is a partner?
Give a brief note on the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021. Discuss how regressive policing allowed by the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill and other forest legislation hinders the full and beneficial scope of the Forest Rights Act.
Discuss how public health in India prioritise individual-oriented interventions over societal oriented population-based approaches. Also discuss why all forms of individualistic approaches in public health need to be resisted to safeguard its original principles of practice, viz., population, prevention and social justice.
"The long incarceration of undertrials holed up in the prisons of India is a "crying shame on the judicial system"? Comment.
Q: Give a brief note on India’s efforts in tackling corruption, the most entrenched and widely visible phenomenon that devalues governance and erodes the average citizen’s trusts in the state. What are the challenges and steps needed to check prevailing graft culture?
‘The benefits under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, should not be restricted as per the census of 2011 and more and more needy persons/citizens get the benefit under the National Food Security Act”. Comment.
‘Under the guiding philosophy for India’s presidency of G20, Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam, which sees the world as “One Earth, One Family, and One Future”, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of India proposed the collaboration of G20 SAIs on two priority areas: blue economy and responsible artificial intelligence.’ Elaborate.
‘India can successfully use the instrument of bilateralism over regionalism to pursue its interests’. In the light of above statement, discuss how BIMSTEC provides SAARC countries a unique opportunity to connect with ASEAN?
What are the provisions of the new Inflation Reduction Act of the United States? Why has the French President described the Act as super aggressive towards European companies?
‘Without any common legal framework on parole and furlough in place to guide the States and check misuse, arbitrariness is likely to creep in, endangering the entire criminal justice system’. Comment.
‘Today, more than ever, healthy soils are critical to sustaining life. Soil degradation can have irreparable consequences on human and ecosystem health, which cannot be ignored’. Elaborate.
Q: Why have alien invasive plant species become a bigger threat than poachers across rhino habitats in India and Nepal? Why are elephants on the endangered list?
‘In implementing India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, voices from the Northeast and eastern parts of the India must be heard’. Comment.
What is CBDC or the digital rupee recently launched by Reserve Bank of India (RBI? How will RBI's CBDC Digital Rupee work, how is it different from digital money?
‘Global crypto regulation seems to be high on the G-20 agenda. India can use its presidency to mould standard operating procedures (SOPs) on superintendence of the virtual-digital-assets space in line with developing-economy priorities.’ Comment.
One Country One Language against the idea of Federalism’. Discuss and Comment.
Though domestic violence is a punishable offence under Indian law and civil remedies exist through protection orders, managing the fallout of domestic violence is still being subcontracted to survivors and the family.’ Comment.Also discuss how India’s Infrastructure is ill‑equipped to help domestic violence?
Q: ‘Depopulation is a major problem that the world in general, and its wealthier countries in particular, are failing even to discuss, much less address. Rates of fertility are falling fast enough in parts of India that population declines are on the horizon’. Comment.
Q: Give a brief note on guidelines issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs to curtail fake and deceptive product and service reviews on e-commerce websites. OR Why has the Government cracked down against product and service reviews on e-commerce websites? How the move will help the consumers?
India’s Constitution drafters and the methodologies they adopted to craft their glorious product, hold lessons for contemporary politicians and lawmakers’. Comment
Including OTT communication service providers within the ambit of the Telecom Bill could seriously compromise the energy, innovation and funding that characterises India’s startup ecosystem.’ Comment.
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022 ranked India 107 out of 121 countries. What are the challenges hindering several approaches to address the problem of chronic malnutrition in India. What are the gaps remaining in the implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes related to it?
‘Gram Panchayats can play a crucial and frontline role in coordinating effective responses to climate risks, enabling adaptation and building climate-change resilient communities’. Elaborate. Also give suitable examples of people-centric model, with specific local activities undertaken by panchayats in India.
Give a brief note on how different is the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 from the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill 2019? OR Has the right to portability and right to be forgotten been removed from the latest draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022? What are the duties imposed on data principals?
Critically analyse India’s economic growth strategy from 1950s till today. What were the various policy interventions and constraints during these years? Give a brief note on how India can achieve the status of a developed economy in coming years.
क्या भारत के लिए कार्बन तटस्थ अर्थव्यवस्था में पारगमन के लिए परमाणु ऊर्जा और हाइड्रोजन का उपयोग महत्वपूर्ण है? इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों के उपयोग के अतिरिक्त, 2070 तक देश को नेट जीरो हासिल करने में सहायता करने के लिए अन्य योजनाएं कौन-सी हैं?
Is the use of nuclear power and hydrogen critical for India to transition to a carbon neutral economy? Besides the use of electric vehicles, what are some of the other plans on the anvil to help the country achieve net zero by 2070?
‘With Governors in some States drifting away from the Constitution, the focus must be on the Constituent Assembly debates of the 20th century, which shed light on the gubernatorial role, powers, and duties’. Comment.
‘The electoral bonds in India invert the concept of transparency and openness in political funding’. Critically analyse the above statement and discuss how rise of electoral bonds affect the prevailing patterns of political competition?
A free trade agreements (FTA) has a far-reaching impact on the economy and society but in role of Parliament in the ratification of FTA is bleak. Discuss the need for an institutional apparatus that enable the scrutiny of the actions of the executive, during and after the signing of the FTA.
Recently, India announced its long-term strategy (LTS) for low carbon development 27th Conference of Parties (COP). What are the key takeaways from this flagship document that will guide India’s actions in the coming five decades?
‘To achieve the objective of foundational literacy and numeracy in all primary schools, focus on community connects and parental involvement is an important link’. Comment.
Critically analyze the recent changes introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022.
What has the Supreme Court said on income-based reservation while upholding the 103rd Constitution Amendment? Why was there a dissent by two judges? How have Articles 15 and 16 been amended to allow special provisions for economically weaker sections?
‘Like old clocks, our judicial institutions need to be oiled, wound up and set to true time, it is time the Supreme Court must be given direct responsibility for functioning of High Courts’. Comment
Discuss the role and conduct of Governors and the relation of Governors with the Centre and State government. OR Q: Whether Chief Ministers should have a say in the appointment of Governors in their respective States or not? Comment.
‘Recently, the Supreme Court imposed a ban on the two-finger test in a rape case. This has not been the Supreme Court’s first attempt to stop the two-finger test. The Centre’s guidelines on examining victims of sexual assault also forbid it, but the practice continues’. In the light of above statement discuss steps need to be taken at several levels to ensure that the ban is followed in every corner of the country.
‘With increased stakes in free speech and with increasing online risks, a modern intermediary law must re-imagine the role of governments’. In the light of above statement, discusshow a co-regulatory model for content moderation is more suitable in a country like India.
‘India’s presidency of the G20 offers a historical opportunity for the country to share its successful journey in moving from a food-deficit nation to a food-surplus nation, and address the growing challenges of food security for creating resilient and equitable food systems’. Elaborate
What were the Constituent Assembly debates about the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)? Or Q: Is uniformity even desirable for a nation that is as diverse as India? Comment.
Can a state government request the removal of the Governor? How is the Governor appointed, and how can he/she be sacked?
‘Having a universal Non-Proliferation Treaty banning the use of fossil fuels globally would do very little to arrest the problem of climate change. Rather than a just transition needs to be built on the promise that green energy and a green future will be available to all.’ Comment
‘Expanding biosphere reserves across the world, especially in Asia, will be a boost to concept of ‘Living in Harmony with Nature’.’ Comment
Highlight the role of State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), in fight against air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. What are the institutional constraints under which SPCBs function, and discuss their implications on air quality governance in India.
Give a brief note on recent draft amendments of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021? What are the functions of the new Grievance Appellate Committees?
: Give a brief note the agenda of Biden administration’s recently launched National Security Strategy (NSS). What does the NSS holds for India in terms of both bilateral and multilateral partnership?
Why are issues such as food security, energy and biodiversity on top of the agenda at the upcoming COP27 summit in Egypt? What are world leaders expected to do? What will be India’s contribution at the summit?
Discuss why the upcoming COP27 in Egypt, should focus on the economic benefits of decarbonisation? Also discuss how the upcoming COP27 is a chance for India to strongly back environmentally sustainable development in its national interest?
Mission LiFE launched by Indian Prime Minister is the mantra to reverse historical and cultural wrongs wreaked upon the environment. Discuss how it is the call to action for citizens and governments to save the planet?
What is the transgenic hybrid mustard DMH-11 that has been cleared by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee for field trials? Why did the clearance take so long, and what happens here onward?
‘The recently inaugurated bio-energy plant to use of paddy straw to produce compressed bio gas in Punjab is one that is replicable across India, and can transform the rural economy.’ Elaborate.
What is the task of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)? How does FATF work and what do ‘grey lists’ and ‘black lists’ refer to?
‘India needs an appropriate strategy to fight the production, the spread and the sharing of online Child Sexual Abusive Material (CSAM)’. What are the various initiatives taken by Indian Government in this front and what needs to be done?
Give a brief note on Official Language Committee. What are the major recommendations of the 11th volume of the Report of the Official Language Committee submitted to the President of India recently?
Why does China keep blocking the names India suggests for listing under the United Nations Security Council’s list of terrorists who are affiliated to the Al Qaeda and ISIS? What is the mandate of the 1267 Committee that was set up in 1999 by the United Nations?
Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lauded India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme as a “logistical marvel”. Discuss how the Direct Benefit Transfer has transformed the welfare aspect of the governance in India.
‘The non-state actors are engaging in hybrid warfare and distorting day-to-day practices while states lack the necessary resilience to face a variety of multi-vector threats’. In the light of above statement, discuss various threats and challenges to cyber-security in India.
‘India can lead the global discourse on food and nutrition security by showcasing home-grown solutions and best practices, and championing the principle of leaving no one behind’. Comment.
The phenomenon of urban floods reveals a commonality of causes that combine matters of urban planning and urban governance across India’s cities. Elaborate the rising challenge of urban floods in India and a suitable mitigation strategy.
‘Investing in deep, critical technology is the first step in making India a developed nation.’ Comment.
‘Mission Karmayogi is about creating a civil service with domain, technological competencies and empathy’. Elaborate the given statement with various related case studies.
‘Calls for developing and transferring technologies to support action on climate change have become louder worldwide. Technology, at best, can assist us, not lead us, on the pathway to a sustainable, regenerative and equitable world’. Elaborate.
What is the Buddhist Conversion Day and how is Dr. B.R. Ambedkar linked to the event? What is Navayana Buddhism? What are the rituals followed and what do they signify?
Securing access to key minerals is critical for building resilient and indigenous supply chains for clean energy technologies. What are the challenges and ways to ensure resilient supply chains of key minerals?
How does the Graded Response Action Plan work? How are the planned measures different in 2022?
Given the incredibly high value of space objects and the amount of debris that can be generated by an anti-satellite (ASAT) test, the resulting damages could be incredibly high. Discuss the need for potential norms against ASAT tests can be used to hold states liable for possible damages.
As online/online-facilitated consumption becomes common, why must India remain dependent on time- & resource-heavy offline resolution? What are the challenges and way forward for consumer dispute resolution in India?
What is moonlighting and how is it affecting the companies in India? Is it a punishable offence under the law?
Give a brief note on provisions under Indian Constitution regulating the Governor's assent to Bills. Discuss whether the government of a State can challenge the refusal of assent by the Governor in a court of law or not?
‘The Australia-India-Indonesia trilateral can prove to be a really effective one in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific’. Elaborate
The decision of Live-streaming of Indian Supreme Court will go down in the annals of Indian legal and constitutional history as one of the most important and influential decisions. Comment.
‘It is always advisable to surrender a child rather than abandon him if the conditions to retain the child are beyond the control of parents or guardian’. What is the legal framework avaible under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 to reduce rising cases of child abandonment in India? Also discuss the challenges and a suitable way forward.
Q: How the recent Supreme Court verdict has significantly expanded scope of abortion rights in India? Discuss how India’s abortion laws are moving in a progressive manner?
What is the OneWeb satellite constellation? Discuss how the partnership between OneWeb and NewSpace India Limited will pave the way for a greater participation of private space players, resulting a boost to the Indian space economy?
Give a brief note on the draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022. What will be the effects of including OTT communication services within the definition of “telecommunication services”?
What is the role of Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBS) set up by India at NalandaUniversity. What are the challenges and strategies to overcome them for the sustainable development of the Bay of Bengal region?
Discuss how strengthening bilateral ties between India and Egypt could lead to improved multilateral cooperation in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region. What are the shared concerns and common interests of India and Egypt?
What is India’s modified incentive scheme for the chip-making sector? How is it different from the earlier policy? What are the difficulties faced by the industry?
‘India’s recent push for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly incorporates institutional accountability and a wider representation of the developing countries’. Comment.
Q: What are Rare Earth Elements (REE) and their strategic importance? Q: Give a brief note on India’s potential to emerge as a rare earths supplier and way forward.
‘A multi-stakeholder approach that includes actors such as the government, private sector, and community needs to be adopted to improve the air quality in India’. Elaborate.
Do you think India needs a uniform law for inner party elections? Q: Analyse the role of inner party elections in Indian political system. Discuss the related provisions in the Constitution of India and power of Election Commission.
Should there be a separate hearing for sentencing after a court has passed a conviction order on a capital offence? Where have courts and the law differed on this question?
Discuss how India is moving towards a ‘new version’ of Non-alignment or multi-alignment. What are the advantages and challenges posed by India’s new foreign policy?
‘The Nordic model of social democracy offers lessons to the developing world, including countries like India despite the myriad complexities of diversities’. Elaborate
‘Equal pay for work of equal value is necessary to close the gender pay gap’. What is the status of gender pay gap in India pre and post pandemic? What initiatives has been taken by policymakers in India to close the existing gap?
The future role of the monarchy in Commonwealth realms is likely to come under renewed scrutiny following the death of the Queen’. Comment
‘Lower fertility rates can be viewed as both a cause and consequence of economic development’. Illustrate.
Highlight the role of Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees in the process of lawmaking. Discuss some of the corrective actions to increase their efficacy and their relevance.
‘The problem of water scarcity has gained a lot of importance due to the potential damage it can inflict. It may lead to rural-urban disputes in India due to rising urbanization and water scarcity’. Comment.
‘India is very youthful, but the youth need employability and the responsibility to felicitate it lies on the academia and industries. India’s score for industry-academia collaboration indicator of Global Innovation Index (GII) has declined over years’. In the light of this statement, highlight the need for increasing the efficiency of processing patent applications and wider academia-industry collaboration in India.
Q: ‘India will be hosting the G20 and SCO summits in 2023, which poses various challenges and opportunities for India’s foreign policy and diplomacy on the global stage’. Comment. OR Q: “India’s G20 Presidency would place India on the global stage, and provide an opportunity for India to place its priorities and narratives on the global agenda.” Comment.
‘Recently, India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in Tokyo, focused on deepening strategic and defence partnership. The dialogue is significant in the context of recent developments in Indo-Pacific and growing convergences of interests of both nations’. Discuss.
Recently, India-Bangladesh signed their first water sharing agreement since the landmark Ganga Waters Treaty, 1996. What is Kushiyara River treaty and why it is more important for Bangladesh?
‘The powers of the British monarchy is now largely symbolic and ceremonial, the British monarch reigns but does not rule’. Discuss
In the wake of varied consequences of Covid-19 globally, discuss the role of a Global Pandemic Treaty under the umbrella of the World Health Organization to mitigate future challenges?
What is Wikipedia and its model for functioning?What are the mechanisms Wikipedia uses to ensure that users do not have unrestricted editorial privilege?
‘Given poverty and inequality in India, the policymakers must reaffirm the value and necessity of welfare programmes and the urgent need to expand them’. Comment.
For years lead positions in public health have been restricted to those with a medical background ignoring the role of health professionals working at the grassroots level’. Keeping in mind the above statement discuss how public health is multi-disciplinary in nature, requiring specific set of competencies.
India and Bangladesh are poised for greater ties in domains of trade, connectivity, energy and water sharing. What are the developments and challenges on this front in recent India and Bangladesh ties?
Give a brief note on provisions related to bail of a women accused under Section 437 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)? What are the other provisions under criminal law in India that are ‘favourable’ to women accused?
At a time when the international security context is unpredictable and the need for meaningful dialogue and subsequent concrete implementation of plans for the reduction of nuclear weapons and the path to disarmament is more relevant than ever, discuss role and challenges surrounding the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Treaty.
What do you think about freedom of civil servants to express their personal views on matters of law and governance? Does an IAS officer has a right to express himself in a legitimate and decent manner? Support your answer with valid reasons.
Critically analyse the Electricity Amendment Bill 2022. Why are States alleging that the proposed Bill is unconstitutional? Who are the main opponents of the Bill?
‘With unchecked surveillance by governments and private parties, the Supreme Court of India coulddo well to follow the extensive precedents developed abroad and enable binding orders’. Discuss
In the existing unsatisfactory jural environment in India, the occasional escape of the patriarchal cat from the judiciary’s bag is quite expected. Discuss how inclusion of women in the judiciary would ensure that the decision-making process is more responsive, inclusive and participatory at all levels.
Japan, the world’s fourth largest economy, ranked abysmally low in the Gender Gap Index 2022. With a target of transforming India into a developed country by 2047, what lessons do you think India should learn from Japan? Also discuss how investing in women’s education and health may have limited impact if it is a society trapped in gender norms?
Telemedicine is the interconnected future of healthcare. Discuss howcreating and deploying Open Digital Telehealth Initiative (ODTI) will improvise telehealth services and aid in achieving the National Digital Health Mission’s aim of providing accessible and affordable healthcare services for all in every nook and corner of India.
‘The Puttaswamy judgement of August 2017 recognised privacy as intrinsic to dignity, liberty and autonomy albeit with reasonable restrictions. It may have led to many breakthroughs, but it has also shown the limits of the Supreme Court’s powers’. Comment.
Multiple new states have come into being in India after its independence from the British. In many cases, there has not been a dramatic shift in their socio-economic conditions. Why there is demand for a separate Mithilanchal state? Does Mithilanchal have enough resources to sustain itself as a state?
‘India will assume for the first time the Group of 20 (G20) year-long presidency in December 2022.It offers opportunity before India to emerge as the chief global diplomat as an effective instrument of global governance’. Elaborate.
India will soon commence 5G deployment in India. In this context, discuss the advantages as well as new world challenges of 5G for police. Also give a brief note on ways to overcome challenges associated.
On the occasion of India@75, Prime Minister called for establishing ‘jan-bhagidari’ for activating India 2.0., similarly there is need to embrace the power of ‘abhibhavaak-bhagidari’ (participation of parents) to activate Anganwadi 2.0. Discuss the issues and ways to make Anganwadi centres as centres of learning.
By making solar energy the ‘third crop’, promoting this innovation on a mission mode, the government can double farmers’ income. Discuss how it can become the “inclusive growth, green growth” model.
What is India’s policy on the Rohingya? What are the government’s obligations?
‘India plans to add 500 GW of non-fossil fuels-based energy capacity by 2030 on the road to achieve Net Zero by 2070. Offshore wind energy, shows great promise in this quest, but also comes with a raft of challenges. It will take the right mix of policies and incentives to get offshore wind energy off the ground’. Comment.
Recently, the Supreme Court drew attention to the substantial fiscal cost of freebies. What you think about freebies are and how they differ from public welfare measures? Or Q: What is your view on the Supreme Court’s suggestion to balance welfare spending and the loss that such spending may cause to the public exchequer?
What is Arctic amplification and factor responsible for this phenomenon? Discuss implications of Arctic warming on India.
In his Independence Day speech in 2022, Prime Minister said that we must work towards turning India into a developed nation by 2047. What really is a developed country? What keeps India still in the category of developing nations? And what must we do to become developed?
Though much has changed, after 75 years of India’s Independence, the objective of transforming ‘a ruler’s police into a people’s police’ is still pending’. Comment.
The desire to attain independence began in the year 1929 with the call for ‘PoornaSwaraj’ or total independence from British colonial rule. Initially, January 26 was chosen as Independence Day. Highlight the events, which culminated in choosing 15 August as India’s Independence Day?
As per the United Nations’ World Population Prospects (WPP), 2022, forecasts India will become most populous country by 2023. Comment.
A foreigner deserves to be welcomed only when he mixes with the indigenous people as sugar does with milk.” As India marks, its 75 years of Independence, in the background of above statement, highlight the role of foreigners in India’s freedom struggle.
It is time to deal with the COVID-19 just like any other health condition in India and integrate COVID-19 interventions in general health services’. Do you agree with this statement? If yes, give reasons in support of your arguments.
The media’s immense power to shape narratives regarding public conceptions of justice makes it a close associate of the justice system. The media needs to aid mechanisms that aim to preserve the basic principles of the justice system’. Elaborate.
For decades, the constant neglect and deprivation of Indigenous and Tribal People of India from policy perspectives has resulted in prevalence of several healthcare issues among them. India needs to demonstrate to them that democracy offers a caring solution to their wound’. Comment.
‘Though Ministry of Mines calls sand a “minor mineral” but it one of the most major geological resources of the country. Given the rising issue of illegal mining in India it is only reasonable to use technological progression to keep an effective check on mining activities, especially sand mining’. Comment.
What is Personal Data Protection Bill? Why has the government withdrawn the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019? Give a brief note on data localisation.
With technological advancements, a new notion of dispute settlement known as ‘Online Dispute Resolution’ has emerged. It is an outgrowth of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Discuss how in India it can speed up the delivery of justice and make it more cost-effective for public.
Concept of 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE)' enunciated by PM Modi harnesses the power of individual and collective action across the world to address the climate crisis. The time is ripe for India to lead the LiFE movement and mainstream it’. Elaborate
Discuss the various aspects of the controversy over the Taiwan visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi recently. What is the genesis of the China-Taiwan tensions? Give a brief note on the ‘One China’ policy?Discuss the various aspects of the controversy over the Taiwan visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi recently. What is the genesis of the China-Taiwan tensions? Give a brief note on the ‘One China’ policy?
‘The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) caters to India’s unification with a structural change in society to facilitate gender equality. It is a step towards integrating and strengthening secular ideals of India’. Elaborate.
हाल ही में, सरकार ने लोकसभा में सूचित किया कि संयुक्त राष्ट्र सुरक्षा परिषद के स्थायी सदस्यता हेतु चीन के अतिरिक्त अन्य स्थायी सदस्यों ने पुष्टि की है। भारत-चीन संबंधों की पृष्ठभूमि में प्रकाश डालिए।
भारतीय अंटार्कटिका बिल, 2022 के संदर्भ में संक्षिप्त टिप्पणी कीजिए। यह किस प्रकार अंटार्कटिका समुद्री जीव संसाधन संबंधी कन्वेंशन के अनुपालन में सहयोगी सिद्ध होगा।
किसी राज्य और उसके लोगों के समग्र विकास के लिए एक विवेकपूर्ण वित्तीय स्थिति का होना आवश्यक है। हालिया अध्ययनों के निष्कर्ष को ध्यान में रखते हुए भारत में कई राज्यों की बिगड़ती वित्तीय स्थिति के संदर्भ में केंद्र-राज्य वित्तीय संबंध का विस्तार से चर्चा कीजिए।
ब्लॉकचेन एंड क्रिप्टो एसेट्स काउंसिल (BACC) को भंग करने के निर्णय के संदर्भ में भारत में डिजिटल भुगतान की वर्तमान स्थिति का परीक्षण कीजिये। सेंट्रल बैंक डिजिटल करेंसी इस दिशा में कैसे कारगर सिद्ध होगी।
महिलाओं की सुरक्षा, संरक्षा और सशक्तिकरण के वर्तमान परिदृश्य का परीक्षण कीजिये। इस दिशा में मिशन शक्ति' योजना कितनी सार्थक है।
हाल ही में, अमेरिकी प्रतिनिधि सभा ने प्रतिबंध अधिनियम (सीएएटीएसए) के माध्यम से काउंटरिंग अमेरिकाज एडवर्सरीज के लिए भारत के लिए विशिष्ट छूट की संस्तुति करने वाले कानून को स्वीकृति प्रदान की है। भारत-रूस संबंध के संदर्भ में इसके निहितार्थों का परीक्षण कीजिए।
विश्व आर्थिक मंच के निर्देशन में प्रकाशित वैश्विक लैंगिक अंतराल सूचकांक, 2022 के अनुसार, श्रम बल में व्यापक लिंग अंतर के साथ वैश्विक स्तर पर महिलाओं के जीवन यापन पर सबसे अधिक प्रभाव पड़ने की संभावना है। भारत के संदर्भ में व्याख्या कीजिए।
हाल ही में, संयुक्त राष्ट्र जनसंख्या प्रखंड के आर्थिक और सामाजिक मामलों के विभाग के निर्देशन में प्रकाशित “विश्व जनसंख्या संभावना” (डब्ल्यूपीपी) के 2022 संस्करण में भारत के संदर्भ में अनुमान व्यक्त किया गया है कि वर्ष 2023 तक यह विश्व के सबसे अधिक आबादी वाले देश के रूप में चीन से आगे निकल जाएगा। समालोचनात्मक टिप्पणी कीजिए।
1) संयुक्त राष्ट्र के निर्देशन में प्रकाशित विश्व में ‘खाद्य सुरक्षा और पोषण की स्थिति 2022’ के अनुसार, भारत में गत 15 वर्षों के दौरान अल्पपोषित लोगों की संख्या में कमी आई है। चर्चा कीजिए।
1) संवैधानिक एवं इतर-संवैधानिक प्रावधानों के वावजूद भारत में बाल श्रम की अब तक जिजीविषा के मूल कारणों पर प्रकाश डालते हुए किन्ही दो आधुनिक बाल श्रम प्रा रूपों का उल्लेख कीजिए?
2) विश्व व्यापार संगठन के माध्यम से क्या भारत एक विभेदक व्यवहार का शिकार हो चुका है? उचित तर्कों के आधार पर इस मुद्दे पर अपना मत प्रस्तुत कीजिए।