[Insights Secure – 2016] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Events: 29 December 2015

[Insights Secure – 2016] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Events: 29 December  2015

Archives – Secure 2015

Archives – Secure 2016

Click on EACH question to post/read  answers.

General Studies – 1;

Topic: Urbanization – problems and remedies

1) Define Smart City. Do you think India’s Smart City initiative will become another SEZ initiative? Critically comment. (200 Words)

Business Standard

General Studies – 2

Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

2) What do you understand by the Doha Development Agenda (DDA)? What is India’s stand vis a vis DDA? Examine. (200 Words)

The Hindu

Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

3) What are the criticisms made against universal health insurance subsidy schemes? Are they valid? Critically examine. (200 Words)

Business Standard

Topic: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

4) What are the root causes of farm distress in India? Why do you think state interventions have failed to halt farmer suicides in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka? Critically analyse. (200 Words)

The Indian Express

General Studies – 3

Topic: Storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints

5) “The time has come to review the utility of not just Minimum Export Prices (MEPs), but also other restrictions on movement, storage and marketing of agricultural produce.” Do you agree with this view? Substantiate. (200 Words)

The Indian Express

Topic: Investment models; Infrastructure

6) Recently the Vijay Kelkar Committee on public-private partnership (PPP) has made many recommendations to review and revive PPP model in India. Discuss its important recommendations. (200 Words)

Business Standard

Business Standard

Business Standard

Topic: Inclusive development – issues

7) A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) committee on financial inclusion headed by Deepak Mohanty has suggested that the government should transfer cash directly to persons instead of giving subsidies, and should replace interest subvention on agriculture loans with affordable universal crop insurance scheme. Explain with examples how these recommendations, if implemented, will bring about financial inclusion. (200 Words)

Business Standard

Topic: Agriculture issues

8) A task force on agriculture, set up by the National Institution for Transforming India Aayog or NITI Aayog, has suggested a number of measures intended to raise agricultural productivity and make farming lucrative. What are these suggestions? Critically comment on them. (200 Words)

Business Standard

Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

9) It is found by scientists that evaporating water can be used to generate power (Evaporation engine). How it can be done? Explain. (200 Words)

The Hindu

General Studies – 4

Topic:Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration:

10) How do the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service? Explain with examples. (150 Words)

General