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

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

Archives – Secure 2015

Archives – Secure 2016

Click on EACH question to post/read  answers.

General Studies – 1;

Topic: Urbanization – problems and remedies

1) Recently the union government announced the list of 20 cities that have qualified to build smart infrastructure under Smart City initiative. Examine how these cities will be developed to make them smart. (200 Words)

Business Standard

The Hindu

Livemint

Topic: Salient features of Indian society; Social empowerment

2) It is said that there is some quantifiable evidence that caste-based discrimination still exists in India, especially in schools and jobs. Discuss the forms of these discriminations, their impact on the discriminated people and reasons why this still persists in India. (200 Words)

Livemint

General Studies – 2

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

3) Write a note on the Zika virus outbreak, its causes, consequences and the role of international agencies in dealing with this outbreak. (200 Words)

The Indian Express

Topic:Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes;

4) Critically analyse the impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) on rural economy. (200 Words)

Business Standard

Topic:Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests,

5) Some argue that the international community and stakeholders including India should make peace with Taliban that is holding highly objectionable religious and political views. Do you support this? Shouldn’t efforts be aimed at ensuring that the Taliban are defeated, both militarily and ideologically? Critically comment. (200 Words)

The Hindu

Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests 

6) Do you think China is better placed than any other power including India in a post-sanctions Iran? Analyse. (200 Words)

The Hindu

General Studies – 3

Topic: Infrastructure; Energy; Paper-2 – Federalism 

7) “The UDAY scheme is not only a bailout programme but a show of ‘collaborative federalism’.” Critically examine. (200 Words)

Business Standard

Topic: Cropping patetrn

8) Pulses, India’s most consumed protein-rich food group, have continued to pressure food inflation upwards even as the prices of most other items have cooled off. Examine the reasons for their high prices, impact on poor and measures needed to be taken to cool off their prices. (200 Words)

Business Standard

Topic: Resource mobilization; Indian economy – growth

9) Do you think cutting of policy rates by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) help firms and consumers? Critically examine. (200 Words)

The Hindu

General Studies – 4

Topic:Accountability and challenges of corruption

10) It is commonly perceived that when it comes to corruption cases, politicians somehow escape punishment compared to bureaucrats who are made scapegoats in many cases. Why do you think this happens? What mechanism would you suggest to punish corrupt politicians in equal measure? Discuss. (150 Words)

The Hindu