[Insights Secure – 2018] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Affairs: 14 November 2017

[Insights Secure – 2018] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Affairs: 14 November 2017

Click on EACH question to post/read  answers.

General Studies – 1;

Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues

1) Discuss Jawaharlal Nehru’s views on science and religion, and their relevance today. (250 Words)

The Indian Express

General Studies – 2

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

2) While the focus on  the Rohingya refugee crisis is justified, the indifference to plight of Sri Lankan refugees is condemnable. Comment. (150 Words)

The Hindu

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

3) The ‘Quad’ policy both compliments and contradicts India’s Act East policy. Comment. (150 Words)

The Hindu

Topic: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. 

4) The amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act are noble, but impractical to implement. Comment. (150 Words)

The Hindu

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

5) India’s openness to both the quad and triad (India, China and Russia) suggests not the construction of new alliances, but Delhi’s return to the original conception of non-alignment. Analyse. (150 Words)

The Indian Express

General Studies – 3

Topic: Issues relating to intellectual property rights. 

6) As a traditional public health intervention, vaccines have been costing more money in recent years when a couple of newer generation of products are exhausting governments’ budgets largely due to their monopoly situations thanks to patent thicket and evergreening. Comment. (250 Words)

The Wire

Topic: Awareness in the fields of Space

7) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to privatise the operations of its popular Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) by 2020. Examine the rationale behind this plan and also its merits and demerits. (150 Words)

The Wire

Topic: Inclusive development; Agriculture credit

8) Loan waivers do not result in farmers’ welfare. Discuss. (250 Words)

The Hindu

General Studies – 4

Topic: Ethics in human actions

Topic:  Ethical concerns and dilemmas in private institutions