Posted on by INSIGHTS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

[Insights Secure – 2018] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Affairs: 29 December 2017

[Insights Secure – 2018] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Affairs: 29 December 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) Write a note on the contribution of important personalities from the North East to fight against British colonialism in India. (150 Words)

The Hindu

General Studies – 2

 

 

Topic:   Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. 

2) Analyse the nature and significance of Supreme Court’s recent judgements related to issues of fundamental rights, the status of the individual, and the idea of democracy. (250 Words)

The Wire

 

Topic:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 

3) How did the introduction of the Unified Access Services Licensing (UASL) regime in 2003 alter dynamics in India’s telecommunication sector? Critically examine. (250 Words)

The Hindu

 

 

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

4) It is said that the entire Board examination system and the culture associated with it constitute an endemic problem. Discuss critically these problems and their solutions. (250 Words)

The Hindu

 

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

5) Improving security in the Northeast region is crucial to India’s realise full potential of India’s Act East policy. Comment. (250 Words)

The Indian Express

General Studies – 3

 

Topic:  Economics of animal rearing

6) During the past three years, India has outpaced the global milk production with an annual growth rate of 5.53% compared with the 2.09% achieved globally. Examine how is it made possible. (150 Words)

The Hindu

 

Topic:  Conservation

7) What do you understand by compensatory afforestation? Discuss the salient features of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016. (250 Words)

The Hindu

General Studies – 4

Topic:  Ethics in public administration

8) You are working as Superintendent of Police (SP) in a district that is communally sensitive. It’s also the home district of chief minister (CM) of the state, whose daughter you are married to. There have been incidents such as killing of labourers involved in transport of cows; killing of muslim boys alleging their involvement in ‘love jihad’; killing of a local journalist who was very vocal about communal politics etc. In addition, one of the members of parliament representing the district, is fond of giving hate speeches to incite mobs to indulge in violence. You are aware that certain local leaders have an agenda to polarise population in the district in the name of religion. As elections are nearing, communal polarisation is happening fast. The state CM belongs to a political party that has communal agenda. This time there is a chance of CM losing out in the election. It’s do or die situation for him on which his political career rests on. He wants you to be soft on communal elements so that he can capitalise on fear to garner votes. However, you come from a background where you were taught secular and inclusive views from the childhood itself. You are a person who believes that peaceful society is prerequisite to achieve development. However, due to certain circumstances, you had to marry a daughter of a politician who professes politics of hate. Your marriage life is going very well. You are in a situation where your father in law believes that you can save his political career by being soft on his type of politics, on the other hand you can not risk the consequences of not heeding to his plea.

  1. In this situation, what short-term and long-term consequences do you foresee in case you choose to follow chief minister’s directive? Examine.
  2. Evaluate merits and demerits of various options that you can explore to address ethical issues that you are posed with in this situation.  (300 Words)

General