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[Insights Secure – 2018] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Affairs: 17 January 2018

[Insights Secure – 2018] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Affairs: 17 January 2018

Click on EACH question to post/read  answers.

General Studies – 1

 

Topic:  Salient features of Indian society; Culture

1) Discuss the socio-cultural and other factors that make it difficult to regulate events such as jallikattu despite ban by the Supreme Court. (250 Words)

The Hindu

 

Topic:  Salient features of world’s physical geography

2) What are  shola grasslands? Examine the their significance and the threats faced by them. (150 Words)

The Hindu

General Studies – 2

 

Topic:   India and its neighborhood- relations

3) What measures should be taken by both India and Nepal to prevent cross-border human trafficking between their countries? Also comment on the impact of this issue on bilateral ties. (250 Words)

The Hindu

 

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

4) Comment on the latest finding of  the 2017 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). (250 Words)

The Hindu

The Indian Express

The Wire

The Hindu

 

General Studies – 3

 

Topic:  Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping;

5) In the name of reforms, recent disruptions of the PDS have taken different forms, from compulsory biometric authentication to so-called direct benefit transfer (DBT). Critically analyse implications of these PDS reforms on people. (250 Words)

The Hindu

 

Topic:  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

6) What do you understand by bond yield? What factors influence variation in bond yields and how these variations impact economy? (150 Words)

The Hindu

 

Topic: Conservation; Environmental pollution

7) What are the dangers faced by the Great Barrier Reef? Discuss its natural and cultural significance and measures needed to save it from extinction. (250 Words)

The Hindu

General Studies – 4

Topic:  Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions
8) Ranganath Bharadwaj is working for a TV news channel as its senior editor. Earlier he worked as journalist for a newspaper and later he joins another TV news channel as news anchor. He was given an opportunity as news anchor after much pleading with its boss. Due to his unique style, he becomes popular and he becomes instrumental in increasing TRP of the news channel. Due to rise in his popularity, he starts demanding huge remuneration – which is denied by his boss. Hence he moves to rival new channel where he is now its senior editor and hosts a prime time debate program which has very high TRP. The news channel is known for its series of sting operations targeting politicians, celebrities and businessmen and then holding a debate on these sting operations where the victims of sting operation are prosecuted and persecuted by a panel headed by Ranganath. Some of the ‘victims’ were asked to pay huge amount of bribe to stop airing these videos of sting operations and debates. One day Ranganath receives a call by his previous boss. Ranganath is told that they have footage of Ranganath harassing, threatening and receiving bribe from a celebrity actress and they would air the program unless he resigns and joins back their channel as news anchor again. The airing of this footage is certain to end Ranganath’s career.
c) Do you think Ranganath deserves punishment in the form of airing of footage where he is involved in criminal activity? Justify. 
General