GS3 (Infrastructure)
The National Waterways Bill 2015 provides for enacting a central legislation to declare 106 additional inland waterways as the national waterways, in addition to five existing national waterways. What are the benefits of inland waterways? Discuss the potential of inland waterways in India and the challenges that lie before India ahead?
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GS2 (Polity and Governance)
Discuss the major reforms needed in MCI as per the reports of British Medical Journal and the Parliamentary Standing Committee that pointed out rampant corruption and lack of quality and integrity in medical services across the country. Also discuss about the mandate of Lodha committee formed by the SC in this regard.
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GS1 (Indian Heritage and Culture)
The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment.
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GS4(Case Study)
Krishna Pushkaram is a festival of River Krishna which normally occurs once in 12 years. The Srisailam temple is going to receive devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra for Krishna Pushkararam as River Krishna flows very close to the temple town. You are the district collector of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh where this temple town is located. You are presently in-charge for the works on construction of new bathing ghats, toilets and changing rooms, sinking of borewells, repair to the old ghats, lighting arrangements at bathing ghats, extension works on Atmakur-Sangameswaram road and laying of a 5 km bitumen road between Kapileswaram and Sangameswaram for this festival.
The staff of Panchayat Raj, Endowments department, Disaster Managment team and Transport department have the responsibility of day-to-day inspection of the site and are reporting to you, while you are finally reporting to the Deputy Chief Minister. While the construction is heading towards completion, the respective staff have been regularly reporting that all construction is taking place as per designed specifications. However, in one of your surprise inspections, you have noticed some serious non-conformities and lacunae which, in your opinion, are likely to affect the safety of the pilgrims. Rectification of these lacunae at this stage would require a substantial amount of demolition and rework which will cause a hard-hitting loss to the contractors and will also delay completion.
There is a lot of public pressure on you to get this construction completed as per schedule at any cost otherwise the government will draw flak from pilgrims for its failure to make adequate arrangements. When you brought this matter to the notice of the Deputy Chief Minister, he advised you that in his opinion it is not a very serious lapse and may be ignored. He advised for further expediting the construction work for completion in time. However, you are convinced that this was a serious matter which might affect public safety and should not be left unaddressed.
What will you do in such a situation?
Some of the options are given below. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of these options and finally suggest what course of action you would like to take, giving reasons.
(a) Follow the advice of the Deputy Chief Minister and go ahead.
(b) Make an exhaustive report of the situation bringing out all facts and analysis along with your own viewpoints stated clearly and seek for written orders from the Deputy Chief Minister.
(c) Call for explanation from the staff of Panchayat Raj, Endowments department, Disaster Management team and Transport department and issue orders to the contractors for necessary correction within targeted time.
(d) Highlight the issue so that it reaches to the Chief Minister of the State above the Deputy Chief Minister.
(e) Considering the rigid attitude of the Deputy Chief Minister, pursue transfer from the project or report sick.
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GS3 (Indian Economy)
What do you understand by bank consolidation? Does the Indian banking sector needs consolidation? Highlight pros and cons.
GS2 (Polity and Governance)
Section 499 and 500 of the IPC not only have a chilling effect on free speech but also violate the basic ethos of our Constitution. Critically discuss
GS1 (Post Independence history of India)
Write a short note on the history of Naga Insurgency. Can the recent accord signed between Naga insurgents and the Union government end the insurgency in Nagaland? Critically Discuss.
GS4 (Case Study)
An Uber driver was arrested in Kolkata last month after a passenger accused him of molesting her and aggressive behaviour. The complainant said the driver threatened to kidnap and rape her, while refusing to go to her destination. The woman leapt out of the car to protect herself and the driver went away. This is not the first time that Uber drivers have been accused of rape or molestation. Another Uber driver from Delhi was held guilty of raping a female passenger.
In another incident, an FIR was filed against a famous Bollywood singer for allegedly molesting and sexually assaulting a designer. The designer alleged that she had gone to his place and the singer misbehaved with her. The singer had in the past grabbed headlines for all wrong reasons.
Similarly, two teachers of a school and the secretary of an education society in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra were arrested after parents of about a dozen students lodged a joint complaint alleging the two molested girls of KG and primary classes.
This certainly implies that there has been an increasing trend of sexual overdrives in present generation. In the past we have played the blame game for any such incidence and hence have not succeeded to reach to the root of the problem. Women in India-a better half of Indian society, today, are becoming the most vulnerable section as far as their protection and safekeeping is concerned.
Can you suggest some effective short term and long term solutions for the safety and security of women in India?
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GS3 (Science & Technology)
Climate change negotiations are a major factor in today’s diplomacy and a lot of diplomatic capital is spent to achieve a country’s aims. What factors shape India’s strategy in this regard? What has been India’s strategy with respect to such negotiations?
GS2 (Polity and Governance)
The government is promoting Make in India, and companies like Netflix are looking to invest in India. In such a situation exposing artists to regressive, archaic laws is short-sighted. Comment in the light of the recent censor board controversy.
GS1 (Changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes)
What do you understand by hydro fluorocarbons? Why are they considered harmful? Do you think the recent agreement in Kigali will help curb the menace of this gas? What challenges will India face in implementing the provisions of Kigali Accord?
GS4 (Case Study)
You are the president of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The WFI is planning to convene a selection panel shortly under your chairmanship for selection of the best athlete/wrestler to represent India in the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympics in 74kg freestyle wrestling championship. A few days before the final selection, you get a call from the Personal Secretary (PS) of a senior government minister seeking your intervention in favour of the selection of a close relative of the minister for this particular category. There are only two contenders for this category.
The first contender is the only Indian to win two individual Olympic medals. He has been also awarded with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna – India’s highest honour for sportspersons. Whereas the second contender (relative of the minister) belongs to the constituency of the minister and has only won championships at State levels. The PS also informs you that he is aware of the long pending and urgent proposals of your federation for grant of funds for modernization, which are awaiting the minister’s approval. He assures you that he would get these proposals cleared.
(a) What are the options available to you?
(b) Evaluate each of these options and choose the option which you would adopt, giving reasons.
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Best answer
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GS3 (Science and Technology)
The successful testing of Reusable Launch Vehicle by ISRO is a great achievement for the Indian space sector. What is a Reusable Launch Vehicle? What is the significance of RLV for India’s space sector?
GS2 (Polity and Governance)
WHO has reported that India has the highest number of TB patients across the globe. Examine if India has failed to provide minimal health care to its citizens.
Best answer
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GS1 (Indian society)
What are the reasons for increasing demand of reservation by middle castes such as Jats, Kapus, Marathas and Patidars? In this context, discuss problems with Indian reservation policy and analyse if India needs to review its reservation policy?
Best answer
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GS4 (Case study)
There was a fire at Central Ammunition Depot (CAD), Pulgaon recently which claimed the lives of two Army officers, one Army jawan and 13 civilian firefighting staff. You are the Director General of Military Operations. The investigation by Army’s Court of Inquiry reveals no evidence of sabotage or a short circuit causing the fire. The investigation documents claim that some of the decisions taken by you in the past were not altogether correct. There were others also who were party to these decisions. If these documents are made public it will lead to disciplinary action with possibility of punishment against you as well as your colleagues. However, these documents can be camouflaged to mislead the public resulting into no punishment for you.
Otherwise you are an honest and conscientious officer. But this particular decision turned out to be wrong.
The following are the courses of action available to you. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each option.
1. You can refer the matter to your superior and seek his advice and act strictly in accordance with the advice, even if you are not completely in agreement with the advice of your superior.
2. You could proceed on leave and leave the matter to be dealt by your successor in office or request for transfer.
3. You can weigh the consequences of disclosing the information truthfully, including the effect on your career, and reply in a manner that would not place you or your career in jeopardy, but at the same time a little compromise can be made on the contents of the information.
4. You can consult other colleagues who are party to the decision and take action as per their advice.
Also please indicate (without necessarily restricting to the above options) what you would like to advise, giving proper reasons.
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Best answer
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GS3 (Issues related to Conservation)
The human population boom is the biggest drain on the planet’s resources. So if we don’t consider culling humans, we do not have the right to cull other species. Critically comment in the context of current debate on culling of animals.
Best answer
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GS2 (International Relations)
With few achievements in its pocket, BRICS has largely remained a dormant association. In the light of the above statement discuss what major issues/challenges are being faced by this multilateral forum and what should be done to make BRICS a genuine powerhouse.
Best answer
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GS1 (Indian Society)
Despite Schemes like Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan and Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, why do people in India still defecate in the open? What measures are required to make India defecation free?
Best answer
Nitish Singh wrote the best answer for this question and got a score of 4/10 (if the best answer is an image, it cannot be uploaded here, hence scroll down to see those). The answer is being reproduced below for everyone’s convenience. Of course these answers can always be improved. (Best answer of a particular only involves those given on that day, later answers may not have been checked)
