UPSC Mains 2018 GS-2 Question Paper

All 19 questions from this paper, with real topper answers where available.

• Q1. Under what circumstances can the Financial Emergency be proclaimed by the President of India? What consequences follow when such a declaration remains in force?10 marks · Emergency Financial Emergency
• Q1. India and USA are two large democracies. Examine the basic tenets on which the two political systems are based.15 marks · Basic tenants)
• Q3. ‘India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.” Discuss.10 marks · India -Israel
• Q4. Assess the importance of Panchayat system in India as a part of local government. Apart from government grants, what sources the Panchayats can look out for financing developmental projects.15 marks · PRI Funding & Devolution
• Q4. In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India?10 marks · Election technology: EVM and trust
• Q4. How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India?15 marks · Hunger Causes(Food vs Human Dev)
• Q4. In what ways would the ongoing US-Iran Nuclear Pact Controversy affect the national interest of India? How should India respond to this situation?15 marks · US–Iran Nuclear Deal
• Q4. What are the key areas of reform if the WTO has to survive in the present context of ‘Trade War’, especially keeping in mind the interest of India?15 marks · WTO Reforms
• Q5. Why do you think the committees are considered to be useful for parliamentary work? Discuss, in this context, the role of the Estimates Committee.10 marks · Committee & Parliamentary Work
• Q6. Appropriate local community-level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain.10 marks · Healthcare
• Q7. Multiplicity of various commissions for the vulnerable sections of the society leads to problems of overlapping jurisdiction and duplication of functions. Is it better to merge all commissions into an umbrella Human Rights Commission? Argue your case.15 marks
• Q8. Whether National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine.10 marks · NCSC
• Q8. Citizens’ Charter is an ideal instrument of organizational transparency and accountability, but it has its own limitations. Identify the limitations and suggest measures for greater effectiveness of the Citizens’ Charter.15 marks · Citizens’ Charter
• Q8. A number of outside powers have entrenched themselves in Central Asia, which is a zone of interest to India. Discuss the implications, in this context, of India’s joining the Ashgabat Agreement.10 marks · Ashgabat Agreement
• Q9. E-Governance is not only about utilization of the power of new technology, but also much about critical importance of the ‘use value’ of information. Explain.10 marks · E-Governance
• Q10. How far do you agree with the view that tribunals curtail the jurisdiction of ordinary courts? In view of the above, discuss the constitutional validity and competency of the tribunals in India.15 marks · Tribunals
• Q11. How is the Finance Commission of India constituted? What do you understand about the terms of reference of the recently constituted Finance Commission? Discuss.15 marks · Finance Commission
• Q12. “The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has a very vital role to play.” Explain how this is reflected in the method and terms of his appointment as well as the range of powers he can exercise.10 marks · Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
• Q13. “Policy contradictions among various competing sectors and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate ‘protection and prevention of degradation’ to environment.” Comment with relevant illustrations.10 marks · Groups