UPSC Mains 2015 questions

78 questions from the UPSC Mains 2015, each on its own page with its options and the NCERT chapters that teach it. The two most recent years are free to read in full.

Q1Discuss the possible factors that inhibit India from enacting for its citizens a uniform civil code as provided for in the Directive Principles of State…
Q1The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved…
Q1The nature of economic growth in India in recent times is often described as jobless growth. Do you agree with this view ? Give arguments in favour of your…
Q1What is meant by ‘environmental ethics’? Why is it important to study? Discuss any one environmental issue from the viewpoint of environmental ethics. (Answer…
Q2Differentiate between the following:
Q2Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector…
Q2Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life o f the times but also a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modern painting.…
Q2The concept of cooperative federalism has been increasingly emphasized in recent years. Highlight the drawbacks in the existing structure and the extent to…
Q3Given below is a quotation of moral thinker/philosopher. Bring out what it means to you in the present context.
Q3How different would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss. (Answer in 200 words)
Q3In absence of a well-educated and organized local level government system, ‘Panchayats’ and ‘Samitis’ have remained mainly political institutions and not…
Q3In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture non-viable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and…
Q4Given below is a quotation of moral thinker/philosopher. Bring out what it means to you in the present context.
Q4How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income ? What steps has the Government taken in this regard ? (Answer in…
Q4Khap Panchayats have been in the news for functioning as extra-constitutional authorities, often delivering pronouncements amounting to human rights…
Q4Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.…
Q5“A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also has to have a well developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of…
Q5In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India ? Discuss. (Answer in 200 words)
Q5It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years…
Q5Resorting to ordinances has always raised concern on violation of the spirit of separation of powers doctrine. While noting the rationales justifying the…
Q6How do the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service? Explain with examples. (Answer in 150 words)
Q6What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in developing the food processing industry in India ? Can e-commerce help in overcoming…
Q6What are the major changes brought in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 through the recent Ordinance promulgated by the President? How far will it…
Q6Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England ? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the industrialization. How does it compare…
Q7Craze for gold in Indians has led to a surge in import of gold in recent years and put pressure on balance of payments and external value of rupee. In view of…
Q7Does the right to clean environment entail legal regulations on burning crackers during Diwali? Discuss in the light of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution…
Q7“Social values are more important than economic values.” Discuss the above statement with examples in the context of inclusive growth of a nation. (Answer in…
Q7To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars ? Discuss critically. (Answer in 200 words)
Q8Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity. (Answer in 200 words)
Q8Examine critically the recent changes in the rules governing foreign funding of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 1976. (Answer in…
Q8Some recent developments such as introduction of RTI Act, media and judicial activism, etc. are proving helpful in bringing about greater transparency and…
Q8“Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’ programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments. (Answer…
Q9Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India. (Answer in 200 words)
Q9The Self-Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP), which is India’s own innovation, has proved to be one of the most effective poverty alleviation and…
Q9To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar energy be attributed ? What implications does the trend have for the…
Q9Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude.
Q10How can the role of NGOs be strengthened in India for development works relating to protection of the environment? Discuss throwing light on the major…
Q10How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes ?…
Q10There is a clear acknowledgement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool of industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognizing this…
Q10Today we find that in-spite of various measures of prescribing codes of conduct, setting up vigilance cells/commissions, RTI, active media and strengthening…
Q11At the international level, bilateral relations between most nations are governed on the policy of promoting one’s own national interest without any regard…
Q11Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades. (Answer in 200 words)
Q11The quality of higher education in India requires major improvements to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign…
Q11What do you understand by ‘Standard Positioning Systems’ and Precision Positioning Systems’ in the GPS era ? Discuss the advantages India perceives from its…
Q12Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India. (Answer in 200 words)
Q12Public health system has limitations in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that the private sector could help in bridging the gap? What other…
Q12Public servants are likely to confront with the issues of “Conflict of Interest”. What do you understand by the term “Conflict of Interest” and how does it…
Q12What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots ? Discuss the initiatives that can propel research in premier research…
Q13A private company is known for its efficiency, transparency and employee welfare. The company though owned by a private individual has a cooperative character…
Q13Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste. (Answer in 200 words)
Q13Discuss the advantages and security implications of cloud hosting of servers vis-a-vis in-house machine-based hosting for government businesses. (Answer in…
Q13Though there have been several different estimates of poverty in India, all indicate reduction in poverty levels over time. Do you agree? Critically examine…
Q14Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation ? (Answer in 200 words)
Q14In the light of the Satyam Scandal (2009), discuss the changes brought in corporate governance to ensure transparency, accountability. (Answer in 200 words)
Q14India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), which has a database containing formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations is…
Q14You are the Sarpanch of a Panchayat. There is a primary school run by the government in your area. Midday meals are provided to children attending the school.…
Q15Discuss the Namami Gange and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can…
Q15“If amendment bill to the Whistleblowers Act, 2011 tabled in the Parliament is passed, there may be no one left to protect.” Critically evaluate. (Answer in…
Q15Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two.…
Q15One of the scientists working in the R&D laboratory of a major pharmaceutical company discovers that one of the company’s bestselling veterinary drugs has the…
Q16“For achieving the desired objectives, it is necessary to ensure that the regulatory institutions remain independent and autonomous.” Discuss in the light of…
Q16India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity. (Answer in 200 words)
Q16The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant…
Q16There is a disaster prone state having frequent landslides, forest fires, cloudbursts, flash floods and earthquakes, etc. Some of these are seasonal and often…
Q17Human rights activists constantly highlight the view that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of human…
Q17Increasing interest of India in Africa has its pros and cons. Critically examine. (Answer in 200 words)
Q17The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are reaching the limits of their ecological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically…
Q17You are heading a district administration in a particular department. Your senior officer calls you from the State Headquarters and tells you that a plot in…
Q18Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in UN Security Council. (Answer in 200 words)
Q18How far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscapes ? Discuss. (Answer in 200 words)
Q18Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted in Indian youth joining the ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission ? How can ISIS be dangerous for the…
Q18You are recently posted as district development officer of a district. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in the rural areas of…
Q19Project ‘Mausam’ is considered a unique foreign policy initiative of the Indian Government to improve relationship with its neighbours. Does the project have…
Q19Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop of rural urban integration. (Answer in 200 words)
Q19The persisting drives of the Government for development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers…
Q20Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a “Digital Armed Force” to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber…
Q20Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India-Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchanges could…
Q20What are the economic significances of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible environmental consequences ? (Answer in 200 words)