UPSC Optional papers 2018 questions

223 questions from the UPSC Optional papers 2018, each on its own page with its options. The two most recent years are free to read in full.

Q1“A government next-door is the government that matters most for the people.” Discuss the statement with special reference to the values of local government.…
Q1Describe the changing nature of Comparative Politics. Briefly explain the Political Economy approach to the study of Comparative Politics. (Answer in 150 words)
Q1Distinctive cultural features of tribes of Andaman islands (Answer in 150 words)
Q1John Stuart Mill is a ‘reluctant democrat’. – C. L. Wayper (Answer in 150 words)
Q1The focal point of Sociology rests on interaction. How do you distinguish it from common sense ? (Answer in 150 words)
Q1The Relevance of Anthropology (Answer in 150 words)
Q1"The scope of the discipline of Public Administration is determined by what an administrative system does." Does it mean that the scope of this discipline is…
Q1Write a note on G. S. Ghurye's Indological perspective of understanding Indian society. (Answer in 150 words)
Q2Decline of Political Theory (Answer in 150 words)
Q2Describe the changing nature of the State in the developing societies in the context of inclusive growth in the 21st century. (Answer in 150 words)
Q2Difference between Science and Magic (Answer in 150 words)
Q2Distinguish between fact and value in Weber's Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism. (Answer in 150 words)
Q2Give a critical analysis of Andre Beteille's study of Tanjore village. (Answer in 150 words)
Q2Philosophy behind Purusharthas (Answer in 150 words)
Q2"The concepts of rationality and efficiency are intertwined in the bureaucratic analysis of Max Weber." Comment. (Answer in 150 words)
Q2“The philosophy of the Westminster model is at odds with the political culture of India.” Critically analyse. (Answer in 150 words)
Q3Distributive Justice (Answer in 150 words)
Q3Do you think 'I' and 'Me' are central terms in Mead's work ? (Answer in 150 words)
Q3Endangered Languages (Answer in 150 words)
Q3How big a role does identity play in determining political participation in the developing countries ? Discuss your answer with suitable illustrations.…
Q3Media is the fourth pillar of democracy. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q3“New Public Service approach is an improvement over its predecessor, New Public Management." Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q3“The attached offices and subordinate offices are integral to the functioning of the Cabinet Secretariat.” Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q3Town Planning of Harappan Culture (Answer in 150 words)
Q4"A leader is a people's developer" (Napoleon). Which aspects of subordinates' development can be positively influenced by a leader? Discuss. (Answer in 150…
Q4Bring out the major differences between the Classical Realism of Hans Morgenthau and the Neorealism of Kenneth Waltz. (Answer in 150 words)
Q4It is apprehended that lateral entry will lead to politicisation of bureaucracy. Do you agree? Justify. (Answer in 150 words)
Q4Kinship Terminology (Answer in 150 words)
Q4OBCs among non-Hindu communities (Answer in 150 words)
Q4Substantive Democracy (Answer in 150 words)
Q4What is the difference between natural and social inequality ? Give examples from caste and class dimensions. (Answer in 150 words)
Q4Write a note on the changing roles of middle-class women in India. (Answer in 150 words)
Q5“Contracting out tasks without effective accountability mechanisms can be counter-productive for effective service delivery." Comment. (Answer in 150 words)
Q5Discuss the growth of religious sects in India. (Answer in 150 words)
Q5Ethnoarchaeology as a research strategy (Answer in 150 words)
Q5“Herbert Simon's book ‘Administrative Behavior’ presents a synthesis of the classical and behavioural approaches to the study of Public Administration."…
Q5“Nothing against the State, nothing over it, nothing beyond it.” – Mussolini (Answer in 150 words)
Q5Ways of Acquiring Mate in Tribal Society (Answer in 150 words)
Q5What, according to Joseph Nye, are the major sources of a country’s soft power ? Discuss its relevance in the contemporary world politics. (Answer in 150 words)
Q5What are the new forms of family in developed societies ? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q6Analyze A. R. Desai's views on India's path of development. (Answer in 350 words)
Q6Critically examine the neo-liberal theory of State. (Answer in 350 words)
Q6Discuss the significance of Non-Aligned Movement as a unique contribution of the Non-Western world to World Politics. (Answer in 350 words)
Q6Dwight Waldo in his book, ‘The Administrative State’ emphatically mentions that the roots of administrative theory lie in political theory. Critically examine…
Q6Explain the biological changes that made human beings capable of making culture. (Answer in 350 words)
Q6Explain the contribution of tribal cultures to Indian civilization. (Answer in 350 words)
Q6Is non-positivistic methodology scientific ? Illustrate. (Answer in 350 words)
Q6"The market-driven profitability concerns have shaken the foundation of the public sector undertakings.” Do you agree? Give reasons. (Answer in 350 words)
Q7Analyse John Rawls justification of discrimination to achieve the goals of Justice. (Answer in 250 words)
Q7Describe the salient features of Sivapithecus. (Answer in 250 words)
Q7Discuss the consequences of Trump’s “America First” and Xi’s “Chinese Dream” on World Politics. (Answer in 250 words)
Q7Examine sociological dynamics of Champaran Peasant Movement in colonial India. (Answer in 350 words)
Q7Explain Durkheim's basic arguments on suicide. Can you analyse high suicide rates of contemporary Indian society with Durkheim's theory ? (Answer in 350 words)
Q7How does customary law function in the tribal society ? Discuss its different sources. (Answer in 250 words)
Q7It is argued that the NITI Aayog has broken the edifice of planning into fragments. Comment. (Answer in 350 words)
Q7“The Phenomenological Approach advocated by the New Public Administration has obstructed the path of theory building in Public Administration." Comment.…
Q8“Autonomy of civil society is crucial for responsive and effective administration.” Examine the statement. (Answer in 150 words)
Q8Discuss the essential characteristics of public sector-centered and market-centered perspectives in Public Private Partnerships and also compare the two.…
Q8Discuss the impact of market economy on rural villages. (Answer in 250 words)
Q8Equality means fair treatment rather than equal treatment. Comment. (Answer in 250 words)
Q8Evaluate if social stratification is functional for society. (Answer in 150 words)
Q8How do the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission (2004-2006) ensure food and nutrition security for the Indian masses? (Answer in 150 words)
Q8“Some feel Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are a vital new road to economic growth, whereas others feel they perpetuate underdevelopment.” Discuss. (Answer…
Q8What do you understand by the National Character Study ? Illustrate the concept. (Answer in 250 words)
Q9“Communication represents the ‘Nerves of Government’ (Karl Deutsch)”. How can the communication system in the government be made more effective, responsive…
Q9Critically examine the criteria adopted by the 15th Finance Commission for allocation of resources to States. What have been the major issues of contention…
Q9Define ethnography and present a brief history of ethnographic studies. (Answer in 350 words)
Q9Discuss the relevance of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on the security of women in conflict zones. (Answer in 350 words)
Q9Does collapse of functionalism and bankruptcy of Marxism coincide with the rupture of modernity ? Discuss. (Answer in 350 words)
Q9Examine the regional variations of mesolithic cultures of India. (Answer in 350 words)
Q9What do you understand by discrete castes and muddled hierarchies? Substantiate your answer with suitable illustrations. (Answer in 350 words)
Q9What do you understand by three generations of Human Rights ? (Answer in 350 words)
Q10Based on historical and contemporary evidences discuss the future of caste system in India. (Answer in 250 words)
Q10Critically examine Macpherson’s views on Democracy. (Answer in 250 words)
Q10Define patriarchy. How does patriarchy manifest in interpersonal relations ? (Answer in 350 words)
Q10Discuss development-induced displacement in the context of tribal uprising in India. Substantiate your answer with any one detailed illustration from India.…
Q10Give an account of the consequences of food production of Neolithic culture. (Answer in 250 words)
Q10“In the coalition era with elusive majority of a single party in the State Legislature, the role of the Governor becomes even more challenging." Discuss.…
Q10"Political and administrative systems have reciprocal relationship.” Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
Q10Would you agree that the on-going debates on international environmental politics continue to be marred by a new North-South ideological divide over…
Q11"An effective Management Information System (MIS) is the key to successful headquarter-field relationships." Comment. (Answer in 250 words)
Q11Critically examine that the structure and content of language are influenced by culture. (Answer in 250 words)
Q11“Development management advocates self-sustaining customer-friendly institutions at the district level.” Comment. (Answer in 150 words)
Q11Examine the colonial administrators' view that Indian villages can be considered as 'little republics'. (Answer in 250 words)
Q11Explain the relationship between power, authority and legitimacy. (Answer in 250 words)
Q11Illustrate the importance of 'Kanyadan' and 'Kulabadhu' in changing institutions of marriage and family. (Answer in 150 words)
Q11“Since its inception the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has failed to deliver on its promises.” What initiatives should be taken to…
Q11What is the difference between anomie in Merton and Durkheim ? Explain. (Answer in 150 words)
Q12According to Marx, how are human beings alienated from their human potential and what does he suggest to change this ? (Answer in 350 words)
Q12“Climate change issues pose new challenges for district administration to be proactive.” Elaborate. (Answer in 350 words)
Q12Critically examine the notion of “Asian Values” in the context of the on-going debates on human rights. (Answer in 350 words)
Q12Explain the impact of Buddhism and Jainism on Indian society. (Answer in 350 words)
Q12“Form of an organisation influences the success of a public enterprise, but the choice of a form has always remained problematic." Discuss the statement in…
Q12How has the New Economic Policy (1991) affected the lifestyle and life-chances of new middle class in India? (Answer in 350 words)
Q12How is case study method helpful in understanding a social phenomena ? Explain with suitable example. (Answer in 350 words)
Q12John Locke is the father of liberalism. Explain. (Answer in 350 words)
Q13"Chester Barnard's model of 'Contribution-Satisfaction Equilibrium' is still considered a logical model of organisational motivation." Do you agree? Give…
Q13Describe the culture related to Homo erectus. (Answer in 250 words)
Q13Discuss Ambedkar’s ideas on ‘annihilation of caste’. (Answer in 250 words)
Q13Discuss the implications of the Trump–Kim Singapore Summit on the prospects of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. (Answer in 250 words)
Q13“Judicial overreach to a large extent is a consequence of ineffective executive.” Examine. (Answer in 350 words)
Q13Schooling does not ensure upward mobility of all members of the society. Discuss with reference to class societies. (Answer in 350 words)
Q13What are the various factors influencing population growth in India ? Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
Q13Write a critical narrative on the concerns of religious minorities in India. (Answer in 350 words)
Q14Critically examine Machiavelli’s views on religion and politics. (Answer in 250 words)
Q14Critically examine the Functionalist approach to the study of International Relations. (Answer in 250 words)
Q14Discuss the challenges thrown by religious revivalism to a secular nation-state. (Answer in 150 words)
Q14Discuss the issues relating to the entitlement of transgender in Indian society. (Answer in 150 words)
Q14Discuss the view that caste is not social stratification, but a system of hierarchy. (Answer in 250 words)
Q14"In the transition from the State-led economy to the market economy, India should rely more on 'indicative planning'.” Do you agree? Explain your position.…
Q14"The political approach to Public Administration stresses on the values of representativeness, political responsiveness and accountability through elected…
Q14Write the characteristics of hunting and gathering economy. (Answer in 250 words)
Q15Do you agree with the view that the Indian Foreign Policy is increasingly being shaped by the Neoliberal outlook ? Elaborate. (Answer in 150 words)
Q15Elaborate the concept of constitutional morality as given by B. R. Ambedkar. (Answer in 150 words)
Q15Gordon Childe's Theory of Cultural Evolution (Answer in 150 words)
Q15Is the theory of cultural lag valid in present times ? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q15Revolt of 1857 is a ‘Sepoy Mutiny’ or ‘First War of Independence’. (Answer in 150 words)
Q15“The 'enablers' and 'facilitators' are yet to replace the inspectors' and ‘controllers' in the civil service in India.” Do you agree? Justify. (Answer in 150…
Q15"The Journey of Administrative Law has moved much beyond A. V. Dicey.” Comment. (Answer in 150 words)
Q15Youth dormitory as an institution (Answer in 150 words)
Q16Advanced Molecular Anthropology Techniques (Answer in 150 words)
Q16Are social movements primordial in means and progressive in agenda ? Explain. (Answer in 150 words)
Q16Construct a sociological narrative on the increasing trend of child abuse in India. (Answer in 150 words)
Q16Edward Gibbon, the author of ‘Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ remarked: "Corruption, the most infallible symptom of Constitutional liberty." Critically…
Q16“Financial inclusion needs legal backing but it also requires increasing awareness for it to become a reality.” Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q16“India is often said to have a rich strategic culture.” Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q16Indian Constitution is a ‘Lawyers’ Paradise’. – Ivor Jennings (Answer in 150 words)
Q16Tribe and scheduled tribe (Answer in 150 words)
Q17Agrarian social structure (Answer in 150 words)
Q17Categorize Genes that influence Human Survival. (Answer in 150 words)
Q17Does scientific method make Sociology a science ? Illustrate your answer with Durkheim's method. (Answer in 150 words)
Q17Evaluate India’s stand on the recent Rohingya refugee issue. (Answer in 150 words)
Q17Explain the dynamics of neo-farmers' movement in contemporary India. (Answer in 150 words)
Q17"Gender budgeting requires rethinking beyond allocations to become a powerful tool of gender mainstreaming." Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q17New Panchayat Raj is an effective instrument for women empowerment. (Answer in 150 words)
Q17To what extent has e-governance made the administrative system more citizen-oriented? Can it (e-governance) be made more participative? (Answer in 150 words)
Q18Assess the role of the State in promoting education of girl child. (Answer in 150 words)
Q18Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative techniques of data collection with suitable examples from Indian society. (Answer in 150 words)
Q18Implementation of GST and NEET is a major challenge to Indian federalism. (Answer in 150 words)
Q18“India’s current foreign policy marks significant qualitative shifts from that of the previous regimes.” Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q18Race is a Myth. Justify its Present Day Relevance. (Answer in 150 words)
Q18"Social audit has lent a critical edge to the implementation of programmes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)." Comment.…
Q18The impact of Panchayati Raj institutions in rural areas (Answer in 150 words)
Q18"The issue of development of women is closely related to the issue of women in development." How can women become equal partners in the process of…
Q19Analyse the significance of India’s Look East Policy in the light of concerns of the indigenous peoples of North-east India. (Answer in 150 words)
Q19Elaborate the 'Me Too' Movement and its impact in India. (Answer in 150 words)
Q19Is social mobility possible in closed systems of stratification ? Illustrate from research work. (Answer in 150 words)
Q19Issues of Elderly and Senescence in Developing and Developed Countries (Answer in 150 words)
Q19Modernization (Answer in 150 words)
Q19Political personalities are more significant than political parties in India. (Answer in 150 words)
Q19"The AFSPA debate reveals that the Indian paramilitary forces are caught between the imperatives of national security and protection of human rights.”…
Q19"The process of administrative development is generally slower than the process of socio-economic development." How can the speed of administrative…
Q20Compare and contrast the economic typology of tribes given by different anthropologists. (Answer in 350 words)
Q20"Competency mapping is important for effective allocation of responsibilities to administrators.” Do you think that a generalist administrator can handle all…
Q20Discuss the nature of social organisation of work in capitalist society with reference to the 'Limits of the working day'. (Answer in 350 words)
Q20Explain the mechanisms of human variation in gene frequencies. (Answer in 350 words)
Q20How do you relate the growth of development of metropolis and its impact on the mental and social life of people in India? (Answer in 350 words)
Q20In order to be development-oriented, bureaucracies need to be innovative, flexible, citizen-centric and result-oriented, but they are slow in imbibing these…
Q20India’s coalitional diplomacy within the WTO has earned it wide appreciation. What accounts for the success of India’s coalitional diplomacy ? (Answer in 350…
Q20Whether judicial activism has undermined or strengthened Parliamentary Democracy in India ? Discuss. (Answer in 350 words)
Q21“Administrative values have no value unless they are valued by all stakeholders of the governance system." Comment. (Answer in 250 words)
Q21Discuss the contribution of S. C. Roy in the study of tribal cultures in India. (Answer in 250 words)
Q21Distinguish between family and household with reference to the concept of development of the household. (Answer in 350 words)
Q21Do Allen's rule and Bergmann's rule hold for human populations ? Explain with examples. (Answer in 250 words)
Q21Do the Lieutenant Governors have more powers than the Governors of the States ? Explain. (Answer in 250 words)
Q21Has 'Green Revolution' led to the formation of new power elite in rural India? Elaborate your answer. (Answer in 350 words)
Q21“India’s capacity building programmes under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) has earned much goodwill for it in Africa.” Discuss. (Answer…
Q21“The recommendations of various commissions on administrative reforms have not made a radical departure from the Paul Appleby Report.” Do you agree? Give…
Q22Critically examine the ethnic conflicts in North-East India. (Answer in 250 words)
Q22Examine the advancement made in the land acquisition and rehabilitation Act of 2013 over the land acquisition Act of 1894. (Answer in 250 words)
Q22Explain the impact of discovery of iron technology on contemporary society. (Answer in 250 words)
Q22Explain with examples, the explanatory and exploratory designs of social research. (Answer in 150 words)
Q22“India’s Research and Information System for Developing Countries” (RIS) is a major initiative in the area of South-South Cooperation. Discuss. (Answer in 250…
Q22“Lateral entry is an antidote to the complacency in civil service.” Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
Q22"Performance management requires identification of indicators and measures to ensure that goals are achieved efficiently." Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q22Write a note on Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development (IHSD) programmes provided for the urban poor. (Answer in 150…
Q23Critically examine the contributions of Makhan Jha and B. N. Saraswati to the study of sacred complexes in India. (Answer in 350 words)
Q23Describe the mechanisms for structural anomalies of autosomes with diagrams. (Answer in 350 words)
Q23Discuss the role of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in promoting India’s soft power abroad. (Answer in 350 words)
Q23Examine the provisions of Panchayat Extension Services Act (PESA), 1996. (Answer in 350 words)
Q23Has caste system hindered democracy and adult franchise in India? Discuss. (Answer in 350 words)
Q23How can Parsons' AGIL framework be used to analyse key problems in a society ? Discuss. (Answer in 350 words)
Q23How does ethnocentrism impact development administration in achieving sustainable goals? Argue with examples. (Answer in 350 words)
Q23“Rural development programmes have failed to effectively address the problems of small and marginal farmers.” Analyse and give suggestions. (Answer in 350…
Q24Analyse the arguments in favour and against the lateral entry into higher civil services in India. (Answer in 250 words)
Q24Describe the principles of radiocarbon dating. Mention its limitations. (Answer in 250 words)
Q24Discuss the role of Indian diaspora in promoting Indo-US relations. (Answer in 250 words)
Q24Discuss the various factors resulting in tribal unrest in various parts of India. (Answer in 250 words)
Q24Elaborate various forms of Dalit assertions in contemporary India. What are its implications on the Indian political system? (Answer in 350 words)
Q24“In the Network Era the TRAI has the challenging task of protecting the Net Neutrality from digital aggression.” Comment. (Answer in 350 words)
Q24“Monetary policy of a country can help or hinder its development process." Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
Q24What is labour commitment ? Discuss it with reference to studies of manufacturing industry. (Answer in 350 words)
Q25Discuss asymmetrical federalism in India. (Answer in 250 words)
Q25Discuss the salient features of PESA Act of 1996 and attempt a comparison with the features of the VI Schedule. (Answer in 250 words)
Q25Do you agree that the growing assertiveness of China is leading to multilayered Indo–Japan relations ? Comment. (Answer in 250 words)
Q25Narrate evolution of disease and major causes of ill health in human populations. (Answer in 250 words)
Q25“Neighbourhood management provides an appropriate global strategy of dealing with social exclusion in the urban development scenario." Comment. (Answer in 150…
Q25"Sound Performance Auditing is impossible without systematic Performance or Outcome Budgeting." Explain the relationship between the two. (Answer in 250 words)
Q25What, according to Pareto, are the basic characteristics of elites ? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q25With increase in education and economic development is Indian society becoming more secular? (Answer in 150 words)
Q26"Administrative systems across the world can be understood only in their respective historical and social contexts." Explain the statement giving examples.…
Q26Distinguish between adaptation, adaptability and acclimatization with examples. (Answer in 350 words)
Q26Do you think that India’s capacity building role in Afghanistan has shrunk the strategic space for Pakistan there ? Discuss. (Answer in 350 words)
Q26"Effective public grievance redressal requires administrative commitment. But process reengineering can help prevent some grievances.” Discuss. (Answer in 350…
Q26Examine the strengths and weaknesses of anthropology in the context of its role in tribal and rural development. (Answer in 350 words)
Q26Examine the various causes of agrarian crisis in India. (Answer in 350 words)
Q26"The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relationship between the two in a society." — C.W. Mills. Explain. (Answer in…
Q26What are the issues relating to male migration and its impact on birthrate? Does it necessarily result in skewed sex ratio? (Answer in 350 words)
Q27Critically assess the evolving convergence of India and China in the areas of trade and environment. (Answer in 250 words)
Q27Currently, administrative training focuses more on improving efficiency than on transforming the attitudes and behaviour of civil servants. What type of…
Q27Define fecundity and explain major factors affecting fecundity in Indian populations. (Answer in 250 words)
Q27Explain the increasing role of regional political parties in the national politics. (Answer in 250 words)
Q27Explain the significance of tribe-caste continuum in the present context. (Answer in 250 words)
Q27“Institutional change is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for reducing criminalisation of politics." Examine. (Answer in 350 words)
Q27Western patriarchy which surrenders feminine principles is the new development project in India. Do you agree with this view? Why? (Answer in 350 words)
Q27What are sects ? Discuss their role in multi-religious societies with empirical examples. (Answer in 350 words)
Q28"A public policy without the active involvement of people in its formulation, implementation and evaluation is only a facade." How can this anomaly be…
Q28Assess the impact of ban on 'Triple Talak' on marriage and divorce among the Muslim community in India. (Answer in 150 words)
Q28Critically analyse the environmentalist movement in Tuticorin, Tamilnadu. (Answer in 250 words)
Q28Discuss the significance and implementation of 'Recognition of Forest Right's Act 2006'. (Answer in 250 words)
Q28Give an account of the field methods used in the study of Archaeological Anthropology. (Answer in 250 words)
Q28In what way did Durkheim perceive religion as functional to society ? (Answer in 150 words)
Q28"The disempowerment and depoliticisation of urban local government has happened in multiple ways.” Comment. (Answer in 150 words)