UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions

How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples.

Trace India's consolidation process during early phase of independence in terms of polity, economy, education and international relations.

How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones be effectively used along with GIS and RS techniques in locational and areal planning?

'The sculptors filled the Chandella artform with resilient vigor and breadth of life.' Elucidate.

What are Tsunamis ? How and where are they formed ? What are their consequences ? Explain with examples.

Explain briefly the ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India with suitable examples.

Give a geographical explanation of the distribution of off-shore oil reserves of the world. How are they different from the on-shore occurrences of oil reserves?

Discuss the ‘corrupt practices’ for the purpose of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Analyze whether the increase in the assets of the legislators and/or their associates, disproportionate to their known sources of income, would constitute ‘undue influence’ and consequently a corrupt practice.

Comment on the need of administrative tribunals as compared to the court system. Assess the impact of the recent tribunal reforms through rationalization of tribunals made in 2021.

Compare and contrast the President’s power to pardon in India and in the USA. Are there any limits to it in both the countries? What are ‘preemptive pardons’?

Discuss the nature of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. Briefly describe the powers and functions of the Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Attorney General of India plays a crucial role in guiding the legal framework of the Union Government and ensuring sound governance through legal counsel.” Discuss his responsibilities, rights and limitations in this regard.

Women’s social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain.

E-governance projects have a built-in bias towards technology and back-end integration than user-centric designs. Examine.

Distinguish between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) with special reference to India. Why is the IHDI considered a better indicator of inclusive growth?

What are the challenges before the Indian economy when the world is moving away from free trade and multilateralism to protectionism and bilateralism? How can these challenges be met?

Explain the factors influencing the decision of the farmers on the selection of high value crops in India.

Elaborate the scope and significance of supply chain management of agricultural commodities in India.

The fusion energy programme in India has steadily evolved over the past few decades. Mention India’s contributions to the international fusion energy project – International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). What will be the implications of the success of this project for the future of global energy?

How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology play a crucial role in this endeavour?

What is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)? What is the potential role of CCUS in tackling climate change?

In the present digital age, social media has revolutionised our way of communication and interaction. However, it has raised several ethical issues and challenges. Describe the key ethical dilemmas in this regard.

 "Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment but a product of civil education and adherence to the rule of law." Examine the significance of constitutional morality for public servants, highlighting its role in promoting good governance and ensuring accountability in public administration.

Carl von Clausewitz once said, "War is diplomacy by other means." Critically analyse this statement in the context of contemporary geopolitical conflicts.

Keeping national security in mind, examine the ethical dilemmas related to the controversies over environmental clearance of development projects in ecologically sensitive border areas of the country.

"Those who in trouble untroubled are, will trouble trouble itself." - Thiruvalluvar.

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." - William James.

"The strength of a society is not in its laws, but in the morality of its people." - Swami Vivekananda.