1. Indian Constitution– Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure, Role of Supreme Court in evolution of basic provisions of Constitution.
Indian Constitution
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Historical underpinnings & Evolution of the Indian Constitution
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Features of the Indian Constitution
Amendments to the Indian Constitution
- In the monsoon session of the Indian Parliament in 2019, Amendments were made in the anti-terror law and the Right to information Act. What are the significant changes as a result of these Amendments? Analyse. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2018]
- Why the 42nd Amendment is called a revision of the Indian Constitution? (125 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
Significant provisions and basic structure of the Indian Constitution
- What do you understand by ‘Doctrine of Basic Structure’? Analyse its importance for Indian Constitution. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
- The Preamble of the Constitution affirms the basic features of the Constitution and the promotion of human dignity-Elucidate. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- ‘The structure of the Indian Constitution is federal but its soul in Unitary.’ Elucidate it. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- What are the rights within the ambit of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution? (125 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
- How the power of Governor to Pardon is different from the power of the President under Article 72 of the Indian Constitution? (125 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
- Article 32 is the soul of the Indian Constitution.’ Explain it in brief. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
- The action of India Government on Article 370 has changed the Status-Quo in Jammu and Kashmir. How will it effect the development in the region? Discuss. (Answer in 200 words)[UPPSC 2018]
- Examine the Right to Life in the Constitution of India. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
Role of Supreme Court in the evolution of basic provisions of the Constitution
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and States– Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and States
Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure
- “The President of India cannot become a dictator.” Explain. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
- Critically analyse the role of the Inter-State Council in promoting Co-operative Federalism in India. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
- How does the federal structure in India accommodates the diverse needs and aspiration of different states ? Are there any challenges, if yes, then how are they addressed? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
- Critically examine the increasing powers and role of Prime Minister. How does it impact other institutions? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
3. Role of Finance Commission in center-state financial relations
Role of Finance Commission in Centre-State financial relations
- Critically examine the role of Finance Commission in the Centre-State financial relations. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
- What are the functions of Finance Commission? Examine its emerging role in Fiscal Rederalism. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
4. Separation of powers, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions, Emergence and use of alternative dispute redressal mechanisms
Separation of powers
Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Emergence and use of alternative dispute redressal mechanisms
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
5. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other major democratic countries.
Comparison of the Democratic Constitutions
6. Parliament and State Legislatures– Structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers and privileges and concerned issues
Parliament and State Legislatures
Structure
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Functioning
- Discuss the main methods by which the Parliament of India controls the executive. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- Describe the role played by Parliamentary Committees in the functioning of Indian Parliament. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- Are the committees considered to be useful for Parliamentary work? Discuss, in this context, the role of the Estimate Committee. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
Conduct of business
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Powers and privileges and concerned issues
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
7. Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary– Ministries and Departments of the Government, Pressure Groups, and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity, Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
Executive and the Judiciary
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Structure of judiciary
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Organisation of judiciary
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Functioning of Judiciary
- Mention three demerits of Judicial Activism. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
- Explain the concept of Judicial Activism and evaluate its impact on the relationship of Executive and Ju- diciary in India. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
Structure of Executive
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Organisation of Executive
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Functioning of the Executive
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Ministries and Departments of the Government
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Pressure Groups
Formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
8. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
- Evaluate the use of VVPAT in the General Election of India. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2018]
- Critically examine the main element of the Representation of People’s Act. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
- How the issues related to hunger and poverty in India are impinging upon electoral politics? (125 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- The concept of “One nation one election” has its own prospects and limitations in India, Examine. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
9. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and their responsibilities
Appointment to various Constitutional posts
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Constitutional posts
Powers Of Constitutional posts
Functions and responsibilities of Constitutional posts
10. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies including NITI Aayog, their features and functioning
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Statutory bodies – features & functions
- Describe the National biodiversity Authority. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
- Briefly state the role of National Human Rights Commission in India. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
- Describing the composition and functions of the Central Vigilance Commission, analyse It’s limitation. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- What alternative mechanism of dispute resolution have emerged in recent years? How far have they been effective ? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
Regulatory bodies – features & functions
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Quasi-judicial bodies – features & functions
- “Right to Information Act has forced civil servants to come out of steel frame and serve people sincerely.” Explain. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
- “Lok Adalats have acted as a great catalyst for change in the Indian Legal System”. Elucidate. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
NITI Aayog
- Discuss the reasons, objectives and functions of NITI Aayog and describe the recently re-organised NITAI Aayog. (Answer in 200 words)[UPPSC 2018]
- Explain the objectives and composition of “NITI Aayog”. What are its significance achievements? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
11. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design, implementations and Information Communications Technology (ICT)
Government Policies and interventions
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Development in various sectors
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Issues arising out of their design
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Implementations
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Information Communications Technology (ICT)
12. Development processes– The role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
Development Processes & Stakeholders
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Self Help Groups (SHGs)
- What has been the impact of Self-Help Groups (SHG’s) on India’s rural life? Describe. (Answer in 125 words) [UPPSC 2018]
- Discuss the challenges before Self Help Groups (SHGs). What are the measures to make it effective and beneficial? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
- Write a analytical note on Self Help Group’s composition and their functions. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Discuss the role of non-governmental organisation in the process of policy making. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
- Discuss the role of Non-Government Organizations in the process of Policy formulation. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
Other Groups and Associations
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
13. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes, mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections
Welfare of Vulnerable Sections
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Welfare Schemes
Laws, Institutions, and Bodies
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
14. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
Social Sector/Services
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Health
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Education
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Human resources
- Analyse various aspects relating to Management of Human Resources in India. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
15. Issues relating to poverty and hunger, their implication on body politic
Poverty & Hunger
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act empowers rural poor to alleviate poverty, comment on it. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- What are their main issues related to poverty and hunger? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2018]
- What are the fundamental causes of poverty and hunger? What are government schemes which have been implemented to eliminate poverty and hunger? (125 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
16. Important aspects of governance. Transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations and potential, citizens, charters and institutional measures.
Governance
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Transparency and Accountability
- What are electoral bonds? Are they capable of bringing transparency in the Political funding system? (125 Words) [UPPSC 2018]
- “Transparency and Accountability are complementary to each other.” Comment. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
Citizen’s Charter
- Write a note on Citizen’s Charter. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
- ‘Citizen charter in India could not become effective. There is a need to make it effective and meaningful’- Evaluate. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- What is Citizen’s Charter? What is its role in Welfare of Citizens ? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
E-governance
- Clarify E-governance. Explain the features and advantages of E-governance. What are the main challenges before it? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2018]
- To what extent has e-governance made the administrative system more citizen-centric? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
- Describe the salient features of “UMANG Scheme” related to e-governance. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
- What is meant by Digital India? Discuss its various pillars and challenges. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
17. Role of Civil Services in a democracy in the context of emerging trends.
Role of Civil Services in a democracy
- “The traditional quality of Civil Services has been Neutrality”. explain it. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
- Discuss the role of Civil Services in a democratic set-up with special reference to India. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- Clarify the role of Civil Servants in strengthening the democratic process in India. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
18. India and its relationship with neighbouring Countries; Bilateral, Regional and Global groupings and agreements involving India and / or affecting India’s interest
India and its Neighbours
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
India’s relation with Neighbours
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
China
- Discuss the role of Chinese factor behind strained relations between India and Nepal. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- What do you know about ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ (QUAD)? Whether Malabar Military exercise would be successful in containment of growing influence of China in world politics? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
- Despite a cordial Mamallpuram Summit between Prime Minister Modi and the Chinese President, the dispute on line of actual control has deepened after a gap of several years. What do you think, are the reasons behind it? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
- Discuss the nature of India-China relations in the light of OBOR. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2018]
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Nepal
- Which are the contentions issues between India and Nepal? Explain. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
- What are the main irritants In Indo-Nepal bilateral relations? (125 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
Bilateral Relations of India
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
USA
- What are the areas of contention and co-operation in India-USA relations? Discuss. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
- Comment on India-America “2+2 ministerial dialogue” (125 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
Regional & Global groupings involving India
- Explain the rationale behind India’s involvement in QUAD. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
- The failure of ‘SAARC’ forced India to strengthen ‘BIMSTEC’. Explain. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
- What is the significance of India’s Presidency in G-20? Discuss. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
- Write a short note on the structure and functioning of the Arctic Council. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
- Abraham Accords are a new beginning in the Politics of West Asia. Explain. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2021]
Agreements involving India
19. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests- Indian diaspora
Effect of policies and politics
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Effect of policies and politics of developing countries on India’s interests
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
Indian diaspora
- Write a short note on the contribution of the Indian diaspore towards economic structure in India. (Answer in 125 words). [UPPSC 2018]
- What is India’s Diaspora policy? What are the challenges before Indian Diaspora at present? (125 Words) [UPPSC 2020]
- How the Indian diaspora has emerged as an asset in the protection of national interest in America ? Analyse it. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
20. Important International Institutions, Agencies their structure, mandate and functioning
Important International Institutions
(Note: No question has been asked about this subject in the last 6 years.)
International Institutions & Agencies
- Critically examine the jurisdiction of international Court of Justice. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2018]
- Is India a powerful claimant of permanent membership in the Security Council? (200 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
- Evaluate the role of World Bank in sustainable development of India. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
21. Current affairs and events of Regional, State, National and International importance
Current Events
- India is ready for the World leadership’. Analyse this Comment. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2023]
- What are the causes behind recent USA and Iran tensions? How this tension will affect the national interest of India? How should India respond to this situation? Discuss. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
- Discuss the impact of climate change on developing countries. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2019]
- Discuss the causes of Russia -Ukraine conflict. (125 Words) [UPPSC 2022]
- How will the withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Afghanistan affect India? Comment. (200 Words) [UPPSC 2018]