MAINS · 2015

Mains 2015: full question text, GS-wise.

86 questions across 5 papers. Filter by GS paper or search the prompt text.

Questions

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86 shown

Essay Essay 2015 125 marks 1000 words

Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole.

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Essay Essay 2015 125 marks 1000 words

Quick but steady wins the race.

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Essay Essay 2015 125 marks 1000 words

Character of an institution is reflected in its leader.

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Essay Essay 2015 125 marks 1000 words

Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil.

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Essay Essay 2015 125 marks 1000 words

Technology cannot replace manpower.

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Essay Essay 2015 125 marks 1000 words

Crisis faced in India – moral or economic.

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Essay Essay 2015 125 marks 1000 words

Dreams which should not let India sleep.

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Essay Essay 2015 125 marks 1000 words

Can capitalism bring inclusive growth?

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GS I Ancient History 2015 10 marks 150 words

The ancient civilization in Indian sub continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without breakdown to t…

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GS I Indian Society 2015 10 marks 150 words

How 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?

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GS I Indian Society 2015 15 marks 250 words

Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades.

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GS I Indian Society 2015 15 marks 250 words

Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India?

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GS I Indian Society 2015 15 marks 250 words

Debate the issue whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste.

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GS I Physical Geography 2015 15 marks 250 words

Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?

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GS I Indian Geography 2015 15 marks 250 words

Mumbai, 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. Why is this so?

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GS I Indian Geography 2015 15 marks 250 words

India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.

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GS I Environment 2015 15 marks 250 words

The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are reaching the limits of ecological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically evaluate.

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GS I Indian Geography 2015 15 marks 250 words

How far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscape? Discuss.

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GS I Indian Economy 2015 15 marks 250 words

Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop of rural urban integration.

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GS I Art and Culture 2015 10 marks 150 words

Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modern painting. Critically evaluate this…

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GS I World Geography 2015 15 marks 250 words

What are the economic significance of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible environmental consequences?

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GS I Modern History 2015 10 marks 150 words

How difficult would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.

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GS I Modern History 2015 10 marks 150 words

Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.

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GS I Modern History 2015 10 marks 150 words

It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years, but its experience…

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GS I World History 2015 10 marks 150 words

Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at p…

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GS I World History 2015 10 marks 150 words

To what extend can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically.

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GS I Indian Society 2015 10 marks 150 words

Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.

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GS I Indian Society 2015 10 marks 150 words

Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the mains cause of population increase in India.

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GS II Indian Polity 2015 10 marks 150 words

Discuss the possible factors that inhibit India from enacting for its citizen a uniform civil code as provided for in the Directive Principles of State Policy.

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GS II Environment 2015 10 marks 150 words

How can be the role of NGOs be strengthened in India for development works relating to protection of the Environment? Discuss throwing light on the major constraints.

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GS II Social Justice 2015 15 marks 250 words

The quality of higher education in India requires major improvement to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would h…

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GS II Social Justice 2015 15 marks 250 words

Public health system has limitation in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that private sector can help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives do you su…

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GS II Indian Economy 2015 15 marks 250 words

Though there have been several different estimates of poverty in India, all indicate reduction in poverty over time. Do you agree. Critically examine with reference to urban and r…

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GS II Indian Economy 2015 15 marks 250 words

In the light of Satyam Scandal (2009), discuss the changes brought in the corporate governance to ensure transparency and accountability.

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GS II Indian Polity 2015 15 marks 250 words

If amendment bill to the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2011 tabled in the Parliament is passed, there maybe no on left to protect. Critically Evaluate.

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GS II Governance 2015 15 marks 250 words

For achieving the desired objectives,it is necessary to ensure that the regulatory institutions remain independent and autonomous. Discuss in the light of experiences in recent pa…

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GS II International Relations 2015 15 marks 250 words

Increasing interest of India in Africa has its pro and cons. Critically Examine.

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GS II International Relations 2015 15 marks 250 words

Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in UNSC.

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GS II International Relations 2015 15 marks 250 words

Project 'Mausam' is considered a unique foreign policy initiative of Indian government to improve relationship wit its neighbours. Does the project have a strategic dimension? Dis…

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GS II Indian Polity 2015 10 marks 150 words

The concept of cooperative federalism has been increasingly emphasised in recent years. Highlight the drawbacks in the existing structure and extent to which cooperative federalis…

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GS II International Relations 2015 15 marks 250 words

Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India - Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchange could help generate goodwi…

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GS II Governance 2015 10 marks 150 words

In the absence of well - educated and organised local level government system, Panchayats and Samitis have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instrument of g…

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GS II Indian Polity 2015 10 marks 150 words

Khap panchayats have been in the news for functioning as extra - constitutional authorities, often delivering pronouncements amounting to human right violations. Discuss criticall…

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GS II Indian Polity 2015 10 marks 150 words

Resorting to ordinances has always raised concern on violation of the spirit of separation of power doctrine. While noting the rationales justifying the power to promulgate, analy…

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GS II Indian Polity 2015 10 marks 150 words

What are the major changes brought in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1966 through the recent ordinance promulgated by the President? How far will it improve India's dispute…

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GS II Indian Polity 2015 10 marks 150 words

Does the right to clean environment entail legal regulation on burning crackers during Diwali? Discus in the light of Article 21 of Indian Constitution and judgements of the apex…

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GS II Governance 2015 10 marks 150 words

Examine critically the recent changes in the rule governing foreign funding of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 1976.

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GS II Governance 2015 10 marks 150 words

The Self Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage Program (SBLP), which is India's own innovation , has proved to be one of the most effective poverty alleviation and women empowerment progr…

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GS III Indian Economy 2015 10 marks 150 words

The nature of economic growth in India in recent times is often described as a jobless growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.

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GS III Indian Economy 2015 10 marks 150 words

There is a clear acknowledgement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool of industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognising this potential, the whole instrume…

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GS III Science & Technology 2015 15 marks 250 words

What do you understand by "Standard Positioning System" and "Precision positioning system" in the GPS era? Discuss the advantage India perceives from its ambitious IRNSS programme…

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GS III Science & Technology 2015 15 marks 250 words

What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots? Discuss the initiatives that can propel the research in premier research institutes for substan…

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GS III Internal Security 2015 15 marks 250 words

Discuss the advantage and security implication of cloud hosting of servers vis-a-vis in house machine based hosting for government business.

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GS III Science & Technology 2015 15 marks 250 words

India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) which has a database containing formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations is proving a powerful weap…

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GS III Environment 2015 15 marks 250 words

Discuss the Namami Gange and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the riv…

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GS III Disaster Management 2015 15 marks 250 words

The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India's preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various…

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GS III Internal Security 2015 15 marks 250 words

Human right activists constantly highlight the fact that the Armed forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of human right abuses by security…

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GS III Internal Security 2015 15 marks 250 words

Religious indoctrination via social media has resulted in Indian youth joining the ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous to the internal security of our co…

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GS III Indian Economy 2015 15 marks 250 words

The persisting drives of the government for development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who face multiple di…

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GS III Agriculture & Food Security 2015 10 marks 150 words

Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non- farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector in India.

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GS III Internal Security 2015 15 marks 250 words

Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a "Digital Armed Forces" to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 outl…

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GS III Agriculture & Food Security 2015 10 marks 150 words

In the 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 land leasing be p…

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GS III Agriculture & Food Security 2015 10 marks 150 words

How can the Digital India program help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What step has the government taken in this regard?

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GS III Agriculture & Food Security 2015 10 marks 150 words

In what way could replacement of price subsidy with direct benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.

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GS III Agriculture & Food Security 2015 10 marks 150 words

What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in developing the food processing industry in India? Can e-commerce help in overcoming this bottleneck?

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GS III Indian Economy 2015 10 marks 150 words

Craze for gold in Indian has led to surge in import of gold in recent years and put pressure on balance of payments and external value of rupee. In view of this, examine the merit…

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GS III Indian Economy 2015 10 marks 150 words

"Success of make in India program depends on the success of Skill India programme and radical labour reforms." Discuss with logical arguments.

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GS III Indian Economy 2015 10 marks 150 words

To what factors can be the recent dramatic fall in equipment cost and tariff of solar energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for thermal power producers and r…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

What is meant by 'environmental ethics'? Why is it important to study? Discuss any one environmental issue from the viewpoint of environmental ethics.

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 200 words

Differentiate between the following (i) Law and ethics (ii) Ethical management and management of ethics (iii) Discrimination and preferential treatment (iv) Personal Ethics and Pr…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 20 marks 250 words

You 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. The headmaster has n…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 20 marks 250 words

One 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 potential to cure a…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 20 marks 200 words

There is a disaster prone state having frequent landslides, forest fires, cloudbursts, flash floods and earthquakes, etc. Some of these are seasonal and often unpredictable. The m…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 25 marks 250 words

You 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 Rampur village is to h…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 25 marks 250 words

You are recently posted as district development officer of a district. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in the rural areas of your district on the i…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

Given are two quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these bring out what it means to you in the present context. (a) "The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is t…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

Given are two quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these bring out what it means to you in the present context. (b) "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

(a) "A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also have to have a well developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties" Do you agree?…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

How do the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service? Explain with examples

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

(a) Social values are more important than economic values. Discuss the above statement with examples in the context of inclusive growth of a nation.

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

Some recent developments such as introduction of RTI Act, media and judicial activism, etc. are proving helpful in bringing about greater transparency and accountability in the fu…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. (a) Distinguish between…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

Today we find that in-spite of various measures of prescribing codes of conduct, setting up vigilance cells/commissions, RTI, active media and strengthening of legal mechanism, co…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

At the international level, bilateral relations between most nations are governed on the policy of promoting one's own national interest without any regard for the interest of oth…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 10 marks 150 words

Public 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 manifest in the decisio…

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GS IV Ethics 2015 20 marks 250 words

A private company is known for its efficiency, transparency and employee welfare. The company though owned by a private individual has a cooperative character where employees feel…

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