Mains 2026: full question text, GS-wise

A good leader is one who follows the followers.

A grateful mind is a beautiful mind.

A thorn is a changed bud.

A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers.

Nature is the symbol of the spirit.

Oxymorons reflect the ironies of life.

Shelving hard decisions is the least ethical course.

When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled.

Analyze the importance of Ashokan inscriptions for reconstructing Mauryan history.

Analyze the major drivers of human-induced land-use changes in India and their geographical consequences.

Analyze the role of satellite-based technologies in achieving climate-smart agriculture and food security in India.

Compare the Loo, Chinook and Foehn winds with respect to their regions of prevalence, their nature and climatic impacts.

Critically examine the challenges of demographic transition in contemporary India.

Discuss the impact of Macaulay’s Minute on colonial administration and education in India.

Discuss the role of aeolian processes in desertification and land degradation.

Do you think digital technology promotes social empowerment? Explain with examples.

Evaluate the impact of globalization on Indian youths with reference to social, political, economic and cultural spheres.

How do you understand disability? Substantiate the need for inclusive policy framework in India in this regard.

Is caste disappearing in urban India? Illustrate your answer with examples.

Linguistic reorganization of Indian States was driven by popular pressure from below. Comment.

“The centre of global trade is gradually shifting from the Atlantic region to the Indo-Pacific region.” Examine this statement.

The model of planned economy was adopted in India to address the regional imbalances left behind by colonial rule. Comment.

The significance of the Gandhian movements lay in the masses they mobilized. Elucidate.

“Tundra regions are ecologically fragile but economically important.” Examine this statement critically.

Unity in diversity remains the defining feature of Indian society despite the challenges from communalism and regionalism. Comment.

Vijayanagara architecture exemplifies the amalgamation of past traditions with contemporary practices. Elucidate with examples.

“Water resources are both an asset and a source of conflict in South Asia.” Examine this statement giving examples.

What is the Fujiwara effect? Explain its impact on the movement and intensity of tropical cyclones.

Analyse the advantages and limitations of the generalist structure of the Indian Civil Services in contemporary governance.

“BRICS acts as a powerful counterweight in global governance, actively amplifying the voice and influence of the Global South.” Explain the role of BRICS in projecting itself as a…

Can the constitutional mandate of right-based welfare be effectively realised in the context of non-integrated governance in social and residual public investment? Examine.

“China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has transformed South Asia from a regional space into a theatre of great power competition.” Analyse the strategic implications of the BRI…

Discuss the position of the Governor in the federal polity of India. What is the nature of his power while giving assent to a bill passed by the State Legislature? Is he bound by…

Do constitutional bodies like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) possess adequate enforcement powers to se…

Does India’s tribal development policy reflect the aspirations for a socially grounded and equity-based governance? Justify your answer.

Examine how the separation of powers is practised in India compared to the rigid presidential model of the United States of America. In this context, compare the actual authority…

Examine whether the constitutional office of the Lok Sabha Speaker has become vulnerable to partisan politics under the current anti-defection regime. What institutional changes a…

How far has the Indian federal framework been successful in accommodating regional and cultural diversities? Highlight the role of asymmetric federalism and suggest measures to ma…

“India’s global diaspora acts as a living bridge, as a critical economic force and influence network in transforming cultural heritage into geopolitical soft-power and strategic l…

“IPMDA (Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness) bridges the gap between India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and the Quad’s collective…

Is the right to vote a fundamental right? Discuss the position of the Election Commission of India while undertaking the revision of electoral rolls. Can it also examine the quest…

Malnutrition in India is not merely a public health concern; it is also a challenge of social equity, human development and effective welfare governance. Discuss.

Right to privacy relating to self-identity is very dear to every human being and well protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. In this context, examine the effect of the am…

Should education be treated purely as a welfare obligation of the state or as a strategic investment to build a globally competitive, knowledge-driven nation? Critically evaluate.

To what extent do pressure groups, social movements and corporate lobbies deepen pluralistic democracy in India by representing excluded interests? Analyse whether the growing con…

“Transparency and accountability in governance are not about controlling corruption but about creating the trust of stakeholders in the policy process under the Rule of Law and Pa…

What is meant by judicial legislation? In this context, discuss the verdicts of the apex court allowing “passive euthanasia” and a “living will”.

“Women as a class neither belong to a minority group nor are they regarded as forming a backward class.” In the light of this statement, discuss the evolution of women’s reservati…

“Community participation is the cornerstone of effective disaster management”. Analyse this statement with suitable examples from India. Also discuss the challenges to community p…

Describe the various Technology Missions initiated in Indian agriculture and examine their role in food security.

Discuss counterfeit currency and money laundering as major sources of terror funding in India. State the actions being taken at International level to check these menaces. Highlig…

Discuss how the contradiction between ‘rapid infrastructure development’ and ‘disaster-risk reduction’ in ecologically-sensitive areas of India can be managed, with suitable examp…

Discuss the aims and goals of Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework. Mention India’s commitments and initiatives to achieve the goals and targets of this framework giving…

Discuss the different types of subsidies and supports provided by the Government of India to agricultural sector. Examine the related issues pertaining to Agreement on Agriculture…

Distinguish between a Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) and a thermal nuclear reactor. In the context of first indigenously developed prototype FBR at Kalpakkam, explain the term ‘critic…

Examine the view that financial inclusion is an integral part of social and economic inclusion in a country like India. Also throw light on the usefulness of the R.B.I.’s Financia…

Explain by giving two examples, how biotechnology has helped the Indian farmers in processing their perishable crops.

Explain how fake news and disinformation pose threat to Internal Security and Public Order in Indian context? In this regard, discuss salient features of amendments in respect of…

Explain the factors responsible for inefficiency of agri-produce marketing. How e-commerce helps to reduce inefficiency of agri-produce marketing? Explain.

Explain the key challenges for India’s energy security. What measures do you suggest for ensuring energy security along with economic growth and sustainability?

How are startups in India promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and employment? Discuss the global and domestic challenges in their working and suggest suitable measures to overc…

How Indian agriculture has been transformed from food scarcity to food surplus level? Explain the various government policies implemented for diversification of Indian agriculture.

Ladakh is strategically located between China and Pakistan. As a measure to win hearts and minds of locals, discuss the Border Area Development Programmes (BADP) by the Central Go…

Mention salient features of ‘Mission Drishti’. Discuss the imaging techniques used in the satellite launched on 3rd May 2026. Why it is being considered world’s first satellite of…

Separatist movements have been one of the major factors contributing to militancy and instability in Jammu & Kashmir (J & K). Bring out actions taken by the Government to bring J…

What are the challenges to solid waste management in India? Discuss the governmental policy framework on solid waste management. Discuss the success/failure cases of Delhi and Ind…

What do you mean by Digital Rupee? In this context, explain the working and progress of India’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

What is agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Explain its working. Describe its applications with suitable examples. Discuss the advantages, risks and challenges associated with a…

A business house is working on a project that could displace a forest community from their habitat. As the administrative officer of that district, what ethical challenges are you…

Ajit has been recently promoted as the Head of the Department of Weapon Sales (DWS) in the Ministry of Defence Production (MDP). His charter of duties includes international sales…

An endangered tribe has developed a severe skeletal deformity. A university research has identified a mineral supplement as a possible remedy, though clinical trials are yet to be…

Citing the serious adverse effects of long-term medication, a doctor convinces the family of a female patient for surgery. This led the patient to reluctantly consent for the surg…

Discuss how national security can be balanced with concerns of human rights.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had cautioned that employing civil disobedience within a constitutional democracy equates to endorsing ‘anarchy’. How should modern democracies navigate the eth…

Efficiency is doing things right, while effectiveness is doing the right thing. How do you strike a balance between the two to enhance productivity?

In international relations, ethical considerations are often subjugated to the strategic interests of nation-states. Discuss this from an ethical perspective.

In what ways can an Indian Administrative Officer apply Gandhi’s notion of ‘trusteeship’ to ensure fairness in governance?

Lata, a mother of two children, was admitted to a hospital for acute abdominal pain. Her sister-in-law, Sujatha, accompanied her. Dr. Mansi examined Lata and recommended a diagnos…

On the request of his Personal Assistant (PA), the District Magistrate (DM) stops the transfer of a schoolteacher who takes private tuition for his daughter diagnosed with learnin…

Owing to paucity of time, a university professor generates a Ph.D. evaluation report using Artificial Intelligence and submits it with some modifications. Discuss this from the pe…

Rajapuram is a border district. Jhara and Biru, its two major communities are in continual conflict with each other. The social fabric is fractured and demands mending. Ethnic ten…

Ravi is a senior police officer with vast experience in riot control and cyber-policing. Since one year, he has been the Superintendent of Police (SP) of a district with a history…

Seema is a senior bureaucrat with a reputation of honesty and professional efficiency. She has recently been posted as the District Collector (DC) to Surinder Nagar, where a large…

Shakespeare in Henry IV says, “The arms are fair when the intent of bearing them is just”. What ethical implications does this have in governance?

Some moral philosophers argue that spending some of your resources—without significantly affecting your financial stability—to help other people who badly suffer is our moral duty…

Usually schools, working in remote areas, do not fully comply with government regulations. However, if the rules are enforced strictly, it would lead to most schools closing down.…

Vikas is a government officer with over a decade of service in public administration. He has recently moved as the District Collector (DC) of Nainipura, a remote hilly district bo…