1) “The states in India seem reluctant to empower urban
local bodies both functionally as well financially”. Comment.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
2) Account for the legal and political factors
responsible for the reduced frequency of using Article 356 by the Union Governments since
mid-1990s.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
3) Discuss the contribution of civil society groups for
women’s effective and meaningful participation and representation in state legislatures in
India. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2022
1) To what extent, in your opinion, as the
decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots?
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
2) The Gati-Shakti Yojana needs meticulous coordination
between the government and the private sector to achieve the goal of connectivity.Discuss.(10
Marks, 150 Words)
3) The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
remains only a legal document without intense sensitisation of government functionaries and
citizens regarding disability.
Comment.(10 Marks, 150 Words)
4) Reforming the government delivery system through the
Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme is a progressive step, but it has its limitations too.
Comment.(10 Marks, 150 Words)
5) While the national political parties in India favour
centralisation, the regional parties are in favour of State autonomy.”
Comment.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2021
1) How have the recommendations of the 14th Finance
Commission of India enabled the states to improve their fiscal position?
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
2) Can Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations
present an alternative model of public service delivery to benefit the common citizen. Discuss
the challenges of this alternative model.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
3) Do Department -related Parliamentary Standing
Committees keep the administration on its toes and inspire reverence for parliamentary control?
Evaluate the working of such committees with suitable examples.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2020
1) Judicial Legislation is antithetical to the doctrine
of separation of powers as envisaged in the Indian Constitution. In this context justify the
filing of large number of public interest petitions praying for issuing guidelines to executive
authorities.
(15 Marks, 250 Words)
2) “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic
performance”. In this context suggest reforms in Civil Service for strengthening democracy. (10
Marks, 150 Words)
3) “The emergence of Fourth Industrial Revolution
(Digital Revolution) has initiated e-Governance as an integral part of government”. Discuss. (10
Marks, 150 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2019
1)Individual Parliamentarian’s role as the national
lawmaker is on a decline, which in turn, has adversely impacted the quality of debates and their
outcome.
Discuss(15 Marks, 250 Words)
2)Indian Government has recently strengthened the
anti-terrorism laws by amending the unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 and the
NIA act. Analyze the changes in the context of the prevailing security environment while
discussing the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human
rights organizations.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
3)The Central Administration Tribunal which was
established for redressal of grievances and complaints by or against central government
employees, nowadays is exercising its powers as an independent judicial authority.”(10 Marks,
150 Words)
4)What are the methods used by the Farmers organizations
to influence the policy- makers in India and how effective are these
methods?(10 Marks, 150 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2018
1)The Citizens’ Charter is an ideal instrument of
organizational transparency and accountability, but it has its own limitations. Identify the
limitations and suggest measures for greater effectiveness of the Citizens’ Charter.(15 Marks,
250 Words)
2)E-governance is not only about utilization of the power
of new technology, but also much about critical importance of the ‘use value’ of information.
Explain.(10 Marks, 150 Words)
3)“Policy Contradictions among various competing sectors
and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate ‘protection and prevention of degradation’ to
environment.” Comment with relevant illustrations(10 Marks, 150 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2017
1)“Poverty Alleviation programs in India remain mere
showpieces until and unless they are backed up by political will.” Discuss with reference to the
performance of the major poverty alleviation program in India.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
2)Initially Civil Services in India were designed to
achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present
context. Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services.
Comment.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
3)Discuss the role of Public Accounts Committee in
establishing accountability of the government to the people.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
4)Is the National Commission for Women able to strategise
and tackle the problems that women face at both public and private spheres? Give reasons in
support of your answer.
(15 Marks, 250 Words)
5)‘The emergence of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in
contemporary times points to the slow but steady withdrawal of the state from developmental
activities’. Examine the role of the SHGs in developmental activities and the measures taken by
the Government of India to promote the SHGs.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2016
1)In the integrity index of Transparency International,
India stands very low. Discuss briefly the legal, political, social and cultural factors that
have caused the decline of public morality in India.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
2)Has the Indian governmental system responded adequately
to the demands of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization started in 1991? What can the
government do to be responsive to this important change?(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
3)“Traditional bureaucratic structure and culture have
hampered the process of socio-economic development in India.” Comment.(12.5 Marks, 200
Words)
4)“In the Indian governance system, the role of non-state
actors has been only marginal.” Critically examine this statement.(12.5 Marks, 200
Words)
5)“Demographic Dividend in India will remain only
theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled and creative.” What
measures have been taken by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be
more productive and employable?(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
6)“Effectiveness of the government system at various
levels and people’s participation in the governance system are interdependent” Discuss their
relationship in the context of
India (12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2015
1)In the light of Satyam Scandal (2009), discuss the
changes brought in corporate governance to ensure transparency,
accountability.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
2)“If amendment bill to the Whistleblowers Protection
Act, 2011 tabled in the Parliament is passed, there may be no one left to protect.” Critically
evaluate.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
3)“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 past.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
4)Examine critically the recent changes in the rules
governing foreign funding of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA),
1976.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
5)The Self Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage Programme
(SBLP), which is India’s own innovation has proved to be one of the most effective poverty
alleviation and women empowerment programmes.
Elucidate.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
6)How can the role of NGOs be strengthened in India for
development works relating to protection of the environment? Discuss throwing light on the major
constraints(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2014
1)An athlete participates in Olympics for personal
triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on
their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against
the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
2)Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed
to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also
decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges.
(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
3)Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organization been
the cause of slow change in India ? Critically examine.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
4)Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz. the
Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at
national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run
concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and
equitable growth.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
5)The size of the cabinet should be as big as
governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far is
the efficacy of a government then inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss(12.5
Marks, 200 Words)
6)Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news
media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the Government is mulling over
the proposal for increased FDI in news media for quite some time. What difference would an
increase in FDI make? Critically evaluate the pros and cons(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
7)The setting up of a Rail Tariff Authority to regulate
fares will subject the cash strapped Indian Railways to demand subsidy for obligation to operate
non-profitable routes and services. Taking into account the experience in the power sector,
discuss if the proposed reform is expected to benefit the consumers, the Indian Railways or the
private container
operators.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
8)The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural
areas in promoting participation in development programmes is facing socio-cultural hurdles.
Examine.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
UPSC Mains Governance - 2013
1)Electronic cash transfer system for the welfare schemes
is an ambitious project to minimize corruption, eliminate wastage and facilitate reforms.
Comment.(10 Marks, 200 Words)
2)The basis of providing urban amenities in rural areas
(PURA) is rooted in establishing connectivity.
Comment.(10 Marks, 200 Words)
3)Though Citizens’ charters have been formulated by many
public service delivery organizations, there is no corresponding improvement in the level of
citizens’ satisfaction and quality of services being provided. Analyse.(10 Marks, 200
Words)
4)‘A national Lokpal, however strong it may be, cannot
resolve the problems of immorality in public affairs.’
Discuss.(10 Marks, 200 Words)
5)Many State Governments further bifurcate geographical
administrative areas like Districts and Talukas for better governance. In light of the above,
can it also be justified that more number of smaller States would bring in effective governance
at State level? Discuss.(10 Marks, 200 Words)
6)Discuss the recommendations of the 13th Finance
Commission which have been a departure from the previous commissions for strengthening the local
government finances.(10 Marks, 200 Words)
7)The product diversification of financial institutions
and insurance companies, resulting in overlapping of products and services strengthens the case
for the merger of the two regulatory agencies namely SEBI and IRDA.
Justify.(10 Marks, 200 Words)
8)The legitimacy and accountability of Self Help Groups
(SHGs) and their patrons, the micro-finance outfits, need systematic assessment and scrutiny for
the sustained success of the concept.
Discuss.(10 Marks, 200 Words)
9)The Central Government frequently complains on the poor
performance of the State Governments in eradicating suffering of the vulnerable sections of the
society. Restructuring of Centrally sponsored schemes across the sectors for ameliorating the
cause of vulnerable sections of population aims at providing flexibility to the States in better
implementation.
Critically evaluate.(10 Marks, 200 Words)
