UPSC CSE Mains 2016 - GS 3 & 4

Let us share our Advanced Test Series papers 3 & 4


Simulated General Studies Paper III [20 NOV 2016]

1.      “India has been designated as the Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for its efforts to facilitate regional support towards enabling community resilience in the Asia-Pacific
region.” Critically examine this in the context of the Sendai framework.

2.       Evaluate the pros and cons of the concept of Monetary Policy Committee.

3.       Of late, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh were devastated by floods. In this light, discuss the various techniques related to Flood management.

4.       Financial inclusion is the process of ensuring access to financial services and timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups. In this direction, critically evaluate the Union government’s efforts.

5.       What is a ‘Stressed asset’? How does it differ from a ‘Non Performing Asset’ [NPA]? What steps Banks can take to resolve the NPA issue?

6.       “A recent study by Greenpeace shows that India has overtaken China’s air pollution levels and that the average particulate matter exposure for Indians was even higher than that for Chinese.” What is your opinion in this matter?

7.       What is the Seechewal model? How has this model been used in India?

8.      According to recently released Swachhta Status Report by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), more than half the rural population of the country still opts for open defecation. What are being done to combat this situation and to what extent success has been achieved?

9.       Recently, a seven pronged plan has been launched by the Union Government to revamp the functioning of public sector banks. Elaborate the plan and discuss the challenges therein.

10.   What are the new efforts to reform regulatory architecture so as to attract investments
from abroad? Also discuss the various initiatives to make India attractive for Global Investment.

11.   Analyse the recommendations by the committee set up to change direct tax laws.

12.   In February 2016, the former chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank, Peter Sands, published a paper at the Harvard Kennedy School proposing to take high denomination notes out of circulation. He said that “by eliminating high denomination, high value notes, we would make life harder for those pursuing tax evasion, financial crime, terrorist finance and corruption”. Critically evaluate this thesis in the context of Indian money economy.

13.   “Despite having a National Cyber Security Policy (2013), risks to India’s critical infrastructure remain” Do you agree?

14.   Is social media is becoming a powerful medium of radicalisation? Explain. Would you suggest any policy measures to combat the scenario?

15.   2001 Parliament attack, 2008 Mumbai siege, of late the Pathankot and Uri attacks – there have been far too many. In this backdrop, what kind of National Security Doctrine would you suggest?

16.   As far as counter-terrorism is concerned, discuss India’s recent efforts in collaborating with other countries.

17.   UN Security Council recently adopted a resolution to cut off all sources of funding to ISIS and Al-Qaeda. What is India’s strategy to deal with terror financing and money laundering?

18.   What are the challenges facing the biotechnology sector in India? To mitigate the issues, is India’s National Biotechnology Development Strategy equipped enough?

19.   Critically discuss the features and limitations of National IPR Policy 2016.

20.   “The 103rd Indian Science congress was organized with the focal theme: Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India”. In this view, discuss the Union government’s initiatives to promote indigenisation of science.

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Simulated General Studies Paper IV

SECTION—A 120 marks

Section A

1A. Debate on the ethical/unethical aspects of Abortion, Euthanasia and Stem Cell research respectively.   [12]
1B. Is it moral to have capital punishment within the realm of law?    [8]

2A. Explain how social influence shapes up ‘Attitude’.              [8]
2B. What are the recognized aptitudes for a Civil Servant? Discuss any three.    [12]

3A. What tests would you suggest to examine the ‘integrity’ of a bureaucrat?   [10]
3B. Do you think that being truly ‘objective’ implies that the civil servant has lost humanism?         [10]

4A. What is Social Capital?            [6]
4B. “Soft skills like discipline, drive and empathy mark those who emerge as outstanding.” Discuss in the context of Emotional Intelligence.        [14]

5A. “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” Comment                                                    [10]              
5B. “How do you defeat terrorism? Don’t be terrorized.” Analyse.               [10]

6A. Critically discuss, citing instances, the place of values & ethics in Non-Governmental Organisations.                              [10]

6B. Is there any difference between governmental and corporate ethics? 

What is ‘Just War’?                                       [6+4=10]