Our ATS 2020 Questions on GS II topics. 60 questions as below.
Tomorrow on 9th January, we will see how these questions aided the aspirants for the GS II Mains paper.
1.
Citing
recent instances, bring out Supreme Court’s power to provide justice to the
masses at large in India. Mention relevant articles of the Constitution
associated in this context.
2. In Nabam Rebia Vs Deputy Speaker 2016 case, Supreme Court held
that a Governor cannot employ his discretion and should strictly abide by the
“aid and advice” of the Cabinet to summon the House. In this regard, discuss
the issues of ‘discretion’ of the Governor in Indian polity.
3. Critically examine the
feasibility of having an All India Judicial Service. Can it bring about
efficiency in judiciary? Argue.
4. On 10 January 2020, an SC
Bench ordered the Union government to review all restrictions on
communications imposed in Jammu and Kashmir. In doing so, it observed, ‘the freedom of speech and expression and the
freedom to practice any profession or carry on any trade, business or
occupation over the medium of internet enjoys constitutional protection under
Article 19(1)(a) and Article 19(1)(g)’.
In this regard, tender your opinion.
5. In a series of two judgments
in 2020, the SC Bench comprising justices
Chandrachud and Rastogi cemented female Armed Forces officers'
right to Permanent Commission (PC). On 17 February, the Bench
held that women in the Army have the same right to PC as their male
counterparts. Then on 20 March, it did the same for women in the
Navy. Both judgments emphasised that the Armed Forces must strive to do
away with discriminatory mind-sets about a woman's role in society. Critically
discuss.
6. Analyze the position of child rights in India. State the functions
and role of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
7.
The Farmers
(Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services
Bill, 2020 creates a framework for contract farming through an agreement
between a farmer and a buyer prior to the production or rearing of any farm
produce. Discuss the salient features of this bill and how would it aid the
farmers in the long run?
8. A Parliamentary Standing
Committee report accusing the Supreme Court of distorting the original
constitutional mandate and showing an “unnecessary zeal” for primacy in
judicial appointments was tabled in late 2016 in the parliament. Deliberate
9.
The Epidemic
Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 provides preventive measures for the violence
against ‘health care personnel’ and damage of property during the COVID-19
pandemic. It has provisions of imprisonment from three months to five years and
a fine between 50 thousand rupees to two lakh rupees. It also expands the
powers of the Central Government to prevent the spread of such
diseases. What is your opinion regarding these provisions? Would you
suggest any further amendments?
10. Do you agree that religious
extremism is anathema to secular democracy? In the context of the recent events
in France, discuss this issue in a broader perspective. How could India
position itself with respect to this issue?
11. Smaller states in India is not an indication towards
Balkanization. What is your opinion? Discuss.
12. Suggest possible diplomatic
solutions to integrate Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir within the constitutional
paradigm of India.
13. Would a spate of Lateral
Entry in Civil Service break its fabric? Can it bring about efficiency in
bureaucracy?
14. Are legislations really aiding the transgender
group to mix with the Indian society? Critically examine.
15. Would you like to
suggest any amendments to Art 368 of the Indian Constitution? Posit reasons
thereof.
16. Compare and contrast the procedures of
election of the Indian and the US president. Which is simpler and why?
17. What are the reflections of
the French, American and British constitutional features in the Indian Constitution?
Deliberate.
18. Has Indian Constitution and
its political ethos in any way influenced Constitutions in its neighborhood or
regions located in faraway geographical regions?
19. A common refrain, particularly when the people take a critical
look at the state of affairs in the country, has been that the quality of
governance needs much to be desired. Those in the government, continue to feel
that they are doing a fine job and nothing could be better. The citizen clearly
feels otherwise. This mismatch in the perceptions of the people and the
government is reflected in the credibility gap which exists between the citizen
and the government. Discuss.
20. In the third decade of the 21st century, the development of any country depends on the uses of e-Governance and also its penetration. Assess India’s achievements in this regard.
1. What is your opinion about Mission Karmayogi? Would you suggest
any amendments to it?
2. If Nehru was behind the non-alignment movement, then to which
paradigm would you hold Narendra Modi instrumental with regard to India’s
foeign policy in the 21st century? Explain.
3. Try to evolve a pragmatic foreign policy for India in alignment
with the principles enunciated in Arthasastra.
4. Will the National Education Policy 2020 in any way deliver social
justice in India? How?
5. If you were India’s External Affairs Minister, what kinds of
empowerment would you have desired? Why?
6. Evaluate the role of think-tanks and pressure groups in the making
of India’s Foreign Policy in the 21st century, of course, by citing
examples.
7. The presence of the Islamic state in particular and/or Islamic
fundamentalism as a whole in countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan
and Pakistan shape not only the foreign policy but also domestic policies and
programmes in India. Do you agree?
8. A robust defence architecture aids a rising India in the United
Nations and in the comity of nations. Critically evalaute.
9. Assess the various dimensions of bilateral trade between India and
Pakistan, citing figures of the last five years.
10. China can at best risk a limited war with India. Argue.
11. India shouldn’t risk the all-weather friendship of Russia.
However, there are glitches which need to be smoothened. Discuss.
12. India should think beyond UN peace-keeping missions in countries
like Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and Iraq. Deliberate on this issue.
13. In what way would Atmanirbhar Bharat benefit the progress of the
country? Explain.
14. Start-up India was a campaign
that was first addressed by Shri Narendra Modi on 15th August 2015 at Red Fort,
New Delhi. This campaign was introduced as an initiative to develop over 75
start-up support hubs in the country. Map the performance of this scheme over a
period of 5 years.
15. Do you think that a regime change in the US affects India’s
relationship with U.S.A.?
16. A pro-China government in Nepal is always a matter of concern for
India. Critically discuss.
17. What has been the contribution of India’s intelligence agencies in
shaping the foreign policy?
18. Suggest ways and means to counter Chinese presence in Africa.
19. In cities, the pressure of
population on land, infrastructure, environment is massive and civic agencies
are grappling with problems like clean air, mobility, sanitation, water, public
safety. There is a need for developing a sustainable solution. In this context,
bring out the salient features of the Smart Cities mission and how it
negotiates with these challenges.
20.
Central Asia though very
much strategic, yet has remained a comparatively neglected region in connection
with India’s foreign policy. Opine.
1.
Insofar as the evolving
macroeconomic conditions are concerned, is the Indian Constitution a dynamic
document to the extent of catering to Union-State relations? Discuss.
2.
Comment on the
impact of the non-constitutional bodies on the constitutional development in
India. Cite instances.
3.
How has
e-governance brought about transparency and accountability in India?
4.
Citing government
schemes of 2019-20, discuss how social justice has been served at large.
5.
Comment on the role
of Governor in Indian polity. Should it be a post based on merit?
6.
Define Pressure
Groups. Critically discuss the role of formal as well as informal associations
in the Indian Polity.
7.
Suggest possible
amendments to the Representation of People’s Act. Has the Act succeeded in
emboldening India’s political structure?
8.
Evaluate the role
of advocates in dispensing speedy justice in the lower judiciary in India. Cite
examples.
9.
Health, Education, and Human Resources need to
be the focal points for any government. Do you agree? Why?
10.
Why poverty and
hunger are still prevalent in India? How is population growth linked with
poverty and hunger?
11.
What do you
understand by vulnerable sections of the population? Of late, how has the
government been successful in ameliorating their position? What has been the
role of NGOs and SHGs in this context? Have they performed better than the
government in this regard?
12.
Do you find the
concept of citizen’s charters too Western? Do they have much applicability in
the Indian context?
13.
Everywhere there
are talks of reforming the bureaucracy. Citing instances of China, USA, and UK,
deliberate what possible changes could be ushered in for the Indian bureaucracy
in the coming 10 years. Layout a roadmap.
14.
Elaborate on the
scope of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, citing Supreme Court case laws.
15.
Considering the
powers and privileges of the members of Parliament, and the scope and
independence of the judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court, do you think
that the de facto authority is being wielded by a closed group and not the
people at large in India? Critically opine.
16.
Has the
Indian polity done well in devolution of powers and finances up to local
government level? How? Suggest additional measures.
17.
Does Indian
diplomacy in the 21st century pay heed to the thinkers and academics
while managing the foreign policy issues? Is India’s foreign policy paradigm
dominated by the corridors of power in Delhi only?
18.
How did 2020 shape
India-China-USA trilateral relations? In this backdrop, comment on the
following: “Slapdash efforts to sever risky
dependencies on China could end up lopping off healthy and important economic
relations with not only that country but the rest of the world.”
19.
Posit your
assessment of India’s management of the middle-east and north Africa in 2019
and 2020.
20.
Do you believe
India’s approach of inclusive dialogue to usher in peace in conflict zones is
an outmoded concept? Evaluate this approach with respect
to the conflict zones in Africa.
