UPSC Mains 2022 — All Papers & Questions

How will you explain the medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days?

Why did the armies of the British East India Company – mostly comprising of Indian soldiers – win consistently against the more numerous and better equipped armies of the Indian rulers? Give reasons.

Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century? Give reasons.

Describe the characteristics and types of primary rocks. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

Discuss the meaning of color-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological department. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

“The most significant achievement of modern law in India is the constitutionalization of environmental problems by the Supreme Court.” Discuss this statement with the help of relevant case laws.

“Right of movement and residence throughout the territory of India are freely available to the Indian citizens, but these rights are not absolute. “ Comment.

To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots?

Discuss the role of the Vice –Presidents of India as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Discuss the role of the National Commission for Backward Classes in the wake of its transformation from a statutory body to a constitutional body.

Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in Infrastructure projects? Examine the role of the PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in India.

Is inclusive growth possible in a market economy? State the significance of financial inclusion in achieving economic growth in India.

What are the major challenges of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India? How can it be made effective and transparent?

Elaborate the scope and significance of the food processing industry in India.

The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges in the community. What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken to meet them?

Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. An officer being engrossed with the periphery, ignoring the core issues before him, is not rare in the bureaucracy. Do you agree that such preoccupation of an administrator leads to travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance? Critically evaluate.

Apart from intellectual competence and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations (150 words, 10 Marks )

The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are the same, yet there is a difference in the performance. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favor of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations.

It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions would ensure the smooth functioning of an organization/system. If so, what does ethics seek to promote in human life? How do ethical values assist in the resolution of conflicts faced by him in his day-to-day functioning?

Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.’-Potter Stewart.