UPSC CSE Mains 2014 Previous Year Questions

GS Paper - 3 20 questions

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Internal Security 15 marks

China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an economic corridor. What threat does this pose for India’s security? Critically examine.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Internal Security 10 marks

In 2012, the longitudinal marking for high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65 degrees east to 78 degrees east in the Arabian Sea by the International Maritime Organization. What impact does this have on India’s maritime security concerns?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Internal Security 10 marks

How does illegal transborder migration pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bringing out the factors which give impetus to such migration.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Internal Security 10 marks

International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory. What do you understand by ‘airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggest ways to contain the threat.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Internal Security 10 marks

“The diverse nature of India as a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of radicalism which is seen in her neighbourhood.” Discuss along with strategies to be adopted to counter this environment.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Agriculture 12.5 marks

“In the villages itself, no form of credit organization will be suitable except the cooperative society.” – All Indian rural credit survey. Discuss this statement in the background of agriculture finance in India. What constraints and challenges do financial institutions supply agricultural finances? How can technology be used to better reach and serve rural clients?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Agriculture 12.5 marks

There is also a point of view that agriculture produce market committees (APMCs) set up under the state acts have not only impeded the development of agriculture but also have been the cause of food inflation in India. Critically examine.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Disaster Management 12.5 marks

Drought has been recognized as a disaster in view of its spatial expanse, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effects on vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), discuss the mechanisms for preparedness to deal with likely El Niño and La Niña fallouts in India.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Environment & Ecology 12.5 marks

Environmental Impact Assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at coal pitheads.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Economy 12.5 marks

National urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people instead of moving vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies of the government in this regard.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Economy 12.5 marks

Explain how private-public partnership agreements, in longer gestation infrastructure projects, can transfer unsuitable liabilities to the future. What arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that successive generations’ capacities are not compromised?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Economy 12.5 marks

Foreign direct investment in the defence sector is now said to be liberalized. What influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and economy in the short and long-run?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Economy 12.5 marks

Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to the wide disparities between the rich and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism driving inclusive growth in India? Discuss. (Statement lifted from Business-world column, 27th June 2014)

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Economy 12.5 marks

The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1 January 2014. What implication would it have on industrialization and agriculture in India?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Economy 12.5 marks

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Economy 12.5 marks

While we found India’s demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping rates of employability. What are we missing while doing so? Where will the jobs that India desperately needs come from? Explain.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Economy 12.5 marks

Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the huge growth of services vis-a-vis the industry in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong industrial base?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Science and Technology 12.5 marks

In a globalised world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms – copyrights, patents and trade secrets.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Science and Technology 12.5 marks

Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer-oriented. Critically comment.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 3 Science and Technology 12.5 marks

Can overuse and the availability of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription, the contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.

Model Answer Guidelines

GS Paper - 2 5 questions

2014 Mains GS Paper - 2 International Relations 12.5 marks

Some of the International funding agencies have special terms for economic participation stipulating a substantial component of the aid to be used for sourcing equipment from the leading countries. Discuss on merits of such terms and if, there exists a strong case not to accept such conditions in the Indian context.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 2 International Relations 12.5 marks

The aim of Information Technology Agreements (ITAs) is to lower all taxes and tariffs on information technology products by signatories to zero. What impact would such agreements have on India’s interests?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 2 International Relations 12.5 marks

With respect to the South China Sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 2 International Relations 12.5 marks

WTO is an important international institution where decisions are taken affect countries in a profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyze India’s stand on the latest round of talks on Food security.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 2 International Relations 12.5 marks

India has recently signed to become a founding member of the New Development Bank (NDB) and also the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). How will the role of the two Banks be different? Discuss the strategic significance of these two Banks for India.

Model Answer Guidelines

GS Paper - 1 41 questions

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Social Justice 12.5 marks

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.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Social Justice 12.5 marks

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.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Governance 12.5 marks

Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz the Adhar card and NPR, one of 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 development benefits and equitable growth.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Governance 12.5 marks

Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organization been the cause of slow in India? Critically examine.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Governance 12.5 marks

Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economies?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Governance 12.5 marks

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Governance 12.5 marks

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.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Governance 12.5 marks

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.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Polity 10 marks

The role of individual MPs (Members of Parliament) has diminished over the years and as a result healthy constructive debates on policy issues are not usually witnessed. How far can this be attributed to the anti-defection law which was legislated but with a different intention?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Polity 12.5 marks

The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue.Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Polity 12.5 marks

Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, but it is equally true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a strong Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism. Discuss.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Polity 12.5 marks

Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly proactive role in ensuring that India develops into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate the role played by judicial activism in achieving the ideals of democracy.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Polity 12.5 marks

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of theabove observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Polity 12.5 marks

Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.

Model Answer Guidelines

2014 Mains GS Paper - 1 Polity 12.5 marks

What do you understand by the concept “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss

Model Answer Guidelines