Syllabus
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
- • Indian Constitution – Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.
• Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels and Challenges therein.
• Separation of Powers between various organs Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries.
• Parliament and State Legislatures – Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues arising out of these.
• Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary – Ministries and Departments of the Government; Pressure Groups and Formal/Informal Associations and their Role in the Polity.
• Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.
• Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
• Development Processes and the Development Industry – the Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes; Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections.
• Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger.
• Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability, E-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; Citizens Charters, Transparency & Accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of Civil Services in a Democracy.
• India and its Neighborhood-Relations.
• Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
• Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.
• Important International Institutions, Agencies and Fora – their Structure, Mandate.
PYQs
2024
- 1. Inclusive and meaningful digital access to e-governance and welfare delivery system is a fundamental right to life and liberty. Discuss.(150 words)
2. Examine President Droupadi Murmu’s statement: “Benefits of development should reach all sections of society, especially the disadvantaged and marginalized.”(150 words
3. Constitution, not political expediency, should guide the Governor of an Indian state. Elucidate.(150 words)
4. “Delimitation must go beyond counting of citizens to making their voices count.” Discuss.(150 words
5. Critically analyse the relationship between India and Bangladesh in light of recent developments.(150 words)
6. What is caste census and what are its merits and demerits?(150 words)
7. Turkey’s overtures in South Asia are poised to increase India’s troubles in coming times. Elucidate.(150 words)
8. Terrorism is the biggest threat humanity faces today. Discuss in the light of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025.(150 words
9. “The international order is undergoing changes of a magnitude not seen since 1945.” Discuss.(150 words)
10. Do you think the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project will be a game changer in maintaining trade and transactions in India’s Northeast?(150 words)
11. Narendra Modi’s government in the last one decade has encouraged bureaucrats to think big and break down silos. Discuss.(250 words)
12. Discuss the vision, objectives, and mission of the Citizen’s Charter by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).(250 words)
13. Discuss the six major provisions of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025.(250 words)
14. Is India’s federal structure in jeopardy? Give your reasons in the light of Centre–State relations in India at present.(250 words)
15. Elucidate the statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “The foundation of Viksit Bharat rests on four key pillars — poor, youth, farmers, and women.”(250 words)
16. “Gender equality brings more inclusiveness, less violence, and lasting peace.” Elucidate the statement.(250 words)
17. Evaluate how Saudi Arabia could be key to India’s Act West policy. (250 words)
18. Critically analyse how India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance will have serious repercussions on Pakistan. (250 words)
19. Evaluate the India–USA partnership after Donald Trump began his second tenure as US President. (250 words)
20. BRICS could be a powerful voice for the Global South. Explain.(250 words) 2023
- 1. “Finance Commission symbolizes Centre-State fiscal relations.” Examine this statement in the light of the constitution of 16th Finance Commission. (150 words) (10)
2. “Social justice has become a catch-all term for welfare measures.” Examine. (150 words) (10)
3. Critically analyse judicial activism in the light of the eventful month of May 2023 when the Supreme Court of India, in only two weeks of time, delivered more than 100 judgments, including 4 important Constitution Bench matters. (150 words) (10)
4. “The New Criminal Law Bill will discard colonial vestiges and instill an Indian spirit in India’s criminal justice system.” Discuss. (150 words) (10)
5. Critically analyse the relationship between India and Maldives in the light of the recent war of words between the two countries. (150 words) (10)
6. Find out the merits and demerits of caste survey in the light of the caste enumeration exercise by the provincial governments of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. (150 words) (10)
7. Critically examine the powers of the Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a government institution which has been in the limelight in the recent times. (150 words) (10)
8. Do you think the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor will be “a passage of possibilities”? (150 words) (10)
9. “Indo-Pacific will continue to remain the global flashpoint in the coming times.” Critically analyse the above statement in the light of the recent Taiwan presidential elections. (150 words) (10)
10. Do you think India-Taiwan technological cooperation will be a boon for India’s manufacturing ambitions? (150 words) (10)
11. The NITI Aayog has emerged as an important institution of the Union government in the last one decade. Elucidate. (250 words) (15)
12. “In the spirit of cooperative federalism, the Centre must exercise its powers within the boundaries created by the Constitution.” Discuss. (250 words) (15)
13. Achieving the SDGs by 2030 could be a roadmap to Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Discuss. (250 words) (15)
14. “The Red Sea region has become a cauldron of conflict.” Elucidate the statement in the light of the recent attacks by Houthi rebels of Yemen on the commercial ships. (250 words) (15)
15. Critically analyse India’s role and contributions in resolving the recent Israel-Palestine conflict. (250 words) (15)
16. India-Canada relationship has descended to a new low in the last few years. Elucidate in the light of the accusations made by Canadian Prime Minister and the counter accusations of India. (250 words) (15)
17. Evaluate India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in the light of Indian Foreign Minister’s Moscow visit in the last week of December last year. (250 words) (15)
18. Analyse India’s decade-long bid to become a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council in the light of UN General Assembly President’s recent remarks on India as a “mature, highly respected member.” (250 words) (15)
18. “While Bharat takes a quantum leap towards digitisation under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, prevention of cyber crimes is a key security challenge.” Examine. (250 words) (15)
19. French President as guest of India’s Republic Day 2024 demonstrates the widening and deepening Indo-French strategic partnership. Discuss. (250 words) (15) 2022
- 1. “Good governance is to devise instruments to ensure hundred percent delivery of welfare measures directly to the intended beneficiaries without any pilferage.” Elucidate. (150 words) (10)
2. “Competitive elections are a necessary condition for the functioning of democracy.” Discuss the journey of India’s electoral democracy in the light of the above statement. (150 words) (10)
3. Examine the importance of Collegium-system in the light of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s assertion that “the executive must show constitutional statesmanship and avoid public grandstanding.” (150 words) (10)
4. Discuss the importance of amendment procedure in Indian constitution in the light of the Peoples’ Interest Litigation that challenges the first amendment of the constitution in 1951. (150 words) (10)
5. India and France have achieved a robust strategic partnership. Discuss it in the light of the recent joint exercises between the two countries. (150 words) (10)
6. Critically examine how the forceful expansion of reservation in recent decades has been fed by an increasing politics of caste assertions. (150 words) (10)
7. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) encroaches upon India’s sovereignty. Elaborate. (150 words) (10)
8. Since the threat across the Line of Actual Control has not diminished, India may continue its aggressive posture towards China. Comment. (150 words) (10)
9. “The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is envisaged as a way to bolster trading ties among nations across Asia-Pacific.” Elaborate. (150 words) (10)
10. Keeping in view the recent inter-state disputes between few Indian states, there is a clarion call for a vigorous institutional mechanism. Discuss. (150 words) (10)
11. Inclusivity and cooperation for common good will be the core of India’s mission as President of Group of 20 (G-20). Discuss. (250 words) (15)
12. “Asia must not become arena for ‘big power contest’.” Elucidate the statement in the light of power rivalry among world powers in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. (250 words) (15)
13. There is potential to lift India and the UK into a higher orbit of beneficial growth. Elucidate in light of impending India-UK Free Trade Agreement. (250 words) (15)
14. India’s outreach to African countries is going to augur well for the country’s foreign policy. Discuss it in the context of Egyptian President’s visit to India in January 2023. (250 words) (15)
15. Evaluate India-USA relationship in the changing global order. (250 words) (15)
16. Analyse five important lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic that has brought about a paradigm shift in global economic and strategic order. (250 words) (15)
17. Discuss the need to tighten the noose against terror financing in the light of the 3rd “No Money for Terror Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing.” (250 words) (15)
18. India must capitalize on ASEAN’s eagerness to engage. Elaborate. (250 words) (15)
19. India can play the role of “peacemaker” in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Justify this statement in light of Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to Russia in the first week of November 2022. (250 words)(15)
20. Do you agree that Asian continent has become the hub of geopolitics, geostrategy and geoeconomics? (250 words) (15) 2021
- 1. Discuss the importance of Lok Ayukta amidst the recent bid by Kerala government to amend the Lok Ayukta Act. (150 words) (10)
2. Aspirational districts are not only becoming accelerators of economic growth, but also are eliminating barriers to India’s progress. Elaborate. (150 words) (10)
3. Find the difference between ‘regular areas’ and ‘hard areas’ in the AGMUT cadre. (150 words) (10)
4. Do you think there is a need to review and update the constitution at the present juncture? (150 words) (10)
5. Critically analyse the statement, “Civil services, judiciary and media are performing at below optimum levels.” (150 words) (10)
6. Discuss the importance of India’s social justice paradigm amidst the recent call for an All India Federation for Social Justice. (150 words) (10)
7. Critically examine how disruption of parliament has hampered the productivity of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in recent years. (150 words) (10)
8. Discuss how Mission Karmayogi has the potential to turn Indian bureaucracy into futuristic, people centric and accountable, aligned with vision of New India. (150 words) (10)
9. Do you think Pakistan’s first National Security Policy brought out in 2021 is an endeavour to have peace with India? (150 words) (10)
10. Do you think the crisis in Ukraine may add worries for India? (150 words) (10)
11. Critically examine the statement, “India has well established principles of civic nationalism, which seek to present electoral majority in the guise of a religious majority, and monopolise political power.” (250 words) (15)
12. What are the concerns of several state governments on Government of India’s proposed move to amend the IAS service rules? (250 words) (15)
13. Do you think India has been at the centre of gravity as far as cyber terrorism in South Asia is concerned? (250 words) (15)
14. Myanmar has become a vital cog in India’s neighbourhood first policy. Discuss it in the light of growing Chinese influence in the region. (250 words) (15)
15. The strategic intents and logic behind India’s sale of BrahMos missiles to Philippines mark an assertive Act East policy. Discuss. (250 words) (15)
16. India and Oman showing mutual interest for joint ventures to enhance defence industry cooperation is important for India’s bid to expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean Region. Elucidate. (250 words) (15)
17. Highlight the main features of the draft proposals of the Jammu and Kashmir delimitation commission. (250 words) (15)
18. Describe how the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has ushered in a new world order with new economic and strategic dimensions. (250 words) (15)
19. The first India-Central Asia Summit held recently is the culmination of the efforts of both the regions to strengthen the three decade old partnership. Discuss. (250 words) (15)
20. Discuss the need for India and Israel to strengthen and deepen their bilateral relationship in the light of the completion of three decades of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries. (250 words) (15) 2018
- 1. The role of individual MPs (Member 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 anti-defection law which was legislated but with a different intention? (10)
2. “The Supreme Court of India keeps a check on arbitrary powers of the Parliament in amending the constitution.” Discuss critically. (10)
3. 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. (10)
4. 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. (10)
5. The size of the cabinet 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. (10)
6. Examine critically the recent changes in the rule governing foreign funding of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 1976. (10)
7. 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. (10)
8. Increasing interest of India in Africa has its pros and cons. Critically Examine. (10)
9. Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit for a permanent seat in UN Security Council. (10)
10. In the integrity index of Transparency International, India stands very low. Discuss briefly the legal, political, economic/social and cultural factors that have caused the decline of public morality in India. (10)
11. Has the Indian governmental system responded adequately to the demands of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation started in 1991? What can the government do to be responsible to this important change? (15)
12. “Traditional bureaucratic structure and culture have hampered the process of socio-economic development in India.” Comment. (15)
13. Evaluate the economic and strategic dimensions of India’s Look East Policy in the context of the post-Cold War International scenario. (15)
14. Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face at both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer. (15)
15. “Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India remain mere showpieces until and unless they are backed by political will.” Discuss with reference to the performance of the major poverty alleviation programmes in India. (15)
16. Initially civil services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and ineffectiveness 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)
17. The question of India’s Energy Security constitutes the most important part of India’s economic progress. Analyse India’s energy policy cooperation with West Asian Countries. (15)
18. In what ways the ongoing US-Iran Nuclear Pact Controversy affect the national interest of India? How should India respond to this situation? (15)
19. How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies of India. (15)
20. India and USA are two large democracies. Examine the basic tenets on which the two political systems are based. (15)
