UPSC CSE 2026 Essay Paper Discussion
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General Studies Paper 2 · By subject

Governance — UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 PYQ

128 previous year questions on Governance, 2013–2026, each with a model answer

← All GS Paper 2

2026

  1. Q6
    Does India’s tribal development policy reflect the aspirations for a socially grounded and equity-based governance? Justify your answer.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q8
    Analyse the advantages and limitations of the generalist structure of the Indian Civil Services in contemporary governance.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q16
    “Transparency and accountability in governance are not about controlling corruption but about creating the trust of stakeholders in the policy process by following the Rule of Law and Participatory Governance.” Comment.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q17
    Can the constitutional mandate of rights-based welfare be effectively realised in the context of non-integrated governance and minimal public investment? Examine.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q18
    Should education be treated primarily as a welfare obligation of the state or as a strategic investment for building a globally competitive, knowledge-driven nation? Critically evaluate.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2025

  1. Q7
    e-governance projects have a built-in bias towards technology and back-end integration than user-centric designs. Examine.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q8
    Civil Society Organizations are often perceived as being anti-State actors than non-State actors. Do you agree? Justify.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q15
    What are environmental pressure groups? Discuss their role in raising awareness, influencing policies and advocating for environmental protection in India.
    15 marks 250 words Easy Model answer →
  4. Q17
    “In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution defeating the objectives of development.” Critically evaluate.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →

2024

  1. Q5
    Analyse the role of local bodies in providing good governance at local level and bring out the pros and cons merging the rural local bodies with the urban local bodies.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q6
    Public charitable trusts have the potential to make India’s development more inclusive as they relate to certain vital public issues. Comment.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q8
    The Doctrine of Democratic Governance makes it necessary that the public perception of the integrity and commitment of civil servants becomes absolutely positive. Discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q11
    What are the aims and objects of recently passed and enforced, The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations, too, are covered under the Act?
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q16
    The Citizens’ charter has been a landmark initiative in ensuring citizen-centric administration. But it is yet to reach its full potential. Identify the factors hindering the realisation of its promise and suggest measures to overcome them.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  6. Q18
    e-governance is not just about the routine application of digital technology in service delivery process. It is as much about multifarious interactions for ensuring transparency and accountability. In this context evaluate the role of the ‘Interactive Service Model’ of e-governance.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2023

  1. Q7
    Discuss the role of the Competition Commission of India in containing the abuse of dominant position by the Multi-National Corporations in India. Refer to the recent decisions.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q8
    e-governance, as a critical tool of governance, has ushered in effectiveness, transparency and accountability in governments. What inadequacies hamper the enhancement of these features?
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q14
    Discuss the contribution of civil society groups for women’s effective and meaningful participation and representation in state legislatures in India.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2022

  1. Q6
    The Gati-Shakti Yojana needs meticulous coordination between the government and the private sector to achieve the goal of connectivity. Discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q8
    Reforming the government delivery system through the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme is a progressive step, but it has its limitations too. Comment.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q16
    Besides the welfare schemes, India needs deft management of inflation and unemployment to serve the poor and the underprivileged sections of the society. Discuss.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q17
    Do you agree with the view that increasing dependence on donor agencies for development reduces the importance of community participation in the development process? Justify your answer.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2021

  1. Q1
    Constitutional Morality is rooted in the constitution itself and is founded on its essential facets. Explain the doctrine of Constitutional Morality’ with the help of relevant judicial decisions.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q12
    Though the Human Rights Commissions have contributed immensely to the protection of human rights in India, yet they have failed to assert themselves against the mighty and powerful. Analyzing their structural and practical limitations, suggest remedial measures.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q18
    Can Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations present an alternative model of public service delivery to benefit the common citizen? Discuss the challenges of this alternative model.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2020

  1. Q2
    “Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q7
    “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance”. In this context suggest reforms in Civil Service for strengthening democracy.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q8
    “The emergence of Fourth Industrial Revolution (Digital Revolution) has initiated e-Governance as an integral part of government”. Discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Easy Model answer →
  4. Q13
    The strength and sustenance of local institutions in India has shifted from their formative phase of ‘Functions, Functionaries and Funds’ to the contemporary stage of ‘Functionality’. Highlight the critical challenges faced by local institutions in terms of their functionality in recent times.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q17
    “Micro-Finance as an anti-poverty vaccine, is aimed at asset creation and income security of the rural poor in India”. Evaluate the role of the Self Help Groups in achieving the twin objectives along with empowering women in rural India.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2019

  1. Q1
    Do you think that the Constitution of India does not accept the principle of strict separation of powers; rather, it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balances’? Explain.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q8
    Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based Projects/Programmes usually suffers in terms of certain vital factors. Identify these factors, and suggest measures for their effective implementation.
    10 marks 150 words Easy Model answer →
  3. Q16
    ‘In the context of neo-liberal paradigm of development planning, multi-level planning is expected to make operations cost-effective and remove many implementation blockages.’ — Discuss.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  4. Q17
    The need for cooperation among various service sectors has been an inherent component of development discourse. Partnership bridges the gap among the sectors. It also sets in motion a culture of ‘collaboration’ and ‘team spirit’. In the light of statements above examine India’s development process.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2018

  1. Q6
    “Policy contradictions among various competing sectors and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate ‘protection and prevention of degradation’ to environment.” Comment with relevant illustrations.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q8
    E-governance is not only about utilization of the power of new technology, but also much about critical importance of the ‘use value’ of information. Explain.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q18
    The Citizens’ Charter is an ideal instrument of organizational transparency and accountability, but it has its own limitations. Identify the limitations and suggest measures for greater effectiveness of the Citizens’ Charter.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2017

  1. Q6
    “To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs the identification of the beneficiary segments is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes.” Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q8
    Hunger and poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q16
    “The emergence of the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in contemporary times points to the slow but steady withdrawal of the State from developmental activities.” Examine the role of the SHGs in developmental activities and the measures taken by the Government of India to promote the SHGs.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q18
    Initially Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, 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 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2016

  1. Q10
    “In the Indian governance system, the role of non-state actors has been only marginal.” Critically examine this statement.
    12.5 marks 200 words Hard Model answer →
  2. Q11
    “Effectiveness of the government system at various levels and people’s participation in the governance system are inter-dependent.” Discuss their relationship in the context of India.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q12
    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.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q13
    Has the Indian governmental system responded adequately to the demands of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization started in 1991? What can the government do to be responsive to this important change?
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q14
    “Traditional bureaucratic structure and culture have hampered the process of socio-economic development in India.” Comment.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →

2015

  1. Q1
    Discuss the possible factors that inhibit India from enacting for its citizens a uniform civil code as provided for in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q8
    Examine critically the recent changes in the rules governing foreign funding of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 1976.
    12.5 marks 200 words Hard Model answer →
  3. Q9
    The Self-Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP), which is India’s own innovation, has proved to be one of the most effective poverty alleviation and women empowerment programmes. Elucidate.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q10
    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.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q14
    In the light of the Satyam Scandal (2009), discuss the changes brought in corporate governance to ensure transparency, accountability.
    12.5 marks 200 words Easy Model answer →
  6. Q15
    “If amendment bill to the Whistleblowers Act, 2011 tabled in the Parliament is passed, there may be no one left to protect.” Critically evaluate.
    12.5 marks 200 words Hard Model answer →
  7. Q16
    “For achieving the desired objectives, it is necessary to ensure that the regulatory institutions remain independent and autonomous.” Discuss in the light of the experiences in recent past.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →

2014

  1. Q7
    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.
    12.5 marks 200 words Hard Model answer →
  2. Q8
    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.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q9
    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 the above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  4. Q10
    The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting participation in development programmes is facing socio-cultural hurdles. Examine.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q12
    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.
    12.5 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  6. Q14
    Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organization been the cause of slow change in India? Critically examine.
    12.5 marks 200 words Hard Model answer →
  7. Q15
    Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as 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 developmental benefits and equitable growth.
    12.5 marks 200 words Hard Model answer →

2013

  1. Q8
    The product diversification of financial institutions and insurance companies, resulting in overlapping of products and services strengthens the case for the merger of the two regulatory agencies, namely SEBI and IRDA. Justify.
    10 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  2. Q11
    The legitimacy and accountability of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their patrons, the micro-finance outfits, need systematic assessment and scrutiny for the sustained success of the concept. Discuss.
    10 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  3. Q12
    The Central Government frequently complains on the poor performance of the State Governments in eradicating suffering of the vulnerable sections of the society. Restructuring of Centrally sponsored schemes across the sectors for ameliorating the cause of vulnerable sections of population aims at providing flexibility to the States in better implementation. Critically evaluate.
    10 marks 200 words Hard Model answer →
  4. Q13
    Electronic cash transfer system for the welfare schemes is an ambitious project to minimize corruption, eliminate wastage and facilitate reforms. Comment.
    10 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  5. Q14
    The basis of providing urban amenities in rural areas (PURA) is rooted in establishing connectivity. Comment.
    10 marks 200 words Easy Model answer →
  6. Q16
    Though Citizens’ charters have been formulated by many public service delivery organizations, there is no corresponding improvement in the level of citizens’ satisfaction and quality of services being provided. Analyse.
    10 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →
  7. Q17
    ‘A national Lokpal, however strong it may be, cannot resolve the problems of immorality in public affairs.’ Discuss.
    10 marks 200 words Medium Model answer →

0

  1. •
    Civil servants in India face a paradox: the Constitution mandates their accountability to elected representatives, yet good governance often requires them to resist short-term political pressures. How should this tension be resolved, and what institutional design can support it?
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  2. •
    The IndiaAI Mission represents the transition of e-governance from passive digitisation to active intelligence. But without addressing some crucial issues, AI in governance risks deepening existing inequities.” Comment.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  3. •
    Despite their pivotal role in the democratic process, political parties in India operate within a limited framework of legal accountability. Discuss.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  4. •
    The criminalisation of politics is not only a problem of tainted candidates, but a crisis of constitutional governance.” Discuss.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  5. •
    Domain specialisation in the civil services has been recommended by committees since the First ARC (1966), yet implementation remains partial and contested. Analyse the causes of this persistent gap between recommendation and reform, and assess the consequences for India’s development outcomes.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  6. •
    The Citizens’ Charter was conceived as a compact between the state and the citizen, yet a decade of evidence shows a persistent gap between commitments and outcomes. Identify the structural reasons for this failure and evaluate whether the Right to Service Acts enacted by states offer a more credible alternative.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  7. •
    Centrally Sponsored Schemes, conceived under Article 282 as a fiscal bridge between Centre and states, have increasingly become a fiscal rope tethering states to Central policy preferences rather than bridging developmental gaps. Critically examine.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  8. •
    In light of recent judicial pronouncements and empirical evidence, critically examine the state of tribunals in India and the path to their reform.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  9. •
    Assess the role of formal and informal pressure groups in Indian democracy, with particular reference to their methods of influence and the regulatory vacuum they operate in.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  10. •
    Decentralisation without accountability produces not local democracy but local autocracy. In light of this, critically assess the functioning of Gram Sabha as a democratic institution in India.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  11. •
    The Governor under the Constitution has no functions which he can discharge by himself: no functions at all. While he has no functions, he has certain duties to perform. How far do you agree?
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  12. •
    The real constitution of Indian federalism is not written in Articles 245 to 263 but in the structure of the party system at any given moment.” Critically examine.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  13. •
    Public Interest Litigation has democratised access to justice, but it has also expanded judicial power into domains of governance. Discuss.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  14. •
    The Finance Commission is no longer merely a tax-sharing body; it is increasingly shaping the behaviour of States. Examine in the light of recent Finance Commission recommendations.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  15. •
    Should the Sixth Schedule model be extended beyond the North-East to protect fragile ecological and cultural regions? Discuss with reference to Ladakh.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  16. •
    Basic Structure Doctrine is not a bar on change, but is a device that keeps Constitutional change constitutional hence enabling peaceful social transformation without allowing constitutional self-destruction. Critically examine.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  17. •
    India’s next delimitation exercise will test not merely arithmetic representation, but the political morality of federalism. Discuss.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  18. •
    Judicial independence is a basic feature of the Constitution, but independence without accountability risks becoming institutional opacity. Examine.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  19. •
    A constitutional office may be weakened not by abolition, but by nonappointment. Examine with reference to the office of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  20. •
    “Reforming the Indian judiciary requires more than judicial reform; it requires restructuring the wider justice system. Discuss.”
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  21. •
    The Supreme Court of India is overburdened because it functions simultaneously as a constitutional court and a regular court of appeal. Examine the case for structural reform.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  22. •
    Identify the five most consequential reforms that could restore Parliament’s primacy without altering the Constitution. Justify your selection.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  23. •
    Legislative Councils occupy an uncomfortable constitutional space that is they are too weak to check, too costly to justify, too political to reform. Do you agree?
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  24. •
    “The President of India exercises no real discretion — only the illusion of it.” Critically examine this claim.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  25. •
    Woodrow Wilson wrote that Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work. Has India’s Parliament abandoned work? Examine with reference to the functioning of Departmentally Related Standing Committees.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  26. •
    Discuss how the “equal protection clause” under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution has attained an activist magnitude in recent years.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  27. •
    “Legislation without deliberation is administration, not lawmaking.” Assess the validity of this claim in the context of recent Indian parliamentary practice.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  28. •
    The Vice-President of India is a quiet, but not a weak, office. Examine.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  29. •
    India’s executive has transformed without a single constitutional amendment authorising this transformation. Critically examine.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  30. •
    The journey of DPSP’s from non-justiciable aspirations to the bedrock of state action is the most understated constitutional revolution in India’s history. Critically examine.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  31. •
    India’s parliamentary system was chosen for accountability over stability, yet contemporary governance challenges suggest the system may be failing on both counts. Examine.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  32. •
    Fundamental Duties were inserted into the Constitution at its most constitutionally compromised moment yet they embody a philosophical truth that the original Constitution deliberately overlooked.” Comment with reference to their enforcement, judicial interpretation, and contemporary relevance.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  33. •
    The Supreme Court’s recognition of privacy as a Fundamental Right in 2017 was a constitutional landmark — but seven years later, the gap between the right declared and the right delivered has widened rather than narrowed. Critically examine with reference to post- Puttaswamy developments.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  34. •
    A national caste census is not merely a counting exercise — it is a constitutional imperative, a governance necessity, and a political earthquake waiting to happen.” Discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  35. •
    The evolution of Article 21 from a narrow procedural guarantee to the cornerstone of substantive liberty jurisprudence reflects the Supreme Court’s role as a transformative constitutional actor. Examine with the help of relevant judicial decisions.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  36. •
    The Indian Constitution protects religion, but not every practice done in the name of religion. Discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  37. •
    The Indian Constitution borrowed institutional forms, but transformed their political purpose. How far do you agree?
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  38. •
    Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has replaced the word ‘sedition’ but not its constitutional concerns.” Examine in light of Article 19(1)(a) and relevant judicial standards.
    10 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →
  39. •
    “Socialism was absent from the Preamble when the Constitution was adopted, yet its spirit has always been present.” Substantiate.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  40. •
    The Constituent Assembly was not fully representative in form, but it became representative in substance.” Discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  41. •
    Sovereignty today does not mean isolation from the world — it means the capacity to engage with it on one’s own terms.” In the light of India’s constitutional commitments and foreign policy practice, examine this statement.
    10 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →
  42. •
    Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act 1996 was meant to give Fifth Schedule areas a constitutionally-backed regime of tribal self-rule. Evaluate its implementation.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  43. •
    Cooperatives have re-emerged as a development instrument with the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021 and the National Cooperative Policy 2025. Examine their role as an NGO-charity-development institution.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  44. •
    The Central Vigilance Commission and the Central Bureau of Investigation are India’s premier anti-corruption arms but their independence has been judicially defended more than legislatively secured. With reference to the Vineet Narain judgment, discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  45. •
    The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 has reorganised India’s information rights and welfare-state architecture. With reference to the right-to-privacy Puttaswamy framework, critically analyse.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  46. •
    Social audit has emerged as a citizen-driven accountability tool. With reference to MGNREGA and the Meghalaya Community Participation Act 2017, evaluate.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  47. •
    E-courts have become India’s largest digital-justice infrastructure. With reference to the e-Courts Project Phase III and the National Judicial Data Grid, evaluate.
    10 marks 150 words Easy Model answer →
  48. •
    Mission Karmayogi seeks to convert rules-based bureaucracy into a role-based, citizen-centric civil service. Examine the design and risks.
    10 marks 150 words Easy Model answer →
  49. •
    Lateral entry into the higher civil services has been promoted as a way to bring domain expertise into government. With reference to the 2024 UPSC advertisement and 2nd ARC recommendations, critically analyse.
    15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →
  50. •
    The role of the District Magistrate has been at the heart of Indian district administration since 1772, but the office is contested in a 21st-century democracy. Comment.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  51. •
    Persons with disabilities remain at the margin of welfare delivery despite a robust statutory framework. With reference to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, examine.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  52. •
    Hunger and undernutrition remain stubborn even as India crosses lower-middle-income status. With reference to the National Food Security Act 2013 and the Global Hunger Index controversy, comment.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  53. •
    The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 was meant to be the apex anti-corruption institution but remains under-operationalised. Examine.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  54. •
    NITI Aayog at 10 has been an instrument of cooperative federalism but has not replaced the planning function. With reference to its Governing Council and the Aspirational Districts Programme, examine.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  55. •
    The 2026 redrawing of the Multidimensional Poverty Index by NITI Aayog has reopened the question of how India measures deprivation. Discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
  56. •
    Anaemia is India’s most pervasive nutritional deficiency. With reference to the Anaemia Mukt Bharat 6×6×6 strategy, evaluate the welfare architecture for vulnerable groups.
    10 marks 150 words Easy Model answer →
  57. •
    Critical minerals have become a tool of statecraft, not just inputs of industry. With reference to the gaps in India’s framework for securing rare earths and battery metals, discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Hard Model answer →
  58. •
    Simultaneous elections, as proposed by the High-Level Committee on One Nation One Election, would alter the federal balance of the Constitution. Critically analyse.
    15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
  59. •
    The Right to Information Act 2005 is being hollowed out by vacancies and the 2019 amendment. Evaluate.
    10 marks 150 words Easy Model answer →
  60. •
    Civil-service neutrality is a constitutional value but a contested practice in India. With reference to the All India Services framework, discuss.
    10 marks 150 words Easy Model answer →
  61. •
    The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010 has reshaped the space for NGOs in India and strained the right to associate under Article 19(1)(c). Comment.
    10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

Other GS Paper 2 subjects

Social JusticeJudiciaryInternational RelationsConstitution & Polity