UPSC Civil Services Exam (Mains) 2017 General Studies 3 Question Paper:-
Instructions
- Maximum Marks: 250. Time Allowed: Three Hours
- There are TWENTY questions printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
- All questions are compulsory.
- Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission
Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this
Question-cum-Answer (QUA) Booklet in the space provided.
- No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
- Answers to questions no. 1 to 10 should be in 150 words, whereas answers to questions no. 11 to 20 should be in 250 words.
- Keep the word limit indicated in the questions in mind.
- Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet mast clearly struck off.
UPSC CSE Mains 2017 General Studies 3 (GS 3) Question Paper
- Among several factors for India’s potential growth, the savings rate
is the most effective one. Do you agree? What are the other factors
available for growth potential? (150 words, 10 marks)
- Account for the failure of the manufacturing sector in achieving the
goal of labour-intensive exports rather than capital-intensive exports.
Suggest measures for more labour-intensive rather than
capital-intensive exports. (150 words, 10 marks)
- Examine the developments of Airports in India through Joint Ventures
under Public-Private Partnership(PPP) model. What are the challenges
faced by the authorities in this regard? (150 words, 10 marks)
- Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture
after Independence in India. How have these revolutions helped in
poverty alleviation and food security in India? (150 words, 10 marks)
- What are the reasons for poor acceptance of cost-effective small
processing unit? How will the food processing unit be helpful to uplift
the socio-economic status of poor farmers? (150 words, 10 marks)
- Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity in India to treat a wide
variety of medical conditions including leukaemia, Thalassemia, damaged
cornea and several burns. Describe briefly what stem cell therapy is and
what advantages it has over other treatments? (150 words, 10 marks)
- India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions
including the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission, but has not ventured
into manned space mission, both in terms of technology and logistics?
Explain critically. (150 words, 10 marks)
- Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming
reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its
possible impact on the environment. (150 words, 10 marks)
- Discuss the potential threats of Cyberattack and the security framework to prevent it. (150 words, 10 marks)
- The north-eastern region of India has been infested with insurgency
for a very long time. Analyze the major reasons for the survival of
armed insurgency in this region. (150 words, 10 marks)
- One of the intended objectives of Union Budget 2017-18 is to
‘transform, energize and clean India’. Analyse the measures proposed in
the Budget 2017-18 to achieve the objective. (250 words, 15 marks)
- “Industrial growth rate has lagged behind in the overall growth of
Gross-Domestic-Product(GDP) in the post-reform period” Give reasons. How
far the recent changes is Industrial Policy is capable of increasing
the industrial growth rate? (250 words, 15 marks)
- What are the salient features of ‘inclusive growth’? Has India been
experiencing such a growth process? Analyze and suggest measures for
inclusive growth. (250 words, 15 marks)
- What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the
cropping system? How is crop diversification helpful to stabilize the
yield of the crop in the system? (250 words, 15 marks)
- How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diversity and
economy of farmers? What is the significance of crop insurance, minimum
support price and food processing for small and marginal farmers? (250
words, 15 marks)
- Give an account of the growth and development of nuclear science and
technology in India. What is the advantage of fast breeder reactor
programme in India? (250 words, 15 marks)
- ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How will India be affected by
climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be
affected by climate change? (250 words, 15 marks)
- On December 2004, tsumani brought havoc in 14 countries including
India. Discuss the factors responsible for the occurrence of Tsunami and
its effects on life and economy. In the light of guidelines of NDMA
(2010) describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk
during such events. (250 words, 15 marks)
- Mob violence is emerging as a serious law and order problem in
India. By giving suitable examples, analyze the causes and consequences
of such violence. (250 words, 15 marks)
- The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security.
What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the
major sources of terrorist funding? (250 words, 15 marks)
UPSC Civil Services Exam (Mains) 2017 General Studies 2 Question Paper:-
Instructions
- Maximum Marks: 250. Time Allowed: Three Hours
- There are TWENTY questions printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
- All questions are compulsory.
- Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission
Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this
Question-cum-Answer (QUA) Booklet in the space provided.
- No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
- Answers to questions no. 1 to 10 should be in 150 words, whereas answers to questions no. 11 to 20 should be in 250 words.
- Keep the word limit indicated in the questions in mind.
- Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet mast clearly struck off.
UPSC CSE Mains 2017 General Studies 2 (GS 2) Question Paper
- “The local self-government system
in India has not proved to be an effective instrument of governance”.
Critically examine the statement and give your views to improve the
situation. (150 words)
- Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgement on ‘National
Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014’ with reference to the
appointment of judges of higher judiciary in India. (150 words)
- ‘Simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies
will limit the amount of time and money spent in electioneering but it
will reduce the government’s accountability to the people’ Discuss.
(150 words)
- How do pressure groups
influence Indian political process? Do you agree with this view that
informal pressure groups have emerged as powerful than formal pressure
groups in recent years? (150 words)
- Discuss the role of Public Accounts Committee in establishing accountability of the government to the people. (150 words)
- ‘To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water,
sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments
is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes’ Examine the
statement in the context of the WASH scheme. (150 words)
- Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure an
effective mechanism for empowerment and inclusion of the intended
beneficiaries in the society? Discuss (150 words)
- 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. (150 words)
- ‘China is using its economic relations and positive trade surplus
as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia’, In the
light of this statement, discuss its impact on India as her neighbour.
(150 words)
- What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and
Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain different functional commissions
attached to it. (150 words)
- Explain the salient features of the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016.
Do you think it is efficacious enough ‘to remove cascading effect of
taxes and provide for a common national market for goods and services’?
(250 words)
- Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in the light of the latest judgement of the Supreme Court on Right to Privacy. (250 words)
- The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding a joint session
of the two houses of the Parliament. Enumerate the occasions when this
would normally happen and also the occasions when it cannot, with
reasons thereof. (250 words)
- To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission
of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested
reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy
successful? (250 words)
- 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. (250 words)
- ‘The emergence of 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. (250 words)
- ‘Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India remain mere show pieces
until and unless they are backed by political will’. Discuss with
reference to the performance of the major poverty alleviation programmes
in India. (250 words)
- 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 (250 words)
- The question of India’s Energy Security constitutes the most
important part of India’s economic progress. Analyze India’s energy
policy cooperation with West Asian Countries. (250 words)
- Indian Diaspora has an important role to play in South-East Asian
countries’ economy and society. Appraise the role of Indian Diaspora in
South- East Asia in this context (250 words)
UPSC Civil Services Exam (Mains) 2017 General Studies 1 Question Paper:-
Instructions
- Maximum Marks: 250. Time Allowed: Three Hours
- There are TWENTY questions printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
- All questions are compulsory.
- Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission
Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this
Question-cum-Answer (QUA) Booklet in the space provided.
- No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
- Answers to questions no. 1 to 10 should be in 150 words, whereas answers to questions no. 11 to 20 should be in 250 words.
- Keep the word limit indicated in the questions in mind.
- Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet mast clearly struck off.
UPSC CSE Mains 2017 General Studies 1 (GS 1) Question Paper
- How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the
Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times? (150
words, 10 marks)
- Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity. (150 words, 10 marks)
- Why did the ‘Moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the nation
about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the
nineteenth century? (150 words, 10 marks)
- What problems are germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula? (150 words, 10 marks)
- How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth? (150 words, 10 marks)
- “In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development”. Discuss (150 words, 10 marks)
- Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulses because of which
the year 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by
United Nations. (150 words, 10 marks)
- How does the cryosphere affect global climate? (150 words, 10 marks)
- In the context of the diversity of India, can it be said that the
regions form cultural units rather than the States? Give reasons with
examples for your viewpoint. (150 words, 10 marks)
- What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since
Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes(STs)?
(150 words, 10 marks)
- The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature
of Indian society from very early times, but it is also playing an
important part at the present. Elaborate. (250 words, 15 marks)
- Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy. (250 words, 15 marks)
- Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the
vision of Indian Independence since the twenties of the last century.
(250 words, 15 marks)
- Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects. (250 words, 15 marks)
- Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil
producing areas, particularly in many of the developing countries.
Explain its implications. (250 words, 15 marks)
- In what way can floods be converted into a sustainable source of
irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in India? (250 words, 15
marks)
- What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that
succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the world population
residing in Monsoon Asia? (250 words, 15 marks)
- The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the
19th-century social reform movement. What are the major issues and
debates concerning women in that period? (250 words, 15 marks)
- Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving
one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in
independent India. (250 words, 15 marks)
- “The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up new avenues of
employment, but has also created new problems”. Substantiate this
statement with examples (250 words, 15 marks)
