UPSC mains GENERAL STUDIES - 2012
Paper I
1. Answer any five of the following in about 250 words each:
25x5=125
a. What do you understand by the term “Innovations”? Discuss the need for launching a national innovation policy in India.
b. Keeping in view the informal sector’s share in the total workforce of the country, critically examine the relevant inclusive measures initiated by the Government of India and their effectiveness.
c. Examine the causes and the extent of ‘desertification’ in India and suggest remedial measures.
d. In the context of the growing demands for the ban of Endosulfan in the country, critically examine the issues involved. What, in your view, should be done in the matter?
e. “The Indian independence movement was a mass‐based movement that encompassed various sections of society. It also underwent the process of constant ideological evolution.” Critically examine.
f. The issue of tourism in core areas of tiger reserve forests in the country is a subject matter of debate. Critically examine various aspects of this issue, keeping in view relevant recent judicial pronouncements.
2. Answer any seven of the following in about 150 words each:
15x7=105
a. “There is an urgent need for the Planning Commission to revise the chapter on health in the 12th Plan document.” Comment.
b. The Union Cabinet recently cleared the proposal to rename and amend the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. What are the salient features of the proposed amendments?
c. “Domestic resource mobilization, though central to the process of Indian economic growth, is characterized by several constraints.” Explain.
d. The ‘flute‐playing Krishna’ theme is very popular in India art. Discuss.
e. What are the salient features of the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2011 introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2011?
f. What do you understand by the term “Multi‐Drug Resistant Tuberculosis” (MDR‐TB)? What measures would you advocate for its containment and what are the implications of its spread in the community?
g. Given the accelerated pace of development and demand for energy, would you consider renewable energy as a viable option for India’s future?
h. Many food items contain “trans fats”. What do you understand by this term? Which Indian food items contain trans fats? What are the implications of trans fats on human health?
3. Answer the following in about 50 words each:
5x11=55
a. What is the ‘Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalat’?
b. List the main objectives of the National Manufacturing Policy (NMP), 2011.
c. Comment on the significance of Rasarnava in studying the history of Indian Chemistry.
d. What are the Rights within the ambit of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution?
e. Comment on the significance of the Preamble contained in the Right to Information Act.
f. To implement one key recommendation of the Mohini Giri Committee, the Government has recently announced the constitution of a National Council. Highlight the composition and the mandate of this National Council.
g. Comment on the recent launching of the National Mission on Libraries (NML).
h. What are the groups into which musical instruments in India have traditionally been classified?
i. Comment on the significance of fire in Zoroastrianism.
j. Why is Laurie Baker called ‘the conscience keeper of Indian architecture’?
k. You are stationed in a small district town in the plains of Northern India. The summer has been severe. Suddenly, a colleague, who had been out since morning, returns to the office complaining of headache, restlessness and confusion. Shortly, he becomes unconscious. His body temperature is 400 C.
What first aid steps would you take to revive him?
4. Comment on each of the following in about 20 words each:
2x5=10
a. The significance of Patharughat in the Indian freedom struggle
b. Bagurumba folk dance
c. Determining the ‘value’ assigned to the vote of a Member of a State Legislative Assembly and of a Member of Parliament in the Indian Presidential elections
d. Significance of the SPOT‐6 rocket launch for ISRO
e. Issues highlighted through the work of Palagummi Sainath
5. Why have the following been in the news recently?
(Answer to be in one sentence only)
1x5=5
a. P.V.Sindhu
b. Aditya Kumar Mandi
c. Cyrus Mistry
d. Ashoke Sen
e. Mario de Miranda
Paper II
1. Answer any four of the following in about 250 words each:
25x4=100
a. Do you think that China’s emergence as one of the largest trading partners of India has adversely affected the settlement of the outstanding border problem?
b. Discuss the globalization of R&D and its impact on India’s development. Provide an illustration from at least one sector such as Information Technology or Health.
c. Discuss the contentious issues that have caused the prolonged constitutional logjam in Nepal.
d. The human population is slated to grow to 9 billion by 2050. In this context, many scientists predict that plant genomics would play a critical role in keeping out hunger and preserving the environment. Explain.
e. “The situation today is far different to that prevalent fifty years back when the Indus Water Treaty was signed.” Heighlight the complexity of the current challenges on both sides of the border in this regard. Do you think that a review of the Treaty is in India’s best interests?
2. Answer any five of the following in about 150 words each:
15x5 = 75
a. Write a short analytical note on Indian Diaspora. How is the “New Diaspora” different from the “Old Diaspora”?
b. Why have the resource rich African and South Asian Countries remained poor for decades? Explain.
c. Does Putin’s return as President of Russia mark a shift to a confrontationist stance in international diplomacy towards the west?
d. Analyse critically the interlinkages between the Convention on Biological Diversity and FAO Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
e. Critically review the international concern in achieving the targets set for the Millennium Development Goals.
f. Discuss the likely negative impact of the protectionist measures proposed by the US on India’s software industry.
3. Answer any six of the following in not more than 100 words each:
a. In the context of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, India has emerged as a hub of commercial surrogacy. What key biological, legal and ethical issues merit consideration while framing the regulation to govern surrogacy in India?
b. Why is international trade perceived to have failed to act as an “engine of growth” in many developing countries including India?
c. Despite strict prohibitory regulations, “doping” has become increasingly common amongst athletes. Name five commonly used performance‐ enhancing drugs. What are the risks associated with their use?
d. Compare the significance of IBSA and BRICS in the context of India’s multilateral diplomacy.
e. The safe landing of the “Curiosity” Rover under NASA’s space programme has sparked many possibilities. What are those and how cloud humankind benefit from them?
f. How have the US sanctions against Iran affected India’s bilateral relations with Iran?
g. What is Permaculture? Give at least three common examples where permaculture concepts are being put to use.
4. Answer the following in not more than 50 words each:
5x6=30
a. The Sequoia supercomputer was launched this year. What are its specific features and what is its purpose?
b. What is meant by the G8+5 group?
c. The Human Papilloma Virus vaccine has been making the headlines in the recent months. Who make the ideal candidates for receiving this vaccine and what are its benefits?
d. What are India’s stakes in the South China Sea?
e. Explain the concepts “Environmental Sustainability” and “Sustainable Development of People”.
f. Explain briefly the “Clean Development Mechanism” as provided under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 