Have the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises received their due in the Atma Nirbhar policy of the Government? Answer with details. “The new labour laws will boost women participation and widen social security net.” Specify how the new laws do so. “In spite of the humongous work that has been done in the field of public health care, Covid-19 exposed basic structural deficiencies in it.” Critically discuss. “The deepening digital divide that India is rudely exposed to, is a threat to social development in India.” Examine the statement. Why is India interested in the Arctic? What is the geopolitics of the Arctic about? What is the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)? What are the lacunae in the Convention? What did India say when the BWC completed its 45 years earlier in 2020? Why has the Convention gained critical importance in 2020? Resilient Supply Chain Initiative (RSCI) is in news. Which countries launched it? Why? What is its long term importance? India’s ‘Act Far East’ policy opens up a variety of opportunities for mutual benefit. Analyse the statement. Which Arab countries signed normalisation agreements with Israel in 2020? Why are they described as historic? What is the geopolitical significance of them? What is the origin of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict? How did the regional countries and India react? Why is the region important? “Blue economy can unlock drivers for future global growth and India is at the forefront of the global efforts.” Comment. What are some important connectivity projects that India is undertaking in the neighbourhood? What principles guide India’s connectivity efforts? India was elected the Chair of World Health Organization’s Executive Board recently. What are the challenges associated with it? Why has there been a pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong since 2019? Why does it worry those in the region and others? Explain with a historical background. Iran-China relationship has strategic implications for India. Comment. What is special about Exercise Malabar 2020? The need of the hour in education is equity. How far does the New Education Policy 2020 ensure it? Do you think globalisation and social justice go together? Answer from India’s experience of the last three decades. “Irrespective of their primary skillset, self-help groups rose to the occasion to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic.” Substantiate. “The future of health care in India critically depends on the development of cold chain.” Elaborate. “The need of the hour is to shift to a presidential democracy as it offers multiple advantages over the parliamentary system.” Examine the statement critically. Equality of opportunity is critical to social progress. Can we say the same about equality of outcomes? Comment in the context of Indian polity. “Compared to the powers of the Union Government, state governments have limited powers to borrow.” Answer with reference to the Constitution. Why did the National Medical Commission (NMC) replace the Medical Council of India (MCI) as the new regulator? What are its functions? Why is there a controversy? “Penalising states for failing to stabilise population, by the Finance Commission awards has not worked. New ways have to be devised.” Critically examine the statement. Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 are being used to control and mitigate the coronavirus outbreak. How do these two laws differ? “Gerrymandering danger in the exercise of delimitation needs well- thought out controls at multiple levels.” Elucidate. In what connection is the National Court of Appeal being debated nationally for some time? What are your views? Art.131 enables the Supreme Court to take up disputes among the federal units- Union and State governments. Give some examples of such cases and offer reasons for the same. What are the main features of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act 2020? What is the rationale for the amendment? There are charges that the amendments are against the NGOs. Is it true? Why are the civil society organisations protestin “Indian Civil Service needs to reinvent itself.” Comment. What is the difference between the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)? How important is the parliamentary question hour in the control of the legislature over the executive in the parliamentary democracies like India? “Winner takes all” principle regarding popular election of people’s representatives is in national and international discussions for some time. Explain the term with relevant examples from India and United States of America (USA). The Governor of a state has almost the same powers of showing mercy to a convict as the President of India. Do you agree? State the relation between the Fundamental Rights and the legislative privileges. Why is there a demand that the legal provisions for the protection of privileges of legislators and legislature be codified? The term ‘laicite’ has been in news recently. What is the substance of the term? Challenges in fighting corruption are many and formidable. Comment. “A balance must be kept between fighting hate speech on the one hand, and safeguarding freedom of speech on the other.” How do the laws and other policies of the government seek to achieve the balance? The Constitution of India conditionally allows domicile-based reservation in public employment. Elaborate.
