Main is an important examination for Civil Services aspirants. The Main exam will be conducted in 4 papers. The nature of questions varies every year but you can identify some broad areas based on the previous trends in the Exam. Following are some important areas that candidates can concentrate on to succeed in Main Examination. Here we are also giving expected questions for UPSC – Civil Services Exam (Main).
General Studies Paper 1:
Questions will be interdisciplinary in nature and tests application and integration of various subjects. Questions also include contemporary social issues. Geography related questions are more scoring in this paper.
General Studies Paper 2:
Questions pertaining to the judgements of Supreme Court, Discussions in Parliament will be given in this paper.
Also Read: Civils Mains – General Essay Topics and Model Questions for Practice
General Studies Paper 3:
Priority will be given to questions on Indian Economy and related issues.
General Studies Paper 4:
Questions related to Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude will be asked in this paper. Usually there will be no surprises in this paper. Studying previous paper will help a lot for this paper.
Expected Questions in Civils Main Exam:
PAPER – 1
1. India has ranked 133rd in the global list of happiest countries. India’s ranks far behind from neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Nepal and China. What do you think are the reasons for this low ranking and what measures would you suggest improving the situation?
2. Enumerate the key issues faced by working women in contemporary Indian society and the steps taken by the government to address them. Also, critically examine the key features of Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017.
3. Do you think giving constitutional status to the National Commission for women can embolden the efforts of empowerment?
4. State the factors which have led to India being categorized as a water-stressed nation. Also, identify sustainable solutions for averting the crisis at hand.
5. India is a classic example of unuse, misuse, underuse of water resources rather than scarcity. Discuss.
6. Monsoon flooding is the cost of runaway development… Do you agree with the view? Suggest measures for prevention and management of Monsoon Flooding
7. “Robert Clive founded the British Raj, Lord Macaulay sowed the seeds of its end” Critically comment
Also Read: Civil Services – Strategy for Working Professionals
PAPER – 2
1. Outline the arguments in favor and against the creation of smaller states.
2. In 1951-52, 1962 and 1967 General Elections, elections were held simultaneously for the Lok Sabha and Assembly. Now there is a debate on reviving the system. How far do you think that this is feasible? Substantiate your answer.
3. Following 70 years of Independence, there is an increasing debate in the national discourse on the efficacy of Parliamentary System in achieving India’s tryst with destiny. Do you think that a Presidential system of government could work in the Indian context? What are the Pros and cons compared with the parliamentary system
4. Direct Benefit Transfer has been recently seen as a panacea for all ills plaguing good governance. What are the possible hurdles in implementing the principles of electronic cash payments?
5. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment transferred a few subjects from the State list to the Concurrent list. However, with the current discourse on decentralization, there is a need to reconsider some of these. Clarify.
6. Some communities in the North-East of India have experienced persistent displacement due to ethnic violence. Discuss how this ethnic violence has affected the development of North East India and steps necessary for successful repatriation and for long-term solution.
7. “to put an end to the continuous misuse of the office of the governor in a manner that threatens both federalism and democracy, we have to rethink the role of the Governor in the constitutional scheme”. In the light of recent debate on the relevance and powers of the office of the governor of states in India, critically discuss the statement
8. Progressive centralization of power within the office of the chief justice has not been accompanied by a parallel strengthening of the accountability of this office. In the light of the “Master of Roster” controversy, critically comment
9. Issues relating to `Son’ preference are a matter for the Indian society as a whole to reflect upon … Do you think Development is the antidote? What measures would you suggest to ensure a healthy gender balance?
10. “Child hood is not merely about age, but a value integral to life that keeps us simple, spontaneous and transparent. Many people either take pity on children or use them for their own benefits. To create a developed safe and better world we have to create a children friendly society” says Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi. Suggest measures to take his vision forward.
11. India is blessed with several World religions and no single religious establishment can be its secular edifice. Therefore instead of keeping religion out of politics, we sensibly give equal respect to all religions. Comment in light of the recent developments.
PAPER – 3
1. “The GST is a hugely beneficial reform which would cut both transaction cost and double taxation and its long term benefits far outweigh the likely short term impacts”. Do you agree with the view? Outline the changes that have been made recently to make it a Good and Simple Tax.
2. Critically examine the recommendations of the NK Singh Committee on the FRBM Act
3. Examine the effectiveness of monetary transmission mechanism in the recent past? Suggest measures to improve the transmission to enable the economy to get better capital flow.
4. What is contract farming? Critically analyse the features of the draft Model Contract Farming Act, 2018.
5. India’s population pyramid is expected to bulge across the 15-59 age group over the next decade. This demographic advantage is predicted to last only until 2040. India therefore has a very narrow time frame to harness its demographic dividend and to overcome its skill shortages. Suggest measures for harnessing the demographic dividend in the short span of time.
6. Chinese ambitions and action draws Indian security calculation into a security dilemma. Discuss the dilemma faced by India and measures taken to address the same.
7. Discuss the significant role played by the ISRO in minimizing the space between technology and rural citizens.
Model Question for Practice:
Candidates usually write 4 or 5 points for a question on ‘What are the ecological impacts of large dams? . But you can include more points in the answer. The number of points you present decides the marks in Main Exam:
Q: WHAT ARE THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF LARGE DAMS ?
A: Experience from all over the world has shown that large dams have major environmental and ecological impacts. Some of these are listed below:
Upstream (including reservoir):
(1) soil erosion;
(2) micro-climatic changes;
(3) loss of forests, flora, and fauna;
(4) changes in floral and faunal density and diversity;
(5) changes in fisheries, especially on spawning grounds;
(6) chain effects on catchment area due to constructions, displacement, etc.;
(7) landslips, siltation and sedimentation;
(8) breeding of vectors in reservoir and increase in related diseases;
(9) seismicity;
(10) loss of non-forest land;
(11) water logging around reservoir ; and
(12) growth of weeds.
Downstream (including command area):
(1) water logging and salinity;
(2) reduced water flow and deposition in river, with related impacts on aquatic ecosystem, flora and fauna;
(3) micro- climatic changes;
(4) flash-floods;
(5) salt-water ingress at river mouth;
(6) changes in coastal ecosystem (e.g., mangroves);
(7) loss of land fertility along river; and
(8) vector breeding and increase in related diseases
