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The UPSC 2020 Mains GS 2 was overall moderately difficult but was lengthy. Many questions had a current perspective and required analytical thinking. Polity and governance had maximum weightage with 11 questions, 4 questions were from International Relations and the number of Social Justice and Welfare based questions were 5.
Questions in the Polity and Governance section were mostly current affairs based, but there were some questions on static themes also like the role of Rajya Sabha, Judicial Activism and PIL, and reforms in civil services- but all these topics have been in news in the recent past. Almost all the questions required recent examples and statistics. National Education Policy was asked, which had been in news recently. Overall, this section was difficult and lengthy to answer.
Most of the questions (around 16 out of 20 in GS2) came directly from Samajho’s Corner Notes & SMP.
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| Polity and Governance |
Q.1“There is a need for simplification of Procedure for disqualification of persons found guilty of corrupt practices under the Representation of Peoples Act”. Comment (Answer in 150 words)
Topic: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Moderate question- specific knowledge of RPA Section 123 dealing with corrupt practices required.
Limited content in Laxmikant.
Criminalization of Politics in India- Issues and Solutions
Salient Features of Representation of Peoples Act
Q.2 “Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have a profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss.(Answer in 150 words)
Topic: transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
Moderate and Straightforward Question from current affairs.
Recently the RTI act was amended which allowed the central government to prescribe the term for information commissioners. Also, it allowed the central government to determine salaries, allowances and other terms of service of the Chief/State Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners.
Right to Information Act- Mandate, Features and Challenges
Right to Information Act Amendment
Q.3 How far do you think Cooperation, competition and confrontation have shaped the nature of federation in India? Cite Some recent examples to validate your answer. (Answer in 150 words)
Topic: issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure.
Easy and straightforward question given there have been a lot of developments in recent years in federal relations.
Cooperation – GST Council
Confrontation – Permission to CBI to investigate cases, Opposition farm laws by some states, opposition to CAA, NRC.
Competition – Ease of doing business ranking of state governments, Swachh Survekshan etc.
Why does India need True Fiscal Federalism for Economic and Social Development?
Q.4 The judicial systems in India and the UK seem to be converging as well as diverging in recent times. Highlight the key points of convergence and divergence between the two nations in terms of their judicial practices. (Answer in 150 words)
Topic: Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
Difficult question due to its unconventional nature and lack of knowledge on the UK Judicial system.
It requires specific knowledge of Judicial Practice in the UK.
Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of other countries
Q.5 “Once a Speaker, Always a Speaker’! Do you think this practise should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India?
Topic: Parliament and State legislatures- structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Moderate difficulty as the office of the speaker in Parliament and State legislature has been in news due to controversy over his/her biases in anti-defection decisions and in conducting proceedings of the house.
Q.6 “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance”. In this context suggest reforms in Civil Service for strengthening democracy. (Answer in 150 words)
Topic: Role of civil services in a democracy.
Moderately difficult as directly from syllabus.
A candidate having read 10th Report of 2ARC and following recent reforms in civil services like perform and perish, Mission Karamyogi– can answer this question. The topics are covered in detail in Samajho’s Corner.
The National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (‘NPCSCB’) – “Mission Karmayogi” has been launched with the objective of enhancing governance through Civil Service Capacity Building.
Q.7 “The emergence of Fourth Industrial Revolution (Digital Revolution) has initiated e-Governance as an integral part of the government”. Discuss (Answer in 150 words)
Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency, and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential
Moderately difficult given the fact that e-governance has been quite a in news in recent times. The topic has been covered in detail in Samjhao’s corner:
Q.8 Indian Constitution exhibits centralising tendencies to maintain unity and integrity of the nation. Elucidate in the perspective of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897; The Disaster Management Act, 2005 and recently passed Farm Acts. (Answer in 250 words)
Topic: issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure,
Moderate and current affairs based as Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, Disaster Management Act 2005 had been in news during COVID lockdown and recent farm acts have also been in news.
Q.9 Judicial legislation is antithetical to the doctrine of separation of powers as envisaged in the Indian Constitution. In this context justify the filing of a large number of public interest petitions praying for issuing guidelines to executive authorities. (Answer in 250 words)
Topic: Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
Moderate and Analytical question on PIL and Judicial activism. It required analytical thinking to answer the question properly.
ANALYZING THE ROLE OF JUDICIARY IN THE LAST 5 YEARS
TRANSPARENCY VS. INDEPENDENCE IN JUDICIARY
Q.10 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. (Answer in 250 words)
Topic: devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Difficult due to lack of understanding of ‘ Functionality’ related challenges. Conventional questions had been on lack of devolution of 3Fs- Funds, Functions and Functionaries.
You need to highlight the challenges they face in performing the functions devolved to them – lack of coordination between bureaucrats and subordinates, panchayat pati, corruption, Substandard personnel: lax attitude towards the governance, poor collection of taxes and fees, etc.
Democratic Decentralisation in India
Local governance is also covered in detail in Polity SMP by Rohit sir.
Q.11 Rajya Sabha has been transformed from a ‘useless Stepney tyre’ to the most useful supporting organ in the past few decades. Highlight the factors as well as the areas in which this transformation could be visible. (Answer in 250 words)
Topic: Parliament and State legislatures- structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Analytical therefore difficult question.
| International Relations |
Q.1 Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Answer in 150 words)
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora their structure, mandate.
Easy Question – WHO has been in the news a lot over its response to COVID 19 pandemic. A lot of content in current affairs over this issue.
Impact of a Weak WHO on the Developing World
Q.2 “Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries”. Comment with examples. (Answer in 150 words)
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Moderate and current affairs based given the fact that role of Indian diaspora in recent US elections – Kamala Harris as Vice President of USA as well as in the UK. Prominent Indian politicians and CEOs can be mentioned. Indian Diaspora is critical to India’s soft power diplomacy.
Q.3 Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)’ is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times- Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Easy and Current Affairs based question. Question on QUAD was expected as it was in the news.
Q.4 What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (Answer in 250 words)
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Moderate in nature as both Indo- US and Indo– Russia were in news but the question was analytical in nature.
This could easily be answered with the help of Samajho Corner’s content on various aspects of this question.
| Social Justice and Welfare |
Q.1 In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Topic: Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Moderate difficulty can be answered with knowledge about schemes for the healthcare of old people and women.
It is related to SDG 3 and 5.
How Corona Pandemic has Unveiled our Public Health System?
GS 2 MAINS 2020: IMPORTANT DATA AND KEY FINDINGS OF REPORTS TO QUOTE IN MAINS ANSWERS
Q.2 Which steps are required for constitutionalization of a Commission? Do you think imparting constitutionality to the National Commission for Women would ensure greater gender justice and empowerment in India? Give reasons. (Answer in 250 words)
Topic: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies/ Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies/ mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Difficult as the second part of the question was opinion based and required deeper knowledge and interlinking of topics
There was a question on NCW in previous years questions also.
Q.3 “The incidence and intensity of poverty are more important in determining poverty based on income alone”. In this context analyse the latest United Nations Multidimensional Poverty Index Report. (Answer in 250 words).
Topic: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Easy and current affairs based. The theme is quite common – income alone is an inadequate criterion to measure poverty. Also related to SDG 1
Q.4 “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. (Answer in 250 words)
Topic: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Easy and straightforward question on SHGs and their role.
Q.5 National Education Policy, 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (Answer in 250 words)
Topic: Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Moderate and current affairs based question. Anyone following current affairs and knowing SDGs can answer it. National Education Policy, 2020 is holistically covered in Samajho’s corner.
