GS Paper 2 2018

GS MAINS PAPER 2018 – NITHI IAS ANALYSIS

 

In series of 4 articles, we will be analysing GS Mains,2018 question papers and figure out how helpful NITHI IAS was/is in your preparation.

This article is second of such four​​ articles.

Bottom line of Mains 2018 General Studies Papers​​ ​​ NITHI IAS’s​​ Coaching classes for​​ Fresher​​ and other students continue to be​​ highly relevant and indispensable. Especially, the DNA & CI Classes.

Our Answer Writing Practice Sessions and tests have made great difference to mains answer writing.

 

GS PAPER​​ 2​​ – Mains 2018

 

18​​ out of 20 Questions​​ in GS PAPER – 2​​ can be fully answered by NITHI IAS Students.

 

Few General comments:

1. Answers to question numbers 1 to 10 should be written in 150 words and answers to question numbers 11 to 20 should be written in 250 words.

2. No change in overall word limit compared to 2017

3.​​ A lot of static and direct questions have been asked for the first time in GS Paper 2. Of course, current dimension for these questions is needed.

4. Current questions required knowledge related to over a span of period​​ (DNA​​ & CI Classes handouts for last one​​ year)

Notes:

1. Answerability meaning: Students have sufficient material (NCERT + Handouts + Classnotes) and discussion content from class to attempt the question

Questions

1.​​ In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India?​​ (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Comment: There​​ were series of headlines about EVMs over many months. One specific source cannot be pointed out.

Answerability: Full 10 Marks

Source:​​ DNA & CI Class discussions

2.​​ Whether National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine.​​ (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Comment:​​ ​​ Very difficult question this is​​ as​​ the​​ question​​ demands​​ straight forward answer​​ and the issue is a matter of sub​​ judice.​​ 

Quick observations:​​ 

1. AMU is not a minority institute​​ 

2. AMU minority status is pending in SC​​ 

3. Quotas don’t apply in Minority institutions. So, NCSC​​ can implement reservation in AMU

Answerability:​​ 0 Marks

3.​​ Under what circumstances can the Financial Emergency be proclaimed by the President of India? What consequences follow when such a declaration remains in force?​​ (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Comment:​​ Static Question

Answerability: Full 10 Marks

Source:​​ Laxmiknath

4.​​ Why do you think the committees are considered to be useful for parliamentary work? Discuss, in this context, the role of the Estimates Committee.​​ (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Comment:​​ Static Question

Answerability: Full 10 Marks

Source:​​ Laxmiknath​​ 

5.​​ “The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has a very vital role to play.” Explain how this is reflected in the method and terms of his appointment as well as the range of powers he can exercise.​​ (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Comment:​​ Static Question

Answerability: Full 10 Marks

Source:​​ Laxmiknath​​ 

6.​​ “Policy contradictions among various competing sectors and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate ‘protection and prevention of degradation’​​ to environment.” Comment with relevant illustrations.​​ (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Answerability: Full 10 Marks

Source:​​ DNA & CI Classes​​ (Multiple news articles)

7.​​ Appropriate local community level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain.​​ (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Answerability: Full 10 Marks

Source:​​ https://www.nithiias.com/Nithipedia/index.php/A._Issues_relating_to_development_and_management_of_Social_Sector/Services_relating_to_Health

8.​​ E-governance in not only about utilization of the power of new technology, but also much about critical importance of the ‘use value’ of information. Explain.​​ (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Answerability: Full 10 Marks

Source:​​ https://www.nithiias.com/Nithipedia/index.php/15.A)_Important_aspects_of_governance,_transparency_and_accountability,_e-governance_applications,_models,_successes,_limitations,_and_potential;_citizens_charters,_transparency_%26_accountability_and_institutional_and_other_measures.#e-goverance-_Applications.2C_models.2C_Successes.2C_limitation

9.​​ “India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot​​ be rolled back.” Discuss. (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Answerability: Full 10 Marks

Source:​​ July Month DNA & CI​​ classes​​ (Multiple news articles)

10.​​ A number of outside powers have entrenched themselves in Central Asia, which is a zone of interest to India. Discuss the implications, in this context, of India’s joining the Ashgabat Agreement, 2018.​​ (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Answerability: 0 Marks

11.​​ Whether the Supreme Court Judgement (July 2018) can settle the political tussle between the Lt. Governor and elected government of Delhi? Examine. (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Answerability: Full 15​​ Marks

Source:​​ July Month DNA & CI Class​​ (Multiple news articles)

12.​​ How far do you agree with the view that tribunals curtail the jurisdiction of ordinary courts? In view of the above, discuss the constitutional validity and competency of the tribunals in India.​​ (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Answerability: Full 15​​ Marks

Source:​​ https://www.nithiias.com/Nithipedia/index.php/October_30

13.​​ Indian and USA are two large democracies. Examine the basic tenets on which the two political systems are based.​​ (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Comment:​​ Static Question

Answerability: Full 15​​ Marks

14.​​ How is the Finance Commission of India constituted? What do you know about the terms of reference of the recently constituted Finance Commission? Discuss.​​ (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Comment:​​ Static Question​​ + Newspaper

Answerability: Full 15​​ Marks

Source:​​ Laxmikanth +​​ DNA & CI Classes​​ (Multiple news articles)

15.​​ Assess the importance of the Panchayat system in India as a part of local government. Apart from government grants, what sources the Panchayats can look out for financing developmental projects?​​ (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Answerability: Full 15​​ Marks

Source:​​ Laxmikanth + Economic Survey 2018 Handout

16.​​ Multiplicity of various commissions for the vulnerable sections of the society leads to problems of overlapping jurisdiction and duplication of functions. Is it better to merge all commissions into an umbrella Human Rights Commission? Argue your case.​​ (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Comment:​​ Static Question

Answerability: Full 15​​ Marks

17.​​ How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India?​​ (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Comment:​​ Static Question

Answerability: Full 15​​ Marks

18.​​ The Citizen’s Charter is an ideal instrument of organisational transparency and accountability, but it has its own limitations. Identify the limitations and suggest measures for greater effectiveness of the Citizen’s Charters.​​ (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Comment:​​ Static Question; Covered in Ethics Paper

Answerability:​​ 15​​ Marks

19.​​ What are the key areas of reform if the WTO has to survive in the present context of ‘Trade War’, especially keeping in mind the interest of India?​​ (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Answerability: Full 15​​ Marks

Source:​​ DNA & CI Class​​ (Multiple news articles)​​ + WTO Handout

20.​​ In what ways would the ongoing US-Iran Nuclear Pact Controversy affect the national interest of India? How should India respond to its situation?​​ (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Answerability: Full 15​​ Marks

Source:​​ DNA & CI Class Handouts​​ (Multiple news articles)

Post Author: NITHI IAS