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UPSC CSE Mains 2017 — Indian Polity & Governance Questions with Answers

All 17 Indian Polity & Governance previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2017, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.

1. Q1.Local Government

   "The local self-government system in India has not proved to be an effective instrument of governance." Critically examine the statement and give your views to improve the situation.

2. Q2.Judiciary

   Critically examine the Supreme Court's judgment on the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014 with reference to the appointment of judges of the higher judiciary in India.

3. Q3.Legislature

   "Simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies will limit the amount of time and money spent in electioneering but it will reduce the government's accountability to the people." Discuss.

4. Q4.Non-State Actors

   How do pressure groups influence the Indian political process? Do you agree with the view that informal pressure groups have emerged as more powerful than formal pressure groups in recent years?

5. Q5.Transparency & Accountability

   Discuss the role of the Public Accounts Committee in establishing accountability of the government to the people.

6. Q6.Policies & Schemes

   "To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of the beneficiary segments is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes." Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme.

7. Q7.Transparency & Accountability

   Hunger and poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement.

8. Q8.Policies & Schemes

   What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain the different functional commissions attached to it.

9. Q9.Constitution & Rights

   Explain the salient features of the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016. Do you think it is efficacious enough "to remove the cascading effect of taxes and provide for a common national market for goods and services"?

10. Q10.Judiciary

    Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in the light of the latest judgment of the Supreme Court on the Right to Privacy.

11. Q11.Legislature

    The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding a joint session of the two houses of the Parliament. Enumerate the occasions when this would normally happen and also the occasions when it cannot, with reasons thereof.

12. Q12.Constitutional & Statutory Bodies

    To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful?

13. Q13.Policies & Schemes

    Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face at both public and private spheres?

14. Q14.Non-State Actors

    "The emergence of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in contemporary times points to the slow but steady withdrawal of the state from development activities." Examine the role of the SHGs in developmental activities and the measures taken by the Government of India to promote the SHGs.

15. Q15.Policies & Schemes

    "Poverty alleviation programmes in India remain mere showpieces until and unless they are backed up by political will." Discuss with reference to the performance of the major poverty alleviation programmes in India.

16. Q16.Civil Services

    Initially Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context. Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services? Comment.

17. Q17.Policies & Schemes

    The question of India's Energy Security constitutes the most important part of India's economic progress. Analyze India's energy policy cooperation with West Asian countries.