Skip to content
Start free

UPSC Mains PYQs

1053 questions

Every General Studies question since 2013, ready to attempt. Model answers arrive week by week.

GS2

265 questions

Clear filters

2025

  1. 2025 · GS2 · 10 marks“The Attorney General of India plays a crucial role in guiding the legal framework of the Union Government and ensuring sound governance through legal counsel.” Discuss his responsibilities, rights and limitations in this regard.
  2. 2025 · GS2 · 10 marksCivil Society Organizations are often perceived as being anti-State actors than non-State actors. Do you agree? Justify.
  3. 2025 · GS2 · 10 marksCompare and contrast the President's power to pardon in India and in the USA. Are there any limits to it in both the countries? What are preemptive pardons?
  4. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks“Constitutional morality is the fulcrum which acts as an essential check upon the high functionaries and citizens alike….” In view of the above observation of the Supreme Court, explain the concept of constitutional morality and its application to ensure balance between judicial independence and judicial accountability in India.
  5. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks“In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution defeating the objectives of development.” Critically evaluate.
  6. 2025 · GS2 · 10 marksDiscuss the 'corrupt practices' for the purpose of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Analyze whether the increase in the assets of the legislators and/or their associates, disproportionate to their known sources of income, would constitute 'undue influence' and consequently a corrupt practice.
  7. 2025 · GS2 · 10 markse-governance projects have a built-in bias towards technology and back-end integration than user-centric designs. Examine.
  8. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks“Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries.” How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?
  9. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marksWhat are environmental pressure groups? Discuss their role in raising awareness, influencing policies and advocating for environmental protection in India.
  10. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marksDiscuss the evolution of collegium system in India. Critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the system of appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India and that of the USA.
  11. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marksExamine the evolving pattern of Centre-State financial relations in the context of planned development in India. How far have the recent reforms impacted the fiscal federalism in India?
  12. 2025 · GS2 · 10 marksIndia-Africa digital partnership is achieving mutual respect, co-development and long-term institutional partnerships. Elaborate.
  13. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marksIndian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.
  14. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marksInequality in the ownership pattern of resources is one of the major causes of poverty. Discuss in the context of 'paradox of poverty'.
  15. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marksThe National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue.
  16. 2025 · GS2 · 10 marksDiscuss the nature of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. Briefly describe the powers and functions of the Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
  17. 2025 · GS2 · 10 marksComment on the need of administrative tribunals as compared to the court system. Assess the impact of the recent tribunal reforms through rationalization of tribunals made in 2021.
  18. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks“The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance.” Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.
  19. 2025 · GS2 · 10 marks“With the waning of globalization, post-Cold War world is becoming a site of sovereign nationalism.” Elucidate.
  20. 2025 · GS2 · 10 marksWomen's social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain.

2024

  1. 2024 · GS2 · 15 marksWhat are the aims and objectives of recently passed and enforced, The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations, too, are covered under the Act?
  2. 2024 · GS2 · 15 marksWhat changes has the union government recently introduced in the domain of center-state relations? Suggest measures to be adopted to build the trust between the center and the states and for strengthening federalism.
  3. 2024 · GS2 · 15 marksThe citizen charter has been a landmark initiative in ensuring citizen-centric administration. But it is yet to reach its full potential. Identify the factors hindering the full realization of its promise and suggest measures to overcome them.
  4. 2024 · GS2 · 15 marksIn a crucial domain like the public healthcare system, the Indian State should play a vital role to contain the adverse impact of marketisation of the system. Suggest some measures through which the State can enhance the reach of public healthcare at the grassroots level
Start free

Browse another way

The syllabus, topic by topic

Every question is filed under the topic it tests. Open a topic to see what UPSC has asked there.

Open the syllabus