Previous year questions 2021
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APPSC Mains · 773 questions

APPSC Mains 2021: previous year questions

Every question as the commission asked it, paper by paper. Where a question matches a syllabus topic, it links there, with notes for the topic.

paper1

  1. Do you think that the central concern of the ancient Indian Shastras was the contextualization of multiplicity of the concept of Dharma?Write your answer →
  2. Examine the way regional political powers tried to build an alternative political power structure in India during the 18th century.Write your answer →
  3. How did the Moderates’ economic critique of British policies provide the ideological basis for the future political agitation in India?Syllabus: Indian Nationalism in three phasesWrite your answer →
  4. Why are the philosophical frameworks of communism and capitalism, which profess to ensure the surest way of happiness of the people, in constant conflict?Write your answer →
  5. Explain how intersectionality operates between cultural diversity and contemporary identity politics in India.Write your answer →
  6. Analyse the long struggle of women’s advancement in India, from subordination to gender equality.Syllabus: Indian Nationalism in three phasesWrite your answer →
  7. Comment on the view that globalization has marginalized and further alienated the farmer from farming.Write your answer →
  8. ‘Social empowerment’ is essentially a political discourse in India. Elucidate.Syllabus: Inclusive GrowthWrite your answer →
  9. Communalism is a modern political construct that emerged as a reaction to a particular view of India’s past. Do you agree?Write your answer →
  10. The dominant view of Homo sapiens that they are external but central to the ecosystem is at the root of degradation of flora and fauna. Comment.Write your answer →
  11. Critique the view that the five-hundred years that intervened between the fall of the Maurya empire and the rise of the Gupta empire constitute a distinct period in the evolution of Indian art.Write your answer →
  12. How has post-modernism destabilized western modernity? Elucidate.Write your answer →
  13. Examine how far the 19th-century social reforms in India can be considered as a part of the resistance against colonial and ideological hegemony.Syllabus: The Mughals Administration, Socio-Religious life and Cultural developmentsWrite your answer →
  14. India’s Freedom Movement, in its final realization, meant ‘political democracy’ to Gandhiji and ‘social democracy’ to B. R. Ambedkar. Explain the reason for these stated positions.Syllabus: Rise of British rule in India from 1757 to 1856- Land Revenue…Write your answer →
  15. Describe the role of the Ghadar Movement within the context of India’s Freedom Struggle.Syllabus: Indian Nationalism in three phasesWrite your answer →
  16. Explain the reasons for the domination of regional identities conditioning the discourse of Indian politics.Write your answer →
  17. Identity based on parochialism has overshadowed cultural differences in India and taken away their sense of celebration. Comment.Write your answer →
  18. Discuss the way oil resources have shaped the economies of West Asian countries.Write your answer →
  19. With relevant examples, explain the impacts of frequent earthquakes in shaping the socio-economic structures of the countries.Write your answer →
  20. Reflect critically on the impacts of desertification and land degradation on human life in certain regions of the earth.Write your answer →

paper2

  1. “Constitution is workable; it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peace time and in war time,” (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar). Substantiate the statement with suitable examples.Write your answer →
  2. Has India’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic shifted the balance of its federal structure? Justify your arguments.Syllabus: Government BudgetingWrite your answer →
  3. What does separation of powers mean and how does it work in practice?Write your answer →
  4. Some of the key features of Ireland’s Constitution were incorporated in the Constitution of India. Identify those features and examine their significance.Syllabus: Constitution of IndiaWrite your answer →
  5. How does the Indian Parliament exercise control over the Executive? Discuss.Write your answer →
  6. “Farmers groups/associations have a limited role in shaping India’s agricultural policy.” Discuss.Write your answer →
  7. Examine the importance of Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act 1950 and 1951, which are regarded as the key pillars of electoral exercises.Write your answer →
  8. Discuss the role and functions of the Information Commissions, as per the Right to Information Act, 2005, and identify the constraints the commissions confront in implementing the RTI Act.Write your answer →
  9. Analyse the powers of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and critically examine its role in upholding human rights in the country.Write your answer →
  10. “Utility of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the public distribution system has created both benefits and challenges for the beneficiaries.” Elaborate.Syllabus: Infrastructure in IndiaWrite your answer →
  11. “The positive intervention by the Self-Help Groups (SHG) has transformed the socio-economic development of rural India.” Comment.Syllabus: Inclusive GrowthWrite your answer →
  12. The atrocities against SCs and STs are increasing in the country and even the conviction rates remain low. Identify the reasons and suggest measures to end atrocities against SCs/STs.Write your answer →
  13. Compare and contrast India’s National Education Policy (NEP) of 1986 and 2020. Also, examine the main challenges for the successful implementation of NEP-2020.Syllabus: Rise of British rule in India from 1757 to 1856- Land Revenue…Write your answer →
  14. As per the Global Hunger Index Report 2020, India is positioned 94th among the 107 countries. Identify the reasons for India trailing and suggest measures to eliminate hunger in the country.Write your answer →
  15. The ‘Electoral Bonds’ are regarded as a victory for transparency. However, it is alleged by certain political parties that it has resulted in money laundering and destroyed transparency in the funding of political parties. In this context, discuss the merits and demerits of Electoral Bonds.Write your answer →
  16. Is a strong civil servant a threat to democracy? Discuss.Write your answer →
  17. Although the Narendra Modi-led government made a promising start with the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy,’ it is increasingly confronted with resentment in the South Asian Region. Discuss.Write your answer →
  18. Do you agree with the view that India not signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in November 2020 was a short-sighted decision? Justify your arguments.Syllabus: Indian Nationalism in three phasesWrite your answer →
  19. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is regarded as a game-changer for the world economy. However, India has not joined the BRI. In this regard, examine the arguments in favour and against India’s joining BRI.Write your answer →
  20. To a certain extent, the United States has undermined the role of the United Nations (UN). Despite this, the UN matters more than ever before for the United States. Elaborate.Write your answer →

paper3

  1. Explain how hydrogen fuel cell technology for transport is a prospect as well as a challenge.Write your answer →
  2. Evaluate the progress made by India in space technology. What are the future prospects?Syllabus: Indian Space Programme – Past, Present and FutureWrite your answer →
  3. Examine how inclusive has been the post-liberalization period growth in India.Syllabus: Inclusive GrowthWrite your answer →
  4. “Development of airports in smaller towns is crucial to fight regional imbalances.” Elucidate.Write your answer →
  5. “Growing demand for land resources is affecting biodiversity in North-East India.” Explain with examples from the demand side as well as approaches to overcome it.Write your answer →
  6. Explain how protecting biodiversity hotspots can be achieved by engaging civil society.Write your answer →
  7. Harnessing renewable energy resources is vital to overcome the energy crisis as well as meet carbon emission targets. Evaluate government policies in this regard.Syllabus: Indian’s energy needs, efficiency and resourcesWrite your answer →
  8. “Managing waste is likely to emerge as the most crucial problem in urban areas.” Corroborate.Write your answer →
  9. Write the role of BSF in stabilizing socio-political and economic conditions in border areas.Syllabus: AncientWrite your answer →
  10. Present the hierarchy of disaster management authority in India and its role.Syllabus: Infrastructure in IndiaWrite your answer →
  11. Highlight the key avenues for technology-based solutions through Made in India initiatives.Syllabus: Environmental pollution and Solid waste managementWrite your answer →
  12. Artificial intelligence is at the forefront of building a better world. Justify with evidence-based examples.Write your answer →
  13. “The future growth in Indian agriculture depends upon harnessing the potentials of dryland farming.” Substantiate your views.Syllabus: Major Challenges of Indian EconomyWrite your answer →
  14. Can India reach the $5 trillion GDP target by 2024? Suggest a roadmap for revival and acceleration of India’s growth.Write your answer →
  15. Describe the significance of Global Biodiversity Outlook—Target 30x30 and strategies to achieve it.Write your answer →
  16. Wetlands are intricately linked to biodiversity in the Brahmaputra Valley System. Explain land, water, and ecosystem linkages in this system.Write your answer →
  17. Climate change is a global concern. How is India preparing itself to arrest climate change?Syllabus: Development Vs. Nature / EnvironmentWrite your answer →
  18. What are the strengths of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)? How is it beneficial in decision-making processes?Write your answer →
  19. Discuss elaborately the emerging security concerns for India due to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China.Syllabus: Information and Communication Technology (ICT)Write your answer →
  20. Urban flooding can be disastrous unless proper planning is done. Describe causes and mitigation strategies for such disasters.Write your answer →

paper4

  1. Explain the notion of ‘commitment to public service’ with suitable examples. (150 words)Write your answer →
  2. What are the challenges of being a public servant in the age of media and post-truth? Explain with hypothetical situations. (150 words)Write your answer →
  3. How to take decisions beyond the parochialism of caste, creed, and regionalism in public affairs? Examine. (150 words)Write your answer →
  4. Can we solve the problems of public life only with bureaucratic rules, or do we need other apparatuses like education, cultural training, etc.? Reflect. (150 words)Write your answer →
  5. “Integrity of a public servant builds trust among people.” Discuss. (150 words)Write your answer →
  6. What are the ways of achieving impartiality and non-partisanship in public administration? Elaborate. (150 words)Write your answer →
  7. What is the role of Liberal Education in shaping one’s character and conduct? Explain. (150 words)Write your answer →
  8. How should one handle the lures of power and profit in public administration? Elaborate. (150 words)Write your answer →
  9. How can a public servant be guided by the Gandhian philosophy? Illustrate with examples. (150 words)Write your answer →
  10. Discuss the role of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s thought in ensuring social justice in public life. (150 words)Write your answer →
  11. What does each of the following quotations mean to you? (150 words each) (a) “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle (b) “Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” – Immanuel Kant (c) “If you are still looking for that one person who will change your life, take a look in the mirror.”Write your answer →
  12. Almost forty years back, in a university, the head of the institution did not choose a candidate who was meritorious for the post of lecturer. He chose the second one in order of merit. When asked, why did he choose the lesser meritorious, he replied that the candidate he chose might have fallen short of a little bit of merit, but he was the most suitable for the job. He further explained that it was a subjective decision, but with a good intention. “We cannot,” he said, “simply go ahead with merit alone, but with subjective intuition to build our institutions.” Discuss the limits of merits and demerits of subjective decisions in building the public institutions in light of the above-mentioned anecdote. (250 words)Write your answer →
  13. As the modern state is becoming more powerful than ever before, it is imposing a lot of restrictions on the people and regulating citizens’ public life. Can we think of alternative ways of disciplining citizens? For example, when someone does not wear a helmet while riding a bike, the traffic police punishes the person. Instead of penalizing, how about giving him or her a helmet?Write your answer →
  14. Like this, what are the alternative ways of ensuring discipline in public life? Illustrate your answer. (250 words)Write your answer →
  15. Imagine you are posted to an office in a new place. Slowly you find that your fellow workers and subordinates indulge in taking bribes. How do you address this problem? Will you educate them by counseling? Will you straightaway put them under corruption charges? Will you try to get posted to a different place, where you can find uncorrupt subordinates and colleagues? Will you think that it is their problem as long as you are not corrupt?Write your answer →
  16. Write your personal response to the problem. (250 words)Write your answer →
  17. Imagine you are the head of an educational institution where you deny a student an opportunity to take semester-end exams as she falls short of the required attendance. The student pleads you to make an exception as she could not make it to the classes due to personal problems.You do not allow her to take exams. In the next semester, another student falls short of attendance. But you know her very well that she is brilliant and does not require attending classes. Will you apply the attendance rule in this case? Will you overlook the rule and allow the excellent student to give exams? How do you solve the ethical problem in this situation? (250 words)Write your answer →
  18. New Pension Scheme (NPS) has been introduced in the country. This has given rise to several problems. Persons coming under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) cannot move from one job to another as they lose OPS and come under NPS. This will curtail the mobility of resources. Discuss the current issue of pension as an illogical decision and the ethics of service contracts between the employee and the government. (250 words)Syllabus: Major Challenges of Indian EconomyWrite your answer →
  19. People are generally fed up with public institutions, because these institutions create more problems than they solve. Bureaucratic procedures, red-tapism, corruption, etc., make these institutions oppressive and intimidating. How to shape public institutions that play an enabling role, making room for problem-solving rather than problem-creating? Discuss the ways and means of ensuring quality public service to citizens through public institutions. (250 words)Syllabus: Concept of Public Service, “Philosophical basis of Governance…Write your answer →