GPSC Mains 2016: previous year questions

General Studies

1. What is called "OLIA" in the folk painting of Gujarat?Write your answer →
2. Mention the name of any five Gujarati female short story writers along with the titles of their stories.Write your answer →
3. Discuss the importance of the Bhakti Movement.Write your answer →
4. Write a brief note on the Nayankara System in the Vijayanagar Kingdom.Write your answer →
5. Distinguish between “Chauth” and “Sardeshmukhi.”Write your answer →
6. What are the salient features of Dry farming?Write your answer →
7. What were the major objectives behind market reforms introduced by Alauddin Khalji?Write your answer →
8. When and where do “Mango Showers” in India take place?Write your answer →
9. What were the salient features of Queen Victoria’s Proclamation of 1858?Syllabus: and Queen Victoria’s ProclamationWrite your answer →
10. Mention the present-day geographical locations of the ancient educational institutions: Takshashila, Nalanda, and Vallabhi.Syllabus: Educational institutions. Takshshila, Nalanda and VallabhiWrite your answer →
11. Explain with examples the difference between “gulf” and “strait.”Write your answer →
12. Write a short note on Harshavardhana’s relations with Gujarat.Write your answer →
13. What was the impact of the Turkish conquests on the multi-state system in India?Write your answer →
14. Discuss the various geographical factors which provide advantages to Gujarat in an era of competitive federalism.Write your answer →
15. What are the salient features of the Nagara type temple architecture?Write your answer →
16. Explain the key characteristics of Garba/Ras dance with its regional variations.Write your answer →
17. Mention the socio-cultural value of Gujarati Bhavai tradition.Syllabus: Socio-Cultural context of the performance of Gujarati “BHAVAI’Write your answer →
18. Describe the elements of the pleasure of life and love in Western Indian Architectural themes.Write your answer →
19. Discuss how folk songs are a significant source for elucidating the social life of Gujarat.Write your answer →
20. Discuss the socio-economic and environmental impact of social forestry.Syllabus: Rise of Mahatma Gandhi on National Horizon, impact of his thoughts…Write your answer →
21. Review the policy of Sardar Patel for the merger of Hyderabad State.Write your answer →
22. Examine the causes for the collapse of the Maratha Empire.Write your answer →
23. Trace the development of science and technology during the Gupta period.Write your answer →
24. Explain the challenges of globalization and its impacts on society and economy in India.Syllabus: Globalization- process, impact on society and economyWrite your answer →
25. Give an account of the major road network with its role in socio-economic and cultural development in India.Syllabus: Economic Development since Independence, major features of Indian…Write your answer →
26. What is Green Energy? Discuss its salient features and attempts to develop it in India.Syllabus: Indus Valley Civilization in India and important excavated sites - It’s salient featuresWrite your answer →
27. Discuss the Municipal Administration of the Mauryan period with special reference to “Indica” of Megasthenes.Write your answer →
28. Define Environmental Impact Assessment with its objectives and methods.Write your answer →
29. Name the states that have legislative councils and give at least two reasons why legislative councils are necessary.Write your answer →
30. What does the Preamble to the Constitution of India seek to secure to all citizens? Explain briefly.Write your answer →
31. Explain the scope and exclusions under the Right to Information Act, 2005.Write your answer →
32. Under what conditions can a member of the legislative body be disqualified under the “Office of Profit”?Write your answer →
33. “Participatory mechanisms enhance the development process.” Explain.Write your answer →
34. Describe in brief the institution of the “National Green Tribunal (NGT).”Write your answer →
35. Distinguish between constitutional authorities and statutory authorities.Write your answer →
36. Differentiate between personal ethics and professional ethics.Write your answer →
37. Define the terms “Integrity” and “Accountability” in the context of public services.Write your answer →
38. “Social influence determines human action.” Justify the statement.Write your answer →
39. Examine the importance of ‘Public Interest Litigation’ (PIL) in India.Syllabus: Public Interest LitigationWrite your answer →
40. What are the shortcomings in the universalization of ‘Aadhaar’ cards in India?Write your answer →
41. How is collective responsibility conceptualized in India according to Article 75 of the Constitution?Write your answer →
42. “Administrative Tribunals in India are following the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ system of Administrative Adjudication.” Explain.Write your answer →
43. Law helps, but not adequately, to check corruption. Describe other measures to check corruption.Write your answer →
44. Define Moral Attitude and describe its relevance.Write your answer →
45. “Part XVIII of the Constitution of India is considered as a provision leading to ‘Constitutional Authoritarianism’.” Argue.Write your answer →
46. “Though the Right to Education has been made a fundamental right, much has to be done for universal and qualitative access for underprivileged children.” Discuss the necessary measures.Write your answer →
47. “Voluntary agencies and NGOs play a supplementary role in implementing development programs.” Discuss with examples.Write your answer →
48. Should law and order continue as a subject of the State List? Discuss.Write your answer →
49. Examine in brief the decision of the Supreme Court of India on ‘‘Right to Privacy’’ and its implications.Write your answer →
50. “E-governance (Digital India) supplements the efforts of the government in ensuring transparent and accountable governance.” Argue with suitable examples.Write your answer →
51. “Uniform civil code is needed to ensure ‘gender justice’ in society.” Analyze the above statement in the context of the Supreme Court judgment in the ‘Triple Talaq’ case.Write your answer →
52. “Civil service activism affects the principles of Civil Service Neutrality.” Critically evaluate.Write your answer →
53. “A bureaucrat without emotional intelligence is a robot.” Analyze.Write your answer →
54. “Citizen charters have not achieved the objectives of efficiency and accountability in public service.” Discuss.Syllabus: accountability in public serviceWrite your answer →
55. “Civil services rules by themselves will not lead to ‘Good Governance’ if they are not backed by political will and ethical values of administration.” Examine in the context of challenges to ‘Good Governance.’Write your answer →
56. “The code of conduct facilitates professionalism in civil service.” Discuss the ethical basis of the code of conduct.Write your answer →
57. What is the difference between support price and procurement price? What is the role of CACP (Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices) in this regard?Write your answer →
58. Discuss in short the G-Bike project implemented in Gandhinagar with its objectives.Write your answer →
59. What is the Blue Whale challenge? Why has it become a global concern recently?Write your answer →
60. What are the features of “Aarambh” mobile app launched by the Government of India?Write your answer →
61. Where was the 41st Session of the World Heritage Committee held? What is India’s takeaway from this Session?Write your answer →
62. SAFAR is an initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. What does it aim at?Write your answer →
63. What is the name of the geo-portal launched by ISRO? Which are the various application services provided by it?Write your answer →
64. What is the meaning of “Carbon Positive Area”?Write your answer →
65. What is SHe-Box?Write your answer →
66. Give details about IRV2020 in brief.Write your answer →
67. What is Swine Flu? How is it spread?Write your answer →
68. Indian sportswomen have made noteworthy performances on the international arena recently. Discuss this new dimension of Indian sports.Write your answer →
69. What are the major constituents of the Tertiary Sector, and what has led to its huge share in India’s Gross Domestic Product?Write your answer →
70. Mention the main problems of micro and small enterprises in India. Suggest measures to solve these problems.Write your answer →
71. Do you agree that recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission have promoted the spirit of cooperative federalism? Discuss.Write your answer →
72. What is the Internet of Things (IoT)? Discuss its usage in day-to-day life.Write your answer →
73. What is the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)? Why is it important for India to gain its membership?Write your answer →
74. How do science, technology, and innovation help in avoiding congestion and improving urban mobility?Syllabus: Integration of Science, Technology and Innovation for better human lifeWrite your answer →
75. How can information and communication technology play a vital role in pedagogy, and what moves have been taken by the Government of Gujarat in this regard?Syllabus: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) - its importance, advantages and challengesWrite your answer →
76. Why were economic reforms necessary, and how do these economic reforms find reflections within the broad framework of liberalization, privatization, and globalization?Syllabus: Indian economy in post reform periodWrite your answer →
77. Why is it necessary to make a social impact assessment of any infrastructure project? Explain by taking an example of any one project.Write your answer →
78. “The idea of NITI Aayog has given a completely new dimension to the process of development planning in India.” Comment.Write your answer →
79. Discuss the challenges and measures related to providing universal healthcare services in India.Write your answer →
80. Describe the main features of Goods and Service Tax (GST) in India. What measures are taken by the Central Government to tackle the apprehensions of the states with regard to financial losses?Write your answer →
81. Write a note on the role and importance of the Public Distribution System. Suggest necessary improvements in it.Syllabus: Food security, Agricultural pricing, Food Procurement and Public Distribution SystemWrite your answer →
82. “To ensure a safe future for agriculture, India should preserve its rich biodiversity instead of completely depending on Genetically Modified (GM) crops.” Critically Comment.Write your answer →
83. The Government of Gujarat has recently inserted stringent punitive measures in the Prohibition Law against bootlegging and consumption of alcohol. Discuss its requirement in reference to the socio-economic aspect of the state.Syllabus: Co-operative movement in Gujarat and its impact on Socio-economic aspects of lifeWrite your answer →
84. What will be the effect of the withdrawal of the USA from the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) on India?Write your answer →