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General Studies Paper-I, 2012 IAS Mains

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Civil Services (Main) Examination - 2012

GENERAL STUDIES

Paper I 

Time Allowed : Three Hours

Maximum Marks : 300 

 Candidates should attempt all questions strictly in accordance with the instructions given under each question.
 
1. Answer any five of the following in about 250 words each :                                         25*5=125
 
    (a) What do you understand by the term "innovation" ? Discuss the need for launching a national innovation policy in India.
 
    (b) Keeping in view the informal sector's share in the total workforce of the country, critically examine the relevant inclusive measures initiated by the Government of India and their effectiveness.
 
    (c) Examine the causes and the extent of 'desertification' in India and suggest remedial measures.
 
    (d) In the context of the growing demands for the ban of Endosulfan in the country, critically examine the issues involved. What, in your view, should be done in the matter ?
 
    (e) "The Indian independence movement was a mass-based movement that encompassed various sections of the society. It also underwent the process of constant ideological evolution." Critically examine.
 
    (f) The issue of tourism in core areas of tiger reserve forests in the country is a subjective matter of debate. Critically examine various aspects of this issue, keeping in view relevant recent judicial pronouncements.
 
2. Answer any seven of the following in about 150 words each :                                        15*7=105
 
    (a) "There is an urgent need for the Planning Commission to revise the chapter on health in the 12th Plan document." Comment.
 
    (b) The Union Cabinet recently cleared the proposal to rename and amend the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. What are the salient features of the proposed amendments ?
 
    (c) "Domestic resource mobilization, though central to the process of Indian economic growth, is characterized by several constraints." Explain.
 
    (d) The 'flute-playing Krishna' theme is very popular in Indian art. Discuss.
 
    (e) What are the salient features of the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2011 introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2011 ?
 
    (f) What do you understand by the term "Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis" (MDR-TB) ? What measures would you advocate for its containment and what are the implications of its spread in the community ?
 
    (g) Given the accelerated pace of development and demand for energy, would you consider renewable energy as a viable option for India's future ?
 
    (h) Many food items contain "trans fats". What do you understand by this term? Which Indian food items contain trans fats? What are the implications of trans fats on human health?
 
3. Answer the following in about 50 words each :                                                                  5*11=55
 
    (a) What is the 'Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalat'?
 
    (b) List the main objectives of the National Manufacturing Policy (NMP), 2011.
 
    (c) Comment on the significance of Rasarnava in studying the history of Indian Chemistry.
 
    (d) What are the rights within the ambit of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution?
 
    (e) Comment on the significance of the Preamble contained in the Right to Information Act.
 
    (f) To implement one key recommendation of the Mohini Giri Committee, the Government has recently announced the constitution of a National Council. Highlight the composition and the mandate of this National Council.
 
    (g) Comment on the recent launching of the National Mission on Libraries (NML).
 
    (h) What are the groups into which musical instruments in India have traditionally been classified?
 
    (i)  Comment on the significance of fire in Zoroastrianism.
 
    (j) Why is Laurie Baker called 'the conscience keeper of Indian architecture'?
 
    (k) You are stationed in a small district town in the plains of Northern India. The summer has been severe. Suddenly, a colleague, who had been out since morning, returns to the office complaining of headache, restlessness and confusion. Shortly, he becomes unconscious. His body temperature is 40oC. What first aid steps would you take to revive him?
 
4. Comment on each of the following in about 20 words each :                                                2*5=10
 
    (a) The significance of Patharughat in the Indian freedom struggle
 
    (b) Bagurumba folk dance
 
    (c) Determining the 'value' assigned to the vote of a Member of a State Legislative Assembly and of a Member of Parliament in the Indian Presidential elections.
 
    (d) Significance of the SPOT-6 rocket launch for ISRO
 
    (e) Issues highlighted through the work of Palagummi Sainath
 
5. Why have the following been in the news recently? (Answer to be in one sentence only)        1*5=5
 
    (a) P.V. Sindhu
 
    (b) Aditya Kumar Mandi
 
    (c) Cyrus Mistry
 
    (d) Ashoke Sen
 
    (e) Mario de Miranda
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