[Insights Secure – 2018] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Affairs: 15 January 2018

[Insights Secure – 2018] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Affairs: 15 January 2018

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General Studies – 1

Topic: Political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society; Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

1) What is secular nationalism? Why is it under threat lately? Is threat to secular nationalism a global phenomenon or unique to India? Examine. (250 Words)

The Hindu

Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.

2) Examine why historians and archaeologists have expressed concern over amendments proposed to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958). (150 Words)

The Hindu

Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues

3) Sir Arthur Cotton is remembered less as a representative of the British Raj and more as a local saviour in certain parts of India. Examine why. (250 Words)

The Wire

Livemint

General Studies – 2

Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

4) Honouring constitutionalism, privileging individual rights over innovation should be the priority for any data protection legislation. Comment. (150 Words)

The Hindu

Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary

5) Progressive centralisation of power within the office of the chief justice of India has not been accompanied by a parallel strengthening of the accountability of this office. Critically analyse. (250 Words)

The Indian Express

General Studies – 3

Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

6) Cryptocurrency transactions have led to concerns regarding consumer protection, money laundering, and financing of criminal activities. Discuss the challenges that exist in regulating cryptocurrencies. (250 Words)

Livemint

General Studies – 4

Topic: Role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.

7) Is obsequiousness, either in public or private, good for individuals and institutions? Justify. (150 Words)

The Hindu

Topic: Ethics in human actions

8) You are traveling in a government bus to your native place from Bangalore. It’s a night journey. The bus is full. You notice that there is only one female in the bus, about 20 years old. She is visibly uncomfortable and seems nervous. She is standing despite there being one seat vacant next to bus conductor’s seat. The conductor is in his mid twenties too. When conductor asks her to sit next to her, she says she can stand for the rest of the journey. On insisting, she tells him bluntly that she is not comfortable sitting next to any male during night journey due to certain bad experiences in the past. At the same time you notice that nobody is offering her a seat. You are sitting in a two seater seat next to a middle aged person who is now in deep sleep.

a) Will you ignore her and sleep for the rest of the journey? Justify.

b) What issues does the case highlight. How can these issues be solved? Examine. (250 Words)

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