PYQ-Mains - Page 55 of 72

Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology. (150 words)

Causes of Depletion of Mangroves: Importance of Mangroves in Maintaining Coastal Ecology: It’s important to recognize that mangroves are vital for coastal ecology and their…

Assess the impact of global warming on coral life system with examples.

Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have resulted in a significant increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has…

Examine the linkages between 19th centuries ‘Indian Renaissance’ and the emergence of national identity. (150 words)

The 19th century in India is commonly referred to as the "Indian Renaissance" due to the many social, cultural, and political changes that occurred du…

The 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate (150 words)

The 1857 Uprising, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, was the culmination of a century-long tradition of fierce popular resistance to British…

Highlight the Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian elements in Gandhara art. (Answer in 150 words)

Gandhara art is a style of Buddhist art that developed in the region of Gandhara, which is now in modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is…

Edward Snowden, a computer expert and former CIA administrator, released confidential Government documents to the press about the existence of Government surveillance programmes. According to many legal experts and the US Government, his action violated the Espionage act of 1971, which identified the leak of State secret as an act of treason. Yet, despite the fact that he broke the law, Snowden argued that he had a moral obligation to act. He gave a justification for his “whistle blowing” by stating that he had a duty “to inform the public as to that which is done in there name and that which is done against them.”
According to Snowden, the Government’s violation of privacy had to be exposed regardless of legality since more substantive issues of social action and public morality were involved here. Many agreed with Snowden. Few argued that he broke the law and compromised national security, for which he should be held accountable.
Do you agree that Snowden’s actions were ethically justified even if legally prohibited? Why or why not? Make an argument by weighing the competing values in this case (250 words )

Edward Snowden’s decision to release confidential Government documents about the existence of Government surveillance programmes is a complex ethical dilemma that involves competing values such…

Dr X is a leading medical practitioner in a city. He has set up a charitable trust through which he plans to establish a super-speciality hospital in the city to cater to the medical needs of all sections of the society. Incidentally, that part of the State had been neglected over the years. The proposed hospital would be a boon for the region.
You are heading the tax investigation agency of that region. During an inspection of the doctor’s clinic, your officers have found out some major irregularities. A few of them are substantial which had resulted in considerable withholding of tax that should be paid by him now. The doctor is cooperative. He undertakes to pay the tax immediately.
However, there are certain other deficiencies in his tax compliance which are purely technical in nature. If these technical defaults are pursued by the agency, considerable time and energy of the doctor will be diverted to issues which are not so serious, urgent or even helpful to the tax collection process. Further, in all probability, it will hamper the prospects of the hospital coming up.
There are two options before you:
1) Taking a broader view, ensure substantial tax compliance and ignore defaults that are merely technical in nature.
2) Pursue the matter strictly and proceed on all fronts,whether substantial or merely technical.
As the head of the tax agency, which course of action will you opt and why? (250 words)

As the head of the tax investigation agency, I would opt for the first option of taking a broader view and ensuring substantial tax compliance…

A big corporate house is engaged in manufacturing industrial chemicals on a large scale. It proposes to set upon the additional unit. Many states rejected its proposal due to the detrimental effect on the environment. But one state government acceded to the request and permitted the unit close to a city, brushing aside all opposition. The unit was set up 10 years ago and was in full swing till recently. The pollution caused by the industrial effluents was affecting the land, water and crops in the area. It was also causing serious health problems to human beings and animals. This gave rise to a series of agitation thousands of people took part, creating a law and order problem necessitating stern police action. Following the public outcry, the State government ordered the closure of the factory. The closure of the factory resulted in the unemployment of not only those workers who were engaged in the factory but also those who were working in the ancillary units. It also very badly affected those industry which depended on the chemicals manufactured by it. As a senior officer entrusted with the responsibility of handling this issues, how are you going to address it? (250 words)

As a senior officer entrusted with the responsibility of handling the aftermath of the closure of the industrial chemical factory, my approach would involve the…

It is a State where prohibition is in force. You are recently appointed as the Superintendent of Police of a district notorious for illicit distillation of liquor. The illicit liquor leads to many death, reported and unreported, and causes a major problem for the district authorities.
The approach till now had been to view it as a law and order problem and tackle it accordingly. Raids, arrest, police cases, and criminal trials – all these had only limited impact. The problem remains as serious as ever.
Your inspections show that the parts of the district where the distillation flourishes are economically, industrially and educationally backward. Agriculture is badly affected by poor irrigation facilities. Frequent clashes among communities gave boost to illicit distillation. No major initiatives had taken place in the past either from the government’s side or from social organizations to improve the lot of the people.
Which new approach will you adopt to bring the problem under control? (250 words)

As the Superintendent of Police in a district notorious for illicit distillation, I would take a multi-pronged approach to address the root causes of the…