UPSC(IAS) GENERAL STUDIES MAIN PAPER-I 2000
Time 3 hrs marks 300. All questions compulsory
Q.1. Answer any
ONE of the following (About 250 words) : - 30
(a) Trace the origin of the Swadeshi Movement. How did it involve the masses
(b) What was Mountbatten Plan ? Discuss the reactions of Gandhi and Azad to
the Plan.
Q. 2. Answer any TWO of the following (About 150 words each):- 15 x 2 = 30
(a) Who established the Arya Samaj ? What was its goal ?
(b) How did the terrorist movement gather strength in countries other than India?
(c) Was Jawaharlal Nehru justified in adopting the principle of non-alignment
as the corner-stone of India's foreign policy ?
Q. 3. Answer the following (About 20 words each) : - 2 x 15 = 30
(i) Brahmagupta
(ii) Amir Khusro
(iii) William Jones
(iv) C.F. Andrews
(v) Narayan Guru
(vi) Tantia Tope
(vii) Sayyid Ahmad
(viii) Margaret Noble
(ix) Sangam Literature
(x) Gandhara School of art
(xi) Granth Sahib
(xii) Fort William College
(xiii) Epsom
(xiv) Lala Amarnath
(xv) Tiger Woods.
Q. 4. Answer any TWO of the following (About 125 words each):- 2 x 10 = 20
(a) Mention the agro-climatic regions of India stating the basis of classification.
(b) Explain the major racial groups of India.
(c) What is waste land ? Write a note on prospects of waste land development
in India.
Q. 5. Write notes on the following (About 20 words each) :- 5 x 2 = 10
(i) Linguistic regions of India
(ii) Nagarjunasagar Project
(iii) Mango Showers
(iv) Multi-level planning in India
(v) India's Laterite soils.
Q. 6. Answer any ONE of the following (About 250 words):- 30
(a) Examine the need for the review of the Indian Constitution.
(b) Examine the demand for greater State-antonomy and also its impact on the
smooth functioning of the Indian polity.
Q. 7. Answer any ONE of the following (About 250 words) :- 30
(a) How does Parliament control the Union Executive ? How effective is its control
?
(b) What constitutes the doctrine of 'basic features' as introduced into the
Constitution of India by the Judiciary ?
Q. 8. Answer any TWO of the following (About 150 words each) :- 15 x 2 = 30
(a) Identify, the major electoral reforms which are necessary in the Indian
Political System.
(b) Examine the role of Estimates Committee.
(c) Discuss the major extra-constitutional factors influencing the working of
federal polity in India.
Q. 9. Answer the following (About 20 words each) :- 5 x 2 = 10
(a) What is vote on account ?
(b) What is a Caretaker Government ?
(c) Do you justify the Prime Minister's entry into Parliament through the Rajya
Sabha ?
(d) What is a Privilege Motion ?
(e) What is Contempt of Parliament ?
Q.10. Answer any ONE of the following (About 250 words) :- 30
(a) Discuss the provisions of the Human Rights Protection ACt (1993) relating
to the following :-
(i) Definition of human rights.
(ii) Composition of the National Human Rights Commission.
(iii) Functions of the Commission.
(iv) What suggestions have been made for amending the Act for making the role
of the NHRC
more effective ?
(b) Discuss the propositions laid down by the Supreme Court of India in the
context of Torture in Prisons and Human Dignity.
Q. 11. Write on any TWO of the following (About 125 words each) :- 2 x 10 =
20
(a) Explain Public Interest Litigation. Who can file it and on what basis can
it be rejected by the Court of Law ?
(b) Discuss Human Genome.
(c) What are the features of the Uttar Pradesh Regulation of Public Religious
Buildings and Places Bill, 2000, that have caused widespread protests from minorities
?
Q. 12. Write notes on any TWO of the following (About 125 words each) : 2 x
10 = 20
(a) Universal Postal Union
(b) Economic and Social Council
(c) Florence Nightingale.
Q.13. Write about the following (About 20 words each) :- 2 x 5 = 10
(a) CRY
(b) Baba Amte
(c) Ali Sardar Jafri
(d) 'Water'
(e) Aruna Roy.
