GS – 1 :
·
·
Ques 1. To what extent has the urban planning
and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day
urbanization? Discuss.
·
Ques 2. Gandhara sculpture owed as much
to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.
·
Ques 3. Taxila University was one of the
oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowed
learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused
its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university
in the modern sense. Discuss.
·
Ques 4. The Third battle of Panipat was
fought in 1761. Why were so many empire shaking battles fought at Panipat?
·
Ques 5. Sufis and medieval saints failed
to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of
Hindu/ Muslim societies to any appreciable extent.Comment.
·
Ques 6. Examine critically the various
facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century
till independence.
·
Ques 7. In what ways did the naval mutiny
prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in
India?
·
Ques 8. What were the major political, social
, economic, develoments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle
in India?
·
Ques 9. What were the evnts that led to
the Suez-crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to British’s self-image
as aworld power?
·
Ques 10. The new economic policy- 1921 of
Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence.
Evaluate.
·
Ques 11. How does patriarchy impact the
position of a middle class working woman in India?
·
Ques 12. Why do some of the most prosperous
regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for woman? Give your arguments.
·
Ques 13. The life-cycle of a joint family
depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.
·
Ques 14. Discuss the various economic
and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of
agriculture in India.
·
Ques 15. How do the Indian debates on
secularism differ from the debates in the west?
·
Ques 16. Most of the unusual climatic
happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree?
·
Ques 17. Why are the world’s fold mountains
are located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between
the global distribution of fold mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.
·
Ques 18. Tropical cyclones are largely
confined to South China sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?
·
Ques 19. Explain the formation of
thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagoes.
·
Ques 20. Bring out the relationship
between the shrinking Himalyan glaciers and the symptoms of climatic change in
the Indian sub-continent.
·
Ques 21. Whereas the British planters had
developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalyas from Assam to
Himachal Pradesh , in effect they did not succeed beyond the darjeeling area.
Explain.
·
Ques 22. Why did the Green Revolution in
India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good
availability of water?
·
Ques 23. Account for the change in the spatial
pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world.
·
Ques 24. Critically evaluate the various
resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in
the world.
·
Ques 25. How does India see its place in
the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?
I. UPSC
IAS Mains 2014 General Studies Paper 4 (section A): Questions Asked – Analysis:
·
The question had two parts. One asked about meaning of
happiness for you with examples. Other asked about ethics in life and its
importance in public administration.
·
A) It asked about meaning of patriotism in civil life.;
B) This asked about difficulties in practicing probity in public life.
·
A) Integrity without knowledge is useless, but knowledge
without integrity is dreadful. Asked for current example.; B)” Humans should be
considered ends rather than means” with reference to modern
techno-socio-economic context.
·
A) Asked which imminent personality has inspired you,
why, how you apply those teachings in your life.; B) What have you done to make
yourself competent for leading the life of an ethical civil servant.
·
A) In view of the trust-deficit society, what impact it
has on personal and societal well being. How you make yourself trustworthy. ;
B) causes of corruption, since rich people also indulge in corrupt practices.
give examples.
·
What affects a persons attitude for problems of society.
how contrasting attitudes about caste system are prevalent. Why does
contrasting attitudes exist.
·
A question was asked about accountability in public
service, also asking measures for individual and collective accountability.
·
The last question of section A asked innovative measures
to prevent sexual violence against women in India.
II. UPSC
IAS Mains 2014 General Studies Paper IV (Section B) Questions Asked – Review:
·
This section covers case studies of 120 marks. There were
in all Six Case studies carrying 20 marks each. The answer was to be written
under 250 words in each question.
·
There was a case of conflict between development and
environment, asking strategies for sustainable development. This question is a
mix of several subjects so collective knowledge of economics, environment and
ethics should be used to answer.
·
The question gave four valid and practical reasons for
being corrupt as a civil servant, but asked to advice critically assessing
those points.
·
Best course of action: A question about your disciplinary
cations on employees of your department, they file false charge of sexual
harassment against you, you are an upright officer, inquiry commission seeking
report, You have to choose best course of action.
·
Suggest options other than bribing or not bribing for an
important tender, giving details and merits of this third way.
·
The dilemmas faced by a newly recruited civil services
aspirant upon witnessing corruption and indifference of seniors. The question
asked you to evaluate the options available in such scenario and choose an
appropriate path .
·
The last question looked into the serious problem of
rural-urban migration in large number in our country. You are asked to suggest
steps to control this problem.
PAPER - I
Q1.To What extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization ? Discuss. (10 marks)
Q2. Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to
the Greeks. Explain. (10 marks)
Q3.Taxila university was one of the oldest universities
of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned
personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its
fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university
in the modern sense. Discuss. (10 marks)
Q4. The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761.
Why were so many empire—shaking battles fought at Panipat ? (10
marks)
Q5. Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify
either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu
/ Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.(10 marks)
Q6.Examine critically the various facets of economic
policies of the British in India from mid—eighteenth century till
independence. (10 marks)
Q 7-In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the
last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India ? (10
marks)
Q8.What were the major political, economic and social
developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in
India ? (10 marks)
Q9.What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in
1956 ? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self-image as a world
power ?
(10 marks)
Q10The New Economic Policy — 1921 of Lenin had influenced
the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate. (10
marks)
Q11-How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle
class working woman in India ? (10 marks)
Q12-Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India
have an adverse sex ratio for women ? Give your arguments.(10 marks)
Q13.The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic
factors rather than social values. Discuss.(10 marks)
Q14.Discuss the various economic and socio—cultural
forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.
(10 marks)
Q15-How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from
the debates in the West ?(10 marks)
Q16-Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained
as an outcome of the El—Nino effect. Do you agree ?(10 marks)
Q17-Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located
along the margins of continents 7 Bring out the association between the
global distribution of fold mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.
(10 marks)
Q18-Explain the formation of thousands of islands in
Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos.(10 marks)
Q19.Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China
Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why ?(10 marks)
Q20-Bring out the relationship between the shrinking
Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian
sub-continent.(10 marks)
Q21-Whereas the British planters had developed tea
gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to
Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling
area. Explain.(10 marks)
Q22. Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually
by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of
water ?
(10 marks)
Q23. Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the
Iron and Steel industry in the world.(10 marks)
Q24. Critically evaluate the various resources of
the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the
world.
(10 marks)
Q25. How does India see its place in the economic
space of rising natural resource rich Africa ?(10 marks)
Answer the questions in NOT MORE THAN 200 words each.
Contents of the answer is more important than its length. All questions carry
equal marks.(12.5 x 20=250)
Q1:Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’
doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly proactive role in ensuring that
India develops into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate
the role played by judicial activism in achieving the ideals of democracy.(12.5
marks)
Q2:Though the federal principle is dominant in our
Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, but it is equally
true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a strong
Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism.
Discuss.(12.5 marks)
Q3:The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament
and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for
a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess
the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary
privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?
(12.5 marks)
Q4:What do you understand by the concept “freedom of
speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in
India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression?
Discuss.(12.5 marks)
Q5:Instances of President’s delay in commuting death
sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a
time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions?
Analyse.(12.5 marks)
Q6:The size of the cabinet should be as big as
governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a
team. How far the efficacy of a government then is inversely related to the
size of the cabinet? Discuss.(12.5 marks)
Q7:Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news
media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the
Government is mulling over the proposal for increased FDI in news media for
quite some time. What difference would an increase in FDI make? Critically
evaluate the pros and cons.(12.5 marks)
Q8: The setting up of a Rail Tariff Authority to
regulate fares will subject the cash strapped Indian Railways to demand subsidy
for obligation to operate non-profitable routes and services. Taking into
account the experience in the power sector, discuss if the proposed reform is
expected to benefit the consumers, the Indian Railways or the private container
operators.(12.5 marks)
Q9:National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can
be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms
that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of the above
observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary
and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards.(12.5
marks)
Q10:The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural
areas in promoting participation in development programmes is facing
socio-cultural hurdles. Examine.(12.5 marks)
Q11:Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and
backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to
their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics?(12.5 marks)
Q12:An athlete participates in Olympics for personal
triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by
various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent
hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as
encouragement.(12.5 marks)
Q13:Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be
allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in
designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students.
Discuss in light of the growing challenges.
Q14: Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organisation
been the cause of slow change in India? Critically examine.(12.5 marks)
Q15:Two parallel run schemes of the Government viz. the
Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to
debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or
not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to
achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth.(12.5 marks)
Q16:With respect to the South China sea, maritime
territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding
maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout
the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and
China.(12.5 marks)
Q17:The aim of Information Technology Agreements (ITAs)
is to lower all taxes and tariffs on information technology products by
signatories to zero. What impact should such agreements have on India’s
interests?(12.5 marks)
Q18:Some of the International funding agencies have
special terms for economic participation stipulating a substantial component of
the aid to be used for sourcing equipment from the leading countries. Discuss
on merits of such terms and if, there exists a strong case not to accept such
conditions in the Indian context.(12.5 marks)
Q19:India has recently signed to become founding a New
Development Bank (NDB) and also the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
.How will the role of the two Banks be different? Discuss the significance of
these two Banks for India.
(12.5 marks)
Q20:WTO is an important international institution where
decisions taken affect countries in profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO
and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India’s stand on the
latest round of talks on Food security.
(12.5 marks) –
Paper –III
Answer all the questions in NOT MORE than 200 words each.
Content of the important than its length. All questions carry equal marks :
(12.5 x20=250 marks)
(12.5 x20=250 marks)
Q1:Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry
and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to
services. What are the reasons for the huge growth-services vis-a-vis industry
in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong
industrial base?(12.5 marks)
Q2:"While we flaunt India’s demographic dividend, we
ignore the dropping rates of employability." What are we missing
while doing so? Where will the jobs that India desperately needs come
from? Explain.(12.5 marks)
Q3: There is also a point of view that Agricultural
Produce Market Committees [APMCs) set up under the State Acts have not
only impeded the development of agriculture but also have been the cause
of food inflation in India. Critically examine.(12.5 marks)
Q4:“In the villages itself no form of credit organization will be
suitable except the cooperative society.” —-All India Rural Credit Survey.
Discuss this statement in the background of agricultural
finance in India. What constraints and challenges do financial institutions
supplying agricultural finance face? How can technology be used to better
reach and serve rural clients?(12.5 marks)
Q5: The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency
in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 has come
into effect from Ist January, 2014. What are the key issues
which would get addressed with the Act in place? What
implications would it have on industrialization and agriculture in India?
(12.5 marks)
(12.5 marks)
Q6: Capitalism has guided the world economy to
unprecedented prosperity. However, it often encourages short-sightedness and
contributes to wide disparities between the rich and the poor. In this light,
would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism for bringing inclusive
growth in India? Discuss.(12.5 marks)
Q7: Explain how Private Public Partnership
arrangements, in long gestation infrastructure projects, can transfer unsustainable
liabilities to the future. What arrangements need to be put in place to ensure
that successive generations' capacities are not compromised?(12.5 marks)
Q8: National Urban Transport Policy emphasises on
'moving people' instead of 'moving vehicles'. Discuss critically the success of
the various strategies of the Government in this regard.
(12.5 marks)
(12.5 marks)
Q9:Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector
is now set to be liberalized: What influence this is expected to have on Indian
defence and economy in the short and long run?
(12.5 marks)
(12.5 marks)
Q10: Scientific research in Indian universities is
declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as are business
professions, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming
consumer-oriented. Critically comment.(12.5 marks)
Q11: Can overuse and free availability of
antibiotics without Doctor's prescription, be contributors to the emergence of
drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for
monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.(12.5
marks)
Q12: In a globalized world, Intellectual Property
Rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish
between the terms—Copyrights, Patents and Trade Secrets.
(12.5 marks)
(12.5 marks)
Q13: Should the pursuit of carbon credits and clean
development mechanisms set up under UNFCCC be maintained even though there has
been a massive slide in the value of a carbon credit? Discuss with respect to
India's energy needs for economic growth.
(12.5 marks)
Q14: Drought has been recognized as a disaster in view of
its spatial expanse, • _ slow onset and lasting effects on vulnerable sections.
With a focus on the 801titeetber guidelines from the National Disaster
Management Authority (ND 1, discuss the mechanisms for preparedness to deal
with likely El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India.(12.5 marks)
Q15:Environmental Impact Assessment studies are
increasingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Government. Discuss
the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at coal
pitheads.(12.5 marks)
Q16: "The diverse nature of India as a
multi-religious and multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of
radicalism which is seen in her neighbourhood? Discuss along with strategies to
be adopted to counter this environment.(12.5 marks)
Q17: International civil aviation laws provide all
countries complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their
territory. What do you understand by 'airspace' What are the implications of
these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this
poses and suggest ways to contain the threat.(12.5 marks)
Q18: How does illegal transborder migration pose a
threat to India's security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bringing out
the factors which give impetus to such migration.(12.5 marks)
Q19:In 2012, the longitudinal marking for high-risk areas
for piracy was moved from 65 degrees east to 78 degrees east in the Arabian Sea
by the International Maritime Organisation. What impact does this have on
India's maritime security concerns?
(12.5 marks)
Q20:China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for
development of an economic corridor. What threat does this pose for India's
security? Critically examine.(12.5 marks)
Paper – IV
INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting
questions)
·
There are FOURTEEN questions divided in two
Sections and punted both in HINDI and in ENGLISH, All questions are compulsory,
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
·
Answers must be written in the medium authorized
in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this
Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space Provided. No marks will be given
for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
·
Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should
be adhered to, Any page or portion of the page left blank in the
Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answer
questions in NOT MORE than the word limit specified for each in the
parenthesis. Content of the answer is more important than its length.
SECTION-A
Q1.
(a)All
human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to
you? Explain with examples. (150
words) (10marks)
(b)What
does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in
public administration?
(150
words) (10marks)
Q2.
(a)In
the context of defence services, 'patriotism' demands readiness to even lay
down one's life in protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism
imply in everyday civil life? Explain with illustrations and justify your
answer. (150 words)(10marks)
(b)What
do you understand by 'probity' in public life? What are the difficulties in
practicing it in the present times? How can these difficulties be overcome? (150 words)(10marks)
Q3.
(a)"Integrity
without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is
dangerous and dreadful." What do you understand by this statement? Explain
your stand with illustrations from the modern context. (150 words)(10marks)
(b)"Human
beings should always be treated as 'ends' in themselves and never as merely
`means'." Explain the meaning and significance of this statement, giving
its implications in the modern techno-economic society. (150 words)(10marks)
Q4.
(a)Which
eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct
in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings. Giving specific examples, describe
how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development. (150 words)(10marks)
(b)There
is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy
positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions
have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken
to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility?
(150
words)(10marks)
Q5.
(a) The current society is plagued with
widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this situation for
personal well-being and for societal well-being? What can you do at the
personal level to make yourself trustworthy? (150
words)(10marks)
(b)It
is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of
instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big
way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer
with examples. (150
words)(10marks)
Q6.What
factors affect the formation of a person's attitude towards social problems? In
our society, contrasting attitudes are prevalent about many social problems.
What contrasting attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society?
How do you explain the existence of these contrasting attitudes?(150
words)(10marks)
Q7.What
does 'accountability' mean in the context of public service? What measures can
be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public
servants? (150 words)(10marks)
Q8. We are witnessing increasing instances
of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal
provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest
some innovative measures to tackle this menace.(150 words)(10marks)
SECTION—B
In
the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer
the questions that follow :
Q9.Now-a-days,
there is an increasing thrust on economic development all around the globe. At
the same time, there is also an increasing concern about environmental
degradation caused by development. Many a time, we face a direct conflict
between developmental activity and environmental quality. It is neither
feasible to stop or curtail the developmental process, nor it is advisable to
keep degrading the environment, as it threatens our very survival. Discuss some
feasible strategies which could be adopted to eliminate this conflict and which
could lead to sustainable development. (250
words)(20marks)
Q10
.Suppose one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services,
comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in
public service. He raises the following points
(i) In the present times, when unethical
environment is quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical
principles may cause a lot of problems in one's career. It may also cause
hardship to the family members as well as risk to one's life. Why should we not
be pragmatic and follow the path of least resistance, and be happy with doing
whatever good we can?
(ii) When so many people are adopting wrong
means and are grossly harming the system, what difference would it make if only
a small minority tries to be ethical? They are going to be rather ineffective
and are bound to get frustrated.
(iii) If we become fussy about ethical
considerations, will it not hamper the economic progress of our country? After
all, in the present age of high competition, we cannot afford to be left behind
in the race of development,
(iv) It is understandable that we should
not get involved in grossly unethical practices, but giving and accepting small
gratifications and doing small favours increases everybody's motivation. It
also makes the system more efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices?
Critically analyze the above viewpoints. On the basis of this analysis, what
will be your advice to your friend? (250
words)
(20marks)
Q11.You
are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You have been transferred to a remote
district to head a department that is notorious for its inefficiency and
callousness. You find that the main cause of the poor state of affairs is the
indiscipline of a section of employees. They do not work themselves and also
disrupt the working of others. You first warned the troublemakers to mend their
ways or else face disciplinary action. When the warning had little effect, you
issued a show cause notice to the ringleaders. As a retaliatory measure, these
troublemakers instigated a woman employee amongst them to file a complaint of
sexual harassment against you with the Women's Commission. The Commission
promptly seeks your explanation. The matter is also publicized in the media to
embarrass you further. Some of the options to handle this situation could be as
follows :
(1) Give your explanation to the Commission
and go soft on the disciplinary action.
(2) Ignore the Commission and proceed
firmly with the disciplinary action.
(3) Brief your higher-ups, seek directions
from them and act accordingly.
Suggest
any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course
of action, giving your reasons for it.
(250
words) (20marks)
Q12. Suppose you are the CEO of a company
that manufactures specialized electronic equipment used by a government
department. You have submitted your bid for the supply of this equipment to the
department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are better than those of
the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding a hefty bribe for
approving the tender. Getting the order is important both for you and for your
company Not getting the order would mean closing a production line.It may also
affect your own career. However, as a value-conscious person, you do not give
bribe.
Valid
arguments can be advanced both for giving the bribe and getting the order, and
for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the loss of the order. What those
arguments could be? Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma?
If so, outline the main elements of this third way, pointing out its merits.
(250
words)(20marks)
Q13:Rameshwar
successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited
about the opportunity that he would get through the civil services to serve the
country, However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are
not as rosy as he had imagined, He found a number of malpractices prevailing in
the department assigned to him. For example, funds under various schemes and
grants were being misappropriated, The official facilities were frequently
being used for personal needs by the officers and staff, After some time, he
noticed that the process of recruiting the staff was also not up to the mark.
Prospective candidates were required to write an examination in which a lot of
cheating was going on. Some candidates were provided external help in the
examination. Rameshwar brought these incidents to the notice of his seniors.
However, he was advised to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all
these things which were taking place with the connivance of the higher-ups,
Rameshwar felt highly disillusioned and uncomfortable. He comes to you seeking
your advice.
Indicate
various options that you think are available in this situation. How would you
help him to evaluate these options and choose the most appropriate path to be
adopted?
(250
words)(20marks)
Q14:In
our country, the migration of rural people to towns and cities is increasing
drastically. This is causing serious problems both in the rural as well as in
the urban areas. In fact, things are becoming really unmanageable: Can you
analyze this problem in detail and indicate not only the socio-economic but
also the emotional and attitudinal factors responsible for this problem? Also,
distinctly bring out why—
(a) educated rural youth are trying to
shift to urban areas;
(b) landless poor people are migrating to
urban slums
(c) even some farmers are selling off
their land and trying to settle in urban areas taking up petty jobs.
What feasible steps can you suggest which will be effective
in controlling this serious problem of our country?
(250 words) (20marks)
English paper
Q-1Write an essay in about 600 words on any one topic
(100 marks)
(a)What kind of crisis is India facing — moral or economic?
(b)Participating in sports helps develop good character.
(c)Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
(d)Not everything that can be counted counts, and not
everything that counts can be counted.
Q-2 Read carefully the passage below and write your
answers to the questions that follow in clear, correct and concise language :(5×15=75marks)
A complete reading program, therefore, should include four
factors : at least one good book each week, a newspaper or news magazine,
magazines of comment and interpretation, and book reviews. If you keep feeding
your intelligence with these four foods, you can be sure that your brain cells
will be properly nourished. To this must be added the digestive process that
comes from your own thinking and from discussion with individuals or groups.
It is often desirable to make books that you own personally
part of your mind by underlining or by marking in the margin the more important
statements. This will help you to understand the book as you first read it,
because out of the mass of details you must have selected the essential ideas.
It will help you to remember better the gist of the book, since the physical
act of underlining, with your eyes on the page, tends to put the thought more
firmly into your brain cells. It will save time whenever you need to refer to
the book.
Above all, never forget that creative intelligence is
correlation of facts and ideas, not mere memorizing. What counts is what you
can do with your knowledge, by linking it with other things you have studied or
observed. If you read Plutarch’s life of Julius Caeser, think how his rise to
political power paralleled the technique of Adolf Hitler, or that of your local
political boss. If you read a play by Shakespeare, think how his portrayal of
the characters helps you to understand someone you know. In everything you
read, keep at the back of your mind what it means to your life here and now,
how it supports or challenges the things you were taught in school, in church
and at home, and how the wisdom you get from books can guide you in your thinking,
in your career, in your voting as a citizen and in your personal morals.
Questions:
(a)What are the four things required for a complete reading
program and why?
(15 marks)
(b)What else is required to feed your intelligence?
(15 marks)
(c)Why does the writer recommend underlining or marking in
the margin the more important statements?
(15 marks)
(d)What use can you put your knowledge to?
(15 marks)
(e)How can what you learn from books help you in your life?
(15 marks)
Q3 Make a precis of the following passage in about
one-third of its length. Please do not give a title to it. Précis should be
written in your own language.(75 marks)
If this century has, in the famous phrase, made the world
safe for democracy, the next challenge is to make a world safe for diversity.
It is in India’s interest to ensure that the world as a whole must reflect the
idea that is already familiar to all Indians — that it shouldn’t matter what
the colour of your skin is, the kind of food you eat, the sounds you make when
you speak, the God you choose to worship (or not), so long as you want to play
by the same rules as everybody else, and dream the same dreams. It is not
essential in a democratic world to agree all the time, as long as we agree on
the ground rules of how we will disagree. These are the global principles we
must strive to uphold if we are to be able to continue to uphold them securely
at home.
We want a world that gives us the conditions of peace and
security that will permit us to grow and flourish, safe from foreign
depredations but open to external opportunities. Whether global institutions
adapt and revive will be determined by whether those in charge are capable of
showing the necessary leadership. Right now many of us would suggest that there
is a global governance deficit. Reversing it would require strong leadership in
the international community by a number of powers, including the emerging ones.
India is an obvious contender to provide some of that leadership. India should
aim not just at being powerful – it should set new standards for what the
powerful must do.
This is a huge challenge, and one to which India must rise.
An analogy from another field is not encouraging; many would argue that India
has not acquitted itself well when given the chance to have global impact in
one domain — that of the sport of cricket, where India accounts for more than
80 percent of the game’s revenues and perhaps 90 percent of its viewership,
giving it an impact on the sport that no country can rival. Clearly,
international opinion does not believe that in its domination of world cricket,
India has set new standards for what the powerful must do. Broadening the
analogy to global geopolitics, one could well say : India, your world needs
you.
So India must play its due part in the stewardship of the
global commons (including everything from the management of the Internet to the
rules governing the exploitation of outer space). We can do it. India is
turning increasingly outward as a result of our new economic profile on the
global stage, our more dispersed interests around the world, and the reality
that other countries, in our neighbourhood as well as in Africa, are looking to
us for support and security. India has the ability and the vision to promote
global partnerships across the broad range of its interests; it only needs to
act.
The world economic crisis should give us an opportunity to
promote economic integration with our neighbours in the subcontinent who look
to the growing Indian market to sell their goods and maintain their own growth.
But as long as South Asia remains divided by futile rivalries, and some
continue to believe that terrorism can be a useful instrument of their
strategic doctrines that is bound to remain a distant prospect. We in South
Asia need to look to the future, to an interrelated future on our subcontinent,
where geography becomes an instrument of opportunity in a mutual growth story,
where history binds rather than divides, where trade and cross-border links
flourish and bring prosperity to all our people.
(603 words)
Q4 -(A)Rewrite
the following sentences after making necessary corrections. Please do not make
unnecessary changes in the original sentence.(1 x 10=10 marks)
(1)School is very near my home.
(2)They never fail who die in great cause.
(3)It rained an hour before.
(4)He wrote a most complete account of his travels.
(5)Either of these three answers is incorrect.
(6)You will be late until you hurry.
(7)He is seldom or ever absent from school.
(8)The colours so passed off one another that she could not
distinguish them.
(9)The general as well as his soldiers were killed in the
battle.
(10)The boat was drowned.
(B)-Supply the missing word:(1x5=5)
(1)If you see him give him ___ message.
(2)I hope to reach the station ___ an hour at the
outside.
(3)___ Rustam and Sohrab, there were three other boys
present.
(4)Invalids are not capable ___ continued exertion.
(5)___ he had not paid his bills, his electricity was cutoff.
(C)-Use the correct forms of the verbs in brackets
(1x5=5)
(1)His company is greatly____after. (seek)
(2)His courage ___ him. (forsake)
(3)The terrified people___to the mountains. (flee)
(4)The police ___ no stone unturned to trace the culprits.
(leave)
(5)The robber ___ him a blow on the head. (strike)
(D)Write the Antonyms of
the following(1x5=5)
(1)Ability
(2)Precise
(3)Constructive
(4)Extravagant
(5)Pretentious
Q-5:(A):Rewrite
each of the following sentences as directed without changing the meaning: (1 x 10 = 10 marks)
(1)He
finished his exercise and put away his books. (Change into simple)
(2)In
the event of his being late, he will be punished. (Change into compound)
(3)He
said to me, “I have often told you not to play with fire.” (Change into
indirect speech)
(4)He
said that he had come to see them. (Change into direct speech)
(5)He
drove too fast for the police to catch. (Remove ‘too’)
(6)The
audience loudly cheered the Mayor’s speech. (Change into passive voice)
(7)A
reward was given to him by the Governor. (Change into active voice)
(8)Sita
is not one of the cleverest girls in the class. (Change into comparative
degree)
(9)I
was doubtful whether it was you. (Change into negative form)
(10)It
is sad to think that youth should pass away. (Change into exclamatory sentence)
(B):Use
each of the following words to make a sentence that brings out their meaning
clearly. Do not change the form of the words. (No marks will be given for vague
and ambiguous sentences)
(1
x 5 =5 marks)
(1)gratitude
(2)flavour
(3)explosion
(4)dismal
(5)clumsy
(C):Choose
the appropriate word to fill in the blank:(1x5=marks)
(1)He
got a __ blow from his enemy. (deadly/deathly)
(2)The
__ of his speech was very lucid and natural. (delivery/deliverance)
(3)I
do not know how to express my gratitude; you have been __ to me.
(beneficial/beneficent)
(4)My
friend will __ me to the hospital. (accompany/escort)
(5)We
sat in the __ of a tree and relaxed a while. (shadow/shade)
(D): Use
these phrases in sentences of your own to bring out their meaning clearly. Do
not change the form of the words.
(1×5=5marks)
(1)According
to
(2)All
of a sudden
(3)Ready
money
(4)A
burning question
(5)Ins
and outs
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