UPSC_CS MAINS 2014 Paper II

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.

Points to Remember: Impact of Rail Tariff Authority (RTA) on Indian Railways’ finances. Experience of power sector deregulation and its relevance to railways. Benefits and drawbacks for consumers, Indian Railways, and private container operators. Need for subsidies and their implications. Introduction: The Indian Railways, a crucial component of India’s transportation network, faces significant financial challenges. … Read more

Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.

Points to Remember: Presidential power of commutation Delays in commutation and its impact Arguments for and against a time limit Constitutional implications Balancing executive power with justice Introduction: The power of commutation of death sentences rests with the President of India under Article 72 of the Constitution. This power, while intended as a safeguard against … Read more

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 is the efficacy of a government then inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss.

Keywords: Cabinet size, government efficacy, Prime Minister’s management, team size, inverse relationship. Required Approach: Analytical Points to Remember: Optimal cabinet size is a balance between workload and manageability. Larger cabinets can lead to inefficiency and coordination problems. Smaller cabinets may lack diversity and expertise. The Prime Minister’s leadership style significantly impacts cabinet effectiveness. Efficacy is … Read more

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?

Keywords: Article 105, Parliamentary Privileges, Uncodified Privileges, Legal Codification, Indian Constitution. Required Approach: Primarily analytical, with elements of factual presentation. Points to Remember: Article 105 grants powers, privileges, and immunities to Parliament and its members. These privileges are largely uncodified and undefined. This lack of codification leads to ambiguity and potential abuse. Codification is crucial … Read more

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.

Points to Remember: Indian Constitution’s federal structure. Balance of power between Centre and States. Features favouring a strong Centre. Implications for strong federalism. Potential for reform and strengthening state autonomy. Introduction: The Indian Constitution establishes a federal system, a significant feature of its design. However, the balance of power leans considerably towards the Centre, creating … Read more

Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly pro active 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.

Points to Remember: Judicial Activism in India Basic Structure Doctrine Positive and Negative Impacts of Judicial Activism Balancing Judicial Power with Democratic Principles Introduction: The Indian judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, has significantly shaped the nation’s democratic trajectory. This is evident from its proactive role, most notably exemplified by the articulation of the “basic structure” … Read more

What do 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.

Points to Remember: Freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right. Hate speech is not protected under freedom of speech. Films in India face unique challenges due to their mass reach and potential for social impact. Introduction: Freedom of speech and expression, enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, is a cornerstone of … Read more