UPSC_CS MAINS 2021 Paper II

Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. What importance does it hold for India?

Points to Remember: Aims and objectives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) India’s membership and its strategic importance Benefits and challenges of India’s engagement with SCO SCO’s role in regional security and economic cooperation Introduction: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), established in 2001, is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance. Initially formed by China, … Read more

âThe USA is facing an existential threat in the form of a China, that is much more challenging than the erstwhile Soviet Union.â Explain.

Points to Remember: The rise of China as a global power. Comparison of China’s challenge with that of the Soviet Union. Economic, military, technological, and ideological dimensions of the challenge. Potential consequences for the USA. Strategies for addressing the challenge. Introduction: The statement “The USA is facing an existential threat in the form of a … Read more

The newly tri-nation partnership AUKUS is aimed at countering Chinaâs ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. Is it going to supersede the existing partnerships in the region? Discuss the strength and impact of AUKUS in the present scenario.

Points to Remember: AUKUS’s primary goal: Countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. AUKUS’s composition: Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Existing partnerships in the Indo-Pacific: Quad, ASEAN, etc. Assessing AUKUS’s strengths and weaknesses. Evaluating AUKUS’s impact on regional dynamics. Considering the potential for AUKUS to supersede or complement existing partnerships. Introduction: The AUKUS … Read more

âIf the last few decades were of Asiaâs growth story, the next few are expected to be Africaâs.â In the light of this statement, examine Indiaâs influence in Africa in recent years.

Points to Remember: India’s growing economic and political influence in Africa. Types of engagement: economic partnerships, development assistance, diplomatic ties. Challenges and opportunities for India in Africa. Comparison with other global powers’ influence in Africa. The future of India-Africa relations. Introduction: The assertion that Africa’s growth story will dominate the coming decades follows Asia’s remarkable … Read more

âBesides being a moral imperative of a Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition for sustainable development.â Analyze.

Points to Remember: Welfare State: A state where the government plays a key role in protecting and promoting the economic and social well-being of its citizens. Primary Health Structure: The foundational level of healthcare, encompassing preventative care, basic curative services, and health promotion at the community level. Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of … Read more

âThough women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.â Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu?

Keywords: Women, Post-Independent India, Social Attitude, Patriarchal, Feminist Movement, Interventions, Change. Required Approach: Analytical, with elements of factual support. Points to Remember: The persistence of patriarchal attitudes despite women’s achievements. The limitations of education and empowerment schemes alone. The need for multi-pronged interventions targeting social norms and structures. The role of legislation, media, and community … Read more

Has digital literacy, particularly rural areas, coupled with lack of information and Communications Technology (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification.

Points to Remember: Digital literacy’s impact on socio-economic development in rural areas. The role of ICT accessibility in bridging the digital divide. The interplay between limited digital literacy and ICT access. Potential solutions and policy recommendations. Introduction: Socio-economic development hinges on access to information and opportunities. The digital revolution has presented unprecedented potential for progress, … Read more

Can the vicious cycle of gender inequality, poverty and malnutrition be broken through micro financing of women SHGs? Explain with examples.

Keywords: Gender inequality, poverty, malnutrition, microfinancing, women, Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Required Approach: Analytical (with elements of factual support). Points to Remember: The interconnectedness of gender inequality, poverty, and malnutrition. The role of women’s empowerment in breaking this cycle. The potential of microfinance through SHGs as a tool for empowerment. Limitations and challenges of microfinance interventions. … Read more

Can the vicious cycle of gender inequality, poverty and malnutrition be broken through microfinancing of women SHGs? Explain with examples.

Points to Remember: The interconnectedness of gender inequality, poverty, and malnutrition. The role of women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in poverty alleviation. The potential and limitations of microfinance in addressing these issues. Examples of successful and unsuccessful microfinance initiatives. Policy recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of microfinance for women. Introduction: Gender inequality, poverty, and malnutrition form … Read more

Can Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations present an alternative model of public service delivery to benefit the common citizen? Discuss the challenges of this alternative model.

Points to Remember: Role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Alternative models of public service delivery Advantages and disadvantages of CSO/NGO involvement Challenges faced by CSOs/NGOs in public service delivery Sustainability and scalability of alternative models Policy recommendations for effective collaboration Introduction: Civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) represent a … Read more