IAS Civil Services Mains Essay Question Papers 1997-2010

IAS – ESSAY QUESTION PAPER 2010

( 30 October , 2010 )

Write an essay on any one of the following topics :

1. Geography may remain the same ; history need not.

2. Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country?

3. Preparedness of our society for India's global leadership role.

4. From traditional Indian philanthropy to the Gates-Buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift?

ESSAY (Compulsory): 2009

Time Allowed: Three Hours Max. Marks: 200

Instruction: The Essay must be written in the medium specified in the admission certificate issued to you. The name of medium must be stated clearly on the cover of the answer-book in the space provided for the purpose. No credit will be given to the essay written in a medium other than that specified in the admission certificate.

(Examiner will pay special attention to the candidate's grasp of his material, it's relevance to the subject chosen and to his ability to think constructively and present his ideas concisely, logically and effectively).

Write an Essay on any one of the following topics:

1. Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death?
2. Are we a 'Soft' state?
3. "The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the 'haves' of our society".
4. " Good Fences make good neighbors"
5. ' Globalization' vs. ' Nationalism'

2008

• 1. Role of media in good governance

 

• 2. National Identity and Patriotism

 

• 3. Special Economic Zones: Boon or Bane

 

• 4. Discipline means success, anarchy means ruin

 

• 5. Urbanization and its hazards

 

• 6. Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses?

2006
1. Women's Reservation Bill Would Usher in Empowerment for Women in India.
2. Protection of Ecology and Environment is Essential for Sustained Economic Development.
3. Importance of Indo-U.S. Nuclear Agreement
4. "Education for All" Campaign in India: Myth or Reality.
5. Globalization Would Finish Small-Scale Industries in India.
6. Increasing Computerization Would lead to the Creation of a Dehumanized Society
2005
1. Justice must reach the poor
2. The hand that rocks the cradle
3. If women ruled the world
4. What is real education?
5. Terrorism and world peace
6. Food security for sustainable national development
2004
1. India's Role in Promoting ASEAN Co-operation.
2. Judicial Activism and Indian Democracy.
3. Whither Women's Emancipation?
4. Globalizations and Its Impact on Indian Culture.
5. The Lure of Space.
6. Water Resources Should Be Under the Control of the Central Government.
2003
1. The Masks of New Imperialism.
2. How far has democracy in India delivered the goods?
3. How should a civil servant conduct himself?
4. As civilization advances culture declines.
5. There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.
6. Spirituality and Scientific temper.
2002
1. Modern technological education and human values.
2. Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem.
3. If youth knew, if age could.
4. The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
5. Privatization of higher education in India.
6. Responsibility of media in a democracy.
2001
1. What have we gained from our democratic set-up?
2. My vision of an ideal world order.
3. The march of science and the erosion of human values.
4. Irrelevance of the classroom.
5. The pursuit of excellence.
6. Empowerment alone cannot help our women.
2000
1. Why should we be proud of being Indians?
2. The cyberworld: Its charms and challenges.
3. The country's need for a better disaster management system.
4. Indian culture today: A myth or a reality?
5. The implications of globalization for India.
6. Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values.
1999
1. Women empowerment: Challenges and prospects.
2. Youth culture today.
3. Mass media and cultural invasion.
4. Resource management in the Indian context.
5. Value-based science and education.
6. Reservation, politics and empowerment.
1998
1. The composite culture of India.
2. Woman is God's best creation.
3.The misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India.
4. India's contribution to world wisdom.
5. The language problem in India: Its past, present and prospects.
6. The world of the twenty-first century.
1997
1. What we have not learnt during fifty years of Independence.
2. Judicial activism.
3. Greater political power alone will not improve women's plight.
4. True religion cannot be misused.
5. The modern doctor and his patients.
6. Urbanization is a blessing in disguise.