UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2017 (Official) – Download PDF & Questions

The UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2017 General Studies Paper II evaluates candidates on Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations. The paper carries 250 marks and consists of descriptive questions.

On this page, you can find the UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2017, official questions, exam pattern, question paper instructions, and the official UPSC PDF link.

UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2017: Overview

Question Paper Instructions

• There are TWENTY questions printed 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 the Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided.
• No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
• Answers to Questions No. 1 to 10 should be in 150 words, whereas answers to Questions No. 11 to 20 should be in 250 words.
• Word limit in questions should be adhered to.
• Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.

UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2017

Questions 1–10 (150 Words, 10 Marks Each)

1. “The local self-government system in India has not proved to be an effective instrument of governance.” Critically examine the statement and give your views to improve the situation. (150 words | 10 Marks)
2. Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgement on the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 with reference to the appointment of judges of the higher judiciary in India. (150 words | 10 Marks)
3. “Simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies will limit the amount of time and money spent in electioneering, but it will reduce the government’s accountability to the people.” Discuss. (150 words | 10 Marks)
4. How do pressure groups influence the Indian political process? Do you agree with the view that informal pressure groups have emerged as more powerful than formal pressure groups in recent years? (150 words | 10 Marks)
5. Discuss the role of the Public Accounts Committee in establishing accountability of the government to the people. (150 words | 10 Marks)
6. “To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes.” Examine the statement in the context of the WASH programme. (150 words | 10 Marks)
7. Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure an effective mechanism for empowerment and inclusion of the intended beneficiaries in society? Discuss. (150 words | 10 Marks)
8. Hunger and poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India even today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these problems. Suggest measures for improvement. (150 words | 10 Marks)
9. “China is using its economic relations and positive trade surplus as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia.” In the light of this statement, discuss its impact on India as its neighbour. (150 words | 10 Marks)
10. What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain the different functional commissions attached to it. (150 words | 10 Marks)

Questions 11–20 (250 Words, 15 Marks Each)

11. Explain the salient features of the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016. Do you think it is efficacious enough to remove the cascading effect of taxes and provide for a common national market for goods and services? (250 words | 15 Marks)
12. Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in the light of the Supreme Court’s judgement on the Right to Privacy. (250 words | 15 Marks)
13. The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding joint sittings of the two Houses of Parliament. Enumerate the occasions when this would normally happen and also the occasions when it cannot, with reasons. (250 words | 15 Marks)
14. To enhance the quality of democracy in India, the Election Commission of India proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant in strengthening democracy? (250 words | 15 Marks)
15. Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face in both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer. (250 words | 15 Marks)
16. “The emergence of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in contemporary times points to the slow but steady withdrawal of the State from developmental activities.” Examine the role of SHGs in development and the measures taken by the Government of India to promote them. (250 words | 15 Marks)
17. “Poverty alleviation programmes in India remain mere showpieces unless they are backed by political will.” Discuss with reference to the performance of major poverty alleviation programmes in India. (250 words | 15 Marks)
18. Initially, Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seem to be lacking in the present context. Do you agree that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services? Comment. (250 words | 15 Marks)
19. The question of India’s energy security constitutes the most important part of India’s economic progress. Analyse India’s energy policy cooperation with West Asian countries. (250 words | 15 Marks)
20. Indian diaspora has an important role to play in the economy and society of South-East Asian countries. Appraise the role of the Indian diaspora in South-East Asia in this context. (250 words | 15 Marks)

Official UPSC PDF

The official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2017 General Studies Paper II question paper can be downloaded from the UPSC website.

Download Official UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2017 (PDF)