The UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2018 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 2018, official questions, exam pattern, question paper instructions, and the official UPSC PDF link.
UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2018: Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Examination | UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2018 |
| Paper | General Studies Paper II |
| Year | 2018 |
| Exam Stage | Main Examination |
| Maximum Marks | 250 |
| Time Allowed | 3 Hours |
| Total Questions | 20 |
| Question Type | Descriptive |
| Medium | Any language authorized by UPSC in the Admission Certificate |
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 2018
Questions 1–10 (150 Words, 10 Marks Each)
- In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India? (150 words | 10 Marks)
- Whether the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in religious minority institutions? Examine. (150 words | 10 Marks)
- Under what circumstances can a Financial Emergency be proclaimed by the President of India? What consequences follow when such a declaration remains in force? (150 words | 10 Marks)
- Why are committees considered useful for parliamentary work? Discuss, in this context, the role of the Estimates Committee. (150 words | 10 Marks)
- “The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has a very vital role to play.” Explain how this is reflected in the method and terms of appointment as well as the range of powers exercised by the CAG. (150 words | 10 Marks)
- “Policy contradictions among various competing sectors and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate protection and prevention of environmental degradation.” Comment with relevant illustrations. (150 words | 10 Marks)
- Appropriate local community-level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve “Health for All” in India. Explain. (150 words | 10 Marks)
- E-governance is not only about utilization of the power of new technology, but also about the critical importance of the “use value” of information. Explain. (150 words | 10 Marks)
- “India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.” Discuss. (150 words | 10 Marks)
- A number of outside powers have entrenched themselves in Central Asia, which is a zone of interest to India. Discuss the implications, in this context, of India’s joining the Ashgabat Agreement, 2018. (150 words | 10 Marks)
Questions 11–20 (250 Words, 15 Marks Each)
- Whether the Supreme Court judgment (July 2018) can settle the political tussle between the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Government of Delhi? Examine. (250 words | 15 Marks)
- How far do you agree with the view that tribunals curtail the jurisdiction of ordinary courts? In view of the above, discuss the constitutional validity and competency of tribunals in India. (250 words | 15 Marks)
- India and the USA are two large democracies. Examine the basic tenets on which the two political systems are based. (250 words | 15 Marks)
- How is the Finance Commission of India constituted? What do you know about the Terms of Reference of the Finance Commission constituted in 2018? Discuss. (250 words | 15 Marks)
- Assess the importance of the Panchayati Raj system in India as a part of local government. Apart from government grants, what sources can Panchayats explore for financing developmental projects? (250 words | 15 Marks)
- Multiplicity of various commissions for the vulnerable sections of society leads to problems of overlapping jurisdiction and duplication of functions. Is it better to merge all commissions into an umbrella Human Rights Commission? Argue your case. (250 words | 15 Marks)
- How far do you agree with the view that focusing only on the lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger diverts attention from ineffective human development policies in India? (250 words | 15 Marks)
- The Citizens’ Charter is an ideal instrument of organizational transparency and accountability, but it has its own limitations. Identify these limitations and suggest measures for making Citizens’ Charters more effective. (250 words | 15 Marks)
- What are the key areas of reform if the World Trade Organization (WTO) has to survive in the present context of trade wars, especially keeping in mind India’s interests? (250 words | 15 Marks)
- In what ways would the ongoing US-Iran Nuclear Pact controversy affect India’s national interests? How should India respond to this situation? (250 words | 15 Marks)
Official UPSC PDF
The official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2018 General Studies Paper II question paper can be downloaded from the UPSC website.
Download Official UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2018 (PDF)