UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2024 (Official) – Download PDF & Questions

The UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2024 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 2024, official questions, exam pattern, question paper instructions, and the official UPSC PDF link.

UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2024: 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 Question Nos. 1 to 10 should be in 150 words, whereas answers to Question Nos. 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 2024

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

1. Examine the need for electoral reforms as suggested by various committees with particular reference to “One Nation, One Election” principle. (150 words | 10 Marks)
2. Explain and distinguish between Lok Adalats and Arbitration Tribunals. Whether they entertain civil as well as criminal cases? (150 words | 10 Marks)
3. “The growth of cabinet system has practically resulted in the marginalisation of the parliamentary supremacy.” Elucidate. (150 words | 10 Marks)
4. “The duty of the Comptroller and Auditor General is not merely to ensure the legality of expenditure but also its propriety.” Comment. (150 words | 10 Marks)
5. Analyse the role of local bodies in providing good governance at local level and bring out the pros and cons of merging the rural local bodies with the urban local bodies. (150 words | 10 Marks)
6. Public charitable trusts have the potential to make India’s development more inclusive as they relate to certain vital public issues. Comment. (150 words | 10 Marks)
7. Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle? (150 words | 10 Marks)
8. The Doctrine of Democratic Governance makes it necessary that the public perception of the integrity and commitment of civil servants becomes absolutely positive. Discuss. (150 words | 10 Marks)
9. ‘The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China’s supply chain and as a strategic ally to counter China’s political and economic dominance.’ Explain this statement with examples. (150 words | 10 Marks)
10. Critically analyse India’s evolving diplomatic, economic and strategic relations with the Central Asian Republics (CARs), highlighting their increasing significance in regional and global geopolitics. (150 words | 10 Marks)

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

11. What are the aims and objectives of the recently passed and enforced Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations, too, are covered under the Act? (250 words | 15 Marks)
12. Right to privacy is intrinsic to life and personal liberty and is inherently protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. Explain. In this reference, discuss the law relating to DNA testing of a child in the womb to establish its paternity. (250 words | 15 Marks)
13. What changes has the Union Government recently introduced in the domain of Centre-State relations? Suggest measures to build trust between the Centre and the States and strengthen federalism. (250 words | 15 Marks)
14. Explain the reasons for the growth of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India. As a result of it, has the Indian Supreme Court emerged as the world’s most powerful judiciary? (250 words | 15 Marks)
15. Discuss India as a secular state and compare it with the secular principles of the US Constitution. (250 words | 15 Marks)
16. The Citizens’ Charter has been a landmark initiative in ensuring citizen-centric administration, but it is yet to reach its full potential. Identify the factors hindering its implementation and suggest measures to overcome them. (250 words | 15 Marks)
17. In a crucial domain like the public healthcare system, the Indian State should play a vital role to contain the adverse impact of marketisation of the system. Suggest measures through which the State can enhance the reach of public healthcare at the grassroots level. (250 words | 15 Marks)
18. E-governance is not just about the routine application of digital technology in service delivery. It is equally about ensuring transparency and accountability. Evaluate the role of the Interactive Service Model of e-governance. (250 words | 15 Marks)
19. ‘Terrorism has become a significant threat to global peace and security.’ Evaluate the effectiveness of the United Nations Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) and its associated bodies in addressing and mitigating this threat at the international level. (250 words | 15 Marks)
20. Discuss the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of the Maldives for India with a focus on global trade and energy flows. Also discuss how this relationship affects India’s maritime security and regional stability amidst international competition. (250 words | 15 Marks)

Official UPSC PDF

The official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2024 General Studies Paper II question paper can be downloaded from the UPSC website.

Download Official UPSC CSE Mains GS Paper II Question Paper 2024 (PDF)