Governance Mains PYQs UPSC | Governance Mains PYQs IAS Exam | Governance UPSC Mains | Governance Questions UPSC Mains | Topic wise questions Governance UPSC Mains

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Governance Syllabus : UPSC Mains

Topic 1 – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Topic 2 – Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.  

Topic 3 – Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.     

Topic 4 – Role of civil services in a democracy.

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Governance Mains PYQs UPSC – Year wise Marks Weightage (2013 – 2025)

Year	Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2025	35 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2024	50 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2023	25 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2022	35 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2021	55 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2020	55 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2019	40 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2018	25 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2017	55 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2016	50 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2015	62.5 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2014	37.5 Marks
Governance Mains PYQs UPSC 2013	30 Marks

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Governance Mains PYQs UPSC – Year wise & Topic wise Collection (2013 – 2025)

Governance Mains PYQs UPSC (Topic 1 & 2)

Topic 1 – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Topic 2 – Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.  

UPSC 2025

1. Civil Society Organizations are often perceived as being anti-State actors than non-State actors. Do you agree? Justify. (150 words – 10 marks)
2. “In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution defeating the objectives of development.” Critically evaluate. (250 words – 15 marks) (Also link with topic 4)

UPSC 2023

1. Discuss the contribution of civil society groups for women’s effective and meaningful participation and representation in state legislatures in India. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2022

1. The Gati-Shakti Yojana needs meticulous coordination between the government and the private sector to achieve the goal of connectivity. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. Reforming the government delivery system through the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme is a progressive step, but it has its limitations too. Comment. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
3. Do you agree with the view that increasing dependence on donor agencies for development reduces the importance of community participation in the development process? Justify your answer. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2021

1. “‘Earn while you learn’ scheme needs to be strengthened to make vocational education and skill training meaningful.” Comment. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. 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. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
3. Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, couple with lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
4. Though the Human Rights Commissions have contributed immensely to the protection of human rights in India, yet they have failed to assert themselves against the mighty and powerful. Analyzing their structural and practical limitations, suggest remedial measures. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2020

1. “Policy contradictions among various competing sectors and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate ‘protection and prevention of degradation’ to environment.” Comment with relevant illustration. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. “Micro-Finance as an anti-poverty vaccine, is aimed at asset creation and income security of the rural poor in India”. Evaluate the role of Self Help Groups in achieving the twin objectives along with empowering women in rural India. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2019

1. The need for cooperation among various service sector has been an inherent component of development discourse. Partnership bridges bring the gap among the sectors. It also sets in motion a culture of ‘Collaboration’ and ‘team spirit’. In the light of statements above examine India’s Development process. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
2. ‘In the context of neo-liberal paradigm of development planning, multi-level planning is expected to make operations cost effective and remove many implementation blockages.’-Discuss. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2017

1. ‘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 the SHGs in developmental activities and the measures taken by the Government of India to promote the SHGs. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
2. Explain the salient features of the constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016. Do you think it is efficacious enough ‘to remove cascading effect of taxes and provide for common national market for goods and services’? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2016

1. Has the Indian governmental system responded adequately to the demands of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization started in 1991? What can the government do to be responsive to this important change? (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2015

1. Examine critically the recent changes in the rules governing foreign funding of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 1976. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)
2. The Self-Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP), which is India’s own innovation, has proved to be one of the most effective poverty alleviation and women empowerment programmes. Elucidate. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)
3. How can the role of NGOs be strengthened in India for development works relating to protection of the environment? Discuss throwing light on the major constraints. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2014

1. The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting participation in development programmes is facing socio-cultural hurdles. Examine. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)
2. Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the Government is mulling over the proposal for increased FDI in news media for quite some time. What difference would an increase in FDI make? Critically evaluate the pros and cons. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2013

1. The legitimacy and accountability of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their patrons, the micro-finance outfits, need systematic assessment and scrutiny for the sustained success of the concept. Discuss. (Answer in 200 words) (10 Marks)

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Governance Mains PYQs UPSC (Topic 3)

Topic 3 – Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

UPSC 2025

1. E-governance projects have a built-in bias towards technology and back-end integration than user-centric designs. Examine. (150 words – 10 marks)

UPSC 2024

1. Analyse the role of local bodies in providing good governance at local level and bring out the pros and cons merging the rural local bodies with the urban local bodies. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. 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 the realisation of its promise and suggest measures to overcome them. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
3. e-governance is not just about the routine application of digital technology in service delivery process. It is as much about multifarious interactions for ensuring transparency and accountability. In this context evaluate the role of the ‘Interactive Service Model’ of e-governance. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2023

1. e-governance, as a critical tool of governance, has ushered in effectiveness, transparency and accountability in governments. What inadequacies hamper the enhancement of these features?  (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

UPSC 2020

1. “Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have a profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. “The emergence of Fourth Industrial Revolution (Digital Revolution) has initiated e-Governance as an integral part of government”. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

UPSC 2019

1. Implementation of information and Communication Technology (ICT) based Projects / Programmes usually suffers in terms of certain vital factors. Identify these factors, and suggest measures for their effective implementation. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

UPSC 2018

1. E-Governance is not only about utilization of the power of new technology, but also much about critical importance of the ‘use value’ of information Explain. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. Citizens’ Charter is an ideal instrument of organizational transparency and accountability, but. it has its own limitations. Identify the limitations and suggest measures for greater effectiveness or the Citizens Charter. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2017

1. Discuss the role of Public Accounts Committee in establishing accountability of the government to the people. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

UPSC 2016

1. “Effectiveness of the government system at various levels and people’s participation in the governance system are inter-dependent.” Discuss their relationship with each other in context of India. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)
2. In the integrity index of Transparency International, India stands very low. Discuss briefly the legal, political, economic, social and cultural factors that have caused the decline of public morality in India. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2015

1. In the light of the Satyam Scandal (2009), discuss the changes brought in corporate governance to ensure transparency, accountability. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)
2. “If amendment bill to the Whistle blowers Act, 2011 tabled in the Parliament is passed, there may be no one left to protect.” Critically evaluate. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2013

1. Though Citizen’s charters have been formulated by many public service delivery organizations, there is no corresponding improvement in the level of citizens’ satisfaction and quality of services being provided. Analyze. (Answer in 200 words) (10 Marks)
2. ‘A national Lokpal, however strong it may be, cannot resolve the problems of immorality in public affairs’. Discuss. (Answer in 200 words) (10 Marks)

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Governance Mains PYQs UPSC (Topic 4)

Topic 4 – Role of civil services in a democracy.

UPSC 2025

1. “In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution defeating the objectives of development.” Critically evaluate. (250 words – 15 marks) (also link with topic 1)

UPSC 2024

1. The Doctrine of Democratic Governance makes it necessary that the public perception of the integrity and commitment of civil servants becomes absolutely positive. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

UPSC 2020

1. “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance”. In this context suggest reforms in Civil Service for strengthening democracy. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

UPSC 2017

1. Initially Civil Services in India were designed to achieve the goals of neutrality and effectiveness, which seems to be lacking in the present context. Do you agree with the view that drastic reforms are required in Civil Services. Comment. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2016

1. “Traditional bureaucratic structure and culture have hampered the process of socio-economic development in India.” Comment. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2014

1. Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organisation been the cause of slow change in India? Critically examine. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

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Governance Mains PYQs UPSC | Governance Mains PYQs IAS Exam | Governance UPSC Mains | Governance Questions UPSC Mains | Topic wise questions Governance UPSC Mains