Government policies and interventions
Syllabus: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Current affairs on this topic 14
- Education Ministry approves five Centres of Excellence for newer classical languages 4 October 2026
Classical status came in 2024. Two years on, do Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit finally get institutions?
- ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund for deep tech pauses new applications as funds run short 30 September 2026
India's flagship fund to pull private money into research has stalled after one round. What went wrong?
- Supreme Court asks Centre to frame rules to stop social media firms signing up minors 29 September 2026
If a minor cannot sign a contract, how is a 13-year-old agreeing to a platform's terms of service?
- Census 2027 first phase nears completion, PM calls it a national responsibility 28 September 2026
Where does India's first digital, caste-counting Census stand, and why does it matter?
- Census 2027: no decision yet on how open-field caste entries will be sorted 26 September 2026
If every household writes its own caste name, how will the Census turn that into usable data?
- Supreme Court strikes down Maharashtra's methanol rules, calls prohibition no solution 20 September 2026
Dry Gujarat still sees hooch deaths. Does banning alcohol, or dyeing methanol, actually save lives?
- New film certification guidelines notified for the CBFC 19 September 2026
New age ratings and an anti-drug warning. Guidance or censorship?
- Urban Ministry tells House panel the 'census town' definition is outdated; RGI keeps it 17 September 2026
Is India 31% urban or closer to 63%? The answer depends on a definition the Census will not change for 2027.
- Centre tightens e-commerce rules: prior price, origin labels and a 48-hour grievance clock 12 September 2026
A '50% off' tag means little if you cannot see the old price. What must online platforms now disclose?
- Editorial: India's road deaths need a Safe System approach, not just fines 12 September 2026
India has 1% of the world's vehicles but 11% of its road deaths. Why have tougher fines not closed the gap?
- Centre launches DILRMP 3.0 guidelines for a GIS-based land records system, 2026-31 11 September 2026
Most land disputes start with a messy record. Can a 14-digit ID and digital maps fix India's land records?
- Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026: Lucknow tops million-plus cities on clean air action 8 September 2026
Lucknow tops a national clean air ranking, yet its air is over twice the legal limit. How can both be true?
- ISRO staff bodies question the plan to hand rocket making to industry 6 September 2026
If private firms build India's rockets and satellites, what is left for ISRO to make?
- Census count advanced in four poll-bound States, formally deferred in Manipur 6 September 2026
Why will Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa be counted two months before the rest of India?
Background from the reference shelf
Previous-year questions 15
- 2026 · GS2 · 10 marks Is the right to vote a fundamental right? Discuss the position of the Election Commission of India while undertaking the revision of electoral rolls. Can it also examine the question of citizenship…
- 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can…
- 2024 · GS2 · 10 marks 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.
- 2024 · GS2 · 15 marks 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…
- 2023 · GS2 · 10 marks "The states in India seem reluctant to empower urban local bodies both functionally as well as financially." Comment.
- 2022 · GS2 · 10 marks Reforming the government delivery system through the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme is a progressive step, but it has its limitations too. Comment.
- 2019 · GS2 · 15 marks Performance of welfare schemes that are implemented for vulnerable sections is not so effective due to the absence of their awareness and active involvement at all stages of the policy process…
- 2017 · GS2 · 15 marks Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in the light of the latest judgement of the Supreme Court on Right to Privacy.
- 2017 · GS2 · 10 marks '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'…
- 2015 · GS2 · 12.5 marks To achieve the desired objectives, it is necessary to ensure that the regulatory institutions remain independent and autonomous. Discuss in the light of experiences in the recent past.
- 2015 · GS2 · 12.5 marks The concept of cooperative federalism has been increasingly emphasised in recent years. Highlight the drawbacks in the existing structure and extent to which cooperative federalism would answer the…
- 2014 · GS2 · 12.5 marks Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz the Adhar card and NPR, one of voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss…
- 2014 · GS2 · 12.5 marks What do you understand by the concept "freedom of speech and expression"? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of…
- 2013 · GS2 · 10 marks Discuss Section 66A of IT Act, with reference to its alleged violation of Article 19 of the Constitution.
- 2013 · GS2 · 10 marks Electronic cash transfer system for the welfare schemes is an ambitious project to minimize corruption, eliminate wastage and facilitate reforms. Comment.