The UPSC Mock Interview focused on Polity and Governance serves as a pivotal preparatory platform for aspirants gearing up for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. Recognized as one of the most challenging and prestigious examinations in the country, the UPSC examination evaluates candidates on a comprehensive understanding of polity, governance, and current affairs. The mock interview, specifically centered around these themes, provides candidates with a simulated environment akin to the actual UPSC interview process. It aims to assess their knowledge, analytical skills, and communication abilities in the context of India’s political and administrative landscape. This preparatory exercise is instrumental in refining candidates’ perspectives, honing their articulation skills, and fostering a deeper understanding of the critical issues that shape India’s governance structure. Aspirants engaging in the UPSC Mock Interview on Polity and Governance embark on a crucial phase of their preparation, gaining valuable insights and experiences to navigate the challenges posed by the final interview stage of the UPSC examination.
UPSC Mock Interview Questions on Polity and Governance
- Let’s talk about Muslim personal law. Can you name two important court cases related to this law in the last 30 years?
- What happened in the Shah Bano case?
- Now, tell me about the second case, the Sairabano triple talaq case.
- Why did the government pass a law on this issue even though the Supreme Court didn’t ask them to?
- There’s a saying, “Corruption is the grease that aids development.” What does this mean to you, and what’s your opinion on it?
- Can you provide examples to show how corruption can hinder development?
- What do you think is the most important value for a civil servant to have?
- Why do you think compassion is important? Can you explain?
- If there’s a conflict between orders from the central and state governments and you’re an IAS officer, whose order would you follow?
- What is Article 370, and what makes it special? Do you think it should be removed?
- Let’s talk about the provisions in the Constitution that allow for reservation. Why do you think a reservation is needed?
- What’s your opinion on the economic reservation, and can you explain the concept of the creamy layer?
- Tell me about NJAC. What do you think about it?
- Explain the concept of Self Help Groups and how they operate.
- Why is there a deep-rooted anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu?
- What’s the difference between the Planning Commission and Niti Aayog?
- Is RTI a successful revolution, and how can we address instances where it causes harassment and resource wastage?
- Do you support any restrictions on RTI, and if so, what are they?
- How can we effectively combat corruption, aside from measures like DBT?
- Explain the general process of elections.
- What are your thoughts on lateral entry, and do you think it should be open for all positions?
- What are the features of good governance?
- What is your view on the reservation policy in India?
- In India, our bureaucracy is very hierarchical. What issues does this hierarchical structure bring?
- Do you think there should be exceptions in the RTI Act, and if so, what are the eight exceptions?
- What role do NGOs play in nation-building, and should foreign NGOs be allowed? How are they regulated?
- Do you believe there is corruption in India?
- What’s your opinion on simultaneous elections?
- Explain the concept of collaborative governance.
- What’s the difference between effectiveness and efficiency?
- Should the Executive be involved in the appointment of judges, and what are the constitutional provisions for appointing Supreme Court judges?
- Can you give an example of an ethical dilemma?
- What are fundamental duties, and where are they mentioned in the Constitution?
- Define a welfare state. Do you think the concept of a welfare state contradicts individual rights?
- What is DPSP, and where is it in our constitution? Even though they are not enforceable, what purpose do they serve?
- Can you explain the differences between a leader, administrator, and manager?
- What are the two problems in civil service, and how can they be corrected?
- Tell me about the history of state reorganization.
- What is judicial activism, and is it beneficial for democracy?
- If you could make one amendment to the Constitution, what would it be?
- What issues exist in the current system of appointing judges, and how can we make the judiciary more accountable?
- What are your thoughts on the recent press conference held by senior Supreme Court judges? Should judges make political statements?
- Explain the relationship between the district collector and the superintendent of Police.
- Discuss the functioning of Panchayati Raj institutions in your state. Do you believe they have been effective?
- Do you think government officials are hesitant to share power and responsibility with elected Panchayati Raj members? Why or why not?
- Should elected representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions have technical and educational qualifications? What about MPs and MLAs?
- It is often said that bureaucracy rewards mediocrity more than excellence. Do you agree?
- What distinguishes a leader from a manager?
- Interstate disputes over water, resources, migration, and border issues pose significant challenges to Indian polity. Do you agree?
- Can you outline any interstate disputes involving Karnataka?
- Are protests against migration unconstitutional or illegal? Is the linguistic reorganization responsible for these issues? Should we continue using a linguistic basis for states?
- Explain the bureaucrat-politician nexus. Why does it happen, and what are the potential solutions?
- What role does civil society play in promoting good governance?
- Can EVMs be tampered with? Why or why not? How can the trust of various stakeholders in democracy be restored?
- What constitutional articles related to the National Commission for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes? What are the functions of these two commissions? The chairpersons of these commissions are ex-officio members of what? Is the NHRC constitutional?
- What is the difference between statutory and constitutional bodies?
- Privacy is a significant issue today. Do you believe Aadhaar infringes on privacy?
- Do you think our constitution has become outdated? Do we need a new constitution?
- What are the four pillars of democracy, and are they encroaching on each other’s mandates?
- Is judicial activism necessary?
- What is a bottom-up approach?
- Can you suggest some police reforms?
- Why is India perceived as corrupt?
- What are the anti-corruption agencies in India?
- Under what conditions can fundamental rights be suspended?
- What are the issues causing delays in projects?
- Who coined the term “bureaucracy,” and what does bureaucracy entail? Can you highlight some negative and positive features of Indian bureaucracy?
- Bureaucracy is often criticized for a lack of transparency. Can you suggest ways to increase transparency?
- What is the feudalistic attitude of Indian bureaucracy? Why does it persist, and is it undergoing change? Considering the perception that many individuals join civil services for power and status, why do you want to join the IAS?
- What changes were made under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts?
- What are your views on freedom of speech, and where should the line be drawn?
- What do you know about MPLAD? Who implements it, and what are the key concerns?
- It is said that the CVC, CBI, and courts hinder decision-making (3Cs). What is your opinion on this?
- What is sedition? Some students are protesting on the university campus. Should we arrest them for sedition?
- What is judicial overreach? Can you share examples of judgments that you consider as judicial overreach?
- How are technology and law related?
- What is the collegium? Explain the three judge’s cases. What are your thoughts on the judiciary appointing itself?
- Tell me about governance reforms.
- What is the principle of natural justice?
- What is Article 19(1)(a)? What are reasonable restrictions?
- Can you pinpoint responsibility in the PNB scam and NPA crisis?
- Explain electoral bonds and why they face opposition. Despite collaboration between the IT department and ECI to control expenditure, why does opposition persist?
- What is the difference between Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties?
- TN Sheshan brought significant changes to the working of ECI. How do you assess its progress since then? Do you think ECI has lost credibility recently? Should we replace EVMs with paper ballots?
- Why is the appointment of Lokpal delayed?
- How is the status of the leader of the opposition determined?
- State reorganization based on linguistic lines is considered a failure. What is your perspective?
- What are the different criteria for creating new states?
- Tell me about the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute.
- What is your view on the Supreme Court judgment on the SC/ST act? Can you highlight key provisions of the SC/ST act and the controversy surrounding the recent judgment?
- What is your opinion on NOTA? What happens if NOTA receives the majority of votes? What reforms are needed to address the current issues of criminalization in politics?
- What is your take on the growing disruption in parliament?
- In which part of the Constitution is justice mentioned?
- What is your opinion on the death penalty for the rape of a minor below 12 years of age?
- Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s decision to allow people to choose their own marriage partners, considering we live in a patriarchal society?
- Have you heard about cooperative competitive federalism? Can you explain what it is?
- Tell me about simultaneous elections. Do you know how much money was spent in the last general election?
- Do you think simultaneous elections can be conducted with the current constitution? If not, what needs to be done, and why do we need a constitutional amendment?
- Explain what constituent power is.
- What are the limitations in amending the constitution? How is Fundamental Rights a limitation?
- Are you familiar with the Kesavananda Bharati case? What is the essence of the case, and did they specify what constitutes the basic structure in that judgment?
- Mention a few features that are considered basic structures of the constitution.
- Discuss the pros and cons of simultaneous elections. Why would issues be mixed up between the center and states if elections were simultaneous?
- Explain the process of Chief Justice of India (CJI) impeachment.
- Tell me about Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian constitution.
- Choose one article between Articles 32 and 226, and I’ll ask you a follow-up question. What is quo warranto? Except for habeas corpus, choose anyone and explain.
- What are the human rights watchdogs in our country, and are their recommendations binding on our government?
- Human rights activists these days are aggressively advocating for human rights provisions that prevent law enforcement agencies from doing their work. What is your take on this?
- Name three changes you would like to make in the POCSO Act.
- What do you think are three differences faced by women with disabilities compared to men with disabilities?
- Have you heard about RTE? Is it considered a fundamental right? What laws has the government enacted in this regard, and can you mention some of its provisions?
- What is your opinion on making Hindi the national language?
- Are you familiar with RTI? Do you think the Supreme Court should be brought under RTI?
- What is the triple talaq issue, and should the Supreme Court intervene in matters of faith? Is it necessary to wait for consensus to eliminate discrimination?
- Define good governance and discuss whether there is such a thing as bad governance. How can culture be utilized in administration? Provide an example.
- Who wrote the preamble to our constitution, and what essential elements does it convey?
- Which amendment introduced Fundamental Duties to our constitution?
- People often approach the Supreme Court directly in case of fundamental rights violations. Why don’t they approach the lower judiciary first, and why is there so much pendency of cases?
- What is VVPAT, and how would you respond if a politician claims that the EVMs were tampered with?
- Explain the concept of special category status, identify the states requesting it, and discuss whether it should be granted.
- Is considering population as a parameter in financial devolution a good practice? Will it negatively impact South Indian states, and what can be done to address any issues?
- From where does the Finance Commission derive its power?
- What are the three tiers of government, and do you believe the center is bypassing the state in allocating resources to Panchayat Raj? Is this practice against federalism?
- What are the new provisions in interstate water dispute resolution, and can you provide an example of a successful resolution?
- Identify the issues with MNREGA and propose ways to address them. Are there any statutory provisions related to MNREGA?
- Discuss the controversy surrounding the 15th Finance Commission. Do you think the concerns raised by Southern states are legitimate? Is it appropriate for the center to allocate funds directly to Panchayats?
- What is the role of the State Finance Commission?
- Explain the complete procedure of Rajya Sabha elections, starting from issuing notifications. What is proportional representation?
- Define the difference between efficiency and effectiveness. Doing things right and doing the right things—which one is efficiency, and which one is effectiveness?
- Share your thoughts on e-governance and its benefits.
- Considering the low literacy levels in India, especially among people at lower levels, how do you propose implementing e-governance effectively?
- Distinguish between a Parliamentary and Presidential form of government. Why should we continue with a Parliamentary government?
- Highlight the differences between Fundamental Rights (FRs) and Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) and discuss how DPSPs are implemented.
- Do you believe bureaucrats are more like leaders or managers?
- In your opinion, should a leader be a doer or a dreamer?
- With the absence of the Planning Commission and the establishment of Niti Aayog, what is your assessment of this new institution? Is it an improvement over the previous one?
- As the CEO of Niti Aayog, how would you enhance the status of women? Provide four specific strategies.
- If the government downsizes the machinery, won’t it lead to unemployment? How can this situation be managed?
- Share your insights on leveraging technology for maximum governance.
- Define Fundamental Rights.
- Recently, a fundamental right has been turned into law. What was it?
- The Supreme Court has granted a new fundamental right in a recent judgment. What was this right?
- In the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), there is an indirect provision emphasizing healthcare for everyone. What is your stance on making the Right to Health a fundamental right?
- Discuss the challenges associated with making the Right to Health a fundamental right, considering the resource constraints. Compare it with the scenario when the Right to Education was made a fundamental right.
- What is the provision in the Indian Evidence Act regarding the admissibility of evidence from lie detector tests and brain mapping results?
- What is brain mapping?
- At what age does the PCMA say males and females can get married? Are there special rules for young brides to end their marriage? How long do they have to decide?
- India is federal with a unitary bias. What makes India federal?
- What does “federal” mean?
- How does technology make governance more transparent?
FAQs on UPSC Mock Interview – Questions on Polity and Governance
Q1. What is the purpose of the UPSC Mock Interview focused on Polity and Governance?
A. The UPSC Mock Interview on Polity and Governance serves as a preparatory exercise for candidates appearing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. It aims to simulate the interview experience, assessing candidates’ knowledge, analytical skills, and communication abilities related to India’s political and administrative landscape.
Q2. How is the UPSC Mock Interview conducted for Polity and Governance?
A. The mock interview is typically conducted by experienced panelists, including retired bureaucrats, academicians, and subject matter experts. Candidates are asked questions related to constitutional provisions, governance structures, current affairs, and other relevant topics.
Q3. What are the key areas covered in the Polity and Governance Mock Interview?
A. The mock interview encompasses a wide range of topics, including the Indian Constitution, political system, governance mechanisms, constitutional amendments, recent policy initiatives, and current affairs related to polity and governance.
Q4. How can participating in the UPSC Mock Interview benefit aspirants?
A. The mock interview provides aspirants with a simulated experience of the actual UPSC interview, helping them understand the interview dynamics, improve articulation skills, and gain insights into potential questions that may be asked during the final interview.
Q5. Who conducts the UPSC Mock Interview on Polity and Governance?
A. The mock interview is usually conducted by a panel of experts, including retired civil servants, academicians, and professionals with a deep understanding of India’s polity and governance.
Q6. What types of questions can candidates expect in the Polity and Governance Mock Interview?
A. Questions can range from constitutional provisions, historical developments, contemporary political issues, and governance challenges, to the candidates’ opinions on certain policies and their implications.
Q7. How should candidates prepare for the UPSC Mock Interview on Polity and Governance?
A. Candidates should have a thorough understanding of the Indian Constitution, recent governance initiatives, political developments, and current affairs. They should also be ready to express their opinions on key issues impacting the nation.
Q8. Is feedback provided to candidates after the UPSC Mock Interview?
A. Yes, candidates typically receive constructive feedback from the panelists, highlighting areas of strength and areas that need improvement. This feedback is valuable for refining their interview skills.
Q9. Can participation in multiple mock interviews be beneficial?
A. Yes, participating in multiple mock interviews allows candidates to receive varied perspectives and feedback, enhancing their ability to handle diverse questions and scenarios during the actual UPSC interview.
Q10. How does the UPSC Mock Interview on Polity and Governance contribute to overall exam preparation?
A. The mock interview contributes significantly by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. It helps candidates build confidence, improve communication skills, and refine their approach to answering questions, ultimately enhancing their chances of success in the UPSC examination.
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