Examine the effectiveness of the use of economic sanctions to halt nuclear weapon and missile programs of countries like North Korea. What is the way ahead?

The United States has time and again used the tool of economic sanctions as the primary means to exert pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear and missile program. However, this strategy has abjectly failed as North Korea’s ballistic ..

Topics: GS-II: India's Foreign Policy Neighbourhood International Relations

What is the R21/Matrix-M vaccine? How does it compare to the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine that was approved by WHO in 2021?

R21/Matrix-M is a vaccine against malaria, developed by the University of Oxford in the UK. The vaccine showed an efficacy of 77% in phase 1 and phase 2 trials. The vaccine showed a high efficacy of 80% as a result ..

Topics: GS-III: Technology Missions • GS-III: Recent Developments in It Space Computers Robotics Nano Technology Bio Technology

Explain how the petroleum industry and the semiconductor chip industry compare with each other with regards to their sensitivity to geopolitical development.

The petroleum industry and the semiconductor chip industry are very different in nature and profile. However, there is a lot of structural commonality within the two industries. Common link between petroleum and chip industry: Both are dominated by a few ..

Topics: GS-III: Technology Missions • GS-III: Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology

Comment on the decision to conduct surveys in madrasas by the UP government. What are the challenges faced by these institutions?

Madrasas are religious schools made primarily for the study of religion of Islam. They emerged in India to counter the imposition of Christian values on fellow muslims during British rule. Legal provisions for Madrasas: The constitution under article 25 provides ..

Topics: GS-I: Social Empowerment Communalism Regionalism Secularism • GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in Various Sectors

2022 marks 50 years since the enactment of the Architects Act of 1972. Comment on the state of architecture in India. What can be done to strengthen the profession?

The modern profession of Architecture was given a statutory status in India by “The Architects Act of 1972”. Architecture as a separate profession emerged during the 19th century in the United Kingdom and it has been growing steadily in India ..

Topics: GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in Various Sectors

Discuss the fallout of Myanmar’s democratic experiment being derailed by the 2021 military coup. What are its impacts on the external players, including India?

Myanmar was having a limited democracy before the military coup in 2021. Almost 21 months have passed since the military coup in Myanmar and there has been no improvement, even after interventions from UN, ASEAN and other multilateral bodies. Background ..

Topics: GS-II: India's Foreign Policy Neighbourhood International Relations • GS-II: Bilateral Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements