Social Justice Previous Year Questions (PYQs) | UPSC Mains Examination

Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

1. Women’s social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2025]

2. What are the aims and objects of recently passed and enforced, The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations, too, are covered under the Act? [250 words] [15 Marks] [2024]

3. “Development and welfare schemes for the vulnerable, by its nature, are discriminatory in approach.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2023]

4. Who are entitled to receive free legal aid? Assess the role of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in rendering free legal aid in India. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2023]

5. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 remains only a legal document without intense sensitisation of government functionaries and citizens regarding disability. Comment. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2022]

6. Besides the welfare schemes, India needs deft management of inflation and unemployment to serve the poor and the underprivileged sections of the society. Discuss. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2022]

7. “Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu? [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2021]

8. “The reservation of seats for women in the institutions of local self-government has had a limited impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian Political Process.” Comment. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2019]

9. Performance of welfare schemes that are implemented for vulnerable sections is not so effective due to absence of their awareness and active involvement at all stages of policy process. Discuss. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2019]

10. Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure effective mechanism for empowerment and inclusion of the intended beneficiaries in the society? Discuss. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2017]

11. Examine the main provisions of the National Child Policy and throw light on the status of its implementation. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2016]

12. Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz the Aadhar card and NPM, one of voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve development benefits and equitable growth. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2014]

13. Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economies? [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2014]

14. The concept of Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme is almost a century old in India with early beginnings in Madras Presidency in pre-independent India. The scheme has again been given impetus in most states in the last two decades. Critically examine its twin objectives, latest mandates and success. [200 Words] [10 Marks] [2013]

15. The basis of providing urban amenities in rural areas (PURA) is rooted in establishing connectivity. Comment. [200 Words] [10 Marks] [2013]

Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

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] [2025]

2. 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 some measures through which the State can enhance the reach of public healthcare at the grassroots level. [250 words] [15 Marks] [2024]

3. Skill development programs have succeed in increasing human resources supply to various sectors. In the context of the statement analyze the linkages between education, skill and employment. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2023]

4. The crucial aspect of development process has been the inadequate attention paid to Human Resource Development in India. Suggest measures that can address this adequacy. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2023]

5. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting incentive-based system for children’s education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2022]

6. “Besides being a moral imperative of a Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition for sustainable development.” Analyze. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2021]

7. National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2020]

8. In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2020]

9. Despite consistent experience of high growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2019]

10. Appropriate local community level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2018]

11. Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary health care. What are your suggestions to improve their status and performance? [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2016]

12. “Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled and creative.” What measures have been taken by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be more productive and employable? [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2016]

13. The quality of higher education in India requires major improvement to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would help improve the quality of technical and higher education in the country. Discuss. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2015]

14. Public health system has limitation in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that private sector can help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives do you suggest? [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2015]

15. Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2014]

16. Identify the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that are related to health. Discuss the success of the actions taken by the Government for achieving the same. [200 Words] [10 Marks] [2013]

Issues related to Poverty and Hunger

1. Inequality in the ownership pattern of resources is one of the major causes of poverty. Discuss in the context of ‘paradox of poverty’. [250 words] [15 Marks] [2025]

2. 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] [2024]

3. Can the vicious cycle of gender inequality, poverty and malnutrition be broken through microfinancing of women SHGs? Explain with examples. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2021]

4. “The incidence and intensity of poverty are more important in determining poverty based on income alone”. In this context analyse the latest United Nations Multidimensional Poverty Index Report. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2020]

5. There is a growing divergence in the relationship between poverty and hunger in India. The shrinking of social expenditure by the government is forcing the poor to spend more on non-food essential items squeezing their food-budget. Elucidate. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2019]

6. How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India? [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2018]

7. ‘Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India remain mere show pieces until and unless they are backed by political will’. Discuss with reference to the performance of the major poverty alleviation programmes in India. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2017]

8. Hunger and poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2017]

9. Though there have been several different estimates of poverty in India, all indicate reduction in poverty over time. Do you agree. Critically examine with reference to urban and rural poverty indicators. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2015]