January 30 – Mini Mock Test Solutions: 2026 | UPSC Daily Answer Writing Practice PDF Download

Introduction
Urban flooding in Indian cities has surged due to climate change and inadequate urban planning, disrupting lives and economies. Cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru face recurrent inundation, reflecting systemic failures and environmental challenges.

Causes of Urban Flooding:

• Climate Change: Rising global temperatures increase extreme rainfall events, overwhelming drainage systems. Monsoon patterns in 2025 show intensified, erratic downpours.
• Encroachment of Water Bodies: Wetlands and lakes, natural water sinks, are encroached for real estate, reducing absorption capacity (e.g., Chennai’s Pallikaranai marsh).
• Inadequate Drainage: Outdated, clogged drainage systems in cities fail to handle heavy rainfall, causing waterlogging.
  Unplanned Urbanization: Rapid, unregulated construction on floodplains and green spaces disrupts natural water flow, exacerbating floods.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Upgrade drainage systems and build permeable pavements to enhance water absorption.
  Wetland Restoration: Reclaim encroached lakes and wetlands to act as natural sponges.
• Smart Urban Planning: Enforce stricter zoning laws to protect floodplains and promote green urban spaces.
• Early Warning Systems: Leverage AI-based weather forecasting for timely flood alerts.

Conclusion
Urban flooding in India is a dual challenge of climate change and poor planning. Integrated strategies combining infrastructure upgrades, ecological restoration, and policy enforcement are critical for sustainable urban resilience.

Q2. (Governance)
In the context of India's federal structure, how effective has the Goods and Services Tax (GST) been in promoting cooperative federalism? Evaluate its achievements and challenges since its implementation. (250 words)
Ans:

Introduction
The Goods and Services Tax (GST), introduced in 2017, aimed to unify India’s tax system, fostering cooperative federalism by aligning state and central interests. Its effectiveness in promoting federal collaboration is evident but tempered by challenges, particularly in 2025.

Achievements of GST:

• Unified Tax Regime: GST replaced multiple state and central taxes, creating a single market, reducing trade barriers, and enhancing economic integration.
• GST Council as a Federal Platform: The GST Council, comprising state and central representatives, ensures collaborative decision-making, balancing regional needs with national goals.
• Revenue Sharing: The compensation mechanism (2017–2022) supported states with revenue shortfalls, fostering trust. In 2025, revenue stabilization continues for many states.
• Digital Governance: GST’s tech-driven compliance (e.g., GSTN portal) has streamlined tax administration, promoting transparency across states.

Challenges:

• Fiscal Autonomy Concerns: States, especially those with strong economies, feel constrained by uniform tax rates, limiting their fiscal flexibility.
• Implementation Gaps: Complex compliance burdens small businesses, and frequent rate changes create uncertainty, straining state-central coordination.
• Revenue Disparities: In 2025, states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh face revenue shortfalls, while others like Maharashtra benefit, fueling regional tensions.
• Political Frictions: Disagreements in the GST Council, particularly over rate rationalization, occasionally undermine cooperative spirit.

Conclusion
GST has significantly advanced cooperative federalism by fostering a unified tax framework and collaborative governance. However, challenges like fiscal autonomy and revenue disparities require sustained dialogue and reforms to ensure equitable federal partnership.

Q3. (Science)
“CRISPR-Cas9 technology has revolutionized gene editing, but it raises significant ethical concerns.” Discuss its applications in healthcare and agriculture, with reference to India's regulatory framework. (150 words)
Ans:

Introduction
CRISPR-Cas9, a precise gene-editing tool, has transformed healthcare and agriculture globally. In India, its potential is immense, but ethical concerns and regulatory gaps pose challenges.

Applications in Healthcare:

• Disease Treatment: CRISPR enables targeted gene editing to treat genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia, with trials underway in India (e.g., ICMR-backed research in 2025).
• Cancer Therapy: Modifying immune cells to target tumors shows promise, with Indian biotech firms exploring applications.

Applications in Agriculture:

• Crop Improvement: CRISPR develops drought-resistant and pest-resistant crops, vital for India’s food security (e.g., BT rice trials).
• Nutritional Enhancement: Biofortified crops like golden rice address malnutrition, aligning with India’s health goals.

Ethical Concerns:

• Unintended Mutations: Off-target edits risk long-term health and ecological damage.
• Socioeconomic Divide: Access to CRISPR therapies may exacerbate inequality in India’s healthcare system.

India’s Regulatory Framework:

• ICMR Guidelines: The 2020 National Guidelines for Gene Editing regulate CRISPR use, emphasizing ethical oversight.
• Challenges: Weak enforcement and lack of public consultation hinder robust regulation in 2025.

Conclusion
CRISPR-Cas9 offers transformative solutions for India but demands stringent ethical and regulatory frameworks to balance innovation with societal risks.

Q4. (Ethics – Case Study)
Priya is a young IFS officer posted as Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in a biodiversity-rich but economically backward region. The area is home to endangered species and indigenous tribes dependent on the forest for livelihood. Recently, a major mining company has proposed a large-scale project to extract rare earth minerals, promising jobs, infrastructure development, and revenue for the state. The project has received preliminary approval from the state government, citing national interests in technology and defense sectors.
During her assessment, Priya finds that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by the company understates the risks, including habitat destruction, water pollution, and displacement of tribal communities. Local NGOs and tribes have protested, highlighting violations of the Forest Rights Act and potential loss of cultural heritage. However, senior officials pressure Priya to expedite clearances, arguing that delaying the project could lead to economic losses and political backlash, especially with elections approaching in 2025. They also hint at career incentives for compliance.
If Priya approves, she risks environmental degradation and injustice to vulnerable groups. If she objects, she may face transfer, isolation from superiors, or even fabricated charges. Meanwhile, the company has started informal outreach to locals with short-term benefits.
Questions:
(a) Identify the ethical dilemmas confronting Priya in this scenario.
(b) What values from the Indian Constitution and civil service code should guide Priya's decision-making?
(c) Recommend a balanced course of action for Priya, ensuring environmental integrity while addressing developmental needs.
Ans:

Introduction
Priya, a Divisional Forest Officer, faces a conflict between developmental pressures and environmental-social responsibilities, highlighting the complexities of ethical decision-making in public service.

(a) Ethical Dilemmas:

• Development vs. Environment: Approving the mining project risks habitat destruction and tribal displacement, while rejecting it may stall economic growth.
• Integrity vs. Career Pressure: Compliance ensures career stability but compromises ethical standards; resistance risks professional repercussions.
• Public Interest vs. Political Pressure: Prioritizing tribal rights and ecology conflicts with state-driven economic agendas.

(b) Guiding Values:

1. Constitutional Values:

   • Article 48A: Mandates environmental protection, obligating Priya to safeguard forests.

   • Article 21: Ensures the right to life, including tribal communities’ cultural and livelihood rights.

   • Article 51A(g): Promotes compassion for living creatures, aligning with biodiversity conservation.

2. Civil Service Code:

   • Integrity: Priya must resist undue influence and uphold transparency.

   • Public Interest: Prioritizing marginalized communities’ welfare over short-term gains.

   • Objectivity: Decisions should be based on scientific evidence, like the flawed EIA.

(c) Recommended Course of Action:

• Strengthen EIA Review: Priya should demand a revised, transparent EIA, involving independent experts to assess environmental and social impacts.
• Engage Stakeholders: Consult tribal communities and NGOs to incorporate their concerns, ensuring compliance with the Forest Rights Act.
• Escalate Concerns: Report discrepancies to higher authorities (e.g., MoEFCC) while maintaining a paper trail to protect against retaliation.
• Propose Alternatives: Suggest sustainable development models, like eco-tourism, to balance economic growth and conservation.

Conclusion
Priya should uphold constitutional and civil service values by prioritizing environmental integrity and tribal rights, using transparent processes to balance development and ethics without succumbing to pressure.

Q5. (Ethics)
“Emotional intelligence is crucial for ethical governance in a diverse society like India.” Examine this statement with examples from public administration. (150 words)
Ans:

Introduction
Emotional intelligence (EI)—the ability to understand and manage emotions—enhances ethical governance in India’s diverse society. It fosters empathy, effective communication, and conflict resolution in public administration.

Role of Emotional Intelligence:

• Empathy in Decision-Making: EI enables administrators to address diverse community needs. For instance, during the 2025 Assam flood relief, empathetic IAS officers prioritized vulnerable groups, ensuring equitable aid distribution.
• Conflict Resolution: EI helps navigate cultural and social tensions. A District Magistrate resolving communal disputes in Uttar Pradesh used dialogue to de-escalate tensions, promoting harmony.
• Ethical Leadership: EI fosters trust and integrity. An IFS officer in 2025, handling tribal displacement concerns during a dam project, used EI to engage communities, ensuring their voices shaped policy.
• Stress Management: EI equips officers to handle pressure ethically, avoiding decisions driven by frustration or bias.

Challenges

• Cultural Diversity: India’s linguistic and religious diversity demands nuanced EI to avoid missteps.
• Bureaucratic Resistance: Hierarchical systems may undervalue EI, prioritizing compliance over empathy.

Conclusion
Emotional intelligence is vital for ethical governance, enabling administrators to navigate India’s diversity with empathy and integrity, ensuring inclusive and just public service.

Q6. (Essay)
“In an era of geopolitical shifts, India's strategic autonomy is both a strength and a challenge.” Discuss. (250 words)
Ans:

Introduction
India’s strategic autonomy—its ability to pursue independent foreign policy—defines its global role amid 2025’s geopolitical shifts. While a strength, it poses challenges in balancing alliances and national interests.

Strategic Autonomy as a Strength:

• Global Influence: India’s non-alignment legacy, reinforced by its 2025 G20 presidency, allows it to mediate between Global South and developed nations, enhancing its diplomatic clout.

• Multi-Alignment: Engaging with QUAD, BRICS, and SCO, India accesses technology, trade, and security benefits without binding commitments. For instance, its S-400 deal with Russia and Indo-Pacific partnerships with the US showcase flexibility.

• Economic Leverage: Autonomy enables India to negotiate favorable trade deals, like the 2025 India-EU FTA discussions, protecting domestic industries.

Challenges of Strategic Autonomy:

• Geopolitical Pressures: Rising US-China tensions force India to navigate delicate choices, like balancing QUAD commitments with BRICS cooperation.
• Regional Instability: China’s assertiveness along the LAC and Pakistan’s proxy conflicts challenge India’s security autonomy, demanding resource-intensive responses.
• Economic Dependencies: Reliance on foreign technology (e.g., semiconductors) and energy imports limits autonomy, as seen in India’s cautious stance during the 2025 Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Way Forward:

• Strengthen Self-Reliance: Initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India reduce external dependencies.
• Diplomatic Balancing: Deepen ties with middle powers (e.g., France, Japan) to diversify partnerships.
• Regional Leadership: Lead South Asian initiatives to counter China’s influence, ensuring strategic flexibility.

Conclusion
India’s strategic autonomy is a powerful asset, enabling global influence and flexibility. However, geopolitical and economic challenges demand robust self-reliance and diplomatic finesse to sustain it.