July 17 – Mini Mock Test Solutions: 2026 | UPSC Daily Answer Writing Practice PDF Download

Q1. (GS1/ Geography)
“The increasing frequency of urban flooding in Indian cities by 2025 reflects a failure of urban planning and climate resilience.” Discuss the causes and suggest measures to mitigate this issue. (150 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
By 2025, urban flooding in Indian cities like Mumbai and Chennai highlights deficiencies in urban planning and climate resilience. Escalating climate change and poor infrastructure exacerbate this crisis, necessitating urgent mitigation measures.

Causes of Urban Flooding

• Climate Change: Intensified monsoons, with 20% higher rainfall in 2025, overwhelm outdated drainage systems.
• Unplanned Urbanization: Encroachment on wetlands and water bodies, as seen in Chennai’s Pallikaranai marsh, reduces natural drainage.
• Poor Infrastructure: Inadequate stormwater drains and clogged systems, like in Bengaluru, fail to manage heavy rains.
• Waste Mismanagement: Plastic waste blocks drains, amplifying flood risks in cities like Delhi.

Mitigation Measures

• Climate-Resilient Planning: Integrate flood-risk mapping into urban development plans using 2025 GIS technology.
• Infrastructure Upgrade: Modernize drainage systems and restore water bodies to enhance natural flood control.
• Waste Management: Strengthen Swachh Bharat Mission to reduce drain blockages through effective waste disposal.
• Community Awareness: Educate citizens on flood preparedness and sustainable urban practices.

Conclusion
Urban flooding stems from poor planning and climate challenges. Resilient infrastructure, restored ecosystems, and community engagement can mitigate risks, ensuring sustainable urban development in India.

Suggested Diagram: A map of a typical Indian city (e.g., Chennai) highlighting flood-prone areas, encroached wetlands, and proposed drainage upgrades.

Q2. (GS2/ Governance)
Evaluate the impact of India’s decentralization reforms, particularly the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, on grassroots governance by 2025. Suggest measures to strengthen local self-governance institutions. (250 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992) empowered India’s grassroots governance through panchayats and municipalities. By 2025, these reforms have strengthened local self-governance, but challenges persist, requiring measures to enhance their efficacy.

Impact on Grassroots Governance

• Empowered Local Bodies: Panchayats and urban local bodies (ULBs) manage local development, with 3.1 million elected representatives, including 50% women, by 2025.
• Devolved Functions: The amendments devolved 29 subjects to panchayats, enabling localized planning for education and health.
• Financial Autonomy: Schemes like MGNREGA and 15th Finance Commission grants provide funds, boosting rural infrastructure.
• Community Participation: Gram sabhas and ward committees foster citizen engagement, enhancing accountability.

Challenges

• Limited Financial Power: Panchayats rely heavily on central/state grants, limiting autonomy.
• Capacity Gaps: Inadequate training for elected representatives hampers effective governance.
• Political Interference: State governments often override local decisions, undermining decentralization.
• Urban-Rural Disparity: ULBs in cities like Mumbai are better funded than rural panchayats, creating inequities.

Measures to Strengthen Local Governance

• Fiscal Empowerment: Grant panchayats and ULBs taxation powers and increase untied grants.
• Capacity Building: Train elected representatives in governance and digital tools for efficient administration.
• Autonomy Protection: Enact laws to limit state interference in local decision-making.
• Digital Integration: Expand e-panchayat platforms to enhance transparency and service delivery.
• Equitable Funding: Allocate more resources to rural panchayats to bridge urban-rural gaps.

Conclusion
The 73rd and 74th Amendments have empowered grassroots governance, fostering participation and local development. Strengthening fiscal autonomy, capacity, and digital integration can address challenges, ensuring robust decentralized governance by 2030.

Suggested Diagram: A flowchart showing the structure of local governance (Panchayats/ULBs → Gram Sabhas/Ward Committees) and challenges with proposed solutions.

Q3. (GS3/ Science)
Assess the contribution of India’s biotechnology sector, particularly in vaccine development, to public health and global collaboration as of 2025. Discuss challenges in sustaining innovation. (150 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
India’s biotechnology sector, particularly in vaccine development, has bolstered public health and global collaboration by 2025. However, sustaining innovation faces significant challenges.

Contributions to Public Health and Collaboration

• Vaccine Development: Companies like Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute have delivered affordable vaccines, including COVAXIN, immunizing 80% of India’s population.
• Global Supply: India supplied 500 million vaccine doses to 100 countries by 2025, strengthening its ‘Vaccine Maitri’ diplomacy.
• Public Health Impact: Biotech innovations reduced disease mortality, with malaria vaccines cutting cases by 30% in tribal areas.
• Research Collaboration: Partnerships with WHO and GAVI drive global health research, enhancing India’s scientific stature.

Challenges in Sustaining Innovation

• Funding Shortages: Limited R&D investment, at 0.7% of GDP, restricts cutting-edge biotech research.
• Regulatory Delays: Lengthy approval processes hinder timely vaccine deployment.
• Talent Gap: Shortage of skilled biotechnologists limits innovation scalability.
• Global Competition: Dependence on imported raw materials affects cost-effectiveness.

Way Forward

• Increased R&D Funding: Allocate 2% of GDP to biotech research.
• Streamlined Regulations: Fast-track approvals with robust safety checks.
• Skill Development: Expand biotech training programs in universities.

Conclusion
India’s biotech sector has transformed public health and global collaboration. Addressing funding and regulatory challenges can sustain innovation, reinforcing India’s leadership.

Suggested Diagram: A timeline of India’s vaccine milestones (COVAXIN, malaria vaccine) and global contributions with challenges.

Q4. (GS4/ Ethics) Case Study
​Sunita, an IAS officer, is posted as District Collector in a drought-prone district in 2025. The district is receiving funds for sustainable agriculture projects. During a review, Sunita discovers that local officials have misallocated funds to a private irrigation company linked to a powerful politician, justified as a “public-private partnership” to boost local farming.

Farmers, struggling with water scarcity, demand transparent allocation for community-based irrigation systems. Sunita faces pressure from her superiors to overlook the issue to maintain political harmony during an election year. Exposing the misuse could delay critical agricultural projects and risk her transfer, while compliance compromises farmers’ livelihoods.

Questions: 
(a) What are the ethical dilemmas faced by Sunita in this scenario? 
(b) As a mentor to young civil servants, what ethical principles and leadership qualities would you emphasize to navigate such conflicts? 
(c) Recommend a course of action for Sunita, balancing administrative efficiency with ethical accountability.
Ans: 
(a) Key Ethical Dilemmas

• Public Welfare vs. Political Pressure: Exposing fund misuse prioritizes farmers’ needs but risks political backlash, potentially delaying agricultural projects.
• Integrity vs. Pragmatism: Reporting corruption upholds ethical standards but may disrupt projects during an election year.
• Transparency vs. Stability: Farmers’ demands for fairness conflict with superiors’ pressure to maintain political harmony.

(b) Ethical Principles and Leadership Qualities

• Integrity: Upholding accountability, as seen in Ashok Khemka’s fight against land deal corruption despite transfers.
• Courage: Acting decisively for public good, like E. Sreedharan’s transparent infrastructure leadership.
• Utilitarian Ethics: Prioritizing maximum benefit for drought-affected farmers over short-term political stability.
• Empathy: Understanding farmers’ struggles to ensure effective irrigation solutions.

(c) Recommended Course of Action

• Discreet Reporting: Sunita should confidentially report the misappropriation to the Vigilance Commission with evidence, avoiding public escalation to maintain project continuity.
• Immediate Relief: Redirect available funds to community-based irrigation systems for farmers.
• Community Engagement: Hold transparent meetings with farmers to assure action, building trust.
• Systemic Reforms: Advocate for digital fund tracking and stricter PPP audits to prevent future misuse.

Q5. (GS4/ Ethics) 
“Probity in public administration is essential for maintaining public trust in governance.” Discuss its significance with examples from Indian public service. (150 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
Probity, the adherence to honesty and moral principles, is vital for public administration in India. It ensures public trust, fostering ethical and effective governance in a democratic society.

Significance of Probity

• Transparency: Probity ensures open governance. The RTI Act, championed by officers like S.R. Sankaran, exposed fund misuse in tribal welfare schemes, enhancing accountability.
• Public Confidence: Honest administration builds trust. IAS officer Armstrong Pame’s crowd-funded road project in Manipur showcased probity, inspiring community support.
• Curbing Corruption: Probity deters malpractices. T.N. Seshan’s electoral reforms as CEC ensured fair elections, reinforcing democratic integrity.
• Equitable Service Delivery: Probity ensures unbiased services, as seen in K.K. Shailaja’s transparent COVID-19 aid distribution in Kerala, benefiting marginalized groups.

Challenges

• Political Interference: Pressure to favor influential groups undermines probity.
• Systemic Corruption: Entrenched practices challenge individual efforts to uphold honesty.

Conclusion
Probity is essential for ethical governance, fostering transparency and trust. Strengthening institutional mechanisms like RTI and vigilance commissions can embed probity in India’s public service, ensuring accountable and equitable administration.