August 28 – Mini Mock Test Solutions: 2026 | UPSC Daily Answer Writing Practice PDF Download

Q1. (GS1/ Indian Society)
“The persistence of caste-based discrimination in rural India continues to challenge social cohesion despite legal and policy interventions.” Analyze the factors contributing to this issue and suggest measures to promote inclusive social development by 2030. (150 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
Caste-based discrimination in rural India undermines social cohesion, despite constitutional safeguards and policies like reservations. Deep-rooted social, economic, and cultural factors perpetuate this issue, necessitating urgent reforms for inclusive development by 2030.

Factors Contributing to Discrimination

• Social Norms and Traditions: Entrenched caste hierarchies in rural areas reinforce practices like untouchability and restricted access to public spaces.
• Economic Disparities: Lower castes often face exclusion from land ownership and skilled jobs, perpetuating poverty and dependence.
• Limited Awareness: Lack of education and awareness about legal rights among marginalized communities hinders their ability to challenge discrimination.
• Weak Implementation: Laws like the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are poorly enforced due to bureaucratic apathy and local power dynamics.

Measures for Inclusive Development

• Education and Awareness: Expand programs like Samagra Shiksha to promote caste sensitization and legal literacy in rural schools.
• Economic Empowerment: Strengthen MGNREGA and skill development schemes targeting SC/ST communities to reduce economic disparities.
• Community Engagement: Foster inter-caste dialogues through Gram Sabhas to break social barriers.
• Robust Enforcement: Establish fast-track courts and local monitoring committees to ensure strict implementation of anti-discrimination laws.

Conclusion
Caste-based discrimination persists due to socio-economic and institutional challenges. By prioritizing education, economic equity, and legal enforcement, India can foster inclusive social development, aligning with SDG 10 by 2030.

Suggested Diagram: A flowchart depicting the cycle of caste discrimination (social norms → economic exclusion → weak enforcement) and proposed interventions.

Q2. (GS2/ International Relations)
In the context of the 2025 ASEAN Summit outcomes, evaluate India’s role in strengthening regional connectivity through initiatives like the Act East Policy. Discuss how India can balance its strategic interests with ASEAN’s non-aligned stance in the Indo-Pacific region. (250 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
The 2025 ASEAN Summit emphasized regional connectivity and Indo-Pacific stability. India’s Act East Policy (AEP), an evolution of the Look East Policy, has bolstered its role in ASEAN, but balancing strategic interests with ASEAN’s non-aligned stance remains critical.

India’s Role in Regional Connectivity

• Infrastructure Development: India’s investments in projects like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway enhance ASEAN connectivity, facilitating trade and mobility.
• Digital and Economic Ties: The AEP promotes digital infrastructure, with initiatives like India’s UPI integration with ASEAN nations, boosting cross-border transactions.
• Maritime Cooperation: India’s participation in ASEAN-led forums like the East Asia Summit strengthens maritime security, countering China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.
• Cultural Diplomacy: Programs like Project Mausam and Buddhist circuit tourism foster people-to-people connectivity, reinforcing soft power.

Balancing Strategic Interests with Non-alignment

• Strengthening Bilateral Ties: Deepening economic partnerships with ASEAN nations like Vietnam and Singapore ensures mutual benefits without military overtones.
• Multilateral Engagement: India should leverage platforms like RCEP (if rejoined by 2025) to align economic goals while respecting ASEAN’s neutrality.
• Avoiding Polarization: By emphasizing non-military cooperation (e.g., climate initiatives), India can align with ASEAN’s non-aligned ethos, avoiding US-China rivalry traps.
• Capacity Building: Offering technical assistance in disaster management and cybersecurity enhances India’s strategic presence without compromising ASEAN’s autonomy.

Challenges

• China’s Influence: Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative overshadows India’s connectivity projects, requiring strategic outreach.
• Resource Constraints: Limited funding for AEP projects demands efficient resource allocation.

Conclusion
India’s Act East Policy has strengthened ASEAN connectivity through infrastructure, digital, and cultural initiatives. By prioritizing non-military cooperation and multilateral engagement, India can balance its strategic interests with ASEAN’s non-aligned stance, fostering a stable Indo-Pacific.

Q3. (GS3/ Environment)
With the increasing frequency of climate-induced disasters in India as of 2025, assess the effectiveness of the National Disaster Management Framework in addressing ecological vulnerabilities. Suggest reforms to enhance community resilience and sustainable recovery. (150 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
Climate-induced disasters like floods and cyclones have surged in India by 2025, testing the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) under the NDMA Act, 2005. While the framework has made strides, gaps in implementation hinder effective disaster management.

Effectiveness of NDMF

• Institutional Framework: NDMA’s guidelines and State Disaster Management Authorities enable coordinated responses, as seen in 2025 Odisha cyclone evacuations.
• Early Warning Systems: Technologies like Doppler radars and ISRO’s satellite monitoring have improved disaster forecasting, reducing casualties.
• Community Training: Programs like Aapda Mitra train locals, enhancing grassroots preparedness in vulnerable regions like Assam.

Limitations

• Reactive Approach: The NDMF focuses more on response than prevention, neglecting long-term ecological vulnerabilities like deforestation.
• Funding Gaps: Inadequate allocation for mitigation projects limits infrastructure resilience in coastal areas.
• Coordination Issues: Overlaps between central and state agencies delay relief, as observed in 2025 Kerala floods.

Suggested Reforms

• Proactive Mitigation: Integrate climate-resilient infrastructure (e.g., flood-resistant roads) into development plans.
• Community Empowerment: Expand Aapda Mitra and include women and marginalized groups in disaster planning.
• Green Recovery: Promote reforestation and sustainable rebuilding post-disasters to enhance ecological resilience.

Conclusion
The NDMF has strengthened disaster response but needs a proactive, inclusive approach. Reforms focusing on mitigation, community empowerment, and sustainable recovery can bolster India’s resilience by 2030.

Suggested Diagram: A diagram of the NDMF structure, showing NDMA, SDMAs, and community roles, with arrows indicating coordination gaps.

Q4. (GS4/ Ethics) Case Study
Priya is an IAS officer posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in a flood-prone district in 2025. During the monsoon, a severe flood displaces thousands, and relief funds are allocated for immediate aid. Priya discovers that a local contractor, with ties to the ruling party, has inflated costs for relief supplies, siphoning off funds meant for food and shelter.

The contractor claims the inflated costs cover “logistical challenges” and that his political connections ensure faster supply delivery, benefiting victims. However, audits reveal substandard supplies reaching camps, compromising aid quality. Local NGOs report malnutrition and inadequate shelter among displaced families, urging Priya to act.

Reporting the issue risks political backlash, potential transfer, and delays in relief operations. Ignoring it undermines public welfare and perpetuates corruption.

Questions: 
(a) What are the ethical dilemmas Priya faces in this scenario? 
(b) As a mentor to young administrators, what ethical principles and leadership qualities would you emphasize to address such challenges? 
(c) Recommend a course of action for Priya, balancing administrative efficiency with ethical accountability.
Ans: 
(a) Ethical Dilemmas

• Public Welfare vs. Political Pressure: Reporting the contractor risks political backlash and potential transfer, but ignoring the issue compromises flood victims’ welfare.
• Integrity vs. Efficiency: Exposing corruption ensures accountability but may delay relief operations, worsening the crisis.
• Transparency vs. Stability: NGO demands for transparency conflict with the need to maintain operational stability to avoid disrupting aid delivery.

(b) Ethical Principles and Leadership Qualities

• Integrity: Upholding honesty, as exemplified by T.N. Seshan’s electoral reforms, ensures public trust despite resistance.
• Courage: Facing political pressures to prioritize public welfare, as seen in Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement.
• Deontological Ethics: Duty to uphold justice over short-term gains, ensuring aid reaches intended beneficiaries.
• Empathy: Understanding victims’ plight to prioritize their needs, fostering inclusive leadership.

(c) Recommended Course of Action

• Confidential Audit: Priya should initiate a discreet audit of relief supplies through an independent agency, documenting evidence of malpractice.
• Engage Stakeholders: Collaborate with NGOs to ensure immediate aid delivery while addressing substandard supplies.
• Report Strategically: Escalate findings to the state vigilance commission, avoiding public confrontation to minimize political fallout.
• Systemic Reforms: Advocate for transparent procurement processes and real-time monitoring to prevent future misuse.

Q5. (GS4/ Ethics) 
“Empathy in governance fosters trust and inclusivity in public administration.” Discuss the role of empathy in ethical decision-making, with examples from Indian governance. (150 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
Empathy, the ability to understand and share others’ feelings, is central to ethical governance in India’s diverse society. It fosters trust, inclusivity, and equitable decision-making in public administration.

Role of Empathy

• Inclusive Policy Design: Empathetic governance ensures policies address marginalized groups’ needs. For instance, IAS officer Armstrong Pame built a 100-km road in Manipur (2012) using community contributions, empathizing with locals’ connectivity issues.
• Conflict Resolution: Empathy de-escalates tensions. In 2023, a DM in Bihar resolved caste-based disputes over water access by engaging empathetically with both communities, ensuring equitable distribution.
• Public Trust: Empathetic communication builds credibility. During the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, Kerala’s Health Minister K.K. Shailaja’s empathetic outreach ensured compliance with health protocols, enhancing public cooperation.
• Ethical Decisions: Empathy prevents bureaucratic apathy, as seen in U. Sagayam’s investigations into illegal mining in Tamil Nadu, prioritizing affected communities’ welfare.

​​​​​​​​Challenges

• Diverse Needs: India’s socio-cultural diversity demands nuanced empathy, challenging uniform policy application.
• Systemic Pressures: Bureaucratic and political pressures may override empathetic decisions, requiring resilience.

Conclusion
Empathy in governance fosters inclusivity and trust, ensuring ethical decisions align with public welfare. Training administrators in emotional intelligence can strengthen India’s governance framework.