A.
National security, law & governance (30 prompts)
1. Growth with equity is good news for national security.
2. Mass communication and national security.
3. Limits to dissent in a democracy.
4. Internal security: challenges and solutions for India.
5. Border management and modern threats.
6. Cyber warfare: new battleground for national security.
7. Terrorism: root causes and preventive strategies.
8. Radicalisation of youth — causes and countermeasures.
9. Role of intelligence agencies in a democracy.
10.Civil-military relations: maintaining balance in a democracy.
11.Balancing privacy and security in surveillance.
12.Laws vs civil liberties: where should the line be drawn?
13.Role of local policing in ensuring national security.
14.Corruption as a threat to state security.
15.Urban crime and smart policing.
16.Naxalism and development-led security solutions.
17.Disaster management and national resilience.
18.Federalism and national security: cooperative mechanisms.
19.Prison reforms and national security.
20.Role of judiciary in safeguarding national interest.
21.Intelligence failures — lessons & reforms.
22.Maritime security for India: priorities and policies.
23.Technology in intelligence gathering: opportunities and risks.
24.Containing hybrid warfare: misinformation plus conventional threats.
25.Drones & unmanned systems in modern security.
26.Weapons proliferation and export control policy.
27.Defence modernization: balancing domestic industry and imports.
28.Countering foreign influence operations.
29.Climate change as a security threat.
30.Migration and internal security.
B. Technology, cyber, AI & communication (20 prompts)
1. Increasing dependence on technology — bane or boon?
2. Technology in a global village.
3. Social media — a boon or a bane for security agencies?
4. Social media has replaced traditional news across the world.
5. Fake news & misinformation: societal and security impacts.
6. Data privacy and the state: how much is too much?
7. Regulation of big tech: need, challenges and frameworks.
8. Artificial Intelligence: benefits and ethical concerns.
9. Cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.
10.Digital divide and its socioeconomic implications.
11.E-governance: opportunities and pitfalls.
12.Role of technology in democratic participation.
13.Surveillance technologies and human rights.
14.Biometric systems (Aadhaar etc.) — public good or privacy risk?
15.Blockchain and governance: promise and limitations.
16.Automation and the future of work.
17.Deepfakes: threats to democracy and national security.
18.Role of tech in combating pandemics.
19.Responsible innovation: balancing progress and risk.
20.Technology and education: bridging the learning gap.
C. Social issues, rights & gender (20 prompts)
1. Women’s education is a pre-requisite for social progress.
2. There is no honour in honour killing — discuss in Indian context.
3. Gender equality: progress, roadblocks and policy priorities.
4. Reservation policies — rationale and reforms.
5. Caste discrimination — modern strategies to eliminate it.
6. Child labour: causes and solutions.
7. Mental health crisis — policies and social attitudes.
8. Rising urban loneliness and its societal cost.
9. Role of civil society in strengthening democracy.
10.Freedom of expression vs hate speech: where to draw the line.
11.Rights of persons with disabilities — inclusion strategies.
12.LGBTQ+ rights: social change and legal frameworks.
13.Senior citizens and social security in India.
14.Women’s safety in public spaces.
15.Substance abuse and youth — prevention & rehabilitation.
16.Role of family and community in social cohesion.
17.Impact of migration on social fabric.
18.Social justice and economic policy links.
19.Role of education in reducing social inequality.
20.Media portrayal of minorities — responsibilities and reforms.
D. Environment, resources & climate (20 prompts)
1. Do you agree that the next world war will be fought over water unless we change
how we manage it? Justify.
2. Impact of tourism on environment.
3. Climate change and India’s development challenges.
4. Sustainable development vs rapid industrialisation.
5. Water management and inter-state cooperation.
6. River linking: benefits, costs, and controversies.
7. Renewable energy: roadmap for India.
8. Air pollution: public health and policy responses.
9. Biodiversity loss and conservation priorities.
10.Urbanisation and loss of green cover.
11.Circular economy and waste management.
12.Plastic ban and pragmatic enforcement.
13.Farmer distress and climate vulnerability.
14.Coastal erosion and rising seas — adaptation strategies.
15.Forest rights vs conservation needs.
16.Role of technology in environmental monitoring.
17.Sustainable tourism models for India.
18.Environmental governance and citizen action.
19.Food security and climate change.
20.Sustainable cities: smart, green, resilient.
E. Economy, development & policy (20 prompts)
1. Equitable economic growth — its drivers.
2. Inclusive growth: policies to reduce inequality.
3. Unemployment in India — structural causes & solutions.
4. Informal sector and social security reforms.
5. Startups & entrepreneurship: national priorities.
6. Fiscal federalism — balancing central and state roles.
7. Universal basic income — merits and demerits.
8. Supply chains and economic resilience (post-pandemic lessons).
9. Agricultural reforms and farmer welfare.
10.Role of MSMEs in economic recovery.
11.Trade policy in a protectionist world.
12.Public health investment as economic policy.
13.Education and skill development for future jobs.
14.Digital payments and financial inclusion.
15.Women’s labour force participation — barriers and policies.
16.Urban infrastructure financing: options and challenges.
17.Poverty alleviation programs — assessing impact.
18.Foreign direct investment and national interest.
19.Automation, jobs and social safety nets.
20.Climate finance and development trade-offs.
F. Media, culture & public opinion (15 prompts)
1. Role of media in a democracy: watchdog or influencer?
2. Traditional media vs digital platforms: credibility and survival.
3. Role of film and art in nation building.
4. Freedom of press and national security: a balance.
5. Social movements and media: new dynamics.
6. Cultural heritage and modernisation.
7. Role of libraries and public institutions in civic education.
8. Fake news and media literacy: preventive education.
9. Role of radio and community media in rural outreach.
10.Ethics of journalism in fast news cycles.
11.Celebrity influence on public policy and culture.
12.Language diversity and national integration.
13.Soft power: culture as a foreign policy tool.
14.Censorship vs responsible content regulation.
15.Social media activism: effectiveness and limits.
G. Health, education & human development (15
prompts)
1. What seven decades of freedom have taught us (social, economic perspective).
2. Public health infrastructure — lessons from pandemics.
3. Women’s education and health outcomes: the link.
4. Right to education: quality vs access.
5. Vocational training and employability.
6. Telemedicine and rural healthcare.
7. Nutrition and child development policies.
8. Digital classrooms: opportunities and challenges.
9. Research and innovation: strengthening India’s knowledge economy.
10.Mental health in the workplace.
11.Preventive healthcare and lifestyle diseases.
12.Role of community health workers.
13.Higher education reform for global competitiveness.
14.Education for citizenship — civics in curricula.
15.Biotechnology ethics and regulation.
H. International affairs & global governance (15
prompts)
1. India’s neighbourhood policy: priorities for the next decade.
2. Great power competition and India’s strategic choices.
3. Global supply chains: lessons and policy actions for India.
4. Multilateralism under strain — future of global governance.
5. Climate diplomacy: India’s role in global efforts.
6. Technology-led geopolitics (5G, AI) — implications for India.
7. Migration, refugees and international obligations.
8. Trade wars and their impact on developing economies.
9. Role of regional organisations (SAARC, BIMSTEC).
10.India’s space programme — civilian & strategic dimensions.
11.Global health governance: reforms after COVID-19.
12.Nuclear non-proliferation and regional stability.
13.Economic sanctions as foreign policy tools.
14.Soft power: culture, diaspora and diplomacy.
15.Human rights and international pressure: balancing act.
I. Miscellaneous / likely exam-phrasings (quick
prompts)
1. Social media and mental health of youth.
2. Role of NGOs in development — accountability and impact.
3. Public transport and urban planning — sustainable solutions.
4. Consumer protection in the digital age.
5. Ethical leadership and corruption control.
6. Heritage conservation vs urban development.
7. Role of sports in national development.
8. Science communication: bridging scientists and public.
9. Role of judiciary in social transformation.
10.Volunteerism and civic engagement.
