Mains Answer Writing - 7 Feb, 2026
GS3
Economy
10 marks
The Sixteenth Finance Commission has introduced “Contribution to GDP” as a new criterion for horizontal devolution of taxes.
Explain the rationale behind this inclusion and discuss how the Commission attempted to balance efficiency with equity.
Tips for your answer
- Start with the rationale – mention the need to balance equity with efficiency in horizontal devolution.
- Use keywords – write the phrase “equity–efficiency trade-off” and link GDP contribution to rewarding growth.
- End with safeguard – mention square-root moderation of GSDP to prevent skewed transfers.
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Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is emerging as a key strategy for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors in India. Explain the concept of CCU and examine its potential, challenges, and policy measures required for its large-scale adoption in India.
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Indian Polity
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GS2
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The balance between transparency and privacy is a recurring constitutional challenge in India.
In the light of recent amendments to the RTI framework through the Digital Personal Data Protection law, examine whether the exemption of personal information undermines accountability of public authorities.
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