UPSC vs UPSCTREE
A question-by-question match-up of the actual UPSC GS II Mains 2026 paper against UPSCTREE's Test Series, Foundation Classes and Essay sessions — with the coverage screenshots and proof.
All 20 questions 20
UPSC Mains 2026Right to privacy relating to self-identity is very dear to every human being and well protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. In this context, examine the effect of the amendment in 2026, to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
The Transgender Persons Amendment Act, 2026 marks a major shift by replacing individual self-determination of gender with mandatory medical board evaluation and administrative screening by a District Magistrate. This effectively rolls back the self-declaration framework and challenges core Article 21 privacy and bodily autonomy jurisprudence.
UPSC Mains 2026“Women as a class neither belong to a minority group nor are they regarded as forming a backward class.” In the light of this statement, discuss the evolution of women's reservation from local bodies to Parliament.
UPSC Mains 2026Examine whether the constitutional office of the Lok Sabha Speaker has become vulnerable to partisan politics under the current anti-defection regime. What institutional changes are required to ensure the neutrality of the Lok Sabha Speaker in managing a polarised House?
This is a question on the role of the Speaker under the anti-defection law and a critical analysis thereof.
UPSC Mains 2026Is the right to vote a fundamental right? Discuss the position of the Election Commission of India while undertaking the revision of electoral rolls. Can it also examine the question of citizenship of voters?
UPSC Mains 2026Do constitutional bodies like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) possess adequate enforcement powers to secure substantive social equality? Suggest measures to enhance their institutional effectiveness.
Covered in Foundation Classes and Quick Revision Classes. An easy question to answer.
UPSC Mains 2026Does India's tribal development policy reflect the aspirations for a socially grounded and equity-based governance? Justify your answer.
To answer this question you have to discuss the PESA Act, the FRA Act, PM-JANMAN, the PVTG Mission, DAJGUA, etc.
UPSC Mains 2026Malnutrition in India is not merely a public health concern; it is also a challenge of social equity, human development and effective welfare governance. Discuss.
UPSC Mains 2026Analyse the advantages and limitations of the generalist structure of the Indian Civil Services in contemporary governance.
Covered in Polity Foundation Classes and Strategy Discussion classes.
UPSC Mains 2026“IPMDA (Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness) bridges the gap between India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and the Quad's collective Indo-Pacific strategy.” Make a critical assessment of the statement focusing on IPMDA.
This is a relatively old topic and was in the news back in 2022. Not covered in our Tests.
UPSC Mains 2026“BRICS acts as a powerful counterweight in global governance, actively amplifying the voice and influence of the Global South.” Explain the role of BRICS in projecting itself as an alternative to other groupings.
Covered in tests, and extensively covered in RATTAFY Magazine. Also covered in the PSIR-specific TATTVA Magazine.
UPSC Mains 2026Discuss the position of the Governor in the federal polity of India. What is the nature of his power while giving assent to a bill passed by the State Legislature? Is he bound by the aid and advice of his Council of Ministers in all his functions?
UPSC Mains 2026What is meant by judicial legislation? In this context, discuss the verdicts of the apex court allowing “passive euthanasia” and a “living will”.
This is a question about Judicial Overreach.
UPSC Mains 2026How far has the Indian federal framework been successful in accommodating regional and cultural diversities? Highlight the role of asymmetric federalism and suggest measures to make dispute resolution mechanisms more effective.
UPSC Mains 2026Examine how the separation of powers is practised in India compared to the rigid presidential model of the United States of America. In this context, compare the actual authority of the Indian Prime Minister with that of the President of the USA.
UPSC Mains 2026To what extent do pressure groups, social movements and corporate lobbies deepen pluralistic democracy in India by representing excluded interests? Analyse whether the growing convergence of corporate wealth and political power poses a threat to the autonomy of formal democratic institutions.
Covered in Foundation classes and in tests.
UPSC Mains 2026“Transparency and accountability in governance are not about controlling corruption but about creating the trust of stakeholders in the policy process by following the Rule of Law and Participatory Governance.” Comment.
This is a question that is neither a complete Polity question nor a complete Ethics question — so you have to balance it out and write. I always tell my students to read GS2 + GS4 together and GS1 + GS3 together, exactly to tackle this kind of question. You have to write about the philosophy behind transparency and accountability — why we created the architecture in the first place. Covered in Foundation Classes and tests.
UPSC Mains 2026Can the constitutional mandate of rights-based welfare be effectively realised in the context of non-integrated governance and minimal public investment? Examine.
You have to discuss the Right to Food, Right to Shelter, Right to Education, etc., and how they became fundamental rights — can the state really provide for them in a true sense? Welfarism is being replaced by a rights-based approach — but are we prepared as a state to deliver on it? That is the crux of the question. Covered in our Essay Test in-depth.
UPSC Mains 2026Should education be treated primarily as a welfare obligation of the state or as a strategic investment for building a globally competitive, knowledge-driven nation? Critically evaluate.
It should be treated as both — it is undoubtedly an obligation on the state, but it is much more than that. India is passing through a demographic transition, and to become a developed country we need educated and skilled youth. So this is really a question about human capital — for India it is a must, as it is a strategic investment. You have to connect demography with the latest HDR 2025 (Human Development Report) and then discuss.
UPSC Mains 2026“India's global diaspora acts as a living bridge, as a critical economic factor and knowledge network in transforming cultural heritage into geopolitical influence and strategic leverage worldwide.” Critically examine this statement.
Not asked directly in our test series, but relevant articles are available on UPSCTREE which can be used to answer this question.
UPSC Mains 2026“China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has transformed South Asia from a regional space into a theatre of great power competition.” Analyse the strategic implications of the BRI for India's security and regional influence in South Asia.
To prove that South Asia has become a theatre of power competition, you have to integrate current affairs — mention the EU's Global Gateway Project, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the G7's Build Back Better World (now the Partnership for Global Infrastructure & Investment, PGII), the Quad, etc. Then discuss what India is doing to counter it: SAGAR and MAHASAGAR, IMEC, the Diamond Necklace, development in Great Nicobar, etc. Covered in RATTAFY as well as in Tests, but not directly — you have to integrate a lot to write this.
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