UPSC CSE Mains 2027 • Daily Practice
Daily Mains Answer Writing – 5 October 2026
2 Questions • Current Affairs + Static GS • Model Answers
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Today's Practice:
Attempt both questions within about 22 minutes before viewing the model
answers. Focus on analytical structure, syllabus linkage, relevant examples
and a concise forward-looking conclusion.
GS Paper III • Science & Technology
Q1. High-performance computing is increasingly becoming strategic
infrastructure rather than merely a research tool. Examine the significance
of India's National Supercomputing Mission for technological sovereignty,
scientific research and development governance. What challenges must India
address to build a globally competitive supercomputing ecosystem?
Directive:
“Examine” requires you to explain the strategic significance of
supercomputing, assess the achievements of the National Supercomputing
Mission and critically identify the remaining capability gaps.
Answer Framework
- Define high-performance computing briefly.
- Explain strategic and developmental applications.
- Use NSM achievements as current value addition.
- Discuss hardware, semiconductor, energy and human-resource challenges.
- Conclude with an indigenous full-stack computing strategy.
Model Answer
Introduction
High-performance computing (HPC) uses highly parallel computing systems to solve data- and computation-intensive problems that conventional computers cannot efficiently handle. As artificial intelligence, climate modelling, strategic technologies and scientific research become increasingly computation-dependent, supercomputing capacity has emerged as a component of national technological power.
Strategic Significance for India
- Scientific sovereignty: Indigenous supercomputing reduces dependence on foreign access to strategically sensitive computing infrastructure.
- Weather and climate: HPC enables high-resolution weather forecasting, monsoon modelling and climate-risk assessment.
- Disaster management: Large simulations can improve flood, cyclone and extreme-weather forecasting and support better preparedness.
- Healthcare: Supercomputers accelerate computational biology, genomics, molecular modelling and drug discovery.
- Agriculture: Advanced modelling can support crop-yield forecasting, climate-risk assessment and precision agriculture.
- Strategic sectors: Aerospace, defence simulations, advanced materials and nuclear research require large-scale computing capability.
- Artificial intelligence: Modern AI models require substantial computational infrastructure for training and scientific applications.
Current Value Addition:
By September 2026, India had deployed
40 supercomputers with a combined capacity of about 68 petaflops
under the emerging National Supercomputing Mission ecosystem.
This included 13 systems exceeding 1 PF. The mission has also contributed
to indigenous servers, software, cooling and networking technologies.
Contribution of the National Supercomputing Mission
- Distributed access: Systems installed across academic and research institutions widen HPC access.
- Indigenous technology: Development of domestic servers and associated technologies builds strategic capability.
- Human resources: Training and research programmes create specialised HPC skills.
- Application ecosystem: The mission promotes computing applications rather than merely purchasing hardware.
- Historical continuity: NSM builds on India's indigenous PARAM programme, which began with PARAM 8000 in 1991.
Major Challenges
- Processor dependence: Advanced CPUs, GPUs and accelerators remain linked to global semiconductor supply chains.
- Energy intensity: Large HPC facilities require substantial electricity and advanced cooling.
- Rapid obsolescence: Hardware generations change quickly, demanding continuous capital investment.
- Software ecosystem: Domestic hardware must be supported by compilers, libraries and optimised applications.
- Talent constraints: HPC requires specialised expertise in architecture, parallel programming and domain sciences.
- Commercial translation: Research capability must increasingly translate into industrial and startup applications.
- Scale gap: India must continuously increase computing capacity as global frontier systems move towards exascale computing.
Way Forward
- Build indigenous processors and accelerator technologies alongside semiconductor manufacturing.
- Develop a full domestic software stack for HPC and AI workloads.
- Expand shared national computing facilities accessible to universities and startups.
- Promote energy-efficient cooling and renewable-powered data centres.
- Strengthen academia–industry–government collaboration.
- Integrate HPC, AI, quantum computing and advanced semiconductor missions.
- Measure success by scientific and industrial outcomes, not only installed petaflops.
Conclusion
The National Supercomputing Mission has moved India from merely using high-performance computing towards building an indigenous ecosystem. The next stage must shift from hardware deployment to complete technological sovereignty—processors, software, talent, applications and energy-efficient infrastructure—so that computing power becomes a durable national capability.
Official Reference:
PIB – India's Rising Supercomputing Ecosystem
GS Paper II • Constitution / Accountability • Static
Q2. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is an essential link
between legislative control over the public purse and executive accountability.
Examine the constitutional role of the CAG and discuss the institutional
limitations that affect the effectiveness of public audit in India.
Directive:
Explain the constitutional position and functions of the CAG, analyse its
importance for financial accountability and then critically discuss the
limitations of the audit framework.
Answer Framework
- Begin with Article 148 and constitutional independence.
- Explain Articles 149–151 and the CAG Act, 1971.
- Show the link between audit and legislative accountability.
- Discuss audit limitations and follow-up problems.
- Suggest reforms while preserving institutional independence.
Model Answer
Introduction
Parliament authorises taxation and public expenditure, but effective control over the public purse requires an independent institution capable of verifying how public resources are actually collected and spent. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India performs this constitutional audit function and therefore constitutes a critical pillar of financial accountability.
Constitutional Position
- Article 148: Creates the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
- Appointment: The CAG is appointed by the President of India.
- Security of tenure: Removal is possible in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
- Institutional independence: Administrative expenses of the CAG's office are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
- Article 149: Provides for duties and powers prescribed by Parliament.
- Article 150: The form of Union and State accounts is prescribed by the President on the advice of the CAG.
- Article 151: Union audit reports are submitted to the President for laying before Parliament; State reports are similarly submitted to the Governor.
How CAG Strengthens Accountability
- Financial audit: Examines whether financial statements and transactions are properly recorded.
- Compliance audit: Checks whether expenditure and administration conform to law, rules and authorised purposes.
- Performance audit: Examines economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes and public administration.
- Revenue audit: Examines whether government revenues are properly assessed and collected.
- Public enterprises: The audit mandate extends, under applicable law, to government companies, corporations and other bodies.
- Legislative support: CAG reports provide evidence for scrutiny by Parliamentary and State Legislature committees, especially the Public Accounts Committee.
Constitutional Value:
The CAG's audit objectives extend beyond checking arithmetic accuracy.
Official audit regulations emphasise
legality, regularity, economy, efficiency and effectiveness
in financial management and public administration.
Institutional Limitations
- Post-facto nature: Most audit occurs after expenditure has already been incurred.
- Non-executive authority: The CAG identifies irregularities but does not itself punish officials or recover losses.
- Follow-up dependence: Impact often depends on legislatures, committees and executive departments acting upon findings.
- Delayed responses: Departmental replies and action-taken processes may weaken the timeliness of accountability.
- Complex governance models: PPPs, special-purpose vehicles, autonomous bodies and new financing mechanisms can complicate audit coverage.
- Digital governance: AI systems, algorithmic administration, large databases and cybersecurity expenditure require new audit skills.
- Capacity challenge: Increasingly technical sectors require specialist auditors and advanced data-analytics capability.
Way Forward
- Strengthen real-time and data-driven audit without compromising independence.
- Expand expertise in digital systems, AI, infrastructure and environmental auditing.
- Improve timely government responses to audit findings.
- Strengthen legislative committee follow-up on important audit reports.
- Improve public accessibility of audit findings and action-taken status.
- Update audit frameworks for PPPs and emerging public-finance arrangements.
Conclusion
The CAG does not substitute the legislature's control over public finance; it makes that control meaningful by providing independent evidence on how public resources are used. Its effectiveness therefore depends not only on constitutional independence but also on strong legislative follow-up, modern audit capability and timely executive accountability.
Official References:
CAG of India – Constitutional Provisions
|
CAG – Audit Regulations
Self-Evaluation Checklist
- Did your introduction directly address the question in 2–3 lines?
- Did your body have clear analytical subheadings?
- Did you use facts/data only where they strengthened the argument?
- Did you include limitations rather than writing a one-sided answer?
- Did each way-forward point respond to an identified problem?
- Did your conclusion remain concise and forward-looking?
