UPSC CARE Mains Practice 22nd January 2026
Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- While AI companions may alleviate individual loneliness, they pose serious ethical and societal risks.” Critically examine this statement in the context of emerging AI technologies. (GS Paper III – Science & Technology, Developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Awareness in the fields of Artificial Intelligence).
- Recent studies indicate that a significant proportion of cattle-rearing households in India do not prioritise milk production.In this context, examine the major constraints faced by cattle-rearing households and discuss the implications of these findings for livestock policy in India.
While AI companions may alleviate individual loneliness, they pose serious ethical and societal risks.” Critically examine this statement in the context of emerging AI technologies. (GS Paper III – Science & Technology, Developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Awareness in the fields of Artificial Intelligence).
Introduction:
Advances in artificial intelligence have enabled the creation of AI companions that simulate emotional relationships. While they offer short-term relief from loneliness, their unchecked growth raises ethical, psychological, and social concerns.
Body
Benefits of AI Companions
- Provide emotional support during crisis situations
- Offer accessibility where mental health services are absent
- Assist isolated elderly or individuals with disabilities
- Enable routine and cognitive engagement
Ethical and Social Risks
- Create emotional dependency and withdrawal from society
- Reduce tolerance for human imperfections
- Erode empathy, responsibility, and mutual obligation
- Allow corporations to monetise intimacy and vulnerability
- Enable subtle behavioural manipulation using personal data
Governance Challenges
- Lack of regulatory classification
- No limits on emotional nudging or engagement maximisation
- Data protection frameworks insufficient for emotional data
- Risk of AI replacing human care in institutions
Way Forward
- Treat relationship AI as social infrastructure
- Establish strict ethical design rules
- Protect emotional data as sensitive personal data
- Promote public-interest AI alternatives
- Ensure AI supplements, not replaces, human care
Conclusion:
AI companions highlight the tension between technological convenience and social responsibility. Without robust regulation, they risk deepening isolation rather than healing it. The future of AI must strengthen human connection, not substitute it.
Recent studies indicate that a significant proportion of cattle-rearing households in India do not prioritise milk production.In this context, examine the major constraints faced by cattle-rearing households and discuss the implications of these findings for livestock policy in India.
(GS Paper I – Indian Society, Rural Livelihoods, Agriculture)
Introduction:
Recent findings by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) reveal that nearly 38% of India’s cattle-rearing households—about 30 million—do not sell milk, challenging the conventional assumption that cattle rearing in India is primarily milk-centric. Instead, cattle are valued for multiple non-market functions, reflecting the complex realities of smallholder and climate-stressed rural livelihoods.
Body
Major Constraints Experienced by Cattle-Rearing Households
One of the most pervasive constraints is the shortage and high cost of feed and fodder, reported by nearly three-fourths of rearers. Declining common grazing lands and limited land availability for fodder cultivation, particularly in eastern and northern states, further aggravate the problem. Small herd sizes, with half the households owning only one or two animals, restrict economies of scale and market participation.
Low adoption of scientific feeding interventions such as silage and ration balancing (around 5%) points to weak extension services, affordability issues and poor last-mile outreach. Additionally, low diversity in bovine type and breed increases vulnerability to climatic and economic shocks. Climate stress has already manifested in rising disease incidence, animal mortality and behavioural stress across buffaloes, crossbreds and indigenous cattle, compounding livelihood insecurity.
Implications for Livestock Policy in India
These constraints highlight the limitations of uniform, milk-output-focused livestock policies. There is a clear need to move towards differentiated, region-specific and climate-responsive policies that recognise cattle as multi-functional assets—providing nutrition, manure, draught power, income security and cultural value. Policy priorities must include strengthening fodder supply chains, protecting grazing commons, improving veterinary and extension services, and supporting indigenous breeds within integrated farming systems.
Conclusion:
Recognising the diverse roles of cattle and aligning livestock policy with household realities is essential for enhancing rural resilience, improving policy effectiveness and ensuring sustainable and inclusive development of India’s livestock sector.
