SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
TAMIL NADU ISSUES
1. People. – demography –general:
• Is people of tamilnadu are hated by
neighboring states? Why they are
frequently subjected to violence?
• What is the reason for rapid
urbanization?
• What is the reason for overall
development of your state?
• Why tamilnadu often faces energy
crisis
• Who are the famous dancers from TN
• Why people from tamilnadu are black
• What is the contribution to sports
from Tamilnadu
i. TN is good in indoor sports. Why
no big enthusiasm for outdoor
games?
ii. Why tamilnadu is lagging in
athletics
• There were protest against Ms.
Jayalaithas conviction. Are people of
tamilnadu corrupt tolerant
• Are people from tamilnadu parochial?
• Famous persons from tamilnadu
• All science Nobel laurels from India
are from tamilnadu. Any reason?
• What is Kamraj is called ‘The King
maker’
• Why srinivasa ramanujam’s
achievement is special?
• What is the contribution of tamilnadu
for science?
• Why always tamilnadu have conflict
with neighbouring states?
• Why tamilnadu is protesting against
building of dam across cauvery?
2. Geography:
• What is the utility of red sanders tree?
• What is the conducive geography for
the red sanders to grow?
• WhaIs tamilnadu increasingly prone to
disasters?
• Do you accept that lemuria existed?
• Is there any geographical disadvantage
for Tamil nadu?
• TN is a cyclone prone state. As a
collector what are the measures you
will take for an imminent cyclone?
• Supposing your district is affected by
Flood/ Drought/ Epidemic. What will
be your response as collector/SP?
• Why should not we merge Tamilnadu
with Pondicherry
• What are the difficulties in linking
western rivers to east flowing rivers?
(Pampa- vaipar Project & mullai
periyar)
• Do you think the reason for unabated
sand mining is due to political
patronage?
• What will you do as collector/sp to
stop illegal sand mining?
• What is the measure that u will take to
manage supply side scarcity of sand
which is the chief cause illegal sand
mining?
• Is it possible to link southern rivers to
solve water scarcity problem of
tamilnadu?
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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
• What are the measures taken post-
tsunami
• You come from a state which is
dependent on water from other states
what measures will you take to be self
sufficient in water
• Why there is no demand for a smaller
state in tamilnadu
• What is the advantage for tamilnadu
in bifurcation of the AP state
• What do you think is the fundamental
hurdle behind inter-linking of rivers?
3. Culture-:
• Tell something about famous temples
in TN- Meenakshi amman temple,
Bragadeshwara
• What is unique in Dravidian temple
architecture
• Can you list out the Six abodes of lord
muruga (‘arupadai vidugal’)
• Why statues of god and goddess are in
black in tamilnadu whereas it is
mostly white in north india
• Which is the important
saivite/vaishnavite temple in your
state?
• What you would say is the best think
in your culture
• Why tamil nadu politicians are
obstinate in conducting Jallikattu?
• Does it not violate animal rights?
• Why there are number of godmen in
Tamil Nadu?
• Despite of accusation against godmen
people follow them. What makes them
to do so
• Why there are less god women?
• Can government interfere in Religion (
Madurai Adheenam issue and
appointment of priests from various
communities)
• Tamil Nadu is famous for Anti-Theism;
we also find that there are more
temples in TN only. Why this paradox?
• What is special about auroville near
Chennai
• Why idly and sambhar is your
favourite recipe?
• P. Chidambaram is a very modern
person but he prefers wearing dhoti.
What may be the reason
• Why people from your state do not
have surname?
• What is bhakthi movement? What
impact it had brought in the culture of
Tamils
• What is unique in tanjore painting?
• What is the major tourist attraction of
your state?
• Which Industry your state is famous
for? Why
4. Tamil language:
• What is distinct about tamil language
• Does the Classical language status is
outcome of Political bargaining?
• Why a language should be added in 8th
schedule?
• What is sangam literature. What is its
uniqueness
• Difference between tamil literature
and Sanskrit
• What is your favourite tirrukural
• Have u applied in your life anything
from thirukkural?
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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
• Can you quote any thirukkural
relevant to administration
• What is the contribution of
Jayakanthan to tamil literature?
• What is the contribution of nagoor
haneefa to tamil music?
• Can people of art support only one
political party?
5. Anti Hindi agitation:
• Do you know Hindi? (if answer is no)
have you ever wanted to learn Hindi
• When other non Hindi speaking states
have accepted and learnt Hindi. Why
Tamilnadu is reluctant to it?
• Do you think anti-Hindi agitations was
a wrong?
• Do you think learning another
language is threat to one’s own
language
• Is it not true that one language in a
country will create more unity, then
why anti Hindi stance?
• Periyar was against Hindi. Can we call
him promoter of regionalism?
• What is the present stand on Hindi?
• What is your opinion on introducing
Hindi in tamilnadu?
• Is it possible to implement three-
language policy in Hindi-speaking
states? If yes/no. how?
6. Dravidian movement:
• What is the philosophy of Dravidian
movements
• What do you know about periyar?
• Do you believe in his ideology
• Have Dravidian parties given the
people of TN what it promised to them
• Dravidian movement emphasizes
atheism but we find the Dravidian
leaders are very religious. Is there any
change in the ideology?
• What is the reason for growth of
Dravidian parties in 1960s?
• What do you feel is the unique
strategy used by Dravidian parties
• What is the difference of approach
between Periyar and Anna
• Recently the SC struck section 66A of
IT act to ensure freedom of speech and
expression. Similarly there is
Dravidian ideology connect to
provisions of freedom of speech and
expression. Do u know what it is
• Anna has been the CM for only two
years and very few schemes were his
brainchild but his period is considered
to be best by people. What you think
is the reason?
• What is the difference between
Dravidian ideology and communist
ideology?
• What impact did the Dravidian
ideology create in day to day life in
Tamil people?
• What are the negative impact of
Dravidian ideology and movement in
your opinion
• Is there any change in the objective of
“Dravida nadu” in Dravidian ideology
• What does the colours in the DK’s flag
symbolize
• What is the connection between DK
and TESO
• Dravidian ideology core is anti-
casteism but why Dravidian parties
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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
were the first to agitate for • Why there was no agitation from people
implementation of mandal report? when the project was initiated?
• There is view that Dravidian party took • Do you think the people in kudankulam
the case of empowerment of intermediate are having false fears
castes only, not dalits. What is your • When the scientists from Department of
view? atomic energy and NPCIL are saying the
• In spite of Dravidian movement, it is site is safety, some independent
from tamilnadu caste based scientists kepp saying otherwise. Who is
discrimination is reported more
correct in your opinion?
compared to other south Indian states.
• Whether protest against Neutrino Project
Why?
justified?
• Why tamil people are superstitious?
• What is the reason for selecting western
• Though people claim Dravidian ideology
ghats for doing neutrino research
has given people rational thinking but
• What is the issue on commencing
why there is always instantaneous
extraction of Methane in Kaveri coal bed
protest against science and technology
• What is hydraulic fracturing?
projects?
• Why delay im commencing of metro
network?
7. Srilankan Issue:
• Refugees from srilanka? what are the
9. Cinema:
security issues and rehabilitation
• Why south Indian worship cinema
issues
hero as Demi-gods
• Why Killing of fishermen by srilankan
• All the chief ministers’ post 1967 is
navy is taking place what should be
from cinema. Is it good for the state?
the measures taken
Should they be prevented from
• Should the ban on LTTE in India
entering into politics?
revoked.
• There is view in north that tamil
• Why TN wants Katchatheevu back.
cinema is full of masala and no
What do you think Indian government
authentic movie can be expected from
should do in the Issue?
TN. Do you agree
• Films from Tamil are continuously
8. Science and power projects: receiving awards at national level.
• Has the kudankulam protests died What may be the reason?
down?
• There is wide spread protest against 10. Politics:
nuclear energy, do we need nuclear
• What do thing will happen to
energy?
tamilnadu politics in general and
future of AIADMK if ,Karnataka

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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
highcourt confirm the conviction of
MS. Jayalalitha
• What is the reason for regional parties
acquiring power post 1967?
• Reservations of 69%.. Is it justifiable?
What is your stand.
• How is that there is no opposition in
tamilnadu whenever there in
announcement on new reservation
• The Andra Pradesh high court has
struck down reservation for minorities
announced by union government
saying it is unconstitutional. But in TN
Reservation for Muslims is given. Is it
not unconstitutional?
• Freebies
i. What is coomon in AAP
manifesto in recent delhi
elections and manifestos of
Dravidian parties? Is there any
difference
ii. Is it not a bribe to announce
freebies in election manifesto
iii. Do you think people of
tamilnadu are favoring only
populist policies
iv. Should there be ban on
announcement of freebies as a
part of election manifesto
v. Is it not true freebies make
people less industrious
vi. Will you justify giving colour TV,
electronic gadgets & home
appliances
vii. How it will freebies affect
economy- Positive or negative
• Do you see any caste influence in TN
politics or is it just the charisma of
political leaders
• Do you think women chief ministers
are arbitrary in decision making
• Is it true people of tamil nadu get
money to vote in election?
• There is a view that participation in
freedom struggle of Tamil nadu was
less compared to north. Was it true?
• Did people from tamilnadu participate
in first INC?
• Whichever party is ruling, the
government of tamilnadu is not
cooperating with the center always?
Why?
• The political leaders at the center and
other state talk with each other and
discuss issues but Why tamil nadu
political leaders has personal
animosity with the rival political party
leader?
• Why is that politicians from TN serving
in union is invariably corrupt or
alleged to be corrupt
• Is there a need for Legislative council
in your state?
• Is there lokayuktha in you state?
Why?
• What is consequence of political
parties owning media?
• Does freedom of expression amount to
misinformation and undue power to
media owned by political parties?
• Do you think sons and daughters of
politicians should be banned from
holding public offices to prevent
dynasty politics?
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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
• Do you find any difference between
Ms. Jayalalitha style of leadership and
of Mr. Karunanithi
11. Governance:
• How effective is panchayati raj in your
• Could a bureaucrat in TN work
state?
independly?
• What role can mudra bank play in
• Why often corruption cases come up
SHG
in tamilnadu?
• Is it good for governance if ministers
• How is preparedness for natural
and secretaries are transferred
calamity such as Tsunami cyclone in
frequently? What solution do you
your state
prefer?
• What are the special initiatives in e-
• What is Tamilnadu’s stand in the
governance in your state
following issues GST, DTC, NCTC,
• What are the developments
Food security bill. why
Chennai/your district requires or what
• Suppose you are posted as collector
are the critical issues faced by
what are steps you will take to weed
Chennai/your district
out malnutrition?
• Tamil nadu is having near universal
• What are measures are taken to keep
PDS. What is the reason for its
Chennai city slum free
success? Can it be emulated in all
• Would you suggest removal of street
India level? What is the effect of right
hawkers in your city to have a free
to food act on TN’s PDS
pedestrian path?
• What will be the effect on Tamilnadu if
• How to deal the problem of
Right to Food act in its present form
beggary/platform dwellers?
implemented?
• What measures should be taken to
• The share of women in the NREGA
deal with run away children/child
workforce in Tamil Nadu has remained
labourers in the city?
high (around 80 per cent) from the
beginning and is the highest in the • How far improper solid waste
country. What is the reason? management has affected your city?
solutions
• What is the reason behind SHGs
success • Why Chennai traffic nearly halts
whenever there rain?
• What is the reason for high number of
SHG in tamilnadu and AP • Why people in tamil nadu often face
water scarcity despite of compulsory
• SHG are used for political mobilisation
rain water harvesting scheme?
Do you agree?
• Why the previous measures to revamp
• In your view which party of your state
coovam did not succeed?
is governing better?

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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
12. Interstate river water issues:
• Cauvery
i. What is the point of contention
between the states?
ii. Whether Cauvery/hogenakkal
issue is taken up only during
elections?
iii. Is there any plan from the union 14.
to counter to solve interstate
river water problem?
• Krishna
• Mullai Periyar
i. Is the dam really safe?
• Tamil nadu get favorable judgments
from sc in most of Interstate river
water issues. Do you agree?
• Why is that tamilnadu many a time 15.
avoiding negotiation method for
solving issues with neighboring state?
It prefers to go to SC always.
• What is the main issue involved in
execution of hogenakkal project
13. Industry/Economy:
• Why tamilnadu is facing high financial
burden?
• Is it wise to continue with freebies in
this situation?
• What is the issue in tirupur? What can
be the solution?
• Why Chennai is called Detroit of
India?
• Industrial development in TN is
regionally balanced one. Do you
agree?
• Why despite of good human resource
pool in Chennai Bangalore remains IT
capital?
• What is the reason for difference in
growth of IT industry between TN and
Karnataka/hyderabad
• Is it proper for the government to run
Liquor shops?
• What is the reason for decline in
agriculture in your state?
Energy:
• Why tamilnadu often faces energy
crisis?
• Tamilnadu is the first state to have
bio-fuel policy using jatropha plant.
Do you think it is sustainable to go for
bio fuel in a state known for
agriculture?
Infrastructure:
• Tamil nadu Road density is above
national average – does it mean TN
has good infrastructure
• Is there any connection between
Development and increased road
accidents in tamilnadu?
• What are the causes for alarming
levels of accident in TN
• Which mode of transport (metro/
monorail /sky bus) is suited to
Chennai?
• What is the reason for delay in
completing Chennai metro project?
• Will recently made changes in land
acquisition act will fasten the project?
• Right now metro project is executed.
The MRTS line is not successful. Do
you think the metro is well planned
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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
and will not meet the same fate as
MRTS
• what has made tele density to increase
in tamilnadu in your opinion
• What is the current status of
restoration project?
• How will you solve the problem of
increase in traffic density in Chennai?
16. Education:
• What opinion on growing number of
engineering colleges with less of
quality
• What is the reason for large scale
recruitments in colleges from
tamilnadu by industry
• Why we have different education
boards?
• What are demerits/merits of common
syllabus system? Do you think it is
necessary/viable (Samacheer)
• Can it be implemented nationwide?
• The literacy rate in northern states is
less in comparison with the southern
states? Why?
• In your state, what are steps taken to
reduce dropout ratio?
• What are the measures taken/should
be taken to reduce the gap between
male and female literacy rates?
• Will not giving laptops be a distraction
to the students?
17. Health:
• Why clinical trials are conducted only
in poor areas of south India
• Why medical tourism is successful in
Tamilnadu?
• Is it because of poor people selling
their organs?
• What are the major health issues?
• Why Tamil Nadu tops the list of HIV
affected person in the nation? Is there
a moral degradation in tamilnadu
• Reason for better working of PHCs
• Why in Chennai there is frequent
outburst of cholera and dengue?
• What is unique about drug
distribution in Tamilnadu?
• A 2010 study in the Southern state of
Tamil Nadu suggest that one in every
ten Tamilians is diabetic and another
eight percent of the population is pre-
diabetic- what you think the reason is.
• More children in TN are found to have
type-2 diabetes- why
• Health insurance schemes the world
over has shown increase in health
cost. How and should we still continue
with health insurance scheme?
• There was a report that there is
increased induced- hysterectomies
(removal of uterus) in south India due
to health insurance scheme. How will
you tackle it as health secretary
18. Social Issues:
• Why casteism and cast based clashes
quite common in south TN what can
be done to weed it out?
• What is the reason for cast clashes in
Dharmapuri Recently?
• Do you think caste has lost its
relevance in modern urban India?
• Are you aware of two tumbler system
in TN
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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
• What will you do to stop farmer
suicides if you are in tanjore delta
• What steps will you take as Irrigation
secretary when the assured water
supply from upper riparian states
such as Karnataka is not released?
• In tamilnadu the government
encourages inter caste marriage. Do
you think there is increase in inter
caste marriage?
• Suicide rate is very high in tamil nadu
. worser than backward states. What
is the reason?
• Students and young professional are
taking away their life in tamilnadu in
20. Sethusamudram:
large number. What should be done ?
19. Women issues:
i. Recently women police were
harassed in line of duty and
there was a report that women
police are not given the task of
21. Environment- western Ghats:
maintaining law and order.
Rather they are used as window
dressing------ should there be
women in forces like police?
ii. Violence against women (honor
killing) is reported highly in
northern states than in
southern states. Do you think
southern states are modern
while northern states are very
traditional because of this
iii. Pass percentage of women in
tamilnadu is higher than boys.
But why is women’s ratio to the
boy in higher education and
work participation is less
iv. What are districts in your state
where female infanticide is
more? Why?
v. In tamilnadu women work
participation is increased. Had it
reduced the demand for dowry?
vi. Sexual harassment and violence
against women in IT industries
of Chennai is less compared to
Bangalore. Is Chennai safe for
women?
vii. What are measures
taken/should be taken for
women/dalit/tribal/transgender
• Should the scheme be implemented?
• What are the environmental problems
that will result due to implementation
of the project
• Western Ghats has been announced
as world heritage site?
• What will be the fate of neutrino
project?
• What measures should be taken to
tackle pollution in tirupur?
• Don’t you think elephant rejuvenation
camp held at mudumalai is useless
• Recently more and more cases of wild
animals straying into villages. What is
the reason?
• Does tourism in western Ghats
affecting the habitat of wild animal
• What is elephant corridor?
• Do you accept the allegation that TN
government is promoting the interests
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 SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
of tourism service providers at the cost
of environment
• What is the significance of Gulf of
Mannar?

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