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[Analysis] UPSC Mains-2017 GSM1: Lengthy Paper, Less Variety, 90% Qs from
routine prep. sources PLUS Download last 5 years’ Topicwise Questionpapers
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1. Instructions
2. Questions (Linear Format)
3. Answer Sources & Lord’s divination
4. UPSC’s Indecisiveness about word length continues
5. Intellectual bankruptcy gets severe like NPA in PSBs
1. #1: No respect for syllabus
2. #2: Repeating themes within a given GS paper
3. #3: Repeating of themes among GS papers
4. #4: Internal Variety is “less” than earlier years
6. Declined obsession about culture questions
7. From ‘General’ to ‘speci c’ subtopics
8. No point in preparing world history?
 9. GSM1-Topicwise Questions since Pattern change in 2013
10. [Block-1] History
1. History: Art & Culture
2. History: India before Independence
3. History: India After independence
4. History: world
11. [Block-2] Social Science
1. Social Science: Caste, Religion, Region, Globalization
2. Social Science: Poverty, Population, Globalization
3. Social Science: Globalization
4. Social Science: Women
12. [Block-3] Geography
1. Geography: Physical
2. Geography: Climate, Disaster related
3. Geography: Resources Distribution
4. Geography: factors a ecting industrial locations
5. Geography: Urbanization

Instructions for GSM1-2017 Paper

Maximum Marks: 250 | Time Allowed : Three Hours

There are TWENTY questions printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
All questions are compulsory.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certi cate which must be stated
clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QUA) Booklet in the space provided.
No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
Answers to questions no. 1 to 10 should be in 150 words, whereas answers to questions no. 11 to 20
should be in 250 words.
Keep the word limit indicated in the questions in mind.
Any page or portion of the page left be blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet mast clearly struck
o .

Questions (Linear Format)

Answer following Question no. 1 to 10 in 150 words and 10 marks each

1. How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in
later times?
2. Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity.
 3. Why did the ‘Moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and
political goals by the end of the nineteenth century?
4. What problems were germane to the decolonization process of Malay Peninsula.
5. How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth?
6. In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.” Discuss.
7. Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulse because of which the year 2016 was declared as the
International Year of Pulses by the United Nations.
8. How does the cryosphere a ect global climate?
9. In the context of diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather than the
States? Give reasons with examples for your viewpoint.
10. What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence, addressing discrimination
against Scheduled Tribes (STs)?

Answer following Question no. 1 to 10 in 250 words and 15 marks each:

11. The spirit tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very early times, but
it is also playing an important part at the present. Elaborate.
12. Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy.
13. Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian independence since
twenties of the last century.
14. Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional e ects.
15. Petroleum re neries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many
of the developing countries. Explain its implications.
16. In what way can ood be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland
navigation in India?
17. What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent
of the won population residing in Monsoon Asia?
18. The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement.
What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period?
19. Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former
has got transformed into the latter in independent India.
20. “The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up new avenues employment but has also created new
problems. Substantiate this statement with examples.

Sources for Answer & Lord’s divination

 JUST LIKE RAMRAHIM AND HONEYPREET MISGUIDED GULLIBLE DEVOTEES, THESE ELEMENTS MISGUIDE UPSC ASPIRANTS

Nowadays, UPSC Mains exam su ers from nuisance of UPSC-Apologists. I.e. Armchair experts who
appreciate any di cult question as a ‘deep intellectual thing’, and that “as a candidate you were
supposed to get the divination from the Lord almighty that since XYZ interlinked news had come in some
random journal or newspaper hence the question was ought to come and you must have prepared and
easily wrote it in the exam!!”. (“के आपको सपना आ जाना चािहए था की उस कार का पूछा जाने वाला है ”.)
But instead of rubbing salt on the wounds like that, and trying to nd signs of intellectualism and Lord’s
divinations in UPSC paper, let’s try a simplistic premise: can a makeshift/ragtag answer (जुगाड़पंती वाला
जवाब) be assembled from routine books / sources or not?

Q Source for Answer

Answer is spread across

NIOS Culture pdf (page 35 onwards)

Old NCERT (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/019568785X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=
1. gupta coin
21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=019568785X&linkId=51f60
(page240 onwards)
Tamilnadu class11.
But di cult to articulate in actual exam because you’ve to recall and give factual comp

You’ve write about the time just before a little before the entry of European.
Answer points available in Any General Studies Manual
(https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/935260346X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=
2. mid 18th 21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=935260346X&linkId=0bd2
India For deeper insights you can consult chapter 1 of Plessey to Partition
(https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/8125057234/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=
21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=8125057234&linkId=037f8
Di cult nonetheless because you’ve to mention not just the decline of Mughuls but oth

From Pratik’s Lecture series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=ypqE8xR_Wv4&list=PLAMBum9_RkuM784JMwlig2fWVR7G8XTqt) to Spectrum
(https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/8179306542/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mr
3. moderates
21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=8179306542&linkId=7f0efb45
are epicfail
Bipan (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/0140107819/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&t
21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0140107819&linkId=2e03d5c
Plassey to Partition – this is a generic topic available everywhere.

Random question. 2014 they asked about Suez crisis so you had to get Lord’s divination that
4. Malaikofta
Malay…कहे ता भी दीवाना और सुनता भी दीवाना. Not possible to answer without blu ng.
 Same as above. Science technology in both Prelim-GS and in GSM3 are usually centered aro
5. Juno e ort in NASA research would have given poor cost:bene t, EVEN IF Lord’s divination was pr
possible to answer without blu ng.

Eco.survey 2016-17 v2 and therefore, I had given verbatim answer in my [AW] Answer writin
6. Coal energy
Social Cost of Coal. (http://mrunal.org/2017/09/upsc-mains-answer-writing-gsm3-carbon-im

7. pulse last year, Pulse in ation made government setup a Committee under CEA. I had covered in m
bene ts of UN year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cLk2ZkoyZM).

Cryosphere is frozen part of hydrosphere. Then you’ve to assemble points from your existin
8. Cryosphere
NCERT, NIOS etc.

bol-bachchan essayish question. Somehow jugaadu answer can be assembled by following n

reference books such as Dietmar Rothermund (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/8131773
ie=UTF8&tag=mrunal08-
9. Cultural
21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=8131773515&linkId=aa0 6a9
units
Bitasha Das (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/9386601753/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=U
21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=9386601753&linkId=ac9e42b
OR following newspaper and columns

India Yearbook 2017 (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/8123023286/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_

21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=8123023286&linkId=9be322e
10. ST legal chapter 28: Welfare OR verbtim list available in page 1.11 of M.Laxmikanth’s Governance in I
protection (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/9339204786/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mr
21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=9339204786&linkId=d443 25
Ed)

11. Toleranace Same as question number 9.

Bipan, New NCERTs, and even Sumit Sarkar (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/933253574

12. Colonial ie=UTF8&tag=mrunal08-
Artisans 21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=9332535744&linkId=85fee7af
ch.2

13.
bol-bachchan essayish question spread across Pratik Nayak’s lecture series on Freedom Stru
Independence
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypqE8xR_Wv4&list=PLAMBum9_RkuM784JMwlig2fWVR7
objectives

14. Ocean don’t confuse between salinity and acidi cation. Ocean Salinity points given in Rajtanil’s
Salinity (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWWUhuN15K0)  and Class11 New NCERT Physical Geo

Covered in my article series on Geographical Location Factors (http://mrunal.org/2013/10/ge

15. Petro
petroleum-re neries-oil-well-ports-synthetic- bres-industry.html). Although I’ve not given “m
re nery
example” as the question asked, but a ragtag (जुगाडू) answer can be assembled nonethele

one has to do bolbachchan around interlinking of waters. Given in Rajtanil’s lecture on drain
16. Flood (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ua44Cv_i0g)  but writing 250 words a challenging, tho
with the newspaper editorials.
 Rajtanil’s Lecture L7 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUHto7ASd8Q) series and Chapter
17. Monsoon (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/0195628160/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mr
21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0195628160&linkId=2cfe52d7

18. Women
Spectrum, Bipan, Plassey to Partition – this is a generic topic available everywhere.
reforms

Bipan Chandra: India since Independence (https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/0143104098/

19. ie=UTF8&tag=mrunal08-
Communalism 21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0143104098&linkId=f070836
chapter 35 and 36

20. IT hubs’ One has to do bolbachchan. But 250 words is slightly challenging, but not impossible for a
problems my lecture on urbanization: problems and remedies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cb

Conclusion

2 out of 20 question are unavailable in routine sources.

Otherwise, 18 out of 20 question that is 90% of the paper is from routine preparation sources-
atleast ragtag (जुगाडू) answers can be assembled.
Yes, Paper is unnecessarily lengthy to provide su cient time to articulate your points, even for the
relatively easy questions (such as women related social reforms before independence or rural artisans in
colonial economy). Therefore, Solvable paper doesn’t mean ‘easy’ paper, because you can’t recall all
those topics in actual exam.
But all in all, expensive coaching and expensive secret material is unnecessary for success. The
primary key to success is your ability to recall points and write less mediocre answer than other
candidates within the given time limit. So, all hail and praise the UPSC examiner. Now coming to his
criticism:

Lengthy Paper

Mains Exam Essay# GSM1*

2013 2500 5000

2014 2400 3750

2015 2400 3000

2016 2400 4000

2017 2400 4000

(#) In Essay paper, candidate has to write two essays in not more than 1200 words. Total marks 250, total
time: 3 hrs.
(*) Opposite to that, GSM1 paper has same time limit and total marks but length varies:

2013: 5 markers = 100 words, 10 marks = 200 words. That means 1 mark is worth 20 words. Total length
of paper is 250 marks = 5000 words.
2014: all questions worth 10 marks and 150 words each. That means 1 mark is worth 15 words. Total
length of the 250 marks paper = 3750
2015: all questions worth 12.5 marks and 150 words each. So, 1 mark = 12 words, total length of paper =
3000
2016: all questions worth 12.5 marks and 200 words each. So, total length of paper = 3000
2017: 10 questions worth 150 words and 10 questions worth 250 words. Total length of 250 marks paper
is = 4000
But, Some candidates presumed that continuing with the trend of 2016, each question was worth 200
words only, so those who did not read the opening instructions, attempted the paper in linear
fashion- they ran out of time or could not do proper justice questions towards the end. (Because
Q. 11 to 20 were longer).
While one could glorify and appreciate this Backbreaking™ move as as ‘anti-coaching’, ‘anti-senior’ move,
but overall it degrades the description examination into a CAT like ‘race to nish’ rather than ‘race
to articulate your knowledge and reasoning’. Hence, the success is not for the best answer, but
writing less bad answer than others.

Intellectual bankruptcy gets severe like NPA in PSBs

In 2013, in all its wisdom and foresight, UPSC changed syllabus of Mains GS Exam. Total 113 topics
spread across four papers. However, you can see that it was prepared in haste:
Geography, climate and disaster: half split and recurring between GSM1 and 3.
Poverty, population and welfare recurring in the syllabus of GSM1 and GSM2
Transparency, accountability recurring @GSM2 and GSM4.
This problem, compounded with the ability to generate unique questions in each topic, had begun to
show chink in the UPSC’s armor, evident in following ways:

#1: No respect for syllabus

GSM1 syllabus doesn’t mention Indian geography or Indian agriculture speci cally.
GSM3 syllabus speci cally mentions Indian Major Crops in various parts of country (cropping patterns,
types of irrigation, irrigation systems.)
Then, which is the suitable paper to ask this question: Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulse
because of which the year 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations. (2017)

GSM3? Nope. It was asked in GSM1-2017.

Let’s try one more:

GSM1 syllabus has “distribution of key natural resources”.

GSM3 syllabus also has
Environmental conservation; Environmental pollution and degradation; Environmental Impact
Assessment.
Energy infrastructure. Indian economy: mobilization of resources for development.

So where should this question be asked: “In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable
for development.” Discuss.”

GSM3 seems the appropriate better choice but no, it was asked in GSM1-2017.

Syllabus GSM1: Critical geographical features, ora, fauna (changes and e ects thereof).
So, a question about “impact of Climate change on Himalayan and Costal India’ is more suitable for GSM1 than
GSM3, but it’s asked in GSM3-2017. (interesting same topic asked in GSM1 in 2014)

#2: Repeating themes within a given GS paper

Tribal Asked Constitutional provisions @GSM1-2016

welfare Asked legal provisions @GSM1-2017.

2014: Indian secularism debates are di erent from West

Religion
2017: Religiousness transformed into communalism after independence.

2017: 3 questions asked 1) love and tolerance 2) communalism 3) cultural regions of

India. Collectively, they’re just one essay on ‘unity in diversity’.
Diversity
And, they are continuation of the common themes of past @2015: cultural elements
build national identity. @2014: Indian secularism debate di erent than west.

Asked in GSM1 and GSM3 @2016 as a ‘disaster’

Floods Again asked in GSM1 @2017, as a ‘productive thing’ that can be potentially used for
navigation.
 2013: social problem in cities
2015: air pollution in cities
2016: oods in cities.
Urbanization
2017: problems in “IT” cities. (only di erence is that now it’s general cities to speci c
“IT” cities. Although given the paucity of time in the actual paper, I wonder how many
unique points a candidate could come up with.

#3: Repeating of themes among GS papers

GSM1-2014: Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the
Climate
symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.
change
GSM3-2017: How are Himalaya and coastal states a ected by climate change?

GSM1-2014: How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource
Africa rich Africa?
GSM2-2015: Increasing interest of India in Africa has its pros and cons. Critically examine.

GSM1-2016: “An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from
deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.
Poverty GSM2-2017: “‘Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India remain mere show pieces until and
unless they are backed by political will’. Discuss with reference to the performance of the
major poverty alleviation programmes in India.

There are many other samples as well, but I lack the time and patience to showcase it.

#4: Internal Variety is “less” than earlier years

IF THE INTERNAL VARIETY WAS SAME OR MORE THEN RIGHT HAND CIRCLE WOULD SHOW MORE COLOR BANDS.
Observe the above pie charts: Subject wise,

Society: ~25% (blue); History: ~30% (grey); Geography: ~45% (red). This trend has been more or less the
same since 2013.
In GSM1-2017, Overall, sizewise there is not much change i.e. max. questions from geography >> history
>> society.
but internal breakup has changed. Internal “Variety” is less than those of previous years. e.g. within
history- too much focus on freedom struggle era events at the neglect of world history and post-
independence history.
Similarly, within “society”: nothing from women issues or impact of globalization or poverty vs
population. Section almost entirely focused on communalism.

Thankfully his cultural obsession declined

Earlier This time

Fascination with
Southern Culture

Nothing from this side.

2013: chola,
sangam
2016: Vijayanagar

Fascination with
Budhism, Jainism

2016: Buddhist Nothing from this side, either.

stupa
2014: Taxila
university

Random Lunatic Only 10 marks. And that too, relatively “less random” than earlier years.
questions worth Because Gupta coinage answer could be assembled from reading NIOS
minimum 25 marks. culture book and TN Class 11 history textbook.

Some people would get post-exam intellectual epiphanies that in context of demonetization, the history
of ‘money’ is important current a airs topic, hence UPSC asked question about “Gupta coins’ art”, and
candidates ‘must have prepared’ it.
But the nature of question is such that not only you need to recollect points about Gupta coins’ art but
also badmouth about the bogus / less variety of art in coins of later empires to justify that Gupta coins
were awesome- and that too for 150 word. So, it’s a di cult question nonetheless.
 From ‘General’ to ‘speci c’ subtopics

2014: economic policies of British till independence.

2017: how decline of artisan industry led to collapse of rural economy.
It’s a trap question actually. Many candidates would simply beat around the bush by criticizing British
factory goods and tari policies for ruining Indian artisan, whereas the question is “Speci c” about linking
artisans’ fall to rural economy’s fall.
Similarly: earlier years, asked about general problems of cities, this time speci cally asked about “IT
cities”.

No point in preparing world history?

World History is facing constant and gradual fall like Congress ruled states. In 2013: 40 marks worth
world history, then each year continuous and ‘secular’ decline: 30m, 25m, 12.5m and this time only 10
marks worth world history asked,
And that too from an obscure topic of ‘decolonization in Malay peninsula”. It might have come in some
random journal, magazine or TV debates two three years back. And then some people having post-exam-
epiphany that everyone must have “prepared” it! But saala itnaa detail mein kaun prepare krta hai.
Or maybe it’s a trick. UPSC did not expect candidates to answer it, hence the question paper it not
“lengthy” from their examiner’s point of view, because he wanted candidates to skip smartly as in CAT
exam.
2016 also had a similar ‘random’ question: “role of western educated Africans’ in liberating W.Afria. (who
can remember such things!)

Misc observation:

2016 2017

This famine continues.

Although asked about social reforms in pre-
No question from Post independent India or
independent India in GSM1.
women issues (after independence).
And asked about agriculture revolutions in
post-independent India in GSM3.

GSM1-Topicwise Questions since Pattern change in 2013

In 2013, UPSC changed the syllabus-pattern of Mains examination and the number of general studies papers
were increased from two to four. Out of them, GS Paper-I deals with History, Culture, Society and
Geography. Overall breakup looks like this

Category GS Mains Paper-1 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

History Culture 20 40 25 25 10

History Freedom struggle 30 30 25 37.5 65

History World History 40 30 25 12.5 10

History Post independence 50 0 0 0 0

Society Religion, Region, empowerment 10 10 37.5 37.5 50

Society Poverty, Population, Development 0 10 25 12.5 0

Society Globalization Impact 10 0 12.5 12.5 0

Society Women 10 30 12.5 0 0

Geography Climate 10 20 37.5 12.5 60

Geography Disaster 10 10 0 12.5 15

Geography Urbanization 10 0 25 25 15

Geography Physical 20 20 0 0 10

Geography Resources 20 20 25 62.5 0

Geography Industrial Location 10 30 0 0 15

Total 250 250 250 250 250

[Block-1] History

औ ी ो ोई ी ी
 OBSERVE WORLD HISTORY’S ‘SECULAR’ FALL EACH YEAR. और POST-INDEPENDENT INDIA TOPIC की तो कोई स ान ही नही.

History: Art & Culture

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Salient aspects of Art, Architecture, literature from Ancient to Modern Times

How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta numismatic art is not at all
2017
noticeable in later times?

Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds
2016
Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.

Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was
2016
also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.

The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent di ered from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and
Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present 2015
day. Comment.

Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only re ects the cultural life of the times but also a
2015
tine aesthetic sense comparable to modem painting. Critically evaluate this comment.

To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs
2014
to the present day urbanization? Discuss.

Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain. 2014

Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a
number of renowned learned personalities of di erent disciplines. Its strategic location caused its
2014
fame to ourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense.
Discuss.

Su s and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the
2014
outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.

Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of South India, the
Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable 2013
vividness. Comment.

Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions. 2013

Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. 2013

History: India before Independence

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Mid-18th century – Present (signi cant events, personalities, issues); Freedom Struggle
(various stages, important contributors from di erent parts of the country)
 Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity. 2017

Why did the ‘Moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology
2017
and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century?

Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural
2017
economy.

The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform
2017
movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period?

Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian
2017
independence since twenties of the last century.

Explain how the Uprising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British
2016
policies towards colonial India.

Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase. 2016

Highlight the di erences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the
2016
struggle for freedom.

How di erent would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma
2015
Gandhi? Discuss.

It would have been di cult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting
the Constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the 2015
Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss.

The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought
2014
at Panipat?

Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-
2014
eighteenth century till independence.

In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the co n of British colonial
2014
aspirations in India?

Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torch bearer
2013
during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss.

Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze
2013
their role in the Indian struggle for freedom.

In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate. 2013

History: India After independence

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Post-Independence (consolidation and reorganisation within country)

 Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba
2013
Bhave and their success.

Write a critical note on the evolution and signi cance of the slogan “Jai Jawana Jai Kisan”. 2013

Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre-and post-independent India. 2013

Analyze the circumstances that led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the
2013
agreement.

Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive roles in the emergence
2013
of Bangladesh.

History: world

GS1 Syllabus Topic: 18th century events (e.g. Industrial revolution, WWs, redrawn boundaries, colonisation,
decolonisation); Political philosophies (e.g. communism, capitalism, socialism) and their e ect on society

What problems were germane to the decolonization process of Malay Peninsula. 2017

The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western-educated Africans.
2016
Examine.

Why did the industrial revolution rst occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people
2015
there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present?

To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss
2015
critically

What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated
2014
the anti-colonial struggle in India?

What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a nal blow to Britain’s
2014
self-image as a world power?

The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had in uenced the policies adopted by India soon after
2014
independence. Evaluate.

“Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly di erent
2013
from what west had experience.

Africa was chopped into states arti cially created by accident of European competition. Analyse. 2013

American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate. 2013

What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression? 2013

[Block-2] Social Science

 THIS TIME UPSC GOT TOO MUCH EMOTIONAL ABT REGION AND RELIGION?

Social Science: Caste, Religion, Region, Globalization

GS1 Syllabus Topic:

Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism; Social Empowerment

Salient features of Indian Society; Diversity of India;

The spirit tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very early
2017
times, but it is also playing an important part at the present. Elaborate.

Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the
2017
former has got transformed into the latter in independent India.

In the context of diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather than
2017
the States? Give reasons with examples for your viewpoint.

What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence, addressing
2017
discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)?

Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened the cause of Indian Unity? 2016

Why are the tribals in India referred to as the Scheduled Tribes? Indicate the major provisions
2016
enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.

What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of bene ts of development on

2016
regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.
 Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had
2015
a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.

Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative signi cance in
2015
building a national identity.

Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity
2015
work towards annihilation of caste.

How do the Indian debates on secularism di er from the debates in the West? 2014

Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate
2013
state. Discuss.

Social Science: Poverty, Population, Globalization

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Poverty, Population; Development and associated issues

“An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from deprivation.” Substantiate
2016
this statement with suitable examples

Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main
2015
cause of population increase in India.

Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four
2015
decades.

The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss. 2014

Social Science: Globalization

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Globalisation (e ects on Indian society)

Discuss the positive and negative e ects of globalization on women in India. (2013, Asked about
2015
Globalization e ect on Elderly)

To what extent globalization has in uenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain. 2016

Critically examine the e ects of globalization on the aged population in India. 2013

Social Science: Women

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Role of women and women’s organisation;

Although some of the following questions fall under population-globalization categories, but if a person
cultivates habit of noting down women related topics under one head, it’ll bene t in both GS1, GS2 and
Essay.
 How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable
2015
to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?

How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India? 2014

Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of
2014
agriculture in India.

Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give
2014
your arguments.

Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from
2013
gender bias. Comment.

[Block-3] Geography

Geography: Physical

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Salient Features of World Physical Geography; Important Geophysical phenomena
(earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes, cyclones); Geographical features and location;

How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth? 2017

“The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.” Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures
2016
of mitigation.

Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos. 2014
 Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the
association between the global distribution of Fold Mountains and the earthquakes and 2014
volcanoes.

What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences in its
2013
support.

There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why? 2013

Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degree north and on the
2013
western side of the continents. Why?

Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats 2013

Geography: Climate, Disaster related

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Critical geographical features, ora, fauna (changes and e ects thereof)

In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.” Discuss. 2017

Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulse because of which the year 2016 was declared
2017
as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations.

How does the cryosphere a ect global climate? 2017

Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional e ects. 2017

In what way can ood be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland
2017
navigation in India?

What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50
2017
percent of the won population residing in Monsoon Asia?

Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in macro-climatic changes. 2016

Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they in uence regional
2015
climates, shing and navigation?

How far do you agree that the behavior of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to
2015
humanizing landscapes? Discuss.

Tropical cyclones are largely con ned to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why? 2014

Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino e ect. Do
2014
you agree?

Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate
2014
change in the Indian sub-continent.
 The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones
2013
named across the world?

Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world. 2013

What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How

2013
does it a ect the weather and the habitants of the place?

Geography: Resources Distribution

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Distribution of key Natural Resources (world, S. Asia, Indian subcontinent)

The e ective management of land and water resources will drastically reduce the human miseries.
2016
Explain

South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical signi cance in the present context. Comment. 2016

Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political
2016
implications in the context of changing bilateral relations.

Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport in India. 2016

In what way micro-watershed Development projects help in water conservation in drought prone
2016
and semi-arid regions of India.

What are the economic signi cances of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible
2015
environmental consequences?

India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still su ers from water
2015
scarcity.

The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand reaching the limits of their
2015
ecological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically evaluate.

Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the
2014
resource crisis in the world.

How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa? 2014

With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, the atomic energy is gaining more and more signi cance in
India. Discuss the availability of raw material required for the generation of atomic energy in India 2013
and in the world.

It is said the India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of
country for quarter century. However, tapping of the resources doesn’t appear to be high on the 2013
agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved.

Geography: factors a ecting industrial locations

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Factors responsible for location of Industries (primary, secondary, tertiary; India, world)

Petroleum re neries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly
2017
in many of the developing countries. Explain its implications.

Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser
Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in e ect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling 2014
area. Explain.

Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world. 2014

Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and
2014
good availability of water?

Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of
2013
India? Discuss with justi cation

Analyze the factors for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India 2013

Geography: Urbanization

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Urbanization: problems and remedies

The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up new avenues employment but has also created
2017
new problems. Substantiate this statement with examples. Urbanization

With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of
2016
the ‘Smart City Programme’.

Major cities of India are becoming more vulnerable to ood conditions. Discuss. 2016

Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much
2015
more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?

Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop
2015
of rural urban integration.

Discussion the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization
2013
in India.

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