UPSC Mains Exam 2019 - General Studies (Paper-1)
Indian Heritage and
Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
Q1. Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian
elements in the Gandhara art. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks
Q2. The 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent
big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years
of British rule. Elucidate. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks
Q3. Examine the linkages between the ninteenth century's
'Indian Renaissance' and the emergence of national identity. (Answer in 150
words) 10 Marks
Q4. Assess the impact of global warming on the coral life
system with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks
Q5. Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and
explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology. (Answer in 150 words)
10 Marks
Q6. Can the strategy of regional resource-based
manufacturing help in promoting employment in India? (Answer in 150 words)
10 Marks
Q7. Discuss the factors for localisation of agro-based
food processing industries of North-West India. (Answer in 150 words)
10 Marks
Q8. What makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its
culture? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks
Q9. "Empowering women is the key to control
population growth." Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks
Q10. What are the challenges to our cultural practices in
the name of secularism? (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks
Q11. Many voices had strengthened and enriched the
nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate. (Answer in 250
words) 15 Marks
Q12. Assess the role of British imperial power in
complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s. (Answer in 250
words) 15 Marks
Q13. Explain how the foundations of the modern world were
laid by the American and French Revolutions. (Answer in 250 words)
15 Marks
Q14. What is water stress? How and why does it differ
regionally in India? (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
Q15. How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the
negative impact of development initiatives and tourism? (Answer in 250 words)
15 Marks
Q16. How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport
key to the rapid economic development of India? (Answer in 250 words)
15 Marks
Q17. How do ocean currents and water masses differ in
their impacts on marine life and coastal environment? Give suitable examples.
(Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
Q18. Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over
the nation? Eleborate with examples. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
Q19. What are the continued challenges for women in India
against time and space? (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
Q20. Are we losing your local identity for the global
identity? Discuss. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
UPSC Mains Exam 2018 - General Studies (Paper-1)
Indian
Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
1. Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment.
Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks
2. Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab
travellers in the econstruction of the history of India. (Answer in 150
words)10 Marks
3. Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma
Gandhi in the present times. (Answer in 150)10 Marks
4. Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed
? How does it help in navigation ? (Answer in 150 words)10 Marks
5. Why is India taking keen interest in resources of Arctic Region
? (Answer in 150 words)10 Marks
6. Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics.
(Answer in 150 words)10 Marks
7. What are the consequences of spreading of 'Dead Zones' on marine
ecosystem? (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks
8. “Caste system is assuming new identities and associational
forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. (Answer in
150 words) 10 Marks
9. ‘Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of
poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing.' Explain by
giving reasons. (Answer in 150 words)10 Marks
10. How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western
model of secularism ? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)10 Marks
11. The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with
the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
12. Discuss whether formation of new states in recent times is
beneficial or not for the economy of India. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
13. Why indentured labour was taken by the British from India to
other colonies ? Have they been able to preserve their cultural identity over
there ? (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
14. “The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India
is water harvesting system. How can it be made effective in urban areas ?
(Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
15. Defining blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies
for pisciculture development in India. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
16. What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India ?
Identifying industrial corridors, explain their main characteristics. (Answer
in 250 words) 15 Marks
17. Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational
districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and
competition for its success. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks
18. "Women's movement in India has not addressed the issues of
women of lower social strata. Substantiate your view. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Marks
19. "Globalization is generally said to promote cultural
homogenization but cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the
Indian Society’ Elucidate. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Mark
20. ‘‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative
deprivation.’ Argue by giving suitable illustrations. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Marks
UPSC Mains General Studies (Paper-1) – 2017
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
1.
How do you justify the view that
the level of excellence of Gupta Numismatic Art is not at all noticeable in
later times ? (150 words)
2.
Clarify how Mid-eighteenth
century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented Polity ? (150 words)
3.
Why did the Moderates fails to
carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and
political goals by the end of nineteenth century? (150 words)
4.
What problems were germane to the
decolonization in the Malay Peninsula? (150 words)
5.
How does the Juno Mission of NASA
help to understand the origin and evolution of earth ? (150 words)
6.
“In spite of adverse
environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for Development”.
Discuss. (150 words)
7.
Mention the advantages of
Cultivation of pulses because of which year 2016 was declared as the
International year of Pulses By the United Nations. (150 words)
8.
How does the crysosphere affect
global climate ? (150 words)
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. (150 words).
10.
What are the two major legal
initiatives by state since Independence, addressing discrimination against
Scheduled Tribes (ST) ? (150 words).
11.
The spirit and tolerance not only
an interesting feature of Indian Society from very early times but it is also
playing an important role in the present. Elaborate. (250 words).
12.
Examine how the decline of
artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy.(250 words)
13.
Highlight the importance of the
new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since the
twenties of the last century. (250 words)
14.
Account for variations in oceanic
salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects.
15.
Petroleum refineries are not
necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many
of the developing countries. Explain its implications. (250 words)
16.
In what way can floods be
converted to sustainable source of irrigation and all weather inland navigation
in India ? (250 words)
17.
What characteristics can be
assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of
World population residing in Monsoon Asia ? (250 words)
18.
The women’s questions arose in
modern India as the part of 19th century social reform movement. What are the
major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (250 words)
19.
Distinguish between
religiousness/religiosity and Communalism giving one example of how the farmer
has got transformed into latter in Independent India? (250 words)
20.
“The growth of cities as I.T Hubs
has opened new avenues of employment, but has also created new problems”.
Substantiate this statement with examples. (250 words).
UPSC Mains General Studies (Paper-1) – 2017
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
1.
How do you justify the view that
the level of excellence of Gupta Numismatic Art is not at all noticeable in
later times ? (150 words)
2.
Clarify how Mid-eighteenth century
India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented Polity ? (150 words)
3.
Why did the Moderates fails to
carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and
political goals by the end of nineteenth century? (150 words)
4.
What problems were germane to the
decolonization in the Malay Peninsula? (150 words)
5.
How does the Juno Mission of NASA
help to understand the origin and evolution of earth ? (150 words)
6.
“In spite of adverse
environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for Development”.
Discuss. (150 words)
7.
Mention the advantages of
Cultivation of pulses because of which year 2016 was declared as the
International year of Pulses By the United Nations. (150 words)
8.
How does the crysosphere affect
global climate ? (150 words)
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. (150 words).
10.
What are the two major legal
initiatives by state since Independence, addressing discrimination against
Scheduled Tribes (ST) ? (150 words).
11.
The spirit and tolerance not only
an interesting feature of Indian Society from very early times but it is also
playing an important role in the present. Elaborate. (250 words).
12.
Examine how the decline of
artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy.(250 words)
13.
Highlight the importance of the
new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since the
twenties of the last century. (250 words)
14.
Account for variations in oceanic
salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects.
15.
Petroleum refineries are not
necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many
of the developing countries. Explain its implications. (250 words)
16.
In what way can floods be
converted to sustainable source of irrigation and all weather inland navigation
in India ? (250 words)
17.
What characteristics can be
assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of
World population residing in Monsoon Asia ? (250 words)
18.
The women’s questions arose in
modern India as the part of 19th century social reform movement. What are the
major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (250 words)
19.
Distinguish between
religiousness/religiosity and Communalism giving one example of how the farmer
has got transformed into latter in Independent India? (250 words)
20.
“The growth of cities as I.T Hubs
has opened new avenues of employment, but has also created new problems”.
Substantiate this statement with examples. (250 words).
UPSC Mains General Studies (Paper-1) - 2016
Answer all the following questions. Each question is to be
answered in not more than 200 words. Each question carries equal marks.
1. Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and
narratives successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate. 12.5 marks
2. Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an
accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and
literature. Discuss. 12.5 marks
3. Explain how the Uprising of 1857 constitutes an important
watershed in the evolution of British policies towards colonial India. 12.5
marks
4. Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially
during the Gandhian phase. 12.5 marks
5. Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra
Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom. 12.5 marks
6. Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened the cause of
Indian Unity? 12.5 marks
7. The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new
elite of Western-educated Africans. Examine. 12.5 marks
8. To what extent globalization has influenced the core of cultural
diversity in India? Explain. 12.5 marks
9. "An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate
the poor from the process of deprivation." Substantiate this
statement with suitable examples. 7+5.5=12.5 marks
10. Why are the tribals in India referred to as 'the Scheduled
Tribes? Indicate the major 1 in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.
4.5+8=12.5 marks
11. With a brief background of quality of urban life in India,
introduce the objectives and strategy of the 'Smart City Programme'. 4+8.5=12.5
marks
12. What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal
distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes
regionalism? Substantiate your answer. 3.5+9=12.5 marks
13. Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in
macro-climatic changes. 12.5 marks
14. "The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides."
Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation. 12.5 marks
15. The effective management of land and water resources will
drastically reduce the human miseries. Explain. 12.5 marks
16. South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in
the present context. Comment. 12.5 marks
17. Major cities of India are becoming more vulnerable to flood
conditions. Discuss. 12.5 marks
18. Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its
ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing
bilateral relations. 12.5 marks
19. Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport
in India. 12.5 marks
20. In what way micro-watershed development projects help in water
conservation in drought-prone and semi-arid regions of India? 12.5 marks
UPSC Mains 2015: General Studies
(Paper - 1)
Subject: General Studies Paper-1 (Indian Heritage and Culture,
History and Geography of the World and Society.)
Instructions: Answer the following questions in not more
than 200 words each. Contents of the answers are more important than their
length. All questions carry equal marks.
Note: Each question carries 12.5 Marks (12.5 x 20 = 200
Marks )
Q1. The ancient civilization in Indian sub continent
differed from those of Egypt , Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and
traditions have been preserved without breakdown to the present day. Comment
(12.5M)
Q2. Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only
reflects the cultural life of the times but also a fine aesthetic sense
comparable to modern painting. Critically evaluate this comment. (12.5M)
Q3. How difficult would have been the achievement of
Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.
Q4. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar, despite having
divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the
downtrodden. Elucidate. (12.5M)
Q5. It would have been difficult for the Constituent
Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for
Independent India in just three years, but its experience gained with the
Government of India Act, 1935 .Discuss.(12.5M)
Q6. Why did the industrial revolution first occur in
England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the
industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present times?
Q7. To what extend can Germany be held responsible for
causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically.
Q8. Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in
India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.
Q9. Critically examine
whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the mains
cause of population increase in India.
Q10. How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex
ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among
Scheduled Castes?
Q11. Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration
within and outside India in the last four decades.
Q12. Discuss the positive and negative effects of
globalization on women in India?
Q13. Debate the issue whether and how contemporary movements
for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste.
Q14. Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean
currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?
Q15. Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three Mega cities of
the country but the air pollution is much more serious probelm in Delhi as
compared to the other two. Why is this so?
Q16. India is well endowed with fresh water resources.
Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.
Q17. The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and
Uttarakhand are reaching the limits of econological carrying capacity due to
tourism. Critically evaluate.
Q18. How far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian
monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscape? Discuss.
Q19. Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart
vilages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop of rural urban integration.
Q20. What are the economic significances of discovery of oil
in Arctic Sea and its possible environemental consequences?
UPSC Mains 2014: General Studies Paper - I
1. To what extent has the
urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to
the present day urbanization? Discuss.
2. Gandhara sculpture
owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.
3. Taxila university was
one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number
of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic
location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered
as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.
4. The third battle of
Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at
Panipat?
5. Sufis and medieval
saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward
structure of Hindu/ Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.
6. Examine critically the
various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth
century till independence.
7. In what ways did the
navel mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial
aspirations in India?
8. What were the major
political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the
anti-colonial in India?
9. What were the events
that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s
self-image as a world power?
10. The New Economic
Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after
independence. Evaluate.
11. How does patriarchy
impact the position of a middle class working woman in India?
12. Why do some of the
most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your
arguments.
13. The life cycle of a
joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.
14. Discuss the various
economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of
agriculture in India.
15. How do the Indian
debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?
16. Most of the unusual
climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you
agree?
17. 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 volcanoes.
18. Explain the formation
of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philipines archipelagos.
19. Tropical cyclones are
largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?
20. Bring out the
relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of
climate change in the Indian sub-continent.
21. Whereas the British
planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas
from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling
area. Explain.
22. Why did the Green
Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil
and good availability of water?
23. Account for the
change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world.
24. Critically evaluate
the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource
crisis in the world.
25. How does India see
its place in the economic space of rising natural resources rich Africa?
UPSC Mains 2013: General Studies Paper - I
1. 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 vividness. Comment. (200 words) (10 marks)
2. A. Discuss the
‘Tandava’ dance as recorded in early Indian inscriptions. (100 words) (5 marks)
B Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple
architecture. Discuss (100 words) (5 marks)
3. Defying the barriers
of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torchbearer during the
struggle for freedom in India. Discuss. (200 words) (10 marks)
4. Sevaral foreigners
made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their
role in the Indian struggle for freedom. (200 words) (10 marks)
5. “In many ways, Lord
Dalhousie was the founder of modern India.” Elaborate. (200 words) (10 marks)
6. Critically discuss the
objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by AcharyaVinobhaBhave
and their success. (200 words) (10 marks)
7. Write a critical note
on the evolution and significance of the slogan, ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’. (200
words) (10 marks)
8. Discuss the
contributions of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre- and post-independent India.
(200 words) (10 marks)
9. Analyze the
circumstances that led to the Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the
highlights of the Agreement. (200 words) (10 marks)
10. Critically examine
the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive role in the emergence
of Bangladesh. (200 words) (10 marks)
11. “‘Latecomer’
Industrial Revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly
different from what West had experienced.” Analyze. (200 words) (10 marks)
12. “Africa was chopped
into states artificially created by accidents of European competition.”
Analyze. (200 words) (10 marks)
13. “American Revolution
was an economic revolt against mercantilism.” Substantiate. (200 words) (10
marks)
14. What policy
instruments were deployed to contain the Great Economic Depression? (200
words) (10 marks)
15. Discuss the various
social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in
India. (200 words) (10 marks)
16. “Male membership
needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from gender
bias.” Comment. (200 words) (10 marks)
17. Critically examine
the effect of globalization on the aged population in India. (200 words) (10
marks)
18. Growing feeling of
regionalism is an important factor in generation of demand for a separate
state. Discuss. (200 words) (10 marks)
19. a What do you
understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences
in its support. (100 words) (5 marks)
19.b The recent cyclone
on the east coast of India was called ‘Phailin’. How are the tropical cyclones
named across the world? Elaborate. (100 words) (5 marks)
20. a Bring out the
causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world.
(100 words) (5 marks)
20. b What do you
understand by the phenomenon of ‘temperature inversion’ in meteorology? How
does it affect weather and the habitants of the place? (100 words) (5 marks)
21. Major hot deserts in
northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 deg N latitudes and on the
western sides of the continents. Why? (200 words) (10 marks)
22. a Bring out the
causes for more frequent occurrence of landslides in the Himalayas than in the
Western Ghats. (100 words) (5 marks)
22. b There is no
formation of deltas by rivers on the Western Ghats. Why? (100 words) (5 marks)
23. a Do you agree that
there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in southern states of
India? Discuss with justification. (100 words) (5 marks)
23. b Analyze the factors
for the highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India. (100 words) (5
marks)
24. W ith growing
scarcity of fossil fuels, the atomic energy is gaining more and more
significance in India. Discuss the availability of raw material required for
the generation of atomic energy in India and in the world. (200 words) (10
marks)
25. It is said that India
has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of the
country for quarter century. However, tapping of the resource does not appear
to be high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues
involved. (200 words) (10 marks)
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