UPSC Mains GS1 previous-year questions

"The centre of global trade is gradually shifting from the Atlantic region to the Indo-Pacific region." Examine this statement.

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Linguistic reorganization of Indian States was driven by popular pressure from below. Comment.

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Critically examine the challenges of demographic transition in contemporary India.

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Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people's needs in a country like India. Comment.

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Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.

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How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples.

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The groundwater potential of the Gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India?

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Despite comprehensive policies for equity and social justice, underprivileged sections are not yet getting the full benefits of affirmative action envisaged by the Constitution. Comment.

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How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India?

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Distinguish between gender equality, gender equity and women's empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation?

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What is the concept of 'demographic winter'? Is the world moving towards such a situation? Elaborate.

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Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the rig vedic to the later vedic period.

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Child cuddling is now being replaced by mobile phones. Discuss its impact on the socialization of children.

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Why is the world today confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources?

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Why did human development fail to keep pace with economic development in India?

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Why is the South-West Monsoon called 'Purvaiya' (easterly) in Bhojpur Region? How has this directional seasonal wind system influenced the cultural ethos of the region?

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Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static?

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Are tolerance, assimilation, and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer.

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Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats.

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Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss.

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Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail.

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Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.

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What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism?

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What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?

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What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space?

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'Empowering women is the key to control population growth.' Discuss.

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"The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system." How can it be made effective in urban areas?

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How the Indian concept of secularism different from the western model of secularism? Discuss.

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'Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing'. Explain by giving reasons.

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"Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India." Comment.

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Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Comment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Has the formation of linguistic states strengthened the cause of Indian unity?

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'An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation.' Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.

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

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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?

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How far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanising landscape? Discuss.

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

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

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

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

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

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Discuss the various social problems that originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India.

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