GS 1 MAINS ANALYSIS

 𝐀𝐫𝐭 & 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

Syllabus Topic:

Salient aspects of Art, Architecture, literature from Ancient to Modern Times

Highlight the Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian elements in Gandhara art. (10m,150 words)   2019

Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss.   2018

Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India.  2018

The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss.  2018

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

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

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

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 a breakdown to the present day. Comment.    2015

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

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

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 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.  2014

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

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.  2013

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

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Syllabus Topic:

Post-Independence (consolidation and reorganisation within country)

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

Write a critical note on the evolution and significance 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 agreement.  2013

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

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Syllabus Topic:

Mid-18th century – Present (significant events, personalities, issues); Freedom Struggle (various stages, important contributors from different parts of the country)

The 1857 Uprising was the culmination the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate.  (10m,150 words)  2019

Examine the linkages between 19th centuries ‘Indian Renaissance’ and the emergence of national identity.  (10m,150 words)  2019

Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate.  (15m,250 words)  2019

Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s.  (15m,250 words)  2019

Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times.  2018

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 and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century?  2017

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

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?  2017

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

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

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

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

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

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 for the experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss.  2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

Syllabus Topic: 

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

Explain how the foundations of the modern world were laid by the American and French revolution. (15m,250 words)  2019

Why indentured labour was taken by the British from India to other colonies? Have they been able to preserve their cultural identity over there?  2018

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. Examine.  2016

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?  2015

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

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

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?  2014

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

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

Africa was chopped into states artificially 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

𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞, 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Syllabus Topic:

Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism; Social Empowerment

Salient features of Indian Society; Diversity of India

“Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment.  2018

How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism? Discuss.  2018

‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.  2018

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.  2017

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

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.  2017

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

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 enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.  2016

What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.  2016

Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.  2015

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

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

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

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

𝐏𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲, 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Syllabus Topic:

Poverty, Population; Development and associated issues

What makes Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss.  (10m,150 words)  2019

What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism.  (10m,150 words)  2019

Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples. (15m,250 words)  2019

‘Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing.’ Explain by giving reasons.  2018

Discuss whether formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India.  2018

Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success.  2018

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

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

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

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

𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Syllabus Topic:

Globalisation (effects on Indian society)

Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss.  (15m,250 words)  2019

‘Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society. Elucidate.  2018

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

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

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

𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧

Syllabus Topic:

Role of women and women’s organisation;

Although some of the following questions fall under populationglobalization categories, but if a person cultivates habit of noting down women related topics under one head, it’ll benefit in both GS1, GS2 and Essay

“Empowering women is the key to control population growth”. Discuss  (10m,150 words)  2019

What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space?  (15m,250 words)  2019

‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata. Substantiate your view.  2018

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?  2015

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 agriculture in India.  2014

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

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

𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲

Syllabus Topic:

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

Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation?  2018

Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics.  2018

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 of mitigation.  2016

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 volcanoes.  2014

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

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 western side of the continents. Why?  2013

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

𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝

Syllabus Topic:

Critical geographical features, flora, fauna (changes and effects thereof)

Assess the impact of global warming on coral life system with examples.  (10m,150 words)  2019

How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and the coastal environment? Give suitable examples?  (15m,250 words)  2019

Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology.  (10m,150 words)  2019

How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism? (15m,250 words)  2019

What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?  (15m,250 words)  2019

What are the consequences of spreading of ‘Dead Zones’ on marine ecosystem?  2018

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 as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations.  2017

How does the cryosphere affect global climate?  2017

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

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

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

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 influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?  2015

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

Tropical cyclones are largely confined 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 effect. Do you agree?  2014

Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.  2014

The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world?  2013

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 does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place?  2013

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Syllabus Topic:

Distribution of key Natural Resources (world, S. Asia, Indian subcontinent)

Can the strategy of regional-resource based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India? (10m,150 words)  2019

Why is India taking keen interest in resources of Arctic Region?  2018

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

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

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

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 and semi-arid regions of India.  2016

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

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

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

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

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 significance in India. Discuss the availability of raw material required for the generation of atomic energy in India and in the world.  2013

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 agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved.  2013

𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Syllabus Topic:

Factors responsible for location of Industries (primary, secondary, tertiary; India, world)

Discuss the factors for localization of agro-based food processing industries of North-West India.  (10m,150 words)  2019

Define blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India.  2018

What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identify industrial corridors, explain their main characteristics.  2018

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

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.  2014

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 good availability of water?  2014

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

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

𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Syllabus Topic:

Urbanization: problems and remedies

How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India?  (15m,250 words)  2019

“The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system.” How can it be made effective in urban areas?  2018

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. Urbanization  2017

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

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

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

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

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