INSIGHTSIAS

IA SIMPLIFYING IAS EXAM PREPARATION

INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

MAINS MISSION 2023

GS- I

JANUARY 2023

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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They
are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is
content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you
extra points in the form of background information.

Table of Contents
Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times. ................................................................................................................................... 7
Buddhism originated as an alternative tradition to the excessive importance given to rituals and
sacrifices in Vedic tradition. Examine. (250 words) ....................................................................... 7
There is much in common between Buddhism and Jainism. There are similarities between the
two but the basic difference between the philosophies of the two provides each of them a place
of distinct religion. Analyse. (250 words) ...................................................................................... 9
Stupa is regarded as a monument for veneration. It is associated with votive and
commemorative purposes. Trace the development of Stupa architecture during ancient India.
(250 words) ................................................................................................................................. 11
The rise of the Delhi Sultanate introduced a large Islamic architecture to India, using Central
Asian styles, which over a period of time adopted some features of earlier Indian architecture of
the sub-continent. Discuss. (250 words) ..................................................................................... 14
Critically analyse the importance of Sangam literature as source of understanding history and
cultural attributes of ancient south India. (250 words). .............................................................. 16
Folk paintings served as a medium through which a community’s traditions, beliefs, and
attitudes can be transmitted and passed from one generation to another. Discuss. (250 words)
.................................................................................................................................................... 18
All major classical Indian dance forms include in repertoire, three categories of performance in
the Natya Shastra. These are Nritta, Nritya and Natya. Elaborate. (250 words). ........................ 20

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The difference between Hindustani and Carnatic is how the two traditions engage with
composition and improvisation in their own distinct ways. Analyse. (250 words)...................... 21
Puppetry throughout the ages has held an important place in traditional entertainment.
Puppets from different parts of the country have their own identity. Elaborate. (250 words) ... 25
What do you understand by intangible cultural heritage? Why is it important to protect
intangible heritage of India? What are the various measures aimed at protecting and preserving
intangible cultural heritage of India? (250 words) ..................................................................... 27
Examine the various threats to nation’s cultural heritage monuments and heritage buildings.
What steps should be taken to preserve our heritage? (250 words) ........................................... 30
Post Independent Indian Architecture depicts India’s ‘Tryst with Modernism’, emblematic of an
ambitious new nation. Justify with examples (10M)................................................................... 33
Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant
events, personalities, issues. ........................................................................................................... 35
Though the battle of Plassey was won with deceit and treachery, it had deep ramifications on
the political set up on mid eighteenth century. Comment. (250 words). ................................... 35
Throw light on the administration of the Maratha’s under Shivaji with a special emphasis on his
agricultural policy. What lessons can the present-day policy makers learn from it? (250 words).
.................................................................................................................................................... 37
No single factor was in itself enough to start the rebellion of 1857. But the cumulative effect of
various political, economic and social factors meant all that was needed was a catalyst to turn
quiet discontent into a popular revolt. Discuss. (250 words) ...................................................... 39
Throw light on the nature of the socio-religious reform movements throughout the country in
the nineteenth century. (250 words) .......................................................................................... 43
Subhas Chandra Bose’s belief in uncompromising anti-imperialism and undiluted socialism is
still very much relevant in the present day. Discuss. (250 words) ............................................... 45
The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different
parts of the country. ........................................................................................................................ 47
In India, the growth of modern nationalism is intimately connected to the anti-colonial
movement. People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with
colonialism. Examine. (250 words).............................................................................................. 47
During its first twenty years the Congress made moderate demands. The members placed their
demands before the Government always in the form of petitions and worked within the
framework of law. Do you think that the moderate phase of the national movement must be
considered a failure? State your opinion. (250 words)................................................................ 50
The British termed the prevailing political situation in the country as the ‘Indian Unrest’. Lord
Minto denounced the extremists but felt it was imperative to engage with the moderates and
provide some political concessions – which came to be packaged as the Morley-Minto reforms.
These reforms were the basis of the Indian Councils Act 1909. Examine. (250 words) ............... 53
Critically examine the decision by Mahatma Gandhi to withdraw the non-cooperation
movement. (250 words) .............................................................................................................. 56

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Critically evaluate the 28-month long rule of Congress in the provinces. Do you think they took
substantial measures and reforms to provide adequate reprieve to people of the country? (250
words) ......................................................................................................................................... 58
The Quit India movement made the British realise that India, as a country, could not function
without the cooperation of its people. People’s unfazed determination instilled a sense of fear
among the rulers. Explain. (250 words)....................................................................................... 61
The decisive battle of Buxar confirmed British power over Bengal and Bihar after their initial
success at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Discuss. (250 words) ...................................................... 63
The British thought that they should act as paternal father figures protecting the cultivators
(ryots) under their charge and the settlement had to be made directly with the cultivators (ryots)
who had tilled the land for generations. Examine the reasosn behind introduction of Ryotwari
settlement. (250 words) .............................................................................................................. 65
To make political independence more meaningful, there were certain weaknesses in the Indian
social structure which needed to be strengthened. Discuss the statement in the context of
Gandhiji’s constructive programme. (250 Words) ....................................................................... 66
Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. ....................................... 69
The Partition of India was one of the greatest migrations in human history with absence of any
planning and done in an abrupt manner resulting in unprecedented violence and loss of life.
Examine. (250 words) ................................................................................................................. 69
Sardar Patel took up the monumental challenge of accession of the princely states and
integrating them into the Union of India. The goal Patel envisioned was that of a strong and
United India. The path was characterised by steep challenges. Discuss. (250 words) ................. 71
The Green Revolution was initiated in the 1960s in order to increase food production, alleviate
extreme poverty and malnourishment in the country. Analyse its performance. (250 words) ... 74
The Emergency is often regarded as a dark phase in independent India’s history because this
period was marked by unbridled state incarceration, stifling of dissent, and government
crackdown on civil liberties. There were reports of frequent human rights violations and the
press being censored to a repressive extent. Elaborate. (250 words) ......................................... 78
The mechanisms for coordination and dispute resolution have held the Indus Waters Treaty in
good stead for at least half a century, and it has often been used as a template between upper
riparian and lower riparian states worldwide. Analyse. (250 words) .......................................... 81
History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars,
redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization. ....................................................... 83
The continental System designed by Napoleon to paralyze Great Britain through the destruction
of British commerce, proved disastrous for Napoleon. Examine. (250 words) ............................ 83
Evaluate the role of Bismarck in the process of unification of Germany. What was the impact of
Bismarckian policies on the contemporary global politics of that time? (250 words) ................. 85
The Industrial Revolution of the 1800s, a time of great growth in technologies and inventions,
transformed rural societies into industrialized, urban ones. Critically examine the impact of
Industrial revolution. (250 words) .............................................................................................. 86
The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized
world, lasting from 1929 to 1939. Analyse the causes behind it. (250 words) ............................ 88

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What were the causes for the outbreak of Russian revolution against the Czarist regime?
Analyse the role played by the World War-I in the beginning of the revolution. (250 words) .... 90
Do you agree with the view that “The seeds of World War-ll were sown in the peace of World
War-I”? Comment. (250 words) .................................................................................................. 93
Evaluate the role played by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, especially India during
the Cold war era. Did India remain truly non-aligned? (250 words) ............................................ 96
Although the Cultural Revolution largely bypassed the vast majority of the people, who lived in
rural areas, it had highly serious consequences for the Chinese system as a whole. Elucidate.
(250 words) ................................................................................................................................. 98
Simon Bolivar was a soldier and statesman who led the revolutions against Spanish rule and was
at the forefront of Latin American independence movement. Discuss. (250 words) ................ 100
Although independence was achieved, but many newly independent African states went
through a period political crisis leading rise of autocrats and economic stagnation leading to
severe hunger and poverty. To what extent, can the colonists be blamed for post-independence
crises in Africa? (250 words) ..................................................................................................... 102
Write a Brief Note on Nazism and the Rise of Adolf Hitler. What lessons does it hold in the
present times? Discuss (15M) ................................................................................................... 104
Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. ...................................................................... 107
“India has succeeded as a democratic republic because many creeds and languages have united
and not divided the country”. How does Indian society show ‘Unity in Diversity’? Has diversity
been its strength or a weakness? (250 Words) ......................................................................... 107
How has women’s participation in sports changed over time? Enlist the challenges and
limitations that women in sports face and measures taken to empower them. (250 Words)... 110
Role of women and women’s organization; population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, ................................................................................................................... 112
Ageism has a detrimental impact on both physical and mental health. It plays a role in problems
including social isolation, overall health, and reduced life expectancy. It also increases the social
stigma of being older and increased expressions of ageism. Analyse. (250 words) .................. 112
The Census provides population data for every village and town, data for the delimitation of
constituencies and for determining the quantum of reservation. Discuss. (250 words) ........... 115
Selection of women officers for command postings in the rank of Colonel, which has so far been
the domain of male officers is the logical next step after the Army granted Permanent
Commission to women officers on a par with their male counterparts. Discuss. (250 words) .. 118
Urbanization, their problems and their remedies........................................................................... 124
Rapid urbanisation has created a plethora of issues that needs urgent interventions to make
cities across the country sustainable. Elaborate. (250 words)................................................... 124
A major issue with urbanisation is the top to bottom approach, with too much of a focus on
technocentric solutions using very high capital-intensive technologies. For the urban context,
plans must be made from below by engaging with the people and identifying their needs.
Examine. (250 words) ............................................................................................................... 126
Effects of globalization on Indian society ....................................................................................... 129

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Explain the impact of Globalization on children in Indian society. Suggest measures to mitigate
any negative impacts of globalization on children (10M) .......................................................... 129
“Globalization has intensified alienation, exploitation, and commodification of human life and
nature”. Do you agree? Justify your viewpoint. (15M) ............................................................. 131
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism. ................................................... 134
Communalism turns the strength of diversity of Indian society into its Achilles heel. Critically
evaluate. (150 Words)............................................................................................................... 134
What does the ‘Social Progress Index’ (SPI) measure? In light of the report, discuss the status of
social mobility in India and the factors affecting it. (250 Words) .............................................. 136
Salient features of world’s physical geography. ............................................................................. 139
Throw light on the various direct and indirect ways from which we can study the earth’s
interior. Discuss the importance of studying the interior of earth. (250 words) ....................... 139
What are the conditions essential for the full development of Karst topography? Elaborate on
the various types of landforms formed by the action of ground water. (250 words) ................ 142
Geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-
bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. ................................ 145
The Earth is currently tilted 23.5° from its axial plane and this axial tilt results in many
remarkable effects, including the seasons around the planet. Elaborate (250 words) .............. 145

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Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and
Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Buddhism originated as an alternative tradition to the excessive importance given to
rituals and sacrifices in Vedic tradition. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about reasons for the emergence of Buddhism.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:

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Introduction:
Start by giving context.
Body:
First, write about the various factors responsible for the emergence of Buddhism – Influence of Time,
Simple Doctrines, Personality of Buddha, Inexpensive, No Caste, Royal Patronage etc.
Next, comment about the role of excessive importance given to rituals and sacrifices in Vedic
tradition and its role in popularity of Buddhism.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

Buddhism is a religion that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (“the Buddha”) more than 2,500
years ago in India. With about 470 million followers, scholars consider Buddhism one of the major
world religions. The religion has historically been most prominent in East and Southeast Asia, but its
influence is growing in the West. Many Buddhist ideas and philosophies overlap with those of other
faiths.

Body

The primary cause for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism was the religious unrest in India in the 6th
century B.C. The complex rituals and sacrifices advocated in the Later Vedic period were not
acceptable to the common people. The sacrificial ceremonies were also found to be too expensive.
However it took the social route due to the following factors.

Reasons for rise of Buddhism:

 Social cause: Caste system became rigid and it created inequality in the society. The
Kshatriyas had resented the domination of the priestly class, and both Buddha and Mahavira
belonged to Kshatriya origin.

 Religious unrest: Religious life in ancient India was originally very simple. But in the Later
Vedic period complex rituals and ceremonies began to dominate the practice of worship.
The complex rituals and sacrifices were not acceptable to the common people. It became
expensive and elaborate. Blind faith and superstitious beliefs confused the people.

 Economic cause: The growth of trade led to the improvement in the economic conditions of
the Vaisyas. Now, they wanted to enhance their social status but the orthodox Varna system
did not allow this. Similarly, money-lending was imperative for traders, which was prohibited
in Vedas. Thus, merchant class extended the chief support to these new religions.

 Moreover, rise of agriculture raised demand for drought animals which were being sacrificed
for religious ceremonies. The principle of nonviolence, suited settled agrarian community
better which was brought by Buddhism.

 Brahminic supremacy: Priests considered themselves superior and others as inferiors. They
took advantage of knowing Sanskrit, and interpreted religion according to their convenience.
Whereas these new religions were open for all and preached in local language like Prakrit
and Pali, which found appeal to common masses.

Impact of Buddhism on Indian society

 Languages and Literature: Jaina contribution to Prakrit and Kannada literature. The
language of Pali and other local languages developed through the teachings of Buddhism.

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 Art and Architecture: The stupas at Sanchi, Bharhut and Gaya, Jaina temples at Mount Abu
in Rajasthan in the domain of architecture are wonderful pieces of architecture. Buddhism
takes the credit for the chaityas and viharas in different parts of India.

 Philosophy: The concept of ahimsa was chief contribution. Later, it became one of the
cherished values of our nation.

 Political progress: Sabhas and samitis find its roots here. It had also promoted the spread of
Indian culture to other parts of Asia.

 Simple Religion: Its principles were very simple. It was easily followed by the people. It was
not complex like Vedic religion.

 Opposition to Caste System: Due to their opposition the complexity of caste system reduced
from the society.

Conclusion

Buddhism arose to suit the needs of a changing society, patronized by an emerging class and left an
indelible mark on India’s culture, architecture, philosophy and way of living. Some tenets of
Buddhism have been adopted by Hinduism in their long course of association and have become an
integrated part of the society. These religions also found their influence in neighboring countries and
helped India expand its footprint in these regions; paving way for a cultural connects to this day.

There is much in common between Buddhism and Jainism. There are similarities
between the two but the basic difference between the philosophies of the two provides
each of them a place of distinct religion. Analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To compare and contrast the tenets of Buddhism and Jainism.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Highlight a fact such as – Numerous religious sects arouse in the middle of Gangetic plains in the
second half of the sixth century B.C. Of these sects, Buddhism and Jainism were the most important
and they emerged as the most potent religious reform movement.
Body:
First, write about the similarities in the two religious philosophies such as – both were inspired by
Upanishads, ideas of misery, caste, rituals etc.
Next, write about the differences such as in the aspects of – Moksha and means of its attainment,
ahimsa, concept of soul etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

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The sixth century B.C. is considered a wonderful century in history. Great thinkers like Buddha,
Mahavira, Heraclitus, Zoroaster, Confucius and Lao Tse lived and preached their ideas in this century.
Among them the most successful were Jainism and Buddhism whose impact on the Indian society
was remarkable.

Body

Similarities between Buddhism and Jainism

 Reason for rise of the religion: The primary cause for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism was
the religious unrest in India in the 6 th century B.C. The complex rituals and sacrifices
advocated in the Later Vedic period were not acceptable to the common people.

 Core philosophy: Jainism preaches the triratnas, which are right faith, knowledge and
conduct. Buddhism also has eightfold pathwhich includes not only these three, in addition
right speech, resolve, occupation etc.

 Ahimsa: Both religions espouse non-violence as the foundation of living.

 Sangha: Mahavira organised the Sangha to spread his teachings. Buddha had two kinds of
disciples – monks (bhikshus) and lay worshippers (upasikas). The monks were organized into
the Sangha for the purpose of spreading his teachings.

 Equality: Both men and women were accepted in the sanghas.

Differences between Buddhism and Jainism

 In Jainism, the doctrine of asceticism and renunciationwas also carried to extreme lengths
by the practice of starvation, nudity and other forms of self-torture. This was not the case in
Buddhism.

 Even the practice of agriculture was considered sinful in Jainism as it causes injury to the
earth, worms and animals. Most of them were traders. No such distinction is there in
Buddhism.

 Buddhism made adirect attack on the caste system. Though Jainism did not make a direct
attack on the caste system, Mahavira was against any social distinctions and threw open his
order to all.

 Prakritwas major language through which Jainism was preached. The language of Pali and
other local languages developed through the teachings of Buddhism.

 Buddhism was more a social than religious revolution. It taught the code of practical ethics
and laid down the principle of social equality.

 Through his missionary effort Asoka spread Buddhism into West Asia and Ceylon. Thus, a
local religious sect was transformed into a world religion. Jainism was restricted to mainly
Indian subcontinent.

Conclusion

Buddhism and Jainism provided people an alternative from the regressive religion and rituals of the
time. They became a beacon of hope for the downtrodden and the marginalized. In this way, one
can see many similarities between the two religions with minute differences.

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Stupa is regarded as a monument for veneration. It is associated with votive and

commemorative purposes. Trace the development of Stupa architecture during ancient
India. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the characteristics of Stupa and its progress during ancient age.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining a Stupa.
Body:
First, draw a small representative diagram of a Stupa and mention the major features of that belong
in a Stupa and their significance.
Next, mention the progress in the construction of Stupa during the ancient India with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising regarding Stupa architecture.
Introduction

The stupa (“stupa” is Sanskrit for heap) is an important form of Buddhist architecture, though it
predates Buddhism. It is generally considered to be a sepulchral monument—a place of burial or a
receptacle for religious objects. At its simplest, a stupa is a relic-filled mound-like or hemispheric
structure used for meditation. From the Vedic time onwards, stupas were used as burial mounds in
India.

In Buddhism, the earliest stupas contained portions of the Buddha’s ashes, and as a result, the stupa
began to be associated with the body of the Buddha. Adding the Buddha’s ashes to the mound of
dirt activated it with the energy of the Buddha himself.

Body:

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Stupa-art illustrates Buddhist ideals

 Sanchi, Sarnath, Amaravati and Bharhut stupas are the oldest examples of Early Buddhist
stupa art. The Birth, Enlightenment, First Sermon and Great Departure are depicted using
various motifs in these stupas.

 The Jataka stories were depicted on the torans of Stupas. The Jataka stories are a method of
teaching Buddhists the lessons of karma, samsara and dharma. The overall structure of the
Jataka Tales is about the cycle of samsara that the Buddha had to experience before
reaching enlightenment.

 The main structure of the Great Stupa consisted of a flattened hemispherical dome, called
an anda, placed atop a cylindrical base. Anda, represents the infinite dome of heaven and
signifies the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

 The harmika, located at the summit of the anda, symbolized the zenith beyond life and
death (nirvana). Its resemblance to a sacrificial altar was of particular significance for the
attainment of nirvana required the sacrifice of the self and the world (what was below
needed to be sacrificed to reach the top).

 The parasol was always a distinguishing feature that implied royalty and dignity; it
symbolized the sacred Tree of Life or enlightenment.

 The three elements of the chattra at Sanchi represented the Three Jewels of Buddhism: the
Buddha, the Dharma (the Law), and the Sangha (the community of monks).

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 The chhatra is thought to be a tree as explained by Govinda in the Psychocosmic symbolism

of the Buddhist stupas : “the spiritual birth of the world starts in the mind of man, and the
Tree of Life grows out of his own heart, the center of his world, and spreads into ever new
infinities, into ever higher and purer realms, until it has turned into a Tree of
Enlightenment.”

 Vedikas were repeated around the stupa and on the terrace on which the anda rested
(medhi level). They served to demarcate the boundary of the sacred precinct with the
secular world.

Development of Stupa architecture during post-Mauryan age

 In the Post Mauryan period, stupas became larger and more decorative and wood and
brickwork were replaced by stone.

 Stupas were cylindrical drum shaped and octagon shaped pillars behind stupas without any
decorations were also found.
 Torans (gateways) was first used by the The torans were decorated with intricate figures
and the patterns.

 With the elaborations in stupa design, architects and sculptors had plenty of room to plan
elaborations and carve out images on the Torans.

 Jataka stories became part of stupa decoration. E.g.: In Bahrut, the tall images
of Yakshaand Yakshini along with narratives are found. In one narrative relief, depicting
Queen Mayadevi’s

 Stupa-I at Sanchi has upper as well as lower pradakshinapatha, four toranas depicting
jatakas. Advanced carving technique is used in these stupas.

 With the rise in the construction of stupas in various parts of the country, regional stylistic
variations also began to emerge.

Conclusion:

It is thus apparent that the stupa, which was conceived as a simple monument for the Buddha’s
corporeal relics, has over time transformed in its form and nomenclature and resulted in various

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types of structures all over the world. In some regions, even supplementary structures like
monasteries have come up alongside stupas, fuelling the inception of new Buddhist orders and
sects. However, the core ideology of the stupa remains constant throughout each new development,
as does its symbolism and several crucial architectural features. These characteristics must,
therefore, be given due consideration and importance while designing any stupa project.

Value addition

Present Day Stupas:

 The core ideology of the stupa is retained in terms of architectural design across millennia,
and even to this day. However, the difference lies in the material used in the modern-day
stupa.

 For instance, the Sambodhi Chaithya is a stupa built with reinforced concrete on a platform
supported by two interlocking arches.

 Apart from this, stupa is also having access via Elevators.

 Patliputra karuna Stupa is having glass facade, along with void stupa concept so people can
see the holy relics along with ramp design for entrance instead of stairs which makes it
barrier free for everyone.

The rise of the Delhi Sultanate introduced a large Islamic architecture to India, using
Central Asian styles, which over a period of time adopted some features of earlier
Indian architecture of the sub-continent. Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the nature of architecture under Sultans of Delhi, its evolution and influence of earlier
India architecture on them.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning the with arrival of Turks, new form of architecture got introduced in India.
Body:
First, mention the major religious and secular structures constructed under the various dynasties of
the Sultanate with a special reference to Tughlaq dynasty.
Next, write about significant and new changes in construction technologies introduced by the
Sultans. Give examples of few monuments.
Next, mention the influences of earlier Indian architecture which was adopted by Sultans of Delhi.
Cite examples by substantiating.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

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The Muslim invasions into India had ultimately resulted in the establishment of Delhi Sultanate
which existed from A.D. 1206 to 1526. Five different dynasties – the Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyids
and Lodis – ruled under the Delhi Sultanate. New architectural forms and styles were introduced in
India during the medieval period. The synthesis of Indian and Islamic architectural features led to
emergence of Indo-Saracenic or Indo-Islamic architecture.

Body

The Indo-Islamic architecture under the sultans of Delhi includes both religious and secular
structures

 Both secular and religious buildings are influenced by Indo-Islamic architecture which exhibit
Indian, Islamic, Persian, Central Asian, Arabic and Ottoman Turkish influences.

Religious buildings

 Earliest example of building activity by a Sultan of Delhi was the Quwat-ul-Islam mosques
built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak.

 Another architectural specimen of this period was the mosques-Arhai Din ka Jhonpra, built
at Ajmer.

 Other notable imperial monuments constructed by Iltutmish were Hauz-i-Shamshi, Shamsi-

idgah, the Jami Masjid at Badaun and the Atarkin ka Darwaza at Nagpur.

 Alauddin Khilji built Jamait Khan Mosque at the shrine of Nizam -ud-din Auliya and the Alai
Darwaza at the Qutub Minar.

 The Tombs of Mubarak Shah and Muhammad Shah of the Sayyid Dynasty and the Tomb of
Sikandar Lodhi of the Lodhi Dynasty were noteworthy architectural specimens of the Sayyid
and Lodhi rule.

Secular Buildings

 The most magnificent piece of architecture of this era was the Qutub Minar. Qutub-ud-din
Aibak started the construction of the Qutub Minar at Delhi but could not complete it during
his life time. It was completed by Iltutmish.

 Alauddin Khilji founded the city of Siri and built a palace of thousand pillar within it,

 Alauddin Khilji also constructed a magnificent tank known as the Hauz-i-Khas near the city
of Siri.

 The city of Tughlaqabaad constructed by GhiyasuddinTughlaq was a notable construction of

the Tughlaq rule.

 Mohammad bin Tughlaq constructed the new city of Jahanpanah near the City of old Delhi,
the fort of Adilabaad and some other buildings in Daulatabaad.

 The city of Firozabaad, Firoz shah Kotla fort- palace were important imperial constructions of
the time of Firoz Shah Tughlaq

The new structural changes introduced by the Sultanate rulers

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 The Turks introduced arche and dome method, slab and beam method, lofty towers or
minarets and decorations using the Arabic script. They used the skill of the Indian stone
cutters.

 The use of lime-mortarin the construction of buildings and houses altered the building
techniques

 They also added colour to their buildings by using marbles, red and yellow sand stones.

 Synthesis of indigenous motifsuch as ball motif, lotus etc.

 In the beginning, they converted temples and other structures demolished into mosques.
For example, the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque near Qutub Minar in Delhi was built by using the
materials obtained from destroying many Hindu and Jain temples.

 Later, they began to construct new structures. The most magnificent building of the
13th century was the Qutub Minar which was founded by Aibek and completed by Iltutmish.

 With the arrival of artisans from West Asia the arch and dome began to show up with
precision and perfection. Gradually local artisans also acquired the skill. The tomb of Balban
was adorned with the first true archand the Alai Darwaza built by Alaud-din Khalji as a
gateway to the Quwwatul-Islam Mosque is adorned with the first true dome.

 Tughlaqs went for introduction of innovative features in architecture also, such as

o “batter” or sloping walls

o use of stone rubble as the principle building material

o a new type of arch called the four centred arch

o the emergence of the pointed dome

o the introduction of an octagonal plan of tomb building.

Conclusion

Later on, with the Mughals, the art of pietra dura, jali work became more prominent. They also built
lofty forts, palaces and cities. The Mughals were also fond of laying gardens with running water,
which is an extension of gardens introduced by Delhi Sultanate. Delhi Sultanate paved way for large
scale construction of buildings in Indo-Islamic architecture.

Critically analyse the importance of Sangam literature as source of understanding

history and cultural attributes of ancient south India. (250 words).
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the historical importance of Sangam literature.
Directive word:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature
of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. When ‘critically’

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is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a
balanced judgment on the topic.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about the three Tamil Sangams and the formation of state in Southern India.
Body:
In the first part, write about I detail bring out the various dimensions of the Sangam texts – Ideals,
ritualism, mysticism and tale of valour and love.
Next, write about Sangam literature as historical texts, they give information about kings, dynasties,
administration, taxes, trade and commerce, societal aspects etc. The classical epics also throw light
on contemporary events as well as historical aspects. Show the refined and advanced nature of
literature. Use various Sangam texts as examples to substantiate your points.
Write a few criticisms of Sangam literature as historical texts – lack of chronology, discontinuities etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving your opinion of Sangam texts as source of history.
Introduction

The Sangam Age constitutes an important chapter in the history of South India. According to Tamil
legends, there existed three Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) in ancient Tamil Nadu popularly
called Muchchangam. These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandyas.

Body

Background

 The first Sangam, held at then Madurai, was attended by gods and legendary sages but no
literary work of this Sangam was available.

 The second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram but the all the literary works had perished
except Tolkappiyam.

 The third Sangam at Madurai was founded by Mudathirumaran. It was attended by a large
number of poets who produced voluminous literature but only a few had survived.

Sangam Literature: Literary masterpiece

 The corpus of Sangam literature includes Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai, Pattuppattu,

Pathinenkilkanakku, and the two epics- Silappathigaram and Manimegalai.

 It is a work on Tamil grammar but it provides information on the political and socio-
economic conditions of the Sangam period.

 Both Ettutogai and Pattuppattu were divided into two main groups – Aham (love) and
Puram (valour).

 Pathinenkilkanakku contains eighteen works mostly dealing with ethics and morals. The
most important among them is Tirukkural authored by Thiruvalluvar.

 Silappathigaram written by Elango Adigal and Manimegalai by Sittalai Sattanar also

provides valuable information on the Sangam polity and society.

Sangam Literature: source of Ancient Indian history

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 Political history: The Tamil country was ruled by three dynasties namely the Chera, Chola
and Pandyas during the Sangam Age. The political history of these dynasties can be traced
from the literary references.

 Position of women: There is a plenty of information in the Sangam literature to trace the
position of women during the Sangam age. Women poets like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, and
Kakkaipadiniyar flourished in this period and contributed to Tamil literature. The courage of
women was also appreciated in many poems.

 Sangam Society: Tolkappiyam refers to the five-fold division of lands – Kurinji (hilly tracks),
Mullai (pastoral), Marudam (agricultural), Neydal (coastal) and Palai (desert).
o Tolkappiyam also refers to four castes namely arasar, anthanar, vanigar and
vellalar.

o The ruling class was called arasar. Anthanars played a significant role in the Sangam
polity and religion. Vanigars carried on trade and commerce. The vellalars were
agriculturists.

Sangam Polity: Hereditary monarchy was the form of government during the Sangam period. Land
revenue was the chief source of state’s income while custom duty was also imposed on foreign
trade.

 Trade: Both internal and foreign trade was well organized and briskly carried on in the
Sangam Age. The Sangam literature, Greek and Roman accounts and the archaeological
evidences provide detailed information on this subject.

o Spinning and weaving of cotton and silk clothes attained a high quality.

o The poems mention the cotton clothes as thin as a cloud of steam or a slough of a
snake.

o There was a great demand in the western world for the cotton clothes woven at
Uraiyur.

 Agriculture: Agriculture was the chief occupation. Rice was the common crop. Ragi,
sugarcane, cotton, pepper, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and a variety of fruits were the other
crops.

However, there are dispute among the exact period of sangam age and its chronology. The most
probable date of the Sangam literature has been fixed between the third century B.C. to third
century A.D. on the basis of literary, archaeological and numismatic evidences.

Conclusion

The Sangam age Tamil literary works remain useful sources to reconstruct the history of the period
providing major insights into the social and economic life of people, especially in the Southern India.

Folk paintings served as a medium through which a community’s traditions, beliefs, and
attitudes can be transmitted and passed from one generation to another. Discuss. (250
words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian art and culture – Nitin Singhania.
Why the question:
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The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of folk paintings.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving a brief about folk paintings in India with examples.
Body:
Mention the major elements of folk paintings in India. Elaborate how they are manifestation of
cultural diversity as well as regional specializations. Substantiate with examples. Write about the
importance of folk paintings.
Conclusion:
Summarize with respect to folk paintings of India.
Introduction

India is a religious and ethnically diverse country. Indian culture is characterized by distinct
languages, and rich traditions among various ethnic and religious groups. Despite hosting a Hindu-
majority it is difficult to attach a singular and unifying notion of identity to Indian culture. The folk
and tribal arts of India express the cultural diversity of the nation and provide a window through
which one can explore the rich heritage of Indian culture.

Body

Folk paintings: Medium to transmit community’s culture and beliefs

 The purpose of folk-art is to serve as a medium through which a community’s traditions,
beliefs, and attitudes can be transmitted and passed from one generation to another.

 This is often achieved within families and community via practical demonstrations,
conversation, and daily

o Eg: Warli tribal art is representative of this attitude and mainly uses geometric
structures such as circles, triangles, and squares to depict daily and social events of
the Warli tribe.

o Altogether, the paintings are reminiscent of prehistoric cave paintings in execution

and depict human figures engaged in hunting, dancing, sowing, and harvesting.
o The paintings are traditionally done in the homes of the Warlis and have served as a
means of transmitting stories and traditions to a populace not acquainted with the
written word.

 Folk-art was developed to address the very real needs, and desires of a community. Once
that need is removed, the relevant folk-art may gradually vanish within the annals of history
thanks to decreased transmission and communication of its existence within the community.

 The Indian folk-arts have also served as a medium of expression for the cultures of nomadic
tribes and ethnic groups within the country. The relevant art forms express the transient

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and dynamic patterns of lifestyles said communities have experienced while traveling
across India.

 Over the course of Indian history, the various folk-art forms of the nation have been
protected and survived under the umbrella of religious and ethnic traditions revolving
around familial beliefs, and daily practices.

Conclusion

Indian folk-art abounds in expression of the country’s rich heritage. Indian art forms are diverse and
exquisite in nature but also explicit in their use as a media of communicating ancient oral traditions.
With 29 states and 7 union territories, each with their own distinct cultural and traditional identities,
India boasts a collage of folk art forms that speak volumes about the country’s diverse cultural
identity that is rooted in the daily lives of its people.

All major classical Indian dance forms include in repertoire, three categories of
performance in the Natya Shastra. These are Nritta, Nritya and Natya. Elaborate. (250
words).
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the classical Indian dance forms and the Natya, Nritya and Natya aspects of it.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context regarding the classical dance forms and list of the dances.
Body:
In the first part, write about the Nritta aspects of classical dance – an abstract, fast and rhythmic
aspect of the dance.
Next, write about Nritya – slower and expressive aspect of the dance that attempts to communicate
feelings, storyline particularly with spiritual themes in Hindu dance traditions.
Next, write about Natyam – a play, typically a team performance but can be acted out by a solo
performer where the dancer uses certain standardized body movements.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

Dance in India has a rich and vital tradition dating back to ancient times. Excavations, inscriptions,
chronicles, genealogies of kings and artists, literary sources, sculpture and painting of different
periods provide extensive evidence on dance. Myths and legends also support the view that dance
had a significant place in the religious and social life of the Indian people. Excavations have brought
to light a bronze statuette from Mohenjo-Daro and a broken torso from Harappa (dating back to
2500-1500 B.C.E.) are suggestive of dance poses.

Body

Aspects of Indian classical dances

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 Dance is considered as having three aspects: natya, nritya and nritta.

 Natya highlights the dramatic element and most dance forms do not give emphasis to this
aspect today with the exception of dance-drama forms like Kathakali.

 Nritya is essentially expressional, performed specifically to convey the meaning of a theme

or idea.

 Nritta is pure dance where body movements do not express any mood (bhava), nor do they
convey any meaning.

 To present nritya and natya effectively, a dancer should be trained to communicate

the navarasas. These are: love (shringaara), mirth (haasya), compassion (karuna),
valour(veera), anger (roudra), fear (bhayanak), disgust (bibhatsa), wonder (adbhuta) and
peace (shaanta).

 An ancient classification followed in all styles is of Tandava and Lasya.

 Tandava the masculine, is heroic bold and vigorous. Lasya the feminine is soft, lyrical and
graceful.

 Bharata and Nandikesvara, the main authorities conceive of dance as an art which uses the
human body as a vehicle of expression.

 The major human units of the body (anga) are identified as the head, torso, the upper and
lower limbs and the minor human parts (upangas), as all parts of the face ranging from the
eyebrow to the chin and the minor joints.

 Two further aspects of natya are the modes of presentation and the style.

 There are two modes of presentation, namely the Natyadharmi, which is the formalised
presentation of theatre, and the Lokadharmi sometimes translated as folk, realistic,
naturalistic or regional.

 The style or vrittis are classified into Kaishiki, the deft lyrical more suited to convey the lasya
aspects, the Arbati, the energetic masculine, the Satvati often used while depicting the rasas
and the Bharati, the literary content.

Conclusion

Nurtured for centuries, dance in India has evolved in different parts of the country its own distinct
style taking on the culture of that particular region, each acquiring its own flavour. Today there is
also a whole new body of modern experimental dance

The difference between Hindustani and Carnatic is how the two traditions engage with
composition and improvisation in their own distinct ways. Analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the evolution of music and compare Hindustani and Carnatic music.
Directive word:

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Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give a brief introduction about Indian music. One can state facts, historical genesis of Indian music.
Body:
First, Hindustani and Carnatic music are the two main sub-genres of Indian classical music. While
Hindustani music originated in the Vedic period, Carnatic music originated during the Bhakti
Movement. Give the detailed differences between the two.
Next, Highlight similarities between Hindustani classical and Carnatic music.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

Music has always been an important part of Indian life. The range of musical phenomenon in India
extends from simple melodies to what is one of the most well- developed “systems” of classical
music in the world. There are references to various string and wind instruments, as well as several
kinds of drums and cymbals, in the Vedas. Some date the advent of the system of classical Indian
music to Amir Khusro. Muslim rulers and noblemen freely extended their patronage to music. In the
courts of the Mughal emperors, music is said to have flourished, and the Tansen was one of the
jewels of Akbar’s court.

The great poet-saints who chose to communicate in the vernacular tongues brought forth a great
upheaval in north India and the Bhakti or devotional movements they led gained many adherents.
The lyrics of Surdas, Tulsidas, and most particularly Kabir and Mirabai continue to be immensely
popular. By the sixteenth century, the division between North Indian (Hindustani) and South Indian
(Carnatic) music was also being more sharply delineated.

Body

Hindustani music: Features

 The six primary ragas in Hindustani classic are- Bhairava, Kausika, Hindola, dipak, sriraga
and Megh

 Ragas in Hindustani classic music used to strictly observe the time theory. Ex: Bhairavi at
dawn, Megh in the morning

 Ragas in Hindustani music are also associated with feelings and moods. Ex: Bhairavi with
awe and fear, Kausika with joy

 It has a highly formalized grammar, dictated by textual as well as oral tradition.

 Hindustani music places more emphasis on improvisation and exploring all aspects of a
raga

 Slow and sometimes even leisurely introductory section (alap) followed by solfege and fast
section with fast melodic phrases and rhythmic play

 There is significant emphasis on space between the notes

 Hindustani classical music has been influenced considerably by Persian traditions

 Musical instruments used in Hindustani are Tabla, Sarangi, Sitar, Santoor, Flute and violin.

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 Main styles in Hindustani music– Dhrupad, Khayal, Tappa, Chaturanga, Tarana, Sargam,
Thumri and Ragasagar, Hori and Dhamar.

Carnatic music: Features

 It is an indigenously developed style of classical music

 The Melakarta scheme is a highly comprehensive and systematic formula which includes
within its fold all the modes used in ancient as well as modern systems of music of the
different parts of the world.

 It is strongly Kriti-based

 Unity of raga, tala and shruti in every piece

 The system gives equal importance to melody and rhythm.

 Mixing the three degrees of speeds

 Fewer instruments are used in Karnataka than in northern Indian music, and there are no
exclusively instrumental forms.

 There is an even balance between re-creativity (soulful interpretation of the compositions of

great masters) and creativity (on the spot improvisations).

 Some of the important Carnatic music compositions are- Gitam, suladi, svarajati,
Jatisvaram, varnam, kritanam, kriti, pada, javali, pallavi etc

Similarities:

 Although there are stylistic differences, the basic elements of swara, raga and tala as
foundation of both Carnatic and Hindustani are same.

 Hindustani music originated in the Vedic period, while Carnatic music originated during the
Bhakti

 Thus both are having great association with religion.

 Carnatic is one of two main sub-genres of India classical music that evolved from ancient
Hindu traditions, the other sub-genre being Hindustani music, which emerged as a distinct
form due to Persian and Islamic influences in North India.

 Both the music evolved with Sanskrit language scripts in itself and through Vedic traditions.

 The central notions in both these system is that of a melodic mode or raga or tala.

 Both the styles have a history dating back to 1000s of years and over this long period both
have undergone various changes
 The Ragas pertain to definite scales like in Western music, but they have a floating starting
point or Sam etc

 Both the Carnatic and Hindustani styles give principal prominence to the melody.

 Both has one leading swara or Vadi swar in every Raga

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 Both use Sampoorna Scale (with all 7 notes) to describe Janak Thaat or Raga to make Janya
Raga.

 Both use a Tanpura or Drone with one or two notes to signify Pitch and base in Raga version.

Differences:

 Main emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal music and most compositions are to be sung,
involving gayaki style. In Hindustani music vocal- centric group is required. Many
instruments are designed to accompany the singer
 Rules of Practice: Carnatic is more rigid than Hindustani to practise. While Hindustani music
has had a Persian influence in the vast Northern Geography of India, Carnatic music did not
undergo much change. Hindustani music ended up creating Gharanas/Clubs based on Styles
of Singing.

Areas of differences Carnatic Hindustani

Ragas 72 ragas 6 major ragas

Veena, Mridangam and

Instruments Tabla, Sarangi, Sitar and Santoor
Mandolin

Influence Indigenous Afghan Persian and Arab

Only one particular prescribed

Sub-styles Several substyles
style of singing

Scope to do variations and

Freedom No freedom to improvise
improvise

Vocal and instruments Both have equal importance More importance to vocal

Carnatic Music was evolved Tansen and his contemporary

mainly by Shyama Shastri, musicians mostly performed in
Exponents Tyagraja, Muthuswamy Dhrupad sort and later Khayal
Dikshitar, and Saint singing was promoted
Purandardas. by Sadarang and Adarang.

Conclusion

Hindustani and Carnatic music played an important role in uniting Indians by generating the feeling
of oneness and nationalism during national movement. Even today it is practiced during festivals, as
a stage performance, in cinema’s and bringing fame for Indian culture by reaching wider in western
world.

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Puppetry throughout the ages has held an important place in traditional entertainment.
Puppets from different parts of the country have their own identity. Elaborate. (250
words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write puppetry as a traditional art and its regional identities.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with what Indian puppetry is and its diversity across Indian states.
Body:
Write in detail about how puppetry draws from painting, sculpture, music, dance, drama and other
visual arts. Cite examples to substantiate your points.
Next, write about the diverse forms of regional Indian puppetry and its various types.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about importance of puppetry as visual art.
Introduction

A puppet is one of the most remarkable and ingenious inventions of the man. Puppetry is a type of
narrative theatre; at the crossroads between bardic storytelling and theatre plays. Shows include live
music, narration and gestures taken from dance. Puppetry throughout the ages has held an
important place in traditional entertainment. Like traditional theatre, themes for puppet theatre are
mostly based on epics and legends. Puppets from different parts of the country have their own
identity. Regional styles of painting and sculpture are reflected in them.

Body:

Puppetry in India

 The earliest reference to the art of puppetry is found in Tamil classic

‘Silappadikaaram’ written around the 1st or 2nd century B.C.

 In Sanskrit terminology Puttalika and Puttika means ‘little sons’.

 Ancient Hindu philosophers have paid the greatest tribute to puppeteers. They have likened
God Almighty to a puppeteer and the entire universe to a puppet stage.

 Srimad Bhagavata, the great epic depicting the story of Lord Krishna in his childhood say
that with three strings-Satta, Raja and Tama, the God manipulates each object in the
universe as a marionette.

 Natyashastra, the masterly treatise on dramaturgy written sometime during 2nd century BC
to 2nd century AD., does not refer to the art of puppetry but the producer-cum-director of
the human theatre has been termed as ‘Sutradhar’ meaning the holder of strings.

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 Stories adapted from puranic literature, local myths and legends usually form the content of
traditional puppet theatre in India which, in turn, imbibes elements of all creative
expressions like painting, sculpture, music, dance, drama, etc.

 For instance, theKathputli of Rajasthan is accompanied by a highly dramatised version of

the regional music. In Kundhei of Odisha, the music is drawn from the popular tunes of the
region and is sometimes influenced by the music of Odisha dance.

 Almost all types of puppets are found in India. Puppetry throughout the ages has held an
important place in traditional entertainment. Like traditional theatre, themes for puppet
theatre are mostly based on epics and legends.
 g.: In Tholu Bommalatta of AP, the music is dominantly influenced by the classical music of
the region and the theme of the puppet plays are drawn from the Ramayana, Mahabharata
and Puranas. Episodes enacted in Gombeyatta of Karnataka are usually based on Prasangas
of the Yakshagana plays. The music that accompanies is dramatic and beautifully blends folk
and classical elements.

 Puppets from different parts of the country have their own identity.
 g. In Thogalu Gombeyatta of Karnataka, the puppets however differ in size according to
their social status, for instance, large size for kings and religious characters and smaller size
for common people or servants.

 Regional styles of painting and sculpture are reflected in them.

 g.: the traditional glove puppet play is called Pavakoothu. It came into existence during the
18th century due to the influence of Kathakali, the famous classical dance-drama of Kerala,
on puppet performances. The face of the puppets are decorated with paints, small and thin
pieces of gilded tin, the feathers of the peacock, etc. The theme for Glove puppet plays in
Kerala is based on the episodes from either the Ramayana or the Mahabharata.

However, the art of puppetry is dying due to the following reasons:

 Lack of patronage in the modern age.

 Competition from Electronic media which is a preferred mode of entertainment. People find
it more appealing to watch mythological stories of Ramayan and Mahabharat on electronic
media rather than in Puppetry.

 Puppetry Art is usually confined to only devotional and mythological stories.

 With changing times, Puppetry does not take up modern social issues.

 Puppetry lacks modernization in terms of script, lighting, sound and other stage effects.

Conclusion:
Besides traditional puppetry, India is home to a lively contemporary scene. Independent India
opened up to artistic exchange, and new forms and techniques affected puppetry, introducing new
styles and giving origin to a refined urban puppet theatre. The birth of modern troupes and the
opening to the international scene created new contexts for traditional puppetry to
flourish. Several festivals organized in the last decades offer the stage to traditional troupes. So far

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modernity threatened the very survival of traditional puppetry, but a more conscious use of
contemporary means and opportunities is actually the key to preserve this rich heritage of India.

What do you understand by intangible cultural heritage? Why is it important to protect

intangible heritage of India? What are the various measures aimed at protecting and
preserving intangible cultural heritage of India? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the need for protecting intangible heritage of India.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.
Body:
In the first part, write the items in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage and the region they
belong to.
Next, write need for protecting intangible heritage of India – cultural heritage, source of livelihood,
dying arts. Celebrating diversity etc.
Next, write about the steps that have been take to protect intangible heritage of India.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating the importance of intangible heritage of India.
Introduction

‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ indicates ‘the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge,

skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that
communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their Cultural Heritage’
(UNESCO, 2003). Examples of intangible heritage are oral traditions, performing arts, local
knowledge, and traditional skills.

Body

UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is a coveted list is made up of those intangible
heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about
its importance. The list was established in 2008 when the Convention for Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage came into effect.

Importance of protection of intangible heritage of India

 It helps to recognize the diversity of Indian culture embedded in its intangible heritage.

 It reflects India’s multicultural identity as a people and nation, and resonates strongly with
Indians across all races and social strata.
 It intends to enhance the “visibility of communities’ cultural practices and know-how”,
aiming to “safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of communities nationally & globally”.

 Its importance is not in the cultural manifestation itself, but in the wealth of knowledge,
know-how and skills that are transmitted from one generation to the next.

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 There is a need to raise awareness about the various intangible cultural heritage elements
from different states of India at national and international level and ensure their protection.

 The Union ministry of Culturehas also launched the draft National List of Intangible Cultural
Heritage (ICH) of India.

 The National ICH List is an attempt to recognize the diversity of Indian culture embedded in
its intangible heritage. This initiative is also a part of the Vision 2024 of the Ministry of
Culture.

Measures aimed at protecting and preserving ICH

 The National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India is an attempt to recognize
the diversity of Indian culture embedded in its intangible heritage.

 It aims to raise awareness about the various intangible cultural heritage elements from
different states of India at national and international level and ensure their protection.

 The National ICH List is an attempt to recognize the diversity of Indian culture embedded in
its intangible heritage. This initiative is also a part of the Vision 2024 of the Ministry of
Culture.

 The Ministry of Culture has formulated a Scheme titled “Scheme for Safeguarding the
Intangible Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India”, with the objective of
reinvigorating and revitalizing various institutions, groups, individuals, identified non-MOC
institutions, non-government organisations, researchers and scholars so that they may
engage in activities/ projects for strengthening, protecting, preserving and promoting the
rich intangible cultural heritage of India.

 The Scheme will cover all recognized domains of ICH such as oral traditions and expressions,
including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage, Performing arts, Social
practices, rituals and festive events, Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the
universe, traditional craftsmanship etc.

 The Union ministry of Culturehas also launched the draft National List of Intangible Cultural
Heritage (ICH) of India.

 India has successfully inscribed 14 Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) elements in the UNESCO
Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under the 2003 Convention.
 Following UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural
Heritage, this list has been classified into five broad domains in which Intangible Cultural
Heritage is manifested:

o Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the Intangible

Cultural Heritage

o Performing Arts

o Social practices, Rituals, and Festive events

o Knowledge and practices concerning Nature and the Universe

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o Traditional Craftsmanship

Conclusion

India has a vast basket of living and diverse cultural traditions, traditional expressions, intangible
cultural heritage comprising masterpieces which need institutional support and encouragement with
a view to addressing areas critical for the survival and propagation of these forms of cultural
heritage. Though, such preservation efforts are being carried out in a scattered form, a need is being
felt to have an institutionalized and centralized Scheme for concerted efforts in the direction of
professionally enhancing awareness and interest in Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), safeguarding,
promoting and propagating it systematically.

Value addition

UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage from India

S.No. ICH Element Year of Inscription

Tradition of Vedic chanting 2008

Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana 2008

Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre 2008

Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the

2009
Garhwal Himalayas, India

Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala 2010

Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan 2010

Chhau dance 2010

Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist

texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and 2012
Kashmir, India

Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of

2013
Manipur

Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making

2014
among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India

Yoga 2016

Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz,

2016
Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz

Kumbh Mela 2017

Durga Puja in Kolkata 2021

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Examine the various threats to nation’s cultural heritage monuments and heritage
buildings. What steps should be taken to preserve our heritage? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
Rajya Sabha standing committee report raises questions about Archaeological Survey of India’s
functioning.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the reasons as to why heritage is under threat and the need to safeguard India’s art
heritage and the steps that need to be taken for the same.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Explain about what all is included in India’s art heritage – paintings, sculpture, monuments etc
Body:
First, highlight that preserving our heritage is enshrined as a fundamental duty
Next, Examine the threats to art heritage such as Lack of public awareness -This makes the local
administrator break the buildings and replace it with other structures, Duplication of paintings and
art forms, Theft, Vandalism and Smuggling etc. Discuss why it is crucial to safeguard such heritage
such as maintaining identity and pride of our country, tourism etc
Next, Discuss the way forward such as – Strengthening institutions – Ministry of Culture, ASI,
Museums, Archives, Cultural awareness programs etc
Conclusion:
Summarize on why this issue requires attention and what needs to be done.
Introduction

India has a vast basket of living and diverse cultural traditions, traditional expressions, intangible
cultural heritage comprising masterpieces which need institutional support and encouragement with
a view to addressing areas critical for the survival and propagation of these forms of cultural
heritage. Preserving our heritage is enshrined as a Fundamental Duty in our Constitution.

World Heritage Week is approaching in the third week of November. During this time every year, we
see a plethora of events and social media posts that celebrate heritage. It becomes an occasion to
spread awareness about the cultural diversity represented by heritage sites.

Body

Threats to Indian Cultural Heritage:

 Theft: The incidents of thefts have been observed usually from unprotected monuments,
ancient temples. The thefts cases have also been seen in the protected monuments and
museums as well. It is due to negligence of security guards in museums, monuments etc.

 Smuggling: illicit traffic and smuggling in antiquities. Illicit traffic is motivated often by profit
and sometimes by the demand for luxuries.

 Tourism: Unregulated tourism, tourist activities run by touts, private agents have affected
the art heritage places.The Culture Ministry of India has reported that up to 24 Indian

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monuments have been declared “untraceable” or “missing” by the Archaeological Survey of

India (ASI).

 Issues with security of museums: Most of the museums are poorly guarded due to shortage
of manpower leading to theft of artefacts, fire accidents etc.

 Lack of public awareness: This leads to poor maintenance, vandalism, spoiling the
monuments artefacts. Replacing the structures or building structures close to the
monuments leading to

 Duplication:Fakes of paintings and art forms leading to threat to livelihoods of artists.

 Poor Maintenance:The state of the wall paintings in Ajanta caves is continuously getting
worse, which can be attributed to humidity as well as to a lack of care.

 Encroachment of monuments: Another miss from the ministry has been encroachments of
monuments. Over 278 centrally protected monuments have been encroached upon or have
illegal occupants, as per government data.

Rationale behind safeguarding the cultural heritage:

 Evolution of human consciousness is a continuous process: History here serves as a

laboratory and the past serves as a demarcation to understand the regional laws and social
structures. This understanding helps in our progress towards an ideal society.

 The art heritage is the identity and pride of our country. It is duty of every citizen to protect,
preserve and perpetuate the cultural richness.

 Tourism potential for art monuments and museums is very high. Tourism generates revenue
for the state as well as private artists due to the money-multiplier quality.

 Infrastructure development takes place in and around the areas. Eg. Hampi despite being a
small town has excellent infrastructure.

 It creates jobs for a lot of people from art industry and tourism industry as well

 It creates a feeling of oneness and a sense of attachment by enhancing a sense of belonging

to a culture or a region.

 Every historical site has an important story to tell and these stories have inspired many
people to strengthen their convictions and commitment to fight injustice and oppression.

Way forward

 Strengthening Legislations and Initiatives:

o The Antiquity Act of 1947, Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972 particularly
provide for the prevention of smuggling and illegally dealing in antiques.

o Recent bill to amend The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act which allowed construction within 100m of the protected monuments should be
avoided.

o In 2015, the ministry launched an initiative of e-ticketing services in over 116

monuments under the ASI and launched an initiative to digitise cultural resources.

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 Strengthening institutions:

o The CAG report on Preservation and Conservation of Monuments and Antiques

clearly indicates that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for this purpose needs
to be more proactive and vigilant in its efforts and the ministry needs to develop an
aggressive strategy for the same

o Tapping of the Public —Private Partnership models for sustenance of Arts and
Crafts.

o Setting up at least one museum in each district with different chambers for visual
and other forms of art, architecture, science, history and geography with regional
flavour.

o Artistes from the field of architecture, sculpture, painting, handicrafts, puppetry,

music, dance, theatre, and literature will be graded by the Centre on the basis of
their performance.

 Cultural awareness:
o Curriculum modification – Identification and inclusion of heritage as an asset in
school, Open departments of Heritage management on the lines of Ahmedabad
University

o Introduction of a compulsory offline and online training for tourism purposes willing
to undertake ventures.

o Heritage depiction and promotion through immersive technology & augmented

reality

o Re-Classify heritage and announce awards for people with exceptional heritage
sense.

o Greater involvement of universities in schemes promoting arts and culture as well as

inclusion of Fine Arts as a subject in universities.

 Adaptive reuse of heritage sites:

o Restoring the historical sites in the form of festivals and inducing festivity link
perceptions.

o Recognizing ‘cultural heritage tourism’ as an upcoming industry by building cultural

resources with an adaptation of scientific and technological knowledge to local
circumstances as well as forming partnerships between local and global bodies.

Conclusion

It is the duty of every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. The
art and culture of our nation are a vast continuum, evolving incessantly since time immemorial.
Naturally, preservation and conservation of India’s rich cultural heritage and promotion of all forms
of art and culture, both tangible and intangible, including monuments and archaeological sites,
anthropology and ethnology, folk and tribal arts, literature and handicrafts, performing art of music-
dance-drama and visual arts of paintings-sculpture-graphics is essential and assumes a lot of
importance.

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Post Independent Indian Architecture depicts India’s ‘Tryst with Modernism’,

emblematic of an ambitious new nation. Justify with examples (10M)
Difficulty level: Difficult
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Balkrishna V Doshi, architect, planner, and educator, who passed away on Tuesday, gave Indian
architecture the legacy of questioning everything.
Key Demand of the question:
To show how Post-Independent Indian Architecture is modern and show India’s new ambition.
Directive word:
Justify with examples – To justify a statement means to show or prove that the statement is
reasonable and you show that using examples.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin the answer by introducing post-modern architecture: post-Independence architectural styles
were mostly in consonance with science and modern building techniques which are universally
accepted.
Body:
Show using examples how post-modern architecture depicts its tryst with modernism. Give examples
(especially that of B V Doshi). Most of the successful Indian architects including Charles Correa, Raj
Rewal and B.V. Doshi blended vernacular elements into modernism giving it a rich flavour that
demarcates the identity of Indian architecture.
Also, Development of Chandigarh by Le Corbusier: The well-ordered matrix of the city has been
developed to meet the rising urban challenges
Next, briefly write a few limitations.
Conclusion:
Conclude by saying that Indian architecture is a fine mix of modernism with traditional insights.
Introduction

India had a glorious history in terms of its rich art and architecture, starting from 3000 B.C. During
the British period from 1615- 1947, the major cities of Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai and Chennai were
highlighted with rich colonial styles of Indo-Saracenic architecture. After Independence, there was
a boom of building activities and there were confusions and debates on the style of architecture to
be followed– modernism or historicism. Different styles of Modernism evolved raising the question
of Identifying Post Independent architecture.

The architecture of this period goes far beyond the range of any particular style. These styles were
mostly in consonance with science and modern building techniques which are universally accepted.

Body

Background

 Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime minister of India had a far vision for the betterment and
development of art and architecture in India.

 He invited Le Corbusier to design the capital of the state Punjab, Chandigarh.

 Le Corbusier designed the Legislative Assembly, Secretariat and High Court.

 Chandigarh became a powerful symbol of New India and inspired the architects and the
public for a forward-looking Modern Architecture in the Post-Independence period.

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India’s tryst with modernism

 A unique experiment in this regard made by Le Corbusier in the development of Chandigarh

as explained above. The well-ordered matrix of the city has been developed to meet the
rising urban challenges (Ex: Traffic congestion)

 The contribution of Laurie Baker in the mass housing project of Kerala is also worth
mentioning in this time period. He used the locally available materials in construction of low-
cost houses. He incorporated several of the traditional practices to ensure the building were
in consonance with environmental conservation

 The Goan architect Charles Correa is also another notable architect known for designing
Sabarmati ashram, Kanchanjunga apartment tower, planning of Navi Mumbai. He placed
emphasis on prevailing resources, energy and climate as major determinants in the ordering
of the space.

 Ahmedabad, a new cultural and architectural wakening was initiated by textile industrialists
led by the Sarabhai family who commissioned Le Corbusier to work on five projects there.

o Le Corbusier designed the Mill Owner’s Association Building Headquarters for the
Textile Company 1954.

 An indigenous language of brick and concrete was displayed in the architecture of YMCA
staff housing Delhi (1963) by Ranjit Sabikhi. The form was characterized by the repetition of
geometric forms and its plans dictated by social, functional and climatic considerations.

 The Permanent Exhibition Complex, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, (1972) by Raj Rewal was
characterized by monumental, truncated pyramid form with a space frame structure made
of concrete elements. The depth of the structural system used as a sun-breaker and
conceived as a traditional jail.

 Harmonizing with environment: The India International Centre, New Delhi (1958) by Joseph
Allen Stein was contextual and rational, understanding the climate with sun shaded vaults,
jaali screens, courtyards, etc.

o The Kovalam Resort, Trivandrum (1974) by Charles Correa reflect the traditional
architecture of Kerala with sloping roofs and hill side architecture giving every room
a view to the sea.

Analysis

 Although we see a major metamorphosis of architecture ever since 1950 towards

modernism, inspired by the renowned International architects Le Corbusier and Louis
Kahn, the identity of Indian architecture is not pure modernism.
 Most of the successful Indian architects including Charles Correa, Raj Rewal and B.V.Doshi
blended vernacular elements into modernism giving it a rich flavor that demarcates the
identity of Indian architecture.

 They used deep overhangs, courtyards, shading devices, pergolas, jaali screens to create an
aesthetically appealing climate responsive design.

 Charles Correa has a deep understanding of cultural values, mythological spaces and
historical architecture of India.

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o He emphatically blended the Navagraha mandalas in two of his projects where the
traditional elements cannot be separated from modernism.

 Raj Rewal was very fluent in using vernacular elements of Jaisalmer town in most of his
projects, incorporating the hierarchy of social spaces, street patterns, urban fabric, abstract
chhatris, locally available materials.

 The magnificence of spaces in the projects of V. Doshi, especially IIM, Bangalore adds a
sensational aroma to Indian modernism which includes the play of light and shade, covered,
semi-covered and open quadrangles, and integration of landscape in to the buildings.

Conclusion

Indian Modernism is not just about form, function, materials, structure but it adds another fourth
dimension which is the feel of fresh air and nature inside the aesthetically profound spaces. Indian
modernism is not just architecture of the rich but of the poor with intricate cultural details
assimilated like Aranya housing by B.V. Doshi and Belapur housing by Charles Correa.

Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the
present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Though the battle of Plassey was won with deceit and treachery, it had deep
ramifications on the political set up on mid eighteenth century. Comment. (250 words).
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
Mir Jafar, had actually tried to do was pretty routine in politics, and, historically speaking, the charge
of treachery does not really stick.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the consequences of battle of Plassey.
Directive word:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an
overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly give context about the battle of Plassey and reasons as to why it was fought.
Body:
First, highlight that how the battle was won by the British through deceit and treachery and Siraj
ousted as nawab of Bengal.
Next, write about the long term and short political consequences in the Indian political set up
following the battle of Plassey.
Conclusion:
Comment on the significance of the consequences of battle of Plassey.
Introduction

The Battle of Plassey was a war fought between the British East India Company and the Nawab of
Bengal and his close allies, who were mainly the French troops. The Battle of Plassey was fought
at Palashi, on the banks of the Bhagirathi River near Calcutta and Murshidabad which was
the public capital of Bengal. It was more of skirmishes than a battle according to some historians,
who were part of the seven years’ war fought in India by the British.

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Body

Battle of Plassey was won with deceit and treachery

 On 22 June, 1757, he received a message from Mir Jafar that Robert Clive should attack the
Nawab immediately and Jafar would side with the British.

 The English had a traitor on their side. A man trusted by the Nawab with more than 10,000
soldiers under his command had formalised a deal with the English.

 The battle was fought on June 23, 1757, Robert Clive with his visibly ‘small army’ challenged
a mighty army of the Nawab at the battlefield.

 This visibly ‘large Indian army’ was divided into three sections.
 One section, with 12,000 soldiers, was commanded by Mir Murdan, another section was led
by Rai Durlab and the third was under the command of Mir Jafar. Interestingly, only one of
three commanders, Mir Murdan, was loyal to the Nawab.

 Rai Durlab and Mir Jafar had already secretly finalised deals with the English.

 When the battle started the Indian army under Mir Murdan charged upon the English army
with vigour until Murdan fell to a grapeshot in the battlefield.

 His death was decisive as the other two commanders were already sold out.

 Mir Jafar and Rai Durlab, with their soldiers, just stood and watched Murdan’s men, who
were only loyal soldiers, getting destroyed by the English.

 The war ended with an Indian defeat, where only six European soldiers and fourteen Indian
sepoys of English army were killed as against more than 500 deaths in the Indian camp.

 Nawab was later captured and put to death as Mir Jafar was installed as a puppet Nawab.

 The battle opened the gates for the British control of India. For the next 190 years India
remained under the exploitative colonial regime of the British.

Financial and Political consequences

 The Company was granted undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

 It also received the Zamindari of the 24 Parganas near Calcutta.

 The new Nawab, Mir Jaffar, was dependent on the British for the maintenance of his
position in Bengal. An English army of 6000 troops was maintained in Bengal.

 The wealth paid to British immediately after Plassey was a sum of £800,000

 Mir Jaffar regretted the deal that he struck with British later when he was reduced to a
puppet leader only.

 Prior to 1757 the English trade in Bengal was largely financed through import of bullion from
England; but after that year not only bullion import stopped, but bullion was exported from

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Bengal to China and other parts of India, which gave a competitive advantage to the English
Company over its European rivals.

Position of British after the Battle

 The battle of Plassey was of immense historical importance. It paved way for British Mastery
of Bengal and eventually the whole of India.

 It boosted British prestige and at a single stroke raised them to the status of major
contender for the Indian Empire. Before the battle, it was only just another European
company trading in Bengal. But after Plassey they monopolized trade of Bengal.

 Plassey had brought about a gradual transformation in the character of the Company. In the
context of the then politics, military control was synonymous with political body. Thus, the
Company played a role of commercial-cum-military-cum- political body.

 The rich revenues of Bengal enabled them to organize a strong army and meet the cost of
conquest of the rest of the country.

 Control over Bengal played a decisive role in the Anglo French struggle where British were
finally victorious.

 The victory of Plassey enabled the Company with its servants to amass untold wealth at the
cost of helpless people of Bengal.

 The conflict at Plassey was also crucial for the East India company’s triumph over its French
rivals.

Conclusion

Robert Clive became the Baron of Plassey. Affairs that occurred after the victory at the Battle of
Plassey had changed the British East India Company from a trading company to a central power.
Thus, the Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of political supremacy of the English East India
Company in India.

Throw light on the administration of the Maratha’s under Shivaji with a special
emphasis on his agricultural policy. What lessons can the present-day policy makers
learn from it? (250 words).
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The way Shivaji handled all aspects of administration, especially the agriculture sector, can be the
guiding spirit for the modern-day administrators and policymakers of India.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about administration of Shivaji, his agricultural policy and lessons for present day
administrators.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving context of Shivaji as the first Maratha king and an able administrator.
Body:
First, write about the key aspects of the overall administration of Shivaji and his organisation of
administration.
Next, write about the Shivaji’s agricultural policy and its various features.

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Next, write about the key lessons that can be drawn by the present-day policy makers form the
administration of Shivaji. Cite examples to substantiate.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising
Introduction

Shivaji’s administration was greatly inspired from the Deccan style of administration. Most of the
administrative reforms were inspired from Malik Amber reforms in Ahmednagar. The King was the
supreme head of state who was assisted by a group of eight ministers known as the ‘Ashtapradhan’.
The peshwa, also known as the mukhya pradhan, originally headed the advisory council of the raja
Shivaji.

Body
Shivaji was a great administrator. He laid the foundations of a sound system of administration. The
king was the pivot of the government. He was assisted by a council of
ministers called Ashtapradhan. However, each minister was directly responsible to Shivaji.

System of administration and officials under Shivaji’s Maratha Kingdom

 Most of the administrative reforms of Shivaji were based on the practices of the Deccan
sultanates. For example, Peshwa was the Persian title. The revenue system of Shivaji was
based on that of Malik Amber of Ahmadnagar.

 Official setup

o Peshwa: Finance and general administration. Later he became the prime minister.

o Sar-i-Naubat or Senapati: Military commander, an honorary post.

o Amatya: Accountant General.

o Waqenavis: Intelligence, posts and household affairs.

o Sachiv:

o Sumanta: Master of ceremonies.

o Nyayadish:

o Panditarao: Charities and religious administration.

 The forts played an important role in the military operations of the Marathas. By the end of
his reign, Shivaji had about 240 forts. Each fort was put under the charge of three officers of
equal rank as a precaution against treachery.

 Shivaji was really a constructive genius and nation-builder.

 His rise from jagirdar to Chatrapathi was spectacular.

 He unified the Marathas and remained a great enemy of the Mughal empire. He was a
daring soldier and a brilliant administrator.

Agricultural policy of Shivaji

 Lands were measured by using the measuring rod called kathi. Lands were also classified
into three categories – paddy fields, garden lands and hilly tracks.
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 He reduced the powers of the existing deshmuks and kulkarnis.

 He explicitly ordered a decree to support farmers and bring wasteland under cultivation and
increase the revenue.

 If a farmer could continue agriculture but unable to pay arrears of dues and is therefore in
dire straits, then the realisation of dues was suspended.

 He also ordered his officials to provide seeds and oxen to farmers who could not afford it or
did not already have the adequate resources. Such grants were also interest free in nature.

 A lot of support with respect to trade was also done to increase the price of produce, but
levying customs duties wherever required.

Lessons for modern India

 Those who are offering blanket freebies in present day India in terms of waivers of farm
loans can probably take a leaf out of Shivaji’s administrative book in terms of following
the principle of economic prudence while taking care of the interests of the farmers.

o The money advanced for oxen and grain should subsequently be realized, gradually,
and according to his ability without charging an interest.

 Ensuring benefits reach to farmers directly through the government, without any
middlemen in the fray.

o The direct benefit transfer is a good example of this.

o In the coming time, fertiliser subsidy must also be done away with and appropriate
cash transfers must happen to prevent any leakage.

 Market system: Bringing efficient trade policy, levying proportionate duties on imports,
ensuring free trade through ports and removing restrictions are good measures that can be
emulated.

 Aid and regulation: In times of drought and monsoon failures, handholding of farmers is
required to help their livelihood income.

 Infrastructure creation: This will benefit all farmers from farmgate to plate, and help realise
more income for their products. It includes cold storage, warehouses, water for crops, reefer
trucks, mandi’s etc.

Conclusion

Shivaji had an able administrative setup which brought in efficiency and productivity. He has the
acumen to encourage farmers to bring in more land under cultivation. For this he had dedicated lot
of resources and personnel to assist the farmers. The same vision for Indian farmers today can surely
help in achieving the aim of doubling their incomes.

No single factor was in itself enough to start the rebellion of 1857. But the cumulative
effect of various political, economic and social factors meant all that was needed was a
catalyst to turn quiet discontent into a popular revolt. Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra.

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Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes behind the outbreak of revolt of 1857.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context regarding revolt of 1857.
Body:
First, write about the political Causes – The British expansion had led to the propagation of unjust
policies that led to the loss of power of the Nawabs and Zamindars residing at various places of India.
In the next part, write about the economic Factors -There were various reforms in the taxation and
revenue system that affected the peasants’ heavily.
In the final part, write about the religious & Social Causes – Racism or racial discrimination was
believed to be a major reason for the revolt of 1857 wherein Indians were exploited and were kept
away from mixing with Europeans.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning how the greased cartridges leading to sepoy mutiny served as the trigger for
the discontent to have a cumulative effect.
Introduction

The Revolt of 1857 has been hailed as the watershed in the colonial history of British India. It
was suppressed by the British Government in India by the end of 1859 through their superior
means and due to the drawbacks of the rebels., However, the revolt of 1857 marks a turning point
in the history of India. It led to far-reaching changes in the system of administration and the policies
of the British government.

Body

Various re-alignment policies in administration of the British after 1857 revolt:

 Transfer of power from the East India Company to the British Crown:

o The transfer of political and administrative power from the East India Company to
the British crown was achieved through the
Act for the better Government of India,
o Under this Act India would be governed directly by the crown acting through a
Secretary of He was made directly responsible to the British Parliament.

 The Queens Proclamation, 1858:

o Queen Victoria issued a proclamation which announced the acquisition of the

Indian administration by the British crown.

o Its aim was to tell the Indian people about the end of the rule of the East India
Company and the assumption of the administration of India by the British

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o According to it, the people of India would enjoy and they would be treated at par
with the subjects of the British Crown.

 Non-interference in internal affairs:

o The native princes were assured that all treaties

and engagements made by the East India Company with them would be

o They were further assured that their rights,

dignity and honor would be respected and the British Government would not
interfere in their internal affairs

 Home Government for India:

o The Act for the better Government of India was passed in August 1858.

o Under the Act, the power of

the Crown were to be exercised by the Home Government in
England consisting of the secretary of state for India, assisted by the Indian
Council.

o It laid the foundation of a new British policy in India for a period of about sixty
years

 Reorganisation of the Indian Army:

o Two important changes were One relating to the proportion between the
English and Indian Army and the other relating to the
Future organisation of the forces.

o The British element in the Indian army was strengthened in order to ensure
loyalty and

 The Policy of Annexation was Given Up:

o The British government gave

up the doctrine of lapse and guaranteed the integrity of the Indian states by
duly recognising the

o The right of adoption by the native princes was duly recognised.

 Freedom of religion and equal treatment guaranteed:

o The proclamation assured freedom of religion to the people of India and the
British officials would not interfere in such matters.

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o The proclamation assured that while framing and administering law, due respect
would be shown to the ancient Indian rights, usages and customs.

o Equal and impartial protection of law was promised to all Indians.

Conclusion

However, the revolt also led to few negative effects from British such as the divide and rule
policy, increase in the racial animosity against Indians, setback to the social reforms, rift between the
Hindus and Muslims and territorial conquest was replaced by Economic drain. Even
then it started the new era in the history of India and the British Imperialism.

Value addition:

There were many causes which led to the collapse of this mighty rebellion.

 Narrow territorial base: The revolt of 1857 had limited territorial spread. It was not
widespread and remained confined to North and Central India only. Even in the north,
Kashmir, Punjab, Sind and Rajputana kept away from the rebels.

 Lack of leadership: No national leader emerged to coordinate the movement and give it
purpose and direction. Rani Lakshmi Bai, Tantya Tope and Nana Saheb were courageous but
were not good military generals.

 Infights: Their leaders were suspicious and jealous of each other and often indulged in petty
quarrels. The Begam of Awadh, for example, quarrelled with Maulvi Ahmdullah, and the
Mughal princes with the sepoy-generals. Thus, selfishness and narrow perspective of the
leaders suppressed the strength of the revolt and prevented its consolidation.

 No concept of Modern nationalism: There were diverse elements among the rebels with
different ideology, plan and motive. Most of the leaders of the revolt were fighting for
personal gains and lack a coherent idea for modern India. Modern nationalism had not yet
evolved in India. In fact, it was a concept unknown to the people.
 Lack of unified vision and ideology: They had no forward-looking plan in mind. The
prominent leaders of rebellion like Nana Saheb, Begum of Awadh, Rani of Jhansi, etc., did not
possess any unified programme. For example, Rani Lakshmi Bai fought to regain Jhansi,
which she had lost as a result of the British policy of Doctrine of lapse while Nana Saheb and
Tantya Tope tried to re-establish the Maratha power.

 Lack of unity: No broad-based unity emerged among the Indian people during the rebel.
While sepoys of the Bengal army were revolting, some soldiers in Punjab fought on the side
of the British to crush these rebellions.

 Fissures in the society: The modern educated Indians also did not support the revolt because,
in their view, the revolt was backwards-looking. They believed mistakenly that the British
would lead the country towards modernisation.

 Lack of proper arms and equipment: The rebels were short of weapons and finances.
Whatever few weapons existed, were old and outdated. In many areas, rebels fought with
swords and spears which were no match for the sophisticated and modern weapons of the
British.

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Throw light on the nature of the socio-religious reform movements throughout the
country in the nineteenth century. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about how reforms movement were aimed at India society as whole and how they got
integrated with the mainstream national movement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning that the reform movement was a holistic socio-religious reform movement
aimed revitalising our society and religion.
Body:
Elaborate on features such as the movement focussed on aspects such as to bring in an enlightened
society, removal of superstition, to establish a democratic society, to promote rationality and
scientific temper etc. Mention steps taken by reforms to achieve these.
In religious aspects mention the steps that were taken by various reforms to reform the major
religions. Mention about the reformist movements and revivalist movements. Mention the major
reformers of major religions.
Conclusion:
Conclude by saying that the same approach was carried forward by the national movement and was
included in the vision of independent India.
Introduction
Socio-religious reform movements
are linked with different ideas including presence of Colonial government, Economic and
Social backwardness of society, influence of modern western ideas, rise of intellectual awakening in
the middle class and poor position of women in society.

From the early 19th century, debates and discussion about social customs and practices took a new
character due to the development of new forms of communication. Various reformers like Raja
Rammohun Roy, Ishawarchandra Vidyasagar, Swami Dayananda Saraswati persuaded people to give
up degraded age-old traditions like Sati, child marriage, polygamy, female infanticide etc. by
adopting a new way of life. They were keen to spread knowledge of modernization in the country
and bring about greater freedom and equality for women and “lower caste” people.

Body:

Westernization is a process of imitation of culture and values of western countries by non-western

countries. Whereas, Modernization has a wider connotation. Adopting the modern style or modern
ways and ideas of thinking, living, etc is ‘Modernization’. Modernization is a change or modification
which offers the promise of the preservation of the past.

19-20th century socio-religious reforms aimed at modernisation rather than westernisation:

 Reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Swami Dayanand

Saraswati, Jyotiba Phule, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Pandita Ramabai understood that
ignorance and backwardness in the society was responsible for hindering its progress and
development.

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 They studied the religious scriptures and criticized the prevalent religious and social
practices.

 According to them, society should be based on the concepts of liberty and equality both for
men and women and this was possible only by the spread of modern and scientific
education especially among the women.

 These movements came to be called socio-religious movement because the reformers felt
that no change is possible in a society without reforming the religion.

 The socio religious reform movement, as a whole, was against backward element of
traditional culture in terms of both religious and social evils.

 The focus was on regeneration of traditional institutions including medicine, education, and
philosophy and so on.

 There were differences in methods of those reform movements but all of them were
concerned with the regeneration of society through social and educational reforms

 The aim of these reformers was never to replace the local culture of India with the western
culture. Rather they simply assimilated some western values which they saw as desirable for
the development of the society such as humanism.
 They emphasised more on the interpretation of scriptures and simplification of rituals rather
than out rightly imitating westernisation.

 Swami Vivekananda sought to bring reform through reinterpretations of the Vedas in the
context of the changing world. He stressed on the ideal of social service and selfless action.

 Raja Rammohun Roy too had great respect for the western way of thinking, yet gave utmost
respect and importance to Vedas and Upnishads.

 Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar used the ancient texts to suggest that widows could remarry. His
suggestions were adopted by British officials, and a law was passed in 1856 permitting
widow remarriage.

 Such thinkers were against certain social evils like Sati, idolatry, polytheism, untouchability
etc but they believed in the essence of scriptures as a persuasive truth and not that was not
compatible with the modern notions of equality and dignity of all individuals.

 In India, social reform did not ordinarily mean a reorganisation of the structuring of society
at large, as it did in the West, for the benefit of underprivileged social and economic classes.

 Instead, it meant the infusion into the existing social structure of the new ways of life and
thought; the society would be preserved, while its members would be transformed.

Conclusion:
The socio-religious reform movements of the 19-20th century have made very significant
contributions in the evolution of today’s Modern India. They stood for the democratization of
society, removal of superstition and abhorrent customs, spread of enlightenment and the
development of a rational and modern outlook. By the end of the 20th century, women themselves
were actively working for reform. They wrote books, edited magazines, founded schools and training

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centres and set up a women’s association. These women, later on, joined various kinds of nationalist
and socialist movements and contributed immensely in the freedom struggle.

Subhas Chandra Bose’s belief in uncompromising anti-imperialism and undiluted

socialism is still very much relevant in the present day. Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
There is an element of intrigue that trails Subhas Chandra Bose’s persona, his life, disappearance and
death. He was a dynamic personality of India’s freedom movement who inspired hundreds of Indians
to join the struggle.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about steps taken by Bose towards National freedom, his belies and his present-day legacy.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving a brief intro of Subhas Chandra Bose and his way of politics.
Body:
First, in detail, mention the various approach taken by Bose towards Indian freedom after resigning
from Indian Civil Service.
Next, mention the various measures towards national reconstruction and his socialistic tendencies to
achieve the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about his legacy in the present day.
Introduction

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was an Indian nationalist, whose defiant patriotism made him a hero in
India. Bose viewed freedom not only in terms of political self-rule but also freedom from socio-
economic inequalities, casteism, intolerance etc. Bose held steadfast to a vision of large scale
industrialisation and a politics devoid of irrationality and religiosity.

There is an element of intrigue that trails Subhas Chandra Bose’s persona, his life, disappearance and
death. He was a dynamic personality of India’s freedom movement who inspired hundreds of Indians
to join the struggle.

Body

Contribution to Indian National Movement:

 Indian National Army:

o Also known as ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ in 1943 was revived and was initially formed in 1942
by Rash Behari Bose.

o The assault by the INA was an important factor that eventually contributed to the
British leaving India.

 The idea of Economic Planning:

o He espoused concrete economic planning and showed the way himself.

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 Women Empowerment:

o Bose believed that women were equals of men, and should therefore be likewise
prepared to fight and sacrifice for India’s liberation.

o Throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s he had campaigned in India to bring women more
fully into the freedom struggle of the nation.

o A women’s regiment of Azad Hind Faujwas formed, which was under the command
of Captain Lakshmi. It was called the Rani Jhansi regiment.

 Strong Leadership:

o The Azad Hind Fauj became the symbol of unity and heroism to the people of India.
Bose motivated the troops with his fiery speeches.

o His famous quote is, “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!

 Mass mobilisation:

o Subhash Chandra Bose played an important role in mass mobilisation and rousing
feeling of independence among them.

 Realising that manpower was India’s greatest resource, he proclaimed that all Indians should
actively participate in the fight for freedom.

 With the formation of provincial government of Azad Hind, he appealed directly for total
mobilisation to the mass of Indians.

 Youth leadership:

 Bose was also deeply committed to the youth movement. Convinced that young people
were by nature idealistic, restless and open to new ideas, Bose worked with and put efforts
to the new Youth Leagues that were formed in a number of provinces during the 1920’s.

 He motivated youth to join the cause of Indian freedom struggle.

 Bose believed that India’s liberation would be achieved only through the efforts and
sacrifices of the conscious younger generation.

His legacy as message for today’s India

 He was non-communal and deeply secular. He appointed many Muslims to senior positions
in the Indian National Army (INA).

 A much needed value for a peaceful India.

 Despite serious political differenceswith Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, he

accorded them a lot of respect.

 He was the first who referred to Gandhi as Father of the Nation, in a radio speech, and also
named two of the four INA regiments by the name of Gandhi and Nehru.

 A leaf can be drawn from this and inculcated with politicians in contemporary India.

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 He was attracted by the ideology of Marxismand his ambition for post-independent Indian
society was strongly egalitarian.

 He also believed in gender equality which is needed to empower women – about 50% of our
population.

 He was attracted to military discipline, a much needed value for today’s youth of India.

Conclusion

Subhash Chandra Bose was a prominent figure in India’s freedom struggle. He was not only an
efficient leader but played an important role in the freedom struggle. He is remembered for his
active and aggressive role in Indian freedom struggle. His style of leadership was not only attractive
but was a motivating factor for many to take up the cause for Indian freedom struggle.

The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors

/contributions from different parts of the country.
In India, the growth of modern nationalism is intimately connected to the anti-colonial
movement. People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with
colonialism. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about reasons for the emergence of nationalism in India. Was it a reaction against the
policies of British? Or was it born on its own?
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start the answer by describing the genesis of Indian nationalism in the late nineteenth century.
Body:
In the first part of the body, analyze how Indian nationalism was a reaction against policies of the
British. Mention about the Despotic nature of the rule, the racial discrimination, the lack of proper
administration, lack of Indians in administration, alien rule, the loot and the plunder, indiscriminate
taxation, ruining of Industries etc.
In the next part, analyze how Indian nationalism was a product of its own maturity. Introduction of
modern education, the influx of ideas of liberalism and constitutionalism, the rise of an educated
middle class, the impact of the press, the impact of socio-religious reform movements etc.
Conclusion:
Pass a balanced judgement as to how Indian Nationalism took birth.
Introduction

Indian Nationalist Movement was a grand and prolonged struggle launched against British
imperialism. Nationalism was the main ideology and the instrument with whose help this struggle
was launched.
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In the context of the Indian Nationalist Movement, Indian nationalism represented two major
ideas: anti-imperialism and national unity. In other words, any person, movement or organisation
that practised and upheld these two ideas, could be considered a nationalist.

Body

The rise and growth of Indian nationalism was the response generated by the British government
through the creation of a new institution, new opportunities and new style allocation of resources as
well as a worldwide upsurge of the concepts of nationalism initiated by the French Revolution.

Factors responsible for the growth of Modern Nationalism during British rule

 Political and administrative divide:Partition of Bengal in 1905, carried out by the British
viceroy, Lord Curzon.

 Political Unity: For the first time, most of the regions in India were united politically and
administratively under a single power (the British rule). It introduced a uniform system of
law and government.

 Development of Communication and Transport: The introduction of railways, telegraphs

and postal services and the construction of roads and canals facilitated communication
among the people. All these brought Indians nearer to each other and provided the facility
to organise the national movement on an all-India basis.

 English Language and Western Education: The English language played an important role in
the growth of nationalism in the country. The English educated Indians, who led the national
movement, developed Indian nationalism and organised it. Western education facilitated
the spread of the concepts of liberty, equality, freedom and nationalism and sowed the
seeds of nationalism.

 The Role of the Press: The Indian Press, both English and vernacular, had also aroused the
national consciousness.

 Social and Religious Movements of the Nineteenth Century: The leaders of various
organisations like the Brahmo Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Arya Samaj, and Theosophical
Society generated a feeling of regard for and pride in the motherland.

 Economic Exploitation by the British: A good deal of anti-British feeling was created by the
economic policy pursued by the British government in India. The English systematically
ruined the Indian trade and native industries. Therefore, economic exploitation by the
British was one of the most important causes for the rise of Indian nationalism.
 Revolt of 1857: The Revolt of 1857 created a kind of permanent bitterness and suspicion
between the British and the Indians. The English feeling of racial superiority grew. India as a
nation and Indians as individuals were subjected to insults, humiliation and contemptuous
treatment.
 Administration of Lytton: Lord Lytton arranged the Delhi Durbar at a time when the larger
part of India was in the grip of famine. He passed the Vernacular Press Act which curbed the
liberty of the Indian Press. His Arms Act was a means to prevent the Indians from keeping
arms. All these measures created widespread discontent among the Indians.

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 The Ilbert Bill controversy: The Ilbert Bill was presented in the Central Legislature during the
Viceroyalty of Lord Ripon. The Bill tried to remove racial inequality between Indian and
European judges in courts. This Bill was opposed by the British residents in India. Ultimately
the Bill was modified.

 Role of Western Thought and Education:The modern education played an important role in
awakening of Indian political thinking because it assimilates the modern western ideas. The
British introduces modern education to educate a small section of upper and middle classes
to create a class “Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste” who would act as
interpreters between the Government and the masses.

 Racial Antagonism: The Englishmen considered themselves as superior in all respects than
the Indians. They never wanted to offer the Indians higher jobs even though they were
qualified and intelligent. The age limit for Indian Civil Service Examination was kept at
twenty-one and the examination was held at England.

Indian Nationalism succeeded and is unique because of its various peculiarities

 A Cosmic Vision:The framework of Indian culture places human beings in the centre of the
universe, as a divine creation-which celebrates Individuality and differences of opinion in the
society.

 Sense of Harmony:Indian philosophy and culture tries to achieve an innate harmony and
order in the society.

 Tolerance:In India, tolerance and liberalism is found for all religions, castes, communities,
etc. Indian society accepted and respected Shaka, Huna, Scythians, Muslim, Christian, Jews
and Zoroastrians. Rulers like Ashoka, Akbar have patronized various religions and ensured
that there is peaceful co-existence of religions.

 Continuity and Stability: The light of ancient Indian culture life is yet glowing. Many
invasions occurred, many rulers changed, many laws were passed but even today, the
traditional institutions, religion, epics, literature, philosophy, traditions, etc. are alive.
 Adaptability:Adaptability is the process of changing according to time, place and period.
Indian society has shown fluidity and has adjusted itself with changing times.

 Caste System and Hierarchy:Indian Society has evolved systems of social stratification,
which in the past helped in accommodating outsiders, but concomitantly it has also been the
reason for discrimination and prejudice.

 Unity in diversity:Despite inherent difference Indian society celebrates unity in diversity

which reflects in modern India’s founding principles and constitutional ideals.

Conclusion

British rule was largely responsible for a new awakening among the Indians. The collective impact of
British rule and enlightenment of Indians led to increased nationalist feeling.

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During its first twenty years the Congress made moderate demands. The members
placed their demands before the Government always in the form of petitions and
worked within the framework of law. Do you think that the moderate phase of the
national movement must be considered a failure? State your opinion. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To explain in detail the features of moderate phase of INC and their style of functioning and to
analyze the impact on the national movement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by writing about the moderate phase of INC, its nature and its leaders.
Body:
First, Explain in the detail the nature of the moderate phase of INC. Their Aims and Objectives,
Constitutional nature, Belief in the British, Inspiration, mode of operation, core composition, and
important outcomes.
Next, write about the limitations of moderates – mention the belief of moderates in sense of justice
of the British rule. They knew the exploitative nature of British rule but wanted its reforms and not
expulsion.
Mention at its nascent stage they could not all out ask for expulsion for the fear of a crackdown on
the entire organization. They had to tread carefully between nationalistic interests and protecting the
nascent congress.
Conclusion:
Conclude by passing a balanced judgement on the successes and limitations of moderates.
Introduction

The moderates contributed significantly in Indian freedom struggle. The main objective of the
Moderates was to achieve self-government within the British Empire. They followed a middle path
and not an extreme path against British Empire.

Body

Nature of the Moderate Phase

Political demands of the moderates were moderate:

 From 1885 to 1892, their main demand continued to be expansion and reform of the
Legislative Councils, the membership of the Councils for elected representatives of the
people and also an increase in the powers of these Councils.

 Holding the ICS exam in India along with England to allow more Indians the opportunity to
take part in the administration.

 the separation of the Judiciary from the executive

 Freedom of speech and expression.

 Freedom to form associations.

 Repealing the Arms Act of 1878.

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 Increasing spending on education of Indians.

However, Economic demands of moderates were radical:

 The most notable part of Moderates political work was their systematic and factual criticism
of the economic policy of British rule through press and publication.

 The focal point of the nationalist critique of colonialism was the drain theory. For instance,
Dadabhai Naoroji put forward the idea that Britain was draining and ‘bleeding’ India.

 Other nationalist leaders, journalists and propagandists followed in the foot-steps of

Dadabhai Naoroji. R.C. Dutt, for example, made the drain the major theme of his Economic
History of India.

 They demanded Indian control over the public purse and raised the slogan that had earlier
been raised by the Americans during their War of Independence, ‘No taxation without
representation’.

 Moderates strictly demanded to reduce the military expenditure and increase the
allocation of money for activities such as health and education.

 They demanded the reduction of land revenue and abolition of the salt tax and supported
the imposition of income tax and import duties on products which the rich and the middle
classes consumed.

 Dadabhai Naoroji in his famous economic critique ‘Poverty and un-British rule in
India’ popularly put it, foreign capital represented the ‘despoilation’ and ‘exploitation’ of
Indian resources.

o Similarly, the editor of the Hindustan Review and Kayastha Samachar described the
use of foreign capital as ‘a system of international depradation’.

 They demanded for the development and protection of Indian Industries through increased
tariffs on imports and government aid for these industries.

 After seeing the failure of the Government in this regard the nationalists popularised the
idea of Swadeshi or use of Indian goods and boycott of British goods as a means of
promoting Indian industries.

 An enquiry into India’s growing poverty and famines.

 They organized powerful intellectual agitations against nearly all the important official
economic policies. They used these agitations to both understand and to explain to others
the basis of these policies in the colonial structure.

Limitations of Moderate phase:

 However British rule, to most of them seemed to be an act of providence destined to bring
in modernization.

 The moderate politicians could not or did not organize an agitation against British rule
because of them still shred an intrinsic faith in the English democratic liberal political
tradition.

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 Their politics was very limited in terms of goals and methods. They were secular in their
attitudes, though not always forthright enough to rise above their sectarian interests. They
were conscious of the exploitative nature of British rule, but wanted its reforms and not
expulsion.

 They equated liberty with class privilege and wanted gradual or piecemeal reforms.

 Early Congressman had an implicit faith in the efficacy of peaceful and constitutional
agitation as opposed to popular mean of agitation.

 The movement was confined to the educated classes only. Did not try to employ the masses.

 Believed in Petition, Prayer and Protest. They did not go for mass mobilisation. The basic
weakness of the early national movement lay in its narrow social base. It did not penetrate
down to the masses. In fact, the leaders lacked faith in the masses.

 Their immediate demand was not for full self-government or democracy. They demanded
democratic rights only for the educated members of the Indian society, who would
substitute for the masses.

However, Moderate phase was not a complete failure

 The moderates led by Dadabhai Naoroji, R.C. Dutt, Dinshaw Wacha and others, analysed
the political economy of British rule in India, and put forward the “drain theory” to explain
British exploitation of India.

 Moderates were able to create an all-India public opinion that British rule in India was the
major cause of India’s poverty and economic backwardness. The moderates demanded
reduction in land revenue, abolition of salt tax, improvement in working conditions of
plantation labour, etc.

 They helped in expansion of council’s i.e. greater participation of Indians in councils and
helped in reform of councils i.e. more powers to councils, especially greater control over
finances.

 The early nationalists worked with the long-term objective of a democratic self-government.

 They campaigned for General Administrative Reforms. They demanded and put pressure on
British Empire on Indianisation of government service on the economic grounds.

 They asked and contributed in Separation of judicial from executive functions.

 They criticised:

o Oppressive and tyrannical bureaucracy and an expensive and time-consuming

judicial system.

o Aggressive foreign policy which resulted in annexation of Burma, attack on

Afghanistan and suppression of tribals in the North-West.

o Increase in expenditure on welfare, education, especially elementary and technical,

irrigation works and improvement of agriculture, agricultural banks for cultivators
etc.

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 They fought for civil rights including the right to speech, thought, association and a free
press. Through campaigns, the nationalists were able to spread modern democratic ideas,
and soon the defence of civil rights became an integral part of the freedom struggle.

Conclusion

The nationalists were, thus, able to build a national movement while undermining the political and
moral influence of imperialist rule. This helped in generating anti-imperialist sentiments among the
public. But, at the same time, the nationalists failed to widen the democratic base of the movement
by not including the masses, especially women, and not demanding the right to vote for all.

The British termed the prevailing political situation in the country as the ‘Indian Unrest’.
Lord Minto denounced the extremists but felt it was imperative to engage with the
moderates and provide some political concessions – which came to be packaged as the
Morley-Minto reforms. These reforms were the basis of the Indian Councils Act 1909.
Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question: To write about how Morley-Minto reforms were another tool of
despotism rather than being constitutional reforms.
Directive word:
Critically comment – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or
nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
When ‘comment’ is prefixed, we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and
form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving the context for the introduction of the Reforms of 1909 such as the dissatisfaction of
the moderates of the Indian Councils Act, 1892 and the rise of the Extremists in the arena of Indian
leaders.
Body:
Briefly mention the key changes brought in by the reforms of 1909 and then why it cannot be termed
as “Constitutional reform”, as it brought out minor additive changes only and not met the demands
of the Indian leaders genuinely such as provision for asking questions and supplementary questions
but at the same time the question may be rejected, further the Indian representatives could not
question on many forms of expenditure of the British etc.
Mention why the reform was termed Benevolent Despotism, as the British tried to paint a colour of
benevolence to the reforms by bringing small additive changes to the existing provisions but it was
still an act of despotism as there was no substantial reform meeting the needs or demands of the
Indian representatives in the legislative council. The introduction of separate electorates which
formalised the British policy of divide and rule.
Conclusion:
Write about the impact of the reforms and response of the nationalists to it.
Introduction

The Morley-Minto reforms named after the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs Lord John Morley
and the Viceroy Lord Minto was the alternative name given to Indian Councils Act 1909. It
introduced for the first time the method of election, an attempt to widen the scope of legislative
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councils, placate the demands of moderates in Indian National Congress and to increase the
participation of Indians in the governance. The Act amended the Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and
1892.

Body:

Background of the Act

 In October 1906, a group of Muslim elites called the Shimla Deputation, led by the Agha
Khan, met Lord Minto and demanded separate electorates for the Muslims and
representation in excess of their numerical strength in view of ‘the value of the
contribution’ Muslims were making ‘to the defence of the empire’.

 The same group quickly took over the Muslim League, initially floated by Nawab Salimullah
of Dacca along with Nawabs Mohsin-ul- Mulk and Waqar-ul-Mulk in December 1906.

 The Muslim League intended to preach loyalty to the empire and to keep the Muslim
intelligentsia away from the Congress.

 John Morley, the Liberal Secretary of State for India, and the Conservative Viceroy of
India, Minto, believed that cracking down on uprising in Bengal was necessary but not
sufficient for restoring stability to the British Raj after Lord Curzon’s partitioning of Bengal.
 They believed that a dramatic step was required to put heart into loyal elements of the
Indian upper classes and the growing Westernized section of the population.

Features of the Act

 It considerably increased the size of the legislative councils, both Central and provincial. The
number of members in the Central Legislative Council was raised from 16 to 60. The number
of members in the provincial legislative councils was not uniform.

 British retained official majority in the Central Legislative Council but allowed the provincial
legislative councils to have non-official majority.

 The elected members were to be indirectly elected. The local bodies were to elect an
electoral college, which in turn would elect members of provincial legislatures, who in turn
would elect members of the central legislature.

 It enlarged the deliberative functions of the legislative councils at both the levels. For
example, members were allowed to ask supplementary questions, move resolutions on the
budget, and so on.

 It provided for the first time for the association of Indians with the executive Councils of
the Viceroy and Governors. Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian to join the
Viceroy’s Executive Council. He was appointed as the law member. Two Indians were
nominated to the Council of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs.

 It introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims by accepting the concept

of ‘separate electorate’. Under this, the Muslim members were to be elected only by Muslim
voters. Thus, the Act ‘legalized communalism’ and Lord Minto came to be known as
the Father of Communal Electorate.

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 It also provided for the separate representation of presidency corporations, chambers of

commerce, universities and zamindars.

Evaluation of the Reforms:

 The reforms of 1909 afforded no answer and could afford no answer to the Indian political
problem. Lord Morley made it clear that colonial self-government (as demanded by the
Congress) was not suitable for India, and he was against introduction of parliamentary or
responsible government in India.

 The position of the Governor- General remained unchanged and his veto power remained
undiluted and the Act was successfully maintained relentless constitutional autocracy.

 The ‘constitutional’ reforms were, in fact, aimed at dividing the nationalist ranks by
confusing the Moderates and at checking the growth of unity among Indians through
the obnoxious instrument of separate electorates.

 The Government aimed at rallying the Moderates and the Muslims against the rising tide of
nationalism.
 The officials and the Muslim leaders often talked of the entire community when they talked
of the separate electorates, but in reality, it meant the appeasement of a small section of
the Muslim elite only.

 Congress considered separate electorate to be undemocratic and hindering the

development of a shared Hindu-Muslim Indian national feeling.

 Besides, system of election was too indirect and it gave the impression of infiltration of
legislators through a number of sieves.

 And, while parliamentary forms were introduced, no responsibility was conceded, which
sometimes led to thoughtless and irresponsible criticism of the Government.

 Only some members like Gokhale put to constructive use the opportunity to debate in the
councils by demanding universal primary education, attacking repressive policies and
drawing attention to the plight of indentured labour and Indian workers in South Africa.

 The reforms of 1909 gave to the people of the country a shadow rather than substance.

The Act of 1909 was important for the following reasons:

 It effectively allowed the election of Indians to the various legislative councils in India for
the first time, though previously some Indians had been appointed to legislative councils.

 The introduction of the electoral principle laid the groundwork for a parliamentary
system even though this was contrary to the intent of Morley.

 It also gave recognition to the elective principle as the basis of the composition of legislative
council for the first time.

 It gave some further avenues to Indians to ventilate their grievances. They also got
opportunity to criticize the executives and make suggestions for better administration.

 After Jinnah’s death in September 1948, Pakistan lurched towards Islamic orthodoxy and
Dalits faced mounting attacks.

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Conclusion:

Indian Council Act of 1909 was instituted to placate the moderates and appeasement to the
disseminate Muslims from National Movement by granting them separate electorate. The people
had demanded self-government but what they were given was ‘benevolent despotism’.

Critically examine the decision by Mahatma Gandhi to withdraw the non-cooperation

movement. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 as mentioned in Mission-2023
Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To examine the reasoning behind calling off the non-cooperation movement at its peak.
Directive word:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in
detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question.
While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the
topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning the violence in Chauri-Chaura, which was against the ideas of ahimsa and
satyagraha that lead to the suspension of NCM.
Body:
Write about Gandhi’s response to the violent incidents and recall of most widespread mass struggle,
Non-Cooperation movement.
Write about how people questioned the motives of Gandhi. The confusion regarding its withdrawal
as to why such a huge movement be suspended for a small incident and doubts that were expressed
in Gandhi’s ability to lead the freedom struggle.
Next, mention as to why the withdrawal was the strategic retreat by Gandhi and save the
satyagrahis from severe repression of the government.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning Gandhi’s strict adherence to the principles of non-violence even at the cost
of doubts among his followers or taking a step back in the arena of the Indian national freedom
struggle.
Introduction

On 1st August, 1920, Gandhiji had launched the Non-Cooperation Movement against the
government. It involved using swadeshi and boycott of foreign goods, especially machine made
cloth, and legal, educational and administrative institutions, “refusing to assist a ruler who
misrules”.

Body

Chauri Chaura Incident:

 On 4thFebruary, volunteers congregated in the town, and after the meeting, proceeded in a
procession to the local police station, and to picket the nearby Mundera bazaar.
The police fired into the crowd killing some people and injuring many volunteers.

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 In retaliation, the crowd proceeded to set the police station on fire. Some of the policemen
who tried to escape were caught and battered to death. A lot of police property, including
weapons, was destroyed.

Justification for the Suspension of the Movement:

 Gandhijion his part, justified himself on grounds of his unshakeable faith in non-violence.

 He felt that the movement was turning violent in many places and the satyagrahis need to
be trained properly for mass movement.

 Gandhiji felt that people had not learnt or fully understood the method of non-violence.

 The Government of India Act of 1919, had set up elections in Provincial Councils. Some
leaders wanted to participate in elections

 Violent activities could easily be suppressed by the British through more violent and brutal
means.

 The movement showed signs of fatigue, because it is not possible to sustain any movement
at a high pitch for very long.

 Gandhian strategy of non-violence was based on the premise that the use of repressive
force against non-violent protesters would expose the real character of the colonial
stateand ultimately put moral pressure on them, but incidents such as Chauri Chaura
defeated that strategy.

 Withdrawal or shift to a phase of non-confrontationis an inherent part of a strategy of

political action that is based on the masses.

 The Khilafat question had lost its relevance as Turkey became secular

 To gain full independence, leaders like Subash Chandra Bose and Nehru wanted radical mass
agitations.

 Poor people could not afford Khadi clotheswhich were very expensive compared to mass
produced mill cloth. Hence people could no longer afford to boycott mill cloth for too long.

Negative response to the suspension

 The disillusionment resulting from the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement
nudged many of the younger Indian nationalists towards the conclusion that India would
not be able to throw off colonial rule through non-violence.

 It was from the ranks of these impatient patriots that some of India’s most of the
revolutionaries came into picture like Jogesh Chatterjee, Ramprasad Bismil, Sachin Sanyal,
Ashfaqulla Khan, Jatin Das, Bhagat Singh, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, Masterda Surya Sen, and
many others.

 Besides, sudden termination of the Non-Cooperation Movement disillusioned the Khilafat

movement leadersthat created a rift between Congress and the muslim leaders.

 Jawaharlal Nehru and other leadersleading the Non-Cooperation movement were shocked
that Gandhiji had stopped the struggle when the civil resistance had consolidated their
position in the freedom movement.

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 Other leaders like Motilal Nehru and CR Das recorded their dismay at Gandhiji’s decision and
decided to establish the Swaraj Party.

 Many felt that the movement, which was at its peak, should not have been withdrawn
because of one incident in one part of the country.

 The euphoria of Hindu-Muslim unity was over.

Conclusion

Though withdrawn abruptly, with the Non-Cooperation Movement, nationalist sentiments reached
every nook and corner of the country and politicised every strata of population: the artisans,
peasants, students, urban poor, women, traders etc. it was this politicisation and activation of
millions of men and women which imparted a revolutionary character to the national movement.

Critically evaluate the 28-month long rule of Congress in the provinces. Do you think
they took substantial measures and reforms to provide adequate reprieve to people of
the country? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the 28 of Congress rule in the province. Its successes and failures.
Directive word:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of
the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence. You must appraise the worth of
the statement in question. There is scope for forming an opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning the backdrop of formation of Congress ministries and wide and varied
expectations of different sections of people from it.
Body:
Elaborate further on expectation from the diverse group of people. Their demands and expectations
from INC. Briefly, mention the major demands from the various provinces.
In the next part, bring out the performance of congress in its 28 month short rule. In detail analyse
how congress performed with respect to land reforms, labour reforms, Civil Liberties, Release of
Political Prisoners, Press and Constructive work undertake by the Congress.
In the final part, mention the impediments to Congress rule and mention the shortcomings of it.
Internal bickering, failure
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a balanced opinion on congress ministries.
Introduction

The 28 month congress rule based on the provisions of Government of India Act, 1935 was
significant. During July 1937, it formed Ministries in six provinces: Madras, Bombay, Central
Provinces, Orissa, Bihar and U.P. Later, Congress Ministries were also formed in the North-West
Frontier Province and Assam.

Body:

Paradigm shift witnessed in the Indian politics between 1936-1939:

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 There was an immense increase in the prestige of the Congress as an alternative power that
would look after the interests of the masses, especially of the peasants.

 It was a novel experiment because a party which was committed to liquidate British rule
took charge of administration under a constitution which was framed by the British and
which yielded only partial state power to the Indians;

 This power could moreover be taken away from the Indians whenever the imperial power so
desired.

 The Congress was now to function both as a government in the provinces and as the
opposition vis-a-vis the Central Government where effective state power play.

 It was to bring about social reforms through the legislature and administration in the
provinces and at the same time carry on the struggle for independence and prepare the
people for the next phase of mass struggle.

 Thus, the Congress had to implement its strategy of Struggle-Truce-Struggle (S-T-S’) in a

historically unique situation.

Evaluation of the 28-month long rule of Congress in the provinces:

Congress ministries tried to bring a lot of reforms in their sphere of jurisdiction. The reforms
brought in with the achievements and limitations are as follows:

 Civil liberty:

o Achievements:

 Emergency powers related laws repealed.

 Restrictions and ban on press, certain books, newspapers, and illegal

organisations was lifted.
 In Congress provinces, police powers were curbed and the reporting of
public speeches and the shadowing of political workers by CID agents
stopped.

 Thousands of political prisoners were released and many revolutionaries

involved in kakori & other conspiracies released

o Limitations:

 Yusuf Meherally and S.S.Batliwala were arrested for inflammatory and

seditious speeches.

 M.Munshi used CID against communist and leftist.

o Agrarian Reforms:

 Achievements:

 Legislated a number of laws relating to land reforms, debt relief,

forest grazing fee, arrears of rent, land tenure sect.

 In Bihar, Congress signed pact with Zamindars regarding the

provisions of the Tenancy Bill .
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 Kisan Sabha launched number of movements at regional level to

remind congress to implement Faizpur Agrarian Programme

 In Bombay, They were able to restore lands to original owners which

were confiscated due to no rent campaign of congress

 Limitations:

 Most of these benefits went to statutory and occupancy tenants

while sub-tenants did not gain much.

 Agricultural labourers did not benefit as they had not been

mobilised.

 Social welfare reforms:

 Achievements:

 Measures for welfare of Harijans taken-temple entry,

education, etc.

 Encouragement was given to khadi and indigenous

enterprises.

 In 1938 national planning committee set up under congress

president Subhash Chandra Bose.

 Reforms in education, public health, sanitation as well as in

prisons were undertaken.

 Economic Reforms:

 Encouragement given to indigenous enterprises

 Develop planning through National Planning Committee set

up under Congress President Subhash Bose in 1938.

 Labour:

 Achievements:

 Goodwill sought to be created between labour and

capital with mediation of ministries.

 Efforts were made to improve workers condition

and secure wage increase for them.

 Labour Committee appointed by Congress accepted

a programme with Holidays with pay, Employment
insurance, to devise a way to fix minimum wage,
leave with pay during sickness.

 Limitations:

 Ministries failed in Bombay as mediator.

 Leftist critics were unsatisfied.

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 Ministries took recourse to section 144 and arrested

the leaders.

Conclusion:

Congress ministries resigned in October 1939 after the outbreak of the Second World War. Indian
self-government was necessary for radical social transformation got confirmed. It weakened the
myth that Indians were not fit to rule. It did good work with minimum financial resources.

The Quit India movement made the British realise that India, as a country, could not
function without the cooperation of its people. People’s unfazed determination instilled
a sense of fear among the rulers. Explain. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write how Quit India movement was different from the previous mass movements.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the
context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant
associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give the context of political scene of the country that led to the launch of Quit India movement
Body:
Write about the factors that made the movement stand apart from other struggles or movements
against the Imperial rule, on lines of, Gandhi’s strategy, emergence of new leaders, Violence, Princely
States, new developements and mass involvement etc and the way it aligned the local interest with
that of national interest.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning that the much-needed impetus towards conclusion to the national freedom
struggle can be credited to the Quit India movement.
Introduction

The Quit India Movement, also known as ‘August Kranti’, was a freedom movement led by
Mahatma Gandhi but drew protests from the All-India Congress Committee demanding what Gandhi
called was “An Orderly British Withdrawal” from India. Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion call of ‘Do or Die’
inspired thousands of party workers but also created frenzy among the British who rushed to
imprison the entire Congress leadership. This forced the British to act immediately and soon all the
senior INC leaders were imprisoned without trial within hours of Gandhi’s speech.

Body

Unfolding of August Kranti:

 Several national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Abdul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru and
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were arrested.

 The Congress was declared an unlawful association, leaders were arrested and its offices all
over the country were raided and their funds were frozen.

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 The first half of the movement was peaceful with demonstrations and processions. The
peaceful protest was carried till Mahatma Gandhi’s release.

 The second half of the movement was violent with raids and setting fire at post offices,
government buildings and railway stations. Lord Linlithgow adopted the policy of violence.

 The Viceroy’s Council of Muslims, Communist Party and Americans supported Britishers.

Significance of Quit India movement:

 The movement was carried forward without the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, or any
other leader, all of whom were jailed on its commencement.

 All sections of people participated in huge numbers.

 Decentralized command was the prime significance of this movement.

 The British began to seriously think about the issue of Indian independence after seeing the
upsurge among the masses.

 It changed the nature of political negotiations with British Empire in 1940s which ultimately
paved the way of India’s independence.

 The slogan of ‘Do or Die’ remains the most Krantikari slogan to this day.

 It is also a symbol of political betrayal. Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, Rashtriya Swayam
Sewak Sangh (RSS) and even the undivided Communist party opposed Gandhi as well as his
call for complete civil disobedience.

 Despite heavy-handed suppression by the government, the people were unfazed and
continued their struggle.

Impacts of QIM:

 Though the movement initiated by Gandhi had no major impact in terms of attaining
immediate independence, it did play a crucial role leading up to India’s eventual
independence.

 Firstly, the movement kept the Congress Party united through thick and thin and the
movement established a fact in the minds of the British that to attain complete freedom the
Indians were ready to dig deeper than they had expected.

 The movement also conveyed to the British that India had the support of global leaders, as
the then American President Franklin D. Roosevelt had urged the British administration to
consider at least some of the demands put forth by the Indian leaders.

 Another major impact the movement had on the independence was the destruction it had
caused through various protests and violent activities.

 Since the movement was responsible in the destruction of many edifices and facilities, the
British had to reconstruct many facilities if they were to rule India for a longer period of
time.

 However, destruction and monetary loss incurred by Britain during the ‘Second World War’
made sure the British administration was left with insufficient funds to rebuild India.

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 Hence, the British understood that it was almost impossible for them to govern India in the
long run.

 Once the war came to an end in 1945, the only question that lingered on many British minds
was how to exit India peacefully and gracefully.

Drawbacks of the movement:

 The Quit India Movement did not result in immediate attainment of freedom.

 Several political groups active during the Indian Independence Movement were opposed to
the Quit India Movement.

 Gandhi did not formulate any definite programme of action before he was arrested on 9th
August.

 The arrest of the leaders had left a powerful vacuum in communication between the
leadership and the masses.

 Use of violent methods by the volunteers and participants.

 The movement was crushed in a relatively short period of time by the British.

Conclusion

Despite its failure, the Quit India movement is considered significant as it made the British
Government realize that India was ungovernable in the long run. Post the Second World War, the
question that was most prominent for the British was on how to exit India peacefully. Today we
should perhaps give a new slogan for Quit India: Banish from India poverty, hunger, hatred and
violence. True independence will be when we all work together to produce a sustainable and holistic
India.

The decisive battle of Buxar confirmed British power over Bengal and Bihar after their
initial success at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of Battle of Buxar and in what way it paved way to expansion and
consolidation of British Empire in India.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start the answer by mentioning the context and the participants in the Battle of Buxar.
Body:
In the first part of the body, elaborate the consequences of the battle to show how it paved way for
expansion and consolidation of the British Empire in India. Explain that the Battle of Buxar had far-
reaching implications in the consolidation of the British Empire in India. It influenced the politico-
economic conditions of Bengal in particular and of India in general.
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In the next part, mention as to how Buxar confirmed the gains of Plassey.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

The Battles of Plassey (1757) and Buxar (1764) are watershed moments in Modern Indian history as
they marked the beginning on the rise of British colonial rule in India. They had far-reaching
implications in the consolidation of the British Empire in India. It influenced the politico-economic
conditions of Bengal in particular and of India in general.

Body

Background to Buxar

 The Battle of Plassey resulted at the end of the French forces and was a major turning point
in modern Indian history that led to the consolidation of the British rule in India.

 The British became the paramount European power in Bengal.

Battle of Buxar: Consequences

 The defeat of the Great Mughal House was very significant and it stamped the British troops
as one of the potent forces of the Indian subcontinent.
 The Treaty of Allahabad formally gave the British East India Company the right to exact
revenue from the eastern province of Bengalwhich turned the economic fortune of the
company.

o Robert Clive set up the infamous dual system of administration in Bengal wherein
the Company acquired the real power, while the responsibility of administration
rested on the Nawab of Bengal.

o Under the ‘dual’ or double government system, the Company got both the Diwani
(revenue) and nizamat (civil administration) functions of Bengal.
o Thus, virtual power went into the hands of Britishers without any responsibility
which created confusions, anarchy and economic loot of India began.

 The British victory at Buxar ensured that there were no significant forces left to challenge its
position in the eastern part of the subcontinent.

 The defeat of the Nawab of Awadh created a buffer state which effectively created a wall
between the Britishers and the notorious Marathas.

 Through the Residents, the Company officials began interfering in the internal affairs of
Indian states.

Conclusion

If the Battle of Plassey had made the English a powerful factor in the politics of Bengal, the victory of
Buxar made them a great power of North India and contenders for the supremacy of the whole
country. The Buxar battle resulted in strong foothold of British as not only economic power but also
political power in India.

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Topic: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from
different parts of the country.

The British thought that they should act as paternal father figures protecting the
cultivators (ryots) under their charge and the settlement had to be made directly with
the cultivators (ryots) who had tilled the land for generations. Examine the reasosn
behind introduction of Ryotwari settlement. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum Publishers)
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the reasons for the introduction of Ryotwari settlement.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning the nature of Ryotwari settlement.
Body:
First, write about the reasons for the introduction of the Ryotwari settlement – rejection of the
Permanent Settlement, elimination of intermediaries, assessment of the tax on land actually
cultivated, paternal approach of British and absence of traditional zamindars.
Next, write about the impact of the introduction of Ryotwari settlement.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

The Ryotwari system was introduced in Madras, Bombay & Assam by Thomas Munro in 1820. It was
supposed to be boon for present and improve their condition. The government could deal directly
with the farmer (‘ryot’) for revenue collection, and the peasant may cede or purchase more
agricultural land.

Body

Reasons behind introduction of Ryotwari settlement

 It was mainly introduced to overcome the lacunae of the Zamindari System and increase the
revenue collection for the British.

 The government could deal directly with the farmer (‘ryot’) for revenue collection, and the
peasant may cede or purchase more land for agriculture.

 peasant were made land owner and it can be taken away only for non-payment of revenue

 Freedom was given to give up or acquire new land

 Middlemen were eliminated who often oppressed peasant and provided false assessment of
land being cultivated to the British

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 The British believed that the Ryotwari System should not involve any middlemen and that
they could obtain the majority of the revenue straight from the cultivators by implementing
this form of land revenue collecting mechanism.

Optimistic official has imagined that new system would transform peasant into rich farmers but this
did not happened. Ryotwari settlement seems fair and practical on paper but proved to be worse
than zamindari system.

Impacts of Ryotwari System

 High taxation rate – levy was not based on actual revenue from produce of land but instead
on estimate of potential of the soil.

 50% for dryland and 60% for irrigated land

 Payment of land tax in cash – cash payment ruined cultivators, exposing them to demands of
money lenders as an alternate to the loss of land and starvation when crop failed

 Revenue officials harassed villages – subordinate revenue officer forgiven much power
who’s activities were in adequately supervised they were industries in Harsh measure for
non-payment delayed payment

 Misery of cash crops – in order to gain huge profit farmers fell into the trap of government’s
proposal to grow cash crops like Indigo opium which lead to scarcity of food grains and in
fertility of soil.

 Land became commodity – excessive marketing of land for or payment of tax in cash has led
to the loss of sentimental link that existed between land and the farmers.

 Many owner-cultivators and occupancy tenants, having a permanent right to hold land,
found it more convenient to lease out land to land-hungry tenants at exorbitant rent than to
cultivate it themselves.

 In time, landlordism became the main feature of agrarian relations not only in the zamindari
areas but also in the Ryotwari ones

 Growth of subinfeudation or intermediaries – Since the cultivating tenants were generally

unprotected and the overcrowding of land led the tenants to compete with one another to
acquire land, the rent of land went on increasing.

Conclusion

Therefore, even though in theory, the Ryotwari settlement was supposed to prove better than the
permanent settlement, in practice its impact was far worse. It became more devilish version of
Zamindari system.

To make political independence more meaningful, there were certain weaknesses in the
Indian social structure which needed to be strengthened. Discuss the statement in the
context of Gandhiji’s constructive programme. (250 Words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express (Gandhi in Amrit Kaal (by Shyam Saran)), TOI
Why the question:
Today is the 75th death anniversary of Gandhiji
Key Demand of the question:
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To show the weakness of Indian society in that period and how Gandhiji tried to achieve social
freedom along with political one.
Directive word:
Discuss: This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
You may begin by writing:
Centuries of British colonial rule destroyed the intricacies of Indian social structure, it created
fissures in communal harmony, strengthened caste rigidities and criminalized tribals, to highlight a
few. Gandhiji tried to address these
Body:
Next briefly write about the major weaknesses of Indian society e.g. religious conflict, untouchability,
Education, economic disparity etc.
Next, write about Gandhi’s constructive program in different spheres (as shown in the image below)

Describe a few with examples.

Conclusion:
You may write:
Most of the weaknesses still exist, though in different forms and even today India needs Constructive
programmes 2.0 to uplift several sections of society from poverty, illiteracy and discrimination and
achieve true political independence.
Introduction

Gandhiji always believed that independence was not just change in governance or ruler. If the
society did not change, then it would just be King log replaced by King stork. While fighting for
political independence, he was also wanting to prepare the people for a new and just social order so
that Independence, when it came, would be "complete". In other words, his was a struggle for
Poorna (or complete) Swaraj for all irrespective of their caste, class or religion.

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This meant building up or constructing the nation from its smallest unit (consisting of self reliant
individuals living in independent self reliant communities) upwards, through nonviolent and truthful
means.

Body

Weaknesses of the Indian Society

To make political independence more meaningful, there were certain weaknesses in the Indian
social structure which needed to be strengthened.

 Conflicts between different religious groups (mainly Hindus and Muslims)

 Untouchability,
 Fear arising out of ignorance,
 Economic disparities,
 Decaying condition of our villages,
 The plight of adivasis, kisans and the labourers, and the position of women were areas of
major concern.

In a small booklet, entitled Constructive Programme: its meaning and place, which he wrote on the
train from Sevagram to Bardoli, he appealed to all Congressmen and others engaged in the freedom
struggle to address these issues.

Gandhiji's constructive program

 Communal Unity: According to Gandhi, communal unity does not merely mean political
unity but should be an unbreakable unity of hearts.
o This was achieved during the Lucknow Pact 1916, whereby both the Indian National
Congress and Muslim League joined hands against British rule.
o The Lucknow Pact laid the foundation of the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation
Movement.
 Removal of Untouchability: Gandhi held that untouchability was a blot and curse upon
Indian society. Gandhi endeavoured to abolish this evil. He founded ‘Harijan Sevak Sangh’
for the abolition of untouchability in 1932 after his Poona Pact.
 Prohibition: Mahatma Gandhi considered alcohol consumption a social evil. Gandhi based
his case for compulsory sobriety on the argument that it would benefit the poor, who did
most of India's drinking.
o With this in mind, the directive principles of the Constitution proclaim that the State
shall endeavour to prohibit the use of intoxicating drinks and drugs that are injurious
to health except for medicinal purposes.
 Khadi making: Gandhi presented Khadi as a symbol of nationalism, economic freedom,
equality and self-reliance.

o It was his belief that reconstruction of the society and effective Satyagraha against
the foreign rule can be possible only through Khadi.
o Khadi takes the Central place in the upliftment of the village economy, which
eventually lead to the attainment of Gram Swaraj.
 Village Industries: He thought that any pursuit of activity in a cottage industry involved an
unusually large number of independent participants.

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o There is no need of huge capital to establish a cottage or small scale industry.

Normally a cottage industry is carried out at home by the family members using
their own equipment.
o These types of small and tiny organizations are following complexicity of activities
relating to production which provide more employment to members in the family.
 Nai Talim or Basic Education: Gandhi’s concept of new education implies that nature,
society and crafts are huge mediums of education.
o According to him, true education is that which draws out and stimulates the
spiritual, intellectual and physical faculties of the children.
o This education ought to be for them, a kind of insurance against unemployment.
 Women Empowerment: In his mission of Swaraj, Gandhi needed the cooperation of women,
kisans, labourers and students.
o So, he had planned to work amongst them through a constructive programme.
o The movement of 1930-32 generated unprecedented awareness in women.
o It was only due to Gandhi’s efforts that women came out of their houses for the first
time in history and participated in the Indian political struggle.

To this, he added five more items:(1) Kisans (2) Labour (3) Adivasis (4) Lepers (5) Students. The 18
point constructive programme thus became his framework for the new India he wished to see after
Swaraj.

Conclusion

Integration of Indian society was perhaps more difficult than the achievement of freedom because,
in this process, there existed a possibility of conflict between groups and classes of our own people.
In this scenario, the Gandhian constructive role played a key role in Nation Building.

Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

The Partition of India was one of the greatest migrations in human history with absence
of any planning and done in an abrupt manner resulting in unprecedented violence and
loss of life. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the impact of Partition on India.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning how transfer of power happened hastily resulting in a massive humanitarian
crisis.
Body:
In detail, bring out the various issues that were caused due to abrupt and unplanned partition.
Communal clashes, refugee crisis, minority issues, threat of administrative breakdown etc.
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Mention how the leaders responded to Partition.

Conclusion:
Write about the bitter lessons learnt that made India to evolve into an inclusive and a secular
democracy.
Introduction

“Partition” – the division of British India into the two separate states of India and Pakistan on
August 14-15, 1947 – was the “last-minute” mechanism by which the British were able to secure
agreement over how independence would take place. At the time, few people understood what
Partition would entail or what its results would be, and the migration on the enormous scale that
followed took the vast majority of contemporaries by surprise.

Body

Impact of Partition on India:

Social impacts

 Huge number of refugees belonging to religious minorities crossing over the border

 In terms of human resource the loss was enormous as it received about 16 million
uprooted, homeless refugees who had to be rehabilitated at

 Demographic changes due to migration and Overcrowding in border districts, towns and
cities

 Emergence of ethno-cultural, ethno-religious minorities leading to inter-ethnic conflict

 Influx of people in the metropolis of Kolkata resulting to over-urbanization

 Logistics of rehabilitation of refugees

 Rise in the number of unemployed

 Later bouts of communal tension generated further movement, with a trickle of people still
migrating as late as the 1960s.

Economic impacts

 West Punjab and Sind traditionally formed a great source of food supply so much so
that they were called the granary of undivided India.
 But since the two regions came to belong to Pakistan after the partition, India was hit
hard so far as food production was concerned.

 The
industrial sector suffered considerably from the impact on agriculture, for reasons of t
he traditional linkage of industries with the agricultural sector for deriving raw materi
als produced in the agricultural
 In
addition the riots that ensued after the partition led to a massive migration of skilled
labour from India to Pakistan. A majority of the skilled workers and artisans were
incidentally the people of the Muslim community.

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 The biggest calamity in the jute sector arose from the fact that nearly 80% of jute
production went to east Pakistan because of the partition.

Geographical impacts

 Loss of territorial resources, i.e. fertile agricultural land, in this case an extensive area under
jute crop, forest lands, loss of huge mangrove forests in the deltaic region of Sunderbans

 Sharing of water resources between upper and lower riparian states

 Border
disputes related to demarcation of boundary running through riverine delta areas and
flat alluvium plains

 Inadequate transport and communication network system between newly created

independent nations

 Inadequate infrastructure for inter and intra-regional trade and commerce

 Enclaves on either side of the border

Geopolitical impacts

 The
geopolitical situation is a direct impact of unwise partition of territories the implicatio
n of which is far- reaching.

 In order to achieve a lasting peace in the sub-continent a pragmatic foreign

policy and settlement of unresolved issues such as sharing of water, border manage
ment, settlement of border disputes, disbanding of terrorist outfits are of prime
importance.

Conclusion
Today, the two countries’ relationship is far from healthy. Kashmir remains a flashpoint; both
countries are nuclear-armed. Indian Muslims are frequently suspected of harbouring loyalties
towards Pakistan; non-Muslim minorities in Pakistan are increasingly vulnerable thanks to the so-
called Islamisation of life there since the 1980s. Seven decades on, well over a billion people still live
in the shadow of Partition.

Sardar Patel took up the monumental challenge of accession of the princely states and
integrating them into the Union of India. The goal Patel envisioned was that of a strong
and United India. The path was characterised by steep challenges. Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Post independence India – Bipin Chandra
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the efforts at integrating the princely states and creating a united India.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
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Structure of the answer:

Introduction:
Brief upon the condition of the India at the time of independence and nature of princely states.
Body:
First, write about – Nearly half of the Indian territory was ruled by princely states under British
Paramountcy. These were protected against internal as well as external aggression by the British.
Discuss why integration was the need of the hour.
Next, explain the significance of unification of the country – Territorial continuity, Demand for
modernization, Internal Security etc.
Next, write about the steps taken by Sardar Patel integrate princely states in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, also considered to be the architect of modern India.
India’s first deputy prime minister and home minister is remembered perhaps most for the manner
in which he united the country by integrating 565 princely states soon after Independence. Modern
Indian history is incomplete without Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. His vision, his work, and his principles
were highly remarkable in Independent India

Body

Dream of united India made true by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

 When India became independent in 1947, Sardar Patel took over the role as a deputy PM at
a time when Indian history was in a very critical stage.

 In a truly masterful display of statesmanship, Sardar Patel ensured a smooth integration of

the troubled domains by not allowing the situation to deteriorate into civil unrest.

 There was neither bloodshed nor any kind of rebellion as he went about the task of building
a strong India with a missionary zeal.

 Patel often invoked the patriotism of the princes in his attempt to convince them to join
India.

 On other occasions he reminded them of the possibility of anarchy and on event of their
refusal to join.

 He also introduced the concept of ‘privy purses’ as a payment to be made to the families of
the princes for their agreement to integrate with India.
 With great skill and masterful diplomacy & using both persuasion & pressure, Patel
succeeded in integrating hundreds of princely states.

 Most princely states joined Constituent Assembly with wisdom but others like of Junagarh,
Kashmir, Manipur and Hyderabad publicly announced their desire to claim an independent
status.

 Sardar Patel had strong will and his decisiveness, taking tough decisions, and his undivided
loyalty towards Mahatma Gandhi marks him out among his peers.

 His skilful combination of diplomatic persuasion of pointing to the larger long term
interests of the population and also with a certain amount of arm-twisting which made it

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clear that there would be a price to pay if the rulers did not accept the conditions the Indian
government was putting.

How Sardar Patel tackled the challenges

 Junagarh

o A small state on the coast of Saurashtra surrounded by Indian Territory

o Had no link with Pakistan yet Nawab announced accession to Pak

o But majority of the people (majorly Hindu), desired to join India

o This led to a violent movement against Nawab along with Indian troops marching
into the state

o A plebiscite was held which favoured joining India.

 Jammu and Kashmir

o Hindu ruler Hari Singh tried to negotiate with India & Pak to have an independent
status for his state.
o Since majority population of the state was Muslim, the Pakistan thought Kashmir
‘belonged‘ to them.

o On 15th August Harisingh offered standstill agreement with both countries which
allowed the free movement of people & goods.

o Pakistan signed the agreement but India didn’t.

o Pakistan became impatient & started violating standstill agreement.

o 24th October Hari Singh demanded military assistance from India.

o Mountbatten pointed out that under international law India can send its troops only
after state signs a formal instrument of accession

o Thus on 26th Oct Maharaja signed instrument of accession which got ratified in
1954.

o On 27th Oct. morning nearly 100 planes airlifted men and weapons to Srinagar.

o Pakistan army left the main valley region but continue to occupy a large chunk of
territory of Gilgit, Baltistan region – Pak occupied Kashmir.

 Hyderabad

o Largest princely state of India which was ruled by Nizam

o Nizam led to tyrannical ways & aspired to set up a Muslim dominion rather than
integration with India

o He wanted an independent status for Hyderabad & thus entered into negotiation of
standstill agreement with India

o Meanwhile people revolted against Nizam’s rule, particularly the peasants of

Telangana due to his worst oppression measures.

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o Nizam retaliated on popular movement by unleashing a para-military force

o 150,000 soldiers were mobilized by Nizam to fight against the Indian Union

o They murdered, maimed, raped and looted, targeting particularly the non-Muslims

o In Sep 1948, Indian army under operation Polo invaded Hyderabad state &
overthrew its Nizam, annexing the state merged it into the Indian Union.

 Manipur

o Indian government was prepared to be flexible in giving autonomy to some regions.

o Maharaja of Manipur signed the instrument of Accession with the Indian

government on the assurance that the internal autonomy of Manipur would be
maintained.

o Under the pressure of public view, Maharaja held elections in Manipur in June 1948
& thus state became a constitutional monarchy.

o Manipur was the 1st part of India to hold an election based on universal adult
franchise.

o Government of India succeeded in pressurizing the Maharaja into signing a Merger

Agreement in September 1949, without consulting the popularly elected Legislative
Assembly of Manipur.

o This caused a lot anger and resentment in Manipur, the consequences of which are
still being felt.

Conclusion:

Often referred to as the “Bismarck of India”, Patel was instrumental in bringing India together. Patel
laid out the initial framework for persuading the princes to join, it was his secretary, V.P. Menon,
who did the actual groundwork of coaxing them. The final touch in the process was applied by the
Viceroy Lord Mountbatten.

Value-addition

 The roots of Amul can be traced back to his vision for empowering local communities,
particularly women.

 It was Sardar Patel who also popularized the idea of cooperative housing societies, thus
ensuring dignity and shelter for man.

 Patel’s lasting contribution was protecting the Indian constitution from the ogre of
communal electorates.

 He was a major driving force behind the liberal industrial policy resolution of 1948.

 Patel was among the few to see the dangers from China’s imminent takeover of Tibet.

The Green Revolution was initiated in the 1960s in order to increase food production,
alleviate extreme poverty and malnourishment in the country. Analyse its performance.
(250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
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Reference: Chapter-3 – NCERT XII – Politics in India since Independence

Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the benefits and limitations of green revolution in India.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by defining green revolution.
Body:
First, Mention on the fact about how Green Revolution took care of India’s food security crisis by
boosting food productivity, introduction of farm machinery etc.
Next, on the flipside discuss the new issues arising from Green revolution such as high usage of
pesticide and weedicide, side-lining of small and marginal farmers, declining soil fertility, depletion of
ground water, mention that hunger and malnutrition levels were still high etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

The green revolution in India in 1960’s and 70’s refers to a period when Indian Agriculture was
converted into an industrial system due to the adoption of modern methods and technology such as
the use of HYV seeds, tractors, irrigation facilities, pesticides and fertilizers. The Economic Survey
2015-16 claimed Indian agriculture to be “a victim of its own success—especially the green
revolution”, by becoming cereal-centric, regionally biased and input-intensive (land, water and
fertilizers).

Norman-e-Borlaug is considered as the father of Green Revolution in World while M.S.

Swaminathan is considered as the father of Green Revolution in India.

Body

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Success of Green Revolution

 Increase in Agricultural Production and productivity: The production and productivity of

wheat, rice, maize and bajra has substantially increased.

 Less Dependence on Imports: After the green revolution, India was finally on its way to self-
sufficiency. There was now enough production for the population and to build a stock in
case of emergencies. In fact, India was able to start exporting its agricultural produce.

 A Benefit to the Farmers: The Green Revolution has increased the income of farmers and
landless labourers. It enabled them to shift to commercial farming from only sustenance
farming.

 Dispersal of Rice and Wheat cultivation to non-traditional areas: Green Revolution spread
the Rice cultivation to the semi-arid areas of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh,
and the wheat cultivation has spread to the areas of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan and some parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal.

Broader impact of Green Revolution

 Focus only on Food Grains: Although all food-grains including wheat, rice, jowar, bajra and
maize have gained from the revolution, other crops such as coarse cereals, pulses and
oilseeds were left out of the ambit of the revolution.

o Major commercial crops like cotton, jute, tea and sugarcane were also left almost
untouched by the Green Revolution.

o This ultimately led to the dangerous trend of Monocropping.

o Also, neglect of oilseeds has now led to extreme dependency on nations like
Malaysia and Indonesia.

 Limited Coverage of HYVP: High Yielding Variety Programme (HYVP) was restricted to only
five crops: Wheat, Rice, Jowar, Bajra and Maize.

o Therefore, non-food grains were excluded from the ambit of the new strategy.

 Led to Regional Disparities: It led to growing disparities in economic development at inter

and intra-regional levels. Only 40 percent of the total cropped area benefitted while the rest
was left untouched by it.

o The most benefitted areas are Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh in the
north and Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the south.

o It has hardly touched the Eastern region, including Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and
Orissa and arid and semi-arid areas of Western and Southern India.

o Only those areas which were already better placed from an agricultural point of view
benefitted from Green revolution leading to further aggravated regional disparities.

 Rampant usage of Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides: The Green Revolution resulted in
a large-scale use of pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilisers for improved irrigation
projects and crop varieties.

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o However, little or no efforts were made to educate the farmers, mostly illiterate,
about the high risk associated with the intensive use of pesticides.

o This caused more harm than good to crops and also becomes a cause for
environment and soil pollution.

 Water Consumption: The crops introduced during the green revolution were water-
intensive crops.

o Most of these crops being cereals, required almost 50% of dietary water footprint.

o Canal systems were introduced, and irrigation pumps also sucked out the
groundwater to supply the water-intensive crops, such as sugarcane and rice, thus
depleting the groundwater levels.

o For instance, Punjab is a major wheat- and rice-cultivating area, and hence it is one
of the highest water depleted regions in India.

 Impacts on Soil and Crop Production: Repeated crop cycle in order to ensure increased crop
production depleted the soil’s nutrients.

o To meet the needs of new kinds of seeds, farmers increased fertilizer usage.

o The pH level of the soil increased due to the usage of these alkaline chemicals.

o Toxic chemicals in the soil destroyed beneficial pathogens, which further led to the
decline in the yield.

 Unemployment: Except in Punjab, and to some extent in Haryana, farm mechanization

under the Green Revolution created widespread unemployment among agricultural
labourers in the rural areas.

o The worst affected were the poor and the landless labourers.
 Health Hazards: The large-scale use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides such as
Phosphamidon, Methomyl, Phorate, Triazophos and Monocrotophos resulted in resulted in
a number of critical health illnesses including cancer, renal failure, stillborn babies and birth
defects.

Conclusion

The Green Revolution, which undeniably ended the country’s “ship-to-mouth”

existence and transformed it into an exporter of rice and wheat. In spite of the negative impact, the
success of green revolution cannot be dwarfed. The spill over effect of green revolution led to
the growth of farm mechanization industries to provide tractors, Fertilizer and pesticide, Agro-
based industries etc.

However, it has also led to lopsided growth in agriculture, causing regional and other disparities.
Now coupled with frequent droughts, Indian agriculture is under distress. Thus, there is a need for
a second green revolution. The second green revolution must be an Evergreen Revolution,
which incorporates technology in harmony with ecology.

Value addition

Ushering second green revolution through sustainable methods

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 Micro-irrigation System: It enables optimal synergies of 3 components of Green Revolution-

improved seed, water and fertilizer.

 Organic Farming: Can restore degraded land and improve health benefits.

 Precision Farming: It is concerned with using fewer resources and reducing the production
cost, by analysing the variation in various aspects of field and environment like- weather,
Soil, vegetation, water etc.

 Green Agriculture: A system of agriculture based upon, integrated pest management,

integrated nutrient management and it does not eliminate the use of minimum quantities of
fertilizer and chemical pesticides.

The Emergency is often regarded as a dark phase in independent India’s history

because this period was marked by unbridled state incarceration, stifling of dissent, and
government crackdown on civil liberties. There were reports of frequent human rights
violations and the press being censored to a repressive extent. Elaborate. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: India since Independence by Bipan Chandra.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the nature of emergency in 1975 and challenges it posed and lessons learnt from it.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Narrate briefly the historical background and situation of emergency imposed in 1975.
Body:
Body:
In first part, write about the challenges posed by internal emergency which was proclaimed by then
congress government including suspension of fundamental rights is considered one of the most
traumatic periods for the fledgling democracy.
Next, write about the key lessons learnt and changes introduced due it – This time period is also seen
as the coming of the age of the Indian democracy. But, the Indian parliament passed amendments to
the constitution, the 44th amendment, to ensure that the future governments will not find it easy to
impose another emergency in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The Emergency was set in motion by the Indira Gandhi government on June 25, 1975 and was in
place for 21 months till its withdrawal on March 21, 1977. The order gave Ms. Gandhi the authority
to rule by decree wherein civil liberties were curbed. An external Emergency was already in place
even before the imposition of the internal one.

Threat to national security and bad economic conditions were cited as reasons for the declaration.
Considering it as a black chapter, a famous historian Coomi Kapoor noted “The number of those in
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Indira Gandhi’s prisons during the Emergency far exceeded the total number jailed during the 1942
Quit India”

Body

Background

 In 1975, the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi advised the president to proclaim
emergency without consulting her cabinet.

 The cabinet was informed of the proclamation after it was made, fait accompli.

Challenges posed by emergency imposed

 Liberty curtailed: The union government misused its emergency powers and
curbed democratic rights of the citizens, opposition parties and of the press.

o Electricity of the newspaper houses got disconnected, leaders of opposition parties

were arrested.

 Free press was suppressed: Government curtailed the freedom of press via “Press
censorship” and made it mandatory to get its approval before publishing it.

 Protests, strikes and public agitations were not allowed.

 Fundamental right of constitutional remedies to move the court for restoring their FRs got
suspended.

 Banning organizations: Religious and cultural organization like RSS, Jamait-E-Islami was
banned on the apprehension of disturbance to social and communal harmony.

 Misuse of power: Government misused the provision of preventive detention, arrested the
political workers of opposition parties.

 Torture and custodial deaths occurred during Emergency, arbitrary relocation of poor
people, imposition of compulsory sterilization to control population.

Changes introduced to keep power of government in check

The power misused came as a wakeup call for the entire nation and consequent steps were taken
to amend the constitution (44th constitutional amendment) to take safeguards against misuse of
powers:

 Ground for Emergency declaration: The word ‘internal disturbance’ was replaced by
‘armed rebellion’ in respect of national emergency.

 President reconsideration: Empowered the president to send back once, the advice of the
cabinet for reconsideration.

o Made the president to declare a national emergency only on the written

recommendation of the cabinet.

 Liberty restored: Provided that the fundamental rights guaranteed by article 20 and 21
cannot be suspended even during emergency.

o Gave constitutional protection to publication in newspaper of true reports of the

proceedings of parliament and state legislatures.
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 Approval by both houses: The proclamation of Emergency must be approved by both the
Houses of Parliament within one month from the date of its issue.

o However, if the proclamation of emergency is issued at a time when the Lok Sabha
has been dissolved or the dissolution of the Lok Sabha takes place during the period
of one month without approving the proclamation, then the proclamation survives
until 30 days from the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after its reconstitution, provided
the Rajya Sabha has in the meantime approved it.

 Emergency cannot be indefinite: If approved by both the Houses of Parliament, the

emergency continues for six months, and can be extended to an indefinite period with an
approval of the Parliament for every six months. This provision for periodical parliamentary
approval was also added by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978.

 Special majority: Every resolution approving the proclamation of emergency or its

continuance must be passed by either House of Parliament by a special majority

Supreme courts intervention in placing checks and balances

 The 38th Amendment Act of 1975 made the declaration of a National Emergency immune
from the judicial review. But this provision was subsequently deleted by the 44th
Amendment Act of 1978.

 Further, in the Minerva Mills case , (1980), the Supreme Court held that the proclamation of
a national emergency can be challenged in a court on the ground of malafide or that the
declaration was based on wholly extraneous and irrelevant facts or is absurd or perverse.

 The Supreme Court has thereafter enlarged the concept and the application of Article 21
well beyond what was ever contemplated by the framers of the constitution

Conclusion
The Emergency declared in 1975 (internal emergency) proved to be the most controversial. There
was widespread criticism of the misuse of Emergency powers. In the elections held to the Lok Sabha
in 1977 after the Emergency, the Congress Party led by Indira Gandhi lost and the Janta Party came
to power. This government appointed the Shah Commission to investigate the circumstances that
warranted the declaration of an Emergency in 1975. The commission did not justify the declaration
of the Emergency. Hence, the 44th Amendment Act was enacted in 1978 to introduce a number of
safeguards against the misuse of Emergency provisions.

Value addition

Emergencies declared in India so-far

 This type of Emergency has been proclaimed three times so far–in 1962, 1971 and 1975. The
first proclamation of National Emergency was issued in October 1962 on account of Chinese
aggression in the NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency– now Arunachal Pradesh), and was in
force till January 1968.

 Hence, a fresh proclamation was not needed at the time of war against Pakistan in 1965.

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 The second proclamation of national emergency was made in December 1971 in the wake of
attack by Pakistan.

 Even when this Emergency was in operation, a third proclamation of National Emergency
was made in June 1975.

 Both the second and third proclamations were revoked in March 1977. The first two
proclamations (1962 and 1971) were made on the ground of ‘external aggression’, while
the third proclamation (1975) was made on the ground of ‘internal disturbance’, that is,
certain persons have been inciting the police and the armed forces against the discharge of
their duties and their normal functioning.

The mechanisms for coordination and dispute resolution have held the Indus Waters
Treaty in good stead for at least half a century, and it has often been used as a template
between upper riparian and lower riparian states worldwide. Analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Indian Express
Why the question:
The government’s decision to issue notice to Pakistan, calling for negotiations to amend the Indus
Waters Treaty.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the significance and shortcomings of Indus Waters Treaty between India and
Pakistan.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context about the Indus Waters Treaty.
Body:
First, write about the major provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan.
Next, write about the successes of Indus Waters Treaty in ensuring peaceful coexistence despite
troubled relations between the both countries and its significance.
Next, write about the various issues in the Indus Waters Treaty which have affected both the parties
and possible solutions to it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction

The Indus system comprises of main Indus River, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The
basin is mainly shared by India and Pakistan with a small share for China and Afghanistan. Under
the treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of three rivers, namely Ravi,
Sutlej and Beas (Eastern Rivers) were allocated to India for exclusive use. While, the waters
of Western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab were allocated to Pakistan except for specified
domestic, non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty. India
has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river (RoR) projects on
the Western Rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation is unrestricted.

Body

Background

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 New Delhi has issued a notice to Islamabad seeking modification of the Indus Waters Treaty
(IWT).
 The notice follows Pakistan’s continued “intransigence” in implementing the treaty, by raising
repeated objections to the construction of hydel projects on the Indian side.

 India is invoking Article XII (3) of the treaty to bring changes to the 1960 pact.

Reasons behind success of Indus Water Treaty

 First, the treaty has unequal sharing of the waters. Pakistan has been allocated ~80% of the
Indus basin waters.
 Experts have termed this the most generous water sharing treaty. It is the only water-sharing
pact in the world that compels upper riparian State to defer to the interests of the downstream
State.
 Second, it prevents India from building any storage systems on the western rivers.
 Even though the treaty lays out that under certain exceptional circumstances storage systems
can be built, Pakistan deliberately stops any such effort. The extensively technical nature of the
treaty allows Pakistan to stall legitimate Indian Projects.
 Third, the basin’s size and volume is getting altered by climate change and this alteration is
going to intensify in future. There would be instances of more high-intensity rainfall as well as
long stretches of scanty rainfall.
 There would be a high influx of water due to glacial melt. The contribution of glaciers in the
Indus basin is higher than in the Ganges or Brahmaputra basins.
 A change in the flow conditions may classify as ‘change of circumstances’ which can justify
renegotiation or termination in the future.
 Fourth, the recent report of the Standing Committee of Water resources noted that canals in
Punjab and Rajasthan (Rajasthan Feeder and the Sirhind Feeder) had become old and were not
maintained properly. This had resulted in the lowering of their water carrying capacity.
 Thus, the water from the Harike Barrage on the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej in Punjab was
usually released downstream into Pakistan. Pakistan is getting more waters than its entitlement
in the Eastern Rivers.

Way forward for India

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 India has not fully utilised its rights over the waters of the Indus system.
 India should take steps to completely utilize its entitlement of waters of Western Rivers. The
infrastructure to utilize the waters has remained under-developed in J&K.
 Some experts suggest that in case of escalation of hostilities by Pakistan in future, India
can suspend the meetings of Permanent Commission. If the first state of dispute redressal is
not functional, the subsequent two steps of 3-tier dispute redressal don’t kick in. Thus India can
use this as a pressure tactic on Pakistan.
 India should explore the possibility of using climate change as a ‘change in circumstances’ to
initiate conversation on renegotiation of the IWT. This will also put pressure on Pakistan.
 Experts in India and Pakistan should assess how much of the waters in the Eastern and Western
rivers are snow or rain-fed within their respective territories. Such estimates would add to the
accuracy of each side’s dependence on the other in sharing the waters of these rivers.
 As per the standing committee of water resources, the canal systems in Punjab and Rajasthan
should be repaired to increase their water carrying capacity.

Conclusion
The Indus Waters Treaty is considered one of the most successful water-sharing endeavours in
the world today. However, there is a need to update certain technical specifications and expand the
scope of the agreement to address climate change.

History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial
revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization,
decolonization.
The continental System designed by Napoleon to paralyze Great Britain through the
destruction of British commerce, proved disastrous for Napoleon. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about how the continental system played a part in the downfall of Napoleon.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining continental system.
Body:
First, write about the design of continental system and how its major target was to cripple Britain
Economically.
Next, write about the limitations of continental system with respect to its design, implementation,
aspects of under estimation the economic prowess of Britain etc which led to its failure.
Next, mention other factors that were responsible for the downfall of Napoleon.
Conclusion:

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Conclude by mentioning to what extent continental system was responsible for the downfall of
Napoleon.
Introduction

Continental System, in the Napoleonic wars, the blockade designed by Napoleon to paralyze Great
Britain through the destruction of British commerce. The decrees of Berlin and Milan proclaimed a
blockade: neutrals and French allies were not to trade with the British. However, it proved largely
ineffective and eventually led to Napoleon’s fall.

Napoleon was a French statesman and military leader who rose to prominence during the French
Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Body
The Continental System had some success in hurting British trade and economic interests. By some
estimates, British trade declined by as much as fifty percent. It also benefited some parts of the
French manufacturing sector by acting essentially as a protective tariff, making British imports
unavailable or unaffordable in France and its territories. This stimulated the growth of some local
manufacturing and many French capitalists and industrialists made large profits as a result of the
embargo on British goods.

Flaws in the Continental System

 It killed many trade based industries and deeply hurt the economies of major French ports
such as Marseilles. Moreover, the Continental System could not be strictly enforced.

 It was an impossible scheme. Every country was not expected to bear the innumerable
stresses by following this scheme.

 French navy was not so powerful to control the vast sea.

 Most of the European countries including France depended British goods and they could not
possibly live without these goods. But after the supply of these articles was stopped, people
had to face great difficulties and they began to oppose this scheme vehemently. In 1807
Napoleon himself purchased fifty thousand overcoats from Great Britain through Holland at
the time of the battle of Eyleau.

 The smuggling of goods became widespread in the entire Europe and Napoleon could not
check this black marketing due to his weak navy.

 Portugal and Spain also did not join this scheme and extended their cooperation to England.

Conclusion

Napoleon’s ambition to implement the continental system dragged him to the peninsular war which
he called “an ulcer that destroyed me”. The Portuguese and Spaniards turned and united against him
at the battle of Trafalgar. This defeat proved to the world that Napoleon could be defeated, over
20,000 of his soldiers surrendered and it also weakened Napoleon’s military strength. This led to the
downfall of Napoleon in 1815 . Thus, the continental system entangled Napoleon into disastrous
Moscow campaign which was the turning point in his military and political career in France and
Europe.

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Evaluate the role of Bismarck in the process of unification of Germany. What was the
impact of Bismarckian policies on the contemporary global politics of that time? (250
words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about role of Bismarck in the unification of Germany and its impact.
Directive word:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of
the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence. You must appraise the worth of
the statement in question. There is scope for forming an opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, write about the policy of blood and iron is and how Bismarck employed it in the 3 wars he
fought, and how it brought Germany closer to the goal of unification. Explain the various other
policies of Bismarck which led to German Unification.
Next, write about the impact of Bismarckian policies on contemproray politics – alliances, secret
alliances, isolation of France, colonialism etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

The creation of the German Confederation in 1815 was largely in reaction to the growing sense of
German nationalism, which had not existed in Europe prior to the 19th century. While strains of
nationalism certainly existed before the turn of the century, it was France’s conquest of the German
lands in the first decade of the 19th century that first fully aroused German nationalists into
proposing a unified, German state.

Otto Von Bismarck was the Prussian Chancellor. His main goal was to further strengthen the
position of Prussia in Europe.

Body

Background

Bismarck had a number of primary aims:

 to unify the north German states under Prussian control

 to weaken Prussia’s main rival, Austria, by removing it from the German Federation

 to make Berlin, not Vienna, the centre of German affairs

 to strengthen the position of the King of Prussia, Wilhelm I, countering the demands for
reform from the Liberals in the Prussian Reichstag

Role of Bismarck in unification of Germany

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 Military reforms: Otto von Bismarck was a fervent German nationalist who wanted a
German nation. As a result, once appointed, Chancellor Bismarck set out to strengthen and
improve the Prussian army and gain international allies that would help Prussia on its way to
unifying Germany. Reforms included

o An increase in army conscription from two to three years.

o The introduction of new battle tactics.

o The introduction of weapons such as the needle gun.

 First war under Bismarck: Bismarck’s Prussia first fought a war in 1864 in alliance with
Austria against Denmark to annex most of the territory of German Confederation.

o To counter Prussia’s growing influence, Austria tried to strengthen its position in the
German Federation. Bismarck thwarted Austria’s plans by insisting on popular
elections to the Diet (the Federation’s Parliament). Bismarck had successfully ruined
Austria’s plans.

 Second war (Austria-Prussia): Then he allied with Italy in 1866 to defeat Austria and
removed it from the German Confederation. Consequently, the Confederation itself was
ended.
 In 1867, Bismarck formed the North German Confederation. It united 22 German states but
excluded the Southern German states like Bavaria, which remained independent.

 The constitution of this Confederation made the Prussian King the hereditary head of the
state. The Southern states followed a pro-Austria policy but were forced to unite after the
German victory in Franco-Prussian war of 1870.

 The Franco-Prussian war in 1870 led to final unification of Germany

Conclusion

Unification of Germany was not one single event but a process which occurred in phases. Bismarck
had played a major role in unification and nation building of Germany through his policies, military
reforms, speeches and isolation strategies.

The Industrial Revolution of the 1800s, a time of great growth in technologies and
inventions, transformed rural societies into industrialized, urban ones. Critically
examine the impact of Industrial revolution. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insight on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the positive and negative impact of Industrial revolution as well as its impact on India.
Directive word:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in
detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question.
While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
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When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the
topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start the answer by mentioning the manifold of major changes brought on Industrial revolution.
Body:
In the first part mention the positive impact of Industrial revolution – Growth of modern Industry,
emergence of cities, new capitalistic class, improvement in lifestyle, technological innovations etc.
Next, mention the negative impact of IR – poor working conditions, poor living conditions, low wages,
child labor, Luddite movement and pollution.
Next, in detail, write about how IR in Britain impact the Indian colony.
Conclusion:
Summarise the overall impact of Industrial revolution.
Introduction

The Industrial Revolution saw a rapid development of industry take place in Britain in the
late 18th and early 19th centuries, soon spreading to Western Europe and North America. New and
improved large-scale production methods and machinery marked the beginnings of Industrialization.
Many different factors contributed to the rise of the Industrial Revolution in Britain and paved the
way for Britain to become an industry-driven country.

Body

Impacts of Industrialization

Positives:
 The Industrial Revolution brought about sweeping changes in economic and social organization.
 These changes included a wider distribution of wealth and increased international trade.
 Managerial hierarchies also developed to oversee the division of labor.
 By the late 1700s many people could no longer earn their living in the countryside. Increasingly,
people moved from farms and villages into bigger towns and cities to find work in factories.
 The Industrial Revolution marked a dramatic change for women as many of them entered the
workforce for the first time. Women had to compete with men for jobs. Female factory workers
often made only one-third as much as men.
 Machines greatly increased production. This meant that products were cheaper to make and
also cheaper to buy. Many factory owners became rich.
 The middle class began opening up new factories for which they required financing and
therefore, the banking and finance system began developing.
 Better transport, communications and mechanized goods made life comfortable for man.

Negatives:

 Advancement in technology and better agricultural production led to better medical facilities
and greater employment which led to population explosion.
 Although the machines made work easier in some ways, factory work created many problems
for the laborers. Factory employees did not earn much, and the work was often dangerous.
Many worked 14 to 16 hours per day six days per week.
 Women and child labour was badly exploited.
 Workers sought to win improved conditions and wages through labor unions. These
organizations helped establish laws to protect workers. Such laws, for instance, limited the
number of work hours for employees and guaranteed they would be paid a certain amount.
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 Cities grew larger, but they were often dirty, crowded, and unhealthy.
 Industrial Revolution made the production of goods easy and ready in much less time.
Therefore, more and more goods began to be produced which led to the exploitation of
resources.
 The process of industrialization continues around the world, as do struggles against many of its
negative effects, such as industrial pollution and urban crowding.
 It led to wars of imperialism and colonization.

Impact of Industrial revolution on India:

 The Industrial Revolution in England impacted the nature of trade of the British in India.
 The Industrial Revolution transformed India into a country that supplied raw-materials to
the industrial houses of Britain.
 Prior to the Industrial Revolution British traders purchased cotton piece- goods and other
handicraft items from India and used to net huge profit by selling those in the European
markets.
 With the Industrial Revolution Britain started manufacturing various articles in a short time. For
the manufacture of such articles huge raw-materials were needed.
 Thus they procured raw-materials from India at a cheap price.
 At the same time Britain flooded the Indian markets with the machine-made products produced
in British factories.

Conclusion
Industrialization changed our world for the better in many ways. It is up to us to clean up the
pollution that comes about as a side effect to these efforts. If we’re unwilling to approach our
environment in the same way that we look at our economies, then this planet we have may not be
around much longer.

The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the
industrialized world, lasting from 1929 to 1939. Analyse the causes behind it. (250
words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes of the Great Depression.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of the Great Depression.
Body:
First, write in detail about the various factors that contributed to the Great Depression – world war-I,
Unstable economies, inflation, improper lending etc.
Next, write about the impact caused by the Great Depression on the global economy.
Conclusion:

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Conclude by writing measures taken to tackle the Great Depression.

Introduction

The Great Depression was a major economic crisis that began in the United States in 1929,
and went to have a worldwide impact until 1939. It began on October 24, 1929, a day that is referred
to as “Black Thursday”, when a monumental crash occurred at the New York Stock Exchange as stock
prices fell by 25 per cent. In the United States, prices and real output fell dramatically. Industrial
production fell by 47 per cent, the wholesale price index by 33 per cent, and real GDP by 30 per cent.

Body

Causes behind Great Depression

 The 1929 stock market crash shattered confidence in the American economy, resulting in
significant cuts in spending and investment.

 During the early 1930s, banking panics caused many banks to fail, reducing the pool of money
available for loans.

 The gold standard required foreign central banks to raise interest rates in order to compensate
for trade imbalances with the United States, which dampened spending and investment in those
countries.

 Speculative boom of 1920s led to an increase in GDP at an annual rate of 4.7%, while the jobless
rate averaged 3.7%, total wealth in the U.S. also increased.

 This ultimately led to rising in consumer debt, companies over-extended themselves, financial
institutions became heavily involved in stock market speculation.

 The absence of strict regulations had opened the way for a period of wild speculation on stock
exchanges.

 Due to the overheated situation in the market the seasoned investors began taking profits in
1929, as a result the share prices started to decrease and caused the stock market crash of 1929.
 The 1920s consumption boom lead to overproduction on the part of many businesses, due to
which they had to start selling goods at a loss.

 As a result of World War I to increase production farmers bought more machinery which lead to
a debt situation as in the post-war economy, production was more than the production.
 Unemployment increases due to losses and increased layoffs. For instance, at the peak in 1933,
the jobless rate reached 24.9%.

 Spending decreased as the consumers were also debt-ridden, this further worsened the
situation, causing more businesses to collapse or cut back and lay off more people.

 There was a decrease in the aggregate demand which resulted in a decline in production as
manufacturers and merchandisers noticed an unintended rise in inventories.

 The decrease in the American economy was transmitted to the rest of the world largely through
the gold standard.

Conclusion

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The Wall Street crash was triggered by minor events, the extent of the decline was due to more
deep-rooted factors such as a fall in aggregate demand, misplaced monetary policies, and an
unintended rise in inventory levels. The great depression of the 1930s was the worst economic crisis
that ultimately turned it into a decade-long economic catastrophe and spread across the western
world. It led to wide unemployment, a decrease in consumer confidence, and had an impact on the
social and cultural lives of the individuals as well. The recovery could mainly come through by
various steps, significant of which was monetary expansion.

What were the causes for the outbreak of Russian revolution against the Czarist
regime? Analyse the role played by the World War-I in the beginning of the revolution.
(250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes of Russian revolution and how world war I influenced the revolution in
Russia.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Write about the outbreak of Russian revolution during the course of World War-I.
Body:
In the first part, mention the causes of the Russian Revolution – Political, Administrative, Economic
and ideological – Link how the world war exacerbated these causes which made the revolution
inevitable.
Next, write about the role of World War-I in the outbreak of the revolution.
Conclusion:
Summarise that chain of events led to the collapse of monarchy in Russia and marked the demise of
Romanov dynasty.
Introduction

In 1913, Tsar Nicholas II celebrated the tercentenary of Romanov rule in Russia. He and his dynasty
ruled over a huge empire, stretching from central Europe to the Pacific Ocean and from the Arctic to
the borders of Afghanistan.

Just five years after the celebrations, Nicholas and his family would be dead, executed by the
Bolsheviks, while his empire would be defeated in the World War and wracked by revolutions, civil
wars and foreign interventions.

Body

the causes for the outbreak of Russian revolution against the Czarist regime

 Economic Situation: During the First World War, when the Ottoman Empire joined the
Central Powers in World War I; it blocked off key trade routes to the Russians. They could no
longer deliver key supplies and their economy suffered in the process.

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o This lead to an inflation of money and the peasants grew angrier because of the high
prices of items such as food and also the increase in food shortages.

o Very similar to Russia, one of the causes of the French Revolution was that the
economy was struggling dramatically especially with produce. Feeding the people
became an issue, due to an unfortunate string of terrible harvests, which in turn
forced food to take a steep rise up in price.

 Financial Crisis: Involvement in World War One or what is now called as The Great War had
left Russia destitute, impoverished, and riddled with corruption.

o The lack in of capital, as well as the rise of Great Britain was another economic cause
of the French revolution. The French were facing a financial crisis with billions in
debt to pay.

 Social crisis : The social causes of the Russian Revolution mainly came from centuries of
oppression towards the lower classes by the Tsarist regime and Nicholas’s failures in World
War I. While rural agrarian peasants had been emancipated from serfdom in 1861, they still
resented paying redemption payments to the state, and demanded communal tender of the
land they worked.

o The French had a designated a three level class system in which the clergy members
were on top of the hierarchy (First Estate), the nobility or bourgeoisie were set in
middle (Second Estate), and the rest of France completed the bottom level (Third
Estate). The burden was always on the Third Estate who eventually revolted against
the upper class.

 Political dissatisfaction: Politically, most areas of Russian society had reason to be

dissatisfied with the existing autocratic system. They had no representation in government,
and the Tsar remained out of touch with the people’s problems.
o In France, all the public offices and posts were held by the nobility and the second
estate. However, the third estate did not have representation, while they had to
bear the burden of taxes.

Role of World War I in fuelling the Russian revolution

During the war: 1914-1916

 At Tannenberg and the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes, in 1914, Russia lost two entire
armies (over 250,000 men).
 This failed Russian advance into East Prussia did disrupt Germany’s Schlieffen Plan and thus
probably prevented the fall of Paris, but it also signalled the beginning of an unrelenting
Russian retreat on the northern sector of the Eastern Front.

 By the middle of 1915 all of Russian Poland and Lithuania, and most of Latvia, were overrun
by the German army.

 Fortunately for the Russians, they did better in 1916. The supply of rifles and artillery shells
to the Eastern Front was vastly improved, and in the Brusilov Offensive of June 1916, Russia
achieved significant victories over the Austrians

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 However, the country’s political and economic problems were greatly exacerbated by the
war. Many factors – including the militarisation of industry and crises in food supply –
threatened disaster on the home front.

 Added to this cocktail were rumours that the tsarina, Alexandra, and her favourite, the
infamous Rasputin, were German spies.

 The rumours were unfounded, but by November 1916 influential critics of the regime were
asking whether Russia’s misfortunes – including 1,700,000 military dead and 5,000,000
wounded – were a consequence of ‘stupidity or treason’.

1917: From February to October

 Food riots, demonstrations and a mutiny at the Petrograd Garrison in February 1917 forced
Nicholas II to abdicate as war still continued.

 A Provisional Government led by liberals and moderate socialists was proclaimed, and its
leaders hoped now to pursue the war more effectively.

 Real power in Russia after the February Revolution, however, lay with the socialist leaders
of the Petrograd (later All-Russian) Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies, who
were elected by popular mandate (unlike the ministers of the Provisional Government).
 Against this background, the war minister Kerensky of the Provisional Government hoped to
strengthen Russia’s hand with a new Russian offensive on the Eastern Front in June.

 Anarchist and Bolshevik agitators played their own part in destroying the Russian Army’s
ability to fight.

 Many anti-war radicals, along with the Bolshevik leader, Vladimir Lenin, were ferried home
from exile in Switzerland in April 1917, courtesy of the German General Staff.

 The summer offensive was a disaster. Peasant soldiers deserted enmasse to join the
revolution, and fraternisation with the enemy became common.

 Meanwhile, in an attempt to restore order and resist the German counter-offensive, most of
the generals and forces of the political right threw their weight behind a plan for a military
coup, under the Russian Army’s commander-in-chief, General Kornilov.

 The coup failed and the generals and the conservatives who had backed Kornilov felt
betrayed by Kerensky

 The only winners were the Bolsheviks, with Lenin at their head, who were able to topple
Kerensky and take power in the October Revolution of 1917- without significant resistance
from either the government or the army.

Conclusion
Thus, we can see that the turn of events for a liberal rule from 1905 got entangled with the Russia’s
entry into WW-1. The events in WW-1 inturn aggravated the Russian revolution.

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Do you agree with the view that “The seeds of World War-ll were sown in the peace of
World War-I”? Comment. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the link between the Paris Peace Treaty and start of the world War-II.
Directive word:
Comment– here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall
opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context about the World War-II and how Provisions of the Paris Peace treaty played a
part in it.
Body:
In the first part, mention the major clauses of the treaty of Versailles. The Treaty vis-a-vis German
treatment and its reaction in aftermath of it must be clearly stated. The treatment of Italy by the ‘Big
3’ and the reactions for it building up for second war must be stated. Elements of impracticality in the
treaty and the humiliation faced by the defeated states outlined.
Next, write about the factors other than the above which led to the outbreak of the war.
Conclusion:
Conclude by a balanced opinion forward.
Introduction
The instability created in Europe by the First World War (1914-18) set the stage for another
international conflict—World War II—which broke out two decades later and would prove even
more devastating. Rising to power in an economically and politically unstable Germany, Adolf Hitler,
leader of the Nazi Party, rearmed the nation and signed strategic treaties with Italy and Japan to
further his ambitions of world domination.

Body

World-War 2 was a resultant of World-War 1:

 The Treaty of Versailles was a dictated peace as the Germans were not allowed to be part
of the negotiations. They could only put forward their opinion and criticism through writings.
All their criticisms were ignored.

o Only the clause of loss of territory was the one where the Germans were
compensated.

o The industrial region of Upper Silesia in West Prussia was handed over to Germans
after a vote.

o But then the Allied Powers argued that the Treaty of Brest Litovsk was also a
dictated peace upon Russia.

 The clause of disarmament of Germany made it virtually impotent and the reparations
charged upon the Germans were unjustified. Wilson’s 14 points included ‘all round decrease
in armament’ but it was only Germany which was disarmed and no other European power

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started disarmament. The limit on troops and arms made it difficult for Germany to maintain
law and order.

 Principle of nationality, ethnicity and of Self Determination: This was a major principle
advocated by the Allied Powers to justify reorganization of Europe’s internal borders and
creation of new independent states out of Habsburg empire. But it was not completely
followed:

o Germans: Significant amount of German territory with German population was

given to newly created nations. Poland had more than a million Germans.

o The result was that many Germans lived outside Germany after the World War I and
this was to be used by Hitler to justify German aggression and expansion before
World War II.

 War Guilt Clause: It is pretty much evident that all the Imperial powers were responsible for
the World War I. Thus, the War Guilt clause, which fixed responsibility of World War I solely
on Germany and its allies was unjustified. It served as a humiliation for the Germans.

o It became a rallying point for Hitler.

 Policy of Appeasement
o Hitler openly denounced the Treaty of Versailles and began secretly building up
Germany’s army and weapons.

o Although Britain and France knew of Hitler’s actions, they thought a stronger
Germany would stop the spread of Communism from Russia.

o An example of appeasement was the Munich Agreement of September 1938. In the

Agreement, Britain and France allowed Germany to annex areas in Czechoslovakia
where German-speakers lived.

 Germany agreed not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia or any other

country. However, in March 1939, Germany broke its promise and invaded
the rest of Czechoslovakia.

 Even then, neither Britain nor France was prepared to take military action.

However, there were other reasons too

Failure of the League of Nations

 The League of Nations was an international organization set up in 1919 to keep world peace.

 It was intended that all countries would be members and that if there were disputes
between countries, they could be settled by negotiation rather than by force.
 The League of Nations was a good idea, but ultimately a failure, as not all countries joined
the league.

 Also, the League had no army to prevent military aggression such as Italy’s invasion of
Ethiopia in Africa or Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in China.

Rise of Fascism

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 Victors’ stated aims in World War I had been “to make the world safe for democracy,” and
post-war Germany was made to adopt a democratic constitution, as did most of the other
states restored or created after the war.

 In the 1920s, however, the wave of nationalistic, militaristic totalitarianism known by its
Italian name, fascism.

 It promised to minister to peoples’ wants more effectively than democracy and presented
itself as the one sure defence against communism.

 Benito Mussolini established the first Fascist, European dictatorship during the interwar
period in Italy in 1922.

Rise of Nazism

 Adolf Hitler, the Leader of the German National Socialist (Nazi) party, preached a racist
brand of fascism.

 Hitler promised to overturn the Versailles Treaty, restore German wealth & glory and secure
additional Lebensraum (“living space”) for the German people, who he contended deserve
more as members of a superior race.

 In 1933 Hitler became the German Chancellor, and in a series of subsequent moves
established himself as dictator.

 Moreover, in 1941 the Nazi regime unleashed a war of extermination against Slavs, Jews,
and other elements deemed inferior by Hitler’s ideology.

Great Depression of 1929

 The worldwide economic depression of the 1930s took its toll in different ways in Europe
and Asia.

 In Europe, political power shifted to totalitarian and imperialist governments in several

countries, including Germany, Italy, and Spain.

 In Asia, a resource-starved Japan began to expand aggressively, invading China and

manoeuvring to control a sphere of influence in the Pacific.

Ideological Conflict:

 Dictatorship vs. Democracy.

 Another cause of World War II was the ideological conflict between dictatorships on the one
hand and democracies on the other.

 Germany, Italy and Japan (Axis states) stood for dictatorship, war and imperialism, while
Britain, France and the U.S.A. stood for democracy, peace and status quo.

 The ideological conflict between the former and the latter prevented the adoption of a
peaceful and balanced approach to the settlement of their disputes.

Conclusion

The Treaty seemed to satisfy the “Big Three” viz. US, Britain and France, since in their eyes it was a
just peace, as it kept Germany weak, yet strong enough to stop the spread of communism; kept the

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French border with Germany safe from another German attack and created the organization, the
League of Nations, that would end warfare throughout the world.

However, it left a mood of anger throughout Germany as it was felt that as a nation Germany had
been unfairly treated. Above all else, Germany hated the clause blaming her for the cause of the war
and the resultant financial penalties the treaty was bound to impose on Germany. Ordinary German
citizens felt that they were being punished for the mistakes of the German government in August
1914 as it was the government that had declared war, not the people. The humiliating conditions of
the treaty rankled Germans for years and in many ways led to the rise of Nazism in Germany

Evaluate the role played by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, especially
India during the Cold war era. Did India remain truly non-aligned? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India , Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
Highlight nature of engagement of NAM countries with the superpowers. Evaluate the role played by
India, as a member of NAM.
Directive:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of
the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence. You must appraise the worth of
the statement in question. There is scope for forming an opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Introduce NAM, and the background in which it emerged.
Body:
Elaborate on the role played by NAM in easing tensions between the superpowers by citing examples.
Note how NAM did not practise isolationism or neutrality.
Next, write the role played by India as part of NAM, and steps taken by it to reduce geo-political
tensions.
Next, write about the nature of non-alignment by India.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced opinion on the issue.
Introduction

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was created and founded during the collapse of the colonial
system and the independence struggles of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America and other
regions of the world and at the height of the Cold War. Throughout its history, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries has played a fundamental role in the preservation of world peace and
security.

Body

Role of NAM countries in reducing cold war conflicts

 In middle of the cold war, NAM ensured that peoples being oppressed by foreign occupation
and domination can exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.

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 South-South Cooperation: NAM acted as a protector for the small countries against
the western hegemony. The third world nations and newly independent countries
supported each other in their quest for development.

 NIEO: During the 1970s and 1980s, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries played a key
role in the struggle for the establishment of a new international economic order(NIEO) that
allowed all the peoples of the world to make use of their wealth and natural resources and
provided a wide platform for a fundamental change in international economic relations and
the economic emancipation of the countries of the South.

 Disarmament: The Non-aligned Movement repeatedly comes out for maintenance of peace,
‘the cessation of arms race and the peaceful coexistence of all States.

India’s contribution to NAM

 As a leader of NAM, India’s response to the cold war power politics was two-fold:

o India steered itself away from the great power politics, positioning itself as
an ‘interested observer’.
o It raised its voice against the newly decolonized nations from joining the either
bloc.
 During the cold war, India made a, concerted effort to activate those regional &
international organizations, which were not a part of the alliances led by US & USSR, thus
maintaining the spirit of NAM.

 In the General Assembly, India submitted a draft resolution declaring that the use of
nuclear weapons would be against the charter of the United Nations and crime against
humanity and should therefore be prohibited.

 Non-alignment has been an influential tenet of India’s foreign policy since its emergence
from decolonization.

 It was based on a realistic assessment of India’s geopolitical situation.

 Nehru, one of the chief architects of NAM intended to give India room to manoeuvre
according to its own interests rather than allowing it to become confined within the
limitations of the cold-war alliance.

Critical analysis

 India’s inclination towards erstwhile USSR created confusions in smaller members. It led to
the weakening of NAM and small nations drifted towards either US or USSR.

 The signing of Friendship Treaty with Soviet Union was a major Faultline and India was
considered anti-west for a long time.
 However, with the end of cold war power politics and emergence of Unipolar World, non-
alignment, both as an international movement as well as the core of India’s foreign policy,
has lost some of its relevance & importance.

 The NAM countries did not have any concrete initiative in the context of crisis in Syria &
Libya.

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 Many ‘non-aligned’ countries, including India are continuing NAM as a historical legacy and
have re-oriented their foreign policy towards strengthening engagements with major
powers, such as USA, Russia & China, for their domestic development agenda.

 The sparse attendance by heads of government/State at 17th NAM Summit (Venezuela) is

the key evidence of the crisis of relevance of NAM.

 According to C. Raja Mohan NAM is in the state of ‘COMA’. It is passing through the crisis of
identity and relevance.

Conclusion

Non alignment as a foreign policy is very much alive even today in India’s foreign policy.
The strategic autonomy approach is a manifestation of the same. The NAM platform is still the
biggest arena of developing nations. Hence it becomes relevant to mobilize international public
opinion against terrorism, weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), nuclear proliferation, ecological
imbalance, safeguarding interests of developing countries in WTO (World Trade Organization) etc.

Value Addition
 The basic concept for the group originated in 1955 during discussions that took place at
the Asia-Africa Bandung Conference held in Indonesia.
 The Non-Aligned Movement was founded and held its first conference (the Belgrade
Conference) in 1961 under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel
Nasser of Egypt, Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, and Sukarno of
Indonesia.

 NAM does not have a formal constitution or permanent secretariat, and its administration
is non-hierarchical and rotational. Decisions are made by consensus, which requires
substantial agreement, but not unanimity.

 It has 120 members as of April 2018 comprising 53 countries from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26
from Latin America and the Caribbean and 2 from Europe (Belarus, Azerbaijan). There are 17
countries and 10 international organizations that are Observers at NAM.

Although the Cultural Revolution largely bypassed the vast majority of the people, who
lived in rural areas, it had highly serious consequences for the Chinese system as a
whole. Elucidate. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Mastering World History by Norman Lowe
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
The problems China faced following the Communist victory over KMT in 1949, and the measures
introduced by Mao to address them.
Directive:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:

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Begin by writing that an important reason why the CCP had emerged victorious was that it had a
large following among the masses. This itself was a result of Mao having been profoundly influenced
by the thoughts of Marx and Lenin.
Body:
Write what the problems facing China and its people were, then how Mao attempted to resolve
them. In the process, try relating the measures he introduced to the thoughts of Marx and Lenin.
Mention the positive as well as negative impact of the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

In 1966, China’s Communist leader Mao Zedong launched what became known as the Cultural
Revolution in order to reassert his authority over the Chinese government. Believing that current
Communist leaders were taking the party, and China itself, in the wrong direction, Mao called on the
nation’s youth to purge the “impure” elements of Chinese society and revive the revolutionary spirit
that had led to victory in the civil war 20 decades earlier and the formation of the People’s Republic
of China. The Cultural Revolution continued in various phases until Mao’s death in 1976, and its
tormented and violent legacy would resonate in Chinese politics and society for decades to come.

Body

Cultural revolution by Mao

 Mao stated that then leadership was moving from communism to capitalism and he
spearheaded the task of restoring communism by purging those that vitiated its purity.

 He asked the students from schools and universities as well workers to join him.
 These group of people called “Red Guards” attempted to restore communism by attacking
people with bourgeois characteristics.

 Taking over of educational institutions by the revolutionaries, and forcefully impose Maoist
ideology in their curriculum and teaching.
Assumption of complete authority by Mao Zeodong, who ordered the purging of non-
compliant officials, as well as ordinary citizens, on a massive scale, and his insistence on the
removal of the ”revisionists” through a violent class struggle.

 This led to unprecedented violence throughout the country and loss of large number of lives
coupled with economic turmoil. The Mao finally ended the revolution by ensuring that the
Red Guards were sent back to their education/work.
 The end of Cultural Revolution ushered in economic reforms by liberalisation and thereby
moving towards capitalism. This is exactly opposite of what Cultural Revolution had set out
to aim.

Consequences on the Chinese system

 The Cultural Revolution gave way to the progressive rise of capitalism in China, under the
leadership of charismatic leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, like Deng Xiaoping. The
features of the origin were as follows:

o A revision of the manner in which the state-led enterprises worked, in the initial
stages, in order to save socialism in China.

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o After that, privatization of a number of enterprises were allowed, where heavy

investment by the government had not yielded effective results.

o Decentralization of foreign trade, and conferring of fiscal autonomy upon the

provinces were the next steps.

o Private farming, and creation of SEZs received a big boost.

Conclusion

In short, both the Cultural Revolution, and the origin of Chinese brand of capitalism are two
landmark events in China, having close links with each other. In fact, the extreme brand of
communism ushered in through the means of the Cultural Revolution, can be believed to be
exclusively responsible for having generated the first push towards the need for liberalization, from
excessive central control and domination.

Simon Bolivar was a soldier and statesman who led the revolutions against Spanish rule
and was at the forefront of Latin American independence movement. Discuss. (250
words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: History of modern world by Jain & Mathur
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the contributions of Simon Bolivar to Latin American independence.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving brief description of Simon Bolivar – who is known as The Liberator.
Body:
First write about the political philosophy of Simon Bolivar and that penned two political treatises—
the Cartagena Manifesto and the Letter from Jamaica.
Next write about his military achievements – encouraging the people of South America to rebel
against Spanish colonial rule, leading multiple expeditionary forces against the Spaniards, liberated
territories etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising that his contributions earned him the epithet – The Liberator from the Latin
American people.
Introduction

Simón Bolívar was a South American soldier who was instrumental in the continent’s revolutions
against the Spanish empire. Simon Bolivar from 1813 to 1824 liberated many South American
countries and later tried to organize them into a US type federation in form of Gran Columbia. He
freed Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia from the Spanish rule through an armed
revolt.

Body

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Political philosophy of Simon Bolivar

 Young Bolívar moved to Spain in 1799 after the deaths of his parents and
was associate of Napoleon, until he returned to Venezuela in

 When Napoleon named Joseph Bonaparte King of Spain and its colonies, which included
Venezuela, Bolívar joined the resistance movement.

 The resistance group based in Caracas gained independence in 1810, and Bolívar travelled to
Britain on a diplomatic mission. The fight for control of Caracas, Venezuela and most of
South American continued on back home.

 Finally, Bolívar returned to Venezuela and began a campaign to wrest control of that
country from the Spanish.

 The Cartagena Manifesto was written by Simón Bolívar during the Colombian and
Venezuelan War of Independence, after the fall of the First Republic, explaining what he
believed to be the causes of this loss. It was written in Cartagena de Indies, on 15 December
1812.
o Bolivar advocated a strong central government and powerful executive to avoid
infighting between city, state, and national authorities, which in his view created
stalemate, dissipating funds and energy.

 He and his followers invaded Venezuela on May 14, 1813; this marked the beginning of his
“Campaña Admirable” (Admirable Campaign), which resulted in the formation of
the Venezuelan Second Republic later that year.

 Bolívar was hailed as El Libertador (The Liberator), though civil war soon erupted in the
republic, forcing him to flee to Jamaica and seek foreign aid.

 There he wrote his famous “Letter From Jamaica,” detailing his vision of a South American
republic with a parliamentary setup modelled after England and a life-long president. His
idea of being a nation’s chief who could not be removed from power would be heavily
critiqued by other leaders and intellectuals.

Military achievements of Bolivar

 Gaining support from Haiti, Bolívar returned to his home continent and became involved in a
number of military battles, eventually able to claim several territories.

 1821 saw the creation of the Gran Colombia, under Bolívar’s leadership.

 This federation included much of what is now Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador.

 Further manoeuvres saw him named Dictator of Peru in 1824, followed by the creation of
Bolivia in 1825.
 Bolívar had succeeded in uniting much of South America in a federation free from Spanish
control, but the government was fragile.

 Despite his desire to create a union of states similar to that which created the United States
of America, Bolívar faced opposition from internal factions throughout the huge Gran
Colombia, with there being a push to form single nations.

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 As a temporary measure, Bolívar declared himself dictator in 1828, though in September of

the same year he escaped an assassination attempt with aid from his mistress and fellow
revolutionary Manuela Sáenz.

 He resigned this post in 1830 and made plans to sail for exile in Europe.

Conclusion

On December 17, 1830, however, Simón Bolívar died in Santa Marta, Colombia, after a battle with
what may have been tuberculosis. Today, Bolívar’s legacy can be seen in the multitude of statues
and plaza squares bearing his likeness throughout South and North America.

Although independence was achieved, but many newly independent African states
went through a period political crisis leading rise of autocrats and economic stagnation
leading to severe hunger and poverty. To what extent, can the colonists be blamed for
post-independence crises in Africa? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: History of modern world by Jain & Mathur
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the problems faced by African nations after independence, and the role played by the
Colonialism in their misery.
Introduction:
Introduce the answer by writing about decolonisation of Africa and how it took place.
Body:
The problems faced by independent African nations were not very different. List the common
problems, and use examples. Also cite some unique problems that plagued individual African
countries (ex: apartheid in South Africa), Civil wars in western Africa, emergence of dictators etc.
Mention the impact of the above on African countries and link it with present day.
Next, write about the role played the colonists in the above crises – highlighting how African
countries to this day are being affected by their colonial past.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning a balanced opinion.
Introduction

Between 1945 and 1960, three dozen new states in Asia and Africa achieved autonomy or outright
independence from their European colonial rulers. There was no one process of decolonization. In
some areas, it was peaceful, and orderly. In many others, independence was achieved only after
a protracted revolution. A few newly independent countries acquired stable governments almost
immediately; others were ruled by dictators or military juntas for decades, or endured long civil
wars.

Body

Background

 The process of decolonization coincided with the new Cold War between the Soviet Union
and the United States, and with the early development of the new United Nations.

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 Decolonization was often affected by superpower competition, and had a definite impact on
the evolution of that competition.

 It also significantly changed the pattern of international relations in a more general sense.

 The creation of so many new countries, some of which occupied strategic locations, others
of which possessed significant natural resources, and most of which were desperately poor,
altered the composition of the United Nations and political complexity of every region of the
globe.

Problems faced by independent African nations

 Lack of manufacturing capacity: These new countries also lacked the manufacturing
infrastructure to add value to their raw materials.

o Rich as many African countries were in cash crops and minerals, they could not
process these goods

o : Kwame Nkrumah – the first prime minister and president of Ghana – knew,
political independence without economic independence was meaningless.

 Lack of infrastructure: One of the most pressing challenges African states faced at
Independence was their lack of infrastructure.

o European imperialists prided themselves on bringing civilization and developing

Africa, but they left their former colonies with little in the way of infrastructure.

 Lack of National Identity: The borders Africa’s new countries were left with were the ones
drawn in Europe during the Scramble for Africa with no regard to the ethnic or social
landscape on the ground.

 Straight line countries: There was, before the arrival of Europeans, no such territory as
‘Nigeria’ or ‘Mali’, ‘Namibia’ or ‘Gabon’; these were arbitrarily made-up places designed to
suit European priorities.

o These nations pushed together ethnic groups that had over centuries usually
had nothing to do with one another, spoke different languages, worshipped
different religions and had long histories of rivalry and suspicion.

 Series of military coups: Post-colonial West Africa has had more than its fair share of
military coups. The 1960s were called the decade of coups in the sub-region.

o g.: The coup syndrome began in Togo in January 1963, when the army deposed and
killed President Sylvanus Olympio.

o Nigerian army leader General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi seized power also in January
1966 and killed Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa.
 Cold war: Cold War politics also presented an opportunity for factions that sought to
challenge the new governments.

o g.: In Angola, the international support that the government and rebel factions
received in the Cold War led to a civil war that lasted nearly thirty years.

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Impact of the above on African countries

 Little regard for the National Constitution: As soon as a civilian government is overthrown,
the military junta puts aside the Constitution, proscribes all political activities and rules by
decree.

o This is a very undemocratic behaviour on the part of the military rulers.

 Human rights abuses: Military rulers have little regard for the rights and freedoms of the
individual.

o The arbitrary arrest, detention and killings of politicians and others connected with
the ousted regime and massive destruction or looting of property are disturbing
features of military rule.

 The fallacy of rescuing the state: In the majority of the coups that have occurred, the
military has sometimes deemed it a national and patriotic obligation to rescue the country
from total collapse and restore lost national prestige.

o But this is not always the case. Most military regimes have turned out to be more
corrupt, oppressive and self-seeking than the civilian governments they toppled.

 Pervasive poverty: Africa today is one of the most under developed continents and hosts
the world poorest and starved population on earth.

 Genocides: The worst genocides in history took place in Rwanda, where millions were killed.

Conclusion

In spite of the abundant natural resources that most African countries possess, they are still
economically poor and under-developed. The living standards of the people are very low and basic
social services are deplorable. The roots of the major socio-economic problems facing African
countries today can be traced back to the colonial period and the influence of neo-colonialism.

Write a Brief Note on Nazism and the Rise of Adolf Hitler. What lessons does it hold in
the present times? Discuss (15M)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
It is based on an editorial in the Hindu Newspaper.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about Nazism and how the Rise of Adolf Hitler relates to a series of significant events that
marks the history of Germany and the world. Also, what lessons we can take and apply in the present
times.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin the answer by introducing the Nazim philosophy and give a background of the rise of Hitler.
Body:

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Next show the factors that led to the rise of Nazism (and other totalitarian regimes) during 1 st half of
the 20th century. Discuss its impacts (including the horrendous act of the holocaust).
Next, write what can we learn from it so as to avoid such events in the future. Do include a few
lessons India can take.
Conclusion:
Hitler and his Nazism ideology were based on a racist mentality. Conclude by writing how such
mentality can be addressed. OR alternatively, you can also conclude by saying what could have been
done to stop the spread of such a mentality during the 1st half of the 20th century.
Introduction

The Nazism ideology established by Adolf Hitler vehemently believes that the Aryans held a
superior position while Jews are considered to be anti-national. Racial discrimination is a core part of
Nazism. It restricted the social mobility of the Jews and they were assassinated. It follows a brutal
ideology following higher levels of penetration. It does not believe or propagate racism, the Aryans
are unified against the Jews.

Body

Backdrop of rise of Nazi culture:

 National Socialism was perceived by its originators as a Weltanschauung [world view] and
revolutionary movement.
 It claimed that German, "Aryan" people are bonded by their innermost disposition as a organic
community, and thus at one with a political party which recognizes the intrinsic value of blood,
personality, and soil which identifies them as a race.
 Hitler asserted that the National Socialist world view would stand in opposition to pacifistic
international democracy in its effects and consequences.
 Culture, art, technology, productivity in general, and superior talent is race determined and
based on racial attributes.
 That endeavour is race determined was claimed by the Nazis, a belief rapidly accepted by a
majority of educated as well as formally uneducated Germans.
 In their propagated ideology, Hitler and his cohorts were successful in taking advantage of the
people's frustrated expectations by persuading them to believe that the Great War was lost
because they had been stabbed in the back by Jewish exploiters and that now Germany's
existence was threatened by communists and social democrats.
 Further, it was claimed that the people were being ruined economically by war reparations
imposed on them by the victorious Allies in the form of the Versailles Treaty, as well as other
external, unfair, exploitative demands.

Use of techniques of propaganda:

 The Nazis turned to völkisch thought (a product of nineteenth-century German romanticism)

and the notion of Führerprinzip ('the leadership principle'), to embody their ideas, and Hitler
was shown in posters as a mystical figure, guiding the nation's destiny.
 A veritable industry of paintings and posters showed Hitler in familiar 'renaissance pose',
alongside the propaganda slogan: Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer ('One People, One Nation, One
Leader').
 The slogan was used to great effect in 1938, with the Anschluss ('union'), when Germany joined
in union with Austria.
 His fame grew via speeches at rallies, parades, and on the radio.

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 Hitler's publications, Folk and Race and Bolschevismus from Moses to Lenin (by Dietrich Eckart).
 Postal stamps of various denominations bearing Hitler's image from1941-44.
 Hitler and leading Nazi cohorts after a war time concert in Berlin, conducted by Maestro
Furtwängler.
 Hitler Away from the Work Day - Photographs of Hitler taken by his "court photographer,"
Heinrich Hoffmann.

Role of Personality cult of leaders:

 Hitler possessed charismatic appeal and was experienced by multitudes as a captivating orator
who gave them hope and they willing submitted to his wishes and dictates.
 The essentially negative anti-parliamentarianism of Nazi propaganda led to the projection of the
'Führer-myth', which depicted Hitler as both charismatic superman and man of the people.
 From 1936 until the Munich agreement of 1938, which gave the Sudetenland to Germany, Hitler
carried out a series of audacious foreign policy coups, and these won him support from all
sections of the community.
 He was now widely acclaimed throughout Germany, enjoying unparalleled popularity and
prestige.
 In practical terms, the leadership principle meant that decisions came down from above, instead
of being worked out by discussion and choice from below.
 Hitler promised the people employment and the return to socio-economic well-being.
 He presented himself as a prophet and was so portrayed by his paladins and followers.
 He possessed charismatic appeal and was experienced by multitudes as a captivating orator
who gave them hope and they willing submitted to his wishes and dictates.
 Joseph Goebbels and other Nazi leaders availed themselves of modern technology to spread
Nazi ideological propaganda to reinforce Hitler's personal power and appeal.
 A personality cult was developed which made the people stand in awe of Hitler.
 Hitler was accepted as supreme leader who could not fail and do no wrong.

Current trends:

Recent bids to endear Xi Jinping to the masses differ from the top-down deification of Mao
in the 1960s. Heartfelt ballads, emotive photos, action figurines - these are among an array of tools
used by China's propaganda machinery to promote Chinese President Xi Jinping's image as a popular
leader, a visionary thinker, a people's man and a loving family man.

A propaganda app that puts China's powerful President Xi Jinping in anyone's pockets has
become a hit in the country — with a helpful nudge from Communist Party officials.

North Korea has a propaganda department in the government which makes tall claims about
the leader Kim Jong-Un.

Conclusion

The cult of Adolf Hitler was a deliberately cultivated mass phenomenon. Such cult building due
to propaganda leads to despotism which backfires on the citizens itself. There needs to be a check
on such rhetorics to maintain peace and harmony in the nation as well as across globe.

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Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

“India has succeeded as a democratic republic because many creeds and languages
have united and not divided the country”. How does Indian society show ‘Unity in
Diversity’? Has diversity been its strength or a weakness? (250 Words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of the
Mission-2023 Secure timetable. Also, The President addressed the nation on the occasion of Republic
Day.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the ‘unity in Diversity’ concept of Indian Society.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving a brief introduction to the meaning of unity in diversity.
Body:
First list down points to show in what ways Indian society shows unity in Diversity e.g., languages,
creed, geography, food, dialects, etc.
Next, write whether this ‘diversity’ has been a source of strength or a source of weakness. Briefly
write 3-4 points for each.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced viewpoint and what needs to be done to strengthen this unity in
diversity.
Introduction

India is a plural society both in letter and spirit. It is rightly characterized by its unity and diversity. A
grand synthesis of cultures, religions and languages of the people belonging to different castes and
communities has upheld its unity and cohesiveness despite multiple foreign invasions.

National unity and integrity have been maintained even through sharp economic and social
inequalities have obstructed the emergence of egalitarian social relations. It is this synthesis which
has made India a unique mosque of cultures. Thus, India presents seemingly multicultural situation
within in the framework of a single integrated cultural whole.

Body

Background: India’s diversity

 India today is home to varied cultures and ethnic groups with substantial differences
in physical appearance, language, religion and customs.

 India also has vast economic differences between regions and its richest state is 10x more
prosperous (on a per capita basis) than its poorest, with high-growth states and large
metros at middle-income level resembling coastal China, and others more closely
resembling Sub-Saharan Africa, with incomes under US$1,000 per capita.

 It is said that geography is destiny, and if this is true, then India’s land itself is a key
determinant of the diversity of its peoples, varying from desert to savannah and rain
forests, from the roof of the world to coastal swamps and tropical islands. This geography,
coupled with major urban centres and valleys of technology clusters, shapes its inhabitants
daily lives and therefore their culture and beliefs.

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 While ethnicity and religion form a core of each Indian’s identity, those identities themselves
can vary widely depending on backgrounds, regions and socio-economic levels. Even within
religions, there can be significant differences in how this is practiced and therefore how
identity is defined.

Challenges with India’s diversity

 Regionalism: Regionalism tends to highlight interests of a particular region/regions over

national interests. It can also adversely impact national integration. Law and order situation
is hampered due to regional demands and ensuing

 Divisive politics: Sometimes, ascriptive identities such as caste, religion etc. are evoked by
politicians in order to garner This type of divisive politics can result in violence, feeling of
mistrust and suspicion among minorities.

 Development imbalance: Uneven pattern of socio-economic development, inadequate

economic policies and consequent economic disparities can lead to backwardness of a
region. Consequently, this can result in violence, kickstart waves of migration and even
accelerate demands of separatism.. For instance, due to economic backwardness of the
North East region, several instances of separatist demands and secessionist tendencies have
sprung up in the

 Ethnic differentiation and nativism: Ethnic differentiation has often led to clashes between
different ethnic groups especially due to factors such as job competition, limited resources,
threat to identity E.g. frequent clashes between Bodos and Bengali speaking Muslims in
Assam. This has been accentuated by son of the soil doctrine, which ties people to their
place of birth and confers some benefits, rights, roles and responsibilities on them, which
may not apply to others.

 Geographical isolation: Geographical isolation too can lead to identity issues and separatist
The North-East is geographically isolated from the rest of the country as it is connected with
the rest of the country by a narrow corridor i.e the Siliguri corridor (Chicken’s neck). The
region has inadequate infrastructure, is more backward economically as compared to the
rest of the country. As a result, ithas witnessed several instances of separatism and cross-
border terrorism, among others.

 Inter-religious conflicts: Inter-religious conflicts not only hamper relations between two
communities by spreading fear and mistrust but also hinder the secular fabric of the country.
 Inter-state conflicts: This can lead emergence of feelings related to regionalism. It can also
affect trade and communications between conflicting states. For instance, Cauvery River
dispute between Karnataka and Tamil

 Influence of external factors: Sometimes external factors such as foreign organizations

terrorist groups, extremist groups can incite violence and sow feelings of separatism. g.
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been accused of supporting and training mujahideen to
fight in Jammu and Kashmir and sow separatist tendencies among resident groups.

Success as a republic

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 Constitutional identity: The entire country is governed by one single Even, most of the
states follow a generalised scheme of 3-tier government structure, thus imparting
uniformity in national governance framework. Further, the Constitution guarantees certain
fundamental rights to all citizens regardless of their age, gender, class, caste, religion, etc.

 Religious co-existence: Religion tolerance is the unique feature of religions in India due to
which multiple religions co-exist in Freedom of religion and religious practice is guaranteed
by the Constitution itself. Moreover, there is no state religion and all religions are given
equal preference by the state.

 Inter-State mobility: The Constitution guarantees freedom to move throughout the territory
of India under Article 19 (1) (d), thus promoting a sense of unity and brotherhood among the

o Other factors such as uniform pattern of law, penal code, and administrative works
(eg. All India services) too lead to uniformity in the criminal justice system, policy
implementation

 Economic integration: The Constitution of India secures the freedom of Trade,

Commerce and Intercourse within the Territory of India under Article Further, the Goods and
Service Tax (GST) have paved way for ‘one country, one tax, one national market’, thus
facilitating unity among different regions.

 Institution of pilgrimage and religious practices: In India, religion and spirituality have great
significance. . From Badrinath and Kedarnath in the north to Rameshwaram in the south,
Jagannath Puri in the east to Dwaraka in the west the religious shrines and holy rivers are
spread throughout the length and breadth of the Closely related to them is the age-old
culture of pilgrimage, which has always moved people to various parts of the country and
fostered in them a sense of geo-cultural unity.

 Fairs and festivals: They also act as integrating factors as people from all parts of the
country celebrate them as per their own local Eg. Diwali is celebrated throughout by Hindus
in the country, similarly Id and Christmas are celebrated by Muslims and Christians,
respectively. Celebration of inter-religious festivals is also seen in India.

 Climatic integration via monsoon: The flora and fauna in the entire Indian subcontinent,
agricultural practices, life of people, including their festivities revolve around the monsoon
season in

 Sports and Cinema: These are followed by millions in the country, thus, acting as a binding
force across the length and breadth of the country

Conclusion
This diversity and the pluralism it fosters have been a key strength for India, creating a vibrant and
dynamic society that is open to new ideas, and quick to adopt and adapt innovations regardless of
their origin, as well as creating a strong democratic polity with checks and balances on its leadership.
If properly leveraged, India’s diversity is a fundamental strategic asset for the country’s development
and standing in the world.

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How has women’s participation in sports changed over time? Enlist the challenges and
limitations that women in sports face and measures taken to empower them. (250
Words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
There have been various incidents- 1st women IPL, allegations of sexual harassment by wrestlers,
issues of the commodification of women’s sports (last year) etc.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about women in sports.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving a brief introduction to increasing women’s participation in sports.
Body:
First, very briefly give facts/examples of how the participation of women in sports has changed over
time (over a few decades in India).
Next, cite challenges (e.g., gender pay gap, lack of facilities, issues of sexual exploitation etc) and
limitations (perceived biological limitations, institutional limitations, societal limitations etc.). Then
highlight a few measures (including in recent times) for improving the participation of women in
sports. Cite examples to justify your points from India and the world. E.g. Naomi Osaka, one of the
brightest, egalitarian voices in the tennis domain
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a bright outlook for women in sports.
Introduction

India’s top wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, and World
Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, staged a protest against Wrestling Federation of India
president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him and coaches of the Federation of sexual
harassment. Singh was asked to step aside, and the Union Sports Ministry constituted a five-member
oversight committee to investigate the charges.

The committee, led by the celebrated boxer M.C. Mary Kom, has also been tasked with managing
the day-to-day affairs of the Federation until the submission of its report. The controversy has yet
again brought into focus the many problems in Indian sports governance.

Body

Challenges and limitations faced by women in sports

 Funding and Budget: Sportswomen face a lack of equal funding compared to men's
athletics, making it difficult for them to compete and run consistent programs.
 Buoyant Sexism: Women are made to face the barrels of buoyant sexism on a daily basis,
be it at work or even at home. They are monitored and judged by the way they dress, by
the way they speak.
 Gender Disparity: Despite women's efforts to advocate for their social rights, they still do
not receive the same level of respect or recognition on the professional front, particularly
in the sports industry, as their male counterparts.
 Lack of Access and Costlier: Lack of physical education in schools and limited opportunities
to play sports in both high school and college mean girls have to look elsewhere for sports –
which may not exist or may cost more money.

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 Often there is an additional lack of access to adequate playing facilities near their
homes that makes it more difficult for girls to engage in sports.
 Safety and Transportation Issues: Sports require a place to participate – and for many girls,
especially in dense urban environments, that means traveling to facilities through unsafe
neighborhoods or lacking any means to get to a good facility miles away.
 And if there isn’t a safe option like carpooling with other families, the only option
for a girl and her family may be to stay home.
 For example, Manipur is a sporting powerhouse, but 48% of female athletes
travel over 10 km to reach the practice facility.
 Social Attitudes and Disfigurement: Despite recent progress, discrimination based on the
real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of female athletes persists.
 Girls in sports may experience bullying, social isolation, negative performance
evaluations, or the loss of their starting position.
 During socially fragile adolescence, the fear of being tagged “gay” is strong enough
to push many girls out of the game.
 Decreased Quality Training: The facilities are not as good as the boys’ venues and the
playing times may not be optimal.
 The availability of quality, trained coaches may be lacking in their community or
these coaches may be more focused on the boys’ programs that have more money
for training.
 Equipment, and even uniforms aren’t funded for many girls’ programs at the same
levels as boys so their ability to grow and enjoy the sport is diminished. In short,
sports just aren’t “fun” any more.
 Lack of Positive Role Models: Today’s girls are bombarded with images of external beauty,
not those of confident, strong female athletic role models.
 Peer pressure can be hard for girls at any age; when that pressure isn’t offset with
strong encouragement to participate in sports and healthy physical activity, the
results may lead girls to drop out altogether.
 Limited Media Coverage: Women's sports are often underrepresented in the media, which
can make it harder for female athletes to gain recognition and sponsorship opportunities.
 Pregnancy and Maternity: Female athletes often face challenges balancing motherhood and
their sports careers.
 This can affect the training and competing opportunities for female athletes.

Need for more women’s participation in sports

 Economic Empowerment:
 Women who participate in sports often have more opportunities for education and
employment, which can lead to greater economic empowerment.
 Rectify Societal Connotations:
 Women's participation in sports can also help to change societal attitudes towards
women and their capabilities.
 By seeing women excel in sports, it can inspire more women to pursue their own
goals and aspirations, and challenge stereotypes about what women are capable of
achieving.
 Representation:
 Women's participation in sports can help to provide better representation for
women in leadership roles, including coaching and administration.

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 It can also serve as an inspiration for young girls to pursue sports as a career.
 Community Building:
 Sports can bring people together and promote greater understanding and respect
between different groups within society.
 By promoting greater participation in sports among women, we can help to build
stronger and more inclusive communities.

Conclusion

Sports in India is in the process of development. To accelerate this rate of development, a holistic
approach should be adopted. Efforts are required in developing infrastructure, identifying sports
talents, organising regular sports events, and generating awareness at the grass-root level.

Value addition

Women sportspersons in India

 PT. Usha(Athlete): Her 102 medals won at national and international tournaments created a
sensation in the country and motivated a generation of young women athletes.
 Karnam Malleswari: the first Indian woman who won a bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney
Olympics in women’s 69 kg category in weightlifting.
 Mary Kom(Boxing) and Saina Nehwal(Badminton): Bronze Medal in London Olympics in
2012
 P.V. Sindhu(Badminton): Silver medal in badminton
 Sakshi Malik(Wrestling): Bronze medal in wrestling in 2016 Rio Olympics
 Women Athletes in Tokyo 2020: P. V. Sindhu, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain
made India proud by winning medals and have clearly shown the positive change that is
taking place in our country. While, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won the Silver medal at the very
first day of the Tokyo Olympics 2020, P.V. Sindhu became the first Indian women to win two
Olympic medals. She won the Silver medal in Rio 2016 and in Tokyo 2020 she captured the
Bronze medal. Also, Lovlina Borgohain achieved her first Olympic medal in Women’s
welterweight 64-69 kg.

Role of women and women’s organization; population and associated issues,

poverty and developmental issues,
Ageism has a detrimental impact on both physical and mental health. It plays a role in
problems including social isolation, overall health, and reduced life expectancy. It also
increases the social stigma of being older and increased expressions of ageism. Analyse.
(250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
One of the things that doesn’t make us squirm as much as it should is ageism, even though an India
at 75 is surely mature enough to talk about and tackle it. The term denotes unfair treatment meted

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out to people for being considered too old. In a largely conservative country that’s rumoured to
revere age, it’s easy to assume it is not an issue.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about ageism, its consequences and steps required to combat it.
Directive:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining ageism and give related statistic in India.
Body:
First, write about the consequences of ageism – Among older people, ageism is associated with
poorer physical and mental health, increased social isolation and loneliness, greater financial
insecurity, decreased quality of life and premature death.
Next, write about the steps that are needed to combat ageism in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

Ageism is stereotyping and/or discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age.
This may be casual or systemic. Every second person in the world is believed to hold ageist attitudes
– leading to poorer physical and mental health and reduced quality of life for older persons, costing
societies billions of dollars each year, according to a new United Nations report on ageism.

Body

Background

 Ageism continues as an insidious and an often-unaddressed issue in health, human rights

and development, and has bearings on both older and younger populations around the
world.

 In addition, it regularly intersects with other forms of bias (such as racism, sexism, ableism,
mentalism) and impacts people in ways that prevent them from reaching their full potential
and comprehensively contributing to their community.

 The recent Global Report on Ageism launched by the United Nations and World Health
Organization (WHO) in March 2021 highlights the alarming scenario.

o Every second person in the world is believed to hold ageist attitudes—leading

to poorer physical and mental health and reduced quality of life for older persons,
costing societies billions of dollars each year.

 In sheer numbers, this data amounts to billions of “stereotyped thoughts towards

ageing” that creates a global environment unsafe for older people.

Issues/concerns related to ageism

 Ageism has become a universal phenomenon: from our institutions and relationships to
ourselves.

o Examples of institutional ageism include discriminatory hiring practices or

mandatory retirement ages

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o Ageism is in policies that support healthcare rationing by age, practices that limit
younger people’s opportunities to contribute to decision-making in the
workplace, patronizing behaviour used in interactions with older and younger
people, and in self-limiting behaviour, which can stem from internalized stereotypes
about what a person of a given age can be or do.

 Half the world’s population is ageist against older

 Ageism can change how we view ourselves, can erode solidarity between generations,
can devalue or limit our ability to benefit from what younger and older populations can
contribute, and can impact our health, longevity and well-being while also having far-
reaching economic consequences.

 Ageism also increases risky health behaviours, such as eating an unhealthy diet, drinking
excessively or smoking, and reduces our quality of life.

 Ageism in India needs to be addressed especially because of its youthful workforce profile.

o The pandemic has been a pretext for many employers bent on payroll reduction to
ease out older employees.

 In an AARP survey of adults over 45, 61% of respondents said that they had seen or
personally experienced age discrimination.

 A review of academic studies of age bias in hiring and promotion shows that employers may
not objectively evaluate job candidates’ potential productivity.

Measures needed to combat ageism

 Bringing children or young adults and seniors together through planned, mutually
beneficial activities and programs is one way to help seniors feel connected to others and
provide much-needed stimulation.

 Examples include older adults serving the young through mentorship programs—
seniors volunteering in schools as reading assistants, tutors and resources for career and
parenting guidance.

 There are also examples of programs where younger generations visit senior centers and
communities for service learning projects; elementary schools may encourage young
students to become pen pals with a local senior, or visit a senior community to hear their
stories and learn from them.
 There are even examples of older adults and the young sharing settings: day care centers
that house both adult care and childcare programs are a growing trend.

Conclusion

These narratives need to change early and the youth can be the flag-bearers for the same.
Intergenerational bonding can go a long way in creating ties within families and respect for values
and opinions, thereby fostering age-friendly societies. This will be in line with the ongoing United
Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030. The Decade calls for a global battle against ageism
and integrated care for older people. International Youth Day every year is thus an occasion and an
important reminder to protect the human rights and dignity of older people in our country.
Solidarity across generations is key for sustainable development.

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The Census provides population data for every village and town, data for the
delimitation of constituencies and for determining the quantum of reservation. Discuss.
(250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Delay in the Census means that the data from the 2011 Census would continue to be used. In many
towns and even panchayats that have seen rapid changes in the composition of their population over
the last decade, this would mean that either too many or too few seats are being reserved.
Delimitation of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies would continue to be based on 2001
Census till data from a Census after 2026 are published.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about benefits of collecting census data.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of census in India.
Body:
In the first part, discuss the advantages of census – essential for planning the provision of health
care, education, employment, etc, helpful in the debate related to reservation policy, targeted
poverty reduction programmes etc
Next, Discuss the limitations of census – creates chasms within society, historical apprehensions
when such data was used to further divide and rule policy etc.
Conclusion:
Based on above arguments give a fair and balanced view as conclusion.
Introduction

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members
of a given population. Census provides information on size, distribution, socio-economic,
demographic and other characteristic of countries population.

The Census was first started under British Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872. It helped in framing new
policies, government programs to uplift areas of improvement in the community. The first
synchronous census in India was held in 1881. Every ten years: Since then, censuses have been
undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten years.

The decennial census exercise has been postponed till September 2023. The government informed
States that the date of freezing of administrative boundaries has been extended till June 30.

Body

Need for census

 The census provides information on size, distribution and socio-economic, demographic and
other characteristics of the country’s population.

 The data collected through the census are used for administration, planning and policy
making as well as management and evaluation of various programmesby the government,
NGOs, researchers, commercial and private enterprises, etc.

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 Census data is also used for demarcation of constituencies and allocation of representation
to parliament, State legislative Assemblies and the local bodies.

 Researchers and demographers use census data to analyze growth and trends of
population and make projections.

 The census data is also important for business houses and industries for strengthening and
planning their business for penetration into areas, which had hitherto remained,
uncovered.

Importance of Census

 Utility in Administration and Policy

o The population census provides the basic data for administrative purposes. One of
the most basic of the administrative uses of census data is in the demarcation of
constituenceis and the allocation of representation on governing bodies. Detailed
information on the geographic distribution of the population is indispensable for this
purpose. The Census also gives information on the demographic and economic
characteristics of the population at the district level.

 Utility of Census data for Research Purposes:

o The population census provides indispensable data for scientific analysis and
appraisal of the composition, distribution and past and prospective growth of the
population.

 Utility of Census data in Business and Industry:

o The census data has many important uses for individuals and institutions in business
and industry. It is very difficult to make a full assessment of the multiplicity of ways
in which trade and business make use of the census data.

 Census as frame for Sample Surveys:

o The rapidity of current changes in the size and other characteristics of populations
and the demand for additional detailed data on social and economic characteristics
which are not appropriate for collection in a full-scale census, have brought about
the need for continuing programmes of intercensal sample surveys to collect current
and detailed information on many topics which are usually investigated at ten-year
intervals in the population censuses.

 Utility of Census data in Planning:

o The census data is indispensable for social and economic planning of the Country.
The Planning Commission utilises the Census data on the distribution of population
by age, sex classified by rural and urban regions, cities, town areas and social groups
to analyse the growth of consumer demand and savings in the process of
development.

 Utility of Population Census to Electoral Rolls:

o Some countries have taken advantage of the enumeration for a population census to
collect, at the same time, information needed for the establishment of electoral

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rolls. This procedure is not generally advisable because of the deleterious effect the
secondary purpose might have on the quality of the census results.

 Utility of Population Census to other types of Censuses:

o Certain information collected as part of a population census, or incidential to it, can

be most useful in conducting and/or utilizing the results of housing, agricultural or
establishment censuses taken at about the same time or near about as the
population census.

 Utility of population census to civil registration and vital statistics:

o Census data serve as denominators for the computation of vital rates, especially
rates specific for characteristics normally investigated only at the time of the census.

Challenges and Experiences:

 Cost of Conducting Census

o One of the biggest challenges associated with conducting census in poor countries is
the enormous financial costs of conducting the exercise. It is no secret that it is
extremely costly to conduct a census.

 High Illiteracy Rate in a Nation has a Negative Impact on the Conducting of Census

o Countries with large proportions of their populations being illiterates face a great
challenge during the conducting of censuses.

 Inadequate Infrastructural Facilities in Certain Areas

o There are certain places in the world where it is very difficult undertaking efficient
population census because of poor infrastructural facilities such as bad roads,
inaccessible roads or insufficient roads that connect various towns and villages.

 Traditional and Religious Beliefs can Interfere with the Census Exercise

o In many underdeveloped parts of the world where traditional beliefs are the order
of the day, census officers face serious challenges when they reach these places and
try counting the people.

 Corruption Interferes with Census

o Corruption during census can make it difficult to have an efficient population census
exercise that provides accurate population figures.

 Insufficient Census Experts

o Another problem associated with conducting censuses in certain parts of the world
is the insufficient number of professionals with the knowledge and experience of
conducting census.

 Insufficient and Ineffective Census Educational Campaign

o How effective an educational campaign on census is prior to the census taking place
determines how successful the census exercise eventually becomes.

 Poor Demographic Maps

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o Because of demographic maps that aren’t reliable, it becomes very difficult for the
authorities to know all the remote areas (especially the very remote areas) in the
country and go there to conduct the census exercise.

Way forward

 Census data is first time being collected by mobile hence specific training should be given to
the collectors

 Also public must be aware about the methodology

 Method must be developed to tackle the problem faced in earlier phases

Conclusion
Census is a major pillar for development and hence, Centre, States as well as local bodies must help
for smoother process of Collection of data.

Selection of women officers for command postings in the rank of Colonel, which has so
far been the domain of male officers is the logical next step after the Army granted
Permanent Commission to women officers on a par with their male counterparts.
Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
According to sources, women officers Special No. 3 Selection Board is being conducted for promotion
from the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel to Colonel from January 9 to 22. This flows from the Supreme
Court judgment in 2021 upholding an earlier judgement granting permanent commission as well as
command postings to women officers in all arms and services other than combat.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the attempts at achieving gender parity in Indian armed forces and suggest further
steps that are needed.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of recent decision aimed attempt at introducing gender parity in the armed
forces.
Body:
Mention that the position of women in the armed forces, offers a limited window for any kind of
change in the role of women in occupational and bureaucratic structures. However, there are
changes being witnessed but at a slow pace.
Next, write about as to how the attempts at reform have been through litigation and by the orders of
the SC. Mention the Babita Puniya case and the observations of the court in that regard.
Write about the reluctance of policy makers in this situation and their preference to maintain the
status quo and their reasons, thereof.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced way forward.
Introduction

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As many as 108 women officers in the Army are set to be cleared for the rank of Colonel (selection
grade) by January 22 by a special selection board, which will make them eligible to command units
and troops in their respective arms and services for the first time.

This flows from the Supreme Court judgment in 2021 upholding an earlier judgement granting
permanent commission as well as command postings to women officers in all arms and services
other than combat.

Body

Background

 Women were being kept out of command posts on the reasoning that the largely rank and
file will have problems with women as commanding officers.
 Thus, changes have to take place in the culture, norms, and values of not only the rank and
file of the Army but also that of society at large.
 The responsibility to usher these changes lies with the senior military and political
leadership.
 The United States, Israel, North Korea, France, Germany, Netherlands, Australia and Canada
are among the global militaries that employ women in front-line combat positions.

Attempts at reform and grant of Permanent Commission

 Induction of women: The Indian Military Nursing Services originated in 1888 and women
were given an opportunity to serve in the Armed Forces. The nurses of the Indian Army first
served with distinction in World War I. Formation of Women’s Auxiliary Corps allowed them
to serve in primarily non-combatant roles like communications, accounting, administration
etc. The opportunities for women officers were little.
 Restriction on women to join army: After Independence, the participation of women in the
Armed Forces remained limited. The Acts governing the Armed Forces restricted the role of
women e.g., Section 12 of the Army Act, 1950; Section 12 of the Air Force Act, 1950; and
Section 9(2) of the Navy Act, 1957 explicitly make women ineligible to participate in the
respective services except in such bodies/departments/corps as notified by the Union
Government.
 Limited role: In 1991-92, the Government issued notifications regarding the role of women
in the Armed Forces.
o The roles were limited e.g., women were allowed to serve only in Logistics, Law and
Education roles within the Indian Navy.
o Similarly the roles notified in the Indian Army were support roles (rather than core)
like the Army Postal Service, Army Education Corps, Army Ordinance Corps and
Army Service Corps (Food Scientists and Catering Officers) etc.
 Short Service commission: Even in these limited roles, Women were limited only to the
Short Service Commission (initially for 5 years only, later extended to 10+4 system). After
completion of 14 years, women were asked to leave while eligible male officers were
granted Permanent Commission.
o The discriminatory provision led to numerous litigations.

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 Permanent commission: In 2008, while litigations were sub judice, the Union Government
granted a chance of obtaining a PC in the Armed Forces on a restricted basis. There were
two major restrictions:
o (a) The policy was prospective (not retrospective) i.e., women will be offered
Permanent Commission only after September 2008;
o (b) Permanent Commission will be offered only to specific cadres and branches (and
not universal PC).
 Judicary’s role: The Judiciary played a proactive role in ensuring permanent commission. The
Indian Air Force was first among the three services to grant PC to SSC women officers post
the Delhi High Court Judgment in Jasmine Kaur vs. Union of India WP (C) 8492/2009 in
favour of granting PC to women officers.
o Similarly in the Secretary, Ministry Of Defence vs Babita Puniya (2020) case, the
Supreme Court granted equal rights to women with respect to Permanent
Commission. The SC held that all the women officers presently on SSC service are
eligible to PCs.
o All the choices of specialization shall be available to the women officers at the time
of opting for the grant in PCs, on the same terms as their male counterparts.
o All the women officers who are eligible and granted PCs through SSC should be
entitled to all consequential perks including pension, promotion, and financial
incentives.
o The SC also noted that although Article 33 of the Indian Constitution did allow for
restrictions on Fundamental Rights in the Armed Forces, it is also clearly mentioned
that it could be restricted only to the extent that it was necessary to ensure the
proper discharge of duty and maintenance of discipline. Hence, denial of PC to
women is violative of their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s Judgment in 2020 was only the first step in a long journey towards
ensuring equal opportunity to women in the armed forces. The debate and legal battles, so far, have
been based on gender parity and not on ethical evaluation of the performance of women. The
Supreme Court judgments were more driven by Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution than by
merit per se. Women aspirants and serving officers should also step up their resolve to meet the
exacting physical, psychological and performance standards, and the conditions of service. Armed
Forces should also reform their policies to select the best talent for the role irrespective of the
gender.

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Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

Rapid urbanisation has created a plethora of issues that needs urgent interventions to
make cities across the country sustainable. Elaborate. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
In the week gone by, the city of Bengaluru was witness to a gory accident. A Metro pillar fell on a
family of four, sparing a father and daughter, but killing the mother and her toddler son.
Key Demand of the question:
To understand the main issues in the urban areas as well as mention the necessary steps through
planning and administration to boost the quality of life in urban areas.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Introduction:
Begin by giving an account on how rapidly Indian Urban spaces are growing both in terms of
population density as well as growing urban spills .
Body:
First, mention the various issues plaguing urban areas such as a need for affordable housing, issues
of urban slums, waste management, poor drainage etc.
Next, mention about the important factors on which policy deliberation needs to take place such as
balance of urban population density with economies of scale and infrastructural facilities among
others.
Next discuss the importance of mobilising funds other than public funds and also some of the
essential components of urban planning to include sustainability, improved mobility etc for a well
functioning urban space.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising the key components for a functional and effective urban city.
Introduction

Currently, India’s nearly 30% population lives in urban areas and it is expected to rise upto 50% by
2050. Being a developing country with a huge population pressure India is facing many challenges
due to rural to urban migration. To contain these challenges and to make a proper trajectory
towards new India, Sustainable urban planning is an important aspect.

Body:

Significance of sustainable urbanization:

 Safe drinking water: According to a report by NITI Aayog, 21 cities will run out of
groundwater by 2020. To avoid further worsening of such crisis we need careful urban
planning.

 Affordable housing: One of the largest government programmes is to provide affordable

housing to citizens. Sustainable urban planning will help to manage land resources in
equitable way.

 Urban sewage and solid waste management: In India less than quarter of the waste
generated gets proper treatment. For rapidly growing urban agglomerations we need
planning to manage this rising challenge.

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 Transportation and communication: Sustainable urban planning will provide efficient and
eco-friendly public transport facilities to overpopulated urban cities of India.

 Sustainable urban planning will also help in equitable resources distribution and affordable
service delivery.

 It will also help in creating sustainable environment and disaster management.

In absence of sustainable urban planning India is facing manifold challenges:

 Rise in Slums:Few of the Asia’s largest slums are in Delhi and Mumbai where unplanned
urbanisation led to polluted water, health issues and rising rate of crimes.

 Urban flooding:Floods in Mumbai and Chennai are examples of urban flooding. These are
results of unsustainable urbanisation.

 Rising number of accidents:Fires in buildings and deaths in various urban accidents are daily
routine in Indian cities.

 Degrading environment:According to WHO report, out of 20 most polluted cities, 14 are in

India.

Challenges in sustainable urbanization:

 Economic Sustainability

o Lack of Investments

o Poor technology

 Ecological Sustainability

o Dependence on fossil fuels and coal energy

o Poor Waste management process and technologies

o Vehicular pollution and Climate Change

 Social Sustainability

o Building society based on constitutional principles

o Increasing Population and Proliferation of Slums

o Lack of public awareness

o Weak gender perspective in development

Government efforts towards sustainable urbanization:

 Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) as a step towards
harnessing the agglomeration economies of the urban centres and making cities engines of
growth.

 It envisages convergence across various initiatives such as Amrut, Smart Cities, Hriday
(National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana), Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana and Swachh Bharat.

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 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for affordable housing with credit linked subsidy.

 Smart cities Mission- It is an urban development programme launched by the government

of India with the mission to develop 100 cities across the country and making them citizen
friendly and sustainable.

Way forward:

 India needs to work on achieving the goals set by United Nations under SDG-11 to be
achieved by 2030.

 Need for Comprehensive National urban plan for effective and timely implementation of
policies and schemes

 Ensure access for all through adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and
upgrade slums, transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public
transport.

 Give special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women and children,
persons with disabilities and older persons.

 Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special
attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

 Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.
 Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and
rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning

 Substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and
implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation
and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line
with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Conclusion:

Cities are living ecosystems. They need to be managed accordingly. Rather than going by populist
measures or sticking to the original master plans, local solutions to local problems, innovative, in situ
and tailor made solutions should be evolved, adapted and adhered to. Authorities need to be willing
to learn, evolve and discard if necessary. We need to empower our cities, with a focus on land policy
reforms, granting urban local bodies the autonomy to raise funds and enforce local land usage
norms.

A major issue with urbanisation is the top to bottom approach, with too much of a
focus on technocentric solutions using very high capital-intensive technologies. For the
urban context, plans must be made from below by engaging with the people and
identifying their needs. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
A report by the World Bank, released in November last year, on financing India’s urban infrastructure
needs, focuses on private investments ameliorating urban problems. The push to attract private
capital, since the 1990s, followed by the urban reforms under the United Progressive Alliance I

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regime, the Smart City mission, and now this report, continues to plague India’s policy paradigm in
the urban sector.
Key Demand of the question:
To understand the main issues in the urbanisation approach and steps that are needed to rectify the
same.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, write about the current approach taken to address the various issues with resepect to
urbanisation and that has resulted in various issues such as lack of affordable housing, issues of
urban slums, waste management, poor drainage etc.
Next, mention write about the policy approach that must be taken in this regard to overcome the
same and ensuring participation of people at local level for better urban governance.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

A report by the World Bank, released in November last year, on financing India’s urban
infrastructure needs, focuses on private investments ameliorating urban problems. After three
decades of reforms, urban finance predominantly comes from the government. Of the finances
needed to fund urban capital expenditures, 48%, 24% and 15% are derived from the central, State,
and city governments, respectively. Public–private partnership projects contribute 3% and
commercial debt 2%. This shows the state of affairs.

For the urban context, plans must be made from below by engaging with the people and identifying
their needs.

Body

Issues with urbanization

 Excessive Population Pressure: On the one hand, the rural-urban migration accelerates the
pace of urbanization, on the other, it creates excessive population pressure on the existing
public utilities.

o Consequently, the cities suffer from the problems of slums, crime, unemployment,
urban poverty, pollution, congestion, ill-health and several deviant social activities.
 Overflowing Slums: There are about 13.7 million slum households in the country sheltering
a population of 65.49 million people across the country.
o As much as 65% of Indian cities have adjoining slums where people live in small
houses adjacent to each other.

 Inadequate Housing: Among the numerous social problems of urbanization, the problem of
housing is the most distressing.

o A vast majority of urban population live under conditions of poor shelter and in
highly congested spaces.

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o In India, more than half of the urban households occupy a single room, with
an average occupancy per room of 4.4 persons.

 Unplanned Development: The model of building a developed city comprises unplanned

development, which only bolsters the dichotomy prevailing in urban cities between the rich
and the poor.

 Pandemic-Induced Problems: The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the misery of urban
poor or slum dwellers.

o The sudden implementation of complete Covid lockdown severely affected the

ability of slum dwellers to earn their living.

 Non-Inclusive Welfare Schemes: The benefits of welfare schemes for urban poor often
reach only a small part of the intended beneficiaries.

o Most relief funds and benefits do not reach slum dwellers, mainly because these
settlements are not officially recognized by the government.

People centric solutions for urbanization

 Empowering the city governments and the people at large is the need of the hour. In the
national task force that reviewed the 74th Constitutional Amendment, chaired by K.C.
Sivaramakrishnan, many suggestions were made such as empowering the people,
transferring subjects to the city governments, suggesting that 10% of the income-tax
collected from cities be given back to them and ensuring that this corpus fund was utilised
only for infrastructure building.

o This would ensure that city governments had an advantage in ensuring rapid
transformation.

 Another important aspect of urban infrastructure is linked to urban governance, which is in a

shambles in most parts of the country.

o Regular elections should be held in cities and there must be empowerment through
the transferring of the three Fs: finances, functions, and functionaries.

 Encouraging public-private partnership: Successful PPP programs should be formulated at

both state and city levels to fund city development. Role of the state should be to create an
enabling environment with an aim to expand and deepen private sector investments in
infrastructure.

 Holistic approach: It is important to integrate various urban development and related

programs at local, state and national levels to develop sustainable city or metropolitan
regions. Urban institutions should be strengthened and roles of different organisations
should be fixed.

Conclusion and way forward

 India needs to work on achieving the goals set by United Nations under SDG-11 to be
achieved by 2030.
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 Need for Comprehensive National urban plan for effective and timely implementation of
policies and schemes

 Ensure access for all through adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and
upgrade slums, transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public
transport.

 Give special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women and children,
persons with disabilities and older persons.

 Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special
attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

 Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.

 Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and
rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning

 Substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and
implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation
and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line
with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Value addition

Government efforts towards sustainable urbanization:

 Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) as a step towards
harnessing the agglomeration economies of the urban centres and making cities engines of
growth.

 It envisages convergence across various initiatives such as Amrut, Smart Cities, Hriday
(National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana), Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana and Swachh Bharat.

 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for affordable housing with credit linked subsidy.

 Smart cities Mission- It is an urban development programme launched by the government

of India with the mission to develop 100 cities across the country and making them citizen
friendly and sustainable.

Effects of globalization on Indian society

Explain the impact of Globalization on children in Indian society. Suggest measures to
mitigate any negative impacts of globalization on children (10M)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Society by Rajendra Sharma
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of the
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
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To write about the impact of globalization on children in Indian society and measures to mitigate its
negatives.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining Globalisation.
Body:
First, write about the impact Globalization will have on children – fast food culture, and lifestyle
changes which would impact the traditional family system
Next, mention some of the positives and negatives of globalization on children.
Next, write about how to mitigate the negative effects of globalization on children– cite examples
and statistics to substantiate.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to minimize the negatives and maximize the positives.
Introduction

Globalization has been defined as the process of rapid integration of countries and happenings
through greater foreign trade and foreign investment. It is the process of international integration
arising from the interchange of world views, products, ideas and other aspects of culture.

Children are a sensitive node in the contention of globalisation as they are highly receptive to new
technologies, new openings and new horizons. They are easily attracted to the flamboyance
presented by the new-age practices. The age of globalisation is getting fostered with the growth of
social networking.

Body

Positives of globalization on children

 It is the globalisation which has revolutionised lifestyles of children by giving them more
avenues for learning, jobs and other amenities in life.
 Children have become more aware of the progress happening in and around the world due
to the ease of access to internet and related technologies.
 Children are now more open to pursuing their studies in foreign lands than ever before. For
those who cannot afford the huge fees of international campuses, there are options of
online degrees
 Indian children are now more future ready, they are much more exposed to the latest
developments of the world, they are not averse to technology, they have become more
decisive in small everyday matters and above all they are being born in times where change
is the norm and thus are highly ambitious and progressive.
 Globalisation has impacted every aspect of student life. The influx of new-age
communication technologies has revolutionised the entire social ecosystem.

Negative Impact of globalization on children

 Child Labour: Despite prohibition of child labor by the Indian constitution, over 60 to a 115
million children in India work. While most rural child workers are agricultural laborers,
urban children work in manufacturing, processing, servicing and repairs. Globalization most
directly exploits an estimated 300,000 Indian children who work in India’s hand-knotted
carpet industry, which exports over $300 million worth of goods a year.
 Access to education: On one hand globalisation has aided in the explosion of information on
the web that has helped in greater awareness among people. It has also led to greater need
for specialisation and promotion of higher education in the country.
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 Social networking in addition to bringing people close has bitten into the precious time of
young children.
 Mental Health: Long sitting hours in front of computers or other handhelds has not only
ripped them of their physical activity but also has deleterious effect on their mental
health.
 Food Habits: In addition, children have become used to taking unhealthy junk food over the
home-made food which has fed many generations of Indians.
 On the flip side the advent of private education, coaching classes and paid study
material has created a gap between the haves and have-nots. It has become
increasingly difficult for an individual to obtain higher education.
 Homogenization: One of the most vehement criticisms of globalization is that it threatens to
create one homogeneous worldwide culture in which all children grow up wanting to be
like the latest pop music star, eat Big Macs, vacation at Disney World, and wear blue jeans,
and Nikes.

Way forward

 Limiting long hours of children with screen time and ensuring vigilance over the content
being consumed by the children.
 Physical activity to be encouraged more and exposing children to various sports.
 Keeping the traditions and culture alive by celebrating Indian festivals and cherishing our
values.

Conclusion

We cannot say that the impact of globalization has been totally positive or totally negative. It has
been both. Each impact mentioned above can be seen as both positive as well as negative. However,
it becomes a point of concern when, an overwhelming impact of globalization can be observed on
the Indian culture.

“Globalization has intensified alienation, exploitation, and commodification of human

life and nature”. Do you agree? Justify your viewpoint. (15M)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Society by Rajendra Sharma
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of the
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the impact of globalization.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining Globalisation – give some data on its impact overall.
Body:
First, write about how Globalization has intensified alienation, exploitation, and commodification of
human life. – Basically negatives of Globalisation. Give examples to substantiate your points.
Next, write about some of the positives of Globalisation. How it helped in creating a global village.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.

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Introduction

Globalization is an international platform for maintaining evenness in the living mode of the
people all over the world. Globalization is the resultant of the interchange of worldly views, opinions
and the various aspects of the culture everywhere around the world. The impact of globalization on
Indian and rural life has a tremendous influence which is both positive as well as negative. The
Indian urban and rural life is viewed as the two faces of the same coin. They are mutually
interdependent and both have a greater impact of globalization.

Body

Impact of globalization on Indian rural society

 Positives:
 Commercialization of agriculture: There is an increased trend of commercialization from
sustenance farming. This has been successful only with farmers having large tracts of
lands.
 Expansion of agro-industries: Increased crop yield has led to development of agro-
processing industries which help in adding value to the products and increasing their
shelf life. E.g.; Tomato Ketchup, Potato chips etc.
 Wider use of information, communication and technologies: Agricultural extension
techniques like Kisan TV, sms about weather conditions has helped farmers plan better.
Initiatives like e-Nam have helped farmers get better prices in certain areas.
 Increased Mechanization, better inputs: Mechanization like use of tractors, harvesters,
tillers has eased the job. High yield variety seeds, fertilizers have given better yield as
seen during Green Revolution
 Socio-economic development: With telemedicine and teleeducation, people are able to
access the health and education facilities at the remotest areas. Adult literacy has
helped in fighting for their rights.
 MSMEs: There has been a rise of MSMEs with women entrepreneurs heading it.
 Negatives:
 Changes in Land-Use patterns
 Internal labour migration: Labour migration to cities from rural areas in search of
employment was a common phenomenon. This was for various reasons especially
for luxurious life, handsome salary and for numerous job opportunities
 Increasing privatization of resources: Rural population is still suffering from
unemployment as rural labour is mostly uneducated and unskilled. Machines
and latest technologies have reduced the number of manpower a lot
 Loss of jobs and Displacement: due to mechanization, women are the worst sufferers.
When big-ticket projects like Dams, Roads, and Mining come up, people are displaced
making them internal refugees.
 Increased inequality: Regional and sectional disparity due to only a few reaping the
benefits.
 No Behavioural changes: Open defecation still present, caste discriminations are still
prevalent.

Impact of globalization on Indian urban society

Positives:

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 Increased Urbanization: It has been estimated that by 2050 more than 50% of India’s population
will live in cities. The boom of services sector and city centric job creation has led to increasing
rural to urban migration.
 Increased job opportunities: due to inflow of MNCs, FDIs, people have a wide choice of job
opportunities provided they have the requisite skills. Startups like Ola, Swiggy etc. have
revolutionized the Gig-Economy. Development of Industries have also provided with jobs.
 Higher Per capita income: employees are paid well albeit lesser than the global pay levels.
 Enhanced lifestyle: due to higher PCI and wide array of facilities available from which the
consumer can choose. It has raised the quality of life of many.
 Better infrastructure: In terms of education, health, transport available to people. This has in
turn enhanced the agglomeration of economies leading to industrial belts, IT parks, SEZ, CEZ etc.
 Rapid Digitization: for faster and ease of connectivity, most of the services are digitized. This
also increases the awareness of citizens in terms of rights, happenings around world etc. On the
Governmental side, there is more accountability and transparency and faster delivery of
services.

Negatives:

 Family Structure: The increasing migration coupled with financial independence has led to the
breaking of joint families into nuclear ones. The western influence of individualism has led to an
aspirational generation of youth. Concepts of national identity, family, job and tradition are
changing rapidly and significantly.
 Marriage Values: Similarly, marriages have also lost their values. It is very much evident from
the increasing number of divorce cases and the extra-marital affairs reported every now and
then.
 McDonaldization: A term denoting the increasing rationalization of the routine tasks of
everyday life. It becomes manifested when a culture adopts the characteristics of a fast-food
restaurant. McDonaldization is a reconceptualization of rationalization, or moving from
traditional to rational modes of thought, and scientific management.
 Walmartization: A term referring to profound transformations in regional and global economies
through the sheer size, influence, and power of the big-box department store WalMart. It can be
seen with the rise of big businesses which have nearly killed the small traditional businesses in
our society.
 Rise in Lifestyle diseases: due to reduced physical activity, increased habits of liquor and
smoking etc.
 Urban Sprawl: Increasing slums, unplanned urbanizations are on the rise which is a ticking time-
bomb.

Conclusion

It is difficult to say that the impact of globalization has been totally positive or totally negative. It has
been both. Each impact mentioned above can be seen as both positive as well as negative. However,
it becomes a point of concern when, an overwhelming impact of globalization can be observed on
the Indian rural and urban society.

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Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

Communalism turns the strength of diversity of Indian society into its Achilles heel.
Critically evaluate. (150 Words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of the
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about communalism and how it leads to fractures in Indian society.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Introduce communalism E.g. you may write: Communalism is described as an ideology stating the
division between people or communities on the basis of ethnicity, religion, beliefs, values, etc. The
difference between two or more religious, ethnic and social communities can sometimes produce
clashes in society.
Body:
Briefly write about the strength of diversity of Indian society: E.g. Coexistence, Assimilationist,
cultural cosmopolitanism etc.
Next, write about how communalism turns this strength into its Achilles heel: E.g. Exclusion, Violence,
Economic inequality, stereotyping etc.
Briefly write a few positives of communalism as well e.g.
Integration: communalism can lead to the integration of some previously excluded groups into their
political identity.
In conclusion,
Briefly write some measures which can be taken to address this issue.
Introduction

Communalism is basically an ideology which consists of three elements:

 A belief that people who follow the same religion have common secular interests i.e. they have
same political, economic and social interests. So, here socio- political communalities arise.

 A notion that, in a multi-religious society like India, these common secular interests of one
religion is dissimilar and divergent from the interests of the follower of another religion.

 The interests of the follower of the different religion or of different ‘communities’ are seen to be
completely incompatible, antagonist and hostile.

Body

Communalism is the achiles heel of Indian Society

 Genocides: With mass killings, the real sufferers are the poor, who lose their house, their near
and dear ones, their lives, their livelihood, etc. It violates the human rights from all direction.
Sometimes children lose their parents and will become orphan for a lifetime.

 Ghettoization and refugee problem are other dimensions of communalism induced violence,
whether its inter country or intra country.

 Sudden increase in violence against any particular community causes mass exodus and
stampede which in turn kills many number of people. For example, this was seen in the case of

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Bangalore in 2012, with respect to people from North eastern states, which was stimulated by a
rumour.

 Apart from having effect on the society, it is also a threat to Indian constitutional values, which
promotes secularism and religious tolerance. In that case, citizens don’t fulfil their fundamental
duties towards the nation.

 It becomes a threat for the unity and integrity of the nation as a whole. It promotes only the
feeling of hatred in all directions, dividing the society on communal lines.

 Minorities are viewed with suspicion by all, including state authorities like police, para-military
forces, army, intelligence agencies, etc. There have been many instances when people from such
community have been harassed and detained and finally have been released by court orders
guilt free. For this, there is no provision for compensation of such victims, about their livelihood
incomes forgone, against social stigmas and emotional trauma of the families.

 Barrier for development: Communal activities occurring frequently do harm the human
resource and economy of the country. And then again it takes years for the people and the
affected regions to come out the traumas of such violence, having deep impact on minds of
those who have faced it. They feel emotionally broken and insecure.

 Terrorism and Secessionism: As seen during the Khalistan movement in Punjab.

Communalism is not an Achilles heel:

Communalism as an ideology can be used to fulfill socio, economic and politico hopes of a
community or social groups.

It stands for the affinity of an individual towards his own community involving efforts for the social
and economic upliftment of his community.

To unite the community, communalism suppresses the differences within the community and
emphasizes the essential unity of the community

Steps to be taken to prevent communalism

 Economic:

 Poverty is one of the major factors for communal violence. Poverty alleviation measures are
thus important for promoting communal harmony.

 Eradicating the problem of unemployment among the youths, illiteracy and poverty and
that too with honesty and without any discrimination.

 Reducing educational and economic backwardness of minorities like Muslims.

 This can uplift their socio-economic status and reduce their deprivation compared to Hindus

 Social:

 The religious leaders and preachers should promote rational and practical things through
religion promoting peace and security.

 Children in schools must be taught through textbooks and pamphlets to maintain

brotherhood and respect for all religions

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 Creating awareness in the society about the ill effects of communism through mass media

 Political:

 Political communism should be avoided recent Supreme court’s directives

 Identification and mapping of riot prone areas. For Example, Delhi police used drones to
monitor to maintain vigil during communal festivals

 Media, movies and other cultural platforms can be influential in promoting peace and
harmony.

 Social Media should be monitored for violent and repulsive content and taken off
immediately.

 Recommendations of Committee on National Integration

 Joint celebration of community festivals

 Observing restraint by Hindus while taking processions before the mosques

 Formation of peace and brotherhood communities at local level to prevent anti-social

elements from engaging in communal riots

 Respect for religious customs, rituals and practices

Conclusion
In a vast country like India which is made up of diverse cultures, backgrounds, religions,
identities etc. it really requires to maintain a sense of equality among its citizen to provide a
meaning to the term democracy. The core reason behind all these discrimination are based on the
nature of unacceptance of diversities. We tend to commit heinous crimes to eradicate the
population which chooses a different set of traditions to follow. But these intolerance can lead India
to get collapsed from being a secular country to communal. And India is known to the world by the
term “diversity”. It is beautiful when the people irrespective of their differences are co-existing.

What does the ‘Social Progress Index’ (SPI) measure? In light of the report, discuss the
status of social mobility in India and the factors affecting it. (250 Words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of the
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the Social Progress Index (SPI), its measure of social mobility and the factors that
affects it.
Directive word:
Discuss: This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining social mobility or write about the SPI index.
You may define Social mobility as:

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Social mobility or progress refers to change in a person’s socio-economic situation, either in relation
to their parents (inter-generational mobility) or throughout their lifetime (intra-generational
mobility).
Body:
In the first part, write about what does ‘Social Progress Index’ (SPI) measure.
Next, write about the status of social mobility in India:
Global SPI: India’s performance was quite poor as it was ranked 110 out of 169 nations in the global
SPI 2022 and the score of 60.2 is well lower than the global average of 65.2. India also ranks low at
76th out of 82 places on WEF’s global Social Mobility Index 2020.
Next, write the factors affecting it: E.g. rural-urban divide, caste-religion markers; social security etc.
Conclusion:
You may write,
A stronger association between one’s starting point and their outcomes in adulthood indicates lower
social mobility and less meritocracy. For India, realising the potential of its population will be a key
driver of progress and growth. Thus, ongoing initiatives relating to each component must be
implemented in a timely and effective manner.
Introduction

Recently, the Social Progress Index (SPI) for States and Districts of India was released by the
Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). The SPI was compiled by the Institute
for Competitiveness and Social Progress Imperative. The report also dwells on India's performance
(ranked 110 out of 169 nations) based on the global SPI 2022 that is brought out by Social Progress
Imperative since 2013.

Body

About SPI measure

 SPI is a comprehensive tool that can serve as a holistic measure of a country's social
progress at the national and sub-national levels.
 The report aims to provide a systematic account of the social progress made at all levels in
the country.
 The index uses an extensive framework comprising 89 indicators at the state level and 49
at the district level.
 The index assesses states and districts based on 12 components across three critical
dimensions of social progress - Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and
Opportunity.
 The index uses an extensive framework comprising 89 indicators at the state level and 49 at
the district level.
o Basic Human Needs assess the performance of states and districts in terms of
Nutrition and Basic Medical Care, Water and Sanitation, Personal Safety and Shelter.
o Foundations of Wellbeing evaluates the progress made by the country across the
components of Access to Basic Knowledge, Access to Information and
Communication, Health and Wellness, and Environmental Quality.
o Opportunity focuses on Personal Rights, Personal Freedom and Choice,
Inclusiveness, and Access to Advanced Education.
 By evaluating change in the performance of some key indicators since 2015-16, the report
presents a broad picture of the social progress in India.
 In addition, the report highlights progress made by the 112 aspirational districts in the
country, helping them track their social progress journey and understand the areas that
require more attention.
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Social mobility in India

 Puducherry has the highest SPI score of 65.99 in the country, attributable to its remarkable
performance across components like Personal Freedom and Choice, Shelter, and Water and
Sanitation.
 Lakshadweep and Goa closely follow it with scores of 65.89 and 65.53, respectively.
 Jharkhand and Bihar scored the lowest, 43.95 and 44.47, respectively.
 For the dimension of Basic Human Needs, Goa, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Chandigarh
are the top four states with the best performance in Water and Sanitation and Shelter as
compared to the other states and union territories.
 In addition, Goa has the highest component score for Water and Sanitation, followed by
Kerala, scoring the highest across the Nutrition and Basic Medical Care component.
 For Shelter and Personal Safety, Chandigarh and Nagaland have emerged as the front-
runners, respectively.
 Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Goa have emerged as the best-performing states
for the Foundations of Wellbeing.
 Within the dimension for the Access to Basic Knowledge component, Punjab has the
highest component score of 62.92, while Delhi has topped the list for Access to
Information and Communication with a score of 71.30.
 For Health and Wellness, Rajasthan has the highest component score of 73.74.
 For Environmental Quality, the top three states belong to the northeast region, namely,
Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.
 Lastly, Tamil Nadu has achieved the highest component score of 72.00 for the Opportunity
dimension.
o Within this dimension, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the highest component
score for Personal Rights, while Sikkim has topped the list for Inclusiveness.
 It is commendable to witness Puducherry attaining the highest scores across two
components in this dimension, i.e., Personal Freedom and Choice and Access to Advanced
Education.

Factors affecting social mobility in India

 Education: Education not only helps an individual to acquire knowledge but is also a
passport for occupational position for higher prestige.
o It is only after acquiring minimum formal education that individual can aspire to
occupy higher positions.
o It is through education that in modern India the members of Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes are not only able to change their traditional occupation but have
also started occupying jobs of higher prestige.
 Migration: Labour migration is important for economic growth as it allows for the efficient
allocation of talent across regions and states, as well as industries. While nearly 30 percent
of India’s population are considered internal migrants, just 14.7 percent of these internal
migrants cite work as their reason for moving; among female migrants, only two percent
moved for work.
 Industrialization: Industrial Revolution ushered in a new social system in which people are
given status according to their ability and training. No importance was given to their caste,
race, religion and ethnicity.

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 Urbanization: In the cities there are more people, they have formal relations. People do not
know each other intimately. Urban centres are marked by anonymity. People are close to
their friends and relatives only. Urban settlements provide secrecy to individual’s caste and
background. Individual’s position is largely dependent upon his education, occupation and
income rather than his background.
 Legislations: The enactment of new laws can also facilitate social mobility. When Zamindari
Abolition Act was passed, most of the tenant cultivators became owner cultivators which
indicates improvement in their status i.e. from tenants to owner cultivators. Similarly, the
legal provision for reservation of jobs and promotion for the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes has also helped in social mobility.

Way forward

The most urgent measures are the following:

 The coupling of local employment generation strategies with policies that make geographic
mobility easier;
 Harnessing the equalising effects of education by investing in early childhood education and
creating more pathways to higher education attainment for the poor;
 Supporting youth in finding desirable and satisfactory career options through increased
investment in mentorship and career guidance programmes;
 Redesigning social protection schemes to meet the needs of a unique and diverse
population; and
 Carving out a role for companies and holding them accountable for improvements in social
mobility.

Conclusion

Increasing social mobility is important in advancing equality. It is also vital for economic efficiency, as
it enhances the use of individual abilities, especially for India which is aiming to realise a massive
dividend from its young demographic. Equalising opportunity can help unleash the potential of the
population, which as it stands is constrained by persistent income and occupational rigidity.

Salient features of world’s physical geography.

Throw light on the various direct and indirect ways from which we can study the earth’s
interior. Discuss the importance of studying the interior of earth. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about how we can understand the interior of earth by using various sources and its
importance.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
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Structure of the answer:

Introduction:
Begin by mentioning that the structure of earth’s interior.
Body:
First, write about the direct sources of information about the earth’s Interior.
Next, write about the direct sources of information about the earth’s Interior – rate of change of
temperature and pressure, Meteors, Gravitation, Seismic Waves and Magnetic sources etc. Explain
them brief.
Next, write about the importance of studying the importance of earth.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

The radius of the earth is 6,370 kms. Thus, it is impossible to reach the center of the earth
and find out about the composition. Also, this composition is changing in nature. The rapid increase
in temperature is also one of the factors that put a limit to direct observation of the earth’s interior.
However, through some direct and indirect sources, the scientists have a fair idea about how the
earth’s interior look like.

Body

Direct Sources of information about the Earth’s Interior

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1. Deep earth mining and drilling reveal the nature of rocks deep down the surface.

2. But as mining and drilling are not practically possible beyond a certain depth, they don’t reveal
much information about the earth’s interior.

3. Mponeng gold mine(deepest mine in the world) and TauTona gold mine(second deepest mine
in the world) in South Africa are deepest mines reaching to a depth of only 3.9 km.

4. And the deepest drilling is only about 12 km deep hole bored by the Soviet Union in the 1970s
over the Kola Peninsula.

5. Volcanic eruption forms another source of obtaining direct information.

Indirect Sources of information about the Earth’s Interior:

1. By analysing the rate of change of temperature and pressure from the surface towards the
interior.

2. Meteors, as they belong to the same type of materials earth is made of.

3. Gravitation, which is greater near poles and less at the equator.

4. Gravity anomaly, which is the change in gravity value according to the mass of material, gives us
information about the materials in the earth’s interior.

5. Magnetic sources. Magnetic surveys also provide information about the distribution of magnetic
materials in the crustal portion, and thus, provide information about the distribution of
materials in this part.

6. Seismic Waves: the shadow zones of body waves (Primary and secondary waves) give us
information about the state of materials in the interior.

Importance of studying interior of the earth:

 We rely on Earth for valuable resources such as soil, water, metals, industrial minerals, and
energy, and we need to know how to find these resources and exploit them sustainably.

 We can study rocks and the fossils they contain to understand the evolution of our environment
and the life within it.

 We can learn to minimize our risks from earthquakes, volcanoes, slope failures, and damaging
storms.

 We can learn how and why Earth’s climate has changed in the past, and use that knowledge to
understand both natural and human-caused climate change.

 We can recognize how our activities have altered the environment in many ways and the climate
in increasingly serious ways, and how to avoid more severe changes in the future.

 We can use our knowledge of Earth to understand other planets in our solar system, as well as
those around distant stars.

Conclusion

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Studying the interior structure of Earth provides us with a better understanding of Earth, helps us to
understand earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, how the atmosphere formed, and to study
earth's magnetic fields.

What are the conditions essential for the full development of Karst topography?
Elaborate on the various types of landforms formed by the action of ground water. (250
words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of
Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the process of the formation of Karst landforms and their various types.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning of landforms formed by the action of ground water.
Body:
First, explain the chemical process by which Karst landforms are formed.
Next, Explain the features like; Sinkholes and caves are erosional landforms formed due to the action
of ground water.
Next, explain depositional landforms of groundwater. With neat diagrams the karst landforms
associated with groundwater.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of such action of ground water in creation of landforms.
Introduction

Karst is a term used to describe landscapes that are formed by chemical weathering process
controlled by groundwater activity. Karsts are found in widely scattered sections of the world,
including the Causses of France; the Kwangsi area of China; the Yucatán Peninsula in the United
States.

It is a dry, upland landscape with underground drainage instead of surface streams. It is so

named after a province of Yugoslavia on the Adriatic Sea coast where such formations are most
noticeable.

Body

Conditions essential for the full development of Karst topography

 A karst landform is a geological feature created on the earth's surface by the drainage of water
into the ground.
 Karst landscapes are predominantly composed of limestone rock that contains > 70 percent
calcium carbonate.

 The region should have the presence of large stretches of thick water-soluble rocks such as
limestone.

 Rocks should be permeable, jointed, and cracked.

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 Should have sufficient rainfall or sufficient source of water to dissolve the carbonate rocks.

 The absence of surface drainage and a well-developed groundwater channel is needed for the
formation of karst topography and associated features.

Various types of landforms formed by the action of ground water

Erosional Landforms

Lapies

 It is formed due to differential solution activity along parallel to sub-parallel joints. They are
also called grooved, fluted and ridge-like features in an open limestone field.

Limestone Pavements

 It is a smoother form of lapies.

Sinkholes

A sinkhole is an opening more or less circular at the top and funnel-shaped towards the bottom.

 Small to medium sized rounded to sub-rounded shallow depressions called swallow holes
form on the surface of rocks like limestone by the action of the solution.

 Solution sink: When as sinkhole is formed solely through the process of solution, it is called
as a solution sink.

 collapse sink : Sometimes a sinkhole starts its formation through the solution process but
later collapses due to the presence of some caves or hollow beneath it and becomes a
bigger sinkhole. These types are called as collapse sinks. The term Doline is also used.

 Solution sinks are more common than collapse sinks.

 Uvalas: When several sink holes join together to form valley of sinks, they are called as Uvala
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Caves

 In the areas where there are alternative beds of rocks (non-soluble) with limestone or
dolomite in between or in areas where limestone are dense, massive and occurring as thick
beds, cave formation is prominent.

 Caves normally have an opening through which cave streams are discharged

 Caves having an opening at both the ends are called tunnels.

Cavern

 This is an underground cave formed by water action by various methods in a limestone or

chalk area.

Karst Window

 When a number of adjoining sinkholes collapse, they form an open, broad area called a karst
window.

Polje/Blind Valley

 A number of uvalas may coalesce to create a valley called polje which is actually a flat-
floored depression. If the streams lose themselves in these valleys, then these are called
blind valleys. These valleys may have surface streams and may be used for agriculture.

Arch/Natural Bridge

 When a part of the cavern collapses the portion which keeps standing forms an arch

Depositional Landforms

A region with a large stretch of limestone is called a Karst Region. Groundwater and limestone
together make a spectacular landform inside the caverns like the stalactites, stalagmites and pillars.

Stalactites, Stalagmites and Pillars

They are formed when the calcium carbonates dissolved in groundwater get deposited once the
water evaporates. These structures are commonly found in limestone caves.

 Stalactites are calcium carbonate deposits hanging as icicles while Stalagmites are
calcium carbonate deposits which rise up from the floor.

 When a stalactite and stalagmite happened to join together, it gives rise to pillars or
columns of different diameters.

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Conclusion

Groundwater dissolves minerals, carries the ions in solution, and then deposits them.
Groundwater erodes rock beneath the ground surface, especially carbonate rock. The landforms by
groundwater take a long time to form, due to repeated action of water and region-specific
parameters.

Geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features

(including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of
such changes.
The Earth is currently tilted 23.5° from its axial plane and this axial tilt results in many
remarkable effects, including the seasons around the planet. Elaborate (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India
Why the question:
As the Earth orbits the sun, it spins around an axis — picture a stick going through the Earth, from
the North Pole to the South Pole. During the 24 hours that it takes for the Earth to rotate once
around its axis, every point on its surface faces toward the Sun for part of the time and away from it
for part of the time. This is what causes daily changes in sunlight and temperature.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about axial tilt of earth and its impact.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define the concept of Earth’s axial tilt briefly.
Body:
First, write about the Earth’s axis of rotation is the line along which it spins around itself as it revolves
around the Sun. The points on which the axis intersects the planet’s surface are the geographical
north and south poles.
Next, mention the impact of axial tilt of earth – appropriate climate for Earth to support life,
responsible for the formation of seasons, governs the warming strength of the sun’s energy etc.

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Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

Axial tilt, also called obliquity, refers to the angle a planet’s rotation axis makes with the plane of its
orbit. The Earth is currently tilted 23.5° from this plane, resulting in many remarkable effects,
including the seasons around the planet.

Body

Earth’s tilted axis causes the seasons. Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive the
Sun’s most direct rays. So, when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it’s summer in the Northern
Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
 As the earth spins on its axis, producing night and day, it also moves about the sun in an
elliptical (elongated circle) orbit that requires about 365 1/4 days to complete.

 The earth’s spin axis is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. This is what causes the
seasons.

 When the earth’s axis points towards the sun, it is summer for that hemisphere.

 When the earth’s axis points away, winter can be expected. Since the tilt of the axis is 23 1/2
degrees, the North Pole never points directly at the Sun, but on the summer solstice it points
as close as it can, and on the winter solstice as far as it can.

 Midway between these two times, in spring and autumn, the spin axis of the earth points 90
degrees away from the sun.

 This means that on this date, day and night have about the same length: 12 hours each,
more or less.

Conclusion

Other effects of Axial tilt include the Midnight Sun, Polar Ice, Milankovitch cycles etc. The axis tilt of
the Earth also defines the “tropics”, the “tropic” being the low latitude where the Sun is directly
overhead for any day of the year. The greater Earth’s axial tilt angle, the more extreme our seasons
are, as each hemisphere receives more solar radiation during its summer, when the hemisphere is
tilted toward the Sun, and less during winter, when it is tilted away.

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