UPSC Mains 2023 GS4 Q12 — Religious Reformers
What were the major teachings of Guru Nanak? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- WhatExplain
- Scope keywords
- major teachingsGuru Nanakrelevancecontemporary world
- Implicit sub-parts
- Core theological and socio-ethical principles (e.g., Kirat Karo, Vand Chakko, Naam Japo).
- Specific application of these values to modern crises (e.g., climate change, inequality, religious extremism).
- The institutional legacy of his teachings as a template for social equality (e.g., Langar and Sangat).
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing too much on Guru Nanak’s life history or travel stories (Udasis) rather than his specific ethical teachings.
- Providing generic relevance like 'it helps world peace' without linking it to specific modern issues like consumerism or the migrant crisis.
- Missing the GS Paper 4 (Ethics) perspective by failing to use keywords like egalitarianism, dignity of labor, or universal brotherhood.
- Treating the answer like a History (GS1) question instead of an Ethics/Philosophy (GS4) application.
- Dimensions required
- Ethical/MoralSocio-EconomicEnvironmentalUniversalism/Secularism
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate approximately 60-70 words to define the core teachings (3-4 points). Use the remaining 80-90 words to provide 3-4 distinct 'relevance' points, specifically mapping a teaching to a modern challenge, followed by a 1-sentence concluding summary on his timeless philosophy.
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