UPSC Mains 2020 GS2 Q14 — Parliamentary Structure
Rajya Sabha has been transformed from a 'useless stepney tyre' to the most useful supporting organ in past few decades. Highlight the factors as well as the areas in which this transformation could be visible. (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Highlight
- Scope keywords
- transformed from a 'useless stepney tyre'most useful supporting organpast few decadesfactorsareas in which this transformation could be visible
- Implicit sub-parts
- Evolution of Rajya Sabha's role from a perceived redundant chamber to an active deliberative body.
- Institutional, political, and constitutional factors driving this shift (e.g., end of single-party dominance, committee system).
- Evidence of its impact on legislation, accountability, and the representation of federal interests.
- Critical evaluation of whether this transformation has also led to frequent disruptions or 'obstructionism'.
- Common pitfalls
- Spending too much time on the 'stepney tyre' metaphor without explaining the 'factors' of change.
- Failing to mention the era of coalition politics which increased the bargaining power of the Upper House.
- Neglecting the role of Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) where RS members contribute significantly.
- Describing static powers of the Rajya Sabha instead of the 'transformation' over the 'past few decades'.
- Dimensions required
- ConstitutionalFederalLegislative DeliberationExecutive AccountabilityHistorical/Political Evolution
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 50 words to context and the 'stepney tyre' concept. Dedicate 75 words to the factors of transformation (political shifts, committees). Use 100 words to detail specific areas of impact (social justice bills, federalism, scrutiny). Conclude with 25 words on the balance between being a 'supporting organ' and avoiding 'obstructionism'.
Unlock the full analysis for this question
You've seen the question and its examiner-intent decoding. Subscribers also get:
- 🔗 Similar Previous Year Questions — cross-year, cross-paper matches so you study the topic, not the question
- 📚 Source Map — verified citations from Laxmikanth, NCERT, PRS, Yojana, Economic Survey, Spectrum
- 🌱 How this topic is evolving — current-affairs bridge anchored to live TARS news clustering
- 🧭 Examiner's Pattern — how the topic has been framed across every year UPSC has tested it
- ✍️ Answer Skeleton — a structured outline (intro → body → conclusion) you can flesh out
- 🎯 AI evaluation — write your answer, get rubric-based scoring from gs-eval
Or browse 132+ free preview questions across all years and papers — the first 3 questions of every paper are unlocked.
Ready to practice?
Subscribers can attempt this question in 250 words and get an instant, rubric-based evaluation showing where they stand.
Subscribe to evaluate your answer →