UPSC Mains 2019 GS1 Q8 — Indian Society
What makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its culture ? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Discuss
- Scope keywords
- Indian societyuniquesustaining its culture
- Implicit sub-parts
- Identify specific mechanisms (social, structural, or philosophical) that prevent cultural erosion.
- Explain the tension and balance between 'Continuity' and 'Change' in the Indian context.
- Analyze how Indian society absorbs foreign influences without losing its core identity (Syncretism).
- Common pitfalls
- Listing general features of Indian society (like caste or festivals) without linking them to 'sustainability' or 'uniqueness'.
- Writing a purely historical essay on ancient India rather than focusing on the 'society' as an evolving, living entity.
- Ignoring the role of the Constitution and modern legal frameworks as modern tools for sustaining traditional diversity.
- Failing to address the word 'unique'—neglecting to explain why India's cultural survival differs from civilizations that vanished.
- Dimensions required
- Historical-CivilizationalSocial-Structural (Family, Caste, Village)Philosophical-Religious (Tolerance, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)Geographical (Isolation vs. Accessibility)Linguistic and Syncretic
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 30 words on the 'Continuity and Change' thesis in the introduction. Use 90 words to discuss 4-5 unique pillars like the joint family system, the suigeneris nature of Indian secularism, and the 'Great and Little' traditions. Conclude in 30 words by mentioning how this resilience faces modern challenges like globalization.
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