UPSC Mains 2017 GS1

GS1 — Geography · History · Society · Culture — 20 questions. Click any question for full text, examiner-intent decoding, source citations, cross-year examiner pattern, and a structured answer skeleton.

  1. Q1 Ancient Indian Art
    Free

    How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times ? (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  2. Q2 Modern Indian History
    Free

    Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity. (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  3. Q3 Freedom Struggle
    Free

    Why did the ‘Moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century ? (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  4. Q4 World History
    Pro

    What problems were germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula ? (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  5. Q5 Space Science
    Pro

    How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth ? (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  6. Q6 Natural Resources
    Pro

    “In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.” Discuss. (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  7. Q7 Agriculture
    Pro

    Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulses because of which the year 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations. (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  8. Q8 Physical Geography
    Pro

    How does the cryosphere affect global climate ? (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  9. Q9 Indian Society
    Pro

    In the context of the diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather than the States ? Give reasons with examples for your viewpoint. (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  10. Q10 Social Justice
    Pro

    What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence, addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs) ? (150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  11. Q11 Indian Culture
    Pro

    The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very early times, but it is also playing an important part at the present. Elaborate. (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  12. Q12 Modern Indian History
    Pro

    Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy. (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  13. Q13 Freedom Struggle
    Pro

    Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian independence since the twenties of the last century. (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  14. Q14 Oceanography
    Pro

    Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects. (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  15. Q15 Industrial Location
    Pro

    Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many of the developing countries. Explain its implications. (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  16. Q16 Water Management
    Pro

    In what way can floods be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in India ? (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  17. Q17 Climatology
    Pro

    What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia ? (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  18. Q18 Social Reform
    Pro

    The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period ? (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  19. Q19 Communalism
    Pro

    Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India. (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  20. Q20 Urbanization
    Pro

    “The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up new avenues of employment, but has also created new problems.” Substantiate this statement with examples. (250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words