UPSC Mains 2022 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 Medieval Art and Sculpture
    Free

    How will you explain that Medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days? (Answer in 150 words)

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

    Why did the armies of the British East India Company – mostly comprising of Indian Soldiers – win consistently against the more numerous and better equipped armies of the then Indian rulers? Give reasons. (Answer in 150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  3. Q3 Colonial Economic History
    Free

    Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century? Give reasons. (Answer in 150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  4. Q4 Physical Geography
    Pro

    Describe the characteristics and types of primary rocks. (Answer in 150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  5. Q5 Disaster Management
    Pro

    Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological Department. (Answer in 150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  6. Q6 Indian Natural Resources
    Pro

    Discuss the natural resource potentials of ‘Deccan Trap’. (Answer in 150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  7. Q7 Renewable Energy
    Pro

    Examine the potential of wind energy in India and explain the reasons for their limited spatial spread. (Answer in 150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  8. Q8 Indian Society
    Pro

    Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work From Home’ on family relationships. (Answer in 150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  9. Q9 Urbanization and Society
    Pro

    How is the growth of Tier 2 Cities related to the rise of a new middle class with an emphasis on the culture of consumption? (Answer in 150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  10. Q10 Tribal Issues
    Pro

    Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific contexts should they be considered as a single category? (Answer in 150 words)

    10 marks · 150 words
  11. Q11 Post-Independence Consolidation
    Pro

    The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has heen a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples. (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  12. Q12 Ancient Indian Culture
    Pro

    Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage and culture. (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  13. Q13 Indian Art Forms
    Pro

    Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture. (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  14. Q14 Oceanography
    Pro

    What are the forces that influence ocean currents? Describe their role in fishing industry of the world. (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  15. Q15 Economic Geography
    Pro

    Describing the distribution of rubber producing countries, indicate the major environmental issues faced by them. (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  16. Q16 World Geography
    Pro

    Mention the significance of straits and isthmus in international trade. (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  17. Q17 Climatology
    Pro

    Troposphere is a very significant atmosphere layer that determines weather processes. How? (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  18. Q18 Social Structure
    Pro

    Analyse the salience of ‘sect’ in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion. (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  19. Q19 Secularism and Society
    Pro

    Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer. (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words
  20. Q20 Globalization
    Pro

    Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India. (Answer in 250 words)

    15 marks · 250 words