CivilsIASPrep.comUPSC PYQs: Mains GS1
Review complete published questions grouped by paper: Mains GS1.
Other qualifying paper groups
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- Kannada Optional Paper I310 published questions
- Kannada Optional Paper II280 published questions
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- Mains GS3285 published questions
- Mains GS4215 published questions
- Prelims CSAT1201 published questions
- Prelims GS11525 published questions
Questions
- Analyze the importance of Ashokan inscriptions for reconstructing Mauryan history.2026 · Mains GS1 · History · Ashokan Inscriptions and Mauryan History
- Discuss the impact of Macaulay's Minute on colonial administration and education in India.2026 · Mains GS1 · History · Macaulay Minute and Colonial Education
- The significance of the Gandhian movements lay in the masses they mobilized. Elucidate.2026 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhian Mass Mobilisation
- What is the Fujiwhara effect? Explain its impact on the movement and intensity of tropical cyclones.2026 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Fujiwhara Effect and Tropical Cyclones
- Tundra regions are ecologically fragile but economically important. Examine this statement critically.2026 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Tundra Ecology and Resources
- Discuss the role of aeolian processes in desertification and land degradation.2026 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Aeolian Processes and Land Degradation
- Water resources are both an asset and a source of conflict in South Asia. Examine this statement giving examples.2026 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Water Resources and Conflict in South Asia
- Unity in diversity remains the defining feature of Indian society despite the challenges from communalism and regionalism. Comment.2026 · Mains GS1 · Indian Society · Unity in Diversity, Communalism and Regionalism
- How do you understand disability? Substantiate the need for inclusive policy framework in India in this regard.2026 · Mains GS1 · Indian Society · Disability and Inclusive Policy
- Do you think digital technology promotes social empowerment? Explain with examples.2026 · Mains GS1 · Indian Society · Digital Technology and Social Empowerment
- Vijayanagara architecture exemplifies the amalgamation of past traditions with contemporary practices. Elucidate with examples.2026 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Vijayanagara Architecture
- Linguistic reorganization of Indian States was driven by popular pressure from below. Comment.2026 · Mains GS1 · Post-Independence History · Linguistic Reorganisation of States
- The model of planned economy was adopted in India to address the regional imbalances left behind by colonial rule. Comment.2026 · Mains GS1 · Post-Independence History · Planned Economy and Regional Imbalances
- Compare the Loo, Chinook and Foehn winds with respect to their regions of prevalence, their nature and climatic impacts.2026 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Loo Chinook and Foehn Winds
- Analyze the role of satellite-based technologies in achieving climate-smart agriculture and food security in India.2026 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Satellite Technology and Climate-Smart Agriculture
- The centre of global trade is gradually shifting from the Atlantic region to the Indo-Pacific region. Examine this statement.2026 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Indo-Pacific Shift in Global Trade
- Analyze the major drivers of human-induced land-use changes in India and their geographical consequences.2026 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Human-Induced Land-Use Change in India
- Is caste disappearing in urban India? Illustrate your answer with examples.2026 · Mains GS1 · Indian Society · Caste and Urbanisation
- Critically examine the challenges of demographic transition in contemporary India.2026 · Mains GS1 · Indian Society · Demographic Transition in India
- Evaluate the impact of globalization on Indian youths with reference to social, political, economic and cultural spheres.2026 · Mains GS1 · Indian Society · Globalisation and Indian Youth
- Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture.2025 · Mains GS1 · History · Harappan Architecture
- Examine the main aspects of Akbar’s religious syncretism.2025 · Mains GS1 · History · Akbar and Religious Syncretism
- The sculptors filled the Chandella artform with resilient vigor and breadth of life. Elucidate.2025 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Chandella Art
- How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples.2025 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Climate Change and Island Nations
- What are non-farm primary activities? How are these activities related to physiographic features in India? Discuss with suitable examples.2025 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Primary Activities
- Explain briefly the ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India with suitable examples.2025 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Solar Energy
- What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their Consequences? Explain with examples.2025 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Tsunamis
- How does smart city in India, address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice?2025 · Mains GS1 · Society · Smart Cities and Urban Poverty
- The ethos of civil service in India stand for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness – Elucidate.2025 · Mains GS1 · Governance · Civil Service Ethos
- Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture? Justify your answer.2025 · Mains GS1 · Society · Globalization and Consumer Culture
- Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.2025 · Mains GS1 · History · Jotirao Phule and Social Reform
- Trace India’s consolidation process during early phase of independence in terms of polity, economy, education and international relations.2025 · Mains GS1 · Post-Independence India · National Consolidation
- The French Revolution has enduring relevance to the contemporary world. Explain.2025 · Mains GS1 · World History · French Revolution
- Give a geographical explanation of the distribution of off-shore oil reserves of the world. How are they different from the on-shore occurrences of oil reserves?2025 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Offshore Oil Reserves
- How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones be effectively used along with GIS and RS techniques in locational and areal planning?2025 · Mains GS1 · Geography · AI GIS and Remote Sensing
- Discuss how the changes in shape and sizes of continents and ocean basins of the planet take place due to tectonic movements of the crustal masses.2025 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Plate Tectonics
- Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources.2025 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Ganga River Basin Population
- How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.2025 · Mains GS1 · Society · Fast Food and Health
- Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could meet poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.2025 · Mains GS1 · Environment · Sustainable Growth and Poverty
- Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.2025 · Mains GS1 · Society · Tribal Development
- Underline the changes in society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period.2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Vedic Period
- Estimate the contribution of the Pallavas of Kanchi to the development of South Indian art and literature.2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Pallava Art and Literature
- What events led to the Quit India Movement? Point out its results.2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Quit India Movement
- What is sea-surface temperature rise and how does it affect tropical-cyclone formation?2024 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Cyclones
- Why do large cities attract more migrants than smaller towns in developing countries?2024 · Mains GS1 · Society · Migration and Urbanisation
- Explain the phenomenon of cloudbursts.2024 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Cloudbursts
- What is demographic winter, and is the world moving towards such a situation?2024 · Mains GS1 · Society · Demographic Winter
- Distinguish gender equality, gender equity and women’s empowerment, and explain why gender concerns matter in programme design.2024 · Mains GS1 · Society · Gender Equity
- Intercaste marriages among groups with socio-economic parity have increased, but interreligious marriages remain less common. Discuss.2024 · Mains GS1 · Society · Intercaste and Interreligious Marriage
- What kind of government-NGO-private sector collaboration is most productive for socio-economic development?2024 · Mains GS1 · Governance · Development Partnerships
- Comment on the lasting achievements of the Cholas in art and architecture.2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Chola Art and Architecture
- How far is it correct that the First World War was fought for preservation of the balance of power?2024 · Mains GS1 · History · First World War
- How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India?2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Industrial Revolution and India
- The groundwater potential of the Gangetic valley is declining seriously. How may this affect India’s food security?2024 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Groundwater and Food Security
- What are aurora australis and aurora borealis, and how are they triggered?2024 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Auroras
- What is a twister and why are most twisters observed around the Gulf of Mexico?2024 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Twisters
- What is regional disparity and how does it differ from diversity? How serious is regional disparity in India?2024 · Mains GS1 · Society · Regional Disparity
- Despite equity and social-justice policies, underprivileged sections do not get the full benefits of affirmative action. Comment.2024 · Mains GS1 · Society · Affirmative Action
- How has globalisation-driven urban migration by skilled young unmarried women affected personal freedom and family relationships?2024 · Mains GS1 · Society · Women Migration
- Critically analyse the correlation between India’s cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities.2024 · Mains GS1 · Society · Diversity and Marginality
- Explain the role of geographical factors in the development of Ancient India.2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Ancient India
- Compare Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in their approaches to education and nationalism.2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Nationalism and Education
- Bring out the socio-economic effects of the introduction of railways in different countries.2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Railways and Society
- Discuss the consequences of climate change for food security in tropical countries.2023 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Climate Change and Food Security
- Why is the world facing a crisis of availability and access to freshwater resources?2023 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Freshwater Crisis
- How are fjords formed and why are they among the world’s most picturesque landforms?2023 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Fjords
- Why is the South-West Monsoon called Purvaiya in the Bhojpur region, and how has it influenced the region’s culture?2023 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Monsoon and Culture
- Do you think marriage as a sacrament is losing its value in modern India?2023 · Mains GS1 · Society · Marriage and Society
- Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society.2023 · Mains GS1 · Society · Women and Mental Health
- Child cuddling is increasingly being replaced by mobile phones. Discuss its impact on children’s socialisation.2023 · Mains GS1 · Society · Children and Socialisation
- What are the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do some of these features still persist in Indian society?2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Vedic Society
- What major technological changes were introduced during the Sultanate period, and how did they influence Indian society?2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Sultanate Technology
- How did colonial rule affect Indian tribes, and what was the tribal response to colonial oppression?2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Tribal Resistance
- Comment on the resource potential of India’s long coastline and the status of natural-hazard preparedness in these areas.2023 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Coastal Resources
- Identify factors responsible for diversity of natural vegetation in India and assess the significance of wildlife sanctuaries in rainforest regions.2023 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Natural Vegetation
- Why has human development failed to keep pace with economic development in India?2023 · Mains GS1 · Society · Human Development
- India moved from being a net food importer in the 1960s to a net food exporter. Provide reasons.2023 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Food Security
- Does urbanisation lead to greater segregation or marginalisation of the poor in Indian metropolises?2023 · Mains GS1 · Society · Urbanisation and Poverty
- Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static?2023 · Mains GS1 · Society · Caste Identity
- Discuss the impact of the post-liberal economy on ethnic identity and communalism.2023 · Mains GS1 · Society · Liberalisation and Identity
- How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days?2022 · Mains GS1 · History · Temple Sculpture
- Why did the armies of the British East India Company, mostly comprising Indian soldiers, win consistently against the more numerous and better equipped armies of the Indian rulers? Give reasons.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · British East India Company
- Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century? Give reasons.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · Colonial Famines
- Describe the characteristics and types of primary rocks.2022 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Primary Rocks
- Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone-prone areas given by India Meteorological Department.2022 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Weather Warnings
- Discuss the natural resource potential of Deccan Trap.2022 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Deccan Trap
- Examine the potential of wind energy in India and explain the reasons for its limited spatial spread.2022 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Wind Energy
- Explore and evaluate the impact of Work From Home on family relationships.2022 · Mains GS1 · Society · Work From Home
- 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?2022 · Mains GS1 · Society · Tier-2 Cities and New Middle Class
- Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific context should they be considered as a single category?2022 · Mains GS1 · Society · Tribal Communities
- The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · State Reorganisation
- Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage and culture.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · Gupta and Chola
- Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · Mythology and Art
- What are the forces that influence ocean currents? Describe their role in the fishing industry of the world.2022 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Ocean Currents
- Describing the distribution of rubber-producing countries, indicate the major environmental issues faced by them.2022 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Rubber Production
- Mention the significance of straits and isthmus in international trade.2022 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Straits and Isthmus
- Troposphere is a very significant atmospheric layer that determines weather processes. How?2022 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Troposphere
- Analyse the salience of sect in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion.2022 · Mains GS1 · Society · Sect in Indian Society
- Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer.2022 · Mains GS1 · Society · Indian Secularism
- Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India.2022 · Mains GS1 · Society · Globalization and Technology
- Evaluate the nature of Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Bhakti Literature
- Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Socio Religious Reform
- Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Princely States Integration
- Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and the Western Ghats.2021 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Landslides
- Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product in percentage. Discuss.2021 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Mining Industry
- What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples.2021 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Urban Water Bodies
- Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on the regional environment.2021 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Volcanic Eruptions
- Why is India considered a subcontinent? Elaborate on your answer.2021 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Indian Subcontinent
- Examine the uniqueness of the tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems.2021 · Mains GS1 · Society · Tribal Knowledge System
- Examine the role of the gig economy in the process of empowerment of women in India.2021 · Mains GS1 · Society · Gig Economy and Women
- To what extent did the role of the moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? Comment.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Moderates and Freedom Movement
- Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhian Constructive Programme
- There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars. Evaluate the statement.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Inter War Democracy
- Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions, with examples.2021 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Mountain Ranges
- How does the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain.2021 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Cryosphere and Climate
- Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of the uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world.2021 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Mineral Oil Distribution
- What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India?2021 · Mains GS1 · Geography · IT Industry and Urbanisation
- Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail.2021 · Mains GS1 · Society · Population Education
- What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also?2021 · Mains GS1 · Society · Technology and Society
- How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it.2021 · Mains GS1 · Society · Traditional Social Values
- The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Rock-cut Architecture
- Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Buddhism
- Evaluate the policies of Lord Curzon and their long term implications on the national movements.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Colonial Policy
- Discuss the geophysical characteristics of Circum-Pacific Zone.2020 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Geophysical Zones
- The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples.2020 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Desertification
- How will the melting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India?2020 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Himalayan Glaciers
- Account for the present location of iron and steel industries away from the source of raw material, by giving examples.2020 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Industrial Location
- Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.2020 · Mains GS1 · Society · Caste
- COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment.2020 · Mains GS1 · Society · COVID-19
- Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue.2020 · Mains GS1 · Society · Regionalism
- Indian Philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Indian Philosophy And Tradition
- Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Medieval Sources
- Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · National Movement — Ideological Strands
- The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multi-dimensional inter-related problems of droughts, floods and interrupted navigation. Critically examine.2020 · Mains GS1 · Geography · River Interlinking
- Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures.2020 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Urban Floods
- India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate.2020 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Solar Energy
- Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change.2020 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Forest Resources
- Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer.2020 · Mains GS1 · Society · Globalisation
- Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree?2020 · Mains GS1 · Society · Tradition and Reason
- How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer.2020 · Mains GS1 · Society · Digital Education
- Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhara Art
- The 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · Revolt of 1857
- Examine the linkages between the 19th century Indian Renaissance and the emergence of national identity.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · Indian Renaissance
- Assess the impact of global warming on coral life systems with examples.2019 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Coral Ecosystems
- Discuss the causes of the depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology.2019 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Mangroves
- Can the strategy of regional-resource-based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India?2019 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Industrial Location
- Discuss the factors for localization of agro-based food processing industries of North-West India.2019 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Food Processing
- What makes Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss.2019 · Mains GS1 · Society · What Makes Indian Society
- Empowering women is the key to controlling population growth. Discuss.2019 · Mains GS1 · Society · Gender
- What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism?2019 · Mains GS1 · Society · Secularism
- Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · National Movement
- Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · Transfer of Power
- Explain how the foundations of the modern world were laid by the American and French Revolutions.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · World Revolutions
- What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?2019 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Water Stress
- How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism?2019 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Mountain Ecosystem
- How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India?2019 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Urbanisation
- How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and the coastal environment? Give suitable examples.2019 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Oceanography
- Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples.2019 · Mains GS1 · Society · Do We Have Cultural
- What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space?2019 · Mains GS1 · Society · Gender
- Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss.2019 · Mains GS1 · Society · Identity
- Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Comment.2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Indian Art Heritage
- Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India.2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Travellers Accounts
- Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times.2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhian Thought
- Why is the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation?2018 · Mains GS1 · Science & Technology · IRNSS
- Why is India taking a keen interest in the Arctic region?2018 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Arctic Region
- Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics.2018 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Mantle Plume
- What are the consequences of spreading of Dead Zones on marine ecosystem?2018 · Mains GS1 · Environment · Dead Zones
- Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, the caste system cannot be eradicated in India. Comment.2018 · Mains GS1 · Society · Caste System
- Despite the implementation of various programmes for the eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing. Explain by giving reasons.2018 · Mains GS1 · Society · Poverty
- How is the Indian concept of secularism different from the western model of secularism? Discuss.2018 · Mains GS1 · Society · Secularism
- The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss.2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Bhakti Movement
- Discuss whether the formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India.2018 · Mains GS1 · Economy · New States
- Why was indentured labour taken by the British from India to their colonies? Have they been able to preserve their cultural identity there?2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Indentured Labour
- The ideal solution of depleting groundwater resources in India is water harvesting system. How can it be made effective in urban areas?2018 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Water Harvesting
- Defining Blue Revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India.2018 · Mains GS1 · Agriculture · Blue Revolution
- What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identifying industrial corridors, explain their main characteristics.2018 · Mains GS1 · Economy · Industrial Corridors
- Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success.2018 · Mains GS1 · Governance · Aspirational Districts
- Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata. Substantiate your view.2018 · Mains GS1 · Society · Women Movement
- Globalisation is generally said to promote cultural homogenisation but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in Indian society. Elucidate.2018 · Mains GS1 · Society · Globalisation and Culture
- Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.2018 · Mains GS1 · Society · Communalism
- How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times?2017 · Mains GS1 · History · Gupta Numismatic Art
- Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity.2017 · Mains GS1 · General Studies · Fragmented Polity
- 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?2017 · Mains GS1 · History · Moderates
- What problems are germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula?2017 · Mains GS1 · General Studies · Decolonization
- How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth?2017 · Mains GS1 · Science & Technology · Juno Mission
- In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development. Discuss.2017 · Mains GS1 · Environment · Coal Mining
- Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulses because of which the year 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by United Nations.2017 · Mains GS1 · International Relations · Pulses
- How does the cryosphere affect global climate?2017 · Mains GS1 · Environment · Cryosphere
- 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.2017 · Mains GS1 · Society · Cultural Regions
- What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes?2017 · Mains GS1 · Society · Scheduled Tribes
- 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.2017 · Mains GS1 · Society · Tolerance
- Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy.2017 · Mains GS1 · History · Colonial Economy
- Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since the twenties of the last century.2017 · Mains GS1 · History · Indian Independence
- Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects.2017 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Oceanic Salinity
- Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many of the developing countries. Explain its implications.2017 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Petroleum Refineries
- In what way can floods be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in India?2017 · Mains GS1 · Environment · Flood Management
- What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia?2017 · Mains GS1 · Environment · Monsoon Climate
- The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th-century social reform movement. What are the major issues and debates concerning women in that period?2017 · Mains GS1 · Society · Women Reform Movement
- Distinguish between religiousness or religiosity and communalism, giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India.2017 · Mains GS1 · Society · Communalism
- 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.2017 · Mains GS1 · Economy · IT Hubs
- Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives, successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.2016 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Buddhist Stupa Art
- Krishnadeva Raya, the king of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.2016 · Mains GS1 · History · Vijayanagara Empire
- Explain how the uprising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British policies towards colonial India.2016 · Mains GS1 · History · Revolt of 1857
- Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase.2016 · Mains GS1 · History · Women in Freedom Struggle
- Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom.2016 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhi and Bose
- Has the formation of linguistic states strengthened the cause of Indian unity?2016 · Mains GS1 · Society · Linguistic States
- The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western-educated Africans. Examine.2016 · Mains GS1 · World History · Anti-colonial Struggles in West Africa
- To what extent has globalisation influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain.2016 · Mains GS1 · Society · Globalisation and Cultural Diversity
- An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation. Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.2016 · Mains GS1 · Society · Poverty and Deprivation
- Why are the tribals in India referred to as the Scheduled Tribes? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.2016 · Mains GS1 · Society · Scheduled Tribes
- With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the Smart City Programme.2016 · Mains GS1 · Urbanization · Smart City Programme
- What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.2016 · Mains GS1 · Society · Regionalism
- Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in macro-climatic changes.2016 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Air Mass
- The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides. Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation.2016 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Landslides in Himalayas
- The effective management of land and water resources will drastically reduce human miseries. Explain.2016 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Land and Water Resources
- South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context. Comment.2016 · Mains GS1 · Geography · South China Sea
- Major cities of India are becoming vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss.2016 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Urban Floods
- Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations.2016 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Indus Water Treaty
- Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport in India.2016 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Inland Water Transport
- In what way do micro-watershed development projects help in water conservation in drought-prone and semi-arid regions of India?2016 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Micro-watershed Development
- The ancient civilization in Indian sub continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without breakdown to the present day. Comment.2015 · Mains GS1 · History · Ancient Indian Civilization
- Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modern painting. Critically evaluate this comment.2015 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Mesolithic Rock-cut Art
- How difficult would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.2015 · Mains GS1 · History · Freedom Struggle
- Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.2015 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhi and Ambedkar
- It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years, but its experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss.2015 · Mains GS1 · Polity · Constitutional Development
- Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present times?2015 · Mains GS1 · World History · Industrial Revolution
- To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically.2015 · Mains GS1 · World History · World Wars
- Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.2015 · Mains GS1 · Society · Cultural Diversity
- Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India.2015 · Mains GS1 · Society · Poverty and Population
- How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?2015 · Mains GS1 · Society · Tribal Society
- Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades.2015 · Mains GS1 · Society · Migration
- Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India.2015 · Mains GS1 · Society · Globalization and Women
- Debate the issue whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste.2015 · Mains GS1 · Society · Caste and Dalit Assertion
- Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?2015 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Ocean Currents
- Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?2015 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Air Pollution
- India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.2015 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Water Scarcity
- The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are reaching the limits of ecological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically evaluate.2015 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Ecological Carrying Capacity
- How far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscape? Discuss.2015 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Monsoon and Human Landscape
- Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop of rural urban integration.2015 · Mains GS1 · Society · Smart Cities and Smart Villages
- What are the economic significance of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible environmental consequences?2015 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Arctic Oil
- To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss.2014 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Indus Valley Civilization
- Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.2014 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Gandhara Sculpture
- Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.2014 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Taxila University
- The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat?2014 · Mains GS1 · History · Third Battle of Panipat
- Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu/Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.2014 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Sufis and Mystic Saints
- Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence.2014 · Mains GS1 · History · British Economic Policies
- In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?2014 · Mains GS1 · History · Naval Mutiny
- What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India?2014 · Mains GS1 · World History · Anti-colonial Struggle
- What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self-image as a world power?2014 · Mains GS1 · World History · Suez Crisis
- The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate.2014 · Mains GS1 · World History · New Economic Policy
- How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle-class working woman in India?2014 · Mains GS1 · Society · Patriarchy
- Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.2014 · Mains GS1 · Society · Sex Ratio
- The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.2014 · Mains GS1 · Society · Joint Family
- Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.2014 · Mains GS1 · Society · Feminization of Agriculture
- How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?2014 · Mains GS1 · Society · Secularism
- Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El Nino effect. Do you agree?2014 · Mains GS1 · Geography · El Nino
- Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of fold mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.2014 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Fold Mountains
- Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos.2014 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Island Arcs
- Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?2014 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Tropical Cyclones
- Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.2014 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Himalayan Glaciers
- Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain.2014 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Tea Gardens
- Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually bypass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?2014 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Green Revolution
- Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world.2014 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Iron and Steel Industry
- Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world.2014 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Ocean Resources
- How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?2014 · Mains GS1 · International Relations · Africa and Resources
- Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of South India, the Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable vividness. Comment.2013 · Mains GS1 · History · Sangam Literature
- Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions.2013 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Tandava Dance
- Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss.2013 · Mains GS1 · Art & Culture · Chola Architecture
- Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss.2013 · Mains GS1 · History · Women in Freedom Struggle
- Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom.2013 · Mains GS1 · History · Foreigners in Freedom Struggle
- In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate.2013 · Mains GS1 · History · Lord Dalhousie
- Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success.2013 · Mains GS1 · Post-Independence India · Bhoodan and Gramdan
- Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”.2013 · Mains GS1 · Post-Independence India · Jai Jawan Jai Kisan
- Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre-and post independent India.2013 · Mains GS1 · Post-Independence India · Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
- Analyse the circumstances that led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the agreement.2013 · Mains GS1 · Post-Independence India · Tashkent Agreement
- Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive role in the emergence of Bangladesh.2013 · Mains GS1 · Post-Independence India · Emergence of Bangladesh
- “Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experienced.2013 · Mains GS1 · World History · Industrial Revolution in Japan
- Africa was chopped into states artificially created by accident of European competition. Analyse.2013 · Mains GS1 · World History · Scramble for Africa
- American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate.2013 · Mains GS1 · World History · American Revolution
- What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression?2013 · Mains GS1 · World History · Great Depression
- Discuss the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India.2013 · Mains GS1 · Society · Urbanization
- “Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organizations free from gender bias.” Comment.2013 · Mains GS1 · Society · Women’s Organizations
- Critically examine the effect of globalization on the aged population in India.2013 · Mains GS1 · Society · Globalization and Aged Population
- Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate State. Discuss.2013 · Mains GS1 · Society · Regionalism
- What do you understand about the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences in its support.2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Continental Drift
- The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are tropical cyclones named across the world? Elaborate.2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Cyclone Naming
- Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world.2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Heat Islands
- What do you understand about the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and habitants of the place?2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Temperature Inversion
- Major hot deserts in the northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degrees north and on the western side of the continents. Why?2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Hot Deserts
- Bring out the causes for more frequent landslide in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats.2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Himalayan Landslides
- There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghats. Why?2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Western Ghats Rivers
- Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the southern states of India? Discuss with justification.2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Sugar Industry
- Analyze the factors for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India.2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Cotton Textile Industry
- With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, atomic energy is gaining more and more significance in India. Discuss the availability of raw material required for the generation of atomic energy in India and in the world.2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Atomic Energy Resources
- It is said that India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of the country for a quarter century. However, tapping of the resource does not appear to be high on agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved.2013 · Mains GS1 · Geography · Shale Oil and Gas