Editor’s Pick
UPSC PYQs
- Child cuddling is now being replaced by mobile phones. Discuss its impact on the socialization of children. ( 150 Words) [UPSC 2023]
- What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those technological changes influence the Indian society? (250 words) [UPSC 2023]
- Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge systems when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems. (150 words)[UPSC 2021]
- How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer. (250 words) [UPSC 2020]
Salient features of Indian Society
Editor’s Pick
- How do the child-rearing practices in traditional joint families and nuclear families impact the development of self-identity and socialization in children?(200 Words)
- In India, suicide has emerged as a leading cause of death among individuals aged 15-29. Highlighting the reasons behind this, discuss the key focus areas of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
- Highlighting the recent trends in marriages in India, explain why the legal recognition of same-sex marriage is considered a matter of significant importance. (Answer in 150 words)
UPSC PYQs
- Do you think marriage as a sacrament is losing its value in Modern India? ( 150 Words) [UPSC 2023]
- What are the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do you think some of the features are still prevailing in Indian society? (250 words) [UPSC 2023]
- Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static? (250 words) [UPSC 2023]
- Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific contexts should they be considered as a single category ? (150 words)[UPSC 2022]
- Analyse the salience of ‘sect’ in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion. (250 words) [UPSC 2022]
- How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it. (250 words) [UPSC 2021]
- Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (150 words)[UPSC 2020]
- Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree? (250 words) [UPSC 2020]
- What makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss. (250 words) [UPSC 2019]
- Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples. (250 words) [UPSC 2019]
- 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) [UPSC 2017]
- How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favorable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes? (200 words) [UPSC 2015]
- Discuss the changes in the trends of labor migration within and outside India in the last four decades. (200 words) [UPSC 2015]
- Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for the assertion of Dalit identity work towards the annihilation of caste. (200 words) [UPSC 2015]
- The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss. (150 words) [UPSC 2014]
Diversity of India
Editor’s Pick
UPSC PYQs
- Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity. (200 words) [UPSC 2015]
- 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) [UPSC 2017]
Role of Women & Women’s Organization
Editor’s Pick
- In what ways has technology empowered women in India to break free from patriarchal limitations and expand their participation beyond conventional roles? (200 words)
- How does the unequal distribution of care work among women contribute to their poverty in India?(200 Words)
- How do the intersections of caste and gender create distinct socio-economic vulnerabilities for women in rural India? Justify your response.(200 Words)
UPSC PYQs
- Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society. ( 150 Words) [UPSC 2023]
- “Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata. Substantiate your view. (250 words) [UPSC 2018]
- How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India? (150 words) [UPSC 2014]
- “Empowering women is the key to control population growth.” Discuss. (250 words) [UPSC 2019]
- What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? (250 words) [UPSC 2019]
Population & Associated Issues
Editor’s Pick
UPSC PYQs
- Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (250 words) [UPSC 2021]
- Critically examine whether the growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India. (200 words) [UPSC 2015]
- Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments. (150 words) [UPSC 2014]
Poverty & Developmental issues
Editor’s Pick
- How can India reform its social protection systems to effectively address both the emerging vulnerabilities of the newly non-poor and the ongoing challenges of chronic poverty? (200 words)
- What challenges hinder the effectiveness of urban poverty alleviation measures in India?(200 Words)
- Does socio-economic deprivation increase the likelihood of individuals either becoming victims of violence or engaging in violent behavior themselves?(200 Words)
UPSC PYQs
- Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing. Explain by giving reasons. (150 words) [UPSC 2018]
- “An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples. (200 words) [UPSC 2016]
Urbanization & Associated Issues
Editor’s Pick
UPSC PYQs
- Does urbanization lead to more segregation and/or marginalization of the poor in Indian metropolises? (250 words) [UPSC 2023]
- 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? (150 words)[UPSC 2022]
- What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples. (150 words)[UPSC 2021]
- Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (250 words) [UPSC 2020]
- How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India? (250 words) [UPSC 2019]
- “The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system.” How can it be made effective in urban areas? (250 words) [UPSC 2018]
- With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the ‘Smart City Programme’. (200 words) [UPSC 2016]
- Major cities of India are becoming more vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss. (200 words) [UPSC 2016]
Effects of Globalization on Indian society
Editor’s Pick
- How has globalization influenced socio-cultural practices in India?(200 Words)
- Discuss the challenges in ensuring effective mental healthcare, considering the diverse factors influencing mental well-being in a globalized world. (Answer in 150 words)
- The interaction between globalization and religion has been intricate, giving rise to both new opportunities and challenges. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
- Examine the influence of globalization on the changes in family size, structure, and relationships within contemporary Indian society. (Answer in 250 words)
UPSC PYQs
- Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work From Home’ on family relationships. (150 words)[UPSC 2022]
- Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India. (250 words) [UPSC 2022]
- What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also? (250 words) [UPSC 2021]
- Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer. (250 words) [UPSC 2020]
- Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss. (250 words) [UPSC 2019]
- Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society. Elucidate. (250 words) [UPSC 2018]
- To what extent globalization has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain. (200 words) [UPSC 2016]
- Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India. (200 words) [UPSC 2015]
Social Empowerment
Editor’s Pick
UPSC PYQs
- Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India. (150 words)[UPSC 2021]
- “Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. (150 words) [UPSC 2018]
- 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. (200 words) [UPSC 2016]
- Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India. (150 words) [UPSC 2014]
Communalism
Editor’s Pick
UPSC PYQs
- Discuss the impact of the post-liberal economy on ethnic identity and communalism. (250 words) [UPSC 2023]
- Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation.” Argue by giving suitable illustrations. (250 words) [UPSC 2018]
Regionalism
Editor’s Pick
- Do you believe that regionalism in India has primarily emerged due to the presence of diverse linguistic identities? Discuss with relevant examples. (200 words)
- Regionalism in India is a complex phenomenon that encompasses geo-cultural, politico-economic, and primarily, psychological dimensions. Discuss. (250 words)
UPSC PYQs
- Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue. (150 words)[UPSC 2020]
- What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer. (200 words) [UPSC 2016]
Secularism
Editor’s Pick
- India’s secular approach has been one of ‘principled distance’ rather than ‘equi-distance’. Comment. (Answer in 150 words)
- By incorporating a form of Western secularism, India created a situation that gradually undermined the process of secularization. Critically analyze. (250 words)
UPSC PYQs
- Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer. (250 words) [UPSC 2022]
- What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism? (250 words) [UPSC 2019]
- How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism? Discuss. (150 words) [UPSC 2018]
- How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West? (150 words) [UPSC 2014]