Practicing UPSC Previous Year’s questions, be it Prelims or Mains, is a must for clearing the Examination. It provides a clear idea of the trends and types of questions asked in the examination by UPSC.
About Question Bank
In this section, we are providing you with previous year’s questions on UPSC MAINS GS-1 including History, Society, and geography from the year 2013 to 2021.
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- History | Art & Culture
- World History
- Society and aspects
- Geography
2021
Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture. (150 words 10 marks)
Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj. (150 words 10 marks)
Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States. (150 words 10 marks)
To what extent did the role of the moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? Comment. (250 words 15 marks)
Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement. (250 words 15 marks)
2020
The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate. (Answer in 150 words)
Evaluate the policies of Lord Curzon and their long term implications on the national movement. (Answer in 150 words)
Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and art in India. Discuss (Answer in 250 words)
Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment? (Answer in 250 words)
Since the decade of 1920‟s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
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. (10 marks-200 words.)
Write Your Answer a) Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions. (5 marks- 100 words.)
Write Your Answerb)Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. (5 marks- 100 words.)
Write Your AnswerTo what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss.
Write Your AnswerGandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.
Write Your AnswerTaxila 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.
Write Your AnswerThe 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 (12.5M)
Write Your AnswerMesolithic 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. (12.5M)
Write Your AnswerEarly Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives, successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.
Write Your AnswerKrishnadeva Raya, the king of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was a also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.
Write Your AnswerHow 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)
Write Your AnswerSafeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Comment (10)
Write Your AnswerHighlight the Central Asian and Greco Bactrian elements in the Gandhara art. (150 Words 10 Marks)
Write Your AnswerSufis 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.
Write your answerThe Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss. (15)
Write your answerDefying the barriers of age, gender, and religion, the Indian women became the torchbearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss. (10 marks-200 words).
Write Your answerSeveral foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom. 10 marks-200 words
Write Your answerIn many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate. 10 marks-200 words
Write Your answerCritically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your answerThe third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat?
Write your answerExamine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from the mid-eighteenth century till independence.
Write your answerIn what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?
Write your answerWhat were the major political, economic, and social developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India?
Write your answerHow difficult would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.
Write your answerMahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate. (12.5M)
Write your answerIt 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. (12.5M)
Write your answerExplain how the upraising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British policies towards colonial India.
Write your answerDiscuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase.
Write your answerHighlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom.
Write your answerClarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity. (150 words)
Write your answerWhy did the ‘Moderates’ failed to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century? (150 words)
Write your answerExamine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy. (250 words)
Write your answerAssess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India. (10)
Write your answerWhy indentured labour was taken by the British from India to their colonies? have they been able to preserve their cultural identity over there? (15)
Write your answerThe 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. (150 words 10 marks)
Write your answerExamine the linkages between the nineteenth century’s ‘Indian Renaissance’ and the emergence of national identity. (150 words 10 marks)
Write your answerMany voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate. (250 words 15 marks)
Write your answerAssess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s. (250 words 15 marks)
Write your answerWrite a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan “Jai Jawana Jai Kisan”. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your answerDiscuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre-and post independent India. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your answerAnalyse the circumstances that led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the agreement. 10 marks-200 words
Write Your answerCritically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive roles in the emergence of Bangladesh. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your answerHas the formation of linguistic states strengthened the cause of Indian unity?
Write your answerWhat are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)? (150 words)
Write your answerHighlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since the twenties of the last century. (250 words)
Write your answerThrow light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times. (10)
Write your answerDiscuss whether the formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India. (15)
Write your answer2021
”There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars.” Evaluate the statement. (250 words 15 marks)
“Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what the west had the experience. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your AnswerAfrica was chopped into states artificially created by the accident of European competition. Analyze. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your AnswerAmerican Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your AnswerWhat policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression? 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your AnswerWhat 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?
Write Your AnswerThe New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate.
Write Your AnswerWhy 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?
Write Your AnswerTo what extend can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically.
Write Your AnswerWhat problems are germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula? (150 words)
Write Your AnswerExplain how the foundations of the modern world were laid by the American and French Revolutions. (250 words 15 marks)
Write Your Answer2021
Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems. (150 words 10 marks)
Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India. (150 words 10 marks)
Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (250 words 15 marks)
What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also? (250 words 15 marks)
How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it. (250 words 15 marks)
2020
Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (Answer in 150 words)
COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment (Answer in 150 words)
Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue. (Answer in 150 words)
Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer.
Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree?
How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer. (Answer in 250 words, 15 marks)
Discuss the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your AnswerMale membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from gender bias. Comment. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your AnswerCritically examine the effects of globalization on the aged population in India. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your AnswerGrowing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate state. Discuss. 10 marks-200 words
Write Your AnswerHow does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India?
Write Your AnswerWhy do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.
Write Your AnswerThe life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss
Write Your AnswerDiscuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.
Write Your AnswerHow do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?
Write Your AnswerDescribe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.
Write Your AnswerCritically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the mains cause of population increase in India.
Write Your AnswerHow 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?
Write Your AnswerDiscuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades.
Write Your AnswerDiscuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India?
Write Your AnswerDebate the issue whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste.
Write Your AnswerThe anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western-educated Africans. Examine.
Write Your AnswerTo what extent globalisation has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain.
Write Your Answer“An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.
Write Your AnswerWhy are the tribals in India referred to as ‘the Scheduled Tribes’? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.
Write Your AnswerWith a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the ‘Smart City Programme.”
Write Your AnswerWhat is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.
Write Your AnswerThe 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)
Write Your AnswerThe 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? (250 words)
Write Your AnswerDistinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India. (250 words)
Write Your Answer“Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. (10)
Write Your Answer‘Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing’. Explain by giving reasons. (10)
Write Your AnswerHow the Indian concept of secularism different from the western model of secularism? Discuss. (10)
Write Your Answer‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.’ Substantiate your view. (15)
Write Your Answer‘Globalisation is generally said to promote cultural homogenisation but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian society.’ Elucidate.
Write Your Answer‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation.’ Argue by giving suitable illustrations. (15)
Write Your AnswerWhat makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss. (150 words 10 marks)
Write Your Answer“Empowering women is the key to control population growth.” Discuss. (150 words 10 marks)
Write Your AnswerWhat are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism? (150 words 10 marks)
Write Your AnswerDo we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples. (250 words 15 marks)
Write Your AnswerWhat are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space?(250 words 15 marks)
Write Your AnswerAre we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss. (250 words 15 marks)
Write Your Answer2021
Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats. (150 words 10 marks)
Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in percentage. Discuss. (150 words 10 marks)
What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples. (150 words 10 marks)
Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on regional environment. (150 words 10 marks)
Why is India considered as a sub-continent? Elaborate your answer. (150 words 10 marks)
Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions, with examples. (250 words 15 marks)
How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain. (250 words 15 marks)
Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world. (250 words 15 marks)
What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India? (250 words 15 marks)
2020
Discuss the geophysical characteristics of the Circum-Pacific zone. (Answer in 150 words)
The process of desertification does not have climatic boundaries. Justify with examples. (Answer in 150 words)
How will the melting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India? (Answer in 150 words)
Account for the present location of Iron and steel industries away from the source of raw material, by giving examples. (Answer in 150 words)
The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multidimensional interrelated problems of droughts, floods and interrupted navigation. Critically examine (Answer in 250 words)
Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (Answer in 250 words)
India has immense potential for solar energy though there are regional variations in its development. Elaborate
Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change.
(a) What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences in its support. 5 marks 100 words
Write Your Answer(b) The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world? Elaborate. 5 marks-100 words.
Write Your Answer(a)Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world. 5 marks 100 words.
Write Your Answer(b) What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place? 5 marks 100 words.
Write Your AnswerMajor hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degree north and on the western side of the continents. Why? 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your Answera) Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in the Western Ghats. 5 marks 100 words.
Write Your Answer(b) There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why? 5 marks 100 words.
Write Your Answera) Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of India? Discuss with justification. 5 marks 100 words.
Write Your Answer(b) Analyse the factors for the highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India. 5 marks 100 words
Write Your AnswerWith the 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. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your AnswerIt is said India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of the country for a quarter-century. However, tapping the resources doesn’t appear to be high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved. 10 marks-200 words.
Write Your AnswerMost of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree?
Write Your AnswerWhy 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.
Write Your AnswerExplain the formation of thousands of islands in the Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos.
Write Your AnswerTropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?
Write Your AnswerBring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.
Write Your AnswerWhereas 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.
Write Your AnswerWhy did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?
Write Your AnswerAccount for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world.
Write Your AnswerCritically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world.
Write Your AnswerHow does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?
Write Your AnswerExplain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?
Write Your AnswerMumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three Mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious probelm in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?
Write Your AnswerIndia is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.
Write Your AnswerThe states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are reaching the limits of econological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically evaluate.
Write Your AnswerHow far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscape? Discuss.
Write Your AnswerWhat are the economic significances of the discovery of oil in the Arctic Sea and its possible environmental consequences?
Write Your AnswerDiscuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in macro-climatic changes.
Write Your Answer“The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides. “Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation.
Write Your AnswerThe effective management of land and water resources will drastically reduce the human miseries. Explain.
Write Your AnswerIn what way micro-watershed development projects help in water conservation in drought-prone and semi-arid regions of India?
Write Your AnswerHow does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth? (150 words)
Write Your Answer“Inspite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development”. Discuss (150 words)
Write Your AnswerMention the advantages of the cultivation of pulses because of which the year 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by United Nations. (150 words)
Write Your AnswerHow does the cryosphere affect global climate? (150 words)
Write Your AnswerAccount for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects. (250 words)
Write Your AnswerPetroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many of the developing countries. Explain its implications. (250 words)
Write Your AnswerWhat 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)
Write Your Answer“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)
Write Your AnswerWhy is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation? (10 )
Write Your AnswerWhy is India taking keen interest in the Arctic region? (10)
Write Your AnswerDefine mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics. (10)
Write Your AnswerWhat are the consequences of spreading of ‘Dead Zones’ on marine ecosystem? (10)
Write Your Answer“The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system.” How can it be made effective in urban areas? (15)
Write Your AnswerDefining blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India. (15)
Write Your AnswerWhat is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identifying industrial corridors, explain their main characteristics. (15)
Write Your AnswerMention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success. (15)
Write Your AnswerAssess the impact of global warming on the coral life system with examples. (150 words 10 marks)
Write Your AnswerDiscuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology. (150 words 10 marks)
Write Your AnswerCan the strategy of regional resource-based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India? (150 words 10 marks)
Write Your AnswerDiscuss the factors for localisation of agro-based food processing industries of North-West India. (150 words 10 marks)
Write Your AnswerWhat is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (250 words 15 marks)
Write Your AnswerHow can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism? (250 words 15 marks)
Write Your AnswerHow is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development in India? (250 words 15 marks)
Write Your AnswerHow do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and coastal environment? Give suitable examples. (250 words 15 marks)
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