PYQ Vault · Paper 1 · Party System & Electoral Politics
Development has overshadowed the influence of caste in electoral behaviour in recent elections. Discuss.
How the answer moves
The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.
Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes
=——-*®!'_-—«s recent verdicts fought on vikas, welfare, leadership, security → claim: development has replaced caste R2 Indian vote never single-factor → caste not erased, only reworked inside development politics
Body flow
caste still long-term determinant (rural/state) → Kothari: democracy works through society, caste politicised by elites → Yadav's “democratic upsurge” (OBC/backward/Dalit entry) → development's real rise → Vaishnav “good economics → good politics”, verdicts reward welfare /governance /leadership → two logics combine, not cancel → Jaffrelot: caste relevant, form changes → welfare travels through caste/community networks → Yadav's “Identity Plus”: caste works alongside development
Counter-view
Banerjee: voters still shaped by caste and religion → development talk sits atop older loyalties → caste not overshadowed at all
Conclusion routes
®! development gives legitimacy, caste gives voice and networks R2 combination, not replacement
Model answer
Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.
