History: world

History: Art & Culture

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Salient aspects of Art, Architecture, literature from Ancient to Modern Times

How do you justify the view that the level of

excellence of Gupta numismatic art is not at all 2017
noticeable in later times?

Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs

and narratives successfully expounds Buddhist 2016
ideals. Elucidate.

Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not

only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a 2016
great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.

The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent

differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and
Greece in that its culture and traditions have been 2015
preserved without a breakdown to the present day.
Comment.

Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only

reflects the cultural life of the times but also a tine
2015
aesthetic sense comparable to modem painting.
Critically evaluate this comment.

To what extent has the urban planning and culture of

the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the 2014
present day urbanization? Discuss.

Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as

2014
to the Greeks. Explain.

Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of

the world with which were associated a number of
renowned learned personalities of different
2014
disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to
flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a
university in the modern sense. Discuss.

Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify

either the religious ideas and practices or the outward
2014
structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any
appreciable extent. Comment.

Though not very useful from the point of view of a

connected political history of South India, the Sangam
2013
literature portrays the social and economic conditions
of its time with remarkable vividness. Comment.

Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early

2013
Indian inscriptions.

Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the

2013

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evolution of temple architecture. Discuss.

History: India before Independence

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Mid-18th century – Present (significant events, personalities, issues); Freedom Struggle
(various stages, important contributors from different parts of the country)

Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset

2017
with the spectre of a fragmented polity.

Why did the ‘Moderates’ fail to carry conviction with

the nation about their proclaimed ideology and 2017
political goals by the end of the nineteenth century?

Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal

2017
industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy.

The women’s questions arose in modern India as a

part of the 19th century social reform movement.
2017
What were the major issues and debates concerning
women in that period?

Highlight the importance of the new objectives that

got added to the vision of Indian independence since 2017
twenties of the last century.

Explain how the Uprising of 1857 constitutes an

important watershed in the evolution of British policies 2016
towards colonial India.

Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle

2016
especially during the Gandhian phase.

Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash

Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle 2016
for freedom.

How different would have been the achievement of

Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? 2015
Discuss.

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 2015
but for the experience gained with the Government of
India Act, 1935. Discuss.

The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why

were so many empire-shaking battles fought at 2014
Panipat?

Examine critically the various facets of economic

policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth 2014
century till independence.

In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last

nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in 2014
India?

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Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the

Indian women became the torch bearer during the 2013
struggle for freedom in India. Discuss.

Several foreigners made India their homeland and

participated in various movements. Analyze their role 2013
in the Indian struggle for freedom.

In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of

2013
modern India. Elaborate.

History: India After independence

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Post-Independence (consolidation and reorganisation within country)

Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and

Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba 2013
Bhave and their success.

Write a critical note on the evolution and significance

2013
of the slogan “Jai Jawana Jai Kisan”.

Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

2013
to pre-and post-independent India.

Analyze the circumstances that led to Tashkent

Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the 2013
agreement.

Critically examine the compulsions which prompted

India to play a decisive roles in the emergence of 2013
Bangladesh.

History: world

GS1 Syllabus Topic: 18th century events (e.g. Industrial revolution, WWs, redrawn boundaries, colonisation,
decolonisation); Political philosophies (e.g. communism, capitalism, socialism) and their effect on society

M
What problems were germane to the decolonization
2017
process of Malay Peninsula.

The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by

2016
the new elite of Western-educated Africans. Examine.

Why did the industrial revolution first occur in

England? Discuss the quality of life of the people
2015
there during the industrialization. How does it
compare with that in India at present?

To what extent can Germany be held responsible for

2015
causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically

What were the major political, economic and social

developments in the world which motivated the anti- 2014
colonial struggle in India?

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What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in

1956? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self- 2014
image as a world power?

The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had

influenced the policies adopted by India soon after 2014
independence. Evaluate.

“Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved

certain factors that were markedly different from what 2013
west had experience.

Africa was chopped into states artificially created by

2013
accident of European competition. Analyse.

American Revolution was an economic revolt against

2013
mercantilism. Substantiate.

What policy instruments were deployed to contain the 2013

great economic depression?

Social Science: Caste, Religion, Region, Globalization

GS1 Syllabus Topic:

Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism; Social Empowerment

Salient features of Indian Society; Diversity of India;

The spirit tolerance and love is not only an interesting

feature of Indian society from very early times, but it
2017
is also playing an important part at the present.
Elaborate.

Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and

communalism giving one example of how the former
2017
has got transformed into the latter in independent
India.

In the context of diversity of India, can it be said that

the regions form cultural units rather than the States? 2017
Give reasons with examples for your viewpoint.

What are the two major legal initiatives by the State

since Independence, addressing discrimination 2017
against Scheduled Tribes (STs)?

Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened

2016
the cause of Indian Unity?

Why are the tribals in India referred to as the

Scheduled Tribes? Indicate the major provisions
2016
enshrined in the Constitution of India for their
upliftment.

What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal

distribution of benefits of development on regional
basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate 2016

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your answer.

Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, despite

having divergent approaches and strategies, had a
2015
common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden.
Elucidate.

Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in

India and rate their relative significance in building a 2015
national identity.

Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary

movements for assertion of Dalit identity work 2015
towards annihilation of caste.

How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from

2014
the debates in the West?

Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor

in the generation of demand for a separate state. 2013
Discuss.

Social Science: Poverty, Population, Globalization

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Poverty, Population; Development and associated issues

“An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to

liberate the poor from deprivation.” Substantiate this 2016
statement with suitable examples

Critically examine whether growing population is the

cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of 2015
population increase in India.

Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration

2015
within and outside India in the last four decades.

The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic

2014
factors rather than social values. Discuss.

Social Science: Globalization

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Globalisation (effects on Indian society)

Discuss the positive and negative effects of

globalization on women in India. (2013, Asked about 2015
Globalization effect on Elderly)

To what extent globalization has influenced the core

2016
of cultural diversity in India? Explain.

Critically examine the effects of globalization on the

2013
aged population in India.

Social Science: Women

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GS1 Syllabus Topic: Role of women and women’s organisation;

Although some of the following questions fall under population-globalization categories, but if a person
cultivates habit of noting down women related topics under one head, it’ll benefit in both GS1, GS2 and
Essay.

How do you explain the statistics that show that the

sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to 2015
women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?

How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle

2014
class working woman in India?

Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural

forces that are driving increasing feminization of 2014
agriculture in India.

Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India

have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your 2014
arguments.

Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to

make women’s organization free from gender bias. 2013
Comment.

Geography: Physical

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Salient Features of World Physical Geography; Important Geophysical phenomena
(earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes, cyclones); Geographical features and location;

How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to

2017
understand the origin and evolution of the Earth?

“The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.”

Discuss the causes and suggest suitable 2016
measures of mitigation.

Explain the formation of thousands of islands in

2014
Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos.

Why are the world’s fold mountain systems

located along the margins of continents? Bring
out the association between the global 2014
distribution of Fold Mountains and
the earthquakes and volcanoes.

What do you understand by the theory of

continental drift? Discuss the prominent 2013
evidences in its support.

There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the

2013
Western Ghat. Why?

Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are

located between 20-30 degree north and on the
2013

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western side of the continents. Why?

Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides

2013
in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats

Geography: Climate, Disaster related

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Critical geographical features, flora, fauna (changes and effects thereof)

In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal

mining is still inevitable for development.” 2017
Discuss.

Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulse

because of which the year 2016 was declared as
2017
the International Year of Pulses by the United
Nations.

How does the cryosphere affect global climate? 2017

Account for variations in oceanic salinity and

2017
discuss its multi-dimensional effects.

In what way can flood be converted into a

sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather 2017
inland navigation in India?

What characteristics can be assigned to

monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more
2017
than 50 percent of the won population residing in
Monsoon Asia?

Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its

2016
role in macro-climatic changes.

Explain the factors responsible for the origin of

ocean currents. How do they influence regional 2015
climates, fishing and navigation?

How far do you agree that the behavior of the

Indian monsoon has been changing due to 2015
humanizing landscapes? Discuss.

Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South

China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. 2014
Why?

Most of the unusual climatic happenings are

explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do 2014
you agree?

Bring out the relationship between the shrinking

Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate 2014
change in the Indian sub-continent.

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The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was

called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones 2013
named across the world?

Bring out the causes for the formation of heat

2013
islands in the urban habitat of the world.

What do you understand by the phenomenon of

temperature inversion in meteorology? How does
2013
it affect the weather and the habitants of the
place?

Geography: Resources Distribution

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Distribution of key Natural Resources (world, S. Asia, Indian subcontinent)

The effective management of land and water

resources will drastically reduce the human 2016
miseries. Explain

South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical

2016
significance in the present context. Comment.

Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and

examine its ecological, economic and political
2016
implications in the context of changing bilateral
relations.

Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland

2016
water transport in India.

In what way micro-watershed Development

projects help in water conservation in drought 2016
prone and semi-arid regions of India.

What are the economic significances of discovery

of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible environmental 2015
consequences?

India is well endowed with fresh water resources.

Critically examine why it still suffers from water 2015
scarcity.

The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal

Pradesh and Uttarakhand reaching the limits of
2015
their ecological carrying capacity due to tourism.
Critically evaluate.

Critically evaluate the various resources of the

oceans which can be harnessed to meet the 2014
resource crisis in the world.

How does India see its place in the economic 2014

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space of rising natural resource rich Africa?

With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, the atomic

energy is gaining more and more significance in
India. Discuss the availability of raw material 2013
required for the generation of atomic energy in
India and in the world.

It is said the India has substantial reserves of

shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of
country for quarter century. However, tapping of
2013
the resources doesn’t appear to be high on the
agenda. Discuss critically the availability and
issues involved.

Geography: factors affecting industrial locations

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Factors responsible for location of Industries (primary, secondary, tertiary; India,
world)

Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located

nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in
2017
many of the developing countries. Explain its
implications.

Whereas the British planters had developed tea

gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser
Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in 2014
effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling
area. Explain.

Account for the change in the spatial pattern of

2014
the Iron and Steel industry in the world.

Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-

pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and 2014
good availability of water?

Do you agree that there is a growing trend of

opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of 2013
India? Discuss with justification

Analyze the factors for highly decentralized

2013
cotton textile industry in India

Geography: Urbanization

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Urbanization: problems and remedies

The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up

new avenues employment but has also created
new problems. Substantiate this statement with 2017

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examples. Urbanization

With a brief background of quality of urban life in

India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the 2016
‘Smart City Programme’.

Major cities of India are becoming more

2016
vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss.

Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three mega

cities of the country but the air pollution is much
2015
more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the
other two. Why is this so?

Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart

villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop 2015
of rural urban integration.

Discussion the various social problems which

originated out of the speedy process of 2013
urbanization in India.

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