GS-I UPSC PYQ 2017

Examine how the decline of motorized or traditional artisanal industry and metalcrafts in colonial India crippled the rural economy.

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? (150 words, 10 Marks)

What problems were germane to the decolonization process of Malay Peninsula. How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 1–2 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to HISTORY Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 1 line ) Practice all GS1 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide The decolonisation of the Malay Peninsula - culminating in the independence of Malaya in 1957 and the formation of Malaysia in 1963 - was an unusually complicated process. Several distinctive problems were germane to it. The communist insurgency - the Malayan Emergency The most serious problem was the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) - a protracted communist insurgency led by the largely ethnic-Chinese Malayan Communist Party. The long, difficult counter-insurgency campaign waged by the British shaped the entire path to independence, and the desire to hand power to a stable, anti-communist successor was central to British policy. easemyprep.in The plural, multi-ethnic society The deepest underlying problem was the plural society itself. Malaya was divided among three major communities - the indigenous Malays , and the large Chinese and Indian communities brought in under colonial rule as labour and traders. Building a single nation, and a workable basis of citizenship and political power, out of these divided communities was the central challenge of decolonisation. The communal balance easemyprep.in Decolonisation therefore required a delicate communal bargain . The settlement balanced Malay political primacy and the "special position" of the Malays (the *bumiputera*) against the dominant economic role of the Chinese - an arrangement embodied in the Alliance of the three communal parties, UMNO, the MCA and the MIC. The terms of citizenship and the rights of the non-Malay communities were intensely contested. The contested formation of Malaysia The process of forming the wider federation of Malaysia (1963) - bringing together Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak - brought further problems. Singapore , with its Chinese majority, altered the communal balance and was separated from Malaysia in 1965 over precisely these ethnic-political tensions. easemyprep.in External complications The formation of Malaysia was also opposed from outside - by Indonesia , under Sukarno, through the policy of *Konfrontasi* (Confrontation), and by the Philippines , which pressed a claim to Sabah. Conclusion easemyprep.in The decolonisation of the Malay Peninsula was complicated above all by its plural, multi-ethnic society and the consequent need to negotiate a communal balance, by a prolonged communist insurgency , and by the contested process of forming Malaysia , with its external opposition. It was, in the end, achieved peacefully through a negotiated communal compromise - but the management of ethnic diversity remained, and remains, its central and continuing challenge. Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS1 — History, Society & Geography Questions Download App More GS1 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. Based in Gurugram, Haryana · Founded 2022 Product Features Pricing AI Copy Checking Courses Daily News Mentorship Books Blog Company About Us Community Contact Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Service Refund Policy 📱 Android App 🍎 iOS App 🌐 Web App © 2022 – 2026 Ease My Prep . All rights reserved. Made with dedication for UPSC aspirants across India.

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, 10 Marks)

Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects. How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 2–3 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to GEOGRAPHY Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 2–3 lines ) Practice all GS1 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide Oceanic salinity — the dissolved-salt content of seawater, averaging about 35 parts per thousand (‰) — varies considerably in space and time; these variations have wide-ranging, multi-dimensional effects. Factors responsible for variations in oceanic salinity: Evaporation versus precipitation: high evaporation in the hot, dry subtropics (around 20–30° latitude) raises salinity, while heavy rainfall near the equator lowers it. easemyprep.in Freshwater inflow: large rivers dilute the sea near their mouths — the Bay of Bengal (fed by the Ganga and Brahmaputra) is less saline than the Arabian Sea. Ice formation and melting: the freezing of sea ice concentrates the remaining water and raises salinity; melting dilutes it. Enclosed seas: hot, enclosed seas with little inflow are highly saline (the Red Sea, about 40‰; the Dead Sea extremely so), while cold enclosed seas with large river inflow are low (the Baltic). easemyprep.in Ocean currents and mixing: currents redistribute saline and fresh water. Depth: salinity changes with depth across the halocline . Multi-dimensional effects: easemyprep.in Ocean circulation: salinity, with temperature, controls seawater density and so drives the deep thermohaline circulation — the "global ocean conveyor belt" essential for heat transport and climate. Climate: it influences sea-surface temperature, evaporation and regional climate. Marine life: salinity governs the distribution and productivity of marine organisms; sudden changes stress ecosystems. easemyprep.in Physical properties: higher salinity lowers the freezing point, slows evaporation and increases buoyancy. Fisheries: it shapes fish distribution and the location of fishing grounds. Human use: it affects desalination, navigation, and coastal agriculture (through salinity ingress into deltas and aquifers). easemyprep.in Conclusion: Oceanic salinity, governed by the balance of evaporation, precipitation and inflow, is a key oceanographic variable — shaping ocean circulation, climate, marine life and human activity. Climate change — ice melt and altered rainfall — is now changing salinity patterns, with far-reaching global consequences. Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS1 — History, Society & Geography Questions Download App More GS1 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. Based in Gurugram, Haryana · Founded 2022 Product Features Pricing AI Copy Checking Courses Daily News Mentorship Books Blog Company About Us Community Contact Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Service Refund Policy 📱 Android App 🍎 iOS App 🌐 Web App © 2022 – 2026 Ease My Prep . All rights reserved. Made with dedication for UPSC aspirants across India.

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, 15 Marks)

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? (250 words, 15 Marks)

“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

Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has transformed into the latter in independent India. (250 words, 15 Marks)

How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of earth? [150 Words, 10 Marks]

To what extent globalisation has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain

What problems are germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula? (10 marks, 150 words)

How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times? How to approach this question Write a brief introduction setting context ( 1–2 lines ) Cover both sides if question says "critically discuss / examine / analyse" Use data, schemes, examples specific to HISTORY Conclude with a forward-looking statement ( 1 line ) Practice all GS1 Mains questions Model answers + key points for every question Open App Model Answer Framework (English) Show Hide The Gupta period (c. 319–550 CE), India's "Classical Age," produced gold coins (*dinaras*) of unmatched artistic excellence. The view that this level of excellence "is not at all noticeable in later times" is largely justified , with only minor qualification. The excellence of Gupta numismatic art: The Guptas issued the largest and most varied series of gold coins of any early Indian dynasty — by Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, Kumaragupta I and Skandagupta — alongside silver and copper issues. easemyprep.in Aesthetic and thematic richness: the king is shown in a remarkable variety of roles — the *Archer*, *Battle-axe*, *Lyrist* (Samudragupta playing the *vina*), *Tiger-slayer*, *Lion-slayer*, *Horseman*, *Ashvamedha* (horse-sacrifice) and *Couch* types — alongside deities such as Lakshmi, Durga, Ganga and Kartikeya . Technical and literary finesse: fine, delicate relief; naturalistic, near-portrait modelling of the royal figure; balanced composition; and elegant Sanskrit legends in the Brahmi script , often in poetic metre. The coins were instruments of political ideology, religion and royal self-image , synthesising indigenous traditions with the earlier Kushana and Greco-Roman numismatic heritage. easemyprep.in Why such excellence was not noticeable in later times: Political fragmentation after the Guptas left no large, stable, prosperous empire to sustain mints and master die-engravers; the Huna invasions disrupted the economy. The decline of long-distance trade and of the gold supply led to debasement — later issues were fewer, baser, smaller and thinner, part of the early-medieval phenomenon sometimes called the "paucity of coins." easemyprep.in Later coinage became stereotyped and crude — repetitive, schematic devices such as the debased "bull-and-horseman" type of the Rajput period — with the loss of the portrait tradition, of inscriptional elegance and of the organised guilds of skilled engravers. Patronage of the numismatic art form simply dwindled. A qualification: some later coinages had genuine merit — certain Chola and some later medieval issues — so the phrase "not at all" is a little absolute; but in artistic refinement, variety and execution , the Gupta gold coinage was never equalled. easemyprep.in Conclusion: Gupta numismatic art was the high noon of the Indian coin as an art form. Its later eclipse — driven by political instability, economic decline and the collapse of patronage — amply justifies the view that such excellence was not noticeable in later times, even if a few exceptions soften the absoluteness of the claim. Source: easemyprep.in Structured Mains Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View इस प्रश्न को हिंदी में पढ़ें हिंदी में पढ़ें → Structured Preparation Mains Mastery Programme Master Every GS Theme — GS1 to GS4 Theme-first. PYQ-anchored. You write every answer. All themes + all PYQs covered 2-Month or 4-Month track Starting ₹4,999 View GS4 Ethics Mastery · Now Live Ethics Mastery — 2 Questions Daily All GS4 PYQs · Part A + Part B Ethical lens built through daily practice Concept clarity + case study method Starting ₹1,999 View Practice All Mains GS1 — History, Society & Geography Questions Download App More GS1 Questions Ease My Prep Focused UPSC preparation. Daily current affairs, PYQ practice, trend analysis, and mentorship for serious CSE aspirants across India. Based in Gurugram, Haryana · Founded 2022 Product Features Pricing AI Copy Checking Courses Daily News Mentorship Books Blog Company About Us Community Contact Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Service Refund Policy 📱 Android App 🍎 iOS App 🌐 Web App © 2022 – 2026 Ease My Prep . All rights reserved. Made with dedication for UPSC aspirants across India.

Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity. (150 words, 10 Marks)

How does the cryosphere affect global climate? [150 Words, 10 Marks]

Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many of the developing countries. Explain its implications.[250 Words, 15 Marks]

“In Spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development”. Discuss. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

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.[150 Words, 10 Marks]

What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)? (150 words, 10 Marks)

Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since the twenties of the last century. (250 words, 15 Marks)

In what way can floods be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all – weather inland navigation in India? [250 Words, 15 Marks]

What characteristic can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 % of the world population residing in monsoon Asia? [250 Words, 15 Marks]

Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multidimensional effect. [250 Words, 15 Marks]