GS-I UPSC PYQ 2018

What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identifying Industrial Corridors, explain their main characteristics. [250 Words, 15 Marks]

Why is India taking keen interest in the Arctic region? [150 Words, 10 Marks]

“The ideal solution to depleting ground water resources in India is a water harvesting system. “How can it be made effective in urban areas? [250 Words, 15 Marks]

Discuss whether formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India? (250 words, 15 Marks)

“Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, the caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. (150 words, 10 Marks)

What are the consequences of spreading of ‘Dead Zones’ on marine ecosystem? 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 GEOGRAPHY 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 " Dead zones " are areas of the ocean (and of lakes) where the dissolved-oxygen level falls so low — a condition called hypoxia (below 2 mg/L), or anoxia in the extreme — that most marine life cannot survive. They are caused mainly by nutrient over-enrichment (eutrophication) from agricultural runoff (fertilisers), sewage and industrial effluent, and they are spreading worldwide — the Gulf of Mexico, the Baltic Sea and parts of the Bay of Bengal being well-known examples. Consequences of the spread of dead zones on the marine ecosystem: Mortality of marine life: fish, shellfish and bottom-dwelling (benthic) organisms suffocate and die, often in mass fish kills. easemyprep.in Loss of biodiversity: species that cannot flee perish, and ecosystems collapse toward a few low-oxygen-tolerant organisms (jellyfish, microbes). Disruption of the food web: the loss of key species cascades through the entire marine food chain. Habitat destruction: the sea floor becomes a barren "dead" zone, with the loss of vital breeding and nursery grounds. easemyprep.in Harmful algal blooms and toxins: the eutrophication that causes dead zones also triggers algal blooms; their decomposition consumes yet more oxygen, and some blooms release toxins. Economic and social impact: the collapse of fisheries destroys livelihoods and threatens food security, and tourism suffers. Greenhouse-gas release: oxygen-starved waters emit more nitrous oxide and methane. easemyprep.in Self-reinforcing degradation: dead zones can persist and expand, worsened by ocean warming (warm water holds less oxygen) and acidification. Way forward: reduce nutrient runoff through better fertiliser management and buffer strips, treat sewage and industrial effluent, restore coastal wetlands, and adopt integrated coastal-zone management. Conclusion: The spread of dead zones is among the fastest-growing threats to marine ecosystems — devastating biodiversity, fisheries and coastal livelihoods. Curbing nutrient pollution and protecting coastal ecosystems is essential to reverse this oceanic "asphyxiation," in line with SDG 14 (Life Below Water). easemyprep.in 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.

What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identify industrial corridors, explain their main characteristics. 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 Industrial Corridors are large, planned development zones laid out along major transport arteries that integrate manufacturing, infrastructure and urban development to accelerate India's industrial growth. Significance of Industrial Corridors: Balanced regional development: they decongest existing industrial clusters and spread industrialisation to new regions. easemyprep.in Multi-modal connectivity: they integrate ports, rail (the Dedicated Freight Corridors), road and air, cutting logistics costs. Employment generation: large-scale manufacturing and allied services create jobs. Export-led growth and "Make in India": they link India to global value chains and boost competitiveness. easemyprep.in Planned, smart industrial cities with world-class trunk infrastructure and "plug-and-play" facilities. Investment magnets: they attract domestic investment and FDI. Major Industrial Corridors: easemyprep.in The Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) — the flagship, along the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, developed with Japanese partnership. The Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) , along the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor. The Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) and the Bengaluru–Mumbai Industrial Corridor . easemyprep.in The Vizag–Chennai (East Coast) Industrial Corridor . All are now coordinated under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) , which has approved a series of new greenfield industrial nodes. Main characteristics: anchored on Dedicated Freight Corridors; greenfield "smart" industrial cities and nodes; ready trunk infrastructure (water, power, roads, drainage); plug-and-play plots; single-window clearances and ease of doing business; and development through public–private partnership. easemyprep.in Challenges: land acquisition, large funding needs, environmental concerns and slow execution. Conclusion: Industrial Corridors are central to India's manufacturing and "Make in India" ambitions — engines of growth, employment and balanced regional development — provided land, funding and environmental issues are managed effectively. 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.

"Women's movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.” Substantiate your view. (250 words, 15 Marks)

Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss. 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 India's vast art heritage — monuments, sculptures, paintings, manuscripts, and the intangible traditions of craft, music and dance — is a priceless civilizational asset; mounting threats make its safeguarding an urgent need of the moment. Threats to the art heritage: Neglect and decay: inadequate maintenance and conservation; thousands of unprotected monuments; encroachment and vandalism. easemyprep.in Theft and illicit trafficking: large-scale smuggling of antiquities and temple idols out of India into the international art market. Environmental and developmental pressure: air pollution (the discolouration of the Taj Mahal), urbanisation, mining, climate change and unregulated mass tourism. Institutional gaps: the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is under-staffed and under-funded relative to the scale of the task; faulty or insensitive restoration can itself damage heritage. easemyprep.in Loss of intangible heritage: the decline of traditional crafts, folk and tribal art and oral traditions as artisans abandon hereditary occupations. Why safeguarding matters: It is a Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(f) — to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. easemyprep.in Heritage anchors cultural identity and national pride , drives the tourism economy and livelihoods , serves as an educational resource, and is a vital instrument of India's soft power . Measures / way forward: Strengthen institutions: a better-resourced ASI and state archaeology departments; rigorous enforcement of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 . easemyprep.in Combat trafficking: systematic retrieval of smuggled artefacts (India has repatriated a large number of idols and antiquities in recent years), aided by the UNESCO 1970 Convention and inter-agency cooperation. Use technology: digitisation, 3D documentation and GIS mapping of monuments; scientific conservation. Mobilise community and private participation: the "Adopt a Heritage" scheme, the HRIDAY and PRASHAD schemes, museum modernisation, and heritage education and awareness. easemyprep.in Revive living heritage: support traditional crafts and artisans through Geographical Indication tags, skill training and market linkages. Conclusion: Safeguarding the art heritage is at once a constitutional duty and a cultural, economic and strategic imperative. A combination of robust institutions, technology, international cooperation and genuine community ownership is the surest way to pass this irreplaceable inheritance, intact, to future generations. 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.

Define blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India. 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 The Blue Revolution refers to the rapid growth and modernisation of the fisheries and aquaculture sector to raise fish production, ensure nutritional security, generate employment and boost exports and the livelihoods of fisherfolk. India is among the world's largest fish producers, and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is the flagship programme of this effort. Problems in pisciculture development in India: Overexploitation of marine fisheries: declining catch per unit effort and stressed stocks. easemyprep.in Habitat degradation and pollution: loss of mangroves and wetlands; industrial, sewage and agro-chemical pollution of inland and coastal waters. Disease outbreaks in aquaculture; poor quality of fish seed and feed. Inadequate infrastructure: weak cold chains, fishing harbours, hatcheries and processing facilities; large post-harvest losses. easemyprep.in Climate change: ocean warming, acidification and cyclones disrupt fisheries. Socio-economic vulnerability: traditional fisherfolk face poverty, indebtedness and a lack of credit and insurance. Weak market access and conflicts over inland water bodies. easemyprep.in Strategies for development: The PMMSY — major investment in aquaculture, mariculture, infrastructure and the value chain. Promote inland aquaculture, cage culture, Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), brackish-water aquaculture, seaweed and ornamental fish farming . easemyprep.in Sustainable marine fishing: closed seasons, mesh-size regulation, and the development of deep-sea fishing. Improve quality seed and feed , disease management and scientific extension. Build cold chains, fishing harbours and e-markets ; the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund. easemyprep.in Fisher welfare: credit (Kisan Credit Card for fishers), insurance, and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations. Conclusion: A sustainable Blue Revolution can make fisheries a major engine of nutritional security, exports and rural livelihoods — provided sustainability, infrastructure and the welfare of fisherfolk remain at its core. 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.

‘Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing.' Explain by giving reasons. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics. 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 GEOGRAPHY 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 A mantle plume is a narrow column of abnormally hot, buoyant rock that rises from deep within the Earth's mantle — often from near the core–mantle boundary — toward the lithosphere. Mechanism: because it is hotter and less dense than the surrounding mantle, the plume rises buoyantly. On reaching the base of the rigid lithosphere it spreads into a "head," and decompression causes melting — producing magma and intense volcanic activity at the surface, known as a hotspot . Role of mantle plumes in plate tectonics: easemyprep.in Intra-plate volcanism (hotspots): plumes generate volcanism in the *interior* of plates, far from plate boundaries — explaining volcanoes that ordinary boundary tectonics cannot, such as Hawaii and Réunion. Hotspot tracks and island chains: as a plate moves over a relatively fixed plume, a chain of volcanoes and islands is built, becoming progressively older away from the plume — the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain is the classic example, and such tracks are used to measure the direction and rate of plate motion. Continental rifting and break-up: large plume heads dome up and weaken the lithosphere, helping to initiate rifting and the splitting of continents and the opening of new oceans — as in the East African Rift. easemyprep.in Large Igneous Provinces / flood basalts: the arrival of a plume head can produce vast flood-basalt eruptions — the Deccan Traps (linked to the Réunion plume) and the Siberian Traps — events associated with mass extinctions. A second mode of mantle convection: plumes represent a deep, narrow upward flow of heat, complementing the broad convection that drives plate movement. Conclusion: Mantle plumes explain volcanic and tectonic phenomena that plate-boundary processes alone cannot — intra-plate hotspots, hotspot tracks, flood basalts and the triggering of continental rifting — making them an essential complement to the theory of plate tectonics. easemyprep.in 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.

Why is India taking keen interest in resources of Arctic Region? 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 GEOGRAPHY 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 Although a non-Arctic nation, India has a growing and keen interest in the Arctic — formalised in its Arctic Policy (2022) and its Observer status on the Arctic Council (held since 2013). Why India is taking keen interest in the Arctic and its resources: The climate connection: the Arctic strongly influences the Indian monsoon , global sea levels and the Himalayan glaciers (the "Third Pole"); studying Arctic change is therefore vital to India's own climate security. India operates the Himadri research station at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. easemyprep.in Hydrocarbon resources: the Arctic holds vast reserves of oil and natural gas; India has stakes in Russian Arctic energy projects (such as Vankor and Sakhalin) — important for energy security. Mineral resources: the region is rich in minerals, including rare earths critical for modern industry. New shipping routes: the opening Northern Sea Route can sharply shorten Asia–Europe voyages, offering trade and connectivity opportunities. easemyprep.in Fisheries: retreating ice is opening new fishing grounds. Scientific research: opportunities in polar science, atmospheric studies, biodiversity and geology. Strategic and geopolitical considerations: India seeks a voice in the governance of an emerging global commons and a balance against the growing presence of other powers (China's "Polar Silk Road"). easemyprep.in India's approach: the Arctic Policy emphasises science-led, sustainable, responsible and cooperative engagement, in keeping with India's environmental commitments. Conclusion: India's keen interest in the Arctic is driven above all by the intimate link between Arctic change and its own monsoon and glaciers, reinforced by resource, connectivity and strategic considerations — pursued through a science-based, sustainable and rules-based engagement. 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.

Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success. [250 Words, 15 Marks]

Why indentured labour was taken by the British from India to their colonies? Have they been able to preserve their cultural identity over there? (250 words, 15 Marks)

"Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society’ Elucidate. (250 words, 15 Marks)

Defining Blue Revolution. Explain the problem and strategies for pisciculture development in India. [250 Words, 15 Marks]

Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Why is the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System [IRNSS] needed? How does it help in navigation? [150 Words, 10 Marks]

Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation. Argue by giving suitable illustrations. 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 SOCIETY & SOCIAL ISSUES 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 Communalism - the politicisation of religious identity into an antagonism between communities - is not, despite appearances, primarily a matter of religious doctrine. As historians such as Bipan Chandra argued, it is a modern political ideology, and its roots lie in two material and political factors: the struggle for power and the experience of relative deprivation. Communalism arising from a power struggle Communalism is, above all, an instrument in the competition for power. easemyprep.in Elite competition: The elites of different communities - politicians, professionals, the propertied - compete for political office, government patronage, representation and resources, and mobilise religious identity as a weapon in that competition. Vote-bank politics: Religious identity is consolidated into a voting bloc; appeals to community sentiment become a route to electoral power. The colonial inheritance: The British policy of "divide and rule", above all the introduction of separate electorates in 1909 , institutionalised communal political competition and gave the elites of each community a stake in mobilising along religious lines. easemyprep.in Illustration: The communal mobilisation in the decades leading to Partition was driven far more by a struggle for political power and a share of the post-colonial state than by religious belief; and communal appeals in elections continue the same logic. Communalism arising from relative deprivation Communalism also feeds on economic and social grievance. easemyprep.in Relative deprivation: A community that perceives itself as falling behind another - in jobs, education, income or political representation - develops a sense of grievance, which communal politics channels into hostility towards the "other" community. Economic competition and scapegoating: Competition for scarce jobs, contracts, trade and resources between communities, and the scapegoating of the "other" in times of economic anxiety and unemployment, repeatedly underlie communal tension. Illustration: Many communal riots, beneath their religious idiom, have an underlying economic dimension - competition between trading or artisan communities, or rivalry over local markets and labour. easemyprep.in The two causes combine In practice the two reinforce each other: elites exploit a community's sense of relative deprivation, converting genuine economic grievance into communal mobilisation for political power. Religion supplies the idiom ; power and deprivation supply the substance . Conclusion easemyprep.in Communalism arises not from religion itself but from the struggle for power and the experience of relative deprivation. The implication is clear: communalism is best countered not by attacking religion, but by ensuring equitable development, ending discrimination and deprivation, and de-legitimising the communal use of religion in politics . Value addition (scholars, data & global) Scholars: Paul Brass — riots produced by 'institutionalised riot systems' (political entrepreneurs); Ashutosh Varshney — dense inter-communal civic engagement predicts peace; Ted Gurr — relative deprivation as the engine of mobilisation. Historical/data: separate electorates (Morley–Minto, 1909) institutionalised communal competition; Sachar Committee (2006) documented Muslim deprivation — the relative-deprivation mechanism. easemyprep.in Global: Northern Ireland — consociational power-sharing (Good Friday Agreement) shows institutional accommodation can resolve sectarian conflict. Current (2024–26): SC directions on hate speech (*Shaheen Abdulla*, 2023) — suo-motu FIRs, state nodal officers. 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.

What are the consequences of spreading ‘Dead Zone’ on marine ecosystems? [150 Words, 10 Marks]

How is the Indian concept of secularism different from the western model of secularism? Discuss. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Comment (150 words, 10 Marks)

The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss. (250 words, 15 Marks)

Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India. (150 words, 10 Marks)