GS-I UPSC PYQ 2020

Examine the Status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change. [250 Words, 15 Marks]

How will the meeting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India? 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 The Himalayan glaciers — the "Third Pole" — are the source of India's great perennial rivers, the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra , which sustain hundreds of millions of people. Their accelerating melt under climate change will have far-reaching impacts on India's water resources. Far-reaching impacts on India's water resources: A short-term rise in flow: accelerated melting initially increases river discharge and summer flows — and raises the risk of floods, flash floods and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). easemyprep.in A long-term decline in flow: once the glaciers shrink past their "peak water", the lean-season (dry-season) flow of these rivers will fall sharply — threatening water for irrigation, drinking and industry. Disruption of the seasonal pattern: glaciers act as natural reservoirs, releasing water in the hot pre-monsoon months; their loss makes river flow more erratic and excessively monsoon-dependent. Impact on agriculture: the irrigation of the Indo-Gangetic plains depends on these rivers; a reduced dry-season flow would hit the *rabi* crop and food security. easemyprep.in Hydropower: altered and uncertain flows affect Himalayan hydropower generation. Disasters and infrastructure: GLOFs and flash floods damage dams, canals and water infrastructure. Groundwater: reduced river flow lowers the recharge of aquifers in the plains. easemyprep.in Water conflicts: growing scarcity could intensify inter-state disputes and trans-boundary tensions with Pakistan, Bangladesh and China. Way forward: ambitious emission reduction, systematic glacier and GLOF monitoring with early warning, water-use efficiency, additional storage, and integrated, climate-resilient river-basin management. Conclusion: The melting of the Himalayan glaciers threatens India's long-term water security — bringing more floods in the near term and severe scarcity later. Climate mitigation and adaptive water management are therefore urgent national priorities. 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.

Account for the huge flooding of the millions of cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. [250 Words, 15 Marks]

Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (150 words, 10 Marks)

India has immense potential for solar energy though there are regional variations in its development. Elaborate. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Discuss the geophysical characteristic of the Circum- Pacific zone. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss. (250 words, 15 Marks)

Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalization? Justify your answer. (250 words, 15 Marks)

Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment. (250 words, 15 Marks)

Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree? 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 Customs and traditions are inherited social practices passed across generations; obscurantism is the deliberate opposition to reason, enquiry and reform, and the keeping of people in ignorance. The claim that customs necessarily suppress reason and breed obscurantism is partly true - but only partly. Where the statement holds true Customs can indeed suppress reason. They often demand unquestioning conformity - the appeal that "this is how it has always been done" closes off enquiry. Many harmful practices have been defended in the name of tradition: easemyprep.in Harmful customs justified by tradition: Sati, untouchability, child marriage, the dowry system, female foeticide, witch-hunting, manual scavenging and a range of superstitions have all been sustained by appeals to custom. Resistance to reform and science: Tradition has at times been used to oppose women's rights, the scientific temper and social reform, treating change itself as a violation of the sacred. Where the statement does not hold easemyprep.in Customs are not inherently obscurantist. Many traditions carry accumulated practical and ecological wisdom - the protection of sacred groves, water-harvesting systems, community cooperation, crop diversity - rational adaptations to the environment. Traditions also provide identity, social cohesion, psychological security and continuity , and sustain art, festivals and a sense of belonging. Crucially, obscurantism arises not from tradition itself but from its rigid, uncritical and exploitative interpretation . Tradition that is critically examined can coexist with reason. India's own social reformers - Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Vidyasagar - reinterpreted the scriptures to abolish sati and promote widow remarriage, showing that reform can come from within tradition. The Constitution combines respect for cultural plurality with the duty (Article 51A(h)) to develop a scientific temper . easemyprep.in A balanced view The relationship between custom and obscurantism is therefore not inevitable. Customs suppress reason when they are dogmatic, shielded from scrutiny and used to serve entrenched interests. But tradition that is open to questioning and reform is compatible with reason. The remedy is not the wholesale rejection of tradition but education, the cultivation of scientific temper, and the courage to reform harmful practices while retaining beneficial ones. Conclusion easemyprep.in I agree only partially. Customs and traditions *can* lead to obscurantism - but it is the uncritical and exploitative holding of customs, not tradition as such, that suppresses reason. A society that examines its traditions, keeps the wise and discards the harmful, can honour its heritage without surrendering its reason. Value addition (EMP · 2024–26) Courts vs custom: Shayara Bano (2017, triple talaq) and Sabarimala (2018, women entry); the Maharashtra Anti-Superstition Act 2013. Constitutional warrant: Art. 51A(h) scientific temper — run every custom through reason and constitutional morality, then retain the wisdom and discard the obscurantism. Tradition is not the enemy of reason; unexamined tradition is. 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.

Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer. 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 Diversity and pluralism - the coexistence of many languages, religions, cultures and ways of life, and the positive valuing of that coexistence - are the defining features of Indian society. Whether globalisation threatens them is a question that demands a balanced judgement. Ways in which globalisation may threaten diversity and pluralism Cultural homogenisation: Globalisation spreads a dominant global consumer culture, the English language and standardised lifestyles, which can marginalise smaller languages, regional cultures and traditional ways of life. easemyprep.in Endangered languages and heritage: Many of India's languages and dialects are classified by UNESCO as endangered; traditional crafts, oral traditions and indigenous knowledge are declining as global and market forces displace them. The market logic: A globalised economy rewards standardised, mass-produced consumption, which can erode distinctive local forms. The digital divide: Unequal access to the digital world can leave some cultures and communities voiceless in the new global public sphere. easemyprep.in Ways in which globalisation does not threaten - and may strengthen - pluralism Reactive assertion: Globalisation has often provoked the revival and assertion of local identities rather than their disappearance. Multiple identities and glocalisation: People hold layered identities - local, national and global - simultaneously; the global is adapted to the local rather than simply replacing it. easemyprep.in New tools for diversity: Digital and social media have become powerful instruments for preserving and promoting diverse languages, music and cultural content, and global recognition (GI tags, tourism, yoga, cuisine) has given India's diversity new value. Resilient civilisational pluralism: India's pluralism is constitutionally entrenched and civilisationally deep-rooted, with a long history of absorbing external influences without losing its plural character. A crucial qualification: It can be argued that the graver threats to India's diversity and pluralism today come not from globalisation but from internal forces - communalism, majoritarianism and linguistic or regional chauvinism. easemyprep.in Justification of the answer On balance, globalisation poses a real but partial and manageable threat - chiefly to vulnerable intangible heritage such as endangered languages, crafts and oral traditions. It does not threaten the deeper structure of Indian pluralism, which has proved resilient and in some respects reinvigorated. The decisive factor is policy and politics, not globalisation alone. Conclusion easemyprep.in India's diversity and pluralism are not gravely endangered by globalisation; their core is resilient. But vulnerable elements of heritage do need conscious protection, and pluralism as a value must be defended above all against internal threats. Globalisation is a challenge to be managed, not a verdict to be feared. 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.

Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree? (250 words, 15 Marks)

Indian Philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss. (250 words, 15 Marks)

How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer. (250 words, 15 Marks)

The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Account for the present location of iron and steel industries away from the raw material, by giving examples. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate. (150 words, 10 Marks)

The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multi-dimensional inter-related problems of droughts, floods and interrupted navigation. Critically examine. [150 Words, 10 Marks]

Evaluate the policies of Lord Curzon and their long term implications on the national movement.