GS-I UPSC PYQ 2025

What are non-farm primary activities? How are these activities related to physiographic features in India? Discuss with suitable examples. (150 Words, 10 Marks)

Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

Inequality in the ownership pattern of resources is one of the major causes of poverty. Discuss in the context of ‘paradox of poverty’. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India. Comment. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

Examine the main aspects of Akbar’s religious syncretism. 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 Akbar (1556-1605), the greatest of the Mughal emperors, is remembered above all for a policy of religious tolerance and synthesis. Ruling a vast empire of many faiths, he made religious syncretism - the harmonious blending and mutual respect of religions - a foundation of his statecraft. Sulh-i-kul - the guiding principle The core of Akbar's policy was Sulh-i-kul , "universal peace" or "absolute reconciliation" - the principle that the state must treat all religions with equal respect and ensure peace among them. It made religious tolerance an official doctrine of the empire. easemyprep.in Abolition of discriminatory taxes Akbar abolished the jizya , the tax levied on non-Muslims, in 1564, and also the tax on Hindu pilgrims - removing the financial and symbolic markers of religious inequality. The Ibadat Khana easemyprep.in At Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar built the Ibadat Khana ("House of Worship", 1575), where he invited scholars of many religions - Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism - to debate. These discussions deepened his conviction that all faiths contained truth. Din-i-Ilahi In 1582 Akbar promulgated the Din-i-Ilahi (the "Divine Faith"), a syncretic ethical and spiritual order drawing elements from several religions and centred on the worship of one God. It was less a new religion than a small spiritual fraternity, and attracted few followers, but it expressed Akbar's syncretic vision. easemyprep.in Inclusion of Hindus and patronage of culture Akbar built Rajput alliances through marriage and gave high office to Hindus - Raja Todar Mal as his finance minister, Raja Man Singh as a general, Birbal as a counsellor. He sponsored the translation of the Mahabharata (as the Razmnama) and the Ramayana into Persian, celebrated Hindu festivals, and respected diverse practices. Influences easemyprep.in Akbar's syncretism was shaped by Sufism, the Bhakti movement, his interaction with Jain monks and Christian missionaries, and his own rational, enquiring temperament. Conclusion Akbar's religious syncretism, rooted in Sulh-i-kul, sought to govern a diverse empire by making religion a basis of unity and reconciliation rather than of division. Though the Din-i-Ilahi did not survive him, his broader policy of tolerance laid an enduring foundation for India's composite culture and remains a model of accommodative statecraft. 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.

Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture. 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 Harappan or Indus Valley Civilisation (c. 2600-1900 BCE) is renowned for an architecture of remarkable sophistication - the most advanced urban planning of the ancient world. Salient features of Harappan architecture Grid-pattern town planning: Harappan cities were laid out on a planned grid , with streets and lanes running at right angles to one another - a "chessboard" pattern. This deliberate planning is the most striking feature. easemyprep.in The two-part city: A typical Harappan city had two distinct parts - a raised, fortified Citadel to the west, housing important public buildings, and a larger Lower Town to the east, the main residential area. Burnt-brick construction: The Harappans built extensively with kiln-fired (burnt) bricks of a standardised size, in the fixed ratio of 4:2:1 - a uniformity maintained across distant sites, indicating central regulation. An advanced drainage system: The hallmark of Harappan architecture was its drainage . Covered drains ran along the streets, house drains were connected to street drains, and soak pits were provided - a civic system unmatched in the ancient world. easemyprep.in Great Bath and water structures: The Great Bath at Mohenjodaro - a large, watertight public tank sealed with gypsum mortar and bitumen - reflects the importance of ritual or public bathing. Dholavira is notable for its elaborate stone reservoirs and water-harvesting structures. Granaries and public buildings: Large structures identified as granaries point to organised storage; there were also pillared halls and other public buildings. Residential architecture: Houses were built around a central courtyard , with their own wells and bathrooms, and doors and windows usually opening onto side lanes rather than the main street. easemyprep.in Specialised structures: Lothal had a dockyard , evidence of maritime trade; Kalibangan had fire-altars. Utilitarian and egalitarian emphasis: Strikingly, Harappan cities show no grand temples or palaces . The emphasis was civic, utilitarian and oriented towards public welfare - drainage, baths, granaries - suggesting a relatively egalitarian social order. Conclusion easemyprep.in Harappan architecture is remarkable for its meticulous planning, standardisation, advanced water management and drainage, and its civic, public-welfare character. It represents one of the highest achievements of urban civilisation in the ancient world. 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.

Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their consequences? Explain with examples. (150 Words, 10 Marks)

Discuss how the changes in shape and sizes of continents and ocean basins of the planet take place due to tectonic movements of the crustal masses. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

Trace India’s consolidation process during early phase of independence in terms of polity, economy, education and international relations. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

‘The sculptors filled the Chandella artform with resilient vigor and breadth of life.’ Elucidate. (150 Words, 10 Marks)

How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples. (150 Words, 10 Marks)

The French Revolution has enduring relevance to the contemporary world. Explain. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones be effectively used along with GIS and RS techniques in locational and area planning? (250 Words, 15 Marks)

The ethos of civil service in India stand for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness. Elucidate. (150 Words, 10 Marks)

Give a geographical explanation for the distribution of off-shore oil reserves of the world. How are they different from the on-shore occurrences of oil reserves? (250 Words, 15 Marks)

Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss. (250 Words, 15 Marks)

Examine the main aspects of Akbar’s religious syncretism. (150 Words, 10 Marks)

Explain briefly the ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India with suitable examples. (150 Words, 10 Marks)

How does a smart city in India address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice? (150 Words, 10 Marks)