Indian Society (Mains PYQs)
Explore topic-wise Previous Year Questions (PYQs) on Indian Society for UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 from 2013–2024. Click the links in the table below to jump to the relevant questions, answers, and detailed analysis to enhance your preparation.
| Sr. No. | Topic Name | Previous Year Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gender and Women’s Issues | Gender Equality (2024), Suicide among Women (2023), Women’s Movement (2019, 2018, 2017), Patriarchy (2015, 2014, 2013) |
| 2 | Cultural Diversity and Secularism | Cultural Diversities (2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014) |
| 3 | Caste, Tribe, and Social Stratification | Caste Identity (2023, 2020, 2022, 2018, 2015), Tribal Systems (2021, 2022, 2017, 2016, 2015) |
| 4 | Urbanization and Migration | Regional Disparity (2024), Urbanization (2023, 2016, 2013), Migration (2024, 2015) |
| 5 | Poverty and Social Inequalities | Affirmative Action (2024), Poverty (2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015) |
| 6 | Globalization and Modernity | Globalization (2024, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013), Work From Home (2022), Digital Initiatives (2020) |
| 7 | Social Movements and Communalism | Communalism (2023, 2018, 2017), Regionalism (2020, 2016, 2013), Social Movements (2015) |
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2024 Mains PYQs
1. Distinguish between gender equality, gender equity and women’s empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation? [150 Words, 10 Marks]
Answer:
Introduction: Gender equality, equity, and women’s empowerment are distinct yet interconnected concepts, crucial for inclusive programme design and implementation.
Body: Gender equality implies equal rights and opportunities for all genders, as per Article 14 of the Constitution. Gender equity ensures fairness by addressing inequalities, like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao targeting female education. Women’s empowerment enhances agency, as seen in NRLM’s 80 million SHG women (2023). Ignoring gender concerns risks skewed outcomes, e.g., MGNREGA’s initial male bias reduced female participation (30% in 2006). Gender-sensitive design improves impact, like Swachh Bharat’s focus on women’s sanitation needs, reducing open defecation by 60% (2014–2019). However, cultural barriers limit implementation, requiring awareness drives.
Conclusion: Integrating gender concerns ensures equitable, empowering outcomes, enhancing programme effectiveness and social inclusion.
Analysis for Aspirants:
Key Themes (30% of marks): Definitions of gender concepts and importance of gender-sensitive programme design.
Answer Structure (20% of marks): Introduction (20 words) defines concepts. Body (90 words) covers distinctions (equality vs. equity) and importance (MGNREGA). Conclusion (40 words) summarizes impact.
Marks Allocation: 4 marks for definitions, 3 for importance, 3 for conclusion.
Preparation Tips: Study schemes (NRLM, Swachh Bharat). Memorize data (80 million SHGs). Practice conceptual answers. Avoid vague distinctions.
Common Mistakes: Missing examples or importance. Ensure specific schemes within 150 words.
2022 Mains PYQs
2. Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer. [150 Words, 10 Marks]
Answer:
Introduction: Indian secularism, rooted in constitutional principles, relies on tolerance, assimilation, and pluralism to foster unity amidst diversity.
Body: Tolerance, enshrined in Article 25, ensures freedom of religion, as seen in coexistence of festivals like Diwali and Eid. Assimilation promotes shared identity, like Bollywood’s cultural fusion, integrating regional elements. Pluralism, reflected in 22 scheduled languages, celebrates diversity, unlike Western secularism’s state-religion separation. Sarva Dharma Sambhava exemplifies India’s inclusive approach. However, communal tensions (e.g., 1992 riots) challenge tolerance, requiring stronger civic education. These elements distinguish Indian secularism, balancing diversity with unity.
Conclusion: Tolerance, assimilation, and pluralism shape India’s unique secularism, fostering harmony, though sustained efforts counter communal challenges.
Analysis for Aspirants:
Key Themes (30% of marks): Elements of Indian secularism (tolerance, pluralism) and their justification.
Answer Structure (20% of marks): Introduction (20 words) frames secularism. Body (90 words) covers elements (Article 25) and challenges (riots). Conclusion (40 words) summarizes role.
Marks Allocation: 4 marks for elements, 3 for justification, 3 for conclusion.
Preparation Tips: Study Constitution (Articles 25–28). Memorize examples (Bollywood). Practice justificatory answers. Avoid Western bias.
Common Mistakes: Missing challenges or vague elements. Ensure specific examples within 150 words.
2023 Mains PYQs
3. Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static? [150 Words, 10 Marks]
Answer:
Introduction: Caste identity in India exhibits fluidity and staticity, shaped by socio-economic changes and traditional rigidities.
Body: Fluidity arises from urbanization and education, enabling inter-caste marriages (5% increase, 2011–2021) and occupational mobility, as seen in urban Dalit professionals. Affirmative action (SC/ST reservations) fosters upward mobility. However, staticity persists due to endogamy (95% marriages intra-caste, 2021) and rural social hierarchies, reinforced by caste-based violence (33,000 cases, 2022). Political mobilization, like OBC vote banks, entrenches caste identities. Economic disparities (Dalits: 32% poverty, 2021) sustain staticity. Fluidity is urban-centric, while staticity dominates rural areas.
Conclusion: Caste identity’s dual nature reflects India’s transition, requiring inclusive policies to enhance fluidity and reduce staticity.
Analysis for Aspirants:
Key Themes (30% of marks): Fluidity and staticity of caste identity and their causes.
Answer Structure (20% of marks): Introduction (20 words) frames duality. Body (90 words) covers fluidity (marriages) and staticity (violence). Conclusion (40 words) suggests solutions.
Marks Allocation: 4 marks for causes, 3 for examples, 3 for conclusion.
Preparation Tips: Study caste data (5% inter-caste marriages). Memorize NCRB stats (33,000 cases). Practice dual-nature answers. Avoid one-sided views.
Common Mistakes: Missing staticity or data. Ensure balanced examples within 150 words.
2024 Mains PYQs
4. What is regional disparity? How does it differ from diversity? How serious is the issue of regional disparity in India? [150 Words, 10 Marks]
Answer:
Introduction: Regional disparity, distinct from diversity, reflects unequal development across India, posing significant socio-economic challenges.
Body: Regional disparity involves uneven access to resources, like per capita income (Kerala: ₹2.5 lakh vs. Bihar: ₹50,000, 2023). Diversity encompasses cultural variations, like languages (22 scheduled), not inherently unequal. Disparity is serious, with 60% of India’s GDP from 5 states (2023). It fuels migration (40 million inter-state, 2011) and separatism, as in Northeast demands. Causes include colonial legacies and uneven investment. Schemes like Aspirational Districts (112 covered) aim to reduce disparities but face implementation gaps.
Conclusion: Regional disparity, unlike diversity, threatens equitable growth, necessitating targeted policies for balanced development.
Analysis for Aspirants:
Key Themes (30% of marks): Definition of disparity, distinction from diversity, and its seriousness.
Answer Structure (20% of marks): Introduction (20 words) frames disparity. Body (90 words) covers definitions (income) and seriousness (migration). Conclusion (40 words) suggests solutions.
Marks Allocation: 4 marks for definitions, 3 for seriousness, 3 for conclusion.
Preparation Tips: Study economic data (Kerala vs. Bihar). Memorize migration stats (40 million). Practice comparative answers. Avoid conflating disparity-diversity.
Common Mistakes: Missing seriousness or data. Ensure clear distinctions within 150 words.
2024 Mains PYQs
5. Despite comprehensive policies for equity and social justice, underprivileged sections are not yet getting the full benefits of affirmative action envisaged by the Constitution. Comment. [150 Words, 10 Marks]
Answer:
Introduction: Constitutional affirmative action aims for equity, but underprivileged sections face barriers in accessing its full benefits.
Body: Articles 15–16 provide reservations for SC/ST/OBC, covering 50% of government jobs. Yet, SCs face 32% poverty (2021), indicating limited impact. Issues include creamy layer exclusion, with only 10% SC/ST in higher posts (2023). Rural access to education (30% dropout rate) and jobs is low. Corruption and social stigma, like manual scavenging (1 lakh workers, 2023), persist. Schemes like Stand-Up India aid entrepreneurship, but awareness and implementation gaps (20% fund diversion) hinder progress.
Conclusion: Affirmative action’s benefits are curtailed by systemic barriers, requiring better implementation and awareness for true equity.
Analysis for Aspirants:
Key Themes (30% of marks): Limitations of affirmative action for underprivileged sections.
Answer Structure (20% of marks): Introduction (20 words) frames equity. Body (90 words) covers benefits (reservations) and issues (poverty). Conclusion (40 words) suggests reforms.
Marks Allocation: 4 marks for issues, 3 for benefits, 3 for conclusion.
Preparation Tips: Study Constitution (Articles 15–16). Memorize data (32% SC poverty). Practice critical answers. Avoid vague barriers.
Common Mistakes: Missing data or benefits. Ensure specific issues within 150 words.
2020 Mains PYQs
6. Are diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer. [150 Words, 10 Marks]
Answer:
Introduction: Globalization influences India’s diversity and pluralism, posing challenges but also reinforcing cultural resilience.
Body: Globalization promotes cultural homogenization, with Western brands like McDonald’s dominating urban markets, threatening local cuisines. English-medium education (20% increase, 2000–2020) marginalizes regional languages. However, pluralism strengthens via global platforms, like Odissi’s international recognition. Diaspora communities (18 million, 2023) preserve diversity, as seen in Bhojpuri festivals abroad. Resistance to homogenization, like GI-tagged products (400 items, 2023), protects identities. Yet, economic disparities (top 1% hold 40% wealth) exacerbate marginalization, challenging pluralism.
Conclusion: Globalization threatens diversity but reinforces pluralism through resilience and global outreach, requiring balanced policies to protect identities.
Analysis for Aspirants:
Key Themes (30% of marks): Globalization’s impact on diversity/pluralism and justification.
Answer Structure (20% of marks): Introduction (20 words) frames impact. Body (90 words) covers threats (McDonald’s) and resilience (Odissi). Conclusion (40 words) suggests balance.
Marks Allocation: 4 marks for impacts, 3 for resilience, 3 for conclusion.
Preparation Tips: Study globalization data (18 million diaspora). Memorize GI tags (400). Practice justificatory answers. Avoid one-sided views.
Common Mistakes: Missing resilience or data. Ensure balanced impacts within 150 words.
2018 Mains PYQs
7. ‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation.’ Argue by giving suitable illustrations. [150 Words, 10 Marks]
Answer:
Introduction: Communalism in India stems from power struggles and relative deprivation, fueling social tensions with distinct triggers.
Body: Power struggles drive communalism, as seen in pre-1947 Hindu-Muslim League rivalry, leading to partition. Political mobilization, like 1992 Babri Masjid demolition, exploits religious identities for votes, sparking riots (2,000 deaths). Relative deprivation, with Muslims at 24% poverty (2021) vs. national 21%, fuels resentment, as in 2002 Gujarat riots (1,000 deaths). Economic disparities and minority marginalization, like low Muslim representation (4% in Lok Sabha, 2023), amplify communalism. However, secular initiatives like Article 25 mitigate tensions.
Conclusion: Communalism, driven by power and deprivation, requires inclusive governance to foster harmony and reduce tensions.
Analysis for Aspirants:
Key Themes (30% of marks): Causes of communalism (power, deprivation) and illustrations.
Answer Structure (20% of marks): Introduction (20 words) frames causes. Body (90 words) covers power (Babri) and deprivation (Gujarat). Conclusion (40 words) suggests solutions.
Marks Allocation: 4 marks for causes, 3 for illustrations, 3 for conclusion.
Preparation Tips: Study communal events (1992, 2002). Memorize poverty data (24% Muslims). Practice illustrative answers. Avoid vague causes.
Common Mistakes: Missing illustrations or solutions. Ensure specific events within 150 words.
The following analysis examines trends in Indian Society PYQs for UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 from 2013 to 2024, covering 44 questions to identify patterns in themes, question types, and preparation strategies for aspirants. (600 words)
Key Trends:
Indian Society PYQs from 2013–2024 emphasize gender issues, cultural diversity, social stratification, urbanization, poverty, globalization, and communalism, testing candidates’ ability to analyze social dynamics and propose solutions. The questions span seven micro-topics, with Gender and Women’s Issues (10 questions) and Cultural Diversity and Secularism (10 questions) being most frequent, reflecting UPSC’s focus on inclusion and identity. Caste and Tribe (9 questions), Globalization (9 questions), Urbanization (5 questions), Poverty (6 questions), and Communalism (7 questions) highlight structural and modern challenges.
Thematic Patterns: Gender questions (2024, 2019) focus on empowerment and equality, citing data (80 million SHG women) and schemes (Beti Bachao). Cultural diversity questions (2022, 2018) explore secularism and pluralism, referencing constitutional provisions (Article 25). Caste and tribe questions (2023, 2021) analyze fluidity and tribal systems, using stats (5% inter-caste marriages). Urbanization questions (2024, 2023) address disparity and migration (40 million inter-state). Poverty questions (2024, 2020) critique affirmative action and inequalities (32% SC poverty). Globalization questions (2020, 2019) balance homogenization and resilience (400 GI tags). Communalism questions (2018, 2017) link power and deprivation, citing events (2002 Gujarat riots).
Question Types: Analytical questions dominate (e.g., “discuss,” “comment”), requiring balanced arguments, as in caste fluidity (2023). Comparative questions (e.g., disparity vs. diversity, 2024) test conceptual clarity. Solution-oriented questions (e.g., affirmative action, 2024) demand specific interventions. Short-answer questions (150 words, 10 marks) are common post-2018, emphasizing precision, while earlier questions (250 words, 15 marks) allowed broader analysis. Multi-dimensional answers integrating socio-economic and cultural aspects score higher.
Marks Allocation: Marks range from 10 (150 words) to 15 (250 words), with 12.5 marks (2015–2017) as a transition. Higher marks correlate with broader scope (e.g., secularism, 2018), while 10-mark questions focus on specifics (e.g., disparity, 2024). High-scoring answers use data (e.g., 24% Muslim poverty) and examples (e.g., Babri demolition).
Preparation Strategies: Prioritize constitutional provisions (Articles 15–28) and schemes (NRLM, Swachh Bharat). Study data (40 million migrants, 400 GI tags) and events (1992 riots). Practice analytical writing with word limits (Introduction: 20 words, Body: 90 words, Conclusion: 40 words). Use NCERT’s *Indian Society*, M.Laxmikanth’s *Governance*, and Economic Survey for updates. Standard texts like Ram Ahuja’s *Indian Social System* are recommended. Solve past papers to refine structure and time management.
Challenges and Tips: Common mistakes include vague examples (e.g., “culture”) and one-sided answers (e.g., ignoring caste staticity). Avoid overloading with facts; focus on relevance (e.g., Kudumbashree for women). Regional examples (e.g., Northeast separatism) add depth. Linking to constitutional values (e.g., Article 25 for secularism) enhances answers. Mock tests and peer reviews improve clarity and conciseness.
Future Trends: UPSC may focus on emerging issues like digital divides or climate’s social impact. Questions could integrate modernity with tradition (e.g., WFH, 2022). Emphasis on data-driven and solution-oriented answers will persist. Stay updated via Yojana and *Frontline* for contemporary issues.
In conclusion, Indian Society PYQs test socio-cultural analysis and solution-oriented thinking. By mastering data, examples, and structured answers, aspirants can excel in this dynamic GS Paper 1 section.
| Year | Marks | Trend Keywords |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 (x7) | Gender, disparity, affirmative action, migration, diversity |
| 2023 | 10 (x6) | Suicide, caste, urbanization, communalism, Vedic society |
| 2022 | 10 (x5) | WFH, Tier 2 cities, tribes, secularism, sects |
| 2021 | 10, 15 | Tribal knowledge, traditional values |
| 2020 | 10 (x6) | Caste, poverty, regionalism, globalization, education |
| 2019 | 10 (x5) | Women, secularism, cultural pockets, local identity |
| 2018 | 10 (x6) | Caste, poverty, secularism, women’s movement, communalism |
| 2017 | 10 (x5) | Diversity, ST laws, tolerance, women’s issues, communalism |
| 2016 | 12.5 (x6) | Linguistic states, globalization, poverty, tribes, smart cities |
| 2015 | 12.5 (x6) | Diversity, poverty, sex ratio, migration, globalization, Dalits |
| 2014 | 12.5 (x4) | Patriarchy, sex ratio, joint family, secularism |
| 2013 | 10 (x4) | Urbanization, women’s organizations, globalization, regionalism |
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