Throw light on the significance of thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times.

Theme

T15 Gandhi: mass movements, constructive programme, ideas & contemporaries

What UPSC asks in this theme

Gandhi is UPSC's favourite personality: mass mobilisation, constructive programmes, his relevance today, comparison with Tagore, Ambedkar and Bose, and whether independence would differ without him.

What to cover

• Gandhian movements: Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India — who was mobilised
• Constructive programme: khadi, Hindu-Muslim unity, untouchability removal, basic education
• Gandhi vs Tagore (education, nationalism), vs Ambedkar (caste, strategy), vs Bose (methods)
• Relevance today: non-violence, sustainable living, decentralisation, conflict resolution

Writing the answer

• For comparisons, a clear 'common goal, different method' frame scores well
• For 'relevance today', link each Gandhian idea to a current issue

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 7 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.