UPSC Mains 2014 — GS1 questions

Indian Heritage & Culture, History, Geography & Society. 25 questions in this collection, each linked to its theme.

1. GS12014GS1-CUL-01-M2014-S01

   To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss.

   Theme: T1 Harappan civilisation, early urbanism & civilisational continuity

   Also needs: T57 Smart cities, rural–urban integration & urban transportAlso needs: T55 Urbanisation: social problems, segregation & urban povertyCopyReport a typo
2. GS12014GS1-CUL-04-M2014-S01

   Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.

   Theme: T4 Buddhist art & sculpture schools: stupa, Gandhara, Pala

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3. GS12014GS1-CUL-06-M2014-S01

   Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.

   Theme: T7 Bhakti–Sufi movements & religious syncretism

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4. GS12014GS1-CUL-07-M2014-S01

   Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.

   Theme: T8 Patronage, learning centres & medieval technology

   Also needs: T111 Education policy: NEP, RTE, higher education, examsCopyReport a typo
5. GS12014GS1-GEO-01-M2014-S01

   Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of fold mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.

   Theme: T26 Earth's interior, plate tectonics, mountains, islands & landforms

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6. GS12014GS1-GEO-01-M2014-S02

   Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos.

   Theme: T26 Earth's interior, plate tectonics, mountains, islands & landforms

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7. GS12014GS1-GEO-02-M2014-S01

   Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree?

   Theme: T30 Monsoon, El Niño & drought

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8. GS12014GS1-GEO-02-M2014-S02

   Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?

   Theme: T31 Tropical cyclones, twisters & cyclone warnings

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9. GS12014GS1-GEO-05-M2014-S01

   Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world.

   Theme: T33 Oceans & marine environment: currents, salinity, dead zones, oil pollution, marine resources

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10. GS12014GS1-GEO-05-M2014-S02

    How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?

    Theme: T120 India & Africa: resources, digital partnership, influence

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11. GS12014GS1-GEO-06-M2014-S01

    Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain.

    Theme: T39 Location of industries: steel, refineries, sugar, textiles, tea, rubber, corridors

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12. GS12014GS1-GEO-06-M2014-S02

    Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?

    Theme: T137 Green Revolution & food self-sufficiency: rice–wheat system, technology missions

    Also needs: T63 Regionalism & regional disparityCopyReport a typo
13. GS12014GS1-GEO-06-M2014-S03

    Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world.

    Theme: T39 Location of industries: steel, refineries, sugar, textiles, tea, rubber, corridors

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14. GS12014GS1-GEO-07-M2014-S01

    Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.

    Theme: T38 Glaciers, cryosphere & sea-level rise

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15. GS12014GS1-HIS-01-M2014-S01

    The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat?

    Theme: T9 British expansion: fragmented polity, Panipat, why the Company won, Dalhousie

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16. GS12014GS1-HIS-02-M2014-S01

    Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence.

    Theme: T10 Colonial economy: drain, deindustrialisation, famines, economic policy

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17. GS12014GS1-HIS-06-M2014-S01

    What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti- colonial struggle in India?

    Theme: T16 Widening of the national movement: ideological strands & global influences

    Also needs: T24 World Wars, interwar crisis, Great Depression & ideologiesAlso needs: T25 Colonisation & decolonisation: Africa, Malaya, SuezCopyReport a typo
18. GS12014GS1-HIS-07-M2014-S01

    In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?

    Theme: T17 Final phase: Quit India, Naval mutiny, Maulana Azad

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19. GS12014GS1-SOC-01-M2014-S01

    The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.

    Theme: T49 Family, marriage, traditions & social values

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20. GS12014GS1-SOC-02-M2014-S01

    How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India?

    Theme: T65 Gender concepts, patriarchy & women's social status

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21. GS12014GS1-SOC-02-M2014-S02

    Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.

    Theme: T66 Sex ratio & gender gaps across communities and regions

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22. GS12014GS1-SOC-02-M2014-S03

    Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.

    Theme: T67 Women & the economy: gig work, feminisation of agriculture, care economy, gender budgeting, migration

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23. GS12014GS1-SOC-07-M2014-S01

    How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?

    Theme: T61 Secularism: Indian vs Western models

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24. GS12014GS1-WH-02-M2014-S01

    What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self- image as a world power?

    Theme: T25 Colonisation & decolonisation: Africa, Malaya, Suez

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25. GS12014GS1-WH-03-M2014-S01

    The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate.

    Theme: T127 Planning: Nehruvian planning, Soviet influence, NITI Aayog

    Also needs: T24 World Wars, interwar crisis, Great Depression & ideologiesCopyReport a typo

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