Theme T62 · Indian Society

Communalism, sect & radicalisation

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What UPSC asks

Questions ask about causes of communalism (power struggle, relative deprivation), religiosity turning into communalism, sect's salience, post-liberal identity politics, and radicalism from the neighbourhood.

Prepare these

• Causes of communalism
• Religiosity vs communalism
• Sect vs caste and religion
• Radicalisation and its internal security link

Answer writing

• Use examples carefully and neutrally

Directive words in these PYQs: Discuss (2), Analyse (1), Argue (1), Distinguish (1).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

Comes back later in

Later themes that take this one further.

Syllabus lines covered

• GS1-L9 — Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
• GS3-L17 — Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

All 5 PYQs, newest first

1. GS1202315 marks · 250 wordsGS1-SOC-07-M2023-Q20

   Discuss the impact of post-liberal economy on ethnic identity and communalism.

   Also needs: T59 Globalisation & Indian society and cultureCopyReport a typo
2. GS1202215 marks · 250 wordsGS1-SOC-07-M2022-Q18

   Analyse the salience of ‘sect’ in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion.

   CopyReport a typo
3. GS12018GS1-SOC-07-M2018-S02

   ‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation’. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.

   CopyReport a typo
4. GS12017GS1-SOC-07-M2017-S01

   Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India.

   CopyReport a typo
5. GS32014GS3-SEC-02-M2014-S01

   “The diverse nature of India as a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of radicalism which is seen in her neighbourhood.” Discuss along with strategies to be adopted to counter this environment.

   Also needs: T163 Terrorism & external state/non-state actorsCopyReport a typo