Theme T65 · Women & Gender (cross-paper)

Gender concepts, patriarchy & women's social status

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What UPSC asks

Cross-paper: UPSC asks gender equality vs equity vs empowerment, patriarchy's effect on working women, whether women's movements ignored lower strata, patriarchal social attitudes, young women's suicides, and women's social capital.

Prepare these

• Concepts: equality, equity, empowerment, gender mainstreaming
• Patriarchy in family and workplace
• Women's movement: phases and its class/caste limits
• Mental health and suicide among young women
• Social capital: SHGs, networks

Answer writing

• Define concepts precisely first, then apply to Indian examples

Directive words in these PYQs: Explain (2), Why (2), Distinguish (1), Substantiate (1), Comment (1).

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Syllabus lines covered

• GS1-L7 — Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• GS2-L12 — Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

All 7 PYQs, newest first

1. GS2202510 marks · 150 wordsGS2-GOV-03-M2025-Q06

   Women's social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain.

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2. GS1202410 marks · 150 wordsGS1-SOC-02-M2024-Q08

   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?

   Also needs: T102 Policy design, implementation & people's participationCopyReport a typo
3. GS1202310 marks · 150 wordsGS1-SOC-02-M2023-Q09

   Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society.

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4. GS22021GS2-GOV-03-M2021-S01

   “Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu?

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5. GS12018GS1-SOC-02-M2018-S01

   ‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.’ Substantiate your view.

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6. GS12014GS1-SOC-02-M2014-S01

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

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7. GS12013GS1-SOC-02-M2013-S01

   “Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from gender bias.” Comment.

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