UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice – Insights SECURE: 11 March 2025

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General Studies – 1

Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times

Q1. Destruction of ancient Indian knowledge centers was not the end of knowledge but marked its transformation. Discuss. Also, analyze the role of digital initiatives in preserving this intellectual heritage. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: PIB

Why the Question:
Ancient knowledge centers, such as Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramashila, and others, faced numerous attempts of destruction by foreign invaders. However, despite these attacks, knowledge itself survived through various means

Key Demand of the Question:
The answer must discuss how the destruction of ancient Indian knowledge centers led to the transformation of knowledge transmission. Additionally, it should analyze the role of digital initiatives in preserving this heritage.

Structure of the Answer:
Introduction:
Briefly highlight India’s historical knowledge hubs and their destruction, emphasizing the resilience and continuity of Indian intellectual traditions.

Body:

• Transformation of knowledge post-destruction: Discuss the role of oral tradition, scholar migration, and integration with foreign cultures in ensuring knowledge survival.
• Role of digital initiatives: Highlight initiatives like the Vedic Heritage Portal, IKS Initiative, and Kalāsampadā Digital Repository that are safeguarding ancient texts and knowledge systems.

Conclusion:
Emphasize the importance of blending digital innovations with traditional wisdom to ensure the continued relevance of India’s intellectual heritage.

Topic: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues,

Q2. The growing aspirations of a neoliberal economy have intensified the dual burden of work and domestic responsibilities for Indian women. Analyze this statement with special reference to time poverty, mental well-being, and career growth. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: IE

Why the question:
A recent survey shows women sleep far less than men, and their sleep quality is much poorer. The reason is not hard to discern.

Key Demand of the Question:
The answer must analyze how Indian women face disproportionate challenges in balancing professional and domestic roles, focusing on its implications on time poverty, mental health, and career advancement, along with suggesting suitable interventions.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly highlight the persistent issue of the dual burden faced by Indian women and its link to patriarchal norms and inadequate institutional support.

Body:

• Time poverty: Discuss how unequal household labour distribution, caregiving roles, and lack of supportive infrastructure limit women’s time.
• Mental well-being: Highlight the emotional exhaustion, social isolation, and heightened stress faced by working women.
• Career growth: Discuss challenges like career stagnation, wage disparity, and reduced participation in leadership roles due to domestic burdens.
• Way forward: Suggest policy reforms, social campaigns for equitable domestic roles, and better workplace flexibility to address these issues.

Conclusion:
Emphasize the need for a gender-sensitive ecosystem that supports women’s professional growth while ensuring work-life balance for achieving true empowerment.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States,

Q3. The Indian Constitution provides for a ‘quasi-judicial role’ for the Speaker in matters of disqualification. Critically assess the challenges this poses to impartiality and legislative independence. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsighstIAS

Why the Question:
The Speaker’s quasi-judicial role in disqualification matters has faced scrutiny due to rising instances of delays, partisan bias, and judicial interventions, making it a relevant issue for legislative integrity.

Key Demand of the Question:
The answer must explain the Speaker’s quasi-judicial role, assess its impact on impartiality and legislative independence, and suggest practical reforms to address these concerns.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly introduce the Speaker’s quasi-judicial role under the Tenth Schedule and highlight concerns regarding neutrality.

Body:

• Quasi-judicial role of the Speaker: Explain the Speaker’s constitutional powers under Articles 102(2) and 191(2) in disqualification matters. Mention landmark cases like Kihoto Hollohan (1992).
• Challenges to impartiality and legislative independence: Highlight key issues like partisan bias, delays in decision-making, and conflict of interest with relevant examples.
• Way Forward: Suggest reforms such as an independent tribunal, fixed timelines, and improved parliamentary oversight mechanisms.

Conclusion:
Emphasize the need for structural reforms to ensure that disqualification decisions are fair, transparent, and aligned with democratic principles.

Topic: Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.

Q4. Evaluate the constitutional safeguards that aim to uphold the principle of separation of powers in India. How effective have these safeguards been in preventing encroachments by different organs of the state? (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
The question assesses the effectiveness of constitutional safeguards in upholding the separation of powers and their role in preventing encroachments by different state organs, which is crucial for maintaining institutional balance.

Key demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate constitutional safeguards designed to uphold separation of powers and assess their effectiveness by highlighting both successes and challenges.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:

Briefly introduce the concept of separation of powers in the Indian context, emphasizing its significance in ensuring checks and balances.

Body:

• Constitutional safeguards for separation of powers: Mention key provisions like Articles 50, 53, 121, 226, 245, etc., and relevant doctrines such as Basic Structure.
• Successes of these safeguards: Highlight instances where safeguards successfully prevented encroachments (e.g., judicial independence, curbing arbitrary ordinances).
• Challenges and limitations: Discuss issues like executive overreach, judicial activism, and the lack of clear boundaries due to India’s parliamentary system.

Conclusion:

End with a forward-looking statement emphasizing the need for robust implementation, judicial accountability, and institutional reforms to uphold the spirit of separation of powers.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Indigenization of technology

Q5. Despite India’s efforts to enhance domestic defence manufacturing, its status as the second-largest arms importer persists. Critically examine the obstacles hindering India’s self-reliance in defence production. Suggest policy measures to address these challenges. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the Question:
India second-largest arms importer after Ukraine The largest share of Indian arms imports (36%) came from Russia, a significant drop from the 55% in 2015-19 and 72% in 2010-14.

Key Demand of the Question:
The answer must highlight India’s key initiatives for defense manufacturing, critically analyze obstacles hindering self-reliance, and suggest policy measures to address these challenges.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly highlight India’s significant defense import status despite initiatives for indigenization. Mention India’s strategic aim for self-reliance in defense.

Body:

• Efforts by India: Mention initiatives like DAP 2020, Positive Indigenization Lists, DICs, and iDEX to promote domestic manufacturing.
• Obstacles Hindering Self-Reliance: Discuss technological dependence, weak R&D investment, bureaucratic delays, limited private sector role, and import dependency for critical components.
• Policy Measures to Address Challenges: Suggest enhancing R&D spending, improving public-private partnerships, fast-tracking procurement processes, building critical technology capacity, and promoting component localization.

Conclusion:
Emphasize the need for sustained reforms, innovation-driven strategies, and industry-military collaboration to achieve long-term defense self-reliance.

Topic: Mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Q6. Tourism can be a powerful tool for employment generation if integrated with capacity-building initiatives. Comment. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: PIB

Why the Question:
The Ministry of Tourism through its scheme of “Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP)” conducts job oriented short term skill programmes through various institutes across the country, including Bihar.

Key Demand of the Question:
The answer must explain how tourism inherently generates employment and further analyze how capacity-building initiatives can enhance this potential.

Structure of the Answer:
Introduction:
Introduce tourism’s potential as a labour-intensive sector, emphasizing its role in economic development and employment generation.

Body:

• Tourism as an employment generator: Highlight its impact on diverse sectors like hospitality, transport, and retail while emphasizing regional and rural development.
• Role of capacity-building initiatives: Explain how programs like CBSP, IITF, and Paryatan Mitra enhance employability, improve service standards, and promote niche tourism.

Conclusion:
Conclude by stressing the need for aligning tourism development with skill enhancement and community participation for sustained economic benefits.

General Studies – 4

Q7. Revenge is often disguised as justice. Analyze the ethical distinction between vengeance and justice. How can this understanding shape conflict resolution strategies in society? (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the Question:
Schoolboy dragged out of bus, brutally attacked by gang near Thoothukudi’s Srivaikuntam

Key Demand of the Question:
The answer must analyze the core ethical differences between vengeance and justice, followed by suggesting how this understanding can guide effective conflict resolution strategies in society.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Define vengeance and justice while emphasizing their ethical divergence in intent, method, and outcome.

Body:

• Ethical distinction between vengeance and justice: Highlight key differences such as emotional vs rational, personal vs institutional, etc., with relevant examples.
• Impact on conflict resolution strategies: Suggest approaches like restorative justice, institutional strengthening, and victim rehabilitation to ensure justice-driven conflict resolution.

Conclusion:
Emphasize the importance of fostering a justice system that prioritizes fairness, reconciliation, and social harmony over impulsive retaliation.

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