UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice – Insights SECURE: 28 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. How did exposure to Western modernist schools influence Indian artists during the late colonial and post-independence periods. Examine how this shaped the use of Cubist elements in their work. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Reference: IE

Why the question:
To assess the cultural cross-pollination between Indian and Western art traditions, particularly how Cubism was adapted by Indian artists across key historical phases.

Key Demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate the influence of Western modernist training and exposure on Indian artists during the colonial and post-independence periods and how that translated into the adoption, reinterpretation, and innovation of Cubist elements in Indian art.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly highlight the global flow of modernist ideas and how they reached Indian artists seeking new visual languages beyond colonial realism.

Body:

• Late colonial and post-independence exposure to Western modernist schools through institutions, travel, or interaction influenced Indian artists in their themes, techniques, and pedagogy.
• The influence of this exposure manifested in Indian adaptations of Cubism, which incorporated local traditions, emotional depth, and socio-cultural narratives into the geometric vocabulary.

Conclusion:
Conclude by noting how Indian artists transformed Cubism into a uniquely Indian idiom, contributing to the evolution of modern Indian art and identity.

Topic: The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.

Q2. Trace Nehru’s ideological evolution during the freedom struggle. Examine how these ideas shaped his vision of post-independence India. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Easy

Reference: TH

Why the question:
In light of contemporary political and academic reassessment of Nehru’s legacy and its continuing impact on India’s democratic and institutional foundations.

Key Demand of the question:
The question demands tracing the transformation of Nehru’s political and ideological thought during the freedom struggle and evaluating how that influenced his post-1947 governance and policy vision.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly mention Nehru’s transition from Western liberalism to democratic socialism and how his ideological journey shaped the idea of modern India.

Body:

• Mention the evolution of Nehru’s ideology during different phases of the national movement, including his embrace of socialism, secularism, scientific outlook, and anti-colonial internationalism.
• Discuss how these ideological positions translated into concrete policies and institutions post-independence—such as democratic governance, planned economy, secular state, and promotion of scientific temper.

Conclusion:
Conclude with the enduring relevance of Nehru’s vision in shaping modern India and the need to reengage with his legacy in current times.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

Q3. Evaluate the role of quasi-judicial bodies in India’s regulatory governance. Discuss how their structural independence can be enhanced. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
Quasi-judicial bodies are increasingly significant in resolving complex regulatory disputes. Recent debates over their autonomy, especially after the Finance Act, 2017, have made the issue relevant.

Key Demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate the contribution of quasi-judicial bodies in governance and suggest ways to improve their structural independence. Both performance and reform aspects need to be addressed.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:

Define quasi-judicial bodies briefly and link them to regulatory governance in India.

Body:

• Mention how they contribute to regulatory enforcement and institutional accountability.
• Discuss institutional reforms required to ensure independence in appointment, tenure, funding, and appeal processes.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a forward-looking line emphasizing the need for strengthening rule-based governance through independent institutions.

Topic: Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.

Q4. Analyse the role of pressure groups in influencing public policy. Examine how digital activism has transformed advocacy. Assess its implications for democratic processes. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
The rise of digital platforms in political advocacy and recent mass movements has brought pressure groups and digital activism to the forefront of democratic discourse.

Key Demand of the question:
To analyse how pressure groups shape public policy, evaluate how digital activism has changed advocacy mechanisms, and assess its overall impact on democratic institutions and processes.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly highlight the role of pressure groups as democratic intermediaries and mention the rise of digital mobilisation.

Body:

• Role of pressure groups in public policy: Explain their influence through lobbying, judicial action, and public mobilisation.
• Digital activism and transformation of advocacy: Show how technology enables wider participation, faster mobilisation, and decentralised movements.
• Implications for democratic processes: Assess both positive impacts on participation and accountability, and concerns like misinformation or polarisation.

Conclusion:
Suggest the need for ethical digital activism and responsive democratic institutions to sustain healthy policy influence.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Q5. Explain the key reasons behind the sustained decline in bank credit growth in recent times. Suggest measures to ensure credit growth without compromising financial stability. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question:
RBI’s March 2025 data showing the eighth consecutive month of credit growth slowdown, the question is significant for understanding macro-financial stability amidst regulatory tightening.

Key Demand of the question:
The answer must analyse the structural and policy-related reasons behind falling credit growth and propose well-balanced measures that promote lending without increasing financial risks.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Mention the recent decline in credit growth and the shift in regulatory stance by RBI due to concerns over unsecured lending and liquidity imbalance.

Body:

• Explain factors like regulatory tightening, falling personal loan demand, liquidity constraints, and cautious lending to NBFCs as reasons for slowdown.
• Suggest reforms such as easing capital norms selectively, improving deposit mobilisation, targeting productive credit sectors, and using tech-driven credit evaluation to ensure stable lending.

Conclusion:
Emphasise the need for balancing credit expansion with systemic prudence through dynamic and sector-specific regulatory strategies.

Topic: Economics of animal-rearing

Q6. Light fishing has emerged as a major threat to India’s coastal marine ecosystems. Analyse its cascading impact on the marine food chain. Suggest policy-level interventions to promote sustainable and equitable fishing practices.  (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: DTE

Why the question:
The persistence of illegal light fishing despite a national ban and its ecological and socio-economic fallout have made it a pressing issue in environmental and livelihood discourse.

Key demand of the question:
The question demands an analysis of how light fishing affects the marine food chain through ecological disruption, and asks for concrete policy-level measures that ensure both sustainability of marine resources and equity for traditional fishing communities.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly introduce light fishing as a banned but prevalent practice causing ecological imbalance and marginalisation of traditional fishers.

Body:

• Explain how light fishing disrupts species balance, affects keystone species like squid, and disturbs predator-prey dynamics in the marine food chain.
• Suggest enforceable policy-level interventions including uniform regulation, technological surveillance, subsidy reforms, and cooperative governance to promote sustainable and equitable fishing practices.

Conclusion:
Emphasise the need for an integrated and inclusive marine governance framework that secures biodiversity and the rights of coastal communities.

General Studies – 4

Q7. In a state, a complicated case has arisen involving allegations of corruption and mismanagement related to the State Skill Development Corporation’s activities from 2014. The former government, led by Chief Minister Prasad of the XYZ party, is accused of diverting funds intended for a youth skill development program to shell companies through fraudulent invoices, with private partners failing to meet their investment commitments. The state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has charged Prasad and others with violations, and a separate investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has resulted in high-profile arrests. With state elections approaching in three months, the case has sparked concerns about the integrity of the investigations. The timing of Prasad’s arrest and the aggressive nature of the inquiries raise suspicions of political motivations, potentially compromising public trust in both state and national institutions. Critics argue that the case could be a strategic move to undermine political opponents and sway voter sentiment, further inflaming the debate over the legitimacy of the charges. (20 M)

1. 1. Identify the stakeholders and ethical issues surrounding the case.
   2. How does the politicization of the issue affect state governance? Explain how institutions can maintain their integrity in such situations.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Why the question:
This question is based on high-profile allegations of political misuse of investigative agencies and corruption in public service delivery, testing ethical analysis and institutional safeguards in governance.

Key Demand of the question:
To identify the various stakeholders and ethical dilemmas in a politically sensitive corruption case, and evaluate how politicization impacts governance while suggesting ways to uphold institutional integrity.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Mention the ethical lens through which politicized investigations in governance can be assessed, referring to Kantian or Rawlsian principles.

Body:

• Identify the major stakeholders and highlight the core ethical concerns emerging from conflicting duties, justice, and public trust.
• Explain how politicization erodes governance efficiency, rule of law, and public confidence; then suggest institutional mechanisms like oversight, judicial checks, and transparency to ensure integrity.

Conclusion:
Reinforce the need for impartiality and fairness, referencing ethical theories like Rawls’ veil of ignorance to emphasize justice over political gain.

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