UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice – Insights SECURE: 1 April 2025

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General Studies – 1

Topic: Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues

Q1. The burden of unpaid care work is both a reflection and cause of structural inequality. Analyse time poverty as a gendered phenomenon. What role can social infrastructure play in alleviating it? (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TOI

Why the question:
The Time Use in India, 2024 report exposes a stark reality: time is not just a personal asset but a deeply gendered, class-driven, and structurally determined resource that reinforces inequality.

Key demand of the question:
The question requires an analysis of unpaid care work as both a symptom and driver of structural inequality, a gendered examination of time poverty, and the role social infrastructure can play in addressing this burden.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly introduce the idea of time as a resource distributed unequally due to social structures, particularly impacting women.

Body:

• Explain how unpaid care work reflects and reinforces institutional gender inequality.
• Analyse how time poverty affects women disproportionately in terms of economic, social, and personal outcomes.
• Suggest how public infrastructure like childcare, transport, and water access can help reduce time burdens and promote equity.

Conclusion:
End with a forward-looking line highlighting the need to view time as a tool for empowerment and social justice.

Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography

Q2. Examine the causes of increasing monsoon rainfall in the Western Ghats. Discuss its implications for geomorphological processes in the region. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question:
A recent study by researchers at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) has revealed a significant increase in monsoon rainfall in the Western Ghats over the past 800 years

Key Demand of the question:
The question demands an examination of climatic and environmental drivers behind rising monsoon rainfall in the Western Ghats, and a discussion of how this increase impacts geomorphological processes like erosion, landslides, and sedimentation.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly refer to the recent multi-disciplinary study showing an 800-year monsoon trend and rising intensity, framing it in the context of long-term climate variability.

Body:

• Causes of increasing monsoon rainfall: Point to oceanic warming, atmospheric changes, and land-use modifications influencing monsoonal intensity.
• Implications for geomorphological processes: Highlight effects like increased landslides, accelerated erosion, river course instability, and sedimentation in the region.

Conclusion:
Call for integrating climate projections with geomorphological risk zoning to ensure sustainable development in the Western Ghats.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive

Q3. How does real-time content takedown by executive authorities impact the enforcement of fundamental rights in cyberspace? What institutional reforms are necessary to uphold digital due process? (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: IE

Why the question:
The Centre informed the Karnataka High Court that Elon Musk-owned X’s description of the government’s Sahyog portal as a “censorship portal” is “unfortunate” and “condemnable”.

Key demand of the question:
The question requires analysing the effect of real-time takedown powers on fundamental rights like freedom of speech and equality, and suggesting robust institutional reforms to ensure due process and accountability.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Mention the emergence of real-time takedown powers by the executive and link it to increasing concerns around fundamental rights violations.

Body:

• Impact on rights: Discuss how such actions affect freedom of speech, equality, and procedural fairness in the absence of adequate checks.
• Reform needs: Propose institutional safeguards like review boards, user notification, and transparency protocols to uphold digital due process.

Conclusion:
Highlight the importance of building a rights-based digital governance model that ensures executive accountability and citizen trust.

Topic: India and its neighbourhood- relations

Q4. Analyse the strategic implications of Bangladesh’s recent deepening ties with Pakistan and China. In this context, examine the scope for a reset in India’s regional diplomacy and strategic partnerships. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: IE

Why the question:
In a remarkable gesture, President Xi Jinping sent a special plane on March 26 to bring Chief Adviser to the Interim Government Muhammad Yunus to Beijing, signalling China’s deeper ties with Bangladesh.

Key demand of the question:
The question demands an analysis of how Bangladesh’s ties with China and Pakistan strategically affect India, and an evaluation of the potential for India to reset its diplomatic and strategic engagements in response.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly introduce the changing regional dynamics with Bangladesh moving closer to India’s strategic adversaries, and why it necessitates a policy rethink.

Body:

• Implications of Bangladesh-China-Pakistan ties: Mention how these developments challenge India’s influence, regional security, and economic interests.
• Resetting regional diplomacy: Suggest steps like de-personalised engagement, people-to-people ties, and resolving bilateral issues.
• Strategic partnerships reset: Highlight scope in BIMSTEC, energy cooperation, maritime security, and mini-lateral initiatives.

Conclusion:
Conclude with a call for pragmatic, multi-dimensional diplomacy to regain strategic depth and credibility in the region.

General Studies – 3

Topic: National Income Accounting

Q5. Explain the distinction between GDP deflator and CPI. Why is GDP deflator gaining traction in recent policy discourse? (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Easy

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
The GDP deflator has gained renewed attention in India’s fiscal and monetary discourse amidst rising inflation volatility and structural economic shifts, making it relevant for policy analysis.

Key Demand of the question:
Differentiate GDP deflator from CPI with clarity and explain why GDP deflator is being increasingly preferred in recent policy frameworks.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Begin with a brief insight on inflation indicators used in macroeconomic analysis and mention the growing relevance of GDP deflator.

Body:

• Distinction between GDP deflator and CPI: Present a concise comparison highlighting their scope, methodology, and utility.
• Reasons for policy traction of GDP deflator: Outline how it aids in broader macroeconomic assessments, fiscal planning, and real growth estimation.

Conclusion
End by underlining the need for wider adoption of GDP deflator in policymaking alongside traditional indices to ensure balanced economic analysis.

Topic: Capital Markets & Money Markets

Q6. Indian capital markets are increasingly driven by speculative flows, not fundamentals. Critically assess this trend. Discuss its implications for financial stability. Suggest policy safeguards to insulate the real economy. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
The growing disconnect between stock market performance and economic fundamentals, especially in light of rising speculative flows and financial instability risks observed in recent years.

Key Demand of the question:
The question demands a critical assessment of speculative trends in Indian capital markets, an evaluation of their impact on financial stability, and practical policy measures to protect the real economy from such market distortions.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Introduce with a sharp insight on the rise of speculative trading and its divergence from India’s economic indicators.

Body:

• Critically assess speculative behaviour overtaking fundamental-driven investments in capital markets.
• Explain how this speculative dominance poses threats to broader financial stability.
• Suggest realistic and forward-looking policy measures to shield the real economy from market volatility.

Conclusion:
Conclude with a forward-looking statement emphasizing the need for market discipline and balanced regulation to align capital flows with real economic growth.

General Studies – 4

Q7. “The pursuit of economic efficiency must not eclipse the ethical obligation to preserve human dignity.” In light of burnout in the IT sector, discuss the ethical limits of productivity-driven corporate culture. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question:
The alarming findings of burnout in India’s IT sector leads to the ethical implications of overwork in a corporate setting and the conflict between profit motives and humane treatment.

Key Demand of the question:
It requires examining the ethical challenges of excessive work culture in IT and laying out the moral boundaries that should govern productivity-driven corporate models.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Start with a powerful quote or insight showing the ethical tension between efficiency and dignity.

Body:

• Highlight the ethical concerns of burnout and exploitation in pursuit of productivity.
• Discuss how human dignity and constitutional values like Article 21 are compromised.
• Suggest ethical boundaries like duty of care, humane HR practices, and leadership responsibility.

Conclusion:
End with a visionary statement advocating an ethical and sustainable corporate culture where people are valued over performance metrics.

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