UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice – Insights SECURE: 17 April 2025

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General Studies – 1

Topic: Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country

Q1. Trace the evolution of India’s planning model from the Nehruvian era to the early 1990s. What were its major achievements and limitations in addressing socio-economic disparities? (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question
With increasing debate over the effectiveness of state-led development versus market reforms, it is important to revisit India’s early planning model to understand how institutional choices shaped socio-economic outcomes and why disparities persist despite decades of planned interventions.

Key Demand of the question
The answer must trace the historical evolution of India’s planned economy till 1991, critically assess its key contributions to development, and highlight the major gaps in addressing inequality.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Briefly mention how the planning model was adopted post-independence to pursue state-led socio-economic transformation amid post-colonial constraints.

Body

• Trace major phases of planning from Nehruvian centralised model to the pre-liberalisation reforms of the 1980s.
• Mention achievements like industrial base, food self-sufficiency, and institutional development.
• Highlight limitations such as regional imbalance, human development neglect, and inefficiencies.

Conclusion
End with a forward-looking insight on the relevance of inclusive and adaptive planning in shaping India’s development trajectory today.

Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.

Q2. How do oceanic and atmospheric factors collectively influence the Indian summer monsoon? Why are sub-continental parameters becoming increasingly decisive? (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question
The 2025 IMD monsoon forecast, highlights both traditional oceanic indicators and rising importance of regional factors like snow cover and cyclonic activity.

Key Demand of the question
To examine how oceanic and atmospheric systems influence the Indian monsoon as a whole, and explain the growing role of sub-continental and regional elements in shaping rainfall outcomes.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Mention India’s monsoon as a globally influenced yet regionally modulated system, and the shift in recent years toward localised drivers.

Body

• Explain the role of major oceanic and atmospheric factors such as ENSO, IOD, and MJO.
• Analyse why sub-continental factors like Eurasian snow cover, cyclonic activity, and land heating are becoming more influential in determining monsoon characteristics.

Conclusion
Suggest the need for integrating regional predictors into India’s forecasting systems to enhance monsoon resilience.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

Q3. What are the major structural, legal, and operational deficiencies in the functioning of the National Commission for Women? How can these be addressed to make it an institution of consequence? (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question:
The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of the situation in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district and has formed a team to investigate the violence over the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Key demand of the question:
Critically examine the structural, legal, and operational challenges limiting NCW’s impact, and propose comprehensive measures to make it more empowered, accountable, and future-ready.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Briefly introduce NCW’s origin and mandate, highlighting its statutory nature and limited enforcement capacity.

Body

• Structural deficiencies: Mention financial dependence, appointment issues, limited outreach, weak coordination
• Legal deficiencies: Mention lack of binding powers, outdated Act, unclear jurisdiction, and no penal authority
• Operational deficiencies: Mention staff shortage, delay in grievance redressal, weak data systems, public awareness gaps
• Way forward: Suggest legislative overhaul, regional offices, merit-based appointments, research and investigation units

Conclusion
Underline the need to transform NCW into a powerful rights-enforcing body aligned with constitutional values and contemporary gender challenges.

Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

Q4. Examine how reciprocal tariffs challenge India’s role as a voice for the Global South. How can India build coalitions to resist rising unilateralism in global trade? (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question
The U.S. announcement of reciprocal tariffs, this question assesses India’s ability to maintain its normative leadership in the Global South amid unilateral trade disruptions.

Key Demand of the question
The answer must evaluate how such tariff policies weaken India’s standing as a trade justice advocate and suggest how India can foster collective resistance to unilateralism through strategic coalitions.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Briefly introduce how India has historically positioned itself as a leader of the Global South in global trade discourse.

Body

• Show how reciprocal tariffs undermine India’s developmental trade narrative and dilute its multilateral credibility.
• Suggest concrete coalition-building strategies at multilateral, regional, and sectoral levels to counter rising unilateralism.

Conclusion
End with a forward-looking statement emphasizing the need for inclusive trade diplomacy to preserve India’s leadership role.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it

Q5. India’s urban economy faces a triple pressure of stagnant incomes, rising prices, and low confidence. Analyse their interlinkages. Examine how this affects aggregate demand. Suggest a multidimensional urban policy response. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question
Urban economic stress has become a key issue ahead of elections, with recent RBI surveys revealing a disconnect between employment optimism and income or price pessimism.

Key Demand of the question
The question requires analysing how stagnant incomes, inflation, and low confidence are interlinked, how this affects aggregate demand, and what multidimensional policy responses are suitable to revive urban economic health.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction

Briefly state how urban economies are facing simultaneous pressures, affecting economic momentum.

Body

• Analyse the interdependence between stagnant incomes, inflation, and pessimism
• Discuss how this triple pressure reduces consumption and impacts aggregate demand
• Suggest comprehensive urban policy solutions covering income support, inflation control, and consumer confidence

Conclusion

Give a forward-looking, solution-oriented statement on making urban growth more demand-resilient.

Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology

Q6. How can electric mobility transform India’s rural economy? Analyse its role in enhancing micro-entrepreneurship and logistics. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: IE

Why the question:
The rapid push towards EV adoption beyond urban centers, especially with FAME II extension and initiatives aimed at rural mobility and logistics in 2024–25.

Key Demand of the question:
To examine how electric mobility can act as a tool for rural economic transformation, and to analyse its specific role in promoting micro-entrepreneurship and improving rural logistics systems.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Mention the transformative potential of EVs in decentralised economic growth and sustainable rural livelihoods.

Body:

• Rural economy transformation: Write on cost savings, improved access, employment, diesel substitution, and state-backed EV incentives.
• Micro-entrepreneurship and logistics: Suggest how EVs support rural gig work, women-led ventures, farm produce movement, MSME logistics, and battery swapping models.

Conclusion:
Suggest how integrating EVs with rural skilling, finance, and digital platforms can create a green rural economy.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators

Q7. Examine how ethical minimalism, as practised by Vinoba Bhave, promotes sustainable governance. In what ways can these values address present-day climate and consumption crises? (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
Ethical values rooted in Indian leadership and their practical relevance in contemporary sustainability challenges.

Key Demand of the question:
Explain how Vinoba Bhave’s ethical minimalism contributes to value-based governance. Then assess how such values can ethically address modern environmental and consumerist crises.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Define ethical minimalism briefly and establish Vinoba Bhave’s significance as a value-centric reformer.

Body

• Ethical minimalism and sustainable governance – Highlight five ethical principles from Bhave’s philosophy and how they shape just, inclusive governance.
• Application to climate and consumption crises – Show how these same values can address overconsumption, intergenerational equity, and moral foundations of sustainability.

Conclusion
Assert the continuing relevance of ethical minimalism for today’s climate-constrained and ethically fatigued administrative systems.

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