UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice – Insights SECURE: 23 April 2025

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General Studies – 1

Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues.

Q1. How did the tribal uprisings of the 19th century reflect both continuity and divergence from mainstream anti-colonial struggles? Examine with suitable examples. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question
It highlights tribal role in the freedom struggle, builds comparison with mainstream movements, and encourages understanding of ignored voices in history.

Key demand of the question
The question requires analysing how 19th-century tribal uprisings both aligned with and deviated from the broader anti-colonial movement, using specific historical examples for each.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Mention tribal resistance as among the earliest forms of opposition to colonial rule, often rooted in indigenous grievances.

Body

• Show how tribal uprisings mirrored broader anti-colonial themes like opposition to economic exploitation and colonial interference
• Highlight their divergence in terms of religious elements, lack of pan-Indian political articulation, and organisational disconnect

Conclusion
Conclude by stating that while divergent in form, tribal uprisings were integral to India’s layered anti-colonial heritage.

Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

Q2. India’s youth embody a paradox of global exposure and local detachment. Examine the causes of this dissonance. What can be done to align their global aspirations with cultural anchoring and civic commitment? (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: PIB

Why the question:
Lok Sabha Speaker exhorted the youth to become active stakeholders in building a strong and self-reliant India. He called upon the youth to engage themselves proactively in nation building, innovation, and global leadership and to contribute meaningfully to India’s growth story by participating in democracy, research, law-making, and technological advancement.

Key demand of the question:
The answer must analyze the reasons behind the disconnect between global outlook and local identity among Indian youth, and suggest actionable pathways to bridge this divide and channel their aspirations toward nation-building.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Highlight the growing disconnect between India’s globally connected youth and their diminishing civic-cultural rootedness.

Body:

• Explain how Indian youth display global alignment yet lack deeper societal engagement.
• Examine structural, institutional, and socio-cultural reasons for this dissonance.
• Suggest comprehensive and value-driven solutions to harmonize global aspirations with national grounding and civic sense.

Conclusion:
Call for a future-ready youth identity that fuses global leadership with indigenous ethos and constitutional commitment.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability,

Q3. What are the key legal and institutional shortcomings in India’s surveillance oversight architecture? Suggest ways to enhance transparency and accountability. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question
The Pegasus case has reopened debates on unchecked surveillance, highlighting the absence of legal and institutional safeguards in India’s digital intelligence framework.

Key demand of the question
The question requires an assessment of both legal and institutional weaknesses in surveillance oversight and recommendations to make the system more transparent and accountable.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
India’s surveillance regime remains rooted in colonial-era laws and lacks judicial or parliamentary scrutiny, risking fundamental rights.

Body

• Legal, Institutional shortcomings in surveillance oversight – Absence of a dedicated surveillance law, outdated provisions, and lack of citizen notification or remedy.
• Reforms for transparency and accountability – Need for independent oversight bodies, legislative reforms, and citizen grievance mechanisms.

Conclusion
A rights-based and transparent surveillance framework is crucial for safeguarding democracy and ensuring responsible state power in the digital age.

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

Q4. “The proposed WHO pandemic treaty is historic in intent but limited in institutional transformation”. Analyse its key provisions. Discuss its major limitations. Suggest structural reforms to enhance its enforceability and impact. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: IE

Why the question:
The proposed WHO pandemic treaty, drafted after COVID-19, has triggered global debate on its ability to equitably manage future health crises amidst concerns of weak enforcement and limited participation.

Key Demand of the question:
The answer must explain the treaty’s key provisions, highlight its institutional and legal shortcomings, and suggest actionable reforms to improve its enforceability and global impact.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Briefly mention the significance of the proposed treaty post-COVID and the expectations surrounding it.

Body

• Outline the main features of the draft treaty such as benefit-sharing, equity mechanisms, and tech transfer.
• Identify its limitations like lack of binding authority, unclear implementation plans, and absence of key players.
• Suggest reforms including compliance mechanisms, WHO operational powers, and equity-driven funding conditions.

Conclusion
Conclude with the need to embed enforceable solidarity in future global health governance frameworks.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.

Q5. Why is increasing the share of manufacturing in GDP vital for India’s long-term economic strategy? Identify the structural and institutional bottlenecks impeding this growth. Suggest reforms to align manufacturing expansion with the goals of Viksit Bharat by 2047. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question
This is based on the Finance Minister’s April 2025 keynote in California, highlighting India’s plan to raise manufacturing’s GDP share to 23% and its role in job creation, import substitution, and long-term development.

Key demand of the question
It asks for the rationale behind increasing manufacturing’s GDP share, an analysis of present structural and institutional challenges, and practical reforms needed to align industrial growth with Viksit Bharat 2047.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Highlight how manufacturing is central to economic transformation, employment generation, and global competitiveness in India’s transition to a developed economy.

Body

• Explain how manufacturing aids in employment absorption, trade resilience, and supply chain integration
• Analyse key structural (logistics, skills, technology) and institutional (regulations, credit access, R&D investment) bottlenecks
• Suggest reforms like mission-based R&D, plug-and-play zones, regulatory simplification, and skilling linked to Industry 4.0

Conclusion
Stress that manufacturing must evolve as the backbone of India’s economic rise, driven by innovation, inclusivity and sustainability to realise the Viksit Bharat vision.

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Q6. What are the key contributors to chronic PM10 pollution in Indian cities? Explain why regional variation demands city-specific mitigation strategies. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Easy

Reference: DTE

Why the question:
A recent four-year analysis by Respirer Living Sciences (2021–24) revealed that all major Indian metros breached PM10 safety limits, highlighting the failure of blanket air quality approaches.

Key demand of the question:
The question requires identifying the major sources of PM10 pollution in Indian cities and explaining why local environmental and socio-economic factors necessitate region-specific mitigation strategies.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Mention PM10 as a major air pollutant with sustained exceedance across cities; refer to latest CPCB/Respirer data.

Body:

• Mention key contributors like vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial activities, etc.
• Explain regional variation in emissions, climate, urban form and governance capacities that make localised approaches essential.

Conclusion:
Stress the need for decentralised, evidence-based clean air governance rooted in city-level action.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

Q7. Discuss Socrates’ moral courage as a form of dissent. How can such courage be cultivated among today’s civil servants? (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
Recent focus on whistle-blower protection, training reforms in LBSNAA, and public ethical failures has revived interest in classical ethical figures like Socrates as models of dissent in governance.

Key demand of the question:
The question requires explaining how Socrates’ moral courage exemplified ethical dissent, and then suggesting institutional and behavioural methods to foster similar courage among modern civil servants.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Briefly introduce Socrates’ fearless ethical stance and its legacy in public morality.

Body

• Describe Socrates’ moral courage as dissent based on conscience, truth, and ethical autonomy.
• Explain ways to cultivate such courage in civil servants through training, legal protection, tenure security, and ethical leadership.

Conclusion
Conclude with the idea that ethical dissent is foundational for democratic institutions and must be protected and nurtured.

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