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

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General Studies – 1

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

Q1. Explain the role of labour strikes and trade union activism in expanding the social base of India’s nationalist movement. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
Labour strikes and trade union activism remain underexplored but were critical in widening nationalist participation by mobilising industrial workers, especially visible during key phases of the freedom struggle.

Key Demand of the question:
Explain how labour strikes and trade union activism contributed to expand the social base of nationalism by bringing industrial workers into political movements and strengthening anti-colonial resistance.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly introduce how economic grievances transformed into political activism contributing to nationalist momentum.

Body:

• Labour strikes politicised workers by linking their economic demands to anti-colonial struggles, adding industrial classes into nationalist platforms.
• Trade unions institutionalised this mobilisation, created cross-class alliances, international linkages, and generated future nationalist leadership.

Conclusion:
Emphasise how worker mobilisation converted nationalism into a mass movement cutting across socio-economic groups.

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

Q2. Patriarchy victimises both genders by restricting emotional expression, but men’s mental health remains invisible. Examine how patriarchal values affect men’s emotional wellbeing. Analyse how male silence reinforces patriarchal cycles. Discuss the need for collective responsibility in changing these norms. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: IE

Why the question
Rising global attention to men’s mental health in June 2025, highlighting how patriarchy silently burdens men emotionally.

Key Demand of the question
It requires examining how patriarchal norms harm men’s emotional wellbeing, how male silence sustains these patriarchal expectations, and the role of collective responsibility in breaking this cycle.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Refer to the rising concerns on male mental health linked to rigid patriarchal expectations highlighted during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month 2025.

Body

• How patriarchal values affect men’s emotional wellbeing: Masculinity norms, stigma in help-seeking, grief suppression, lack of safe spaces, breadwinner stress.
• How male silence reinforces patriarchal cycles: Normalisation of suppression, intergenerational transmission, weak policy focus, competitive identity, lack of empathy.
• Need for collective responsibility in changing these norms: Inclusive discourse, gender-sensitive policies, redefining masculinity, workplace reforms, family-level changes.

Conclusion
Emphasise societal transformation where emotional expression is destigmatised and made universally accessible.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Q3. “The structure of the Finance Commission appointment process creates the perception of partisanship”. Critically examine. How does this affect cooperative federalism in India? (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Easy

Reference: NIE

Why the question:
Rising debates over the neutrality of the Finance Commission’s appointment process, especially in light of recent federal tensions and regional demands for greater participation.

Key Demand of the question:
Critically assess whether the appointment structure creates bias and examine its consequences for cooperative federalism while suggesting solutions to strengthen neutrality.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly mention the constitutional role of the Finance Commission under Article 280 and the emerging concerns over its appointment process.

Body:

• Perception of partisanship: Discuss central control, regional imbalance, political affiliations, and ToR framing concerns.
• Counter-view: Mention constitutional validity, expert composition, state consultations, and parliamentary oversight.
• Impact on cooperative federalism: Explain trust deficit, skewed allocations, regional tensions, and institutional credibility loss.
• Way forward: Suggest reforms based on committee recommendations and participatory mechanisms.

Conclusion:
Emphasize that transparent reforms are crucial to preserve neutrality and federal trust in India’s fiscal architecture.

Topic: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

Q4. Explain how the adoption of AI-based criminal justice tools affects the rights of marginalised groups in India. Assess the institutional vulnerabilities that may aggravate this. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: IE

Why the question:
The rising use of AI tools like CCTNS, ICJS, and AFRS in India’s criminal justice system raises concerns about algorithmic bias, human rights violations, and institutional preparedness, as highlighted by recent cases and reports.

Key Demand of the question:
The question requires an explanation of how AI adoption in criminal justice affects the rights of marginalised groups and an examination of institutional weaknesses that may worsen these effects.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Mention AI’s growing role in criminal justice alongside India’s existing social inequalities.

Body:

• Impact on rights: reinforcement of bias, violation of equality and due process, privacy threats, exclusion from datasets.
• Institutional vulnerabilities: lack of legal framework, limited judicial capacity, concentration of control, weak oversight, opaque procurement.

Conclusion:
Emphasise the urgent need for rights-based AI governance and robust institutional safeguards.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country

Q5. Analyse how India’s ethanol blending programme is altering cropping patterns. Examine the consequences for small and marginal farmers. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: DTE

Why the question:
India’s ethanol blending programme has rapidly expanded in recent years, triggering significant changes in cropping patterns and raising concerns for small and marginal farmers, as highlighted in recent reports.

Key Demand of the question:
The question demands an analysis of how ethanol blending is altering cropping patterns and an examination of its specific consequences for small and marginal farmers.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Mention the rapid expansion of ethanol blending targets and its direct influence on crop choices.

Body:

• Alteration of cropping patterns: shift towards ethanol feedstock, monoculture trends, regional crop imbalances.
• Consequences for small and marginal farmers: income risks, cost burden, credit traps, food security issues, vulnerability to climate variability.

Conclusion:
Suggest the need for a balanced policy to harmonise energy, food security, and farmer welfare.

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

Q6. Explain the major causes behind the higher female unemployment rate compared to males. Analyse its consequences for labour market efficiency and economic resilience. Outline comprehensive measures required to address the gender gap in employment. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question
May 2025 PLFS data showing higher female unemployment compared to males, highlighting structural and economic implications.

Key Demand of the question
The question demands examination of key factors behind higher female unemployment, its impact on labour market efficiency and resilience, and comprehensive measures to address the gender gap.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction
Reference to PLFS May 2025 data and significance of female workforce participation for inclusive growth.

Body

• Causes behind higher female unemployment rate: Structural norms, unpaid care burden, safety issues, skill mismatch, informality.
• Consequences for labour market efficiency and resilience: Human capital underuse, labour distortions, inequality, poverty traps, fragile recovery.
• Comprehensive measures to address gender gap: Care infrastructure, skilling, safety frameworks, formalisation, flexible work models.

Conclusion
Emphasise female workforce integration as key for sustainable economic growth.

General Studies – 4

Q7. Loss of emotional control often leads to irreversible ethical violations. Examine the role of emotional intelligence in preventing violent outcomes in interpersonal conflicts. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question:
The recent Doddaballapur murder incident highlights how lack of emotional control can lead to irreversible ethical violations, making emotional intelligence crucial in conflict resolution.

Key Demand of the question:
Examine how loss of emotional control leads to ethical failures. Explain the role of emotional intelligence in preventing violent outcomes in interpersonal conflicts.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly mention how uncontrolled emotions impair ethical judgment and result in irreversible harm.

Body:

• Emotional control failure causes violation of human values, moral duties, public trust, irreversible harm, and constitutional rights.
• Emotional intelligence helps through self-awareness, empathy, conflict resolution, ethical decision-making, and promoting non-violent culture.

Conclusion:
Highlight the need to institutionalize emotional intelligence training to strengthen ethical conduct in society.

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