The Insights IAS Secure Initiative for UPSC Mains Answer Writing practice enables you to practice daily answer writing, enhancing your skills and boosting your scores with regular feedback, expert tips, and strategies. Let consistency be the hallmark of your preparation and utilize UPSC Mains Answer Writing practice initiative wisely
Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers.
How to Follow Secure Initiative?
How to Self-evaluate your answer?
MISSION – 2025: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Join IPM 4.0 to get an assured review of 2 secure answers everyday
General Studies – 1
Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: InsightsIAS
Why the question
The vernacular press played a crucial role in mass political awakening during colonial India, a theme highly relevant for understanding media’s role in shaping nationalist identity.Key demand of the question
The question asks to comment on how the vernacular press both stimulated nationalist consciousness and mirrored the evolving freedom movement.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Introduce the dual role of vernacular press as both an active agent and reflective medium in India’s nationalist struggle.Body
- Role as a catalyst of nationalist consciousness: Show how it spread anti-colonial ideas, mobilised people, fostered cultural pride, and provided a platform for leaders.
- Role as a mirror of nationalist consciousness: Highlight how it documented phases of the freedom struggle, exposed repression, captured regional diversity, and reflected public awakening.
Conclusion
Conclude with the enduring significance of media in shaping and sustaining democratic values.
Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: InsightsIAS
Why the question:
IPCC reports and USGS findings have highlighted how folded mountains are shaping global climate trends and remain key to regional economic development, making the theme highly relevant.Key demand of the question:
The question asks to explain the formation processes of folded mountains, analyse their role in influencing climatic patterns, and assess their economic significance to human societies with relevant examples.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction:
Brief definition of folded mountains — dynamic landforms shaped by compressive tectonic forces at convergent plate boundaries.Body:
- Explain the tectonic processes: convergence, folding, thrust faulting, and uplift involved in the formation of folded mountains.
- Analyse the climatic role: impact on orographic rainfall, rain shadows, atmospheric circulation, and microclimates.
- Assess economic significance: contribution to freshwater resources, mineral wealth, tourism, hydroelectric potential, and cultural value.
Conclusion:
Reinforce their role as critical ecosystems and economic zones, and stress the need for sustainable development and climate adaptation strategies in these regions.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question
Recent trends such as the creation of Greater Bengaluru Authority (2025), continued use of SPVs, and weak implementation of Article 243ZE make the question highly relevant to India’s evolving urban governance.Key Demand of the question
Critically analyse why the goals of the 74th Amendment remain partially met, examine emerging patterns of state-level interventions, and suggest institutional reforms to strengthen urban federalism.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Highlight the constitutional vision of decentralised urban governance and the growing mismatch with on-ground practices.Body
- Reasons why urban decentralisation remains incomplete (weak fiscal powers, functional gaps, lack of empowered mayors, state dominance).
- Recent trends in state interventions (GBA, SPVs, project-based funding, politicisation).
- Pathways for strengthening urban federalism (fiscal reforms, empowered leadership, full implementation of 12th Schedule, urban services cadre).
Conclusion
Emphasise the need for democratic, empowered, and future-ready urban governance to meet India’s urbanisation challenge.
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: IE
Why the question
The United States’ military forces bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday morning (June 22) using some of its most advanced weaponry, marking its entry into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.Key demand of the question
The question demands an evaluation of how the US-Iran escalation may disrupt IMEEC and an analysis of strategic options available to India to safeguard its regional interests.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly introduce the emerging risks to India’s connectivity strategy due to escalating US-Iran tensions.Body
- Impact on IMEEC: Discuss how geopolitical instability affects IMEEC infrastructure, shipping lanes, investments, and diplomatic coordination.
- Strategic options for India: Suggest diplomatic balancing, alternative corridor acceleration, maritime partnerships, and multilateral engagement to safeguard interests.
Conclusion
Give a solution-oriented conclusion highlighting the need for resilient and diversified connectivity strategies.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: TH
Why the question:
For every 1º C rise in average temperature worldwide, the per person availability of calories will fall 4% of what’s recommended by 2100. Most major staple crops, including rice, wheat, sorghum, maize, and soybean, will see diminished yields by 2050 as well as 2100Key demand of the question:
To analyse the role of adaptive farming in reducing climate risks to staple crops, identify the limitations of current approaches, and suggest how India’s agricultural policy should evolve.Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
State the ongoing impact of climate change on India’s staple crop yields and why adaptive farming is emerging as a crucial response.Body:
- Role of adaptive farming: stress-tolerant varieties, change in sowing dates, water-efficient practices, crop diversification, ICT-based advisories.
- Limitations: residual yield losses, socio-economic inequalities, extension gaps, technology adoption delays, low R&D investment.
- Policy evolution: mainstream resilience in missions, increase R&D, strengthen extension systems, promote agroecological farming, improve risk financing.
Conclusion:
Call for system-wide agricultural reforms and innovation to ensure food and nutrition security in the face of climate change.
Topic: Disaster and disaster management
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: TH
Why the question:
50,000 people affected by flash flood in Subarnarekha River in Odisha.Key demand of the question:
To assess India’s continued reliance on structural flood control, analyse neglect of catchment-wide solutions, and justify the urgency for integrated flood governance.Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Mention rising flood risk and the mismatch between current structural control methods and complex climate-driven basin dynamics.Body:
- India’s reliance on embankments, dams and outdated flood control mindset over holistic adaptive approaches.
- How neglect of upstream catchment health, land use and interstate coordination aggravates flood risks.
- Why integrated flood governance — basin-level planning, climate adaptation, and local capacity — is essential for resilience.
Conclusion:
Emphasise urgent transition to climate-smart, integrated basin-wide flood governance to protect vulnerable communities.
General Studies – 4
Q7. What does the following quotation convey to you in the present context? (10 M)
“Mankind must put an end to war – or war will put an end to mankind”. -John F. Kennedy
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: InsightsIAS
Why the question
Recent rise in global conflicts, nuclear threats, and AI-driven warfare makes this timeless ethical warning by Kennedy highly relevant today.Key Demand of the question
Explain the ethical meaning of the quotation, and analyse how it applies to present-day geopolitical and moral contexts.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly highlight the moral choice humanity faces between peace and destruction in the current global scenario.Body
- Ethical message conveyed by the quotation (moral duty of nations, dignity of life, leadership virtues, intergenerational justice).
- Relevance in today’s world (nuclear arms race, proxy wars, cyber-ethics, India’s ethical diplomacy).
Conclusion
Future survival depends on fostering peace through ethical leadership and global cooperation.
Join our Official Telegram Channel HERE
Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE
Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelHERE
Follow our Twitter Account HERE
Follow our Instagram ID HERE
Follow us on LinkedIn : HERE
