UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice – Insights SECURE: 6 October 2025

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General Studies – 1

Topic: Modern India

Q1. Enumerate the factors that led to the eventual dominance of the British East India Company over the French and Portuguese in India. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Easy

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
How multiple factors—economic, political, military, and administrative—enabled the British East India Company to surpass other European powers like the French and Portuguese in India.

Key Demand of the question:
The question requires identification and concise explanation of major reasons that led to the British East India Company’s dominance over its European rivals, emphasizing both British strengths and the weaknesses of the French and Portuguese.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly introduce the context of European competition for trade and territory in India during the 16th–18th centuries and highlight the eventual British supremacy.

Body:

• Economic and Strategic Factors: Mention financial strength, trade strategy, and impact of Industrial Revolution.
• Military and Political Factors: Note naval superiority, victories in Carnatic Wars, alliances, and political stability in Britain.
• Administrative Efficiency: Briefly refer to better governance and revenue systems of the British Company.
• Weaknesses of Rivals: Indicate Portuguese decline and French strategic/military failures.

Conclusion:
Summarize that the combination of superior organization, resources, and diplomacy enabled the British East India Company to establish enduring dominance in India.

Topic: Modern India

Q2. Peasant movements during British rule were driven by both economic exploitation and social injustice. Do you agree? Analyze the factors that contributed to major peasant uprisings. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
How agrarian distress under British rule had both economic and social dimensions and to assess knowledge of major peasant uprisings and their underlying causes.

Key Demand of the question:
The question requires linking economic exploitation and social injustice as dual causes behind peasant movements and analyzing the multifaceted factors—economic, social, political, and institutional—that contributed to major uprisings across colonial India.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly mention how colonial agrarian policies and feudal structures combined to create widespread rural discontent, leading to recurring peasant revolts.

Body:

• Economic factors: Heavy taxation, exploitative land systems, commercialization of agriculture, debt traps, famines, and forest restrictions.
• Social factors: Caste and feudal oppression, alienation of tribal communities, religious and cultural subjugation, and gender-based exploitation.
• Other factors: Political awakening through nationalism, organizational support from Kisan Sabhas, and repressive colonial legal systems.

Conclusion:
Summarize that these movements were early expressions of socio-economic resistance that laid the foundation for political consciousness and agrarian reform in post-independence India.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive

Q3. “The Governor is not an alternate power centre but a constitutional link between the Centre and the State”. Discuss. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question:
The ongoing Governor–State confrontations, such as the Kalaignar University Bill 2025 case, highlighting constitutional boundaries, federal balance, and judicial oversight of gubernatorial powers.

Key Demand of the question:
It requires explaining the constitutional role of the Governor as a federal link, analysing the emerging challenges in practice, and suggesting a way forward to ensure cooperative federalism and accountability.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:

Briefly define the constitutional intent behind the Governor’s office as a neutral link between the Centre and the State.

Body:

• Governor as a constitutional link: Mention constitutional provisions (Articles 153–201), judicial rulings, and commissions showing the role as a bridge, not a rival authority.
• Emerging challenges: Indicate politicisation, misuse of discretion, delay in Bill assent, and Centre-State mistrust.
• Way forward: Suggest reforms — codification of discretion, consultative appointment, time-bound assent, and adherence to constitutional morality.

Conclusion:
End by stressing that restoring the Governor’s neutrality is key to preserving India’s cooperative and accountable federal structure.

Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Q4. Discuss India’s strategy for balancing its relations with the US and China. Evaluate how this balance contributes to maintaining regional stability. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: NIE

Why the question:
India’s current foreign policy dilemma of managing relations with both the US and China amid shifting power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy and regional stability.

Key Demand of the question:
It asks to explain India’s diplomatic strategy for balancing relations between the two major powers and to evaluate how this calibrated approach contributes to maintaining peace and equilibrium in the Asian region.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:

Briefly define India’s multi-alignment or strategic autonomy as the foundation of its foreign policy.

Body:

• India’s strategy for balancing relations with the US and China: Mention aspects like multi-alignment, defence cooperation with the US, calibrated engagement with China, and role in multilateral platforms.
• Contribution to regional stability: Mention how India’s balanced approach reduces tensions, ensures freedom of navigation, strengthens regional institutions, and promotes a rules-based Indo-Pacific.

Conclusion:
Conclude by emphasizing the need for India to maintain equilibrium through pragmatic diplomacy and internal economic strength to anchor regional stability.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Q5. Examine the rationale for introducing a presumptive taxation regime for foreign investors. Assess its likely impact on India’s ease of doing business and foreign direct investment flows.  Also propose measures to enhance predictability and stability in India’s international tax regime. (15 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: TH

Why the question:
Niti Aayog pitches for presumptive taxation scheme for foreign investors

Key Demand of the question:
Explain the economic rationale behind presumptive taxation for foreign investors, analyse its potential impact on India’s ease of doing business and FDI inflows, and propose measures to make India’s international tax system more stable and predictable.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Define presumptive taxation and link it with India’s broader tax reform goals for FDI attraction.

Body:

• Explain rationale behind introducing presumptive taxation (tax certainty, simplification, litigation reduction).
• Assess likely impact on India’s investment climate and ease of doing business.
• Suggest institutional reforms for predictable, transparent, and stable international tax governance.

Conclusion:
Conclude with how a certainty-oriented, globally aligned tax regime can strengthen India’s position as a competitive and trusted investment destination.

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Q6. “The future of wildlife conservation lies in connectivity, not captivity”. Evaluate this statement in the context of climate-induced habitat shifts. (10 M)

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: DTE

Why the question:
Climate change–induced habitat shifts have exposed the limitations of conventional protected area–based conservation. The question tests understanding of how ecological connectivity can become the foundation of future wildlife management strategies.

Key Demand of the question:
Explain why connectivity-based conservation is superior to captivity in the era of climate-induced range shifts, discuss its ecological importance, limitations of static reserves, and suggest adaptive measures for climate-resilient biodiversity management.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Define the concept of connectivity in wildlife conservation and link it with the context of climate-induced habitat shifts.

Body:

• Explain the idea of connectivity-based conservation and its ecological significance.
• Discuss how climate change alters habitat patterns and exposes the limits of captivity or static reserves.
• Suggest strategies for improving connectivity—corridors, rewilding, landscape planning, and community participation.

Conclusion:
Conclude with the idea that the survival of species in a warming world depends on connecting fragmented ecosystems through adaptive, science-led conservation.

General Studies – 4

Q7. What does the quotations convey to you in the present context? (10 M)

“Relativity applies to physics, not ethics” – Albert Einstein

Difficulty Level: Medium

Reference: InsightsIAS

Why the question:
To assess understanding of moral philosophy and its distinction from scientific relativism, and to test the ability to apply ethical reasoning to modern socio-political and technological contexts.

Key Demand of the question:
The question requires interpretation of Einstein’s quote, explanation of how ethics differs from scientific relativity, and application of this principle to present-day ethical challenges in governance, technology, and global issues.

Structure of the Answer:

Introduction:
Briefly explain the essence of the quote—while science accepts relative truths based on perspective, ethics is grounded in absolute moral principles.

Body:

• Explain the contrast between relativity in science and universality in ethics.
• llustrate how this distinction holds relevance today—technological ethics, political morality, environmental justice, and universal human rights.

Conclusion:
End by reinforcing that ethical universality provides moral direction amid rapid scientific and societal transformation.

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