Mains Previous Year Question Papers

2021(GS Paper I)
Q1. Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture. (Answer in 150 words) 10

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Q2. Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj. (Answer in 150 words) 10

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Q3. Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States. (Answer in 150 words) 10

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Q4. Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats. (Answer in 150 words) 10

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Q5. Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in percentage. Discuss.(Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

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Q6. What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

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Q7. Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on regional environment. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

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Q8. Why is India considered as a sub-continent? Elaborate your answer. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

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Q9. Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

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Q10. Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

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Q11. To what extent did the role of the moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? Comment. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q12. Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q13. ” There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars.” Evaluate the statement. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q14. Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions, with examples. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q15. How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q16. Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q17. What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India? (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q18. Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q19. What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also?(Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q20. How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it.(Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Q2. Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in the higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

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Q7. “‘Earn while you learn’ scheme needs to be strengthened to make vocational education and skill training meaningful.” Comment. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

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2013(GS Paper I)
Q1. Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of South India , the Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable vividness. Comment. 10 marks-200 words.

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Q2(a). Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions. 5 marks- 100 words.

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Q2(b). Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. 5 marks- 100 words.

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Q3. Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss. 10 marks-200 words

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Q4. Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom. 10 marks-200 words

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Q5. In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate. 10 marks-200 words

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Q6. Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success. 10 marks-200 words

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Q7. Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan “Jai Jawana Jai Kisan”. 10 marks-200 words

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Q8. Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre-and post independent India. 10 marks-200 words

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Q9. Analyse the circumstances t hat led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the agreement. 10 marks-200 words

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Q10. Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive roles in the emergence of Bangladesh. 10 marks-200 words

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Q11. “Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experience. 10 marks-200 words

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Q12. Africa was chopped into states artificially created by accident of European competition. Analyse. 10 marks-200 words

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Q13. American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate. 10 marks-200 words

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Q14. What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression? 10 marks-200 words

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Q15. Discussion of the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India. 10 marks-200 words

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Q16. Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from gender bias. Comment. 10 marks-200 words

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Q17. Critically examine the effects of globalization on the aged population in India. 10 marks-200 words

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Q18. Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate state. Discuss. 10 marks-200 words

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Q19(a). What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences in its support. 5 marks 100 words

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Q19(b) The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world? Elaborate. 5 marks-100 words.

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Q20(a) Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world. 5 marks 100 words

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Q20(b) What do you understand about the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place? 5 marks 100 words

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Q21. Major hot deserts in the northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degrees north and on the western side of the continents. Why? 10 marks-200 words.

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Q22(a) Bring Out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats. 5 marks 100 words

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Q22(b) There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why? 5 marks 100 words

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Q23(a) Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of India ? Discuss with justification. 5 marks 100 words

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Q23(b) Analyze the factors for the highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India . 5 marks 100 words

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Q24. With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, atomic energy is gaining more and more significance in India. Discuss the availability of raw material required for the generation of atomic energy in India and in the world. 10 marks-200 words

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Q25. It is said the India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of country for quarter century. However, tapping of the resources doesn’t appear to be high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues inv

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