UPSC Mains 2019 | General Studies I Paper Analysis

Indian culture [the salient aspects of Art (Gandhara) Forms]

1. Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in the Gandhara art. (150 words;10 Marks)

The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors or contributions from different parts of the country

2. The 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate. (150 words;10 Marks)

Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant issues

3. Examine the linkages between the nineteenth century's 'Indian Renaissance' and the emergence of national identity. (150 words; 10 Marks)

Changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna

4. Assess the impact of global warming on the coral life system with examples. (150 words; 10 Marks)

Changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna.

5. Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology. (150 words;10 Marks)

Poverty and developmental issues.

6. Can the strategy of regional resource-based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India? (150 words;10 Marks)

Factors responsible for the location of primary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).

7. Discuss the factors for localisation of agro-based food processing industries of North-West India. (150 words; 10 Marks)

Salient features of Indian Society and Effects of globalization on Indian society

8. What makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss. (150 words;10 Marks)

Role of women; population and associated issues

9. "Empowering women is the key to control population growth." Discuss. (150 words; 10 Marks)

Secularism

10. What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism? (150 words;10 Marks)

The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors or contributions from different parts of the country.

11. Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate. (250 words; 15 Marks)

The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors or contributions from different parts of the country.

12. Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s. (250 words; 15 Marks)

History of the world including events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc. - their forms and effect on the society.

13. Explain how the foundations of the modern world were laid by the American and French Revolutions. (250 words; 15 Marks)

Population and associated issues

14. What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (250 words; 15 Marks)

Changes in critical geographical features 

15. How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism? (250 words; 15 Marks)

Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

16. How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India? (250 words; 15 Marks)

Salient features of world's physical geography 

17. How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and coastal environment? Give suitable examples. (250 words; 15 Marks)

Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India and Effects of globalization on Indian society

18. Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples. (250 words; 15 Marks)

Women and their problems

19. What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? (250 words; 15 Marks)

Effects of globalization on Indian society

20. Are we losing your local identity for the global identity? Discuss. (250 words; 15 Marks)

 

The below given table gives you an insight regarding the number of questions asked and the weightage of the topics in GS I Paper.

GS 1 Topic	Number of Questions	Total Marks
Indian culture the salient aspects of Art Forms	1	10
The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors or contributions from different parts of the country.	3	40
Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant issues.	1	10
Changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna.	3	35
Poverty and developmental issues.	1	10
Factors responsible for the location of primary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).	1	10
Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India and Effects of globalization on Indian society	2	25
Role of women, their problems, population and associated issues	2	25
Secularism	1	10
History of the world	1	15
Population and associated issues	1	15
Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.	1	15
Salient features of the world's physical geography	1	15
Effects of globalization on Indian society.	1	15

 

UPSC Main 2019 GS I Paper has one question from Indian art form under Indian culture. In history, one question was from Modern Indian history, three from the freedom struggle and one from History of the world. In three questions belonging to Indian Society, emphasis was on salient features of Indian society and effects of globalization on Indian society. A total of five questions were about women, population, poverty, development and urbanization. One question belonged to secularism. Total five questions belonged to geography. They were regarding changes in critical geographic features, location of industries in India, and salient features of world’s physical geography.

Overall UPSC GS I paper2019 was a wise mix of direct explanatory questions which were easy to answer and indirect, analytical opinion-based questions which require a thorough understanding of different concepts and issues from history, society and geography of India and world