Examine the role of caste in Indian politics. (150 words) (08/15)
Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste. (GS 2) (15/12.5)
“Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. (18/10)
Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (2020/10)
Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static? (2023/15)
Class System
How is the growth of Tier 2 cities related to the rise of a new middle class with an emphasis on the culture of consumption? (150 words) (22/10)
Kinship and Family
The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss. (14/10)
Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work From Home’ on family relationships. (22/10)
Child cuddling is now being replaced by mobile phones. Discuss its impact on the socialization of children. (2023/10)
Do you think marriage as a sacrament is loosing its value in Modern India? (2023/10)
Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss. (2024/10)
DIVERSITY OF INDIA
Culture, Tradition and Pluralism
“As we live in a plural society we need the greatest freedom to express our opinions even if others find it offensive’ - Do you agree? Discuss with reference to some recent incidents in the Indian context. (09/15)
Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity. (15/12.5)
The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very early times, but it is also playing an important part at the present. Elaborate. (250 words) (17/15)
What makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss. (150 words) (2019/10)
Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples. (250 words) (2019/15)
Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer. (2020/15)
Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree? (2020/15)
Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems. (GS 1) (150 words) (2021/10)
How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it. (250 words) (2021/15)
Why is the South-West Monsoon called ‘Purvaiya’ (easterly) in Bhojpur Region? How has this directional seasonal wind system influenced the cultural ethos of the region? (150 words) (2023/10)
Critically analyse the proposition that there is a high correlation between India’s cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities. (2024/15)
ROLE OF WOMEN AND WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION
Issues Related to Women
In Delhi alone, 162 cases of burning of women have been reported to the police during the period between 1.4.83 and 30.6.83. Almost all of them were married young women alleged to have been maltreated or tortured for not bringing sufficient dowry. What are the reasons for this phenomenon? Why are such cases rare amongst the Muslims? What measures are being taken by the Government of India to root out the pernicious system of dowry and to stop “bride burning”? What further measures are called for, in your opinion? (150 words) (83/35)
The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What are the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (250 words) (17/15)
“Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.’ Substantiate. (18/15)
What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? (250 words) (2019/15)
Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society. (2023/10)
Gender Equality
The most striking change in our social life today is the improved status of women. Who and what organisations helped their cause enabling them to attain their present status? What important safeguards have been provided in the Constitution and the laws of the land for protection of women’s interests? In what directions are further legal measures for their protection called for? (200 words) (80/25)
What are the major recommendations of the National Perspective Plan for women, 1988 and what are the relevant recommendations as envisaged in the Constitutional Amendment Bill (64th Amendment)? (150 words) (90/20)
What are the major recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee’s Draft National Population Policy, relating to gender issues? (GS 2) (94/10)
Write on the issue of gender equality in India. (03/10)
Write short note on Equal rights for women in parental property. (05/2)
Explain the social constraints in bringing about gender equality in Indian society. (06/10)
What are the implications of gender disparities in India? (06/15)
What were the main recommendations of the Platform for Action (PFA) adopted at the Beijing Women Conference, 1995? (250 words) (07/30)
Explain the constitutional perspectives of Gender Justice with the help of relevant Constitutional Provisions and case laws. (2023/15)
Distinguish between gender equality, gender equity and women’s empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation? (2024/10)
Women’s social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain. (2025/10)
Women Empowerment
What measures has the government taken to make women economically independent and self-reliant during the last decade? (97/20)
What is meant by “empowerment of women’ in India? (06/2)
“Empowering women is the key to control population growth.” Discuss. (150 words) (2019/10)
Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India. (150 words) (2021/10)
Sex Ratio
Define Sex ratio in the population of India. What is its present status? (02/2)
Write about Female foeticide in about 20 words. (06/12)
“Decline in the sex ratio in India is an alarming sign for India’s future social development.” Discuss. (150 words) (08/15)
Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments. (14/10)
How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes? (15/12.5)
Patriarchy
“Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from gender bias.” Comment. (200 words) (13/10)
Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India. (14/10)
How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle-class working woman in India? (14/10)
“Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu? (250 words) (2021/15)
Representation of Women
What is Social Justice? How can reservation of seats for women in Parliament contribute to the establishment of a socially just society in India? (97/40)
Examine the reasons for the non-introduction of Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. (98/35)
Examine whether rural women in India have been empowered by their active participation in Panchayat Raj System. (08/15)
“The reservation of seats for women in the institutions of local self-government has had a limited impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian Political Process.” Comment. (19/15)
Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in the higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness. (150 words) (2021/10)
Discuss the contribution of civil society groups for women’s effective and meaningful participation and representation in state legislatures in India. (2023/15)
POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES (GS 1), ISSUES RELATING TO POVERTY AND HUNGER (GS 2)
Poverty Estimation
What is the criteria adopted to draw the poverty line in India? What is the extent of India’s population living below the poverty line? (GS 2) (82/3)
How is poverty-line defined in India? Briefly enumerate the measures undertaken by the Government in recent years to alleviate poverty. (96/20)
How is absolute poverty line measured? What are the limitations of this method? (GS 2) (About 150 words) (96/15)
What is the concept of poverty line? Explain how it is used to measure poverty in India. (250 words) (GS 2) (98/30)
How is poverty level measured? Evaluate poverty eradication programmes in India. (GS 3) (04/30)
Differences between absolute poverty and relative poverty. (GS 2) (05/2)
Though there have been several different estimates of poverty in India, all indicate reduction in poverty levels over time. Do you agree? Critically examine with reference to urban and rural poverty indicators. (GS 2) (15/12.5)
Poverty and Developmental Issues
Attempt a critical overview of various types of Anti-Poverty Programme at work in India today. (250 words) (GS 2) (86/40)
What, according to you, are the remedies to the problem of rural indebtedness in India? (91/20)
What has been the impact of the recent economic reforms programme on the incidence of poverty in India? (00/2)
What is the incidence of poverty in India? How should poverty alleviation programmes be constructed? (01/30)
Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India. (15/12.5)
“Poverty alleviation programmes in India remain more showpieces until and unless they are backed up by political will.” Discuss with reference to the performance of the major poverty alleviation programmes in India. (250 words) (GS 2) (17/15)
“An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples. (GS 2) (16/12.5)
‘Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing.” Explain by giving reasons. (18/10)
Poverty and Inequalities
“The conditions of the urban poor are more deplorable than that of their rural counterparts.” Give your views. (250 words) (08/30)
Examine the status of urbanization among the states in India and bring out spatial inequalities. (09/15)
COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment. (150 words) (2020/10)
Inequality in the ownership pattern of resources is one of the major causes of poverty. Discuss in the context of ‘paradox of poverty’. (2025/15)
Issues Relating to Poverty and Hunger
Discuss the extent, causes, and implications of the ‘nutrition transition’ said to be underway in India. (11/20)
Hunger and poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement. (150 words) (GS 2) (17/10)
How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India? (GS 2) (18/15)
There is a growing divergence in the relationship between poverty and hunger in India. The shrinking of social expenditure by the government is forcing the poor to spend more on non-food essential items squeezing their food-budget. Elucidate. (150 words) (GS 2) (2019/10)
“The incidence and intensity of poverty are more important in determining poverty based on income alone”. In this context analyze the latest United Nations Multidimensional Poverty Index Report. (250 words) (GS 2) (2020/15)
Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle? (GS 2) (2024/10)
EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON INDIAN SOCIETY
Globalisation
Examine the effects of globalisation on poverty removal in India. (GS 2) (06/15)
“Globalization has brought about a distinct class divide in India instead of ushering in a classless society.” Critically examine this argument. (250 words) (08/30)
Critically examine the effect of globalization on the aged population in India. (200 words) (13/10)
Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India. (15/12.5)
To what extent globalization has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain. (16/12.5)
“Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society.” Elucidate. (18/15)
Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss. (250 words) (2019/15)
Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer. (2020/15)
What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also? (150 words) (2021/15)
Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India. (250 words) (22/15)
Globalization has increased urban migration by skilled, young, unmarried women from various classes. How has this trend impacted upon their personal freedom and relationship with family? (2024/15)
Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture? Justify your answer. (2025/10)
SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT
Scheduled Tribes
Mention any three tribal areas in India. What are the main components of the Government’s tribal development programme? (88/20)
What measures has the Government of India taken for the development of Tribal areas in India? (97/15)
What are the protections afforded to Scheduled Tribes in the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution? (20 words) (05/2)
Problems specific to the denotified and nomadic tribes in India. (11/12)
Why are the tribals in India referred to as ‘the Scheduled Tribes’? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment. (GS 1) (2016/12.5)
Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific contexts should they be considered as a single category? (22/10)
Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion. (2025/15)
Children and Child Labour
Write down 100 words on the following: The International Year of the Child. (GS 2) (79/10)
Why has the question of child labour become more important recently? How is it going to affect India? (100 words) (GS 2) (93/10)
Discuss the steps taken by Government to check child labour and promote child welfare. (GS 2) (03/30)
Write short note on Rehabilitation of street children in India. (05/10)
What are the social and economic consequences of abolishing child labour in India? (GS 2) (06/30)
Discuss the steps to get rid of child labour in India. (250 words) (GS 2) (07/30)
Bring out the salient features of the PCPNDT Act, 1994, and the implications of its amendment in 2003. (GS 2) (11/20)
The Union Cabinet recently cleared the proposal to rename and amend the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. What are the salient features of the proposed amendments? (GS 2) (12/15)
Examine the main provisions of the National Child Policy and throw light on the status of its implementation. (GS 2) (16/12.5)
COMMUNALISM, REGIONALISM & SECULARISM
Communalism
Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and Communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India. (250 words) (17/15)
“Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation.’ Argue by giving suitable illustrations. (2018/15)
Discuss the impact of post-liberal economy on ethnic identity and communalism. (2023/15)
Regionalism
Keeping in view the political developments in India, explain how the need for national integration and the urge for regional autonomy can be reconciled. (250 words) (85/40)
Discuss the factors responsible for the rise of regionalism in India. How does it influence the political system? (150 words) (97/20)
How are the new States formed in India? Why have the demands of separate states like those of Vidarbha, Telangana etc. not been considered by the Government recently? (150 words) (98/20)
“Political boundaries and regional boundaries need to be co-terminus.” Do you agree? (05/10)
What is Regionalism? In which way regionalism has affected the Indian polity? (250 words) (07/30)
Examine the impact of Regional Political Parties in Indian politics. (150 words) (08/15)
Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in generation of demand for a separate State. Discuss. (200 words) (13/10)
Many State Governments further bifurcate geographical administrative areas like Districts and Talukas for better governance. In light of the above, can it also be justified that more number of smaller States would bring in effective governance at State level? Discuss. (200 words) (13/10)
What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer. (16/12.5)
In the context of the diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather than the States? Give reasons with examples for your view point. (150 words) (17/10)
Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue. (150 words) (2020/10)
Secularism
It is the duty of the majority to instil confidence in the minority. Conversely, the minorities must also look beyond narrow sectarian interests and work for the larger goal of a real secular society in India. Evaluate in the light of the spirit of the Indian Constitution and the Indian experience. (84/40)
How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West? (14/10)
How is the Indian concept of secularism different from the western model of secularism? Discuss. (18/10)
What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism? (150 words) (2019/10)
What can France learn from the Indian Constitution’s approach to secularism? (150 words) (2019/10)
Are tolerance, assimilation, and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer. (22/15)
Discuss India as a secular state and compare with the secular principles of the US constitution. (GS 2) (2024/15)
Religion
Analyse the salience of ‘sect’ in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion. (22/15)