UPSC
CIVIL SERVICES/ IAS MAINS EXAM 2017 – GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 1
1. How do you justify the view that the
level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in
later times? (150 words) – 10 marks
2. Clarify how mid-eighteenth century
India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity. (150 words) – 10
marks
3. Why did the ‘Moderates’ failed to
carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and political
goals by the end of the nineteenth century? (150 words) – 10 marks
4. What problems are germane to the
decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula? (150 words) – 10 marks
5. How does the Juno Mission of NASA
help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth? (150 words) –
10 marks
6. “Inspite of adverse environmental
impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development”. Discuss (150
words) – 10 marks
7. Mention the advantages of the
cultivation of pulses because of which the year 2016 was declared as the
International Year of Pulses by United Nations. (150 words) – 10 marks
8. How does the cryosphere affect
global climate? (150 words) – 10 marks
9. 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) – 10 marks
10. What are the two major legal
initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against
Scheduled Tribes(STs)? (150 words) – 10 marks
11. 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) –
15 marks
12. Examine how the decline of
traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural
economy. (250 words) – 15 marks
13. Highlight the importance of the new
objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since the
twenties of the last century. (250 words) – 15 marks
14. Account for variations in oceanic
salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects. (250 words) – 15 marks
15. Petroleum refineries are not
necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many
of the developing countries. Explain its implications. (250 words) – 15 marks
16. In what way can floods be converted
into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in
India? (250 words) – 15 marks
17. What characteristics can be
assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of
the world population residing in Monsoon Asia? (250 words) – 15 marks
18. 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) –
15 marks
19. Distinguish between
religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former
has got transformed into the latter in independent India. (250 words) –
15 marks
20. “The growth of cities as I.T. hubs
has opened up new avenues of employment, but has also created new problems”.
Substantiate this statement with examples (250 words) – 15 marks.