Social Issues Previous Year Questions
Social Issues Previous Year Questions
GS I: Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society
Society: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
- The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss. (2014) 10
- Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity. (2015) 5
- In the context of diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather than the States? Give reasons with examples for your viewpoint. (150 words) (2017) 10
- The spirit 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) (2017) 15
- What makes Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? (150 words) (2019) 10
- Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with (250 words) (2019) 15
- Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree? (250 words) (2020) 15
- Examine the uniqueness on tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural system. (150 words) (2021) 10
- Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific contexts should they be considered as a single category. (150 words) (2022) 10
- Analyse the salience of ‘sect’ in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion. (250 words) (2022) 15
Role of women and women’s organization
- Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from gender bias. Comment. (200 words) (2013) 10
- How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle-class working woman in India? (2014) 10
- Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India. (2014) 10
- Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give yourarguments. (2014) 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? (2015) 5
- ‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata. Substantiate your view. (Answer in 250 words) (2018) 15
- “Empowering women is the key to control population growth”. Discuss (150 words) (2019) 10
- What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? (250 words) (2019) 15
- Can the vicious cycle of gender inequality, poverty and malnutrition be broken through microfinancing of women SHGs? Explain with examples. (150 words) (2021) 10
- Examine the role of ‘Gig economy’ in the process of empowerment of (150 words) (2021) 10
- Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness. (Answer in 150 words) (2021) 10
- “Though women in post-Independence 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 Answer in 250 words) (2021)15
Population and associated issues: Poverty and developmental issues
- Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss. (200 words) (2013) 10
- Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India. (2015) 5
- Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four (2015) 12.5
- “An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples (2016) 12.5
- ‘Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing.’ Explain by giving reasons. (Answer in 150 words) (2018) 10
- Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its (Answer in 250 words) (2018) 15
- COVID-19 pandemic acceleratedclass inequalities and poverty in India. Comment. (2020) 10
Urbanization, their problems and their remedies
- Discussion the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India. 2013
- Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three mega cities of the country, but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so? (2015) 5m
- Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop of ruralurban integration. (2015) 5
- With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the ‘Smart City Programme’. (2016) 12.5
- Major cities of India are becoming more vulnerable to flood Discuss. (2016) 12.5
- The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up new avenues employment but has also created newproblems. Substantiate this statement with examples. (250 words) (2017) 15
- “The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system.” How can it be made effective in urban areas? (Answer in 250 words) (2018) 15
- How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India? (250 words) (2019) 15
- Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Suggest lasting remedial measures. (Answer in 250 words) (2020) 15
- What are the main socioeconomic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India. (250 words) (2021) 15
- 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) (2022) 10 marks
Effects of Globalization on Indian society
- Critically examine the effects of globalization on the aged population in 2013
- Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in (2015) 12.5
- To what extent globalization has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? (2016) 12.5
- Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but due to these cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society. Elucidate. (Answer in 250 words) (2018) 15
- Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? (250 words) (2019) 15
- Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your (2020) 15
- Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India. (250 words) (2022) 15 marks
- Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work from Home’ on family relationship. (2022)10
Social empowerment
- Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had acommon goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate. (2015) 12.5
- Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity worktowards annihilation of caste. (2015) 5
- 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. (2016) 5
- What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence, addressing What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence, addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)? (150 words) (2017) 10
- “Caste system is assuming new identities and associational Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. (Answer in 150 words) (2018) 10
- How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer. (Answer in 250 words) (2020) 15
- Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi- cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (Answer in 150 words) (2020) 10
Regionalism
- Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate state. Discuss. (200 words) (2013) 10
- Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened the cause of Indian Unity? (2016) 5
- What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer. (2016) 5
- Discuss whether formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of (Answer in 250 words) (2018) 15
- Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue. (Answer in 150 words) (2020) 10
Secularism & Communalism
- How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West? (2014) 10
- Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the formerhas got transformed into the latter in independent India. (250 words) (2017) 15
- How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) (2018) 10
- ‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation. Argue by giving suitable illustrations. (Answer in 250 words) (2018) 15
- What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of 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. (250 words) (2022) 15
GS II Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections: Social Issues
- The Central Government frequently complains on the poor performance of the State Governments in eradicating suffering of the vulnerable sections of the society. Restructuring of Centrally sponsored schemes across the sectors for ameliorating the cause of vulnerable sections of population aims at providing flexibility to the States in better implementation. Critically evaluate. (2013) 10
- The basis of providing urban amenities in rural areas (PURA) is rooted in establishing connectivity. Comment. (2013) 10
- Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economies? (2014) 5
- Examine the main provisions of the National Child Policy and throw light on the status of its implementation. (2016) 5
- Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure effective mechanism for empowerment and inclusion of the intended beneficiaries in the society? Discuss. (2017) 10
- Is the National Commission for Women able to strategise and tackle the problems that women face at both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer. (2017) 15
- Performance of welfare schemes that are implemented for vulnerable sections is not so effective due to absence of their awareness and active involvement at all stages of policy process – Discuss. (2019) 15
- Besides being a moral imperative of a Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition of sustainable development.” Analyze. (150 words) (2021) 10
- “Earn while you learn scheme needs to be strengthen to make vocational education and skillful training
- ” Comment. (150 words) (2021) 10
- Reforming the government delivery system through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is a progressive step, but it has limitations too. Comment. (150 words) (2022) 10
- The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 remains only a legal document without intense sensitisation of government functionaries and citizens regarding disability. Comment. (150 words) (2022) 10
- Do you agree with the view that increasing dependence on donor agencies for development reduces the importance of community participation in the development process? Justify your answer. (250 words) (2022) 15
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
- Identify the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that are related to health. Discuss the success of the actions taken by the Government for achieving the same. (2013) 10
- Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of Discuss in light of the growing challenges. (2014) 12.5
- The quality of higher education in India requires major improvements to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would help improve the quality of technical and higher education in the country? Discuss. (2015) 5
- Public health system has limitations in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that private sector could help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives would you suggest? (2015) 5
- “Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled and creative.” What measures have been taken by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be more productive and employable? (2016) 5
- Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary health What are your suggestions to improve their status and performance? (2016) 12.5
- To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes’. Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme. (2017) 10.
- Appropriate local community-level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain. (2018) 10
- In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health Discuss. (2020) 10
- National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (2020) 15
- Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, coupled with lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification. (250 words) (2021) 15
- The rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting incentive-based system for children’s education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse. (250 words) (2022) 15 marks
Issues relating to poverty and hunger
- The concept of Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme is almost a century old in India with early beginnings in Madras Presidency in pre-independent India. The scheme has again been given impetus in most states inthe last two Critically examine its twin objectives, latest mandates and success. (2013) 10
- 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. (2015) 5
- “Poverty Alleviation programs in India remain mere showpieces until and unless they are backed up by political will.” Discuss with reference to the performance of the major poverty alleviation program in India. (2017) 15
- 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. (2017) 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? (2018) 15
- “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. (2020)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. (2020) 10
- Discuss the main objectives of population education and point out the measure to achieve them in India in detail. (250 words) (2021) 15
- Besides the welfare schemes India needs deft management of inflation and unemployment to serve the poor and the underprivileged sections of the society. Discuss. (250 words) (2022) 15 marks