Civil service mains exam 2013 - Analysis of GS Paper-1

Civil service mains exam( December 3, 2013) on General Studies Paper-1 (History, Society and Geography)      http://insightsonindia.com/2013/12/03/upsc-civil-services-mains-2013-general-studies-paper-official-1/

 

Prologue

1. answer sheet had blank papers (no ruled lines)
2. Take-home question paper given.
3. All questions compulsory, no options/alternates were given.
4. For Essay paper, UPSC continued the old principle: "1 mark =10 words." i.e.250 marks' essay, the wordlimit was 2500.
5. But for General studies mains, UPSC sets new principle: "1 mark=20 words." =>5 marks = 100 words; 10 marks=200 words; and 250 marks=5000 words.
6. And that too for small-time topics like Tandav dance, one is supposed to recall and write ~100 words to fetch 5 marks. Although question paper did specifically mentioned "Content of the answer is more important than its length."
7. 5000 words in 3 hours. As a result almost everyone had to leave a few question and/or compromise with answer quality.

Topicwise Breakup

CSM-2013-G1	Marks
Culture	20
World History	40
Freedom Struggle	30
Post-Independence	50
Sociology	40
Geography	70
Total	250

Instruction

1. 250 marks, 3 hours
2. Content of the answer is more important than its length.
3. Answer questions in not more than the word limit specified for each in the parenthesis.

General Studies Paper1- Topic wise

Culture (20m)

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
Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions.	5
Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss.	5

World History (40 marks)

10 marks=200 words

"Latecomer" Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experience.	10
Africa was chopped into states artificially created by accident of European competition. Analyse.	10
American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate.	10
What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression?	10

Freedom Struggle (30 marks)

Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss.	10
Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom.	10
In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate.	10

Post-Independence (50marks)

Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success.	10
Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan "Jai Jawana Jai Kisan".	10
Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre-and post-independent India. (**actually 5 mark should be counted under freedom struggle portion)	10
Analyze the circumstances that led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the agreement.	10
Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive roles in the emergence of Bangladesh.	10

Sociology block related (40marks)

10 marks=200 words

syllabus topic	question	marks
urbanization	Discussion the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India.	10
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.	10
Effects of globalization on Indian society	Critically examine the effects of globalization on the aged population in India.	10
regionalism	Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate state. Discuss.	10
total		40

Geography (70 marks)

5 marks=100 words; 10 marks=200 words.

Physical (20m)

What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences in its support.	5
There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why?	5
Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degree north and on the western side of the continents. Why?	10
physical total	20

Resource distribution (20m)

With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, the 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
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 involved.	10
resource distribution total	20

Industrial location (10m)

Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of India? Discuss with justification	5
Analyze the factors for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India	5
Industrial total	10

Natural Phenomenon / Climate related (20m)

The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called "Phailin". How are the tropical cyclones named across the world?	5
Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world.	5
What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place?	5
Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats	5
climate total	20

General Studies Paper1: Linear format

• 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
• Q2a. Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions. 5 marks, 100 words.
• Q2b. Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. 5 marks, 100 words.
• 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
• 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
• Q5. In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate. 10 marks-200 words
• Q6. Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success. 10 marks-200 words
• Q7. Write a critical note on  the evolution and significance of the slogan "Jai Jawana Jai Kisan". 10 marks-200 words
• Q8. Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre-and post independent India. 10 marks-200 words
• Q9. Analyse the circumstances t hat led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the agreement. 10 marks-200 words
• Q10. Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive roles in the emergence of Bangladesh. 10 marks-200 words
• Q11. "Latecomer" Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experience. 10 marks-200 words
• Q12. Africa was chopped into states artificially created by accident of European competition. Analyse. 10 marks-200 words
• Q13. American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate. 10 marks-200 words
• Q14. What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression? 10 marks-200 words
• Q15. Discussion the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India. 10 marks-200 words
• Q16. Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women's organization free from gender bias. Comment. 10 marks-200 words
• Q17. Critically examine the effects of globalization on the aged population in India. 10 marks-200 words
• Q18. Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate state. Discuss. 10 marks-200 words
• Q19(a). What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences in its support. 5 marks 100 words
• 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.
• Q20(a) Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world. 5 marks 100 words
• Q20(b) What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place? 5 marks 100 words
• Q21. Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degree north and on the western side of the continents. Why?  10 marks-200 words.
• Q22(a) Bringout the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats. 5 marks 100 words
• Q22(b) There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why? 5 marks 100 words
• 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
• Q23(b) Analyse the factors for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India . 5 marks 100 words
• Q24. With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, the 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
• 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 involved. 10 marks-200 words

Source : mrunal.org