UPSC Mains 2013

Indian Geography 10 Marks

Q1. It is said that India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of the country for a quarter century. However, tapping the resources doesn’t appear to be high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved.

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Indian Geography 10 Marks

Q2. With the growing scarcity of fossil fuels, atomic energy is gaining more and more significance in India. Discuss the availability of raw materials required for the generation of atomic energy in India and the world.

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Indian Geography 5 Marks

Q3. Analyze the factors for the highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India.

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Indian Geography 5 Marks

Q4. Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of India? Discuss with justification.

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Indian Geography 5 Marks

Q5. There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghats. Why?

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Indian Geography 5 Marks

Q6. Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in the Western Ghats.

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Physical Geography 10 Marks

Q7. Major hot deserts in the northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degrees north and on the western side of the continents. Why?

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Physical Geography 5 Marks

Q8. What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the inhabitants of the place?

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World Geography 5 Marks

Q9. Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world

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Indian Geography 5 Marks

Q10. The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world? Elaborate.

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Physical Geography 5 Marks

Q11. What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidence in its support.

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Indian Society 10 Marks

Q12. Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate state. Discuss.

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Indian Society 10 Marks

Q13. Critically examine the effects of globalization on the aged population in India.

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Indian Society 10 Marks

Q14. Male membership needs to be encouraged to make women’s organizations free from gender bias. Comment.

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Indian Society 10 Marks

Q15. Discuss the various social problems that originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India.

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World History 10 Marks

Q16. What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression?

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World History 10 Marks

Q17. The American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate.

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World History 10 Marks

Q18. Africa was chopped into states artificially created by the accident of European competition. Analyse.

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World History 10 Marks

Q19. Latecomer” Industrial Revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what the West had experienced.

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Modern Indian history (mid-18th century to present) 10 Marks

Q20. Critically examine the compulsions that prompted India to play a decisive role in the emergence of Bangladesh.

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Modern Indian history (mid-18th century to present) 10 Marks

Q21. Analyze the circumstances that led to the Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the agreement.

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Modern Indian history (mid-18th century to present) 10 Marks

Q22. Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre- and post-independent India.

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Modern Indian history (mid-18th century to present) 10 Marks

Q23. Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan “Jai Jawana Jai Kisan”.

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Modern History 10 Marks

Q24. Critically discuss the objectives of the Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success.

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Modern History 10 Marks

Q25. In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate.

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Modern History 10 Marks

Q26. Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom.

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Modern History 10 Marks

Q27. Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, Indian women became the torchbearers during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss.

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Art & Culture 5 Marks

Q28. Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss.

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Art & Culture 5 Marks

Q29. Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions.

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Art & Culture 10 Marks

Q30. 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.

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