UPSC Mains Indian Society PYQs, 2016-2026
69 Indian Society questions from GS Paper 1, 2016-2026: caste, women, urbanisation, globalisation, secularism, diversity. Newest year first, from the official UPSC papers. Practise them and get your answers checked with UPSC Mains answer evaluation.
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2026
- 8
Unity in diversity remains the defining feature of Indian society despite the challenges from communalism and regionalism. Comment.
150 words · 10 marks
- 9
How do you understand disability? Substantiate the need for inclusive policy framework in India in this regard.
150 words · 10 marks
- 10
Do you think digital technology promotes social empowerment? Explain with examples.
150 words · 10 marks
- 18
Is caste disappearing in urban India? Illustrate your answer with examples.
250 words · 15 marks
- 19
Critically examine the challenges of demographic transition in contemporary India.
250 words · 15 marks
- 20
Evaluate the impact of globalization on Indian youths with reference to social, political, economic and cultural spheres.
250 words · 15 marks
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2025
- 8
How does smart city in India, address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice?
150 words · 10 marks
- 9
The ethos of civil service in India stand for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness. Elucidate.
150 words · 10 marks
- 10
Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture? Justify your answer.
150 words · 10 marks
- 18
How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.
250 words · 15 marks
- 19
Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.
250 words · 15 marks
- 20
Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.
250 words · 15 marks
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2024
- 5
Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns? Discuss in the light of conditions in developing countries.
150 words · 10 marks · Model answer & what aspirants miss
- 7
What is the concept of a ‘demographic winter’? Is the world moving towards such a situation? Elaborate.
150 words · 10 marks · Model answer & what aspirants miss
- 8
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?
150 words · 10 marks · Model answer & what aspirants miss
- 9
Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss.
150 words · 10 marks
- 10
In dealing with socio-economic issues of development, what kind of collaboration between government, NGOs and private sector would be most productive?
150 words · 10 marks
- 17
What is regional disparity? How does it differ from diversity? How serious is the issue of regional disparity in India?
250 words · 15 marks · Model answer & what aspirants miss
- 18
Despite comprehensive policies for equity and social justice, underprivileged sections are not yet getting the full benefits of affirmative action envisaged by the Constitution. Comment.
250 words · 15 marks
- 19
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?
250 words · 15 marks
- 20
Critically analyse the proposition that there is a high correlation between India’s cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities.
250 words · 15 marks
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2023
- 8
Do you think marriage as a sacrament is loosing its value in Modern India?
150 words · 10 marks · Model answer & what aspirants miss
- 9
Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society.
150 words · 10 marks · Model answer & what aspirants miss
- 10
Child cuddling is now being replaced by mobile phones. Discuss its impact on the socialization of children.
150 words · 10 marks
- 16
Why did human development fail to keep pace with economic development in India?
250 words · 15 marks
- 18
Does urbanization lead to more segregation and/or marginalization of the poor in Indian metropolises?
250 words · 15 marks
- 19
Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static?
250 words · 15 marks
- 20
Discuss the impact of post-liberal economy on ethnic identity and communalism.
250 words · 15 marks
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2022
- 8
Explore and evaluate the impact of 'Work From Home' on family relationships.
150 words · 10 marks
- 9
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 · 10 marks
- 10
Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific contexts should they be considered as a single category?
150 words · 10 marks
- 18
Analyse the salience of 'sect' in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion.
250 words · 15 marks
- 19
Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer.
250 words · 15 marks · Model answer & what aspirants miss
- 20
Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India.
250 words · 15 marks
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2021
- 9
Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems.
150 words · 10 marks
- 10
Examine the role of 'Gig Economy' in the process of empowerment of women in India.
150 words · 10 marks
- 17
What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India?
250 words · 15 marks
- 18
Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail.
250 words · 15 marks
- 19
What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also?
250 words · 15 marks
- 20
How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it.
250 words · 15 marks
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2020
- 8
Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.
150 words · 10 marks · Model answer & what aspirants miss
- 9
COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment.
150 words · 10 marks
- 10
Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue.
150 words · 10 marks · Model answer & what aspirants miss
- 18
Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer.
250 words · 15 marks
- 19
Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree?
250 words · 15 marks
- 20
How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer.
250 words · 15 marks
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2019
- 8
What makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss.
150 words · 10 marks
- 9
"Empowering women is the key to control population growth." Discuss.
150 words · 10 marks
- 10
What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism?
150 words · 10 marks
- 18
Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples.
250 words · 15 marks
- 19
What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and; space?
250 words · 15 marks
- 20
Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss.
250 words · 15 marks
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2018
- 8
"Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India." Comment.
150 words · 10 marks
- 9
"Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing.' Explain by giving reasons.
150 words · 10 marks
- 10
How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism? Discuss.
150 words · 10 marks
- 12
Discuss whether formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India.
250 words · 15 marks
- 18
Women's movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.' Substantiate your view.
250 words · 15 marks
- 19
Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society.' Elucidate.
250 words · 15 marks
- 20
Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation.' Argue by giving suitable illustrations.
250 words · 15 marks
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2017
- 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 viewpoint.
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
- 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
Indian Society questions in GS Paper 1 2016
- 8
To what extent globalization has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain.
200 words · 12½ marks
- 9
"An essential condition to eradicate poverty 1s to liberate the poor trom the process of deprivation." Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.
200 words · 12½ marks
- 10
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.
200 words · 12½ marks
- 11
With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the 'Smart City Programme'.
200 words · 12½ marks
- 12
What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.
200 words · 12½ marks
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