2017 UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 General Analysis

IAS Mains GS I 2017/UPSC mains 2017 analysis

The UPSC civil services mains exam 2017 commenced as expected on 28 October and it is currently going on in full swing. In this article, we present a general analysis of the UPSC mains 2017 General Studies Paper I. Read on for more.

You can check out the 2017 GS 1 mains question paper here.

First of all, there was ONE major change as far as the pattern is concerned. There were 20 questions like previous years; however, unlike last year all the questions did not carry the same marks. The first ten questions in 2017 GS 1 mains carried 10 marks each and the word count for each was 150 words. The last ten questions carried 15 marks each and had a word count of 250 words each.

The number of questions from each topic is mentioned below:

Like last year, geography ruled in this year’s GS paper I too.  There were 8 questions from this subject. History (including art and culture) came in second with 7 questions. Lastly, social issues saw 5 questions.

Q1. 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)

Topic: Salient aspects of Indian culture

Q2. Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity. (150 words)

Topic: Modern History

Q3. 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)

Topic: Modern History – Freedom Struggle

Q4. What problems are germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula? (150 words)

Topic: World History – Colonisation and Decolonisation

Q5. How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth? (150 words)

Topic: Geography

Q6. “In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development”. Discuss. (150 words)

Topic: Geography

Q7. 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)

Topic: Geography

Q8. How does the cryosphere affect global climate? (150 words)

Topic: Geography

Q9. 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)

Topic: Social Issues

Q10. What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)? (150 words)

Topic: Social Issues

Q11. 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)

Topic: Social Issues

Q12. Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy. (250 words)

Topic: Modern History

Q13. 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)

Topic: Modern History – Freedom Struggle

Q14. Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects. (250 words)

Topic: Geography

Q15. Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many of the developing countries. Explain its implications. (250 words)

Topic: Geography – factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries

Q16. In what way can floods be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in India? (250 words)

Topic: Geography – Current Affairs

Q17. 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)

Topic: Geography – Climatic Regions

Q18. 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)

Topic: Modern History

Q19. Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India. (250 words)

Topic: Social Issues

Q20. “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)

Topic: Social Issues

Also See | Strategy for IAS Mains Exam: GS Paper I (History, Geography, and Society)

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