UPSC Mains 2013 GS-1 Question Paper

All 30 questions from this paper, with real topper answers where available.

• Q1. Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss.5 marks · Chola Architecture
• Q1. In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Dalhousie's Elaborate.10 marks · Policies Role of
• Q1. Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements Bhoodan & initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success.10 marks · Gramdan
• Q1. What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression?10 marks · Great Depression
• Q1. Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate state. Discuss.10 marks · Regionalism
• Q1. Discussion the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India.10 marks · Urbanization & Social Problems
• Q1. Critically examine the effects of globalization on the aged population in Globalization India.10 marks · & the Elderly
• Q1. Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s Organizations organization free from gender bias. Comment.10 marks · Women's & Male Membership
• Q1. (Himalayas vs Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats5 marks · Landslides Western Ghats)
• Q1. 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 · Temperature Inversion
• Q1. It is said the India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can Shale Gas feed the needs of country for quarter century. However, tapping of the10 marks · Reserves
• Q1. Analyze the factors for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India5 marks · Cotton Textile Industry
• Q2. Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions.5 marks · Tandava Dance
• Q2. Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various Foreigners in movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom.10 marks · Freedom Struggle
• Q2. Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan “Jai Jai Jawan Jai Jawana Jai Kisan”.10 marks · Kisan
• Q2. American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. American Substantiate.10 marks · Revolution
• Q2. Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 Hot Deserts degree north and on the western side of the continents. Why?10 marks · Formation
• Q2. Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat Urban Heat of the world.5 marks · Islands Himalayan
• Q2. resources doesn’t appear to be high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved. 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 · Atomic Energy Raw Materials
• Q2. Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of India? Discuss with justification5 marks · Sugar Industry
• Q3. 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 · Sangam Literature
• Q3. Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women Women in became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss.10 marks · Role of Freedom Struggle
• Q3. Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre-and Maulana Abul post-independent India.10 marks · Kalam Azad
• Q3. Africa was chopped into states artificially created by accident of European Scramble for competition. Analyse.10 marks · Africa
• Q3. There is5 marks · River Systems formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why? (Western Ghats Deltas)
• Q4. Analyze the circumstances that led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the agreement.10 marks · Tashkent Agreement
• Q4. “Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experience.10 marks · Industrial Revolution (Japan)
• Q4. The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world?5 marks · Tropical Cyclones Naming
• Q5. Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a Liberation of decisive roles in the emergence of Bangladesh.10 marks · Bangladesh
• Q5. What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the Continental prominent evidences in its support.5 marks · Drift Theory Plate