[Download] UPSC Mains-2015: General Studies Paper-1 (GS1), incl. all papers topicwise sorted

1. Instructions
2. GSM1-2015: Question Paper in Linear Format
3. Observations: 2015 compared to previous years
4. Relevance of Mrunal.org aka Bogus Marketing Propaganda
5. GSM1-Topicwise since Pattern change
   1. Art & Culture
   2. History: India before Independence
   3. History: India After independence
   4. History: world
   5. Social Science: Caste, Religion, Region
   6. Social Science: Poverty, Population, Globalization
   7. Social Science: Women
   8. Geography: Physical
   9. Geography: Climate, Disaster related
   10. Geography: Resources Distribution
   11. Geography: factors affecting industrial locations
   12. Geography: Urbanization

Instructions

• UPSC conducted general studies paper 1 of civil services mains examination on 19^th December 2015
• Duration: 3 hours; Maximum Marks: 250
• Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions:
• There are TWENTY questions printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH. Each Question carries 12.5 marks.
• All the questions too compulsory.
• Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QC4) Booklet in the space provided.
• No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
• Word limit in questions, wherever specified should be adhered to.
• Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.

GSM1-2015: Question Paper in Linear Format

Each Question is worth 12.5 marks and maximum word limit is 200. But content of the answer is more important than its length.

1. The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment.
2. Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modem painting. Critically evaluate this comment.
3. How different would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.
4. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.
5. It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss.
6. Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present?
7. To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically
8. Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.
9. Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India.
10. How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?
11. Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades.
12. Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India.
13. Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste.
14. Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?
15. Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?
16. India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.
17. The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are reaching the limits of their ecological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically evaluate.
18. How far do you agree that the behavior of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscapes? Discuss.
19. Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop of rural urban integration.
20. What are the economic significances of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible environmental consequences?

Observations: 2015 compared to previous years

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1. Both in GS1 and GS2, we see an emergence of questions from topics that were *hot*  3 to 5 years back e.g. ST sex ratio > SC (2013, TheHindu); Khap Panchayat (2011, TheHindu); Satyam Scam and corporate reforms (2009-13); Of course these topics sporadically re-emerge every once in a while, but as such quite stale in terms of origin.
2. No. of questions vs word limit:
   • 2014 had 25 questions with 150 words each = 250 marks.
   • 2015 had 20 questions with 200-word limit each = 250 marks.
3. Gradual shift from factual freedom struggle (e.g. 2013: foreigner freedom fighters in India; Lord Dalhousie’s contribution) to analytical freedom struggle (e.g. 2015-independence without Gandhi).
4. Unlike 2013 and 2014, nothing from pre-1857 mutiny topics such as Lord Dalhousie or Panipat battle.
5. World History: gradual dilution of difficultly level- from Japan’s industrialization (2013) to Suez crisis (2014) to England’s industrial revolution (2015)- relatively easier to find through old NCERT and other books and web-resources.
6. Questions where history is linked to present: (1) ancient culture to present day (2) England’s industrial revolution to present industrialization of India- quality of life in both places.
7. Gradual decline in weight and difficultly level of art and culture section. Ancient civilization to present day-quote from A.L.Basham’s book “Wonder that was India”, although one can attempt to invent the answers from assembling points from here and there.
8. No question from post-independence India in both 2014 and 2015 papers.
9. Continued emphasis on Women related questions in GS1 in both 2014 and 2015. (perhaps that’s why no essay on women).
10. Population: asking statistical trend-analysis type questions (1) sex ratio ST>SC (2) labour migration trend in 40 years.
11. Geography: shift from physical and industrial location related question towards environment – climate change related questions. Gradual dilution of difficulty as well- in the sense that even a non-geography optional candidate can hope to write a few points.
12. Just like in Essay-2015 paper, we can see same question can be classified under multiple syllabus topics here. E.g. Gandhi-Ambedkar and downtrodden is both a question from syllabus topic (1) India before independence and (2) Social empowerment.
13. Similarly, why Delhi more bogus than Mumbai in air-pollution- is both (1) climatology (2) urbanization topic.

More analysis points can be made, the more time and brain we apply in analyzing this paper, you’re most welcome to put yours in the comments section below.

Relevance of Mrunal.org aka Bogus Marketing Propaganda

Good number of questions could be solved directly from the Mains-revision series; verbatim answers and points were available.

GSM1-Topicwise since Pattern change

In 2013, UPSC changed the syllabus-pattern of Mains examination and the number of general studies papers were increased from two to four. Out of them, GS Paper-I deals with History, Culture, Society and Geography.

Art & Culture

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Salient aspects of Art, Architecture, literature from Ancient to Modern Times

History: India before Independence

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Mid-18th century – Present (significant events, personalities, issues); Freedom Struggle (various stages, important contributors from different parts of the country)

History: India After independence

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Post-Independence (consolidation and reorganisation within country)

History: world

GS1 Syllabus Topic: 18th century events (e.g. Industrial revolution, WWs, redrawn boundaries, colonisation, decolonisation); Political philosophies (e.g. communism, capitalism, socialism) and their effect on society

Social Science: Caste, Religion, Region

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism; Social Empowerment

Social Science: Poverty, Population, Globalization

• GS1 Syllabus Topic: Salient features of Indian Society; Diversity of India; Globalisation (effects on Indian society)
• GS1 Syllabus Topic: Poverty, Population; Development and associated issues

Social Science: Women

• GS1 Syllabus Topic: Role of women and women’s organisation;
• Although some of the following questions fall under population-globalization categories, but if a person cultivates habit of noting down women related topics under one head, it’ll benefit in both GS1, GS2 and Essay.

Geography: Physical

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Salient Features of World Physical Geography; Important Geophysical phenomena (earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes, cyclones); Geographical features and location;

Geography: Climate, Disaster related

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Critical geographical features, flora, fauna (changes and effects thereof)

Geography: Resources Distribution

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Distribution of key Natural Resources (world, S. Asia, Indian subcontinent)

Geography: factors affecting industrial locations

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Factors responsible for location of Industries (primary, secondary, tertiary; India, world)

Geography: Urbanization

So that means All my sins are washed for the current year.

GS1 Syllabus Topic: Urbanization: problems and remedies.

visit Mrunal.org/download for more papers.