Chewing gums, FOMO, Marriages: Top 5 ‘unpredictable’ UPSC questions from 2024 that will interest even non-aspirants

#1 Do ‘chewing gums’ impact the environment?

You won’t find it in many textbooks, but UPSC has a habit of asking questions from the Environment section linking it to articles of our day-to-day lives. This year, they chose Chewing Gums. Here’s the question that UPSC asked:

Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement-1: Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution.

Statement-2: Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-1 and statement 2 are correct and Statement-2 explains Statement-1

(b) Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are correct, but Statement-2 does not explain Statement-1

(c) Statement-1 is correct, but Statement-2 is incorrect

(d) Statement-1 is incorrect, but Statement-2 is correct

While most experts will tell you that (a) is the correct answer, we found aspirants more interested in knowing how to approach such questions. Our answer – be observant of what you eat, read, see and listen. By the way, just like chewing gums, do chocolates also negatively impact the environment? Point to ponder.

Click here to find our analysis on more such questions of UPSC Prelims paper 2024.

#2 The other WTO: T for ‘Toilet’, not Trade

Interestingly, out of so many organisations in the news or your static notes, UPSC chose to ask a question on the World Toilet Organisation. The question was as follows:

Q. Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization:

Statement I: It is one of the agencies of the United Nations.

Statement II: World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day, and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.

Statement III: The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation.

Which of the statements given below is/are correct?

(a) 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1 and 2

(d) 2 and 3

The above organisation is not less important, but generally does not find a place in the important list of organisations that aspirants revise for their exams. Option A is the answer to this question. It is simple only if you have visited the website of the organisation. Interestingly, an aspirant asked in one of our UPSC LIVE sessions about how many websites of organisations aspirants should read about. Our answer was ‘sky’s the limit, but certainly look into the ones that are in the news’.

#3 Comparing the two marriages: Intercaste marriages and interreligious marriages.

Marriage is a subject of great interest in Indian society and UPSC knows it. But how would UPSC frame a question, while maintaining the sanctity of the exam and also making it a little advanced on the difficulty level? UPSC asked the following question in its Mains 2024 exam:

Q. Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss.

Your discussion points in such questions should be supported by facts and not hang in the air of assumptions. The society section of the UPSC exam mostly tries to judge you on similar lines. Some other thought provoking themes asked were ‘India’s cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities’ and ‘gender equality, gender equity and women’s empowerment’.

Click here to find our analysis on more such questions of UPSC Mains GS paper 2024.

#4 Quizzing on what’s trending: ‘FOMO’ due to social media

While many candidates belong to Gen Z, UPSC asked them to throw light on one of the most common but serious problems among the youth in its essay paper. This also reminds us that questions on social media have been asked previously as well. For example: ‘Social media is inherently a selfish medium.’ (2017). Of course, this year’s question was a new avatar of an earlier question.

Social media is triggering ‘Fear of Missing Out’ amongst the youth, precipitating depression and loneliness.

Interesting topic, isn’t it? So much to write on this topic, which is very rare for a UPSC essay. Having said that, it is easier to lose marks here than to gain. There are three reasons: if you choose to be a generalist, if you forget to connect the topic with depression, loneliness and youth. With all this in mind, you may miss out on taking care of the flow of the essay. If not, you may have a ‘fear of missing out’.

Click here to find our analysis on more such questions of UPSC Mains Essay paper 2024.

#5 Viewing current affairs through ethical lens: The BNS question

Before you could think that current affairs have less relevance in the theory part of ethics, here is a question on the new law, Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita to discuss in the light of justice, equality, and impartiality. This is exactly what UPSC asked:

Q. The soul of new law, Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system.

We wish you read newspapers seriously and connected polity topics with ethics too. UPSC smartly connected the dots. Did you?

Click here to find our analysis on more such questions of UPSC Mains Ethics paper 2024.

The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the November issue of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.