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The morning session of the second day of UPSC Civil Services Main exam 2024 started with General Studies Paper 1. Twenty questions from History, Geography and Society were almost balanced in quantity. However, the questions in the Society section was a true test of the candidates’ preparation. Let’s know why…
The social issues or society section of the UPSC General Studies Paper 1 once again was one of the most challenging parts of the paper. In terms of the quality of questions, it dominated over comparatively easier History and a balanced Geography sections.
In this section particularly UPSC expected candidates not to just know a few very important definitions from the section of Society but also discuss, comment, or critically analyse the themes, hence giving scope to the candidates to link the static part of the syllabus with the current affairs.
A socially aware candidate who knows facts with good writing and presentation skills and engaging examples would have an edge over generalist candidates who might know something about every question but lack the expression of articulation, a must for society paper.
Here’s what was asked in the society section of GS paper 1 and why it makes the question paper more contemporary than bookish.
Among the 10 markers, candidates were quizzed on questions related to migrants, gender, intercaste and inter-religious marriages and socio-economic issues of development.
Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns? Discuss in the light of conditions in developing countries.
The expectation from this particular question is to also identify the hidden term, ‘urbanisation‘. Also, this question may be considered as part of the Geography section as well. Candidates could have easily built their content with the following premise:
Urbanisation is not just about the physical expansion of cities but also encompasses social, economic, and cultural transformations. It involves the migration of individuals from small towns/rural to urban areas in pursuit of employment opportunities, improved living standards, access to better education and healthcare facilities, and a more cosmopolitan lifestyle. This migration in developing countries is influenced by factors such as industrialisation, globalisation, agricultural changes, and demographic trends.
Also, it won’t be wrong here to take an example from the Covid period and cleverly mention what 2020 taught us about India’s internal migration as an example from a developing country. Some handy data points like ‘The total number of internal migrants in India, as per the 2011 census, is 45.36 crore or 37 percent of the country’s population. This includes inter-state migrants as well as migrants within each state’, would have made your answer factually satisfying.
In the second question in this section, UPSC framed a comprehensive question on gender testing their knowledge on basic yet important definitions and compelling the aspiring bureaucrats to think about why is it important in programme design and implementation. The clarity in definitions could definitely help you in getting impressive marks.
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?
According to UNICEF, gender equality doesn’t mean that women and men are the same or that they become the same. However, women’s rights, responsibilities, and opportunities do not depend on whether a person is born male or female. Both men and women should have access to the same degrees of opportunities despite their gender.
Gender Equity may be defined as fairness of treatment of both women and men depending on their specific needs. It is important to note that equal treatment or treatment may be different according to their specific needs but it is considered equivalent based on rights, obligations, opportunities, and benefits.
Women’s empowerment can be simply put as promoting women’s sense of self-worth. This includes enhancing their ability to make their own choices.
Before going further it would have been interesting to see how aspirants connect the three terms.
For the second part of the question FAQ from unfpa.org writes: “Taking gender concerns into account when designing and implementing population and development programmes therefore is important for two reasons. First, there are differences between the roles of men and women, differences that demand different approaches. Second, there is systemic inequality between men and women. Universally, there are clear patterns of women’s inferior access to resources and opportunities. Moreover, women are systematically under-represented in decision-making processes that shape their societies and their own lives. This pattern of inequality is a constraint to the progress of any society because it limits the opportunities of one-half of its population. When women are constrained from reaching their full potential, that potential is lost to society as a whole. Programme design and implementation should endeavour to address either or both of these factors.”
From gender to intercaste and inter-religious marriage, UPSC asked the young aspirants to discuss this very ‘real’ issue prominent in our society.
Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss.
While discussing the first part of the question, the candidates are expected to answer why intercaste marriages between castes have increased. Factors that should come into the aspirants’ minds may be education, employment, urban living, and other socio-economic causes along with government incentives. The Supreme Court in 2011 held that inter-caste marriages are in the national interest as a unifying factor in a nation where the caste system is a curse. It is dividing the nation at a time when we have to be united to face the challenges before the nation. Inter-caste marriages are, in fact, in the national interest as they will result in destroying the caste system, a Bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra held in a judgment. Here, do not miss the words ‘socio-economic parity’.
Comparing the above case with inter-religious marriages, aspirants could have built on the complexity involved in personal religious belief systems and social norms.
Remember, the answer to this question can go haywire. So, over-analysis is a strict ‘no-no’.
In the last 10 markers under this section, UPSC connected society with governance on the theme of development issues.
In dealing with socio-economic issues of development, what kind of collaboration between government, NGOs and private sector would be most productive?
An ideal answer would start with listing a few sectors where the government alone cannot succeed without collaboration. Here the role of NGOs and the private sector in areas like bridging the service gaps, encouraging innovation and research, representing the cause of margianalised, ensuring accountability, helping in feedback and awareness etc. could have been discussed. What would have made this answer impactful? May be a success story as an example.
The 15 markers in society section comprised of questions from regional disparity, underprivileged sections, globalisation and socio-economic marginalities’ correlation with India’s cultural diversity.
What is regional disparity? How does it differ from diversity? How serious is the issue of regional disparity in India?
Regional disparity can be defined in terms of inequality and imbalances between regions. On the other hand regional diversity indicates the variety and richness of social, cultural, and economic characteristics between regions. The lucid definitions must also consist of examples without which the explanation is incomplete. For example, language can be a part of diversity but literacy levels can be included in regional disparity.
In the second part of the question, candidates were expected to highlight the gap between rich and poor states and highlight the demography, economic inequality and development issues. At least a one-liner on the way forward as a conclusion would have made the answer complete in all sense.
Among one of the favourite topics of UPSC, globalisation wasn’t straightforward this time. They linked it with gender. UPSC asked:
Globalisation 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.
Simply put, the question can be understood as a part of the larger topic of the impact of globalization on women. The introductory paragraph could have mentioned why such migration. Followed by two separate paragraphs on personal freedom and relationship with family. Remember, try to highlight both positive and negative impacts if possible.
Next, the question on the underprivileged section was an old form of essay-type question that UPSC asked in a limited word format.
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.
Interestingly, the word ‘comment’ made this question open-ended. Who comes under the underprivileged section? What have been the comprehensive policies so far? What does the Constitution say for this section? The questions could have built up the tempo before you could throw light on where are we lacking despite some successes. Support your arguments with one or two facts and easily sail through.
Finally, the question on the ‘high’ correlation between India’s cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities.
Critically analyse the proposition that there is a high correlation between India’s cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities.
We hope you didn’t miss the term ‘Critically Analyse’. This means just don’t go with the tone of the question but also against the grain. The previous question on ‘regional disparity’ and ‘diversity’ could have been a big help for you. The only important task here was to enrich your answers with many examples. As general as this question looks to you, it is difficult to gain marks here if the answer consists of dry statements.
Overall, there were no questions that should have been left blank in the society section. As it is said — something is better than nothing.
Testing your basics, UPSC framed comparatively simpler questions on Art & Culture and History. Disappointing for many aspirants, Modern Indian History had just 1 question that too on an easier theme- Quit India Movement. The vast syllabus of Modern History did not even find a prominent place in Prelims this year. But interestingly World History got to questions in its share on World War 1 and Industrial Revolution. Both weren’t very challenging, though the one on World War would have taken some time to structure. The Industrial Revolution question was based on NCERT.
Vedic period, Pallavas of Kanchi and Chola art and architecture formed the other significant part of the other half of the section. All these three questions were doable, the one on the Vedic period and Chola art being on the easier side.
Seems like UPSC wants to know if you can balance your static well with current affairs, especially in the Geography section. Both your static textbook and newspaper reading must have benefitted you. Questions on twisters, aurora australis – aurora borealis and demographic winter had a simple message– if you know it, you know it. On the other hand, cloudbursts and tropical cyclones were frequent in the news and Explained multiple times. Any advance preparation would have considered ‘the groundwater situation in Gangetic Valley’ as an important part of its coverage. However, linking it with food security was a smart link that UPSC tried to establish.
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