UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. 🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the January issue of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 QUESTION 1 Discuss Savitribai Phule's achievements in women's education and social transformation in nineteenth-century India. How did her initiatives pave the road for women's empowerment across the country? QUESTION 2 Discuss the defining traits and predicted societal influences of Generation Beta, which includes those born between 2025 and 2039. How may their upbringing in a technologically advanced and diversified world influence their values and behaviours? General points on the structure of the answers Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. THOUGHT PROCESS You may enrich your answers by some of the following points QUESTION 1: Discuss Savitribai Phule's achievements in women's education and social transformation in nineteenth-century India. How did her initiatives pave the road for women's empowerment across the country? Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Savitribai Phule, who came from a backward society and is regarded as an iconic female social reformer, hailing her as a pioneer in education and social change. — Savitribai Phule also fought for inter-caste marriages, widow remarriage, and the abolition of child marriage, sati, and dowry systems, among other social causes. The Phules also adopted Yashwantrao, the widow's child, and educated him to become a doctor. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — The Phules established more such schools for girls, Shudras, and Ati-Shudras (backward castes and Dalits, respectively) in Pune, inciting resentment among Indian nationalists such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak. They opposed the establishment of schools for girls and non-Brahmins, alleging a "loss of nationality" and fearing that not adhering to caste rules would result in the loss of nationality itself. — Savitribai herself encountered strong opposition from the upper castes, including cases of physical violence. — Along with Jyotirao, Savitribai established the Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha ('Home for the Prevention of Infanticide') for pregnant widows who face discrimination. This was inspired by a sequence of events in which a young Brahmin widow was condemned to life in jail in the Andaman Islands for killing her newborn kid. — In 1873, the Phules founded the Satyashodhak Samaj ('Truth-seekers' Society), a platform open to all, regardless of caste, religion, or class hierarchy, with the sole goal of achieving social fairness. As an extension, they established 'Satyashodhak Marriage', a rejection of Brahmanical ceremonies in which the married couple pledges to promote knowledge and equality. — The pair also established 'Balyata Pratibandak Gruha', a childcare institution dedicated to the protection of pregnant widows and rape victims. Savitribai urged women to sit together at her gatherings in an effort to break down caste barriers. Conclusion: — Savitribai set an amazing example of compassion, service, and courage by being involved in relief work during the Maharashtra famine of 1896 and the Bubonic plague of 1897. She acquired the sickness while transporting a sick kid to the hospital, and died on March 10, 1897. — Savitribai Phule, then 23, released her first book of poems, Kavya Phule ('Poetry's Blossoms'), in 1854. She wrote Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar ('The Ocean of Pure Gems') in 1892. (Source: Savitribai Phule’s 194th birth anniversary: A look at the life of India’s first woman teacher) Points to Ponder Read more about Jyotirao Phule Hindu Widow's Remarriage Act, 1856 Related Previous Year Questions Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss. (2020) The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (2017) QUESTION 2: Discuss the defining traits and predicted societal influences of Generation Beta, which includes those born between 2025 and 2039. How may their upbringing in a technologically advanced and diversified world influence their values and behaviours? Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Generation Beta will consist of infants born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2039. This generation succeeds Generation Alpha, often known as the iPad Generation, with individuals born between 2010 and 2024. — Generation Beta will be the children of younger millennials and elder Gen Zers, and it is named after the Greek letter Beta, which comes after Alpha. Demographer Mark McCrindle coined the term Generation Alpha. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — Traditionally, a generation refers to a group of people born around the same time. Karl Mannheim popularised the term when he published "The Problem of Generations" in 1928. — Mannheim tried to identify individuals of a specific generation and distinguish them further by their physical location and social standing, as well as their level of participation in wider intellectual discourses of the period and their answers to them. — Sociologists have expanded on this concept, but now believe he was referring to the cohort or generational cohort. A cohort is a group of people born around the same time period who have shared a historical event and may have comparable value systems. Some sociologists, such as Jane Pilcher, wish to limit the use of the term generation to family relationships. — Marketers are particularly interested in generational cohorts, as they notice a generation's shared characteristics and use this to focus their product offerings. Difference generations — Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964) — Gen X (1964 – 1979) — Gen Y or the Millennials (1980 – 1995) — Gen Z (1996 – 2010) — Gen Alpha (2011 – 2024) Conclusion: — In a blog article, McCrindle stated: "Generation Beta will be the most tech-savvy among the rest, experiencing a seamless blend of the digital and physical worlds while Generation Alpha has experienced the rise of smart technology and artificial intelligence, Generation Beta will live in an era where AI and automation are fully embedded in everyday life—from education and workplaces to healthcare and entertainment." — He also forecasts that this generation would grow up expecting sustainability rather than preferring it in the face of social concerns such as climate change, global population upheavals, and growing urbanisation. (Source: Gen Beta is here: what is a generation, how do different generations vary from each other?) Points to Ponder How are different generations named? Related Previous Year Questions The growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate State. Discuss. (2013) Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (2021) Previous Mains Answer Practice UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 83) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 84) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 86) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 85) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 86) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 85) 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 – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
