UPSC Mains General Studies Solved Paper (2014) - "Paper-2: Indian Heritage, History and Geography"

Q1. To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization?

Answer.

Following features of urban planning and culture of Indus valley civilization (IVC) can be considered as inputs to the present day urbanization:

(1) IVC had a well developed town planning characterized by grid system of roads, use of burnt-bricks well developed drainage system. These features are also important components of present day urban centres.
(2) Like present day urban centres, IVC laid emphasis on sanitation and hygiene.
(3) Economic activities include trade with other civilization like Mesopotamia in IVC similar to modern cities where trade and commerce play an important role.
(4) Economic and social inequality in IVC as evidenced by structures like citadel can be compared with economic stratification in modern cities evidenced by high rise buildings on one side and slums on the other side.
(5) Use of granaries in IVC is akin to present day godowns and warehouses in cities.
(6) There were well developed urban centres in IVC but most people still depended on agriculture. This is similar to modern day urbanization where fast paced urbanization has not reduced dependence on agriculture in similar proportion.
(7) Findings like jewelries and dancing girl statue point out that people in IVC were fond of fashion and entertainment similar to present day cities and towns.

While the above features of IVC are still important in present day urban centres, these centres are dissimilar to IVC with respect to their diversity of economic activities, sophisticated governance system, developed transport mechanism, use of electricity and machines, connectivity with outside world etc.

Q2. Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain.

Answer.

Gandhara school of art and sculpture developed during the reigns of Kushanas. It is also known as Indo-Greek or Indo-Roman art because of its influences from Roman and Greek cultures. The sculptures built under this school of art are mainly related to Buddha.

Greek influence on Gandhara sculpture

(1) Buddha is depicted as Greek Sun God Apollo in many sculptures.
(2) Graceful face, wavy hair, beard and moustache, large forehead and large ears are some of the Greek features of Gandhara sculpture.
(3) Some examples of Gandhara art depict both Buddha and Greek God Hercules.
(4) Stucco plaster, which was commonly used in Greek art, was widely used in Gandhara artwork.

Roman influence on Gandhara sculpture

(1) Some of the features of Roman art that can be observed in Gandhara sculptures include vine scrolls, cherubs with garlands etc.
(2) The tradition of representation of Buddha in human form is inspired from roman anthromorphic tradition.
(3) Dresses of Buddha in Gandhara artwork also resembles to that of Roman Gods.

Thus, it can be said that Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Geeks.

Q3. Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q4. The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat? (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q5. Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu/Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.

Answer.

Sufis and medieval mystic saints did influence Islam and Hinduism by challenging orthodox elements and superstitious. But their overall influence on Hindu/Muslim societies was limited because of following factors:-

(1) Absence of any institutional structure formed by these groups limited the reach of their messages through generations. The lineage of these saints could not continue due to lack of any organization.
(2) The Sufi and Bhakti saints could not provide alternatives to the socio-religious customs that they attacked.
(3) Most of the followers of these saints were from lower strata of the society who had little control over the social, political and religious affairs of the society.
(4) The geographic reach of these saints was also limited.
(5) There existed factionalism among the Bhakti saints and Sufis order thereby limiting the efficacy of their ideas.

These saints did bring about a positive change in India society by spreading ideas of brotherhood and equality, but they failed to bring about radical modification in socio-religious ideas and practices of Hindus and Muslims in India.

Q6. Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q7. In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India? (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q8. What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India? (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q9. What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self-image as a world power? (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q10. The New Economic Policy- 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate.

Answer.

The New Economic Policy- 1921 of Vladamir Lenin was an economic policy of Soviet Union. The NEP represented a mixture of capitalistic and socialistic economic principles deemed necessary after the Russian Civil war of 1917 to 1922 to foster the economy of the country which was almost ruined. The complete earlier nationalization of industry established during the period was partially revoked and a system of mixed economy was introduced. Private individuals were allowed to own small enterprises while the state continued to control banks, foreign trade and large industries.

Many similarities can be found in the Indian economic policies adopted by India soon after independence. India opted for the mixed economy. Basic and important infrastructural responsibilities were taken up by the government and rest of the economic activities was left to the private sector. This kind of mixture of capitalist-socialist principles was thought to be fit for the socio-economic and political conditions of the time. However, the inclination of economic policies was more towards state-controlled and regulated like that of NEP-1921 of Lenin.

Thus, the reflections of the New Economic Policy-1921 of Lenin can be easily seen in the policies adopted by India soon after independence.

Q11. How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India? (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q12. Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q13. The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q14. Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q15. How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?

Answer.

Secularism is a doctrine which seeks to realize a secular society that is devoid of either inter-religious or intra-religious domination. While all secular states have one thing in common they are neither theocratic nor do they establish a religion. However, the western model and Indian model of secularism are different in many respects.

In west, secularism is based on the separation of religion and state. The state does not intervene in the affairs of religion and in the same manner religion will not interfere in the affairs of the state. Each has a separate sphere of its own with independent jurisdiction. No policy of the state can have an exclusively religious rationale. No religious classification can be the basis of any public policy. Similarly, state cannot aid any religious institution. It cannot give financial support to educational institutions run by religious communities. Nor can it hinder the activities of religious communities as long as they are within the broad limits set by law. For example if a particular religion forbids the entry of some of its members in the sanctum of its temple then the state can only be a silent witness. On this view religion is a private matter, not a matter of state policy or law.

Moreover, in the west, there is little scope for community-based rights or minority rights. While strict separation of the state from the church is emphasized, issues of inter religious equality are often neglected. Finally, western model of secularism has no place for the idea of state supported religious reform.

In contrast, Indian model of secularism focuses on elimination of intra-religious as well as inter-religious domination. Indian secularism equally opposes the oppression of dalits and women within Hinduism, Islam or Christianity and the possible threats that a majority community might pose to the rights of the minority religious communities.

Another difference is that Indian secularism deals not only with religious freedom of individuals but also with religious freedom of minority communities. Furthermore, Indian Secularism has made room for and is compatible with the idea of state-supported religious reform unlike in west.

Q16. Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree? (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q17. Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of fold mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q18. Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q19. Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why? (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q20. Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q21. Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain.

Answer.

The British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalaya from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling region because of several geographical, economic and cultural reasons.

One or the more favorouble factors needed for tea cultivation such as soil quality, humidity, temperature, rainfall etc were available in Darjeeling region but not in other regions. For example temperature in too low in kangra valley to grow tea. Similarly, rainfall is more than what is required in areas east of Darjeeling region and less than what is required in areas west of Darjeeling region.

The economic factors which contributed towards the success of Darjeeling regions were easy availability of cheap labour from Bengal-Bihar region, relatively better transport facilities and proximity to ports in Bengal.
Cultural factors also played a role in preventing other regions from developing as a tea growing region. For example, to some extent strong ethnicity in North-eastern India prevented British from dominating and commercializing the area. The presence of large indigenous and tribal population in other areas reduced the scope of commercial activities like tea plantation.

Q22. Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?

Answer.

Green Revolution reefers to the science based transformation of agriculture that led to significant increase in agricultural production and productivity. India experienced green revolution in 1960s which saw development and adoption of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of food crops especially of rice and wheat. These varieties not only required fertile soil and water but also fertilizers, pesticides, technological up gradation and financial resources to purchase these. Farmers in states like Punjab were more literate and prosperous as compared to those in eastern part of India. This is why farmers in eastern region could not adopt these requirements needed to reap the benefits of green revolution.

Punjab had a literacy rate higher than all India average and farmers were more aware of the potential benefits of new technologies and agricultural practices. This led to a more successful green revolution in Punjab as compared to eastern region where farmer were not ready to assimilate new practices.

Financial constraints in eastern part of India also played a prohibitive role in acquiring new technology and costly HYV seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Credit facilities were also less adequate in eastern states as compared to those who did well. For example, Punjab had a greater number of scheduled commercial banks per lakh of population.

Power supplies and irrigation facilities were not sufficient in eastern Indian states and other infrastructural requirements which could usher green revolution were not adequate in eastern states such as roads, communication, transport facilities, irrigation systems etc.

It is because of these factors that Green Revolution was not successful in eastern region of India.

Q23. Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q24. Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world. (for Answer Join Online Coaching for IAS Mains Exam)

Q25. How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?

Ans.

India Africa relation draws on a longs shared history of struggle against European colonialism. Besides, as a leading player in the global economy, it is natural for India to seek participation in resource-rich African continent. The participation of India in economic space of Africa is mutually beneficial for resource-constraint India and underdeveloped Africa.

Development has been a pressing need in most of the countries of Africa. India has been playing and in future can play a prominent role in helping Africa develop. India’s expertise in education, health, IT-enabled services, space technology, defence etc can help African economy grow. India with its substantial knowledge pool and expertise is well placed to contribute to capacity building in Africa. Already India has initiated many projects giving African students access to India higher education, defence training etc. India can contribute immensely in the area of IT, agriculture, mining, small industries, hydrocarbon etc.

In return India can have access to the large resource that India needs for its economic development and Africa can give. But, there is huge competition from European countries, USA and China. However, with a large Indian Diaspora in Africa, and its soft power India can be a prominent partner in African economic development. India policy of balancing its economic interests and its commitment towards a just world order can be helpful in garnering a considerable share in economic space of African continent.

With growing recognition of India’s capabilities to assist other developing and underdeveloped countries India’s participation in and access to African economic landscape is bound to increase.

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