GS Paper - I Model Answers (2019) - 1 | UPSC Mains Answer Writing: Practice PDF Download

Q1: Highlight the Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian elements in Gandhara art
Ans: 
Gandharaschool of art was one of the major schools of art in the history of ancient India. This style of art was closely associated with Mahayana Buddhism and hence the main theme of this art was Lord Buddha and Bodhisattvas. It mostly flourished in the areas of Afghanistan and present North-Western India. The period around which the Gandharaschool of art flourished could be said to be from 1st century BCE to 4th century CE. 

Central Asian Influence:

• Shaka and Kushana rulers patronised the Gandhara art leading to its flourishment.  They brought culture of their respective lands and local Hellenistic art tradition in Gandhara art.  
• Hellenized Bactrians played a part in the creation of the anthropomorphic image of Buddha.  
• certain iconographic elements associated with Buddhist ideology appear in Gandhara art in the forms derived from Iranian iconography, such as ‘fire altars’ and the flame halo.

Greco-Bacterian Influence: 

• Vajrapani found in the right hand of future buddha is told as transformed symbol of herculeus who is seen as protector of buddha. 
•  Some images of buddha in gandhar are presented in greek architectural environment bearing the affinity of Corinthian.  
• The Apollo like face of buddha; natural realism; wavy hair as seen in images of buddha in gandhar resembles to Hellenistic tradition.  Gandhara art also followed Hellenic fashions in numismatics, such as having themselves represented in profile on coins, with legends, which carry the year of minting and other details.  
• The drape of Buddha Garment garment recalls the togas of Hellenistic sculpture, the divine figure often acquires humanistic details such as jewellery and a moustache.  
• Figures from the Greek pantheon appear alongside statues of the Buddha, often flanked by Corinthian columns and mounted on friezes.  
• Older forms of Indian art had not bothered with chronology. 
• There, forms and figures crowd the frame, almost like lush, natural growth. The sculptures of the Gandhara school, in contrast, inhabit sequential narratives. 

Q2: The 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British Rule. Elucidate. (UPSC GS1 2019)
Ans:

Introduction
Though many people consider 1857 revolt as the first major resentment against the British rule, however there were many incidents before 1857 revolt that indicated that there was a building resentment against the rule of Britishers.
Types of revolts occurred in the last 100 years from 1857:
In the last hundred (1757-1857) there were many revolts occurred that eventually led to uprising of 1857 revolt, which can be divided into 4 major parts:

• Civil revolts: These were the first group of people who revolted against Britishers to secure their traditional and customary rights. For instance, sanyasi revolts (1763-1800) ,revolts in Midnapore and Dhalbhum during 1766-74, revolts of Moamarias in Ahom state 1769, revolt of Raja of Vijayanagaram 1794 ,and civil rebellion in Awadh 1799, Kuka 1840 ,Surat salt agitation of 1840s were some major civilian revolts with common causes of resentment, that were illegal tax demands and oppression by police ,judiciary and revenue department.
• Tribal revolts: Tribal movements under British rule were the most frequent militants and violent of all movements. some of them were Chuar uprising of midnapur, Bengal of 1770s ,Kol of Chhota Nagpur during 1830s led by Buddho Bhagat, Khond uprising of Odisha 1835 to 1856 led by Chakra Bisnoi ,Santhal uprising led by Siddhu and Kanu just before 1857 revolt, Bhil and Ramoshi uprising in western India. The resentment of tribal against Britishers were mainly due to imposition of forest rights Act, forcefully conversion of tribals by Christian missionaries, oppression by money lenders and zamindars after extension of permanent settlement in tribal areas.
• Peasant revolts: Peasants uprising were protests against evictions, increase in rents of land, and moneylenders greedy ways and their demands was occupancy rights for peasants. some major and minor peasants revolts were for instance : pagal panthis of Bengal led by Karamshah during 1825 to 35,Faraizi revolt in eastern Bengal led by Hazi Shariatullah and his son Dadu Milan, Mopillah uprising in Malabar during 1834to 1854 and Paika revolt of Khurda, Odisha led by B Jagbandhu. The common provoking cause of resentment of these peasants were exorbitant demand of land revenue, oppression of officials and frequent occurrence of drought and famine etc.
• Princely states revolts: With the expansion of Britishers in India some princely states were annexed on excuse of maladministration and use of diplomacy of subsidiary alliance and Doctrine of Lapse. For instance Mysore in 1831 by William Bantick, Jhansi in 1852, Awadh in 1856. They also revolted against Britishers.

Conclusion
Thus, it can be said that these rebellions-which were localised in nature, lacking of efficient leadership and influenced by backward looking ideology were suppressed by Britishers with use of force but still they established a culture of resistance among natives and eventually prepared the way for 1857 revolt.

Q3: Examine the linkages between the nineteenth century's Indian renaissance and the emergence of national identitY (UPSC MAINS 2019)
Ans:

Introduction
The social and religious reforms movement’s popularly termed as Indian renaissance which preceded the political struggles are considered a necessary precursor to origin of Indian nationality.
How renaissance facilitated the emergence of national identity:

• Rediscovery of India’s glorious past: The nineteenth century Indian Renaissance also created several avenues in the field of oriental studies. Western scholars like Max Muller, Sir William Jones, Alexander Cunningham, etc. translated several ancient Sanskrit texts of this land and established before the people the glorious cultural heritage of India. Inspired by them, the Indian scholars like R.D - Banerjee, R.G. Bhandarkar, Mahan Mukhopadhyaya, Hara Prasad Astir, Bal Gangadhar Tilak etc. rediscovered India’s past glory from the history of this land. This encouraged the people of India who felt that they were the ancestors of grand monarchs of this country and ruled by foreigners. This flared up the fire of nationalism. 
• Revivalist Movements: Under these movements Indian culture and civilisation were proclaimed superior. Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekanand etc were the leaders of these movements. 
• Reformists movements of that time such as Brahmo Samaj (led by Raja Ram Mohan Roy) etc condemned existing untouchability and tried to abolish the caste system. Their ideas of equality and brotherhood attracted the lower castes towards nationalism. 
• These reforms also focussed upon emancipation of women. They opposed the practice of sati, supported remarriage of widows and also promoted spread of education among women. All these helped women to join national movements.

Conclusion
Apart from the progressive character of social religious reforms, role of press, English Education, result and reaction of colonial policies etc have also played a significant role in developing national identity in India.

Q4: Assess the impact of global warming on the coral life system with examples. (UPSC GS1 2019)
Ans:

Introduction
Destruction of coral reef can be induced by a variety of factors, alone or in combination. However, unprecedented global warming and climate changes combined with growing local pressures have resulted in destruction of coral reefs to a large extent.

Impact of global warming on the coral life system: 

• Coral Bleaching: 
  • The impacts from coral bleaching are becoming global in scale, and are increasing in frequency and intensity. 
  • Mass coral bleaching generally happens when temperatures around coral reefs exceed 1 degree Celsius above an area’s historical norm for four or more weeks. Sea surface temperature increases have been strongly associated with El Niño weather patterns. 
  • However, light intensity, (during doldrums, i.e. flat calm conditions), also plays a critical role in triggering the bleaching response. If temperatures climb to more than 2o C for similar or longer periods, coral mortalities following bleaching increase. 
• Rising sea levels: 
  • Observations since 1961 show that the average temperature of the global ocean has increased even at depths of 3000m (IPCC report), and that the ocean has been absorbing more than 80% of the heat added to the climate system. Such warming causes sea level rise and creates problems for low lying nations and islands. 
• Ocean acidification: 
  • It refers to a change in ocean chemistry in response to the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is in equilibrium with that in seawater, so when atmospheric concentrations increase so do oceanic concentrations. 
  • Carbon dioxide entering seawater reacts to form carbonic acid, causing an increase in acidity. Each year, the ocean absorbs about one-quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted from the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas). 
  • Since the Industrial Revolution, ocean acidity has increased by about 30%, a rate that is more than 10 times what has previously occurred for millions of years. Further, ocean acidity levels are expected to increase by an additional 40% above present levels by the end of this century.

Conclusion
Coral reefs harbour the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem globally and directly support over 500 million people worldwide, mostly in poor countries. However, according to UNESCO, the coral reefs in all 29 reef-containing World Heritage sites would cease to exist by the end of this century if we continue to emit greenhouse gases. Limiting global average temperature to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels in line with the Paris Agreement provides the only chance for the survival of coral reefs globally.

Q5: Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology (UPSC GS1 2019)
Ans:

Introduction
Mangrove forests form a unique wetland ecosystem, inhabiting the edge of land and sea, thriving in seawater. Over the past four decades 35% of global mangrove forests have been destroyed. This degradation of mangrove forests has a knock-on effect on some of the world’s most endangered species which rely on them for habitat such as the proboscis monkey and the Bengal tiger.

Causes of depletion of mangroves: 

• The natural causes: 
  • Cyclones, typhoons and strong wave action especially in the geographically vulnerable Andaman and Nicobar Islands; 
  • Browsing and trampling by wildlife (e.g. deer) and livestock (goats, buffaloes and cows), which are often left to graze freely, especially in areas close to human habitation; 
  • Damage by oysters to the young leaves and plumules of Rhizophora and Ceriops plants; crabs, which attack young seedlings, girdle the root collars and eat the fleshy tissues of the propagules insect pests such as wood borers, caterpillars (which eat the mangrove foliage and damage the wood as well) and beetles; 
• Anthropogenic causes: 
  • Anthropogenic activities such as construction of houses and markets causing soil erosion and soil sedimentation has lead to their destruction. For example in Sunderbans collection of tiger prawn seeds for trade has greatly affected the other animals found in these forests. 
  • Indiscriminate tree felling and lopping, mainly for fuel wood, fodder and timber, especially in areas close to human habitation. 
  • Indiscriminate conversion of mangroves on public lands for aquaculture (e.g. for prawn culture at Chorao, Goa), agriculture, mining (e.g. along the Mapusa estuary in Goa), human habitation and industrial purposes. Encroachment on publicly owned mangrove forest lands, e.g. cultivation of paddy observed on government land, which involved uprooting of natural and planted seedlings; 
  • Lack of interest of private landowners (village communities and individuals) in conserving and developing the mangroves on their lands. 
  • Illegal large-scale collection of mangrove fruits for production of medicines, which hinders their natural regeneration. 
  • Discharge of industrial pollutants into creeks, rivers and estuaries, which is a major problem in some regions of the world. 
• Importance of mangroves in maintaining coastal ecology: 
  • Mangrove plants have (additional) special roots such as prop roots, pneumatophores which help to impede water flow and thereby enhance the deposition of sediment in areas (where it is already occurring), stabilise the coastal shores, provide a breeding ground for fishes. 
  • Provide a safe and favourable environment for breeding, spawning, rearing of several fishes. 
  • They supply woods, firewood, medicinal plants and edible plants to local people. 
  • Mangroves moderate monsoonal tidal floods and reduce inundation of coastal lowlands. 
  • They prevent coastal soil erosion. 
  • They protect coastal lands from tsunami, hurricanes and floods. 
  • Mangroves enhance the natural recycling of nutrients. 
  • Mangrove supports numerous florae, avifauna and wildlife. 

Conclusion

Mangrove forests play a major role with more valuable ecological services. Therefore conservation of the same is the need of the hour not only for the for coastal biodiversity but also for wellbeing of the mankind.

Q6: Can the strategy of regional resource-based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India? (UPSC GS1 2019)
Ans:
Introduction
A local resource-based approach applies a cost-effective use of local skills, enterprises, labour and materials in the infrastructure delivery process. The process optimizes the social and economic impact of investments in Manufacturing by ensuring that these investments are channeled through the local economy, so creating job opportunities and stimulating local markets, entrepreneurship and industry while safeguarding cost effectiveness, quality and sustainable asset delivery. 

Reason for Opting for local resource-based technologies: 

• Government development objectives aim to generate employment and income  opportunities for the local population and domestic construction industry. The infrastructure concerned requires relatively modest investments, e.g., rural roads, secondary and tertiary irrigation channels and small and medium-scale structures. 
• Local resources including labour, skills, enterprises and materials are available. 
• Scarcity of foreign exchange makes the use of imported inputs an economically unattractive option. 
• A significant proportion of the population is UN- or under-employed. 
• Wage levels are low. 

How it can help in promoting employment in India? 

• Local resource-based approach is to deliver public (and private) investments in infrastructure as a means of expanding employment opportunities for the unemployed, raising productivity, providing social and economic infrastructure assets and facilities, permitting trade and generally improving well-being. 
• Given the relative scarcity of capital and skilled labour, and the relative abundance of unskilled labour, countries with low incomes can rapidly achieve pro-poor growth by applying employment friendly technologies in as many sectors as possible. This would rapidly increase the demand for unskilled and low-skilled labour. 
• Several investment programmes have a huge employment creation potential if delivered via employment-friendly technology and local enterprises. Investment in public infrastructure accounts for as much as 40 to 60% of national public investment in most developing countries. Public investment programmes therefore represent one of the few remaining government policy instruments through which productive employment opportunities can be stimulated and more balanced economic and social development promoted. 
• Promotion of local resource-based approach in manufacturing is done in order to optimize their impact on poverty reduction in labour-surplus countries and provides technical assistance for this purpose. 

Benefits of a local resource-based approach: 

• It enables higher delivery and maintenance rates of basic assets and services essential for socioeconomic development such as vital access roads, water supplies, markets and health facilities with the same level of investment and at comparable or better quality standards. 
• Creates jobs, particularly for the unskilled, poorer men and women within thecommunity. This results in the injection of incomes into the local communities, with theimmediate effect of increasing their purchasing power. This, in turn, results in improvingliving standards such as improved diets, ability to access socio-economic amenities suchas schools, clinics, etc. 
• Stimulates local entrepreneurship, community participation and local economic development with important income distribution effects. 
• Enables the involvement of the local private sector and industry, that is, contractors,suppliers and manufactures of local materials, tools and equipment. Hence nurtures anddevelops the local construction and manufacturing industry, retains investment locallyand saves on foreign exchange required for foreign imports. 
• Develops skills in the delivery process that can be used in other income generatingactivities, as well as in subsequent maintenance works. 
• Offers opportunities for employment creation, social reintegration, and the stimulation of local socio-economic development in countries emerging from either man-madecrises or natural disasters. In such countries governments have few macro-economictools at their disposal to revive their economies and to enable economic and social recovery. Public investment in infrastructure provides one such tool.

Conclusion 
Thus, Regional Development leads to the distribution of employment opportunities on an equitable basis and they are not let to confine only to a handful of states which are creation gaps in the per capital income among different regions.

Q7: Discuss the factors for localisation of agro-based food processing industries of North-West India. (UPSC GS1 2019)
Ans:

Introduction 
The agro-based industry depends on the raw material produced by the agricultural sector. Itincludes industries related to textiles, sugar, paper and vegetable oil. The products comprisemostly consumer goods. Agro- based industry is important from the point of view ofcontribution to industrial production and employment generation. 

Factors affecting location of Agro-based food processing Industry in North-west India: 

• Location of port facilitated import of capital goods, chemicals, etc., and the export offinished goods. 
• In North- west India Mumbai got progressively well connected through rail and roadlinks with cotton growing areas of Gujarat and Maharashtra in the interior. 
• Availability of raw cotton, market, transport including accessible port facilities,labour, moist climate, etc. contributed towards its localisation. This industry hasclose links with agriculture and provides a living to farmers, cotton boll pluckers andworkers engaged in ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing, designing, packaging,tailoring and sewing. 
• Development of chemical industry around North-West India made available thenecessary inputs. 
• Availability of capital and financial resources helped the industry grow. 
• Availability of Cheap labour for the industry. 
• Inexpensive water transport, supported by a good network of railways, roadwaysand waterways to facilitate movement of raw material to the mills. 
• India stands second as a world producer of sugar. In recent years, there is a tendencyfor the mills to shift and concentrate in the western states, especially inMaharashtra; this is because the cane produced here has higher sucrose content.The cooler climate also ensures a longer crushing season. Moreover, thecooperatives are more successful in these states. 

Challenges

• Agribusiness is characterized by raw materials that are mostly perishable, variable inquality and not regularly available. 
• The sector is subject to stringent regulatory controls on consumer safety, productquality and environmental protection. Traditional production and distribution methods are being replaced by more closelycoordinated and better planned linkages between agribusiness firms, farmers, retailers and others in the supply chains. 

Conclusion 

Agro-based industries have to set up at rural areas where raw material may be available in plenty – helps in the up-liftment of the rural economy. It provides rural population an opportunity for employment. Generates income and thereby improve economic condition of people – which in turn creates potential for demand based industries. Thus, several factors govern the location of an Industry. But we have to remember that these factorsare dynamic in nature. We can’t say that an industry will always remain in a particular place. Availability of new raw-materials, improvement in technology, development of new areas etc. influence the localization or location of industries.

Q8: What makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss (UPSC GS1 2019)
Ans:

Culture is a way of life of people. It includes architecture, literature, art, science etc. Although Indian Society is multi cultural, plural, diverse having different religions, traditions, philosophies and lifestyles yet it is able to sustain its diverse culture. The various aspects which results in the sustenance of culture are as follows: Features of Indian Society which led to sustainability: Principles of Tolerance and Respect: Indian society has been founded upon these which result in mutual respect and understanding for each other. The religions like Buddhism and Jainism have been founded upon these. 

• Assimilation process: The migrants from the times of Aryans to the Mughals have come and lived in India peacefully assimilating into the Indian way of life. Thereby sustaining the culture of the nation. 
• Spiritualism: The Indians have always curious to find a unique way of life giving rise to spiritualistic elements in the way of life. The various philosophies have given way to a spiritual dimension in the living way of people. 
• Geographical: The monsoon makes the Indian subcontinent very suitable for the development of Agriculture. Thereby Agricultural way of life is lived by the people in various states still today. Agriculture gives way to tradition, festivals, interaction which over a long period turns into lifestyles of people. 
• Governance was basically based upon the Agricultural aspects, resulting in the Unified administration giving way to sustaining Indian way of life. This administration remains more or less similar from the times of Asoka to times of Akbar. 
• Political: The democratic threads have always been in the Indian polity though ruled by the King. Sabhas and Samitis in the Ancient to the Janapadas in the, medieval have always been focused on the promotion of interests of the people. 
• Social: The tribals today also are living their unique life depicting that they have been able to sustain their culture irrespective of foreign dominations on the country. Various castes also have unique way of living. 

Conclusion 
Though the foreigners have come to India looking at her as Golden Bird, but they assimilated into the culture of the Indian people and interacted with the commoners in their unique way and settled here as the Indians. Thereby giving rise to the Great Indian way of life depicting Unity in Diversity where everyone would live with dignity and fraternity. The villages in India are still based on the Harappan architecture which shows that the ancient wisdom is still used by the people of our country in the present times.

Q9: "Empowering women is the key to control population growth". Discuss (UPSC GS1 2019)
Ans:

Introduction
Empowerment refers to measures designed to increase the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities in order to enable them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority. It is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.
Problem of population growth:

• The population growth is the big challenge which is being faced by India. It is affecting the polity, economy, society of the country. It is also affecting rate of Urbanization and Modernization. The Economic Survey (2018-19) has mentioned the steps to tackle Population Growth. 

How women empowerment will help in tackling population growth: 

• Political Empowerment would result in increase in women’s participation in the political processes, structures, institutions. This would enhance the voice of women at different platforms. Hence, women will be able to raise awareness about need of small families and birth control. At the same time increased awareness will lead to spread of benefits of smaller families. 
• Economic Empowerment: This will lead to the participation of women in the economic activities. This will lead to the increase in the family income and also improve the situation of women in making financial decisions. Thus there will be less requirement of income generating options one of which is, giving birth to more children. Thus this would lead to population check. 
• Social Empowerment: This would result in the improved status and boost confidence of the women. This confidence would ultimately affect the decision making ability of the women. They would be able to take decisions regarding number of children they want. Thus it can check the population growth. 
• Constitutional Empowerment: This would result in raise in awareness of the women about their constitutional rights including right to life and liberty, freedom, and equality. Hence women will be able to make choices in the family planning and number of children they want to have. Thus it would lead to tackling population growth. 
• Technological Empowerment: If women are able to use technology like mobile phones etc, they would be able to receive the information about the advantages of small families and right age of having children. Also this would lead to the improved reproductive and general health of women. As the women would be aware of the options of various birth control measures like pills, tablets, etc. Also the test tube baby option would lead to checking population growth by restricting no of children. 
• Educational steps would lead to better knowledge about the benefits of small families. Thus women would be inclined to have less children and thus checking population growth. 

Conclusion 
Hence there is a saying that if “You educate a man, you educate only a man, but if you educate a woman, you educate a whole generation”. This is the kind of effect women have and hence population control can be achieved by the empowerment of women in various spheres. This would have multiplier effect on other institutions of the society and economy and lead to sustainable development.

Q10: What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism? (UPSC GS1 2019)
Ans:
Secularism in India is different from western concept. It stands for mutual respect, understanding and tolerance for all the religions, major or minor and accepting difference of opinions. Context to the Challenges faced by Indian Society: However, there are many incidents like Mob lynching in name of religion which questions this concept in India. The death and violence of people in name of cow protection. The dilemma and abnormal behavior over conversion issues.
Political violence especially at the time of elections. Communal violence, extremism and spread of hatred among the people. These affect the way of life of people in various parts of the country. Cultural practices are the living ways of life of people, individual or collective, in the political, economic, social spheres.
Various challenges faced by the cultural practices in name of secularism are: 

• Intolerance and Violence: This leads to lack of tolerance and respect for each other. Deaths and violence in name of cow protection are examples of this. 
• Majoritarianism: This reflect upon use of religion for political mobilization of the people and spreading hatred against the minorities may be it Muslims, like case of Muzaffarnagar, Sikhs as in 1984, Christians as in Kandhamal. 
• Radicalization: The people are taken into believing ideologies which are extreme and may harm unity and integrity of the country. Security situations can be faced by the expansion of terrorism and exploitation of the vulnerable masses. 
• Fundamentalism: The belief in the fundamentals can pave way to deviant behavior leading to disruption of normal life in the name of religion. 
• Alienation: The people get distanced away from their traditional roots and feel socially, psychologically distance from other people in name of religion. The people going to Middle east for ISIS etc is an example of this. Moreover the various challenges may hamper the inclusiveness of Indian democratic culture by promoting the ideological alienation. The above can result in Distance from Education, Employability, Excellence, fraternity and dignity of individual. 

Conclusion 
Thus, the challenges to the cultural practices in the name of secularism are several, affecting the people’s rights to life and liberty, dignity and fraternity. However, in essence, our cultural practices are founded upon the principles and philosophies of tolerance, non-violence, truth, VasudhaivKutumbakam( world is one family), etc, which in turn are reflected in our modern constitutional principles. Thus, following them in practice would act as an effective check and balance against the challenges of modern times.