UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions 2020: GS1 Indian Society | Indian Society for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.(Indian Society)
Ans: The caste system was initially designed to organize society based on occupations, serving as a means to pass down acquired skills to future generations.

Distinct Caste Characteristics:

• Customs and Values: Each caste had unique customs, assumptions, values, and communicative styles coexisting simultaneously.
• Rigidification: Over time, the caste system solidified, becoming hereditary and evolving into a symbol of status and pride.
• Sanskritisation and Modernisation: Sanskritisation and modernisation played a role in homogenising cultural values, contributing to the transformation of the caste system.

Caste and Its Relevance:

• Economic Change: State development and private industry growth indirectly impacted the caste system by accelerating economic change. New jobs created by modern industry lacked caste rules.
• Urbanisation: The challenges of collective living in cities made it difficult for caste-segregated social interaction patterns to persist.
• Modern Education Influence: Modern educated Indians, drawn to individualism and meritocracy, began abandoning extreme caste practices, particularly in cultural and domestic spheres.
• Endogamy: Despite modernisation, the practice of endogamy, marrying within the caste, remained largely unaffected. Most marriages still occur within caste boundaries, with some intercaste marriages.

Contemporary Developments:

• Caste-Based Political Parties: Since the 1980s, explicitly caste-based political parties have emerged, influencing state policies like reservation and protective discrimination.
• New Casteism: A form of new casteism has surfaced, marked by the success of selected privileged castes. However, the benefits of capitalism post-1991 have not reached castes deprived of education or affected by poverty.
• Visibility of Caste: In contemporary times, the caste system has become 'invisible' for upper castes and urban middle and upper classes. Conversely, for scheduled castes and tribes, as well as backward castes, caste visibility has increased.

Q2: COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment.(Indian Society)
Ans: The COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented and had adverse impacts on both rural and urban economies. The IMF states that economically vulnerable groups, particularly younger workers and women, are significantly affected.

Exacerbation of Inequality:

• Wealth Disparity: The pandemic's economic impact exhibited significant inequality. While the poor faced struggles and incurred out-of-pocket expenses for food and health needs, billionaires' wealth increased by 35% during the lockdown and 90% since 2009, as per an Oxfam report.
• Informal Labourers: Around 90% of India's workforce is engaged in the informal sector, lacking employment and social security. Approximately 400 million people are anticipated to fall into poverty, primarily from the informal sector (ILO).
• Migrant Workers: India's migrant workers, heavily dependent on daily wages for survival, faced extreme hardships during the pandemic, with many seen walking long distances to their homes without immediate assistance.
• Digital Divide: School closures had broad social and health implications, exposing the deep digital divide in the country. ASER reports that around 62% of enrolled children live in families owning at least one smartphone, making education inaccessible for many poor families.
• School Closure Impact on Students: School closures deprived less privileged students of key nutrients, as mid-day meals, which also served as an incentive, were halted. This situation particularly affected families with first-generation learners.
• Impact on Women: India's already low labor force participation rate for women worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment for women increased by 15%, reaching higher levels than pre-lockdown figures, as reported by Oxfam.

Policy Attention Needed:

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity for policymakers to address issues related to public health service provision, economic support for vulnerable populations, and the mitigation of inequality.

Q3: Do you agree that regionalismin India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue. (Indian Society)
Ans: Regionalism is the development of a sense of identity and purpose within a specific geographical area characterized by a shared language, culture, history, and other commonalities. In a country like India, known for its vast diversity, regionalism is considered inevitable.

Cultural Assertiveness:

It is often argued that regionalism in India is a consequence of increasing cultural assertiveness. This holds true to some extent, as cultural elements interpret regionalism through heritage, myths, folklore, symbolism, and historical traditions. However, there are additional determinants beyond socio-cultural factors.

• Historical Factors: Colonial policies laid the groundwork for regionalism in India. The differential treatment by the British towards princely states and presidencies encouraged regional tendencies.
• Geographical Isolation: Geographical isolation and persistent neglect of a region can give rise to separatist and regionalist feelings among its inhabitants. The 'insider-outsider complex' in the North-eastern states is a result of geographical isolation.
• Economic Underdevelopment: Despite being rich in natural resources, some regions remain economically underdeveloped, leading to regional imbalances. The creation of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh serves as an example.
• Political and Administrative Factors: Political parties, especially regional ones, and local leaders sometimes exploit regional sentiments to gain power.
• Linguistic Aspirations: Linguistic aspirations have been a significant basis for regionalism in India. Post-Independence agitations against Hindi as the national language in southern states highlight the crucial role of language in the emergence of regionalism.

Comprehensive Factors: While socio-cultural factors drive regionalism, socio-economic and political factors also play crucial roles. It is essential to accommodate the diverse aspirations of the population.

Q4: Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalization? Justify your answer.(Indian Society)
Ans: 

India's Cultural Heritage and Globalization:
Mark Twain once remarked, "India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most artistic materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only."

India has a rich history of embracing diversity, with a past marked by the amalgamation of foreign tribes and indigenous communities. This fusion has led to a unique synthesis of cultural traditions and customs, shaping the present-day Indian society as a continuum of these historical legacies.

Since the advent of globalization in the 18th century, Indian society has experienced continuous interaction with global counterparts, facilitating the exchange of customs and traditions at an accelerated pace. The impact of global events is evident in various aspects of Indian society. For instance, there has been a rise in religious fundamentalism, with instances of Indian youths participating in groups like the ISIS. Religious tensions and communal riots have been recorded in different parts of the country, giving rise to various hardline groups in response.

Globalization has also sparked debates on religious conversion movements, including cases of forcible conversions and conversions driven by monetary incentives, particularly in Tribal areas and the Northeastern part of India. Simultaneously, there has been a rise in the critique of ancient Indian traditions under the guise of modernity and westernization.

While globalization has presented challenges, it has also contributed to women's empowerment and challenged regressive traditions such as Sati and Purdah. Additionally, it has facilitated the global export of Indian cultural practices, including cuisine, dances, art forms, and Yoga. This cultural exchange has boosted tourism, fostering the generation of new and unique customs and traditions in the country.

Thus, the unhindered access to global forces has, at times, led to challenges to India's diversity and pluralism. However, active participation from Indians and foreign elements in a healthy environment has also resulted in the exchange of information and the promotion of Indian culture globally.

Q4: Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree? (Indian Society)
Ans: 

Obscurantism and Outdated Customs: Obscurantism is the intentional practice of presenting information in a complex and imprecise manner to limit understanding and further investigation by a smaller audience. This approach is commonly observed in various religious beliefs, where the deliberate complexity of information aims to restrict knowledge beyond certain limits.

Customs and traditions encompass the longstanding practices and ways of conducting activities, ranging from marriage and divorce to worship rituals and ceremonies. Some ancient customs and traditions, observed across different cultures, lack logic and reason in the contemporary context, making them incompatible with the moral standards of modern society.

Modern reformers advocate for the abandonment of such illogical customs and traditions, challenging entrenched orthodox beliefs. However, to maintain the authority of old customs and traditions and resist reform, religious pundits often resort to obscurantism. This deliberate obfuscation ensures that information about these practices is less transparent, reducing demands for reform within the society.

For instance, regressive practices like nikah halala and triple talaq persisted in India due to obscurantism propagated by the Muslim Personal Law Board. Similarly, customs such as Sati and child marriage endured for an extended period because of intentional obfuscation. Some religions still practice animal sacrifice in ceremonies, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) continues in certain communities. Additionally, customs like polygamy and polyandry persist in various cultures due to obscurantism.

Despite this, customs and traditions play a vital role in human civilization, fostering close-knit bonds among people. Importantly, these cultural practices are not rigid; they are expected to evolve continuously to meet the changing needs of time and social contexts. Individuals have the inherent right to decide whether to preserve, revise, or discard specific customs and traditions.

Q5: How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer. (Indian Society)
Ans: 

Emergence of Digital Education in India:
In recent times, there has been a surge in digital education products in India, both in the private and public sectors, including app-based classes, the SWAYAM portal, DIKSHA platform, etc. The online education market in India, valued at Rs. 39 billion in 2018, is projected to reach Rs. 360 billion by 2024.

The conventional education system places a strong emphasis on physical presence, demanding the attendance of teachers and students in classrooms. This has led to increased school dropout rates, particularly among girls, attributed to insufficient infrastructure (lack of clean and separate toilets, long distances from home) and various household constraints. The establishment and operation costs of schools have also risen due to various factors. Additionally, transportation challenges in some hilly states further complicate the schooling process.

Digital initiatives, such as online lectures, virtual attendance tracking, 3-D presentations, and assistive technologies for hearing and visual impairments, have transformed the education landscape. These technologies have brought about significant changes, ensuring maximum student participation, enabling real-time monitoring of students' progress by parents, expanding traditional student-teacher interactions, and providing the flexibility to access recorded lectures at any time. Both students and the teaching community have reaped the benefits.

The lockdown phase, starting from March 2020, witnessed a widespread adoption of digital education. However, it is essential to exercise caution and conduct a thorough study to comprehend the positive and negative impacts of digital technology on education.

Given its substantial potential as an emerging market, it is crucial for the government to remain vigilant, ensuring that even the most underserved citizens can access this revolutionary shift in education.