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Exam Year: 2020

  • ,

    Caste can be defined as a localized, hereditary, and endogamous group characterized by a fixed rank in a ritual hierarchy (Varna).

    Caste losing relevance

    Decline of Ritual Hierarchy – Notions of purity and pollution have weakened. Eg- Inter-caste dining in urban areas is common

    Occupational Mobility – Caste-occupation linkage has diluted. Eg- Dalits and OBCs in IT, civil services, academia.

    Urbanisation and Migration promote anonymity and mixed social spaces. Eg- Cosmopolitan life in metros like Mumbai and Bengaluru.

    Legal and Constitutional Framework has established equality before law irrespective of caste hierarchy. Eg- Article 14 and Article 17.

    Rise of Individualism – Personal choice gaining prominence over ascriptive identity. Eg- Love marriages, nuclear families.

    Growth of Class-Based Stratification in urban settings. Eg- rise of dalit and OBC Middle Class

    Relevance of caste

    Enduring Endogamy – NFHS-5 (2023-24) data confirms that over 90% of marriages remain intra-caste

    Political Mobilisation – Caste act as a “Political Vote Bank.” Eg- 2024-25 Bihar Caste Survey and announcement of “Caste Census”

    Caste remains a basis for welfare and representation. Eg- Reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs.

    Economic inequalities along caste lines. Eg- 96% manual scavengers are Dalits

    Social Discrimination along caste lines persists. Eg- Hatras rape case or Rohith Vemula death.

    Intersectionality – Caste intersects with gender, religion, and region. Eg- Dalit women facing multiple marginalities.

    New associational forms. Eg- Maratha Kranti Morcha, Patidar Anamat Andolan.

    Caste based economic groups. Eg- Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) promoting “Dalit Capitalism”

    Caste-Based Spatial Segregation (Ghettoization) in modern cities

    Inter-generational Wealth Gap – The Oxfam Inequality Report (2024) highlights that the average wealth of a General Category family is nearly triple that of a Dalit family.

    Understanding contemporary India therefore requires recognising caste not as a static relic, but as a dynamic and evolving social reality operating alongside class, gender, religion, and region.

    (a)

    (b)

    (c)

    (d)

    Correct Answer:

  • ,

    Regionalism is political, social, or cultural mobilization around a specific region, rooted in language, culture, history, economy, or perceived neglect, seeking greater autonomy, recognition, or resources.

    Regionalism as a Consequence of Rising Cultural Assertiveness

    Linguistic assertiveness against cultural centralization– Eg- Anti-Hindi agitations in Tamil Nadu or the recent Kannada-first signage mandates in Karnataka.

    Ethno-cultural nationalism – Region imagined as a cultural nation.

    Tamil cultural nationalism emphasizing classical language and Dravidian heritage.

    Demand for Greater Nagalim rooted in the assertion of a unique Naga identity.

    Religious identity also acts as a base for regional assertiveness. Eg- demand for Khalistan

    Preservation of Folk Traditions- Eg- protests against Jallikattu Ban (2017) were framed as an assertion of Tamil “Veeru” (bravery) against “outsider” legal impositions.

    Cultural symbolism is used for political mobilization. Eg- renaming Bombay to Mumbai and Calcutta to Kolkata.

    Sons of the Soil Doctrine- Movements like the Shiv Sena’s initial “Marathi Manoos” campaign assert that locals must have the first right over the state’s resources.

    Sub-Regional Assertion- Eg- demand for Tulu Nadu based on the distinct Tulu language and culture.

    Resistance to “Mainstreaming”- Tribal regionalism in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh began as an assertion of Adivasi culture against the “Diku” (outsiders).

    Other Factors Driving Regionalism in India

    Inter-State Disparities- widening economic gap between the prosperous South/West and the lagging East/North creates friction. Eg- violence against Bihari migrants in Gujarat

    Relative Deprivation

    Vidarbha in Maharashtra.

    Demand for Telangana before 2014

    Paul Brass argues that regionalism is politically constructed, where cultural markers are activated by elites for political benefits. Eg- invoking “bengal pride” by TMC

    Inter-state disputes over resources fuels regionalism. Eg- Krishna-Godavari water disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

    Administrative Neglect- Large states become too big to govern, leading to the demand for smaller states. Eg- demand for the division of UP into Harit Pradesh, Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, and Awadh Pradesh

    Way Forward

    Cooperative Federalism- Strengthening the Inter-State Council (Article 263)

    Balanced Regional Development- Eg- aspirational district program

    Scaling the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” program for promoting fraternity

    Administrative Decentralization- empowering Local Bodies

    A mature Indian federalism must promote inclusive development, autonomy with unity, and diversity with constitutional fraternity.

    (a)

    (b)

    (c)

    (d)

    Correct Answer:

  • ,

    (a)

    (b)

    (c)

    (d)

    Correct Answer:

  • ,

    Consider the following pairs:
    River Flows into
    1. Mekong Andaman Sea
    2. Thames Irish Sea
    3. Volga Caspian Sea
    4. Zambezi Indian Ocean
    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

    (a)

    1 and 2 only

    (b)

    3 only

    (c)

    3 and 4 only

    (d)

    1, 2 and 4 only

    Correct Answer:

    (c)

  • ,

    Consider the following statements:
    1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.
    2. “Textile and textile articles” constitute an important item of trade between India and
    Bangladesh.
    3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a)

    1 and 2 only

    (b)

    2 only

    (c)

    3 only

    (d)

    1, 2 and 3

    Correct Answer:

    (b)

  • ,

    Consider the following statements:
    1. The weightage of food in Consumer Price Index (CPI) is higher than that Wholesale
    Price Index (WPI).
    2. The WPI does not capture changes in the prices of services, which CPI does.
    3. Reserve Bank of India has now adopted WPI as its key measure of inflation and to
    decide on changing the key policy rates.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a)

    1 and 2 only

    (b)

    2 only

    (c)

    3 only

    (d)

    1, 2 and 3

    Correct Answer:

    (a)

  • ,

    Consider the following statements:
    1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
    2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.
    3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the
    surroundings.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a)

    1 only

    (b)

    2 and 3 only

    (c)

    2 only

    (d)

    1 and 3 only

    Correct Answer:

    (c)

  • ,

    Consider the following statements:
    1. The Constitution of India defines its ‘basic structure’ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy.
    2. The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a)

    1 only

    (b)

    2 only

    (c)

    Both 1 and 2

    (d)

    Neither 1 nor 2

    Correct Answer:

    (d)

  • ,

    Consider the following activities:
    (1) Spraying pesticides on a crop field
    (2) Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes
    (3) Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis
    At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?

    (a)

    1 and 2 only

    (b)

    2 and 3 only

    (c)

    1 and 3 only

    (d)

    1, 2 and 3

    Correct Answer:

    (d)

  • ,

    Consider the following pairs:
    International agreement /set-up Subject
    1. Alma-Ata Declaration — Healthcare of the people
    2. Hague Convention — Biological and chemical weapons
    3. Talanoa Dialogue — Global climate change
    4. Under2 Coalition — Child rights
    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

    (a)

    1 and 2 only

    (b)

    4 only

    (c)

    1 and 3 only

    (d)

    2, 3 and 4 only

    Correct Answer:

    (c)