UPSC (IAS) Mains 2020: Practice Model Test: Answer Writing GS Paper-1

181)Examine the trends and status of Indian art cinema. Introduction

182)With what motives did the British introduce English education in India? Discuss.

183)The Indian elites in the 19th century argued for and launched a movement to reform Hinduism from within in the light of post- Enlightenment rationalism. This phenomenon is referred as ‘Bengal Renaissance’ or ‘Nineteenth Century Indian Renaissance’. Who were the main proponents of this movement and what did they strive for? Analyse.

184)Why did the peasants rebel against the British rule in the 19th century? Were there religious overtones in some of these rebellions? Examine.

185)What administrative measures did the British adopt initially to rule India? Did the initial approach change later on? If yes, examine the factors that led to such change in the approach.

186)Did the development of railways by the British have any positive impact on the Indian economy and society? Critically examine.

187)The battle of Plassey marked the beginning of political supremacy of the English East India Company in India. Elucidate.

188)The rebellion of 1857 was something more than a sepoy mutiny, but something less than a national revolt. Do you agree? Substantiate your views.

189)In the public discourse of early nationalism, religion played an important role. However, a distinction has to be made between the two strands that coexisted during this period- one being a revivalist tendency that invoked the sense of an Indian nation based on Hindu religious symbols and history, and the other- a reformist one that attempted to bring changes in Hindu social organization. Comment

190)Examine the factors that led to the rise of an extremist trend within the Congress circles? What were the most characteristic attributes of this trend? Analyse.

191)The Swadeshi movement may be described as the best expression of extremist politics. Comment

192)Why Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy and political programme did have a wide popular appeal? Analyse.

193)What do you understand by the instrument of ‘Satyagraha’? When and how did Mahatma Gandhi use this tool against the British Was it effective? Critically comment.

194)What was the response of the nationalist leaders towards World War I? Did their views change during World War II? Elaborate.

195)In the overall discourse of India’s freedom struggle, what status do princely states have? Was an active attempt made by the nationalist leaders to integrate the subjects in princely states with the masses elsewhere? Examine.

196)What role did the business class play for India’s freedom struggle? Discuss. What role did Mahatma Gandhi envisage for the business community? Elaborate.

197)Many other countries got liberated from the colonial rule around the time of India’s independence. However, many of those failed or got embroiled into internal civil wars. What made India a success story then? Analyse.

198)What is your assessment of the way the nationalist leaders addressed the language issue post-independence? Substantiate your views.

199)Do you think India’s first Prime Minister- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru misunderstood the intentions of the Chinese in the 1950s? Critically comment. Was there any other way to address the Chinese problem? Suggest.

200)The 1960s and 70s can be regarded as the decades that restored India’s self- esteem and pride. Elucidate.

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