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QUESTION WISE ANALYSIS OF 2018 GS 1 MAINS

# Questions asked in GS 1 – 2018 Area in Mains Syllabus Nature of question Why asked?

Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the

1 Art and culture Static Static
moment. Discuss (Answer 150 words). 10

Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese

Art and Culture
2 and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history Static Static
(Literature)
of India. (Answer in 150 words) 10
The Freedom Struggle –
its various stages and
Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of 150th Birth
important contributors
3 Mahatma Gandhi in the present times. (Answer in 150 Current Affairs Anniversary of
/contributions from
words) 10 Mahatma Gandhi
different parts of the
country.
Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System
Successful launch
4 (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation? Indian Geography Current Affairs
of IRNSS – 1I
(Answer in 150 words) 10
Salient features of
Why is India taking keen interest in resources of Arctic
5 world‟s physical Static Static
Region? (Answer in 150 words) 10
geography
Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate
Important Geophysical
6 Static Static
tectonics. (Answer in 150 words) 10 phenomena

What are the consequences of spreading of „Dead Zones‟ Multiple News

Change in Geographical
7 Current Affairs Reports including
on marine ecosystem? (Answer in 150 words) 10 features
Journal Science
“Caste system is assuming new identities and
8 Features of Indian society Static Static
associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be

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eradicated in India.” Comment. (Answer in 150 words)
10
„Despite implementation of various programmes for
eradication of poverty by the government in India,
Poverty and Development
9 Static Static
poverty is still existing.‟ Explain by giving reasons. Issues
(Answer in 150 words) 10
How the Indian concept of secularism is different from

10 the western model of secularism? Discuss. (Answer in Communalism Static Static

150 words) 10
The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-

11 orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Art and Culture Static Static
Mahaprabhu. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Discuss whether formation of new states in recent times
is beneficial or not for the economy of India. (Answer in Post Independence Gorkhaland
12 Current Affairs
Consolidation Agitation
250 words) 15
Why indentured labour was taken by the British from
India to other colonies? Have they been able to preserve
13 Modern India Static Static
their cultural identity over there? (Answer in 250 words)
15
The idea solution for depleting ground water resources
Distribution of Key
14 Current Affairs Current Affairs
in India is water harvesting system. How can it be made Natural Resources

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effective in urban areas? (Answer in 250 words)15

Defining blue revolution, explain the problems and Factors responsible for
strategies for pisciculture development in India. the location of primary,
15 Static Static
secondary, and tertiary
(Answer in 250 words) 15 sector industries
What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Factors responsible for
Identifying industrial corridors, explain their main the location of primary,
16 Static Static
secondary, and tertiary
characteristics. (Answer in 250 words) 15 sector industries
Mention core strategies for the transformation of
aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of
17 Indian Geography Current Affairs NITI Aayog policy
convergence, collaboration and competition for its
success. (Answer in 250 words) 15
„Women‟s movement in India has not addressed the
issues of women of lower social strata.‟ Substantiate Role of women and
18 Current Affairs #MeToo Movement
women‟s organization
your view. (Answer in 250 words) 15
„Globalization is generally said to promote cultural
homogenization but due to this cultural specificities
Effects of globalization on
19 Static Statics
appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society‟. Indian society

Elucidate. (Answer in 250 words) 15

„Communalism arises either due to power struggle or

20 relative deprivation.‟ Argue by giving suitable Communalism Static Static

illustrations. (Answer in 250 words) 15

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OVERALL TREND ANALYSIS

Trends in History
 For the first time in the last four years, Art and Culture has the most number of questions from History
surpassing Modern India.
 Art and Culture holds three questions followed by Modern India which has two.
 There was no question from World History which is unique in the last four years.
Trends in Society
 The questions were predominately customised from each part of the syllabus

 There was a neat spread across the different topics except for population and urbanisation related areas

 The trend of connecting two areas in a question continues as in “globalisation and culture”, “women and lower
class”, “communalism and deprivation”, etc.

 Women questions which had appeared under History in 2016, 2017 have been brought back into the society
related questions this year

Trends in Geography
 Geography continues to dominate GS Paper I with eight questions out of twenty for the third successive year
since 2016.

 Four out of eight questions are from the Current Affairs section.

Overall

 Compared to the previous year, the question paper did not throw surprises in terms of variation in marks. It
followed the same pattern of last year where the first 10 questions were valued for 10 marks and the next 10
questions for 15 marks
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 There influence of Current Affairs has become significant and the consistency of this section in the last four
years shows that integrated preparation along with Static portion is necessary.

 The 10 mark answers were broad and gave more scope for answer writing thus challenging the time available for
15 mark answers.

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