Mains Practice Questions

Q. A strong emphasis on state-led industrialisation and centralised planning marked the early years of independent India. Evaluate the influence of Lenin’s New Economic Policy (1921) on India’s approach to economic development and state intervention. (250 words)

Q. The Mughal era witnessed an unprecedented synthesis of Persian, Central Asian, and Indian art traditions. Examine how Mughal patronage influenced the development of the visual and performing arts in India. (150 words)

Q. The proposed Demographic Mission aims to shift focus from population control to population optimisation in India. Critically analyse its prospects and policy imperatives. (250 words)

Q. Trace the spatial distribution of the world’s offshore petroleum basins and explain the geological and environmental factors influencing their formation. (150 words)

Q.“Decolonisation after the Second World War was both a moral reckoning and a strategic necessity.” Examine how the global balance of power and nationalist movements influenced the decolonisation process in Asia and Africa. (250 words)

Q. Pala architecture reflects a synthesis of religious devotion, royal patronage, and regional aesthetics. Illustrate with suitable examples. (150 words)

Q. Discuss the geographical factors responsible for the uneven distribution of mineral and energy resources in India. How does this influence regional development? (250 words)

Q. Discuss how the Mauryan art and architecture reflected the ideals of the Mauryan state, especially Ashoka’s Dhamma and imperial authority. (150 words)

Q. Migration is both an opportunity for social mobility and a source of urban stress. Analyse the socio-economic impacts of internal migration in India and suggest measures to address its challenges. (250 words)

Q. Breaking the silence of the oppressed, Jyotiba Phule gave voice to dignity and emancipation. Discuss how his ideas reshaped the discourse on equality and justice in 19th-century India. (150 words)

Q. “The right to choose a life partner is a facet of fundamental rights under Article 21.” Discuss in light of honour killings and the challenges faced by inter-caste and inter-faith marriages in India. (250 words)

Q. Assess the impact of climate change on agriculture, migration, and resource utilization in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. (150 words)

Q.“Is the rise of protectionism and trade nationalism a reversal of globalization or merely a correction to its excesses?” Critically evaluate.(250 words)

Q.“The architectural and sculptural idiom of the Chandellas demonstrates both structural sophistication and narrative depth.”Discuss.(150 words)

Q. “The two World Wars were less about ideology and more about geography and resources.” Critically evaluate. (150 words)

Q. “Landforms are not static, they are living records of earth’s processes.” Discuss with suitable examples from India. (150 words)

Q. Classical dance forms are repositories of devotion, storytelling, and aesthetics. Explain with reference to the Natya Shastra. (150 words)

Q. Account for the shift in the location of the textile industry from the Ganga-Yamuna plain to the peninsular region of India. (150 words)

Q. Has the 'gig economy' truly empowered the youth in India, or has it created a new class of precarious workers without social security? Analyze with suitable examples.(250 words)

Q. The emergence of the Mauryan Empire was not merely a political consolidation but also a cultural and intellectual watershed. Discuss. (150 words)

Q. “India’s water crisis is less about scarcity and more about mismanagement.”Critically analyse this statement with reference to unsustainable agricultural practices, inequitable urban consumption, and recurring interstate river disputes. (250 words)

Q. “Persian literary culture in India was a bridge, not a boundary.” Examine with reference to medieval socio-political contexts. (150 words)

Q. "Globalisation exports goods and imports values."Critically evaluate the impact of global cultural flows on India’s family systems and traditional value structures. (250words)

Q. Trace the evolution of tribal and peasant movements in colonial India between 1850 and 1947. Evaluate their role in shaping nationalist politics. (150 words)

Q. The architectural heritage of India embodies the spirit of syncretism. Discuss with reference to Indo-Islamic and colonial architecture. (150 words)

Q. “The oceans play a critical role in the Earth’s climate system.” Examine the influence of ocean currents and phenomena like El Niño on Indian weather patterns. (250 words)

Q. Examine how globalization has influenced the cultural fabric of Indian society. Does it threaten traditional values or foster pluralism? (250 words)

Q. Evaluate how the emergence of economic nationalism laid the intellectual foundation for political nationalism in India. (150 words)

Q. "Marginalized communities in India face layered vulnerabilities that go beyond economic deprivation." Analyze with examples. (150 words)

Q. Evaluate the role of moderates and extremists in shaping the early phase of the Indian National Movement. Were their methods complementary or contradictory? (250 words)