Mains Practice Questions

Q. Assess the role of Buddhism and Jainism in challenging the socio-religious order of early historic India. To what extent were they reformist rather than revolutionary movements? (150 words)

Q. Explain how changes in the cryosphere, particularly the retreat of Himalayan glaciers, affect river systems, disaster risks, and long-term water security in India. (250 words)

Q. The Indian national movement transcended the demand for political freedom and simultaneously functioned as a powerful instrument of social transformation. Discuss (150 words)

Q. Indian society has witnessed a shift from joint family structures to nuclear and single-person households. Examine the social, economic, and cultural factors driving this transformation and its implications for social security and care systems. (250 words)

Q. “Contrast the bronze sculptural traditions of the Pala and Chola periods. How do these artistic divergences reflect the differing socio-religious environments of the two empires?” (150 words)

Q. “The challenge is not only to remove colonial residues but to avoid creating new forms of intellectual dependence.” In the context of debates on decolonising education, analyse how India can strike a balance between indigenous ethos and scientific-temporal modernity. (250 words)

Q. “Indian urbanisation is not merely a demographic shift but a civilizational transformation.” Analyse how this transformation is reshaping identities, social relations, and spatial inequalities. (250 words)

Q. Discuss the significance of the Gupta period in shaping the foundations of classical Indian culture. How far can it be considered a “Golden Age”? (150 words)

Q. Dead zones are expanding rapidly in world oceans due to a combination of anthropogenic and climate-related factors. Examine the causes, assess their impact on marine ecology and coastal economies, and propose policy-level solutions. (250 words)

Q. The 1920s marked a shift from a single-stream nationalist struggle to a multi-ideological movement. Examine how diverse ideological currents shaped the character of India’s freedom struggle during this decade. (150 words)

Q. Evaluate the impact of displacement and rehabilitation on tribal communities in India and suggest measures for inclusive and sustainable development. (250 words)

Q. Discuss the representation of Shiva’s Tandava in early Indian inscriptions and its symbolic meaning in religious and artistic traditions. (150 words)

Q. How is digital technology transforming the nature of women’s participation in education and employment in India? (250 words)

Q. Discuss how the Quit India Movement marked a decisive shift in India’s freedom struggle, both politically and psychologically. (150 words)

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. Trace the spatial distribution of the world’s offshore petroleum basins and explain the geological and environmental factors influencing their formation. (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.“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. Assess the impact of climate change on agriculture, migration, and resource utilization in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. (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.“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)