GENERAL STUDIES – I

INDIAN ART AND CULTURE

YEAR RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY W M
o Distinguish either between the ‘Moatsu’ and ‘Yemshe’ festivals of Nagaland or the ‘Losar’ and
2011 50 5
‘Khan’ festivals of Arunachal Pradesh.
2012 o “The ‘flute – playing Krishna’ theme is very popular in Indian art.” 150 12
2012 o Comment on the significance of fire in Zoroastrianis2m. 50 5
o The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya
2018 150 10
Mahaprabhu. Discuss.

YEAR ARCHITECTURES AND SCULPTURES W M

o “Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture.”
2013 100 5
Discuss.
o To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided
2014 250 10
inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss.
2014 o “Gandhara Sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks.” Explain. 250 10
o “The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia
2015 and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to 250 12.5
the present day.” Comment.
o “Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but
2015 250 12.5
also a tine aesthetic sense comparable to modem painting.” Critically evaluate this comment.
o “Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds
2016 200 12.5
Buddhist ideals.” Elucidate.

YEAR INDIAN PAINTINGS W M

o While bringing out their salient features, distinguish between either ‘Madhubani’ Art and
2010 ‘Manjusha’ Art or ‘Rajasthani’ school of painting and the ‘Pahari’ school of painting. (150 150 12
Words – 12 Marks)

YEAR INDIAN MUSIC W M

o What are the groups into which musical instruments in India have traditionally been
2012 50 5
classified?

YEAR ART AND CRAFTS W M

2011 o What are the major different styles of unglazed pottery making in India? 50 5
o How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta numismatic art is not at all
2017 150 10
noticeable in later times?

YEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY W M

2012 o Comment on the significance of ‘Rasarnava’ in studying the history of Indian Chemistry. 50 5

YEAR INDIAN DANCES W M

2011 o List the classical dance forms of India as per the Sanger Noatak Akademi. 50 5
2012 o Bagurumba folk dance. 20 2
2013 o Discuss the ‘Tandava’ dance as recorded in early Indian inscriptions. 100 5

YEAR INDIAN THETRE W M

o Write a sentence each on any five of the following traditional theatre forms:
1) Bhand Pather, 4) Swang
2011 2) Maach 5) Bhaona
3) Mudiyettu 6) Dashavatar

SURAJBSUTAR.WORDPRESS.COM BY SURAJ SUTAR | 1

YEAR INDIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE W M
2013 o “Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of South India,
the Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable 200 10
vividness.” Comment. (200 Words – 10 Marks)
o “Krishna deva Raya, the King of Vijayanagara, was not only an accomplished scholar himself
2016 200 12.5
but was also a great patron of learning and literature.” Discuss. (200 Words – 12.5 Marks)

YEAR GOVERNMENTS INSTITUTES AND INITIATIVES W M

2018 o Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Comment 150 10

YEAR CULTURE AND SOCIAL CHANGE W M

2018 o Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travelers in the reconstruction
150 10
of the history of India

2 | BY SURAJ SUTAR SURAJBSUTAR.WORDPRESS.COM

 INDIAN MODERN HISTORY

Modern Indian History from about the middle of the 18 th century until the present –
YEAR W M
Significant Events
o The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles
2014 150 10
fought at Panipat?
o Explain how the upraising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of
2016 200 12.5
British policies towards colonial India.

Modern Indian History from about the middle of the 18th century until the present
YEAR W M
– Significant Personalities
2013 o “In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India”. Elaborate. 200 10
o How difficult would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma
2015 200 12.5
Gandhi? Discuss.
o Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and
2015 200 12.5
strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.
o Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi
2016 200 12.5
in the struggle for freedom.
2018 o Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times. 150 10

Modern Indian History from about the middle of the 18th century until the present –
YEAR W M
Significant Issues
o Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-
2014 150 10
eighteenth century till independence.
o It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of
2015 drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years, but its experience 200 12.5
gained with the Government of India Act, 1935 .Discuss.
o Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural
2017 250 15
economy?
o Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented
2017 150 10
polity.
o The women's questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform
2017 250 15
movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period?

YEAR Freedom Struggle – Stages and Contributors from different part of country. W M
o Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torch
2013 200 10
bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss. (200 words - 10 marks)
o Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements.
2013 200 10
Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom. (200 words - 10 marks)
o In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial
2014 150 10
aspirations in India?
2016 o Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase. 200 12.5
o Why did the ‘Moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed
2017 150 10
ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century?
o Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian
2017 250 15
independence since the twenties of the last century.

YEAR Post-independence consolidation and reorganization W M

o Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive roles in the
2013 200 10
emergence of Bangladesh.
2013 o Analyze the circumstances that led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights
200 10
of the agreemen
2013 o Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre-and post-independent India. 200 10
2013 o Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan “Jai Jawana Jai Kisan”. 200 10
2013 o Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya
200 10
Vinoba Bhave and their success.

SURAJBSUTAR.WORDPRESS.COM BY SURAJ SUTAR | 3

 WORLD HISTORY
YEAR INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION W M
o “‘Latecomer’ Industrial Revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly
2013 200 10
different from what West had experienced.” Analyze.
o Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the
2015 people there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present 200 12.5
times?

DIFFERENT REVOLUTIONS
2013 o “American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism.” Substantiate. 200 10

WORLD WARS
2013 o What policy instruments were deployed to contain the Great Economic Depression? 200 10
o To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss
2015 200 12.5
critically.

COLONIZATION AND DECOLONIZATION

o “Africa was chopped into states artificially created by accidents of European competition.”
2013 200 10
Analyze.
o What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to
2014 150 10
Britain’s self-image as a world power?
o What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which
2014 150 10
motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India?
o The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western -educated
2016 200 12.5
Africans. Examine.
2017 o What problems were germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula? 200 12.5
o Why indentured labour was taken by the British from India to their colonies? Have they
2018 250 15
been able to preserve their cultural identity over there?

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES
o The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon
2014 150 10
after independence. Evaluate.

4 | BY SURAJ SUTAR SURAJBSUTAR.WORDPRESS.COM

 INDIAN SOCIETY

YEAR SALIENT FEATURES AND DIVERSITY OF INDIAN SOCIETY W M

o Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance
2015 200 12.5
in building a national identity.
2016 o Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened the cause of Indian Unity? 200 12.5
o In the context of diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather
2017 150 10
than the States? Give reasons with examples for your viewpoint.
o The spirit tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very
2017 250 15
early times, but it is also playing an important part at the present. Elaborate.
o “Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system
2018 150 10
cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment.

YEAR ROLE OF WOMEN AND WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION W M

o Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free
2013 200 10
from gender bias. Comment.
o Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for
2014 150 10
women? Give your arguments.
o Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing
2014 150 10
feminization of agriculture in India.
2014 o How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India? 150 10
o How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more
2015 200 12.5
favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?
o ‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.
2018 250 15
Substantiate your view.

YEAR POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, URBANIZATION – PROBLEMS & REMEDIES W M

o The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values.
2014 150 10
Discuss.
o Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last
2015 200 12.5
four decades.
o Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty or poverty is the
2015 200 12.5
main cause of population increase in India.
o “An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from deprivation.”
2016 200 12.5
Substantiate this statement with suitable examples
o Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain
2018 250 15
the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success.
o Discuss whether formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the
2018 250 15
economy of India.
o ‘Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the
2018 150 10
government in India, poverty is still existing.’ Explain by giving reasons.

YEAR EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION ON INDIA SOCIETY W M

2013 o Critically examine the effects of globalization on the aged population in India. 200 10
2015 o Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India. 200 12.5
2016 o To what extent globalization has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain. 200 12.5
o ‘Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but due to this cultural
2018 250 15
specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society. Elucidate.

YEAR SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT, COMMUNALISM, REGIONALISM AND SECULARISM W M

o Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a
2013 200 10
separate state. Discuss.
2014 o How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West? 150 10
o Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit
2015 200 12.5
identity work towards annihilation of caste.
o What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development
2016 200 12.5
on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.

SURAJBSUTAR.WORDPRESS.COM BY SURAJ SUTAR | 5

 o Why are the tribals in India referred to as the Scheduled Tribes? Indicate the major
2016 200 12.5
provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.
o What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence, addressing
2017 150 10
discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)?
o Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how
2017 250 15
the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India.
o ‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation. Argue by giving
2018 250 15
suitable illustrations.
o How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism?
2018 150 10
Discuss.

6 | BY SURAJ SUTAR SURAJBSUTAR.WORDPRESS.COM

 GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA AND WORLD

YEAR WORLD PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY W M

2011 o Why have Saturn’s Titan been in the news recently? 2
o What do you understand by the theory of ‘continental drift’? Discuss prominent
2013 100 5
evidences in its support.
o What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in
2013 meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place? (100 100 5
Words – 5 Marks).
o Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30o N latitude and
2013 200 10
on the western side of the continents. Why? (200 Words - 10 Marks)
2013 o Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world. 100 5
o Why are the world’s fold mountains systems located along the margins of continents?
2014 Bring out the association between the global distribution of Fold Mountains and the 150 10
earthquakes and volcanoes.
o Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines
2014 150 10
archipelagos.
o Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino
2014 150 10
effect. Do you agree?
o Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of
2014 150 10
Mexico. Why?
o Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence
2015 200 12.5
regional climates, fishing and navigation?
2016 o Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in macro-climatic changes. 200 12.5
o How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of
2017 150 10
the earth?
o What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding
2017 250 15
more than 50% of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia?
2017 o Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects. 250 15
2018 o Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics. 150 10
2018 o What are the consequences of spreading of ‘Dead Zones’ on marine ecosystem? 150 10

YEAR INDIAN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY W M

o Bring out the causes of more frequent occurrence of landslides in the Himalayas than
2013 100 5
in the Western Ghats.
o The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical
2013 100 5
cyclones named across the world? (100 Words – 5 Marks).
2013 o There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghats. Why? 100 5
o Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the
2014 150 10
symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent. (10 Marks)
o Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three Mega cities of the country but the air
2015 pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why 200 12.5
is this so?
o How far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon has been changing
2015 200 12.5
due to humanizing landscape? Discuss.
o “The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.” Discuss the causes and suggest
2016 200 12.5
suitable measures of mitigation. (10 Marks)
o “The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.” Discuss the causes and suggest
2016 200 12.5
suitable measures of mitigation.
o Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help
2018 150 10
in navigation

SURAJBSUTAR.WORDPRESS.COM BY SURAJ SUTAR | 7

YEAR WORLD HUMAN GEOGRAPHY W M
o Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet
2014 150 10
the resource crisis in the world.
2014 o Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world. 150 10
o South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context.
2014 150 10
Comment.
o What are the economic significances of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible
2015 200 12.5
environmental consequences?
o The effective management of land and water resources will drastically reduce the human
2016 200 12.5
miseries. Explain.
o In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for
2017 150 10
development.” Discuss.
o Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas,
2017 250 15
particularly in many developing countries. Explain its implications.

YEAR INDIAN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY W M

o With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, the atomic energy is gaining more and more
2013 significance in India. Discuss the availability of raw material required for the generation 200 10
of atomic energy in India and in the world.
o It is said the India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs
2013 of country for quarter century. However, tapping of the resources doesn’t appear to be 200 10
high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved.
o Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern
2013 100 5
states of India? Discuss with justification.
2013 o Analyze the factors for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India. 100 5
o “Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and
2014 Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed 150 10
beyond the Darjeeling area”. Explain.
o Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile
2014 150 10
soil and good availability of water?
2014 o How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa? 150 10
o India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers
2015 200 12.5
from water scarcity.
o The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are reaching the
2015 200 12.5
limits of ecological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically evaluate.
o Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the
2015 200 12.5
backdrop of rural urban integration.
o Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and
2016 200 12.5
political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations.
2016 o Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport in India. 200 12.5
2016 o Major cities of India are becoming vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss. 200 12.5
o In what way micro-watershed development projects help in water conservation in
2016 200 12.5
drought-prone and semi-arid regions of India?
o Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulse because of which the year 2016 was
2017 150 10
declared as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations.
o In what way can floods be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all
2017 250 15
weather inland navigation in India?
o The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up new avenues employment but has also
2017 250 15
created new problems. Substantiate this statement with examples.
2018 o Why is India taking keen interest in resources of Arctic Region? 150 10
o Define blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development
2018 250 15
in India.
o What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identify industrial corridors,
2018 250 15
explain their main characteristics.
o “The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting
2018 250 15
system.” How can it be made effective in urban areas?

8 | BY SURAJ SUTAR SURAJBSUTAR.WORDPRESS.COM