20 questions
General Studies Paper I
UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025
- Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture.
- Examine the main aspects of Akbar’s religious syncretism.
- ‘The sculptors filled the Chandella artform with resilient vigor and breadth of life.’ Elucidate.
- How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples.
- What are non-farm primary activities? How are these activities related to physiographic features in India? Discuss with suitable examples.
- Explain briefly the ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India with suitable examples.
- What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their consequences? Explain with examples.
- How does smart city in India, address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice?
- The ethos of civil service in India stand for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness – Elucidate.
- Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture? Justify your answer.
- Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.
- Trace India’s consolidation process during early phase of independence in terms of polity, economy, education and international relations.
- The French Revolution has enduring relevance to the contemporary world. Explain.
- Give a geographical explanation of the distribution of off-shore oil reserves of the world. How are they different from the on-shore occurrences of oil reserves?
- How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones be effectively used along with GIS and RS techniques in locational and areal planning?
- Discuss how the changes in shape and sizes of continents and ocean basins of the planet take place due to tectonic movements of the crustal masses.
- Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources.
- How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.
- Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.
- Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.