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SALIENT FEATURES OF INDIAN SOCIETY 1. Introduction 2. Characteristics of Indian Society 3. Features of Indian Society 3.1. Caste System 3.1.1. Changes in the Caste system 3.1.2. Factors Affecting the Changes in Caste System 3.2.1. Different Religious Groups in India 3.3. Kinship, Marriage and Family 3.4. Diversity in India 5. Previous Year UPSC GS Mains Questions COMMUNALISM 1. Introduction 2. Definition of Communalism 3. Elements of Communalism 4. Features of Communalism 5. Factors aiding Communalism in India 6. Evolution of Communalism in India:6.1. Pre-Independence 6.2. Post-Independence 7. Current issues regarding communalism 8. Measures to address the problem of communalism:9. GS Mains Test Series Questions 1. Discuss the socio-economic factors responsible for the growth of communalism in India.Answer:2. The persistence of Communalism as a significant internal security threat, is rooted in the deadly cocktail of identity politics, developmental deficit and systemic deficiency in state capacity to handle such threats. Comment.Answer Systemic Problems Developmental Deficit Identity Politics 10. Previous Year UPSC GS Mains Questions REGIONALISM 1. Region 1.1. Characteristics of regionalism 1.2. Regionalism in Indian Politics 1.3. Bases of Regionalism 1.4. Forms of Regionalism 1.5. Positive Impacts of Regionalism 1.6. Negative Impacts of Regionalism 1.7. Is Regionalism a threat to National Integration?2. GS Mains Test Series Questions 1. There have been instances of people advocating that they be given the major, if not the sole, right to work in their states or regions. Analyze the economic, demographic and socio-cultural factors which have given rise to these ‘sons of the soil’ movements.Answer:Economic factors:Answer:Some of the steps taken by the government Some other possible steps Demands for autonomy:Secessionist movements:Movements against outsiders:Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.3. Past Year UPSC GS Mains Questions SECULARISM 1. Meaning of Secularism 2. Difference Between Western Concept of Secularism and Indian Secularism Constitutional Provisions Regarding Secularism in India 3. Distinctive Features of Indian Secularism Some Judicial Pronouncements Regarding Secularism in India 4. Contemporary Issues 4.1. Uniform Civil Code (UCC)4.2. Issue of Instant Triple Talaq 4.3. Entry Movements to Places of Religious Worship Led by Women’s Organizations 5. GS Mains Test Series Questions 1. "Secularism cannot exist as a positive value in society without equality, social justice and democracy". Examine in the context of India.Answer:2. How are minorities defined in India? Does the commitment to ensure special rights for minorities contradicts the idea of secularism? Discuss in the context of India.Answer:6. Previous Year UPSC GS Mains Questions – Hillary Clinton 2. The Profile of Women in India Declining Child Sex Ratio The consequences of declining child sex ratio:Political Status of Women What are the reasons behind such a low status being accorded to women in India?i) The Caste Structure ii) The Institution of Family iii) Socialization within the Family iv) Class Structure and Women’s Work 3. Nature, Range and Patterns of Women’s Work 3.1. What is Women’s Work?3.2. Unpaid Work in Home-Based Production and Family Farms 3.3. Female Child Labour 3.4. Paid Work 3.5. Women Workers and the Growth of Unorganized Sector 4. Women’s Issues: A Manifestation 5. Women’s Issues: Responses 5.1. Women’s Movements 6. An Analysis of Women’s Current Situation Global Gender Gap Index ♤ EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS ♤ ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION AND OPPORTUNITY ♤ EMPLOYMENT SCENARIO ♤ ACCESS TO RESOURCES ♤ CONTROL OVER OWN EARNINGS ♤ PARTICIPATION IN HOUSEHOLD DECISIONS ♤ SPOUSAL VIOLENCE Domestic violence act Criticism of the act:Way forward:♤ AUTONOMY OF WOMEN Marital Rape Debate Uniform Civil Code and Women Arguments in favour of UCC:Benefits of UCC:Challenges in implementing:Way forward:7. National Policy for Women 7.1. National Policy for Empowerment of Women, 2001 7.2. Priority Areas for a New National Policy for Empowerment of Women 8. Conclusion 9. Appendix 9.1. Legislative Acts 9.2. Constitutional Provisions for Women in Our Constitution 9.4. Women Empowerment Programs/Schemes by GoI 10. GS Mains Test Series Questions 1. Any discourse on environmental movements in India is incomplete without analysing the role of women in it. Comment.2. Feminization of agriculture has led to women empowerment in rural India. Critically analyse.Answer:3. Why is it that the societal trends that maintain a violent order against women have remained intact, when there has been a legal expansion of women’s rights in India?Answer:4. What are the factors responsible for high infant mortality rate in India? Discuss its implications for Indian women. Suggest steps that have been taken by the government to address this problem.Answer:5. Investment in the future of girl child is not only a question of economic priority but also one of social attitude. Comment. How can the government schemes help change entrenched social attitudes vis a vis the girl child?Answer:Role of government Examples In favour:Ensuring Gender Justice while respecting religion However, this idea has certain limitations:11. Previous Year UPSC GS Mains Questions POPULATION AND ASSOCIATED ISSUES An educated, enlightened and informed population is one of the surest ways of promoting the health of a democracy – Nelson Mandela 2. What is Demography?3. How to Determine Population Trends?What is/are the primary source of such data?4. How to Make Sense of Such Population Data?4.1. Distribution and Density of Population 4.2. Factors Influencing the Distribution of Population 4.3. Determinants of Population Change 5. Theory of Demographic Transition Stage 1: Pre-transition Stage 2: Early transition Stage 3: Late transition Stage 4: Post-transition 5.2. Optimum Population 6. Population composition 6.1. Age Composition 6.2. Sex composition 6.3. Transgender composition 6.4. Divyang composition 6.5. Literacy composition 6.6. Working Population Composition 6.7. Adolescents 6.8. Issues related to Youth 6.9. National Youth Policy 7. The population pyramid (The age-sex pyramid)7.1. Expanding Population 7.2. Constant Population 7.3. Declining Population 7.4. Regional variations in age-structure pyramid 8. Population Issues 8.1. Population Problems of Underdeveloped Countries 8.2. Population Problems of Advanced Countries 8.3. Declining sex ratio in India 9. Population Policies in India In fact, India was perhaps the first country to explicitly announce such a policy in 1952. The aim of the programme was to reduce birth rates “to stabilize the population at a level consistent with the requirement of national economy”.10. Appraisal of National Population Policy 2000 11. NPP-2000: The Way Forward What else should a future population policy address?On-going interventions New Interventions under Family Planning Programme 12. Appendix (Population Maps and tables)1. Census 2011 indicates that there is a stark north-south divide with respect to the ongoing demographic shifts in India. Explain this phenomenon and discuss its policy implications for both northern and southern states?Answer:2. What is reproductive health? How does it differ from the existing family planning and maternal and child health programmes?Answer:3. Demographic Dividend, if not nurtured properly can become Demographic Disaster. Explain in the context of India.Answer:4. What are the reasons behind National Population Policy failing to check population growth in India?Answer:5. How does economic development influence the demography of a society? Discuss in the context of India.6. The uneven spatial distribution of population in India suggests its close relationship with physical, social and historical factors. Elaborate.Figure: Population density, 2011 ♤ Physical factors ♤ Socio-economic and historical factors 7. India was one of the first countries to explicitly announce an official population policy in 1952. Critically analyse various aspects of the population policy of the country over the years.14. Previous Year UPSC GS Mains Questions 1. What is the Need to Study Migration? What is its Significance?2. What is Migration?3. What are the Different Forms of Migration?4. How is the Phenomenon of Migration Recorded?5. Observing Migration Trends in Census 6. Comparison of Some Migration Trends Between 2001 and 2011 Census As per Census 2011:7. Can We Now Derive any Characteristics of the Migrants in India?8. What Can be the Reasons That Make People Migrate?8.1. Economic Factors & Demographic Factors 8.2. Socio-Cultural & Political Factors 9. What are the Consequences of Migration?9.1. Economic Consequences 9.2. Demographic Consequences 9.3. Social and Psychological Consequences 9.4. Environmental Consequences 9.5. Political Consequences 9.6. Internal Migration v/s External Migration 10. Trends in International Migration 11. Problems of Refugees and Displaced Persons 12. Way Forward 12.1. Interstate Migration in India 12.2. International Migration 13. GS Mains Test Series Questions 1. Discuss the various aspects of the issue of development displacement. Suggest means to address the same.2013-2(f)-291 Answer:2. Internal migration not only affects the migrant but also the source and destination regions. Discuss. Suggest some measures to tackle the issues related to internal migration.Answer:Migrants:♤ Limited Access to Formal Financial Services results in them being exploited by their employers and they face risk of theft and personal injury in saving and transferring their earnings.Source Region:Destination Region:The various reasons for this situation include:Implications of excess outward migration:Possible solutions include:14. Previous Year UPSC GS Mains Questions URBANIZATION 1. Introduction 2. Urbanization and Associated phenomenon 2.1. Urban Agglomeration 2.2. Over-Urbanization 2.3. Sub-Urbanization 2.4. Counter-Urbanization 2.5. Census Towns 3. Process of Urbanization 3.1. Expanding Cities 5. Social effects of Urbanization 5.1. Family and kinship 5.2. Urbanization and Caste 5.3. Urbanization and the Status of Women 6. Problems of Urbanization 6.1. Housing and Inflated Land Prices 6.2. Housing and Slums 6.3. Over Crowding 6.4. Water supply, Drainage and Sanitation 6.5. Transportation and Traffic 6.6. Pollution 7. Urbanization and Governance 8. Major Programmes Currently in the Area of Urban Development 9. Way Forward 9.1. Inclusive Cities 9.2. Financing 9.3. Planning 9.4. Local capacity building 10. GS Mains Test Series Questions 1. “As opposed to conventional urban sprawls, the new urbanization is rapidly incorporating villages into its fold.” Elaborate this statement in the context of the growth of census towns in 2011 census.Answer:2. Describe “counter-urbanization” and “suburbanization” in the context of India.Answer:3. Urbanisation and migration have increased the vulnerability of elderly in India. Comment. Also, discuss the measures which should be taken to address their vulnerabilities.Answer:4. In post-independence India, cities were expected to be a vehicle for social change, but they also became the symbols of contradictions, which had been plaguing the countryside for a long time. Comment.Answer:5. Rapid urban growth in the context of scarce socio-economic and legal support to the poor is an inevitable recipe for mass production of slums. Discuss in the context of India.Answer:6. With overpopulated cities and their strained infrastructure, India is in the midst of an urban crisis. How far can the Smart Cities Mission help in upgradation of existing cities in the country? What are the reservations of local bodies with respect to this mission?Answer:7. Give an account of the factors driving people to migrate from the countryside to urban areas even if it entails living in slums. Highlight some important facts about slums unique to India. Also discuss some strategies which can be adopted for transforming India's slums.Answer:Unique Facts Strategies for Transformation Policy challenges Reasons:Way Forward:11. Previous Year UPSC GS Mains Questions 1. Introduction 2. Impact of Globalization on Indian Culture 2.1. Homogenization versus Glocalization of culture 2.2. Revival of Culture 3. Impact of Globalization on Women in India 3.1. Positive of Globalization 3.2. Negative Aspects of Globalization 4. Impact of Globalization on Youth in India 5. Impact of Globalization on Family Structure of the family Functions of the family Inter-personal relations 6. Impact on Caste System 7. Socio-Economic Impact of Globalization Positive Impact includes Negatives 7.2. Impact of Globalization on Informal sector 7.3. Impact of Globalization on Agriculture 8. Globalization and Environment 8.1. Ways in Which Globalization Affects Environment 8.2. Ways in Which Environment Affects Globalization 9. Way Forward 10. GS Mains Test Series Questions 1. How has globalization affected Indian culture? Does it pose a threat to our indigenous crafts and knowledge systems?Answer:2. Intensified globalization has resulted in a transformation of youth in India. Comment. Approach:3. Critically evaluate if globalization is transforming “social inequalities” into “economic inequalities”.Answer:4. Instead of ushering in a classless society, globalization has in fact brought about a distinct class divide and also strengthened the caste system in India. Critically examine.Answer:5. “Globalization will end up making all cultures of the world homogeneous”. Critically examine the statement taking examples from socio-cultural and economic life of India.Answer:6. Discuss the impact of globalization on mass media in India. Also examine whether cinema influences society or it is vice-versa.Answer:7. Even though globalisation has led to increased employment opportunities for women, it has also created a new set of challenges for women workers. Discuss with examples.Answer:11. Previous Year UPSC GS Mains Questions WELFARE SCHEMES FOR VULNERABLE SECTIONS OF THE POPULATION BY THE CENTRE AND STATES AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE SCHEMES; MECHANISMS, LAWS, INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES CONSTITUTED FOR THE PROTECTION AND BETTERMENT OF THESE VULNERABLE SECTIONS 1. Vulnerable Sections 2. Rationale of Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections Constitutional and Philosophical Basis Humanitarian Grounds Economic Imperative Nation Building 3. Vulnerable Sections of Society 3.1. Children 3.2. Women 3.3. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes 3.4. Senior Citizens/Aged 3.5. Disabled Persons 3.6. Minorities 3.7. LGBT Community 3.8. Poor Persons 4. Performance of Various Other Schemes 4.1. National Rural Health Mission 4.2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)4.3. Recent Initiatives for Improving Monitoring of Various Schemes 4.4. Way Forward 5. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections 5.1. Mechanisms Existing in India for Vulnerable Sections 5.2. Laws Pertaining to Betterment of Vulnerable Sections 5.3. Institutions and Bodies for the betterment of these vulnerable sections 6. Previous Years GS Mains Test Series Questions 1. It has been argued that the recent order of the Supreme Court to prevent the misuse of Section 498A institutionalises the prejudices and rehabilitates the myths, which the women’s movement in India has battled over decades. Discuss.Answer:2. Human Trafficking in India has emerged as a serious issue, which calls for understanding the complexity of the problem and devising an effective strategy to combat it. Discuss.Answer:3. Examine the steps taken by the government over the years to ensure a secure and exploitation-free childhood for its citizens. Further analyse how the recent ratification of the two key ILO conventions will help India’s fight against child labour.Answer:4. Recent judgment of the Supreme Court, amending the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 has invoked varied reponses. Highlighting the amendment, critically examine its likely impact on application of the law.Answer:Positive Impacts of the Amendment:Negative Impacts of the Amendment:Causes of Bonded Labour:♤ Illiteracy, ignorance, lack of skills and poor implementation of legal protection. Problems faced by Bonded labour Initiatives for the elimination of bonded labour Rights Available Under the Act:Government Schemes:The objectives of the act can be summarised as following:Reasons for declining rate of child adoption in India Provision for child- adoption in JJ Act 2015 But some concerns remain Problems faced by Dalit entrepreneurs Steps taken by government ♤ Focus on low income households:♤ Conflating sex ratio with family planning:Lacunae in access and implementation:7. Previous Year UPSC Questions