UPSC GS-1 Themes and Trends Analysis
UPSC GS-1 Themes and Trends Analysis
me/UPSCproxy
STEP 12
Question trends
Topic 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
World history 0 15 0 15 0 10
Indian society 10 25 35 40 35 45
Urbanization 15 15 15 0 10 15
Poverty 25 0 10 0 0 0
Globalization 15 15 15 15 15 0
Empowerment, communalism,
Regionalism, and Secularism
40 20 15 10 15 30
World physical geography
20 50 0 25 25 0
Distributions of resources
10 15 40 25 10 50
Location of industries
30 10 25 15 15 15
Geophysical phenomenon
10 0 20 35 50 20
Total
250 250 250 250 250 250
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Themes in GS 1
History
● Culture
a. Art For ms - Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art -
excellence of the Gupta numismatic art - contributions of Gupta and Cholas
i.
j. Role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of
power
k. Role of women in the freedom struggle
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● World History
a. Industrial Revolution - why first occurred in England
b. American and French Revolutions - foundations of the modern world
c. World wars - role of Germany - serious challenge to the Democratic
State System between the two World Wars
d. Redrawal of National Boundaries
e. Colonization
f. Decolonization - problems - anti-colonial struggles in West Africa
Geography
● Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary
sector industries in various parts of the world
a. Resources of Arctic region
b. Mining industry in India
c. Implications of uneven distribution of mineral oil
d. Distribution of rubber producing countries
e. development of IT industries - socio-economic implications - new
problems
f. Location of iron and steel industries - away from the source of raw
material
g. Potential of solar energy and wind energy - regional variations in its
development
h. Petroleum refineries
i. Localisation of agro-based food processing industries of North-West
India
j. Significance of Industrial Corridors
k. Coal mining - adverse environmental impact - but still inevitable
l. Natural resources potential of Deccan Traps
● Important Geophysical Phenomena
a. Significance of troposphere and cryosphere - its affect global climate
b. monsoon climate
c. ocean currents and water masses - influential forces - impacts on
marine life and coastal environment - variations in oceanic salinity
and its multidimensional effects - role in fishing industry
d. Geophysical characteristics of Circum-Pacific Zone
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Society
● Tribes - discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs) - major provisions
enshrined in the Constitution of India - tribal knowledge system
● Patriarchy - continued challenges for women
● Caste system - Change and Continuity
● Indian values - spirit of tolerance and love - cultural unity - assimilation -
pluralism - changes and continuity in traditional social values.
● Nationalism and Sub-nationalism
● Regionalism - unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional
basis
● Secularism - challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism - Indian
concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism Communalism -
power struggle or relative deprivation - difference between religiousness/religiosity and
● communalism Globalization - losing our local identity for the global identity - promote
cultural homogenization - New technology Population - control population growth -
● population education Urbanization - new middle class Poverty - various programmes for
eradication of poverty - poverty is still existing
●
●
●
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Fact Sheet
The data below can be utilized in the answers for adding value to it. When you quote
some factual data, your argument looks more authentic.
Regionalism:
● Regional political parties hold significant influence in Indian politics. In the Lok Sabha
(Lower House of Parliament), regional parties collectively held around 25% of the seats in
the 2019 elections - Association for Democratic Reforms Report
Population of Communities :
● Hindus constitute the majority religious group in India, making up around
79.8% of the population as per the 2011 Census.
● Muslims comprise approximately 14.2% of the population, while Christians,
Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others make up the remaining percentage.
Communalism:
● The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports communal incidents in India.
According to the 2022 NCRB data, there were 776 reported incidents of communal
violence in India.
Globalization:
● Merchandise exports have registered highest ever annual exports of USD
447.46 billion with 6.03% growth during FY 2022-23
● The information technology (IT) and business process management (BPM)
industry in India accounted for revenue of around approximately $200 billion
in the fiscal year 2022-2023
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Urbanization:
● Currently, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. By
2050, about 70% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas -
UN ECOSOC
Poverty:
● The National Statistical Office (NSO) report suggests that rural poverty rose
nearly 4 percentage points between 2011-12 and 2017-18 to 30 percent even
as urban poverty fell 5 percentage points over the same period to 9 percent.
Short and precise overview of the Factors influencing the location of industries:
1. Natural Resources: Availability of minerals, oil, gas, water, fertile land.
2. Labor Availability: Presence of skilled and affordable workforce.
3. Market Proximity: Access to target markets for goods and services.
4. Infrastructure: Adequate transportation, communication, and utility networks.
5. Government Policies: Supportive regulations, incentives, and taxation.
6. Economic Factors: Cost of land, energy, and raw materials.
7. Political Stability: A stable political environment for long-term investment.
8. Technology and Innovation: Access to research and development centers.
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The following keywords when added to the answer impresses the examiner. Keywords are
important in UPSC mains answers as they address the question, showcase knowledge, improve
structure, highlight key points, and aid the examiner's understanding. They ensure relevance,
coherence, and readability. However, substantive content is crucial, and keywords alone won't
guarantee a good answer.
Topic Definition
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Social and Transformations in society and the economy that impact social
Industrial growth The expansion and development of industrial sectors within an economy
Allies and Axis Opposing alliances during World War II, with Allies including the US, UK,
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Peace treaty signed in 1919 that ended World War I and imposed
Treaty of Versailles
penalties on Germany
War strategies Plans and tactics used to achieve military objectives during a conflict
reconstruction war
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negotiations terms
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Areas taken over and ruled by foreign powers during the era of
Colonized regions
colonialism
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process territories
struggles rule
Transfer of power Process of transitioning political authority from one entity to another
Post-
Issues and obstacles faced by newly independent nations after gaining
independence
independence
challenges
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Social institutions Established systems and structures that fulfill specific societal functions
Social classes Divisions within a society based on economic and social differences
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movements entity
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Regional
Associations or alliances of countries within a specific region
organizations
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Secularism and
Application of secular principles and values in government functions
governance
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Secular societies Societies where religion does not play a dominant or central role
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globalization worldwide
Cultural Diffusion and exchange of cultural ideas, values, practices, and products
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Globalization and Exchange, blending, and diffusion of cultural ideas, values, practices,
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Quotes
Art Forms:
● Quote -
○ "Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth." - Rabindranath
Tagore
Literature:
● Quotes -
○ "A writer's job is to tell the truth." - Anita Desai
○ "Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the
necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides." - C.S.
Lewis
Architecture:
● Quote - "Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves." -
Julia Morgan
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Freedom Struggle:
● Quotes -
○ "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be
demanded by the oppressed." - Bhagat Singh
○ "Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time
comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure,
but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the
world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom." - Jawaharlal Nehru
(on the eve of India's independence)
○ "Our nation is like a tree of which the original trunk is Swarajya and the
branches are Swadeshi and Boycott." - Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Industrial Revolution:
● Quote -
○ "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
- Jawaharlal Nehru
World Wars:
● Quote -
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Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector
industries in various parts of the world:
● Quote -
○ "Industrialization based on machinery, already referred to as a
characteristic of our age, is but one aspect of the revolution that is
being wrought by technology." - Jawaharlal Nehru
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Book References
Including book references in answers is crucial as it showcases extensive reading, broadens
perspectives, and provides solid evidence. Citing reputable books demonstrates a deep
understanding of the topic and strengthens arguments. It reflects the ability to draw insights
from authoritative sources, elevating the quality and credibility of answers.
Here are the brief summaries of few books which can be quoted in the answers :
The Architecture of
Explores the rich architectural heritage of India,
India: Buddhist, Takeo Kamiya focusing onBuddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples
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Location, Location,
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Gender-based Violence
aimspractices/Examples:Norway's
1. Best to promote "One in Ten" campaign
LGBTQ+ rights by raising awareness and acceptance, ensuring equality and
visibility in society, and combating discrimination and stigma effectively.
2. Numerical Data: The NCRB report detailed a substantial escalation in
reported crimes against women, soaring from 3,71,503 cases in 2020 to
4,45,256 cases in 2022..
Workplace Group)
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Same-Sex Marriage
Paternity Leave
1. Best practices/Examples:
a. Sweden's extended paternity leave.
b. New-age companies including Meesho, Twilio, Flipkart, Razorpay and
Okcredit are taking the lead in terms of giving more time off to new
fathers, sometimes as much as 30 weeks.
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Human Trafficking
Operation
1. Best Smile rescues trafficking victims.
practices/Examples:
AccordingData:
2. Numerical to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
data, 2,189 cases of human trafficking were filed in 2022, involving 6,533 victims. Among
these victims, 4,062 were female, and 2,471 were male. Notably, 2,877 victims were
minors.
Kerala
1. Best and Odisha community-based flood
practices/Examples:
response and early warning system. It empowers local communities,
promotes inclusive decision-making, enhances social cohesion, utilizes
localized knowledge, reduces vulnerability, and supports long-term
development, thereby reducing social inequality.
2. Numerical Data:
a. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)’s
global multidimensional poverty index (MPI), half of scheduled tribes
were considered poor compared to 15% of higher castes.
b. Poverty makes lower castes more vulnerable during emergencies,
according to the findings of a 2013 study by the International Dalit
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Mental Health
Thepractices/Examples:
1. Best National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro
is a multidisciplinary
Sciences (NIMHANS) institute for patient care and
academic pursuit in the field of mental health and neurosciences. It is an
institute which provides inputs to the Central and State Governments in
areas including the establishment of new psychiatric facilities, improvement
of existing facilities and strategizing a national programme for mental health.
2. Numerical Data: The latest World Health Organisation report on depression
revealed almost 7.5% of Indians suffer from major or minor mental disorders
that require expert intervention.
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Historical Timeline
History is not merely a collection of dates, events, and personalities; it is a narrative that unfolds
over time, with each event interconnected and influencing the next. In the context of the UPSC
Civil Services Examination (CSE) Mains, a comprehensive understanding of history is
indispensable. However, beyond memorizing facts, dates, and figures, aspirants must grasp the
significance of timelines in historical study. Here's why studying timelines is crucial for success
in the History subject of UPSC CSE Mains.
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We will understand the usage of the timeline with the help of the topper’s copies as
demonstrated below.
Aditya Srivastava (CSE 2023 Rank 1)
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4. Labor Supply: Industries like the information technology (IT) sector in Karnataka's
Silicon Valley benefit from proximity to educational institutions and skilled workforce
hubs such as Bengaluru, fostering innovation and competitiveness. The availability
of a large pool of trained professionals drives industry growth and sustains
technological advancement.
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8. Historical Factors: Legacy industries persist in regions like West Bengal's jute
industry, benefiting from historical advantages such as established infrastructure
and skilled workforce availability.
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