UPSC Mains 2020 · GS I · Q10 · 10 marks · 150 words

Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness ? Argue.

हिन्दी में

क्या आप सहमत हैं कि भारत में क्षेत्रीयता बढ़ती हुई सांस्कृतिक मुखरता का परिणाम प्रतीत होती है ? तर्क कीजिए ।

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Examine the reasons behind generation of regional sentiments? Do you agree that regional sentiments and cultural assertiveness may lead to the issue of separatism?”

Madhav AgarwalAIR 16 · CSE 2024 · 212 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Regionalism is a phenomenon where people choose regional identity over national identity. It is based on "geographical concentration" of identity markers.

Reasons behind generation of regional sentiments:

Body

(i) Imbalanced economic deprivation of a region. (eg: Telangana state due to poor development)

(ii) Chauvinism based on language. (eg: Son of Soil Policy in Maharashtra.

(iii) Political factors: who use regional sentiments to fulfill their own vested interests.

(iv) Feeling of "otherisation" eg: North East Exodus from Bangalore.

(v) Identity based on historic folklores

eg: Bundelkhand region through folklores of past

(vi) Competition of resources :-

eg: Inter-state disputes among states for rivers, eg: Maharasthra, Karnataka

Regional sentiments & Cultural assertiveness leading to separatism :

Yes both can lead to separation by promoting solidarity in region but having an ETHNOCENTRIC view against other regions.

eg: Demand for Greater Nagalim to forge a Naga Identity/culture

Similarly in religion can be seen from secessionist demands of Khalistan in Punjab.

Demands of separation can also be from State but within India

Diagram
- Demand for Kukiland (Manipur) - Demand for separate Bundelkhand State (MP) - Demand for Tipraland (Tripura)

Ways to foster solidarity

→ 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat' → Balanced regional growth through tax incentives → Political Sensitization & rule of law

Close

We need to boost regional identities that allow for self determination & boost to diversity rather than which leads to conflicts and chaos.

2 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper I, Q10. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.