GS1 · Topic
Salient Features
Defining features of Indian society: family, kinship, tradition and social structure.
149 UPSC Mains GS1 questions on Salient Features that toppers answered in test series, CSE 2020–2025, most answered first. Open one to see how toppers opened, built and closed it.
Analyze the influence of globalization on migration patterns in India. What are the economic and social implications of increased internal and international migration?
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
GlobalisationPopulation
Discuss how gender-based violence in India is a manifestation of patriarchal values. To what extent has modernisation in law served as an instrument of women's empowerment in this regard?
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
WomenSocial Empowerment
Discuss the concept of healthy active ageing in the context of demographic shifts in India. How does it contribute to social inclusion?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
PopulationSocial Empowerment
Do you think the Uniform Civil Code contradicts the idea of religious pluralism and cultural differences in Indian society?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
SecularismDiversity of India
'Social mobility is essential for achieving true equality within society'. In this context highlight the barriers to intergenerational mobility in Indian society, and examine the role of education on social mobility.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Salient FeaturesCaste
Earlier known as coarse cereals the government rebranded millets in 2018 as nutri-cereals. In this context discuss the ecological and nutritional significance of millets
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Natural ResourcesClimate Change
How is the transition from 'conscious consumption' to 'compulsive consumption' impacting family structure and dynamics in urban areas?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 7 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
UrbanizationGlobalisation
The Indian society's impulse for social change and reform was a response to its opposition to colonial rule. Examine.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Modern Indian HistoryBritish Policies and Their Impact
Communalism gains strength from economic deprivation, and thrives in environments of social exclusion, creating fertile ground for discontent and division. Comment.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
SecularismPoverty
The ethnic and cultural diversity in India has always been bound by the thread of unity. Discuss the major factors that have contributed to the cultural unity of India.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Diversity of IndiaSalient Features
The dichotomy in public and private life in Indian society acts as a major barrier to the annihilation of caste. Justify.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
CasteSalient Features
Why do traditions in our society impede change? To what extent can social legislation be instrumental against old customary practices?
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Salient FeaturesSocial Empowerment
Slums are not 'problems' that have to be 'solved' - but are indeed a result of lopsided and vested urban policies covering infrastructure provision and socio-economic issues. Analyse.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
UrbanizationPoverty
India's linguistic diversity is not a challenge to national integration but a testament to its cultural resilience. Discuss in the context of contemporary debates on language policy and identity politics in India.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
Diversity of IndiaRegionalism
Analyze the socio-cultural factors contributing to the high attrition rate among women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers in India. Suggest measures to improve their retention in STEM.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
WomenEmployment
Women often form the backbone of grassroots movements in India, yet they remain largely invisible and excluded from the decision-making process. Examine.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
WomenSocial Empowerment
How are changing family structures and migration trends increasingly leading to the social isolation of the elderly in India?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
PopulationSalient Features
Do you agree with the view that social media is a ‘double edged sword’? Discuss in the context of its impact on Indian society.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
GlobalisationSalient Features
Caste in India today operates more as a system of identity assertion than of rigid hierarchy. Discuss this transformation in the context of caste group mobilisation and economic change.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
CasteSalient Features
What is gender fluid identity, and what are the LGBTQ community’s ongoing challenges to full societal inclusion and equal treatment?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2024
Salient FeaturesSocial Empowerment
Give a comparative analysis of the tribal and mainstream societies. Is tribal society more progressive than mainstream society? Argue with examples.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2024
Salient FeaturesDiversity of India
Discuss how social media is reshaping identity formation and self-worth among adolescents in contemporary Indian society.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
Salient FeaturesGlobalisation
Safety and mobility are gendered constraints that significantly influence women's participation in the labour force in India. Examine.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
WomenEmployment
Globalization has redefined the idea of community and kinship in Indian society. Do you agree? Justify your answer.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
GlobalisationSalient Features
In what ways do social media platforms perpetuate and challenge social inequalities and power structures? Provide a critical analysis.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2024
GlobalisationSalient Features
In what ways does urbanization challenge traditional notions of social cohesion in Indian society?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
UrbanizationSalient Features
Have regional identities in India evolved from cultural expressions to organised assertions of autonomy? Discuss their implications for national cohesion.
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
RegionalismDiversity of India
How do various cultural practices and traditions contribute to the idea of "Unity in Diversity"? Provide examples to support your argument.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2024
Diversity of IndiaSalient Features
The rise of the new middle class in India is marked by a culture of consumption. In what ways is the transition from conscious to impulsive consumption affecting family structure and dynamics in urban India?
15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
UrbanizationGlobalisation
"India's democratic roots are deeply embedded in its ancient civilizational ethos." Discuss in the context of India being referred to as the 'Mother of Democracy'.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
Ancient IndiaArt and Culture