A topper · GS1 · 54 pages

Bhoomika Jain: GS1 answer copy

20 answers by Bhoomika Jain, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

The answers

Question 1 · 10 marks · 165 words written

"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'.

Opening

India, being the largest democracy, derives its democratic roots from ancient practices.

India's roots of democracy in civilizational ethos seen through:-

Body

  1. Consultation traditions Eg: Sabhas, Samitis and Vidhatas of Vedic period

  2. Participation in public affairs by all sections - Eg: Gargi, Lopamudra as women who engaged in discussions

  3. Prevalence of elections in primitive forms - Inscription in Tamil Nadu for village administration

  4. Deriving religious democratic practices - Eg: Buddhist sanghas having voting on issues using wooden salakas.

  5. Democratic monarchy Egs Kautilya's Arthashastra - king as "constitutional slave"

  6. Presence of checks & balances - Egs Amatyas, other ministers to help king.

  7. No spoils, rather merit promotion Egs Mughal empire - not following primogeniture - mightiest person won.

  8. Focus on welfare -

Close

Egs Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta ruler) promoted welfare of subjects

Yet, it cannot be said as completely derived from ancient traditions which were monarchical. Still, they are implied from democratic traditions which sought place in constitutional ideal of democracy.