AIR 192 · CSE 2023 · GS1 · 64 pages

Mohit Gupta: GS1 answer copy

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

The questions

  1. Q1Cave paintings are the visual autobiography of a prehistoric man. What can we infer about prehistoric beliefs and social practices from the cave paintings in India?10 marks
  2. Q2"Colonial education policy, intended to create obedient clerks, became a channel for political awakening and national self-assertion." Discuss10 marks
  3. Q3Evaluate the extent to which the Gupta economy facilitated cultural and scientific advancements.10 marks
  4. Q4How are changing family structures and migration trends increasingly leading to the social isolation of the elderly in India?10 marks
  5. Q5In what ways does urbanization challenge traditional notions of social cohesion in Indian society?10 marks
  6. Q6Safety and mobility are gendered constraints that significantly influence women's participation in the labour force in India. Examine.10 marks
  7. Q7Is globalisation leading to the erosion of local languages and traditional culture in India? Justify your answer.10 marks
  8. Q8Neo-spiritual movements in India reflect the fusion of tradition, modernity, and digital influence in the practice of faith. Discuss.10 marks
  9. Q9How does the status and role of women in tribal societies differ from gender norms in mainstream Indian society?10 marks
  10. Q10Do diaspora communities act as custodians of Indian cultural traditions or agents of cultural change? Critically examine with suitable examples.10 marks
  11. Q11What do the accounts of Arab and European travellers reveal about the nature of social and economic life in medieval India?15 marks
  12. Q12Examine the role played by reformist organizations like the Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj in addressing various social issues.15 marks
  13. Q13Examine the ways in which Gandhian mass movements opened political space for Indian women.15 marks
  14. Q14Despite legal and educational advances, why do certain social practices, such as dowry, caste endogamy, or child marriage, continue to persist in modern India? Analyse with examples.15 marks
  15. Q15“Modern parenting in India is increasingly balancing traditional expectations and emerging societal norms. Analyse the social implications of this tension.”15 marks
  16. Q16With the rise of digital media influencers, traditional role models in Indian society are being replaced. Analyse its impact on youth behaviour and value systems.15 marks
  17. Q17Urbanization is posing a threat to the existing urban infrastructure. Discuss the developmental issues it poses and its impact on urban communities.15 marks
  18. Q18Caste 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
  19. Q19Have regional identities in India evolved from cultural expressions to organised assertions of autonomy? Discuss their implications for national cohesion.15 marks
  20. Q20The 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

The answers

Question 1 · 10 marks · 163 words written

Cave paintings are the visual autobiography of a prehistoric man. What can we infer about prehistoric beliefs and social practices from the cave paintings in India?

Opening · a definition

Ans 1) Cave paintings / Rock Art refer to primitive art engraved at pre-historic sites such as Belan Valley, Bhimbetka caves. Cave paintings : Autobiography of Prehistoric man

Body · points

tion

  • Political Setup
  • Kinship Structure
  • Economic Activities
  • Cultural Beliefs (Significance of Cave paintings)

Cave paintings : Autobiography of Prehistoric man

Inferences about pre-historic beliefs

(1) Nature worship and dominance of natural figures. Ex: Sun worship at Panchmarhi Cave (MP)

(2) Shamanistic traditions of pre-historic era. Ex: Bhimbetka caves have assumed figures of male and female shamans.

(3) Fertility cult and emphasis on Phallus/Yoni worship.

(4) Communal Gatherings for worship. Ex: Bhimbetka painting of social gathering of Mesolithic Era.

Cave paintings : Inferences of social practices

(1) Evolutionary study of subsistence activities i.e. → Paleolithic → Hunting Gathering → Mesolithic → Domestication of Animals → Neolithic → Paintings of Agriculture.

(2) Gendered Division of labour showing different male (hunting) & female (gathering). Ex: Soz Valley Paleolithic paintings.

(3) Communitarian living and extended kinship.

(4) Evolution of political setup. Ex: Mesolithic paintings show proto-tribal kingship.

Close · a summary

Cave paintings are a reflection and reservoir of history of ancient India.