GS Paper 1 UPSC 2024 (Mains) question paper and analysis-related details are available here. Check the list of topics, all the questions are asked from. Further details related to the UPSC CSE GS paper 1 exam analysis are provided below.

UPSC conducted the General Studies Paper 1, as part of the Civil Services Main Exam 2024 on 21-09-2024.

The question paper comprises a total of 20 questions. Out of these, 10 questions are of 10 marks each, and the rest of the 10 questions are of 15 marks.

Further details related to UPSC CSE GS Paper 1 Mains 2024 is provided below.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 1 UPSC 2024: Instructions

Check the exam instructions mentioned on the UPSC CSE GS 1 mains question paper:

Total Marks: 250 marks, Time duration: 3 hours.
There are 20 questions printed both in ENGLISH and HINDI.
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is printed against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the admission certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this question-cum-answer (QCA) booklet in the space provided.
No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
Answers to questions no. 1 to 10 should be in 150 words, whereas answers to questions no. 11 to 20 should be in 250 words.
Keep the word limit indicated in the questions in mind.
Any page or portion of the page left blank, must be struck off clearly.
The content of the answer is more important than its length.

General Studies Paper 1 Question Paper: UPSC Civil Services Main Exam (Written) 2024

Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period. (Answer in 150 words)
Estimate the contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi for the development of art and literature of South India. (Answer in 150 words)
What were the events that led to the Quit India Movement? Point out its results. (Answer in 150 words)
What is sea surface temperature rise? How does it affect the formation of tropical cyclones? (Answer in 150 words)
Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns? Discuss in the light of conditions in developing countries. (Answer in 150 words)
What is the phenomenon of ‘cloudbursts’? Explain. (Answer in 150 words)
What is the concept of a ‘demographic winter’? Is the world moving towards such a situation? Elaborate. (Answer in 150 words)
Distinguish between gender equality, gender equity and women’s empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation? (Answer in 150 words)
Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
In dealing with socio-economic Issues of development, what kind of collaboration between government, NGOs and private sector would be most productive? (Answer in 150 words)
“Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with great pride because of their highest achievements in the domain of art and architecture”. Comment. (Answer in 250 words)
How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of balance of power? (Answer in 250 words)
How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India? (Answer in 250 words)
The groundwater potential of the gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India? (Answer in 250 words)
What are aurora australis and aurora borealis? How are these triggered? (Answer in 250 words)
What is a twister? Why are the majority of twisters observed in areas around the Gulf of Mexico? (Answer in 250 words)
What is regional disparity How does it differ from diversity? How serious is the issue of regional disparity in India? (Answer in 250 words)
Despite comprehensive policies for equity and social justice, underprivileged sections are not yet getting the full benefits of affirmative action envisaged by the Constitution. Comment. (Answer in 250 words)
Globalization has increased urban migration by skilled, young, unmarried women from various classes. How has this trend impacted upon their personal freedom and relationship with family? (Answer in 250 words)
Critically analyse the proposition that there is a high correlation between India’s cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities. (Answer in 250 words)

UPSC CSE Mains 2024 General Studies Paper 1 Question Topics

Here are brief notes on each of the questions from the UPSC CSE Mains 2024 General Studies Paper 1:

1. Changes in Society and Economy from Rig Vedic to Later Vedic Period

Society: Transition from a nomadic, pastoral society to a more settled, agrarian one. Shift in power from tribal assemblies to monarchy. Increased stratification of society into varnas.
Economy: Focus shifted from cattle rearing to agriculture, with use of iron tools (plough). Emergence of private land ownership, urbanization, and rise of surplus production.

2. Contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi to South Indian Art and Literature

Art: Pallavas initiated rock-cut architecture (Mahabalipuram), later evolving into structural temples like Kailasanatha. Sculpture and iconography flourished.
Literature: Encouraged Sanskrit literature and promoted scholars like Bharavi and Dandin. Dravidian culture enriched, marking a golden era in the south.

3. Events Leading to the Quit India Movement and Its Results

Events: British refusal to grant India dominion status after WWII; growing unrest. Cripps Mission failure and continued exploitation during the war. Gandhi’s call for “Do or Die.”
Results: Widespread uprisings, brutal British suppression, and mass arrests of leaders. Though short-term success was limited, it led to growing disillusionment with British rule and strengthened the call for freedom.

4. Sea Surface Temperature Rise and Its Effect on Tropical Cyclones

Sea Surface Temperature (SST): The rise in SST due to global warming increases ocean heat content, fueling more intense tropical cyclones.
Cyclones: Warmer waters provide more energy for cyclone formation, increasing their frequency, intensity, and destructive power.

5. Why Large Cities Attract More Migrants than Smaller Towns?

Opportunities: Large cities offer better employment prospects, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and housing, which are scarce in smaller towns.
Developing Countries: Push factors like rural poverty and lack of services in smaller towns exacerbate migration trends.

6. Cloudbursts: Explanation of the Phenomenon

Cloudbursts: Sudden, intense rainfall over a small area, caused by orographic lift or rapid condensation of water vapor. Prevalent in hilly areas.
Impact: Leads to flash floods, landslides, and damage in vulnerable regions.

7. Demographic Winter and its Global Implications

Demographic Winter: Phenomenon where birth rates fall below replacement levels, leading to population decline and aging.
Global Trend: Some countries (e.g., Japan, Italy) are experiencing this, leading to economic strain, shrinking workforce, and higher dependency ratios.

8. Distinction between Gender Equality, Equity, and Women’s Empowerment

Equality: Equal treatment of men and women.
Equity: Fairness in treatment based on respective needs.
Empowerment: Enabling women to control their own lives. Important in designing inclusive programs that ensure equal opportunities.

9. Intercaste vs. Interreligious Marriages

Intercaste Marriages: Increased between castes with socio-economic parity due to shared social circles and rising education.
Interreligious Marriages: Less frequent due to religious dogma, societal taboos, and family opposition, making them less accepted.

10. Government-NGO-Private Sector Collaboration for Socio-Economic Development

Collaboration: Government provides regulation, NGOs offer grassroots connections, and private sector brings efficiency and funding.
Most Productive: Synergizing strengths for better implementation of development policies.

11. Cholas’ Contribution to Art and Architecture

Achievements: Known for grand temples (Brihadeeswara), bronze sculpture, and Tamil literature. Their style influenced south Indian temple architecture.
Legacy: The Cholas’ artistic innovations left a lasting cultural and architectural heritage.

12. First World War and Balance of Power

Balance of Power: European nations entered the war to maintain political balance against rising German influence. Power blocs (Triple Entente, Triple Alliance) led to the war.
Other Factors: Economic rivalries and imperialism also played key roles.

13. Industrial Revolution’s Impact on Indian Handicrafts

Impact: Cheap mass-produced goods from England led to the decline of traditional industries like textiles, causing unemployment and poverty among artisans.
British Policies: Trade policies favored British imports over Indian goods, hastening the decline.

14. Decline of Groundwater in the Gangetic Valley and Food Security

Groundwater Decline: Over-extraction for agriculture reduces availability for irrigation, risking food production in a region critical to India’s food supply.
Food Security: Affects yields, increases costs, and leads to water conflicts.

15. Aurora Australis and Aurora Borealis

Auroras: Natural light displays in polar regions, caused by solar winds interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.
Trigger: Charged particles from the sun hit the Earth’s magnetosphere, causing atmospheric gases to emit light.

16. Twisters and Why They Occur near the Gulf of Mexico

Twister: A violent rotating column of air, commonly known as a tornado.
Gulf of Mexico: The region’s warm, moist air meets cooler air, creating ideal conditions for tornado formation.

17. Regional Disparity vs. Diversity

Disparity: Differences in economic development across regions.
Diversity: Differences in culture, language, and practices. Regional disparity in India is serious due to uneven resource distribution and policy failures.

18. Underprivileged Sections and Affirmative Action

Challenges: Though policies exist, implementation gaps, societal discrimination, and lack of awareness hinder full benefits to the underprivileged.
Affirmative Action: Needs more targeted interventions for better results.

19. Impact of Urban Migration by Young, Unmarried Women

Freedom: Migration offers greater financial independence and personal freedom.
Family Relations: Strains traditional family structures, but also leads to evolving social norms regarding gender roles.

20. Correlation between India’s Cultural Diversity and Socio-Economic Marginalities

Diversity: India’s cultural variety often correlates with regional and socio-economic divides.
Marginalization: Tribal and minority communities are often left behind in economic development, deepening socio-economic marginalities.

GS Paper 1 UPSC 2024 (Mains): Question Paper Analysis

Please find my analysis of the UPSC CSE Mains 2024 General Studies Paper 1:

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Thematic Focus

The paper covers a wide range of themes across history, geography, social issues, and environmental studies. The questions reflect a balanced approach between factual knowledge and conceptual understanding.

Historical and Cultural Heritage: Several questions are rooted in India’s history, such as the contributions of the Pallavas and Cholas, the Rig Vedic to Later Vedic transition, and the impact of the First World War. These questions demand a clear understanding of cultural evolution, key contributions to Indian art and architecture, and the socio-political context of historical events.
Indian Freedom Struggle: The inclusion of the Quit India Movement underscores the importance of understanding key turning points in India’s fight for independence. The question not only asks for the historical narrative but also the results of the movement, emphasizing cause-effect relationships in history.
Geographical Phenomena and Environmental Issues: Topics like sea surface temperature rise, cloudbursts, auroras, and twisters demonstrate the paper’s focus on environmental science and physical geography. These questions test the candidate’s understanding of natural phenomena and their broader implications, such as the formation of tropical cyclones due to global warming.
Social Issues and Gender Equality: Questions on gender equality, equity, and women’s empowerment, as well as urban migration by young women, highlight the paper’s emphasis on contemporary social issues. The question on intercaste vs. interreligious marriages reflects the ongoing relevance of caste and religion in Indian society, whereas gender issues are connected to wider global concerns about equity and empowerment.
Development and Governance: The questions on NGO-private sector-government collaboration and the challenges of regional disparity point toward governance and development themes. These questions explore the role of multiple stakeholders in driving socio-economic progress and address disparities that are critical to policymaking.
Environmental Sustainability and Resource Management: The concern about groundwater depletion in the Gangetic Valley and its impact on food security highlights environmental sustainability challenges. The question links resource management to broader national concerns like food security, bringing in the intersection of environment and economy.

Key Observations

Emphasis on Contemporary Relevance: The paper includes several questions that require an understanding of current global and national trends. For instance, demographic winter and urban migration reflect ongoing demographic shifts, while the focus on climate-related phenomena shows an awareness of pressing environmental challenges.
Interdisciplinary Nature: The questions encourage an interdisciplinary approach, merging history with sociology, geography with environmental science, and economics with social equity. This tests a candidate’s ability to integrate knowledge across subjects.
Balance of Theoretical and Practical Understanding: Questions like the one on gender equality or the role of Cholas in architecture require both theoretical grounding and practical examples. Similarly, environmental questions demand a blend of scientific facts and real-world implications.
Development-Centric Focus: Several questions, particularly those on regional disparity, affirmative action, and collaborations for development, focus on socio-economic challenges in India. This reflects UPSC’s focus on development issues and governance, crucial for candidates to understand.

Challenge Level

The questions are analytical rather than purely factual, demanding candidates to explain concepts, analyze events, and link causes to effects. This requires an ability to condense vast knowledge into concise answers, a hallmark of the UPSC CSE exam. Topics like demographic winter and gender equity are conceptually dense and need both clear articulation and contemporary examples.

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Conclusion

The paper tests the aspirants’ ability to understand and analyze a variety of themes through a lens of historical perspective, environmental concern, and socio-economic development.

It also reflects the growing importance of current affairs, particularly in terms of sustainable development and social justice.

Candidates need to draw on diverse sources of knowledge and express nuanced arguments within the limited word count, showcasing not just content mastery but also precision and clarity in communication.

GS Paper 1 UPSC 2024 (Mains) Question Paper and Analysis