#280: GS Paper Analysis | Mains 2024
A quick look!
General Comments
GS3 had major direct linkages with Current Affairs
UPSC is relying not just on knowledge but its application
Key demands of paper this year
Analytical skills
Knowledge of the syllabus
Clear understanding of topic
Real world application & thinking
Anyone who did not refer to PYQs & Mapping is bound to miss out on critical marks.
General Studies 1: Society, History & Geography
Society dominated the paper. Key topics:
Society: Migration, Gender, Demographic Winter
Geography: Cloudburst, Twisters, Sea surface temperature
History: Pallavas & Cholas, Quit India Movement, World War I
General Studies 2: Governance, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations
This year saw no major surprises in GS2. Key topics:
Electoral reforms, Local bodies in Governance, Marketization on public health
Narco terrorism, UN Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee
Maldives, Central Asian Countries, China-USA-Ind
Constitution Articles you could mention to score +1 marks in every answer
• CAG: 148 [Q4]
• Secularism: 44 [Q15]
• Public Health: 47 [Q17]
• ONOE: 83, 84, 324 [Q1]
• Cabinet System: 74 [Q3]
• Right to Privacy: 21 [Q12]
• Lok Adalats: 39A & 226 [Q2]
• Federalism: 245, 256, 280, 282 [Q13]
• Local Bodies: 243B (Panchayat) & 243Q (Municipality) [Q5]
General Studies 3: Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, S&T, Security & Disaster Management
Lengthy paper meeting the expectations. Key Points:
Tech advancements like RFID
Public expenditure on social services
Environmental issues like river pollution
General Studies 4: Ethics
Lengthy paper meeting the expectations. Paper focused on applied ethics with personalized case studies. Key Points:
Ethical dilemmas including governance, business & public administration
Real world application focus in cases of weapon industries, climate change, Naxalite issues & administrative pov.
Essay
Essay topics encouraged deep philosophical & analytical thought.
Paper focused on themes like future of power being in intellectual & tech domains, personal happiness, FOMO due to social media & leadership under adversity
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