Mains answer practice — GS 2: Questions on caste census in India and Arctic geopolitics (Week 104)

Indian Express

28-05-2025

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-2 to check your progress.
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The decision to conduct a caste census in India has reignited debates on the efficacy and scope of affirmative action policies. Critically examine how a caste census can serve as a tool to assess and reinforce affirmative action in India.
Assess the effect of the United States' increasing interest in Greenland on Arctic geopolitics. How do territorial ambitions affect the Arctic region's stability and governance?
Introduction
— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.
— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.
Body
— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.
— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.
— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.
— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.
— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.
Way forward/ conclusion
— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.
— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.
Self Evaluation
— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.
QUESTION 1: The decision to conduct a caste census in India has reignited debates on the efficacy and scope of affirmative action policies. Critically examine how a caste census can serve as a tool to assess and reinforce affirmative action in India.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— The decision by the Centre to include caste in the forthcoming census will have a huge impact on the restructuring of India's reservation system. Reservation disrupts occupational homogeneity.
— Part III (Articles 15 and 16) and Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) of the Constitution provide opportunities to implement affirmative action.
— Caste-based hierarchies and discrimination are common in government and private sector jobs and educational institutions.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:
Background
— While the Constitution provided for reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), the identification of backward classes occurred after the Constituent Assembly. Responding to requests for quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the Congress administration established the First Backward Classes Commission in 1953, chaired by Kaka Kalelkar, to identify 'socially and educationally backward' communities.
— The Janata Dal government established the Second Backward Classes Commission, sometimes known as the Mandal Commission, in 1979. It was chaired by B P Mandal. The commission conducted a rigorous survey using social, educational, and economic indices and designated 3,743 castes as backward, recommending reservation in educational institutions and government sector employment.
— In Indra Sawhney vs Union of India (1992), the Supreme Court of India affirmed 27% reservation for OBCs but denied 10% reservation for EWS, stating that economic status cannot be the primary factor for reservation in the absence of proof of structural discrimination.
— The EWS reservation was established under the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. The Supreme Court also understood the word 'Class' in article 16(4) as 'Social Class,' rather than the economic status-based 'Marxist Class.'
Caste census and reservation
— The All India Survey on Higher Education (2021-22) study describes how different social classes are represented in India's government and private educational institutions. For example, in public colleges, just about 10.8 percent of instructors come from the SC group, while STs account for only 3.4% and OBCs for 21%. However, the general category accounts for around 49.3% of teachers in public institutions and 60.7% in private universities. In Union and state public institutions, as well as affiliated and constituent colleges, SC instructors account for 9.6%, STs for 2.6%, and OBCs for 34%.
— Caste-based concepts are so established that it is extremely difficult for marginalised communities to find work, even if they are highly qualified.
Conclusion:
— These examples demonstrate that we must impose reserves even in the private sector to combat such limits. A caste-based census provides an opportunity to strengthen the quota system and create a more inclusive society. However, it can also strengthen numerically dominant populations politically, thereby affecting the rights and prospects of numerically non-dominant communities.
(Source: Caste census gives us an opportunity to examine and reinforce affirmative action)
Points to Ponder
Read more details about caste census
Read about previous censuses
Related Previous Year Questions
Discuss the contribution of civil society groups for women's effective and meaningful participation and representation in state legislatures in India. (2023)
Whether National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine. (2018)
QUESTION 2: Assess the effect of the United States' increasing interest in Greenland on Arctic geopolitics. How do territorial ambitions affect the Arctic region's stability and governance?
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— The Arctic Council is the premier international platform for advancing regional cooperation and governance in the Arctic area.
— The forum has eight permanent members: Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United States, and Denmark (which includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands).
— The 14th meeting of the Arctic Council marked the end of Norway's period as chair. Following a challenging period in keeping the Arctic Council running, Norway has given the baton to Denmark as the Council's next head.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:
— The addition of Finland and Sweden to NATO since the start of the war has worsened tensions within the organisation. Currently, the Arctic Council includes seven NATO member states and Russia. Given Russian concerns about NATO, any chance of the group making any progress is increasingly unlikely.
— US President Donald Trump's claim to rule the region of Greenland has muddled matters even more. Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has maintained that American control over Greenland's territory is critical to Washington's national and international security.
— Given Russia's desire to find new ways to strengthen collaboration in the Arctic, China has emerged as an important partner. Chinese interests in the Arctic have also increased. In 2014, President Xi Jinping announced China's goal to become a 'Polar Power'. Since then, China has referred to itself as a 'near-Arctic state,' indicating a desire for increased involvement in Arctic matters.
— China has no shoreline exposure to the Arctic, and it makes no claim to sovereignty in the region. As a result, Russia-China naval cooperation in the Arctic has added a new strategic dimension to the region's developing geopolitical landscape.
— The Arctic Council is dealing with significant issues. Arctic exceptionalism is dying. With competing interests in the region and a lack of efficient governance systems, the Arctic risks quickly becoming a geopolitical flashpoint. Notably, these discoveries will have significant worldwide implications.
Conclusion:
— Rising sea levels are a problem due to growing climate worries in the Arctic, which is causing ice to melt. The melting of Arctic ice has also created new opportunities for extending trade routes.
— The anticipated influx of new stakeholders into the Arctic necessitates a broader redesign of the Arctic governance architecture. The Arctic Council will have to skilfully balance these critical issues.
(Source: The Russia-China push in the arctic – a new strategic flashpoint)
Points to Ponder
Read more about Arctic Council
Read about Russia-China cooperation in Arctic region
Related Previous Year Questions
'The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China's supply chain and strategically to counter China's political and economic dominance.' Explain this statement with examples. (2024)
'The USA is facing an existential threat in the form of China, that is much more challenging than the erstwhile Soviet Union.' Explain. (2021)
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