MAINS 2015
GS1
12.5 marks
Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Describe four cultural elements of India's diversity and rank their role in building national identity.
Describe + RateGive a clear, detailed account of the main features.
Demand-wise check
- 1Pick four: language, religion, festivals/arts, cuisine/dress (or caste, region)≈35 words
- 2For each: how it divides and how it unites (e.g. Hindi-English link, pilgrimage circuits, shared festivals, cinema, cricket)≈35 words
- 3Rate with reasons: e.g. composite festivals and arts highest unifiers; language and religion double-edged (anti-Hindi agitations, communal riots)≈35 words
- 4Constitutional supports: Articles 29, 30, 351, Eighth Schedule, secularism≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Four elements describedIntegrative and divisive rolesExplicit ranking with reasonsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Describing elements but never giving a ranking
- Picking more than four elements
Draw this
- Ranking table: element, unifying role, divisive risk, rank
Value addition
- DataCensus 2011 recorded 121 languages with 10,000+ speakers; the Eighth Schedule lists 22.Census 2011
- CaseS.R. Bommai v Union of India (1994) held secularism to be part of the basic structure.Supreme Court, 1994
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Akansh Dhull · AIR 3 · Page 15 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Ajay R Raj · AIR 109 · Page 9 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Akansh Dhull · AIR 3 · Page 35 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 9 minutes, then get it checked.