QUESTION 1
GS3
10 marks
Examine the pattern and trend of public expenditure on social services in the post-reforms period in India. To what extent this has been in consonance with achieving the objective of inclusive growth?
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Examine the pattern and trend of public spending on social services since 1991 and judge how far it has supported inclusive growth.
ExamineGo into the details, test each point against evidence, and conclude on what it shows.
Demand-wise check
- 1Trend: social services spending (Centre + states) rose from about 5–6% of GDP in the 1990s to about 7–8% recently; states spend most≈35 words
- 2Pattern: education ~3% and health ~1.5–2% of GDP, rising welfare transfers (food, DBT), rural employment≈35 words
- 3Inclusive growth link: gains in poverty reduction and access; gaps in quality, learning, health spending below targets, regional differences≈35 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Trend with dataPattern by sector and levelLink to inclusive growthGapsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- No figures for social sector spending
- Not judging 'to what extent'
Draw this
- Line chart: social services spending as % of GDP over time
Value addition
- DataEconomic Survey 2024–25 puts general government social services expenditure at about 7.8% of GDP (2024–25 BE).Economic Survey 2024–25, Statistical Appendix
- DataNITI Aayog's paper (2024) estimated multidimensional poverty fell from 29.2% (2013–14) to 11.3% (2022–23).NITI Aayog discussion paper, January 2024
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 26 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 23 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
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