TOPIC: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from Ancient to Modern times

1.Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti literature and its contribution to Indian culture.2021
2.Indian Philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss2020
3.Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirt of the age. Comment2020
4.The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss2020
5.Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate2020
6.Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art.2019
7.Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss2018
8.Asses the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travelers in the reconstruction of the history of India2018
9.The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss2018
10.How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times?2017
11.Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate2016
12.Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss2016
13.The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment2015
14.“Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modern painting”. Critically evaluate this comment.2015
15.To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus valley Civilization provided inputs to the present-day urbanization? Discuss2014
16.Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain2014
17.Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss2014
18.Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment2014
19.Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of South India, the Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable vividness. Comment2013
20.Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions2013
21.Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss2013

TOPIC: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant event, personalities, issues; The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors/ contributions from different parts of the country

1.Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj2021
2.To what extent did the role of the Moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? Comment.2021
3.Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non- Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement2021
4.Evaluate the policies of Lord Curzon and their long-term implications on the national movements2020
5.Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss2020
6.The 1857 Uprising was the culmination the recurrent big and small rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate2019
7.Examine the linkages between 19th centuries ‘Indian Renaissance’ and the emergence of national identity2019
8.Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate2019
9.Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s2019
10.Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times2018
11.Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented policy2017
12.Why did the ‘Moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century?2017
13.Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy?2017
14.The Women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period2017
15.Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since twenties of the last century2017
16.Explain how the uprising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British policies towards colonial India2016
17.Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase2016
18.Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom2016
19.How different would have been the achievement of Indian Independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.2015
20.It would have been difficult for the Constitutent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the Govt. of India Act, 1935. Discuss2014
21.The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battle fought at Panipat?2014
22.Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence2014
23.In what ways did the navy mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?2014
24.Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion the Indian women became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss2013
25.Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom2013
26.In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate2013

TOPIC:  Post  –  independence  consolidation  and  reorganization  within  the country

1.Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States2021
2.Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success2013
3.Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’2013
4.Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre- and post- independent India2013
5.Analyze the circumstances that led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the agreement2013
6.Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play decisive roles in the emergence of Bangladesh2013

TOPIC: History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, worlds wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc., their forms and effect on the society

1.“There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars.” Evaluate the statement2021
2.Explain how the foundations of the modern world were laid by the American and French revolution2019
3.Why indentured labour was taken by the British from India to other colonies? Have they been able to preserve their cultural identity over there2018
4.What problems were germane to the decolonization process of Malay Peninsula2017
5.The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western educated Africans. Examine2016
6.Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present?2015
7.To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two world wars? Discuss critically.2015
8.What were the major political, economic and social development in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India?2014
9.What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final bow to Britain’s self-image as a world power?2014
10.The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after Independence. Evaluate2014
11.“Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experienced.” Analyze2013
12.Africa was chopped into states artificially created by accident of European competition. Analyze2013
13.American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate2013
14.What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression2013

TOPIC: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India; Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism

1.How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it2021
2.Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems.2021
3.Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue.2020
4.Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.2020
5.“Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment.2018
6.How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism? Discuss2018
7.‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.2018
  8.The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very early times, but it is also playing an important part at the present. Elaborate  2017
9.Distinguish between religiousness / religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India.2017
10.In the context of diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather than the States? Give reason with examples for your viewpoint.2017
11.What are the two major legal initiatives by State since Independence, addressing discrimination against Schedule Tribes (STs)?2017
12.Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened the cause of Indian Unity?2016
13.Why are the tribals in India referred to as the Scheduled Tribes? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.2016
14.What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.2016
15.Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.2015
16.Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.2015
17.Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste.2015
18.How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?2014
19.Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in the generation of demand for a separate state. Discuss2013

TOPIC: Role of Women and Women’s Organisation;

1.Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India2021
2.‘Empowering women is the key to control population growth’. Discuss2019
3.What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space?2019
4.‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women on lower social strata. Substantiate your view.2018
5.How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ration in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?2015
6.How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle-class working woman in India?2014
7.Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India2014
8.Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments2014
9.Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from gender bias. Comment2013

TOPIC: Population, Poverty: Associated and Developmental issues

1.Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail.2021
2.Covid-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment.2020
3.How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer.2020
4.What makes Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss.2019
5.What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism2019
6.Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples.2019
7.‘Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing.’ Explain by giving reasons.2018
8.Discuss whether formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India.2018
9.Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success.2018
10.“An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.2016
11.Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of Poverty or poverty is the main cause of population increase in India.2015
12.Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades2015
13.The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.2014

TOPIC: Urbanization: Problems and Remedies

1.What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples2021
2.Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures2020
3.How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India?2019
4.“The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system.” How can it be made effective in urban areas?2018
5.The growth of cities as IT hubs has opened up new avenues employment but has also created new problems. Substantiate this statement with examples.2017
6.With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the ‘Smart City Programme’2016
7.Major cities of India are becoming more vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss2016
8.Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are three mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?2015
9.Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop of rural urban integration.2015
10.Discuss the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India2013

TOPIC: Effects of Globalization on Indian society

1.What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also?2021
2.Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer.2020
3.Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree?2020
4.Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss.2019
5.‘Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but due to this cultural specificity appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society. Elucidate.2018
6.To what extent globalization has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain.2016
7.Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India.2015
8.Critically examine the effects of globalization on the aged population in India2013

TOPIC: Salient features of world’s physical geography; Important Geophysical phenomena such as Earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, Cyclone etc.,

1.Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions, with examples2021
2.Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on regional environment2021
3.Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats.2021
4.Discuss the geophysical characteristics of Circum-Pacific Zone2020
5.Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigations?2018
6.Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics2018
7.How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth?2017
8.“The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.” Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation2016
9.Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos2014
10.Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of Fold Mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.2014
11.What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences in its support.2013
12.There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why?2013
13.Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20 -30 degree north and on the western side of the continents. Why?2013
14.Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats.2013

TOPIC: Geographical features and their location – changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes

1.Why is India considered as a subcontinent? Elaborate your answer.2021
2.How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain.2021
3.Examine the status of forest resources of Indian and its resultant impact on climate change2020
4.How will the melting of Himalayan glacier have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India2020
5.The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multi-dimensional inter-related problems of droughts, floods and interrupted navigation. Critically examine.2020
6.The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples2020
7.Assess the impact of global warming on coral life system with examples.2019
8.How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and the coastal environment? Give suitable examples?2019
9.Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology.2019
10.How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism?2019
11.What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?2019
12.What are the consequences of spreading of ‘Dead Zones’ on marine ecosystem?2018
13.“In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.” Discuss2017
14.Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulse because of which the year 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations2017
15.How does the cryosphere affect global climate?2017
16.Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects2017
17.In what way can flood be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in India?2017
18.What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia?2017
19.Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in macro-climatic changes2016
20.Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?2015
21.How far do you agree that the behavior of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscape? Discuss.2015
22.Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?2014
23.Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El- Nino effect. Do you agree?2014
24.Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent2014
25.The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called ‘Phailin’. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world?2013
26.Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world.2013
27.What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place?2013

TOPIC:  Distribution  of  Key  natural  resources  across  the  world  (including South Asia and the Indian Sub-continent)

1.Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss2021
2.Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world.2021
3.India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate.2020
4.Can the strategy of regional-resource based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India?2019
5.Why is India taking keen interest in resources of Arctic Region?2018
6.The effective management of land and water resources will drastically reduce the human miseries. Explain.2016
7.South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context. Comment.2016
8.Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations2016
9.Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport in India2016
10.In what way micro-watershed Development projects help in water conservation in drought prone and semi-arid regions of India.2016
11.What are the economic significances of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible environmental consequences?2015
12.India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.2015
13.The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand reaching the limits of their ecological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically evaluate.2015
14.Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world.2014
15.How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?2014
  16.With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, the atomic energy is gaining more and more significance in India. Discuss the availability of raw material required for the generation of atomic energy in India and in the world2013
  17.It is said the India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of country for quarter century. However, tapping of the resources doesn’t appear to be high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved.  2013

TOPIC: Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)

1.What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India?2021
2.Account for the present location of iron and steel industries away from the source of raw material, by giving examples.2020
3.Discuss the factors for localization of agro-based food processing industries of North-West India2019
4.Define blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India2018
5.What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identify Industrial corridors, explain their main characteristics.2018
6.Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many of the developing countries. Explain its implications.2017
7.Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain  2014
8.Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world2014
9.Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?2014
10.Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of India? Discuss with justification2013
11.Analyze the factors for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India2013