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General Studies 2021 GS Paper I 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Examine

GS Paper I — Q10

Examine the role of 'Gig Economy' in the process of empowerment of women in India. (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

भारत में महिलाओं के सशक्तिकरण की प्रक्रिया में 'गिग इकॉनमी' की भूमिका का परीक्षण कीजिए । (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

Q10 of the 2021 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper I, as printed
The question as printed in the 2021 General Studies paper
Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2021 General Studies questions

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

The gig economy—characterised by technology-enabled platform work and digital freelancing—offers a novel avenue to improve female labour force participation in India.

Empowerment Dimensions

  • Economic: Flexible working hours and home-based tasks enable homemakers and married women to secure supplementary income and financial autonomy (e.g., social commerce resellers on Meesho, beauty professionals on Urban Company).
  • Social & Digital: It enhances digital literacy, builds market skills, and facilitates spatial mobility, helping breach traditional patriarchal barriers via platforms like SheWorks and female delivery fleets on Zomato and Swiggy.

Structural Constraints However, gig labour reinforces the informalisation of women’s work. Workers suffer from a lack of social security (no paid maternity leave or health insurance), algorithmic bias in job allocation, gender wage disparities, and persistent physical safety risks in on-demand field tasks.

Therefore, while the gig economy offers a flexible entry point for female empowerment, it risks perpetuating low-wage precarity unless institutionalised through safety norms and welfare protections under the Code on Social Security, 2020.

What "Examine" is asking you to do

Test the proposition the question puts to you and return a finding on how far it holds. Examine stems carry a claim, or ask whether something has happened, and expect evidence weighed both ways before the extent is stated — often with remedial measures attached.

Structure that answers it

Restate the claim as the question frames it → evidence that supports it → evidence that undercuts it → the conditions under which it holds → verdict on how far it stands

Where marks are lost

Stopping at description. An examination has to reach a finding, and “examine with justification” means the extent must be stated, not implied.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS1 Society: Continuity, Data, Intersectionality, Solution. examine: intro > how/why with reasoning > evidence > conclusion Full marks: Balanced analysis of flexibility vs. precarity with specific Indian examples.

Key points expected

  • Define gig economy in the Indian context
  • Explain flexibility as a tool for work-life balance
  • Analyze financial independence and skill acquisition
  • Critically examine lack of social security and job security

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Analyze how gig work mechanisms facilitate or hinder women's socio-economic agency in India. 10 marks · 150 words

    examine— intro → how/why with reasoning → evidence → conclusion

    Must cover

    • Define gig economy in the Indian context
    • Explain flexibility as a tool for work-life balance
    • Analyze financial independence and skill acquisition
    • Critically examine lack of social security and job security

    Loses marks

    • Narrating chronology of gig economy growth
    • Emotive words without structural analysis
    • Ignoring the 'empowerment' aspect (focusing only on employment)

    Earns more

    • Mention specific platforms (Swiggy, Uber, Zomato)
    • Reference government initiatives (e.g., PM SVANidhi)
    • Discuss the shift from informal to formal gig work
    • Highlight the role of digital literacy

    Extra mark

    • Cite a specific statistic on women's gig participation
    • Mention a specific policy framework for gig workers

Practice this exact question

Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.

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