General Studies 2021 GS Paper I 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Enumerate

Q20

How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values ? Enumerate the changes taking place in it. (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

भारतीय समाज पारंपरिक सामाजिक मूल्यों में निरंतरता कैसे बनाए रखता है ? इनमें होने वाले परिवर्तनों का विवरण दीजिए । (250 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

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Directive word: Enumerate

This question asks you to enumerate. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'enumerate' demands a systematic listing with brief explanations of mechanisms preserving traditional values followed by specific changes. Structure as: brief introduction defining continuity-change dialectic → two balanced sections on continuity mechanisms (family, religion, rituals, oral traditions) and changes (urbanization, education, legal reforms, globalization) → conclusion synthesizing adaptive resilience of Indian society.

Key points expected

Mechanisms of continuity: joint family system, religious rituals and festivals, caste-based occupational patterns, oral traditions and guru-shishya parampara
Role of institutions: temples, dharmashastras, customary laws, and village panchayats in value transmission
Changes: nuclear family rise, inter-caste marriages increasing, declining ritual observance among urban youth, gender role transformations
Drivers of change: constitutional values, education expansion, economic liberalization, digital connectivity, women's empowerment movements
Regional variations: differential pace between rural-urban, North-South, tribal-mainstream societies
Synthesis: selective modernization where core values adapt rather than disappear (e.g., arranged marriages becoming 'assisted' marriages)

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	3	Clearly distinguishes between 'how' continuity is maintained (mechanisms, processes) and 'enumerate' for changes (systematic listing with brief elaboration); treats both parts with appropriate weightage	Addresses both parts but conflates mechanisms with changes or gives disproportionate space; directive partially understood	Misses either continuity or change component; writes generic essay on Indian society without responding to specific 'how' and 'enumerate' demands
Content depth & accuracy	20%	3	Demonstrates sociological precision: cites specific mechanisms (sanskar, samskara, jati-based networks) and empirically grounded changes (declining patrilocal residence, rising female workforce participation); avoids stereotyping	Covers obvious points (family, religion) with surface-level description; some inaccuracies in depicting caste or regional variations; lacks theoretical framing	Factually incorrect claims (e.g., complete disappearance of joint families); relies on outdated generalizations; confuses continuity with stagnation
Structure & flow	20%	3	Clear bipartite structure with visible subheadings or paragraph transitions; logical progression from institutional to individual level; 250-word discipline maintained with no abrupt jumps	Both parts present but poorly demarcated; some repetition between continuity and change sections; word count slightly exceeded or underutilized	Rambling narrative without part-division; incoherent sequencing; severe imbalance (e.g., 200 words on continuity, 50 on changes)
Examples / case-law / data	20%	3	Specific illustrations: NFHS-5 data on household structure, Kerala's matrilineal continuity, Haryana's khap panchayat persistence alongside rising inter-caste marriages, Special Marriage Act usage trends, or digital pilgrimage (e-darshan) as continuity-through-change	Generic examples (Diwali celebrations, love marriages) without specificity; no data or case references; examples not tied to argument	No examples or irrelevant ones; fabricated statistics; examples contradict the stated argument
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	3	Synthesizes through concepts like 'sanskritization vs. westernization' (Srinivas), 'multiple modernities,' or 'tradition as invented'; offers nuanced judgment on whether continuity is genuine or strategic performance; ends with forward-looking insight	Summary restatement without synthesis; simplistic 'best of both worlds' conclusion; no analytical framework applied	No conclusion or abrupt ending; contradictory final statement; moralistic preaching instead of sociological analysis

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