General Studies 2021 GS Paper II 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Suggest

Q17

"Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal." Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu? (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

"यद्यपि स्वातंत्र्योत्तर भारत में महिलाओं ने विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में उत्कृष्टता हासिल की है, इसके बावजूद महिलाओं और नारीवादी आंदोलन के प्रति सामाजिक दृष्टिकोण पितृसत्तात्मक रहा है।" महिला शिक्षा और महिला सशक्तिकरण की योजनाओं के अतिरिक्त कौन-से हस्तक्षेप इस परिवेश के परिवर्तन में सहायक हो सकते हैं? (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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Directive word: Suggest

This question asks you to suggest. 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 'suggest' requires proposing concrete, actionable interventions beyond education and empowerment schemes. Structure: brief acknowledgment of patriarchal persistence → categorized interventions (legal-institutional, socio-cultural, economic, technological) → forward-looking conclusion emphasizing transformative change.

Key points expected

Acknowledgment that patriarchal attitudes persist despite women's achievements in politics, science, sports, and corporate leadership
Legal-institutional interventions: fast-track courts for gender crimes, mandatory gender sensitization for judiciary/police, strengthening implementation of PWDV Act 2005 and Criminal Law Amendment 2013
Socio-cultural interventions: community-based campaigns involving religious leaders (like Kerala's Kudumbashree engaging imams), male allyship programs, media representation reforms through CBFC guidelines and ASCI codes
Economic interventions: conditional cash transfers conditional on gender-equitable practices, corporate mandates for gender-balanced boards under Companies Act, recognition of unpaid care work
Technological interventions: AI-powered grievance redressal (like UP's Women Power Line 1090), blockchain-enabled property rights registration to prevent inheritance denial

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	3	Explicitly excludes education/empowerment schemes as asked; focuses exclusively on alternative interventions across multiple domains; demonstrates awareness that patriarchy operates at structural, not just individual, level	Partially repeats education/empowerment schemes despite question's exclusion; interventions mentioned but not clearly categorized or distinguished from existing programs	Primarily discusses Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Skill India, or similar schemes; fails to recognize the restrictive framing of the question; treats 'patriarchal attitude' superficially
Content depth & accuracy	20%	3	Covers 4+ distinct intervention domains with specific mechanisms; references constitutional mandates (Articles 15, 39); distinguishes between attitudinal change and structural transformation	2-3 intervention categories with general descriptions; some accurate references to laws/schemes but lacking specificity on implementation mechanisms	Vague statements like 'change mindset' without institutional mechanisms; conflates patriarchy with generic 'discrimination'; factual errors about legal provisions
Structure & flow	20%	3	Clear thematic categorization (e.g., legal, cultural, economic, technological); smooth transitions between domains; word economy maintains focus within 250-word constraint	Some categorization present but inconsistent; paragraphs mix different intervention types; minor redundancy but overall readable	Disorganized list without thematic grouping; repetitive points; abrupt shifts; exceeds word limit or severely underutilizes it
Examples / case-law / data	20%	3	Specific Indian examples: Nirbhaya Fund utilization, Maharashtra's 'Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree' conditional cash transfer with gender conditions, Tamil Nadu's all-women police stations, or Breakthrough India's 'Ring the Bell' campaign; cites relevant case law like Vishaka guidelines or Navtej Singh Johar	General reference to 'self-help groups' or 'police reforms' without naming specific schemes; one concrete example from India	No Indian examples; relies on foreign illustrations (Nordic model) without adaptation; or entirely example-free abstract discussion
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	3	Synthesizes interventions into coherent strategy acknowledging intersectionality (caste-class-gender); recognizes limitations of state-led change; suggests role of civil society/market; ends with aspirational yet grounded vision	Summary restatement of points made; generic call for 'collective effort' without specifying actors or acknowledging trade-offs	No conclusion; abrupt ending; or purely rhetorical statement ('women are future of India') without analytical content

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