General Studies 2022 GS Paper I 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Explain

Q2

Why did the armies of the British East India Company – mostly comprising of Indian soldiers – win consistently against the more numerous and better equipped armies of the then Indian rulers ? Give reasons. (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

अधिकांश भारतीय सिपाहियों वाली ईस्ट इंडिया की सेना क्यों तत्कालीन भारतीय शासकों की संख्याबल में अधिक और बेहतर सुसज्जित सेना से लगातार जीतती रही ? कारण बताएं। (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दें)

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Directive word: Explain

This question asks you to explain. 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 'explain' requires causal reasoning for the Company's military victories. Structure: brief context (1 sentence) → 3-4 interconnected reasons (military, organizational, political-economic) → concluding insight on why Indian soldiers fought for the Company.

Key points expected

Superior military discipline and drill-based training of sepoys vs. feudal levies of Indian rulers (e.g., Plassey, Buxar)
Effective use of flintlock muskets, artillery coordination, and naval support cutting supply lines
Regular pay, pension (bhatta), and merit-based promotion vs. irregular payment in regional armies
Divide-and-rule diplomacy: exploiting post-Aurangzeb fragmentation, subsidiary alliances, and pitting Indian states against each other
Economic resources from Bengal revenue (post-1757) funding sustained warfare
Psychological factors: sepoy loyalty through regimental identity, religious accommodation (preserving caste practices)

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	2	Directly addresses 'why' with causal analysis; explicitly notes paradox of Indian soldiers defeating Indian rulers; avoids drifting into general Company history	Lists factors without clear causal linkage; partially addresses the Indian soldier dimension; some generic content on Company expansion	Describes Company conquests without explaining reasons; ignores the 'Indian soldiers' aspect; confuses with post-1858 British Crown rule
Content depth & accuracy	20%	2	Covers military, organizational, and political-economic dimensions with precise terms (flintlock, subsidiary alliance, bhatta); accurate chronology (Plassey 1757, Buxar 1764)	Mixes accurate points with errors (e.g., confusing Dalhousie's doctrine with Clive's methods); superficial coverage of military technology	Major factual errors (attributing victories to British officers alone); anachronistic references; conflates Company with Crown army
Structure & flow	20%	2	Logical progression from military → organizational → political factors; smooth transitions; each paragraph builds the causal argument; stays within 150 words	Readable but uneven weightage; some abrupt shifts; word count slightly off; introduction or conclusion weak	Disorganized listing; no clear introduction; exceeds word limit significantly; conclusion missing or repetitive
Examples / case-law / data	20%	2	Specific battles (Plassey, Buxar, Anglo-Mysore Wars); named treaties (Allahabad 1765, subsidiary alliances); quantified sepoy numbers if cited accurately	Vague references ('various battles'); one concrete example only; examples not tightly linked to reasons	No specific examples; incorrect battle names; irrelevant examples from 1857 or later
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	2	Synthesizes that Company victory rested on modern organizational principles overcoming traditional feudal military structures; or notes irony of Indian military professionalism serving colonial ends	Summary restatement without synthesis; generic conclusion on British imperialism	No conclusion; abrupt ending; or irrelevant moral judgment without analysis

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