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General Studies 2022 GS Paper II 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Discuss

GS Paper II — Q9

'India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.' Discuss India's role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in the light of the preceding…

'India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.' Discuss India's role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in the light of the preceding statement. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

'भारत श्रीलंका का बरसों पुराना मित्र है।' पूर्ववर्ती कथन के आलोक में श्रीलंका के वर्तमान संकट में भारत की भूमिका की विवेचना कीजिए। (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

Q9 of the 2022 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2022 General Studies paper
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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.

India’s friendship with Sri Lanka is rooted in civilizational, ethnic and strategic ties, from ancient links to the 1987 India-Sri Lanka Peace Accord and post-war reconciliation. The statement captures a relationship that has often been tested by ethnic politics, security concerns and great-power competition, and India’s response in 2022 showed both continuity and limits. In the 2022 crisis—forex exhaustion, debt default, fuel, food and medicine shortages, and IMF negotiations—India acted as a stabilising neighbour. It extended about $4 billion in credit lines, a currency swap, and immediate supplies of fuel, rice and medicines, while supporting debt restructuring. This reflected Neighbourhood First and SAGAR, offering a responsible alternative to China’s debt-laden engagement. India also balanced Tamil Nadu’s concerns, Sri Lankan sovereignty and strategic interests, avoiding interference while safeguarding Tamils. Going forward, assistance should be tied to transparent governance, debt sustainability and inclusive growth, ensuring friendship translates into durable stability.

What "Discuss" is asking you to do

Lay the issue out from more than one side — how it arose, what is claimed for it, what is held against it, and where it now stands. UPSC attaches discuss to broad topics with several live dimensions, so coverage of the dimensions earns more than the strength of your opinion.

Structure that answers it

Set the issue up → the case as it is made → the case against → the dimension both sides leave out → where the balance now lies

Where marks are lost

Listing facts with no thread between them, or arguing one side throughout and calling it a discussion.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS2 Paper 2 (International Relations). discuss: intro > 3-4 dimensions > example > balanced close Full marks: Balanced analysis linking historical ties to specific recent interventions with a clear strategic conclusion.

Key points expected

  • Contextualize 'age-old friend' with historical/cultural ties
  • Detail India's specific interventions (e.g., debt relief, food aid)
  • Address the 'friend vs. hegemon' perception in Sri Lankan politics
  • Conclude with a balanced view on India's strategic interests

Evaluation rubric

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

  1. The answer Analyze India's diplomatic and economic role in the Sri Lankan crisis through the lens of historical friendship. 10 marks · 150 words

    discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close

    Must cover

    • Contextualize 'age-old friend' with historical/cultural ties
    • Detail India's specific interventions (e.g., debt relief, food aid)
    • Address the 'friend vs. hegemon' perception in Sri Lankan politics
    • Conclude with a balanced view on India's strategic interests

    Loses marks

    • Reciting general history without linking to the 'recent crisis'
    • Ignoring the 'age-old friend' statement in the analysis
    • Taking a purely activist or anti-India stance

    Earns more

    • Mention specific aid packages (e.g., $1.1 billion)
    • Reference the 1987 IPKF intervention as a historical contrast
    • Discuss the 'Look East' or 'Neighbourhood First' policy
    • Mention the role of the Indian diaspora in Sri Lanka

    Extra mark

    • Cite specific dates of recent diplomatic summits
    • Reference specific bilateral agreements (e.g., energy, defense)

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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