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General Studies 2023 GS Paper I 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Analyse

GS Paper I — Q8

Do you think marriage as a sacrament is loosing its value in Modern India? (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

क्या आप सोचते हैं कि, आधुनिक भारत में विवाह एक संस्कार के रूप में अपना मूल्य खोता जा रहा है? (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

Q8 of the 2023 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper I, as printed
The question as printed in the 2023 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.

Traditionally, marriage in Indian ethos is regarded as a sacrament (samskara) consecrated through rituals like saptapadi, signifying an indissoluble, divine union rather than a dissoluble civil contract. In modern India, this sacramental character is undergoing significant shifts.

Erosion of Sacramental Rigidity: Legal reforms, including the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 (introducing divorce provisions), the Special Marriage Act 1954, and judicial recognition of live-in relationships, have infused contractual elements into marriage. Societal transformations—such as women’s increasing economic independence, delayed marriages, rising divorce rates, and inter-caste or inter-faith unions—have prioritized individual autonomy over sacramental fatalism.

Enduring Sanctity: However, the sacramental foundation remains resilient. Over 90% of Indian marriages remain arranged, traditional religious ceremonies continue across classes, and the judiciary repeatedly reinforces marital sanctity, as observed in the Sarla Mudgal (1995) judgment prohibiting the circumvention of monogamy.

Thus, marriage is not losing its sacramental value, but undergoing institutional adaptation—evolving from a rigid patriarchal bond into an egalitarian union balancing sacred tradition with individual rights.

What "Analyse" is asking you to do

Break the subject into its working parts and show how they act on each other. The marks are in the interconnections — which factor drives which, and what the resulting structure explains — not in the inventory of factors.

Structure that answers it

Define the whole → separate it into its parts → show which part drives which → what that interaction produces → what the structure implies

Where marks are lost

A flat list of causes with no account of which drives which. An answer of neatly separated headings, each self-contained, scores as description.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS1 Society: Continuity, Data, Intersectionality, Solution. comment: context > arguments both sides > judgment > close Full marks: Balanced judgment with specific legal/social drivers and continuity acknowledged.

Key points expected

  • Define marriage as a sacrament (sanskara) vs. a social contract.
  • Identify drivers of change: urbanization, individualism, and legal reforms.
  • Acknowledge continuity: persistence of rituals and family pressure.
  • Provide a balanced judgment on the 'loss of value' claim.

Evaluation rubric

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

  1. The answer Contextualize the shift in marriage values and provide a balanced judgment on its status in modern India. 10 marks · 150 words

    comment— context → arguments both sides → judgment → close

    Must cover

    • Define marriage as a sacrament (sanskara) vs. a social contract.
    • Identify drivers of change: urbanization, individualism, and legal reforms.
    • Acknowledge continuity: persistence of rituals and family pressure.
    • Provide a balanced judgment on the 'loss of value' claim.

    Loses marks

    • Emotive or moralistic language without sociological analysis.
    • Narrating a chronological history of marriage.
    • Ignoring the 'sacrament' aspect and treating it purely as a contract.

    Earns more

    • Mention specific legal changes (e.g., Special Marriage Act, divorce laws).
    • Reference changing social bases (nuclear families, career focus).
    • Discuss the intersection of tradition and modernity.
    • Use the term 'sanskara' to show cultural depth.

    Extra mark

    • Cite a specific statistic on divorce rates or inter-caste marriages.
    • Reference a specific Supreme Court judgment on marriage rights.

Practice this exact question

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