General Studies 2024 GS Paper I 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Discuss

Q5

Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns? Discuss in the light of conditions in developing countries. (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

छोटे शहरों की तुलना में बड़े शहर अधिक प्रवासियों को क्यों आकर्षित करते हैं? विकासशील देशों की स्थितियों के आलोक में इसकी विवेचना कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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Directive word: Discuss

This question asks you to discuss. 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 'discuss' requires a balanced examination of multiple factors explaining why large cities attract more migrants than smaller towns in developing countries. Structure: brief introduction acknowledging the urban-rural migration phenomenon → body paragraphs covering economic, social, and infrastructural pull factors of large cities plus push factors from rural areas → conclusion with a critical observation on implications.

Key points expected

Economic factors: large cities offer diversified employment opportunities, higher wages, informal sector absorption (e.g., Mumbai's Dharavi, Delhi's unorganized sector)
Agglomeration economies: concentration of industries, services, and markets creating multiplier effects absent in smaller towns
Infrastructure and service asymmetry: better education, healthcare, transportation, and utilities in metros versus tier-2/3 towns
Social networks and chain migration: established migrant communities reduce risk and information costs for new migrants
Agricultural distress and rural push factors: fragmentation of landholdings, climate vulnerability, disguised unemployment driving exodus
Policy and governance gaps: smaller towns lack investment in industrial corridors and urban planning compared to smart cities/metros

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	2	Clearly distinguishes between 'why large cities' specifically versus general urbanization; addresses both pull factors of metros and comparative disadvantage of smaller towns; maintains developing country context throughout.	Lists migration reasons generically without explicit comparison between large cities and smaller towns; context of developing countries mentioned superficially.	Treats as general urbanization question without addressing the size hierarchy; ignores developing country specificity; confuses with rural-urban migration causes only.
Content depth & accuracy	20%	2	Covers economic (agglomeration, informal sector), social (network effects), infrastructural, and policy dimensions with accurate concepts like 'cumulative causation', 'backwash effects', or 'urban primacy'.	Mentions 2-3 valid factors (jobs, education, healthcare) but lacks conceptual depth or misses structural explanations like agglomeration economies.	Vague statements like 'better facilities' without elaboration; factually incorrect claims; confuses migration drivers with consequences.
Structure & flow	20%	2	Logical progression from macro-economic forces to micro-level decisions; clear paragraphing by factor category; smooth transitions maintaining the large city vs. small town comparison.	Acceptable introduction-body-conclusion but factors listed mechanically without clear grouping; some repetition or disjointed flow between points.	Disorganized listing of points; no clear introduction or conclusion; abrupt jumps between unrelated ideas; exceeds or falls significantly short of word limit.
Examples / case-law / data	20%	2	Specific Indian examples: Mumbai/Delhi/Bangalore as migrant magnets; Census 2011 or NFHS data on urban growth; mention of stagnating Class II-III towns; reference to specific schemes (Smart Cities Mission vs. AMRUT) illustrating investment disparity.	Generic reference to 'metros like Delhi and Mumbai' without specificity; or international examples only without Indian context.	No examples at all; irrelevant examples from developed countries; invented statistics or data.
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	2	Critical insight on consequences (urban primacy, hollowing of smaller towns, pressure on mega-cities) or policy suggestion (need for dispersed urbanization, RURBAN mission, industrial corridor development); forward-looking or evaluative closing.	Summary restatement of points without new insight; generic conclusion on 'balanced regional development needed' without specificity.	No conclusion; abrupt ending; or conclusion introducing entirely new unsubstantiated claims; purely descriptive closing without analytical weight.

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