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General Studies 2024 GS Paper II 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Explain

GS Paper II — Q9

'The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China's supply chain and as a strategic ally to counter…

'The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China's supply chain and as a strategic ally to counter China's political and economic dominance.' Explain this statement with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

'पश्चिम भारत को, चीन की आपूर्ति श्रृंखला पर निर्भरता कम करने के लिए एक विकल्प के रूप में और चीन के राजनीतिक और आर्थिक प्रभुत्व का मुकाबला करने के लिए एक रणनीतिक सहयोगी के रूप में बढ़ावा दे रहा है।' उदाहरणों के साथ इस कथन की व्याख्या कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में लिखिए)

Q9 of the 2024 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2024 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.

The West is courting India because China+1 logic and strategic hedging converge. Post-COVID, Western firms seek resilient supply chains; Apple’s US demand and Foxconn’s plants, plus Samsung’s expansion, show production moving to India. Economic decoupling is visible in the US CHIPS Act and EU Critical Raw Materials Act, which aim to reduce reliance on Chinese semiconductors and rare earths. Security alignment follows: the Quad, expanded Malabar, and AUKUS’ extension of Indo-Pacific architecture reinforce deterrence, even as India remains outside AUKUS. Western political backing reinforces this, as India gains access to markets, technology and strategic platforms. Trade links deepen through EU–India FTA talks and US–India iCET, while IMEC offers an alternative to BRI. Yet India’s capacity constraints, regulatory hurdles and asymmetric dependence on Chinese inputs limit substitution. Thus, the West is fostering India as a credible alternative and balancing partner, reducing China’s political and economic leverage, not a complete replacement.

What "Explain" is asking you to do

Make the working of something clear — what sets it off, what follows from what, and what it produces. Explain is the Commission's mechanism word: it dominates the technical papers and the “explain why” stems, where the marks sit in the causal chain and not in the label.

Structure that answers it

State what it is → the initiating condition → the chain of cause, step by step → an instance where it plays out → what the chain produces

Where marks are lost

Describing what something looks like instead of why it works that way. Naming the stages without linking them reads as description too.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS2 International Relations. explain: definition/context > points in order > small example > short close Full marks: Precise examples of Western initiatives (e.g., PLI, Quad) linking economic and strategic dimensions.

Key points expected

  • Contextualize the geopolitical shift (e.g., US-China rivalry)
  • Explain the 'China+1' strategy or supply chain diversification
  • Provide specific examples of Western investment or policy (e.g., PLI, FDI)
  • Link India's rise to countering China's dominance

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 West-India relations and substantiate the dual role of India as a supply chain alternative and strategic counter to China. 10 marks · 150 words

    explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close

    Must cover

    • Contextualize the geopolitical shift (e.g., US-China rivalry)
    • Explain the 'China+1' strategy or supply chain diversification
    • Provide specific examples of Western investment or policy (e.g., PLI, FDI)
    • Link India's rise to countering China's dominance

    Loses marks

    • Reciting general facts about India-China relations without the 'West' angle
    • Focusing only on economic aspects and ignoring the strategic dimension
    • Vague generalizations without concrete examples

    Earns more

    • Mention specific sectors (pharma, electronics, semiconductors)
    • Reference specific initiatives (Quad, Indo-Pacific strategy)
    • Cite specific Western countries (US, EU, Japan, Australia)
    • Briefly mention the strategic autonomy of India

    Extra mark

    • Reference specific data on FDI inflows from West
    • Mention specific policy documents (e.g., US-India Trade Policy Initiative)

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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