Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (a) Explain briefly the role of Peasant Movements after 1857 and before…

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (a) Explain briefly the role of Peasant Movements after 1857 and before independence. (10 marks) (b) Write a note on the Dalit perspective of Indian National Movement. (10 marks) (c) Land reforms programmes led to some constitutional amendments. Comment. (10 marks) (d) Delineate the key factors that have shaped the evolving political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir post 2019. (10 marks) (e) How far has been the National Human Rights Commission successful in achieving its objectives ? Comment. (10 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निम्नलिखित प्रत्येक प्रश्न का उत्तर लगभग 150 शब्दों में दीजिए : (a) 1857 के पश्चात् और स्वतंत्रता से पहले के किसान आंदोलनों को संक्षिप्त में समझाइये। (10) (b) भारतीय राष्ट्रीय आंदोलन के दलित परिप्रेक्ष्य पर टिप्पणी लिखिए। (10) (c) भूमि सुधार कार्यक्रमों के कारण कुछ संवैधानिक संशोधन हुए। टिप्पणी कीजिए। (10) (d) 2019 के पश्चात् जम्मू और कश्मीर में बदलते राजनीतिक परिदृश्य को प्रभावित करने वाले प्रमुख कारकों को रेखांकित कीजिए। (10) (e) राष्ट्रीय मानव अधिकार आयोग अपने उद्देश्यों को प्राप्त करने में कहाँ तक सफल हुआ है ? टिप्पणी कीजिए। (10)

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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 question demands explanatory and analytical responses across five sub-parts. Allocate approximately 30 words per mark, giving roughly 30 words per sub-part. Structure each part as: brief context (1 sentence), core content (2-3 sentences), and a concluding analytical point (1 sentence). For (a), trace peasant movements chronologically; for (b), present Dalit critique and contribution; for (c), link specific reforms to Articles 31, 31A-31C; for (d), cover abrogation of Article 370, reorganization, security and democratic restoration; for (e), assess NHRC effectiveness with achievements and limitations.

Key points expected

(a) Peasant movements: Indigo Revolt 1859, Pabna 1873, Deccan Riots 1875, Champaran 1917, Kheda 1918, Bardoli 1928, Tebhaga 1946, Telangana 1946-51—linking anti-colonial and anti-zamindari struggles
(b) Dalit perspective: Critique of Congress-led nationalism's upper-caste bias; Ambedkar's separate electorate demand; Poona Pact 1932; role in non-Brahmin movements, self-respect movement; tension between class and caste oppression
(c) Constitutional amendments: 1st Amendment 1951 (Ninth Schedule), 4th Amendment 1955, 17th Amendment 1964, 25th Amendment 1971 (Article 31C), 44th Amendment 1978—protecting land reform laws from judicial review
(d) J&K post-2019: Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A; bifurcation into UTs; security paradigm shift; delimitation 2022; G20 meeting 2023; restoration of statehood debate; demographic and electoral changes
(e) NHRC assessment: Successes—custodial death interventions, Bonded Labour Abolition Act enforcement, PUCL guidelines implementation; limitations—recommendatory status, delay in disposal, limited reach in conflict zones, staffing vacancies

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	10	Correctly interprets 'explain' for (a), 'write a note' for (b), 'comment' for (c) and (e), and 'delineate' for (d)—adjusting depth and tone accordingly; for (a) provides causal analysis, for (b) offers critical perspective, for (c) and (e) balances positive and negative aspects, for (d) systematically lists factors with interconnections	Uses generic explanatory approach for all parts without adjusting to specific directives; treats 'comment' and 'delineate' as simple description; misses analytical or evaluative elements where required	Misunderstands directives—describes when evaluation is needed, or evaluates when factual explanation is required; conflates all five parts into uniform response style; ignores 'Dalit perspective' or 'post-2019' temporal markers
Content depth & accuracy	20%	10	Demonstrates precise chronological knowledge for (a); nuanced understanding of Ambedkar-Gandhi debate for (b); accurate amendment numbers and constitutional provisions for (c); specific dates and policy shifts for (d); statutory provisions and chairpersons for (e); no factual errors across all parts	Covers major movements and amendments but with minor errors (e.g., wrong years, confusing 25th and 42nd Amendments); generic mention of NHRC functions without Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 specifics; broad rather than precise coverage	Significant factual errors—confuses peasant with tribal movements, conflates Dalit with minority perspective, misstates Article 370 provisions, describes NHRC as constitutional body; anachronisms and misattributions throughout
Structure & flow	20%	10	Each sub-part follows distinct internal structure: (a) chronological progression, (b) critique-contribution synthesis, (c) reform-amendment linkage, (d) multi-factor analysis, (e) achievement-limitation balance; clear paragraphing within 150-word constraint; effective transitions between thematic elements	Basic structure present but uneven—some parts well-organized, others as bullet-like listing; chronological confusion in (a); descriptive rather than analytical flow in (b) and (e); adequate but not elegant organization	Disorganized or fragmented response; no clear separation between sub-parts; stream-of-consciousness writing; exceeds or falls significantly short of word limit; poor paragraphing making evaluation difficult
Examples / case-law / data	20%	10	Rich specific illustrations: (a) cites Raj Kumar Shukla, N.G. Ranga, Swami Sahajanand; (b) references Round Table Conferences, Communal Award, Poona Pact text; (c) names Kameshwar Singh cases, Golak Nath, Kesavananda; (d) cites J&K Reorganization Act 2019, delimitation commission report; (e) mentions specific cases like Bhopal gas tragedy intervention, PUCL v. Union of India	Some examples present but limited or imprecise—mentions 'Champaran' without context, 'Ambedkar' without specific contribution, 'Article 370' without abrogation mechanism; generic reference to NHRC 'recommendations' without case specifics	Virtually no specific examples, names, dates, or cases; relies entirely on broad generalizations; 'peasant movements were important' without naming any; 'NHRC does good work' without statutory basis or illustration
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	10	Each part ends with sharp analytical insight: (a) assesses peasant movements' contribution to decolonization and post-independence agrarian structure; (b) evaluates whether Dalit perspective was co-opted or transformative; (c) critiques judicial vs. legislative supremacy debate; (d) assesses democratic restoration vs. integration imperatives; (e) proposes reforms for NHRC effectiveness—demonstrating independent critical thinking	Brief concluding sentences that summarize rather than analyze; restates main points without evaluation; generic 'thus it is important' endings; limited evidence of independent judgment across parts	No conclusions or abrupt endings; purely descriptive throughout; fails to engage with evaluative demands of 'comment' and 'how far'; missing analytical closure on all five sub-parts

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