In this post, I have analyzed focus areas of 2021 GS-1 Paper and also discussed the focus areas of 2020-2019-2018 GS-1 Papers to arrive at PREDICTIONS FOR 2022 GS-1 PAPER! Also, towards the end of this post, I have mentioned concise sources that holistically cover the GS-1 syllabus.

2021 GS-1 PAPER:

Question 1: Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture. (10 marks | 150 words | Art and Culture)

Question 2: Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj. (10 marks | 150 words | Modern India)

Question 3: Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States. (10 marks | 150 words | Post Independence)  

Question 4: Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and the Western Ghats. (10 marks | 150 words | Geography)

Question 5: Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in percentage. Discuss. (10 marks | 150 words | Geography)

Question 6: What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples. (10 marks | 150 words | Geography)

Question 7: Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on the regional environment. (10 marks | 150 words | Geography)

Question 8: Why is India considered a subcontinent? Elaborate on your answer. (10 marks | 150 words | Geography)

Question 9: Examine the uniqueness of the tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems. (10 marks | 150 words | Society)

Question 10: Examine the role of the ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India. (10 marks | 150 words | Society)

Question 11: To what extent did the role of the moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? Comment. (15 marks | 250 words | Modern India)

Question 12: Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement. (15 marks | 250 words | Modern India)

Question 13: There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars.” Evaluate the statement. (15 marks | 250 words | World History)  

Question 14: Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions, with examples. (15 marks | 250 words | Geography)

Question 15: How does the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain. (15 marks | 250 words | Geography)

Question 16: Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of the uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world. (15 marks | 250 words | Geography)

Question 17: What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India? (15 marks | 250 words | Society)  

Question 18: Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (15 marks | 250 words | Society)

Question 19: What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also? (15 marks | 250 words | Society)

Question 20: How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it. (15 marks | 250 words | Society)

GS-1 2021 Paper Breakdown:

Theme	Question Number	Total Marks
Art and Culture	1	10
Modern India	2, 11, 12	40
World History	13	15
Post-Independence	3	10
Geography	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16	95
Society	9, 10, 17, 18, 19, 20	80

GS-1 2020 Paper Breakdown:

Theme	Question Number	Total Marks
Art and Culture	1, 2, 11, 12	50
Modern India	3, 13	25
World History	—-	0
Post-Independence	—-	0
Geography	4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 16, 17	85
Society	8, 9, 10, 15, 18, 19, 20	90

GS-1 2019 Paper Breakdown:

Theme	Question Number	Total Marks
Art and Culture	1	10
Modern India	2, 3, 11, 12	50
World History	13	15
Post-Independence	—-	0
Geography	4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 17	85
Society	8, 9, 10, 16, 18, 19, 20	90

GS-1 2018 Paper Breakdown:

Theme	Question Number	Total Marks
Art and Culture	1, 2, 11	35
Modern India	3	10
World History	13	15
Post-Independence	12	15
Geography	4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16	85
Society	8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 19, 20	90

Join Decode Civils Telegram Group For Free UPSC CSE Guidance From Mudit Jain, IRS CSE 2017 (Ex-IPS CSE 2014 & 2015).

Decode Civils Group Telegram Link: https://t.me/decodecivilsgroup

Decode Ethics Link

Decode History Link

Trends and Possibilities for 2022 GS-1 Paper:

• History Questions in 2018-2019-2020-2021 total at 75 marks. Number of questions from History have remained the same across years i.e. 6 questions. However, it’s the internal jumbling that is a challenge as one cannot predict and prepare accordingly.
• Geography + Society Questions in 2019-2020-2021 total at 175 marks. Number of questions from these 2 topics have remained the same across years i.e. 14 questions. Same trend is expected to continue in 2022 paper.
• 2022 paper may have more questions on Post-Independence as only 2 questions have been asked from it in last 4 years. In 2019 only 1 question was asked from Art and Culture and next year 4 questions were asked from the same. Similarly, post-independence may carry huge weightage in 2022 exam.
• 3—1—4—1: This is the number of questions asked from Art and Culture in 2018-19-20-21 respectively. Continuing the trend, at least 3 questions are expected from Art and Culture in 2022!!!!
• 1—4—2—3: This is the number of questions asked from Modern India in 2018-19-20-21 respectively. Continuing the trend, number of questions from Modern History should be less in 2022 paper.

P.S. Above is just a ‘prediction’. Don’t break my head if it goes wrong! Prepare each topic thoroughly…

Sources:

MAINS GS-1 HISTORY

1. Ancient-Medieval:
   • Lucent GK Book.
   • TN Board Book.
   • Civil Services Chronicle 30 pages notes. Click here for 30 page Notes.
2. Art-Culture:
   • I read Nitin Singhania notes.
   • Nitin Singhania Book English.
   • Nitin Singhania Book Hindi.
   • TN Board Book.
3. Modern:
   • Bipin Chandra 78 pages notes. Click here for Notes.
   • Lucent 40 pages.
   • Tables given in Spectrum.
   • Bipin Chandra Book.
4. Post Independence: Decode History: UPSC Mains GS-1 World History Book.
5. World History: Decode History: UPSC Mains GS-1 World History Book.
6. Current: Hindu, Vision monthly & Insights secure compilation.
7. GS-1 History Answer Writing.

MAINS GS-1 SOCIETY

1. IGNOU MATERIAL: Topic wise Doc and PDF files uploaded. Click here for document.
2. Current: Hindu, Vision monthly and Insights secure compilation.
3. Census: Notes uploaded. Click here for document.
4. No need to follow any book. IGNOU material is enough to answer all questions.
5. For society keywords dictionary click here.
6. Indian Society – GS1 PYQP Detailed Analysis
7. GS-1 Society Answer Writing.

MAINS GS-1 GEOGRAPHY

1. World: NCERT 9-10-11-12, G C Leong& Optional notes uploaded.
2. India: NCERT 9-10-11-12, Vajiram Yellow Book & Optional notes.
3. Census: Notes uploaded. Click here for document.
4. Current: Hindu, Vision monthly & Insights secure compilation.
5. GS-1 Geography PYQP Detailed Analysis
6. GS-1 Geography Answer Writing.
7. My Geography Strategy.
8. GS-1 Strategy A2Z

ATB!!!