GS Paper I 2020 · Q10
10 marks · 150 words Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularismDo you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue.
Approach · directive: “do you agree / argue”
What it asks · Argue whether regionalism comes mainly from cultural assertion, such as language and identity, or also from economic and political grievances.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Take a clear position: is regionalism mainly a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness
- Argue it with evidence for cultural roots and for economic and political causes, and the constitutional response
Open with · Regionalism in India has cultural roots in language, tribe and religion, but it rarely stands on culture alone; it usually joins identity with grievances over resources and power.
Cover
- Cultural assertion: linguistic reorganisation of States (1956), the anti-Hindi agitations in Tamil Nadu, the Assam movement, and tribal identity in Jharkhand and the North-East.
- Economic grievance: uneven development and neglect fuel demands such as Telangana (2014), Vidarbha, Bodoland and Gorkhaland, and 'sons of the soil' job claims.
- Political factors: regional parties, competition for votes and neglect by the Centre turn identity into a political resource.
- Constitutional accommodation: Article 3 lets Parliament form States, Article 371 gives special provisions, and Sixth Schedule councils protect tribal cultures.
- Counter-view: regionalism can also strengthen federalism and pluralism; it becomes dangerous only when it turns exclusionary or violent.
Close with · Cultural assertiveness is a necessary but not sufficient cause; regionalism is best understood as identity combined with economic and political grievance.
Add value (verified)
- Article 371A shows the Constitution accommodating cultural distinctiveness: Acts of Parliament on the religious or social practices and customary law of the Nagas do not apply in Nagaland unless its Assembly so decides. The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), Article 371A — Legislative Department ↗“no Act of Parliament in respect of— (i) religious or social practices of the Nagas; (ii) Naga customary law and procedure; (iii) administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2020, GS Paper I — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 219 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
Regionalism in India draws on language, tribe and religion, but culture alone rarely produces it; cultural assertiveness turns into regionalism when it fuses with grievances over resources and power. I agree only in part.
Where cultural assertion drives regionalism
- Language: the demand for linguistic States forced the reorganisation of 1956, and the anti-Hindi agitations made language the core of Tamil Nadu's politics.
- Ethnicity: the Assam movement against outsiders, and tribal identity behind Jharkhand and the hill States of the North-East, rest on cultural distinctiveness.
Why culture is not sufficient
- Economic grievance: Telangana (2014), Vidarbha, Bodoland and Gorkhaland grew from neglect and uneven development, and 'sons of the soil' movements are about jobs and land.
- Politics: regional parties and vote competition turn identity into a political resource, and perceived neglect by the Centre sharpens it.
- The Constitution reads regionalism as both: Article 3 allows new States, Article 371A shields Naga religious practice and customary law from Acts of Parliament unless the State Assembly agrees, and the Sixth Schedule gives tribal councils autonomy.
- Regionalism within this frame deepens federalism and pluralism; it becomes a threat only when it turns exclusionary or violent.
Cultural assertiveness is a necessary trigger but not a sufficient cause; regionalism is identity joined to grievance, and its remedy is fair development and constitutional accommodation rather than suppression.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.