GS Paper I 2020 · Q10
10 marks · 150 words Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism X-Ray · Core #61Do 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.
It asks 2 things — 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 · Potti Sriramulu's death after a 56-day fast forced the linguistic reorganisation of States; culture lit the spark, but grievances over power and resources keep regionalism alive, so I agree only in part.
Cover
- Language: Sriramulu's fast, the States Reorganisation Commission (1953) and the DMK's rise on the anti-Hindi agitation show cultural assertion.
- Ethnicity: the Assam Movement (1979–1985) against 'outsiders' joined cultural pride with economic backwardness.
- Development: Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand (2000) and Telangana (2014) grew from regional imbalance as much as culture.
- Autonomy: the Anandpur Sahib Resolution (1973) sought to redefine Centre–State relations; 'sons of the soil' movements are about jobs and land.
- Accommodation: Article 3, Article 371A and the Sixth Schedule show the Constitution absorbing regional identity; regionalism threatens only when exclusionary or violent.
Close with · Regionalism is a demand for recognition plus a fair share; where India conceded both, as with linguistic States, the Union grew stronger, not weaker.
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 16 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 198words · Minimalist IAS
Potti Sriramulu's death after a 56-day fast forced the linguistic reorganisation of Madras province. Culture lit that spark, but grievances over power and resources keep regionalism alive; I agree only in part.
- 1953: States Reorganisation Commission
- 1973: Anandpur Sahib Resolution
- 1985: Assam Accord
- 2000: three new States
- 2014: Telangana
Where cultural assertion drives regionalism
- Language: in Tamil Nadu the DMK rode a massive student anti-Hindi agitation to power, making language the core of regional politics.
- Ethnicity: the Assam Movement (1979–1985) against 'outsiders' rested on cultural pride, and also on economic backwardness.
Why culture is not sufficient
- Development gaps: Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand (2000) and Telangana (2014) arose from regional imbalance as much as culture.
- Power: the Anandpur Sahib Resolution sought to redefine Centre–State relations; 'sons of the soil' movements are about jobs and land.
- Constitutional accommodation: Article 3 allows new States, and Article 371A shields Naga customary law from Acts of Parliament unless the State Assembly agrees.
- Healthy within limits: such regionalism deepens federalism; it threatens unity only when it turns exclusionary or violent.
Regionalism is a demand for recognition plus a fair share; where India conceded both, as with linguistic States, the Union grew stronger, not weaker.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 16 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
