Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society.
Approach · directive: “explain”
What it asks · Explain the social, psychological and economic causes behind the rising suicides among young women in India.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Explain the familial, social, economic and psychological causes behind rising suicide among young women in India
- Indicate briefly what would arrest the trend
Open with · Suicide is a leading cause of death among young Indians, and the question points to a rising trend among young women, often hidden by stigma and under-reporting.
Cover
- Family and marriage pressures: early or forced marriage, dowry harassment, domestic violence and in-law conflict, with little support at home.
- Restricted autonomy: opposition to chosen relationships, control over education, career and mobility, and the burden of family honour.
- Academic and career stress: competitive examinations, unemployment and weak counselling in institutions, plus social-media comparison and online harassment.
- Violence and stigma: sexual harassment and abuse, fear of social shame, and poor access to justice or support services.
- Mental-health gap: untreated depression and anxiety, few counsellors, stigma around seeking help and easy access to means such as pesticides.
- Way forward: campus and community counselling, helplines, implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, economic independence for women, strict action on dowry and violence, and responsible media reporting.
Close with · Prevention needs family acceptance, safe institutions and accessible mental-health care, treating young women's distress as a social and health issue.
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2023, GS Paper I — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 225 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
Suicide is among the leading causes of death for young Indians, and young women face a distinct set of pressures: it is a social and gender problem before it is a medical one.
Family and marriage
- Early or forced marriage, dowry demands, domestic violence and in-law conflict, with the young wife isolated in a new household and told to adjust.
- Restricted autonomy: opposition to a chosen partner, control over education, career, mobility and dress, and the burden of family honour.
Economic and academic strain
- Intense competition in examinations, few jobs and dependence on parents or husband leave little control over one's future; social media adds comparison, body-image anxiety and online harassment.
Violence and stigma
- Sexual harassment and abuse, fear of shame and blame, and weak access to police, courts or shelters push victims towards silence.
Mental-health gap
- Depression and anxiety go untreated because counsellors are few, help-seeking is stigmatised and families dismiss distress; easy access to pesticides turns impulse into death.
Way forward
- Campus and community counselling, helplines and the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which treats attempted suicide as a call for care, not punishment; strict action on dowry and domestic violence; economic independence; responsible media reporting.
Prevention needs families that accept choice, institutions that are safe and mental-health care within reach; the distress of young women is a social wound, not a private failing.
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.