UPSC Mains PYQs on Women, Population and Poverty (GS Paper 1)
Every UPSC Mains question on Women, Population and Poverty between 2013 and 2025 is listed below, newest year first, with the marks it carried. Filter by microtheme to see one idea across all the years.
By Team MaargX UPSC · UPSC Mains 2013-2025
Short answer: UPSC has asked 22 questions on Women, Population and Poverty (syllabus item 7 of GS Paper 1) between 2013 and 2025, worth 262.5 marks in all, about 2 questions a year. The most-asked microthemes are Women and Associated concerns (10), Population and associated issues (5), Development and Related issues (4), Poverty and Related issues (3). The busiest year was 2024 (3 questions, 30 marks).
UPSC syllabus, GS Paper 1, item 7: Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues.
Find Questions by GS Paper, Syllabus Topic and Microtheme
Step 1 paper → Step 2 syllabus topic → Step 3 subject → Step 4 microtheme. Each step opens after the one before it.
Women, Population and Poverty: questions year-wise with marks
2025 1 question · 15 marks
-
Substantiate this statement with suitable examples 'Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people's needs in a country like India – Comment.
2024 3 questions · 30 marks
-
What is the concept of a 'demographic winter'? Is the world moving towards such a situation? Elaborate.
-
In dealing with socio-economic issues of development, what kind of collaboration between government, NGO's and private sector would be most productive?
-
Distinguish between gender equality, gender equity and women's empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation?
2023 2 questions · 25 marks
-
Why did human development fail to keep pace with economic development in India?
-
Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian Society.
2021 3 questions · 40 marks
-
Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail.
-
What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also? (250 words)
-
Examine the role of 'Gig Economy' in the process of empowerment of women in India.
2020 2 questions · 25 marks
-
COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment.
-
How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the educational system in the country? Elaborate your answer.
2019 2 questions · 25 marks
-
"Empowering women is the key to control population growth". Discuss
-
What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space?
2018 2 questions · 25 marks
-
Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing.' Explain by giving reasons.
-
Women's movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata. Substantiate your view.
2016 1 question · 12.5 marks
-
An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from deprivation.
2015 2 questions · 25 marks
-
Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India.
-
Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades.
2014 3 questions · 30 marks
-
Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.
-
How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India?
-
Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.
2013 1 question · 10 marks
-
Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women's organization free from gender bias. Comment.
No question matches these choices. Try another year or microtheme, or reset.
Women, Population and Poverty at a Glance
| Syllabus item | GS Paper 1, item 7 (Society) |
|---|---|
| Questions asked | 22 (2013-2025), about 2 a year |
| Total marks | 262.5 marks |
| Last five years | 9 questions, 110 marks (2021-2025) |
| Usual weight | 10 marks (12 questions) |
| Directive words | Discuss (4), Comment (3), Elaborate (2), Explain (2) |
| Busiest year | 2024 (3 questions, 30 marks) |
Year-Wise Summary
| Year | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 15 marks |
| 2024 | 3 | 30 marks |
| 2023 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2021 | 3 | 40 marks |
| 2020 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2019 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2018 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2016 | 1 | 12.5 marks |
| 2015 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2014 | 3 | 30 marks |
| 2013 | 1 | 10 marks |
| Total | 22 | 262.5 marks |
Microthemes in Women, Population and Poverty
These are the ideas inside this topic, most asked first. Select one to see all its questions year-wise with marks.
- Women and Associated concerns 10 · 110 marks
- Population and associated issues 5 · 65 marks
- Development and Related issues 4 · 55 marks
- Poverty and Related issues 3 · 32.5 marks
Other Topics in GS Paper 1
- 01. Indian Art, Culture and Literature 33 · 380 marks
- 02. Modern Indian History 20 · 230 marks
- 03. Freedom Struggle 10 · 125 marks
- 04. Post-Independence Consolidation 11 · 127.5 marks
- 05. World History 17 · 207.5 marks
- 06. Indian Society and Diversity 18 · 220 marks
- 08. Urbanisation 15 · 182.5 marks
- 09. Globalisation and Indian Society 10 · 135 marks
- 10. Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism and Secularism 19 · 232.5 marks
- 11. World Physical Geography 23 · 252.5 marks
- 12. Distribution of Natural Resources 13 · 157.5 marks
- 13. Location of Industries 23 · 270 marks
- 14. Geophysical Phenomena 12 · 122.5 marks
- 15. Geographical Features and Their Changes 24 · 300 marks
How to Use Mains PYQs Topic Wise
- Start with the microthemes. Open a topic and read its microtheme list. The ones with the most questions are the ideas UPSC returns to.
- Read the demand words. Note how questions begin: discuss, examine, critically analyse, comment. Each asks for a different answer structure.
- Write by marks. A 10-mark question needs a tight answer of about 150 words, and a 15-mark question about 250 words.
- Cover all years of a microtheme. Write the oldest and the latest question on the same microtheme, and see how the angle changed.
- Revise and rewrite. Revise the topic from the notes, and write the same question again after a week.
For the method in full, read the Mains answer writing strategy. The official papers are on our UPSC PYQs page.
Questions are shown as printed in the UPSC Civil Services (Main) General Studies papers of 2013-2025. The grouping into topics and microthemes is by Team MaargX UPSC. Check any wording against the official paper on upsc.gov.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Mains questions have been asked on Women, Population and Poverty?
22 questions on Women, Population and Poverty appeared in UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 between 2013 and 2025, worth 262.5 marks in all. That is about 2 questions a year. Every one of them is listed on this page, year-wise with its marks.
Which Women, Population and Poverty microthemes does UPSC ask most often?
The most-asked microthemes in Women, Population and Poverty are Women and Associated concerns (10), Population and associated issues (5), Development and Related issues (4), Poverty and Related issues (3). The number in brackets is how many questions each has had since 2013. Use the microtheme filter to see all of them together, year by year, with marks.
In which year was Women, Population and Poverty asked the most in UPSC Mains?
The busiest year for Women, Population and Poverty was 2024 (3 questions, 30 marks). The lightest was 2025 (1 questions, 15 marks). Treat these swings as noise: UPSC does not repeat a fixed pattern, so cover the whole topic.
How many marks do Women, Population and Poverty questions carry?
Of the 22 questions on Women, Population and Poverty, 7 of 15 marks, 3 of 12.5 marks, 12 of 10 marks. Plan your word limit by marks: 10-marker answers run to about 150 words and 15-marker answers to about 250 words.
What kind of questions does UPSC ask on Women, Population and Poverty?
The directive words in the 22 questions on Women, Population and Poverty are Discuss (4), Comment (3), Elaborate (2), Explain (2). Match your answer to the word: discuss and examine want both sides with a conclusion, while comment and critically analyse want a reasoned stand.
Is Women, Population and Poverty important for UPSC Mains?
In the last five years (2021-2025) UPSC asked 9 questions on Women, Population and Poverty, worth 110 marks. In the first five years (2013-2017) it asked 7, worth 77.5 marks.
Which GS paper does Women, Population and Poverty belong to?
Women, Population and Poverty belongs to UPSC Mains GS Paper 1, titled Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society. The questions on this page are all from that paper.
How should I use these Women, Population and Poverty PYQs?
Read the microtheme list first, then pick one and write two or three answers in the time limit. Compare each with what the question demands (discuss, examine, critically analyse). Revise the topic from the Maarg Manthan notes and write the same question again after a week.
Official Sources
These are the primary sources behind this page. Rules, dates and papers can change, so confirm them on the official pages.
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers (Archives)
- UPSC: Revised Syllabus and Scheme
- UPSC: Civil Services Examination Rules