UPSC MAINS ESSENTIALS
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UPSC Exam Notes presents a dedicated initiative to help you excel in Mains answer writing practice. This program covers both static and dynamic components of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus across various General Studies (GS) papers. Each session is crafted to provide valuable insights and techniques to improve your answer-writing skills, aiming to enrich your preparation for the UPSC CSE Mains. Start with today’s answer-writing exercise based on GS-III topics to evaluate and track your progress.
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UPSC Exam Notes offers guidance on structuring Mains answers effectively to maximize your score and presentation.
Introduction
- Begin your answer with a concise introduction of 3-5 lines. Avoid one-liner introductions as they often lack context.
- Start by providing basic information, definitions, or key facts from trusted sources to set the foundation for your answer.
Body
- This is the core of your answer. Analyze the question carefully to understand its requirements and address each aspect fully.
- Use a mix of points and short paragraphs for clarity. Avoid long paragraphs or purely point-based responses, as balanced formatting enhances readability.
- Incorporate data from reliable sources, such as government publications, to strengthen your arguments and make your answer more credible.
- Analyze based on the question’s demand, but avoid over-analysis, which may dilute the answer’s impact.
- Highlight key terms by underlining, helping your response stand out and improving its presentation.
- Use flowcharts or tree diagrams where relevant to organize information efficiently, saving time and boosting clarity. These should be applied thoughtfully and only when they add real value.
Way Forward/Conclusion
- Conclude on a positive, forward-looking note. Highlight potential solutions or the broader implications of your analysis.
- If an unresolved issue is crucial to the topic, briefly mention it, but avoid repeating points from the introduction or body.
- Where applicable, reference findings from relevant national or international reports, surveys, or quotations to add weight to your conclusion.
Self-Evaluation
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Model Answer (Approach Outline): This is not a definitive model answer but an approach to tackling the question effectively. |
Introduction:
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The Vijayanagara Empire was established by Harihara I of the Sangama dynasty and lasted from 1336 to 1646.
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The empire saw its greatest expansion under Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529), during which it dominated rival states such as the Bahmani Sultanate, Golconda Sultanate, and the Gajapatis of Odisha.
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At its peak, the empire spanned from Goa on the western coast to parts of southern Odisha in the east, extending down to the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent.
Body:
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Vijayanagara made significant contributions to culture and architecture. Literary works in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Sanskrit flourished during this period.
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The city of Vijayanagara was strategically located in a natural basin formed by the Tungabhadra River, which flows in a north-easterly direction.
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Persian ambassador Abdur Razzaq, who visited Calicut in the 15th century, was highly impressed by Vijayanagara’s fortifications. He documented that the city had seven lines of defensive walls, enclosing not only the urban area but also its agricultural lands and surrounding forests. The outermost wall linked the nearb