UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for October 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.comQUESTION 1In the context of 150 years of Birsa Munda, how does the commemoration of his legacy provide an opportunity to reflect on the Ulgulan movement, its historical significance, the trajectory of its recognition, and the contemporary efforts to honour it? Discuss. Story continues below this adQUESTION 2Night‐time minimum temperatures are more influenced by local conditions than large-scale geography. Discuss the role of wind patterns, humidity, cloud cover, and land cover in influencing local climate, with an example.General points on the structure of the answers for UPSC MainsIntroduction— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.BodyStory continues below this ad— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.Story continues below this ad— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.Way forward/ conclusion— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.Self Evaluation— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.Story continues below this adTHOUGHT PROCESS FOR UPSC MAINSYou may enrich your answers by some of the following pointsQUESTION 1: In the context of 150 years of Birsa Munda, how does the commemoration of his legacy provide an opportunity to reflect on the Ulgulan movement, its historical significance, the trajectory of its recognition, and the contemporary efforts to honour it? Discuss. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.Introduction:— India is noted for its tribal or adivasi population. The term ‘adivasi’ refers to the land’s first or original people, who had an original habitat and were native to the soil.— Birsa Munda’s insurrection was not an isolated incident of defiance. Long before 1857, tribal people across India had organised to fight injustice. Tilka Manjhi’s armed resistance in 1784, the Santhal Rebellion led by Sidho and Kanho Murmu, the Bhil uprisings, and the heroic actions of Alluri Sitarama Raju, Tirot Sing, Veer Narayan Singh, and Rani Gaidinliu—all were chapters in India’s unfinished saga of liberation.Body:Story continues below this adYou may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:Background— Before colonial rule, the prevalent system of land ownership here was known as “khuntkatti”. It was based on the principle of customary rights, without the involvement of landlords.— However, the enactment of the Permanent Settlement Act (1793) led to a transformation and helped colonialism make its inroads in rural India. To maximise its revenue, the East India Company relied on the law to ratify the zamindari system for land revenue collection. This created dual classes — of land-owning zamindars who were viewed as outsiders or “dikus” by the indigenous residents, and the “ryots” or tenants.— The Act allowed the dikus to claim ownership rights using a deed which specified a precise area. This displaced the indigenous dwellers and denied them access to the land they had cultivated for generations.Story continues below this ad— Birsa Munda launched the Ulgulan movement in 1899, using weapons and guerrilla warfare to drive out foreigners. He encouraged the tribals to follow the Birsa Raj and to not comply with colonial laws and rent payments.— However, the British were soon able to halt the movement through the superior strength of their forces. On March 3, 1900, Munda was arrested by the British police while he was sleeping along with his tribal guerilla army at the Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur.Recognition and Revival— In 2021, the Government of India declared November 15, Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary, as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas — a national observance to honour the contributions of tribal freedom fighters.— Over the past year, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has focused on thematic programmes spanning education, health, livelihoods, infrastructure, and the promotion of art, culture, and heritage. Initiatives such as the Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan, Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, and SCD Awareness Drives have deepened grassroots participation and local leadership.Story continues below this ad— The new Ulgulan is not fought with arms, but with ideas —with education, technology, and opportunity. Schemes such as Eklavya Model Residential Schools, PM-JANMAN Mission, National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission, Adi Vaani, and Venture Capital Fund for tribal entrepreneurs are empowering communities to stand tall in a rapidly changing India.Conclusion:— Tribal empowerment today is not about isolation — it is about integration with pride. The journey for Jal, Jungle, Jameen continues, redefined as a movement for sustainable development and environmental stewardship.— In honouring 150 years of Birsa Munda, we are not merely looking back — we are looking forward to a nation where empowerment replaces exclusion, and where pride in our roots fuel our shared destiny. The march of modernity must not leave behind those who have been its earliest protectors of nature and culture.(Source: Remembering Birsa Munda’s spirit: From Ulgulan to tribal assertion, Significance of the tribal leader’s contributions)Points to PonderRead about other tribal movementsRead about other peasants movementsRelated Previous Year QuestionsStory continues below this adHow did the colonial rule affect the tribals in India and what was the tribal response to the colonial oppression? (2023)Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy. (2017)QUESTION 2: “Night‐time minimum temperatures are more influenced by local conditions than large-scale geography.” Discuss the role of wind patterns, humidity, cloud cover, and land cover in influencing local climate, with an example. (file image)Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.Introduction:— Wind patterns, humidity, cloud cover, and land cover are key factors influencing India’s local climate by distributing heat and moisture, modulating temperature, and affecting rainfall patterns.— For example, recently, Gujarat has witnessed a change in the weather pattern. Naliya in Kutch, usually the coldest area in the state, recorded slightly higher temperatures than Vadodara in the eastern central region.Body:You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:Wind Patterns— Wind systems are crucial for bringing moisture from the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal as part of the southwest monsoon, which accounts for the majority of India’s rainfall. The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) moving northward in the summer helps pull these moist winds in.— Winds can move warm or cold air masses, moderating local temperatures. For example, cold winds from across the Himalayas contribute to cold waves in northern India during winter.— For instance, light north-easterly winds bring cool and dry air to central Gujarat, making it colder. At the same time, the coastal or western parts get slightly warmer sea-influenced air.Clear vs cloudy nights— Cities with clear skies and calm winds lose heat faster at night. They cool down more than cities that have even a slight cloud cover, which works like a blanket. This is also factored in while looking at reasons for the shift in temperatures.Humidity— Humidity (water vapour content in the air) is a direct determinant of precipitation potential. High humidity in coastal areas, driven by proximity to the sea and monsoon winds, results in more consistent rainfall than in inland regions.City layout and greenery— Greener and more open cities cool down faster at night than dense and built-up areas. Further, local ground conditions, such as areas with farms, open land, or recent soil moisture, cool more quickly than dry, rocky or urban areas.Conclusion:— Recently, Gandhinagar again recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 13.8° Celsius in the state, 4.2 degrees lower than the normal temperature, while Naliya was at 14.7° Celsius, nearly a degree higher than Gandhinagar. “Easterly winds are blowing in the east and central parts of Gujarat, while westerly to north westerly winds in the western parts such as Naliya, which also get coastal winds. This is cited as the reason for the cold wave-like conditions in parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. At present, northeasterly to easterly winds are prevailing at lower levels in Gujarat,” IMD regional director A K Das told The Indian Express.— This pattern has been seen repeatedly because weak western disturbances bring clouds and moisture to Kutch first, while interior Gujarat often stays clear and dry, leading to lower minimum temperatures there, according to a climate expert at Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad.(Source: Why Vadodara was colder than Naliya in the Thar desert: Local conditions, wind pattern, clouds)Points to PonderRead about Factors Affecting Indian MonsoonWhat is Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?Related Previous Year QuestionsHow are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations ? Discuss with examples. (2025)What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia? (2017)Previous Mains Answer PracticeUPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 128)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 127)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 128)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 127)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 127)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 126)Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.