UPSC Mains 2018 GS Paper 1 Q1: model answer
Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss.
What the question wants
Explain why protecting India's art heritage is urgent, and suggest how.
How to structure it
Discuss: why it matters, what threatens it, what to do. This is heritage policy more than ancient history.
- Why heritage matters
- Threats
- Existing measures
- Way forward
How to think it through
This one sounds like culture but behaves like GS2. Think in three steps: value (identity, economy, soft power), threats (theft, encroachment, neglect, dying crafts) and measures. Good news: no dates to memorise.
Model answer
India has over forty UNESCO World Heritage sites and thousands of living crafts, yet much of this heritage is fragile.
Why it matters
- Identity and continuity; tourism and artisan livelihoods; soft power and cultural diplomacy.
Threats
- Theft and smuggling of antiquities: the case of the dealer Subhash Kapoor showed the scale.
- Encroachment, urban pressure and pollution (the yellowing of the Taj Mahal's marble).
- Decline of traditional crafts and performing arts as patronage fades.
Existing measures
- Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958; Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.
- ASI, the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, GI tags, the Adopt a Heritage scheme.
- Repatriation of stolen antiquities from the US, UK and Australia.
Way forward
- Digital documentation of every artefact; community-led conservation; skills and markets for artisans; stronger customs and provenance checks.
- The Idol Wing of Tamil Nadu and CBI's recovery of the Nataraja of Sripuranthan show progress.
Conclusion
Heritage cannot be rebuilt once lost. Safeguarding it needs law, technology and, above all, people who value it.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
AMASR Act 1958, Antiquities Act 1972, NMMA, GI tag, Adopt a Heritage, UNESCO 1972 Convention.
Where most answers lose marks
- Writing a history essay. The verb wants threats and solutions.
Related Mains PYQs
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Fresh examples from current affairs
Sirpur in Chhattisgarh enters UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage sites
Sirpur, an archaeological site in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district with Hindu, Buddhist and Jain remains from the 5th to the 12th century CE, has been added to UNESCO’s Tentative List. The ASI now has about a year to prepare a nomination dossier proving its Outstanding Universal Value. Sirpur was once the capital of Dakshina Kosala.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Sirpur location, Lakshmana Temple, dynasties, UNESCO process. · Mains GS-I: heritage conservation and composite culture.
20 Oct 2026
PM inaugurates five Ladakh projects: Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, Leh terminal, Hanu hydro
On 15 October 2026 the Prime Minister inaugurated, by video conference, five projects worth about ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh: a new passenger terminal at Leh's Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, the 298-km Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road built by BRO, the 9 MW Hanu small hydro project with a 66 kV line, India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat, and 40 water bodies under Project Him Sarovar.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Shinkun La, Zanskar, Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, BRO, petroglyphs, Him Sarovar. · Mains GS-III: border infrastructure and security; GS-I: heritage conservation.
15 Oct 2026
HAL, NCF and ASI sign MoA for Hampi, Taj Mahal and Bekal Fort
On 13 October 2026 HAL, the National Culture Fund and ASI signed an MoA for conservation and visitor works at Hampi, the Taj Mahal and Bekal Fort. HAL has approved about ₹23.60 crore in CSR support over three years; NCF facilitates the projects and ASI supervises them technically.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ASI, NCF, Hampi (UNESCO), Taj Mahal, Bekal Fort. · Mains GS-I: heritage conservation and corporate CSR.
14 Oct 2026
Centres of Excellence approved for five newer classical languages
On 3 October 2026 the Ministry of Education approved five Centres of Excellence for Classical Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit, hosted by Tezpur University, Visva-Bharati, Deccan College Pune, Central University of Odisha and Central University of Gujarat. These five got classical status in October 2024, taking India's total to 11 classical languages.
UPSC angle: Prelims: match language with CoE institution; list of classical languages.
3 Oct 2026Learn the concept
Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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