When the question has no directive word
Some GS questions have no directive word. They ask a plain question instead, such as what are, why or how far. The question word does the job of the directive.
How often
| GS questions, 2020 to 2026 | |
|---|---|
| All questions | 553 |
| No directive word | 174 (31.5%) |
| No directive word, 2020 to 2024 | 35% |
| No directive word, 2025 and 2026 | 23% |
| Multi-part (two or more question marks), of the 174 | 45 |
The commonest openings are what are, what is, do you, why is, how far, how is, what does and account for.
Read the question word as the directive
| Question word | What to write | A real question |
|---|---|---|
| What are | A set of named items. Explain each in a sentence or two | "What are the main constraints in transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India?" (UPSC Mains 2020, GS Paper 3) |
| What is | A one-line definition, then what follows from it. Usually a second part comes next | "What is sea surface temperature rise? How does it affect the formation of tropical cyclones?" (UPSC Mains 2024, GS Paper 1) |
| Why | Causes, most important first | "Why did human development fail to keep pace with economic development in India?" (UPSC Mains 2023, GS Paper 1) |
| How far, to what extent | A judgement of degree. Say where you stand, then defend it | "How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India?" (UPSC Mains 2024, GS Paper 1) |
| Do you think, do you agree | A position. Defend it and answer the strongest objection | "Do you think marriage as a sacrament is losing its value in Modern India?" (UPSC Mains 2023, GS Paper 1) |
| How did, how does | A process, step by step | "How did land reforms in some parts of the country help to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginal and small farmers?" (UPSC Mains 2021, GS Paper 3) |
| Account for | How a situation came about. Causes in order | "Account for the present location of iron and steel industries away from the source of raw material, by giving examples." (UPSC Mains 2020, GS Paper 1) |
| Does, is, has | Yes or no, how far, and under what conditions | "Does urbanisation lead to more segregation and/or marginalization of the poor in Indian metropolises?" (UPSC Mains 2023, GS Paper 1) |
Questions that ask how far
How far and to what extent ask for a degree. Pick a word for where you stand: largely, partly, or only in one respect. Put it in your first sentence. Then spend the body showing why it is that much and no more.
Question. "How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India?" (UPSC Mains 2024, GS Paper 1)
| An average introduction | A strong introduction |
|---|---|
| The Industrial Revolution was a period of rapid industrial growth in England from the late eighteenth century. It had many effects on India. | Largely, but other causes added to it. Cheap machine-made British cloth took the Indian market. Colonial tariff policy and the loss of princely courts as buyers did the rest. |
| Gives background and takes no position | Says how far in the first word, then names the other causes the body will weigh |
End the answer on the same degree you started with. A conclusion that says "there are arguments on both sides" leaves the question unanswered.
Multi-part questions
A multi-part question asks two or more things. Answer every part. These are the 45 multi-part questions among the 174 with no directive word, in 2020 to 2026.
| Parts | Questions |
|---|---|
| 2 | 29 |
| 3 | 11 |
| 4 | 5 |
Questions with a directive word split into parts too. This is the share of questions that ask for two or more things, by paper.
| Paper | Asks for two or more things |
|---|---|
| GS Paper 1 | 25% |
| GS Paper 2 | 31% |
| GS Paper 3 | 66% |
| GS Paper 4 | 50% |
How to count the parts
- Count the question marks. Each one ends a part.
- Count each directive verb that starts a new sentence, such as Discuss or Suggest. Each one is a part.
- A trailing word such as Elaborate. or Justify your answer. belongs to the part before it. It tells you how to answer that part.
- Number the parts on the question paper before you plan.
How to split the words
Keep the introduction and conclusion the same size as for any answer. Split the body between the parts. A what is part is a definition, so it gets fewer words.
| Parts | 150 words: body about 100 | 250 words: body 170 to 180 |
|---|---|---|
| Two equal parts | 50 + 50 | 85 + 90 |
| A what is part, then one more | 25 + 75 | 40 + 135 |
| Three parts | 30 + 35 + 35 | 55 + 60 + 60 |
| Four parts | 25 each | 40 to 45 each |
Worked example
What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines?
(UPSC Mains 2022, GS Paper 3, 15 marks, 250 words)
Three question marks, so three parts. The third part asks about Indian vaccines, so it gets the most words.
| Part | Words | What goes in it |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | 30 | One line that touches all three parts |
| 1. The principle | 40 | Expose the immune system to a harmless form of the antigen so it learns to recognise it |
| 2. How vaccines work | 55 | Antibodies, then memory B and T cells, so a later infection is met faster |
| 3. Indian approaches | 85 | Covaxin (Bharat Biotech): inactivated whole virus. Covishield (Serum Institute, under licence from Oxford-AstraZeneca): viral vector. ZyCoV-D (Zydus Cadila): DNA vaccine. Corbevax (Biological E): protein subunit |
| Conclusion | 35 | What the range of platforms means for the next outbreak |
| A plan that loses marks | A plan that covers every part |
|---|---|
| 150 words on how the immune system works | 40 words on the principle, 55 on how vaccines work |
| Indian vaccines named in one line at the end | 85 words on Indian vaccines, each with its platform |
| No conclusion, because the words ran out | A 35-word conclusion |
Mistakes and what to do instead
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Treating a plain question as "write about this topic" | Read the question word as the directive. Use the table above |
| Answering how far with yes or no | Give a degree: largely, partly, only in one respect |
| Answering how far with both sides and no verdict | Say where you stand in the first sentence and the last |
| Spending most of the words on the first part | Number the parts and give each its words before you write |
| Writing a long definition for a what is part | One or two sentences, then move on |
Your turn
A question reads: "How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for preservation of balance of power?" (UPSC Mains 2024, GS Paper 1). What does the form of this question ask for?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (C) A judgement of degree: how far the balance of power explains the war, and which other causes, such as nationalism or imperial rivalry, also count.
The answer is (C). 'How far' asks for a degree. Your answer should say how much the balance of power explains, and weigh it against other causes. (A) narrates events and never judges. (B) sets out both sides but never says how far, which leaves the question unanswered. (D) treats a question of degree as yes or no, and the Treaty of Versailles came after the war, so it cannot show why the war was fought.
✍️ Your turn
Plan, do not write, an answer to: "What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is pollution particularly harmful for a country like India?" (UPSC Mains 2023, GS Paper 3, 10 marks, 150 words). In under 80 words, number the parts and say how many words each part of the body would get.