Archive · 17 Sep 2026
UPSC GS1 Practice Explores Demography and Thirukkural’s Significance
This article is a practice exercise for students preparing for India’s civil services examination.
One question asks why Indian families are having fewer children and changing how they live.
Women’s education, jobs, later marriage and greater use of contraception are important reasons.
The high cost of homes, schooling, healthcare and childcare can also make larger families difficult.
India will remain populous for some time, but low birth rates will gradually increase the share of older people.
Another question discusses the Thirukkural, a famous classical Tamil work linked to Thiruvalluvar.
Its 1,330 couplets discuss good behaviour, government, material life and love.
The article says the text remains important because it connects literature with ethical, social and political ideas.
The practice set examines India’s declining fertility and changing family structures through social and economic factors.
Women’s education, delayed marriage, employment, contraception, childcare burdens and career choices are identified as major social influences.
Housing, education, healthcare, childcare costs, insecure employment and urbanisation affect decisions about marriage and family size.
The article explains that population momentum will continue even as low fertility eventually increases ageing and may create regional labour shortages.
The Thirukkural, attributed to Thiruvalluvar, is presented as a 1,330-couplet work addressing virtue, polity, material life, love and social values.
- Who
- The Union Public Service Commission examination’s aspirants, along with Thiruvalluvar as the author associated with the Thirukkural.
- What
- Indian Express UPSC Essentials presents two GS1 answer-writing questions on India’s demographic transition and the significance of the Thirukkural.
- When
- Week 172; the article also refers to the UPSC Essentials magazine’s third anniversary.
- Where
- The demographic discussion concerns India, with particular reference to southern states and Tamil Nadu; the literary discussion concerns classical Tamil culture.
- Why
- The exercise is intended to help civil-services aspirants practise questions connected with the GS1 syllabus and current developments.
- Practice focus
- GS1 Indian Society and Indian Culture
- Demographic theme
- Declining fertility and changing family structures in India
- Major social drivers
- Women’s education and employment, delayed marriage, family choices and contraception
- Major economic drivers
- Housing, schooling, healthcare, childcare costs and employment insecurity
- Demographic outlook
- Population momentum will continue, while sustained low fertility will increase ageing over time
- Literary work
- Thirukkural
- Structure of Thirukkural
- 1,330 couplets arranged in 133 chapters under Aram, Porul and Inbam
- Associated author
- Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar