Q.Explain the salient features of the constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016. Do you think it is efficacious enough ‘to remove the cascading effect of taxes and provide for a common national market for goods and services’?
How to approach: Break the explanation into logical causal factors, illustrate with a diagram/flowchart or map where relevant, and link to contemporary relevance.
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Introduction
The Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016, is a landmark legislative reform that introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Enacted on August 8, 2016, and implemented on July 1, 2017, this amendment replaced a complex web of central and state indirect taxes with a single, unified tax structure. The primary objective of the GST was to simplify the tax regime, eliminate the cascading effect of taxes ("tax on tax"), and integrate the Indian economy into a single, common national market.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2017 (Question 5) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper II — Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR → Indian Constitution & Polity |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 15 Marks • 250 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 11–12 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Explain: Clarify the underlying causes, mechanisms, and significance of the phenomenon in plain, structured terms. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~30–35 Words • Body: ~175 Words (4–5 sub-headings + diagram/data) • Way Forward: ~35–40 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2017 GS2 (Polity & Constitution)
How should I structure the answer for this UPSC Mains 2017 GS Paper II question on Polity & Constitution?
This 2017 GS Paper II question carries 15 marks with a 250-word limit and uses the "Explain" directive. Break the explanation into logical causal factors, illustrate with a diagram/flowchart or map where relevant, and link to contemporary relevance. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~30–35 Words • Body: ~175 Words (4–5 sub-headings + diagram/data) • Way Forward: ~35–40 Words) and aim to finish within 11–12 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2017 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper II — Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR under the syllabus module "Indian Constitution & Polity". You can explore all repeated questions from Polity & Constitution in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Polity & Constitution PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
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