Aspirant Academy

Society, Management and Accounting

Predicted Questions with Model Answers

Family, Marriage, Elderly, Disabled in Modern Society; Cyber Crime, Social Media Impact

Paper I · Unit 3 Section 10 of 12 0 PYQs 29 min
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Predicted Questions with Model Answers

Q1 (5 marks — 50 words): What was the Sharda Act? Why is it significant in Indian social history?

Model Answer:

The Sharda Act (Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929), introduced by Rai Sahib Har Bilas Sarda (Rajasthan, Ajmer), was India's first law restricting child marriage — setting minimum ages at 14 for girls and 18 for boys. Significance: First state intervention in a personal/religious matter; signalled that social reform could override custom; foundation for later PCMA (2006) raising ages to 18/21.

(Word count: 51 — within range)

Q2 (5 marks — 50 words): What are the major challenges faced by the elderly in modern Indian society?

Model Answer:

India's 138 million elderly (2021) face multiple challenges: (1) Economic insecurity — only 27% men and 12% women receive pension; (2) Health burden — 40% have chronic disease; (3) Social isolation — nuclear families leave elderly alone; (4) Elder abuse — 20% face abuse (NITI Aayog 2020); (5) Digital exclusion — only 15% of 60+ use smartphones for essential needs. Maintenance Act 2007 provides legal remedy.

(Word count: 51 — within range)

Q3 (5 marks — 50 words): What is the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016? What are its key features?

Model Answer:

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD) replaced the 1995 Act to align India with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD, 2006). Key features: (1) Recognises 21 types of disabilities (vs. 7 earlier); (2) 4% reservation in government jobs; (3) 5% reservation in higher education; (4) rights to accessible environments, legal capacity, independent living; (5) UDID (Unique Disability ID) for benefit access.

(Word count: 51 — within range)

Q4 (5 marks — 50 words): What are the major types of cyber crime in India? What is the legal framework to address them?

Model Answer:

India recorded 65,893 cyber crime cases (NCRB 2022) — up 24.4%. Major types: (1) OTP/financial fraud (54% of cases); (2) Identity theft (IT Act Sec 66C); (3) Cyberbullying/sexting (Sec 67A); (4) Ransomware (AIIMS Delhi, 2022); (5) CSAM (Sec 67B). Legal framework: IT Act, 2000 (amended 2008); POCSO for child abuse; DPDP Act 2023 for data protection; CERT-In as national cyber security nodal agency; helpline 1930.

(Word count: 52 — within range)

Q5 (5 marks — 50 words): Discuss the positive and negative impacts of social media on Indian society.

Model Answer:

Positive impacts: Social media empowered #MeToo (2018) and farmers' protests (2020–21); democratised education (DIKSHA, Swayam); enabled 5 crore small businesses (WhatsApp Business). Negative impacts: Fake news triggered 33 mob lynching deaths (WhatsApp, 2018); 30% of urban youth report social media addiction (NIMHANS 2019); digital gender divide (women 33% vs. men 67% online, OXFAM 2020). Regulation: IT Intermediary Rules 2021 mandate grievance redressal and traceability.

(Word count: 53 — within range)

Q6 (5 marks — 50 words): How is the structure of the Indian family changing in modern times?

Model Answer:

The Indian family is undergoing structural transformation: (1) Nuclear families now 54.4% of households (2011); joint families declining; (2) Average household size fell from 5.3 (2001) to 4.9 (2011); (3) Women's median marriage age rose to 22.1 years (NFHS-5); (4) Rising female workforce participation (37%, PLFS 2022) reshaping gender roles; (5) Elder care crisis as children migrate to cities; nuclear family cannot sustain traditional joint-family elder support.

(Word count: 52 — within range)