UPSC CARE Mains Practice 21st August 2025

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UPSC CARE Mains Practice 21st August 2025

MAIN QUESTIONS

Q1. The African Union has backed a campaign to reject the Mercator world map projection and adopt alternatives such as the Equal Earth projection. Discuss the geographical distortions of the Mercator projection and their socio-political consequences. What are the implications of Africa’s move for global representation? (250 words, 15 marks)

Topic – Distribution of Continents & Oceans

Source: The Indian Express

Introduction	Maps are not neutral tools of geography but also reflect politics, culture, and ideology. The Mercator projection (1569), designed by Gerardus Mercator for navigation, became the dominant world map in schools, governments, and global institutions. However, its distortions inflate Europe and North America while shrinking Africa, South America, and India. The African Union’s recent call (2025) to ditch the Mercator projection represents both a cartographic correction and a symbolic act of reclaiming Africa’s global stature.
Body	Background: The Mercator Projection Geographical Distortions Socio-Political Consequences The Global Response Implications for Global Representation
Conclusion	The Mercator projection, while revolutionary for 16th-century navigation, has outlived its purpose as a world map. Its distortions entrenched Eurocentric biases, diminishing Africa’s stature for centuries. The African Union’s endorsement of the Equal Earth projection is not merely about cartography—it is about reshaping narratives, reclaiming agency, and fostering a more equitable worldview. Correcting the map is, thus, part of correcting history.

UPSC Syllabus	Distribution of Continents & Oceans
Why was this question asked?	Q. Describe the characteristics and type of primary rocks. (2022)
Introduction	Maps are not neutral tools of geography but also reflect politics, culture, and ideology. The Mercator projection (1569), designed by Gerardus Mercator for navigation, became the dominant world map in schools, governments, and global institutions. However, its distortions inflate Europe and North America while shrinking Africa, South America, and India. The African Union’s recent call (2025) to ditch the Mercator projection represents both a cartographic correction and a symbolic act of reclaiming Africa’s global stature.
Body	Background: The Mercator Projection Developed in the 16th century for maritime navigation using rhumb lines (straight compass bearings). Gained widespread popularity in the 19th–20th centuries through atlases, classrooms, and global institutions. Its rectangular format was convenient for printing and teaching, which entrenched it as the “default” world map. Geographical Distortions Size exaggeration near the poles: Greenland, Canada, Russia, and Europe appear disproportionately large. Shrinking of equatorial regions: Africa (real size ~30.2 million sq. km) appears smaller than Greenland (real size ~2.1 million sq. km). Misrepresentation of India and South America: Both appear much smaller than their true proportions. Creates a Eurocentric visual hierarchy, placing Europe at the centre and inflating its global footprint. Socio-Political Consequences Colonial justification: A minimized Africa during the 19th century reinforced the narrative of Africa as “conquerable” and “less significant,” coinciding with the Scramble for Africa. Western cultural hegemony: Inflated Europe and North America reinforced perceptions of global dominance. Psychological and educational impacts: Generations of students across the world internalized a distorted image of Africa as marginal. Modern inequalities: Map design continues to shape perceptions in international organisations, business, and geopolitics. The Global Response Alternatives proposed: Gall-Peters projection (1970s) – equal-area but visually elongated. Equal Earth projection (2018) – balances accuracy with aesthetic readability. Some schools in the US and Europe (e.g., Boston, 2017) have already adopted Peters maps. Popular culture (e.g., The West Wing TV series) has highlighted the bias implicit in Mercator. African Union’s move is symbolic of asserting cartographic justice in a decolonial context. Implications for Global Representation Reclaiming Africa’s rightful place: Restoring its true geographical scale reinforces its importance in trade, environment, and global politics. Educational reform: Curricula may gradually adopt equal-area maps, reshaping global consciousness. Decolonisation of knowledge: Aligns with wider Global South efforts to challenge Eurocentric narratives. Geopolitical messaging: A subtle but powerful reminder that representation matters in shaping worldviews, much like debates around UN reforms or climate negotiations.
Conclusion	The Mercator projection, while revolutionary for 16th-century navigation, has outlived its purpose as a world map. Its distortions entrenched Eurocentric biases, diminishing Africa’s stature for centuries. The African Union’s endorsement of the Equal Earth projection is not merely about cartography—it is about reshaping narratives, reclaiming agency, and fostering a more equitable worldview. Correcting the map is, thus, part of correcting history.

Q 2: After Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi in August 2025, assess the current trajectory of India–China bilateral ties. Discuss the global and regional context, key challenges, and the way forward. (250 words, 15 marks)

Topic –India-China Relations

Source: Indian Express

Introduction	India–China relations, defined as one of the most complex bilateral engagements in the 21st century, have oscillated between cooperation and confrontation. From informal summits in Wuhan (2018) and Mahabalipuram (2019) to the rupture caused by the Galwan clashes in 2020, the relationship has witnessed strategic mistrust. Wang Yi’s August 2025 visit to India—the first ministerial-level visit after the 2024 disengagement agreements in Depsang and Demchok—marks an attempt at diplomatic reset through a dual-track strategy: managing the border issue while reopening economic and cultural channels.
Body	Background of the Relationship Global and Regional Scenario Key Challenges in Bilateral Ties Border Disputes & Trust Deficit Positive Developments & Diplomatic Reset Way Ahead for India
Conclusion	India–China ties today stand at a cautious inflection point. Wang Yi’s visit reflects Beijing’s interest in a thaw amid global pressures, but the trust deficit remains the central obstacle. For India, the challenge lies in balancing deterrence with dialogue—engaging China without compromising sovereignty, while leveraging global partnerships to preserve strategic autonomy. The way forward rests on measured engagement, resilient defence, and calibrated multilateral diplomacy, ensuring that cooperation does not come at the cost of national interest.

UPSC Syllabus	India-China Relations
Why was this question asked?	Q. China is using its economic relations and positive trade surplus as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia’, In the light of this statement, discuss its impact on India as her neighbour. [2017]
Introduction	India–China relations, defined as one of the most complex bilateral engagements in the 21st century, have oscillated between cooperation and confrontation. From informal summits in Wuhan (2018) and Mahabalipuram (2019) to the rupture caused by the Galwan clashes in 2020, the relationship has witnessed strategic mistrust. Wang Yi’s August 2025 visit to India—the first ministerial-level visit after the 2024 disengagement agreements in Depsang and Demchok—marks an attempt at diplomatic reset through a dual-track strategy: managing the border issue while reopening economic and cultural channels.
Body	Background of the Relationship Historical trajectory: From Panchsheel Agreement (1954) to the 1962 War and subsequent confidence-building measures (1993, 1996), the border question has remained unresolved. Recent crisis: The Galwan clash (2020) marked the worst confrontation in 45 years, straining all aspects of engagement. Post-2024 thaw: Agreements at Kazan (October 2024) between PM Modi and President Xi paved the way for disengagement, reopening of trade points (Lipulekh, Nathu La, Shipki La), and resumption of direct flights. Symbolism of Wang Yi’s visit: A signal of willingness to re-engage diplomatically before the upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin. Global and Regional Scenario China–US rivalry: With the Trump administration reimposing tariffs on both China and India, Beijing seeks to reduce isolation by recalibrating ties with New Delhi. Russia factor: India and China converge in BRICS and SCO, but differ on global governance and energy geopolitics; Russia often acts as a balancing power between the two. BRICS and SCO platforms: Offer multilateral spaces for dialogue on connectivity, counter-terrorism, and financial reforms, despite bilateral tensions. Indo-Pacific context: India’s alignment with QUAD raises Chinese concerns, while India remains wary of China’s BRI projects in South Asia. Key Challenges in Bilateral Ties Border Disputes & Trust Deficit Despite disengagement in some sectors, 50,000+ troops remain deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Chinese intrusions (Depsang, Doklam, Chumar) undermine trust. China–Pakistan Axis Military and intelligence cooperation, including during Pakistan’s Operation Sindoor, reinforces India’s security concerns. CPEC and Chinese presence in PoK remain contentious. Hydropolitics Mega-dam projects on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) threaten water security in India and downstream states. Economic Asymmetry Bilateral trade exceeds $135 bn, but heavily tilted in China’s favour; export restrictions on rare earths and fertilizers affect India’s development. Geopolitical Competition China’s presence in Indian Ocean through Hambantota, Gwadar, and Kyaukpyu counters India’s SAGAR vision. Positive Developments & Diplomatic Reset Dual-track engagement: Agreement to de-link border negotiations from broader cooperation. New border management mechanisms: Expert Groups and General Level Meetings in Eastern, Middle, and Western Sectors. Resumption of exchanges: Direct flights, visas for businesses and tourists, border trade reopening. River cooperation: Assurance of sharing hydrological data in emergencies. People-to-people ties: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra restarted, cultural diplomacy initiatives planned. Way Ahead for India Strategic Caution with Engagement Maintain military preparedness along LAC while pursuing diplomatic dialogue. Diversifying Supply Chains Reduce dependence on Chinese imports in critical sectors (pharmaceutical APIs, electronics, fertilizers). Leveraging Multilateralism Use SCO and BRICS to raise terrorism, connectivity, and energy security concerns. Balancing Global Partnerships Deepen ties with the US, EU, Japan, and ASEAN to hedge against Chinese assertiveness, while keeping communication open with Beijing. Confidence-Building Measures Establish verifiable de-escalation frameworks, crisis hotlines, and cross-border humanitarian cooperation.
Conclusion	India–China ties today stand at a cautious inflection point. Wang Yi’s visit reflects Beijing’s interest in a thaw amid global pressures, but the trust deficit remains the central obstacle. For India, the challenge lies in balancing deterrence with dialogue—engaging China without compromising sovereignty, while leveraging global partnerships to preserve strategic autonomy. The way forward rests on measured engagement, resilient defence, and calibrated multilateral diplomacy, ensuring that cooperation does not come at the cost of national interest.