Indian Culture & Heritage·Prelims Strategy

Social Customs — Prelims Strategy

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Version 1Updated 7 Mar 2026

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Definition Detailed Explanation Landmark Events Historical Overview Key Changes UPSC Importance Prelims Strategy Mains Strategy Prelims MCQs Mains Questions MCQ Practice Predicted 2026 Revision Notes Current Affairs

Prelims Strategy

For Prelims, focus on building a strong factual foundation. Create flashcards for key terms like 'Saptapadi', 'Annaprashan', 'Mundan', 'Purdah', and 'Atithi Devo Bhava'. Map specific customs to their regions/states (e.

g., 'Thalikettu Kalyanam' to Kerala, 'Anand Karaj' to Punjab). Memorize relevant constitutional articles (15, 17, 21, 25-28) and their core provisions. Understand the outcomes and key observations of landmark Supreme Court judgments (Lily Thomas, Shayara Bano, Sabarimala) and their direct impact on social customs.

Pay attention to current affairs related to social reforms, government initiatives for inter-caste marriages, or debates around the Uniform Civil Code. Practice MCQs that test your ability to identify correctly matched pairs, differentiate between similar concepts, and apply constitutional principles to given scenarios.

Focus on 'what' and 'where' for customs, and 'which article/judgment' for legal aspects. Use the MARRIAGE mnemonic to recall core subtopics under marriage customs quickly.