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Question

COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment.

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2020 (Prelims) CSAT Previous Year Paper (04-Oct-2020)

The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a powerful catalyst, drastically accelerating pre-existing class inequalities and poverty in India. The impact was far from uniform, leading to what many describe as a ‘K-shaped recovery’.

The affluent, upper-middle classes, largely in the formal sector, could transition to remote work, protecting their health and incomes. Their savings often grew. In stark contrast, the vast informal workforce, including daily wage labourers and migrant workers, faced a complete loss of livelihood during lockdowns. The heart-wrenching migrant crisis was a visible testament to this desperation.

This divergence widened the economic gap. Furthermore, the shift to online education created a deep digital divide, where children from poor families without access to devices and internet fell significantly behind, jeopardizing their future prospects. The pandemic thus didn't just expose existing fault lines; it deepened them, pushing millions below the poverty line and magnifying class disparity

Answered By:

Sakshi Negi

Sakshi Negi is a Delhi-based journalist and content specialist with expertise in educational content and digital media, focusing particularly on government exam preparation and career guidance. With a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from NRAI School of Mass Communication and her background as a Kendriya Vidyalaya alumna, she brings unique insights into the Indian education system and government sector opportunities.

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Important Questions from GS1

  1. Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period. 

  2. Estimate the contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi for the development of art and literature of South India. 

  3. How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of the balance of power?

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