In your answer, it is not necessary to include all points mentioned here. Students are advised to select and organize relevant content based on the provided editorial and the allocated word limit.

Answer Length Guide:

150 words – 10 marker
200–225 words – 15 marker
300 words – 20 marker
350 words – 25 marker
Essay-type answers – 1000 to 1200 words

Past Questions (UPSC Mains)

GS Paper I – Indian Society – 2021: “Discuss the role of sports in promoting gender equality in India.” This editorial highlights women’s chess achievements.
GS Paper II – Social Justice – 2019: “How can India ensure inclusive opportunities for women in professional fields?” This editorial discusses access to chess training.

Probable UPSC Mains Questions

GS Paper I – Indian Society – Q1: “Evaluate the impact of women’s achievements in sports on societal empowerment.”
GS Paper II – Social Justice – Q2: “How can India promote equitable access to training for women in professional sports like chess?”

Introduction (Sets the context with a striking fact and three sentences to outline the issue, highlight developments, and state significance, ensuring clarity and relevance for high marks.)
On July 31, 2025, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh won the women’s chess World Cup in Batumi, defeating Koneru Humpy. Her victory, alongside strong performances by Indian women like Harika and Vaishali, showcases India’s chess prowess. Yet, limited depth in women’s chess highlights the need for nurturing talent. Strategic investments in training are vital for sustained global success.

Keywords / Important Terms (Using technical terms catches the evaluator’s eye, demonstrating precise knowledge and alignment with UPSC’s analytical expectations for top scores.)

Women’s Chess: Competitive chess fostering gender empowerment.
Talent Nurturing: Identifying and training young players for global success.
Gender Equity: Equal opportunities for women in sports.
Chess Olympiad: International team competition showcasing national strength.
Grandmaster Norms: Criteria for achieving elite chess titles.
Sports Diplomacy: Leveraging chess for India’s global image.
Inclusive Growth: Creating career opportunities through sports.

Flowchart (Visualizes complex dynamics, enhancing conceptual clarity, which impresses evaluators by showing structured thinking.)

Purpose: To map India’s women’s chess development.
Triggers: Divya’s win, limited talent depth, training costs.
Linkages: Talent nurturing → global success; inequitable access → weaker bench.
Outcomes: Stronger women’s chess, gender empowerment, global leadership.

Core Issues / Root Causes (Identifying systemic issues with examples demonstrates depth, critical for scoring high by showcasing analytical rigor.)

Limited Talent Depth: Only eight Indian women in the global top 100, compared to China’s 14, reflect inadequate nurturing.
High Training Costs: Expensive coaching and international travel deter families, limiting Grandmaster norm opportunities.
Gender Disparity: Fewer girls in chess due to societal barriers and lack of encouragement.
Administrative Gaps: Chess federations lack long-term plans for women’s chess development.

Impact Analysis (Multi-dimensional analysis with examples shows comprehensive understanding, boosting marks by addressing diverse aspects.)

Social: Divya’s win inspires girls, promoting gender equity.
Economic: Chess careers create opportunities but require affordable training.
Cultural: Success enhances India’s global sports reputation.
Educational: Chess fosters critical thinking, aiding youth development.
Ethical: Unequal access to training undermines fairness.

Government Schemes / Policy Interventions (Linking specific schemes to issues shows policy awareness, earning marks for practical relevance.)

Khelo India: Supports young athletes but needs specific chess programs for girls.
NEP 2020: Promotes holistic education, including sports, but lacks targeted funding for chess.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Encourages girls’ participation, applicable to sports like chess.

Way Forward / Solutions (Feasible, structured solutions reflect forward-thinking, impressing evaluators with actionable insights.)

Expand Training Programs: Subsidize coaching for girls, emulating China’s chess academies.
Host Tournaments: Increase domestic chess events to reduce travel costs for norms.
Promote Gender Equity: Launch campaigns like Khelo India to encourage girls in chess.
Strengthen Federations: Develop long-term plans for women’s chess with dedicated funding.
Mentorship Networks: Pair young players with mentors like Divya, inspired by Viswanathan Anand’s model.

Ethical Dimensions (Highlighting ethical aspects aligns with GS Paper IV, enhancing marks by showing ethical sensitivity.)

Fairness: Equitable training access ensures inclusive opportunities for girls.
Accountability: Chess federations must transparently nurture talent.

Conclusion (Summarizes key elements, offers a positive opinion, and reiterates the introduction’s sentiment with a visionary tone, leaving a mature, impactful impression for higher scores.)
Divya’s World Cup triumph elevates India’s chess legacy. Strategic training and equitable policies will nurture future champions. India’s investment in women’s chess can redefine global sporting excellence.

Editorials