UPSC Prelims 2024 Q86: Current Affairs – Books & Authors
- (a) Bhupender Yadav
- (b) Nalin Mehta
- (c) Shashi Tharoor
- (d) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
Answer: (d) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
Explanation
Books: 'The India Way' and 'Why Bharat Matters' - Author
Books by S. Jaishankar:
| Book | Author | Year | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World | S. Jaishankar | 2020 | India's foreign policy approach, strategic autonomy, civilizational values in diplomacy |
| Why Bharat Matters | S. Jaishankar | 2023 | Continuation of foreign policy themes, India's role in a changing world, civilizational perspective |
Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is India's External Affairs Minister (since 2019). He is a former diplomat (served as Foreign Secretary 2015-2018, Ambassador to USA and China).
Other notable books by Indian politicians/officials:
| Book | Author |
|---|---|
| 'Breaking New Ground' | Manohar Parrikar |
| 'The Accidental Prime Minister' | Sanjaya Baru (about Manmohan Singh) |
| 'Why I am an Atheist' | Bhagat Singh |
| 'Discovery of India' | Jawaharlal Nehru |
Answer: (d) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Bhupender Yadav is India's Minister of Labour and Employment. He has not authored 'The India Way' or 'Why Bharat Matters.'
- (b) Incorrect. Nalin Mehta is a journalist and author known for works on Indian politics and media, but he did not write these two books.
- (c) Incorrect. Shashi Tharoor is a prolific author and parliamentarian (books include 'The Great Indian Novel,' 'Inglorious Empire,' etc.) but 'The India Way' and 'Why Bharat Matters' are by Jaishankar.
- (d) CORRECT. Both 'The India Way' (2020) and 'Why Bharat Matters' (2023) are authored by Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister.
Key point
'The India Way' (2020) + 'Why Bharat Matters' (2023) = both by S. Jaishankar (External Affairs Minister). These books reflect India's civilizational approach to foreign policy and strategic autonomy.
Remember
'The India Way' (2020) and 'Why Bharat Matters' (2023) are both authored by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Jaishankar with Shashi Tharoor - both are prolific writer-politicians, but Tharoor writes about colonialism, history, and Hindu pluralism while Jaishankar writes about foreign policy.
- Not knowing Jaishankar as an author - as External Affairs Minister, his books provide an insider view of India's diplomatic strategy and are high-profile in UPSC context.
- Mixing up 'The India Way' with other India-focused books - this specific title is exclusively Jaishankar's 2020 foreign policy book.
Exam tip
Jaishankar books = Foreign Policy = 'The India Way' (2020) + 'Why Bharat Matters' (2023). He is the current EAM. For UPSC, Books & Authors questions often feature recently published books by prominent government officials and leaders.
Sources
- S. Jaishankar - 'The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World' (2020)
- S. Jaishankar - 'Why Bharat Matters' (2023)