Search

Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains

Asymmetry

GS3 GS2

"A lack of equality or equivalence between corresponding parts or roles in a relationship, system, or conflict"

Definition

A lack of equality or equivalence between corresponding parts or roles in a relationship, system, or conflict

⭐ Significance for UPSC

Three key UPSC uses: 1) Asymmetric federalism, different powers for different states (Art. 371); 2) Asymmetric warfare, insurgency/terrorism vs. conventional military; 3) Information asymmetry, one party in a transaction knows more than the other (economics, GS-3). All three appear in UPSC Mains papers.

Example / Context
India's federal structure has an inherent asymmetry, states like Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, and Mizoram have special constitutional arrangements under Article 371 and 370 (now abrogated).
Mains GS Relevance
GS Paper 3
Economy, Environment, S&T, Security
GS Paper 2
Polity, Governance, IR, Social Justice
Subject
Polity Economy Security Defence
← All Terms
A new key term every day Key Term of the Day at 1pm, plus daily current affairs and free PDFs
Join Channel
BharatNotes