Explain
Directive verbClarify the cause, mechanism, or process. Linear — cause to mechanism to effect.
Rubric shape
State what is being explained and why it needs explanation
Cause / origin — why or how it arises
Mechanism — how it operates
Effect / outcome — what it produces
The significance of understanding this cause-mechanism-effect chain
150-Word Discipline
Practise 10-mark answers
Practice on the real format
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What most aspirants write
Defining the term rather than explaining it. 'Explain' requires the mechanism — the 'how' and 'why' — not the 'what'.
What the rubric actually requires
The cause-mechanism-effect chain must be explicit. Each link in the chain must be present. An answer that only defines the phenomenon has not explained it.
Real PYQs using this verb
Explain how the Indian Government's initiatives such as Digital India and Startup India can combat unemployment.
Explain the mechanism and procedure of NPA resolution in India.
Explain the constitutional perspectives of environmental jurisprudence in India.