Cold War — Ideology, Proxy Wars, Arms Race, Détente & Collapse of USSR

What should you study in Cold War?

• Cold War origins — Iron Curtain, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan
• Arms race — nuclear deterrence, MAD doctrine
• Proxy wars — Korea, Vietnam, Angola, Afghanistan
• Détente, SALT treaties, collapse of USSR (1991)

How often is Cold War asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 2 of 10 years, including 1 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

1. 2016: not asked
2. 2017: asked
3. 2018: not asked
4. 2019: not asked
5. 2020: not asked
6. 2021: asked
7. 2022: not asked
8. 2023: not asked
9. 2024: not asked
10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper I paper

GS Paper I is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world, and society. See all 41 Mains GS Paper I topics.

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