BPCG 172 Youth, Gender and Identity key facts
- Course code: BPCG 172 (printed BPCG-172)
- Course title: Youth, Gender and Identity
- Course type: Generic Elective (GE/IDC), School of Social Sciences, Discipline of Psychology
- Programmes: BAG, BCOMG, BSCG (IGNOU Bachelor of Arts, Commerce and Science (General))
- Credits: 6
- Blocks / units: 4 blocks, 9 units
- Maximum marks (TEE): 100 (term-end exam carries 70% weightage, assignments 30%)
- Duration: 3 hours
- Questions in the June 2026 paper: 8 (attempt any 5, at least 2 from each section)
- Samples shown on this page: 2 (Q1 and Q5)
- Questions in the paid file: All 8 questions (9 written answers, as Q8 has two short notes); 6 questions are not shown on this page
Inside the BPCG 172 Solved Question Paper June 2026
BPCG 172 Solved Question Paper June 2026 gives you complete, exam-length answers to all 8 questions of the official IGNOU term-end paper for this psychology elective.
BPCG 172 Youth, Gender and Identity is a 6-credit Generic Elective from IGNOU's Discipline of Psychology, taken in the Bachelor of Arts, Commerce and Science (General) programmes, that studies how young people form identity through family, peers, education, gender and globalisation.
The June 2026 paper stays close to the course's favourite themes. It asks you to separate a youth from an adult, trace development in early adulthood, explain family models and youth culture, and then judge globalisation, aggression and work-life balance. Question 8 closes with two short notes on adolescence and peers.
Our subject team took this exact IGNOU BPCG 172 Question Paper and wrote every answer in the length and order examiners expect. Before writing, we read eight earlier official papers, so the file also shows which topics IGNOU keeps asking. Two answers are open below; the remaining six questions are solved only in the full file.
BPCG 172 sample answers from the June 2026 paper
Two June 2026 answers are shown here in full, Q1 from Section A and Q5 from Section B, so you can judge the depth before asking for the rest. Both are written to the 400-word limit printed on the paper.
Sample answer 1 (Section A)
Q1. Differentiate between a youth and an adult. Discuss the meaning of youth from sociocultural, economic and legal aspects. (6+14 marks)
Answer
Youth is the phase of life that bridges the dependence of childhood and the full independence of adulthood. It is not fixed by age alone, because society, the economy and the law each draw its limits differently.
Difference between a youth and an adult (6 marks)
- Stage of life: a youth is still in transition. The United Nations uses 15 to 24 years for statistics, and India's National Youth Policy 2014 uses 15 to 29 years. An adult has completed this transition.
- Identity: Erikson linked adolescence to the crisis of identity versus role confusion. Youth are still exploring values, careers and relationships, while adults have usually made firmer commitments.
- Independence: young people often depend partly on the family for money and major decisions. Adults are expected to support themselves and carry roles such as worker, spouse and parent.
- Accountability: society gives youth room to experiment and make mistakes, whereas adults are held fully responsible for their choices.
Meaning of youth from three aspects (14 marks)
Socio-cultural aspect: youth is largely a social construction. Cultures mark its start and end with different events such as rites of passage, finishing education, marriage and setting up a household. In India, marriage and parenthood have traditionally signalled adulthood.
With longer schooling and later marriage in urban India, this stage now stretches further. Arnett called the extended phase from about 18 to 25 "emerging adulthood". Gender, caste, class and rural or urban location also shape youth: a rural young woman may move into marriage early, while an urban student may enjoy years of exploration.
Economic aspect: youth is the movement from school to work and from economic dependence to independence. Choosing a career, entering the labour market and earning a steady income mark its economic end. India's large young population is often called a demographic dividend, which helps growth only if young people get education, skills and jobs.
Unemployment, underemployment and insecure informal work can therefore stretch dependence on parents and delay other milestones, such as marriage and setting up a separate home.
Legal aspect: the law defines youth through age limits that bring rights and duties. Under the Indian Majority Act, 1875, a person becomes a major at 18. The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 sets the minimum marriage age at 21 for men and 18 for women.
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 treats anyone under 18 as a child, though 16 to 18 year olds accused of heinous offences may be tried as adults after a preliminary assessment. Because these limits differ, a person can be an adult in one legal area and not in another.
Conclusion: youth is a flexible, multi-layered stage. Its meaning depends on cultural markers, economic independence and legal age, and it is best understood as a period of transition rather than a fixed band of years.
Sample answer 2 (Section B)
Q5. Discuss the influence of globalization on youth identity. (20 marks)
Answer
Globalisation is the growing connection of economies, cultures and people through trade, technology, media and migration. In India, the economic reforms of 1991 opened markets and brought global brands, satellite television and later the internet into the daily lives of young people. Since youth is the stage when identity takes shape, these influences are felt most strongly at this age.
Psychological effects described by Arnett
In "The Psychology of Globalization" (2002), Jeffrey Arnett described four main consequences for young people's identity.
- Bicultural identity: one part of identity stays rooted in local culture while another is tied to global culture. A young professional in Delhi may work for a multinational company and use English all day, yet follow family rituals and festivals at home.
- Identity confusion: some young people find local traditions less relevant but still feel shut out of the global culture they see on screens, leaving them unsure where they belong.
- Self-selected cultures: some youth deliberately join groups of like-minded people, often with strong traditional or ideological values, to keep a distinct identity in the face of global culture.
- Emerging adulthood: longer education and later marriage extend the period of identity exploration well into the twenties.
Areas where globalisation shapes youth identity
Consumerism and lifestyle: global brands, fashion, food and music give young people new ways to express who they are, but they can also link self-worth to what one owns and create pressure to keep up.
Media and digital life: social media has become a stage for self-presentation. Youth build online identities, follow global trends and compare themselves with others, which can widen horizons but also raise anxiety.
Education and careers: a global job market, English-medium education and sectors such as IT and business services have widened aspirations and encouraged migration to cities and abroad.
Gender roles and values: exposure to ideas of equality has supported more young women in higher education and work. At the same time, the pull of individualism can clash with the interdependent family values common in Indian society.
Conclusion: globalisation does not simply replace local identity with a global one. Most Indian youth build a hybrid, "glocal" identity. Family, schools and colleges play a key role in helping them combine global opportunities with local roots without slipping into confusion.
Questions answered only in the full file
The remaining 6 questions of the June 2026 paper are listed below exactly as printed. Their answers are not shown on this page.
- Q2. Describe the different aspects of development during early adulthood years. (20 marks)
- Q3. Explain intergenerational relationships in terms of various family models. (20 marks)
- Q4. Explain the meaning and features of youth culture. (20 marks)
- Q6. Explain the various factors determining aggression and violence. (20 marks)
- Q7. Discuss the importance of work-life balance. Describe the various challenges arising from work-life imbalance. (6+14 marks)
- Q8. Write short notes on the following in about 200 words each : (a) Emotional and social development during adolescence years. (b) Significance of peers to social development. (10+10 marks)
BPCG 172 Youth, Gender and Identity syllabus by block and unit
BPCG 172 is built on 4 blocks and 9 units, moving from the idea of youth to identity, then gender, and finally the pressures young people face.
The block and unit titles below follow IGNOU's own course page for BPCG-172 on eGyanKosh. The topic column reflects what IGNOU has actually asked in its papers and assignments from each unit.
| Block | Unit | Key topics | June 2026 question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block 1 Introduction | Unit 1 Youth: Concept and Identity | Youth versus adult; socio-cultural, economic and legal meanings of youth; indicators and theories of identity including Marcia's identity status | Q1 |
| Block 1 Introduction | Unit 2 Developmental Aspects of Youth | Developmental tasks of adolescence; physical, cognitive, emotional and moral growth; development in early adulthood | Q2, Q8(a) |
| Block 2 Youth and Identity | Unit 3 Social and Psychological Perspectives on Identity | Social bases of identity; family as a context of development; intergenerational and parent-youth relationships | Q3 |
| Block 2 Youth and Identity | Unit 4 Education, Career and Peer Group | Educational institutions as contexts of identity; career choice and Holland's vocational theory; peer relations and socialising mechanisms | Q8(b) |
| Block 2 Youth and Identity | Unit 5 Youth Culture: Influence of Media and Globalization | Features of youth culture; media and its impact on youth; consumerism and lifestyle | Q4 |
| Block 3 Gender and Identity | Unit 6 Gender, Youth Identity and Sexuality | Gender stereotyping and socialisation; changing gender roles; sexuality, self and body awareness | None this session |
| Block 3 Gender and Identity | Unit 7 Youth, Identity and Globalization | Globalisation and youth identity; bicultural and hybrid identities; multiplicity of identity | Q5 |
| Block 4 Challenges related to Youth, Gender and Identity | Unit 8 Aggression, Violence and Mental Health among Youth | Nature and theories of aggression; personal, socio-cultural and media determinants; promoting youth mental health | Q6 |
| Block 4 Challenges related to Youth, Gender and Identity | Unit 9 Challenges related to Work-Life Balance, Equity and Equality | Models of work-life balance; consequences of imbalance; equity and equality at the workplace | Q7 |
Block 3 Unit 6 on gender and sexuality has no question this session, which is unusual, because gender socialisation appeared in three earlier papers. Students who use the full BPCG 172 Study Material alongside our answers can cover such gaps before the next exam.
How the BPCG 172 question paper is set and marked
The BPCG 172 paper has 8 questions of 20 marks each in two sections, and you answer any 5, taking at least 2 from each section.
| Part of paper | Questions | Marks | Expected length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | Q1 to Q4: youth versus adult, early adulthood, family models, youth culture | 20 each (Q1 split 6+14) | About 400 words |
| Section B long answers | Q5 to Q7: globalisation, aggression and violence, work-life balance | 20 each (Q7 split 6+14) | About 400 words |
| Section B short notes | Q8(a) adolescent development, Q8(b) peers | 10+10 | About 200 words per note |
| Attempt rule | Any 5 of 8, minimum 2 from each section | 5 x 20 = 100 | 3 hours in all |
| Final result | Term-end exam plus tutor marked assignments | 70% TEE, 30% assignments | Assignment due as per IGNOU notice |
The split marks matter. In Q1, six marks go to the youth and adult contrast and fourteen to the three aspects of meaning, so the second part needs more than twice the space. Comparing this IGNOU BPCG 172 Question Paper with an IGNOU Previous Year Question Paper shows the same section rule and 400-word guidance every session.
Topics that keep returning in BPCG 172 exams
Work-life balance has been asked in 7 of the last 8 official BPCG 172 papers, making it the safest topic to prepare.
We counted topics across the eight official IGNOU papers we could find: June 2022, December 2022, June 2023, December 2023, June 2024, December 2024, June 2025 and December 2025. A topic is counted once per session even if it appears twice in one paper.
| Topic | Unit | Sessions where asked | Count (of 8) | In June 2026 paper? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Models, importance and consequences of work-life (im)balance | Unit 9 | Jun 22, Dec 22, Jun 23, Dec 23, Dec 24, Jun 25, Dec 25 | 7 | Yes, Q7 |
| Factors determining aggression and violence (personal, socio-cultural, media) | Unit 8 | Jun 22, Dec 22, Jun 23, Dec 23, Dec 24, Dec 25 | 6 | Yes, Q6 |
| Educational institutions and identity development | Unit 4 | Jun 22, Jun 23, Dec 23, Jun 24, Dec 24, Dec 25 | 6 | No |
| Theories of identity, including Marcia's identity status | Unit 1 | Jun 22, Jun 23, Dec 23, Dec 24, Dec 25 | 5 | No |
| Theoretical perspectives on aggression (biological, GAM and others) | Unit 8 | Jun 22, Dec 22, Jun 23, Jun 24, Dec 25 | 5 | No |
| Concept of youth, youth versus adult, legal perspectives | Unit 1 | Jun 22, Dec 22, Jun 25 | 3 | Yes, Q1 |
| Globalisation (and media) and youth identity | Units 5 and 7 | Dec 22, Dec 23, Dec 24 | 3 | Yes, Q5 |
| Intergenerational relationships and family models | Unit 3 | Jun 22, Dec 23, Dec 24 | 3 | Yes, Q3 |
| Features of youth culture | Unit 5 | Jun 23, Dec 23, Jun 25 | 3 | Yes, Q4 |
| Emotional and social development in adolescence | Unit 2 | Jun 23, Dec 23, Jun 25 | 3 | Yes, Q8(a) |
| Peers and social development | Unit 4 | Dec 22, Dec 23, Dec 24 | 3 | Yes, Q8(b) |
| Development in early adulthood | Unit 2 | Jun 22, Dec 24 | 2 | Yes, Q2 |
| Gender socialisation and changing gender roles | Unit 6 | Jun 22, Jun 24, Jun 25 | 3 | No |
| Equity and equality at the workplace | Unit 9 | Dec 22, Jun 23, Jun 24 | 3 | No |
Seven of the eight June 2026 questions sit on topics that had already appeared at least twice. That is why we pair this solved paper with our IGNOU Important Questions sets for students sitting the December 2026 exam.
How our BPCG 172 answers are written and checked
Every BPCG 172 answer is drafted by our psychology writer, Prateek Talwar, and checked by our reviewer, Sheetal Kirola, against the IGNOU blocks.
We start from the question's mark split. A 6+14 question gets two headed parts sized to their marks, and the 10+10 short notes are kept to about 200 words each. Each answer opens with a definition, moves through clear points and ends with a short conclusion.
Facts are kept checkable. Ages, Acts and amendment numbers are taken from the statutes themselves, and theories are credited to the thinkers named in the course, such as Erikson, Marcia and Arnett. Indian examples are used wherever the paper asks you to "discuss" or "explain".
Finally, each answer is tagged with its block and unit so you can open the matching chapter. The same method runs across our BAG Question Paper series, so if you study other electives the format will already feel familiar.
BPCG 172 solved file index for June 2026
The BPCG 172 file solves all 8 questions; 2 are open on this page and 6 are answered only in the paid file. BPCG 172 is a theory-only course with no practical record, so this index lists every question with its unit instead.
| Q no. | Topic | Section | Block and unit | Marks | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Youth versus adult; meaning of youth | A | Block 1, Unit 1 | 6+14 | On this page |
| Q2 | Development in early adulthood | A | Block 1, Unit 2 | 20 | Full file only |
| Q3 | Intergenerational relationships and family models | A | Block 2, Unit 3 | 20 | Full file only |
| Q4 | Meaning and features of youth culture | A | Block 2, Unit 5 | 20 | Full file only |
| Q5 | Globalisation and youth identity | B | Block 3, Unit 7 | 20 | On this page |
| Q6 | Factors determining aggression and violence | B | Block 4, Unit 8 | 20 | Full file only |
| Q7 | Work-life balance and imbalance | B | Block 4, Unit 9 | 6+14 | Full file only |
| Q8 | Short notes: adolescent development; peers | B | Block 1, Unit 2 and Block 2, Unit 4 | 10+10 | Full file only |
Programmes that offer BPCG 172 Youth, Gender and Identity
BPCG 172 is a Generic Elective open to students of three IGNOU general bachelor's programmes.
- BAG: IGNOU Bachelor of Arts (General), where learners often pair it with other psychology or sociology electives.
- BCOMG: IGNOU Bachelor of Commerce (General), where it adds a social science elective to a commerce core.
- BSCG: IGNOU Bachelor of Science (General), where it serves as an interdisciplinary elective outside the science core.
Because students from all three streams sit the same paper, the answers avoid heavy jargon and explain each psychological term the first time it appears.
Get the full BPCG 172 Solved Question Paper on WhatsApp
Message WhatsApp 9899436384 with "BPCG 172 June 2026" and we will send the price and the full solved PDF.
The file covers all 8 questions, giving you 9 written answers because Question 8 has two short notes. You have already read Q1 and Q5 here; the other 6 questions, from family models to work-life imbalance, are waiting in the PDF. The IGNOU BPCG 172 Solved Question Paper is sent as a digital file, ready to read on your phone.
BPCG 172 Youth, Gender and Identity FAQs
These answers cover the questions BPCG 172 students ask us most often before buying the solved paper.
What is inside the BPCG 172 Solved Question Paper June 2026?
It holds complete answers to all 8 questions of the official BPCG 172 June 2026 term-end paper. Each long answer is about 400 words and each Q8 short note about 200 words, matching the paper's instructions. Split-mark questions such as Q1 and Q7 are answered in two clearly labelled parts. Every answer also names the block and unit it comes from, so you can revise from the IGNOU book.
How do I get the full BPCG 172 solved file on WhatsApp?
Send a message to WhatsApp 9899436384 with the course code BPCG 172 and the session June 2026. Our team replies with the price and sends the full PDF once confirmed. The file contains all 8 questions, which means 9 written answers because Question 8 has two short notes. Only Q1 and Q5 are shown on this page, so the other 6 questions are in the file alone.
How many questions must I attempt in the BPCG 172 exam?
You must attempt any 5 of the 8 questions in the BPCG 172 paper, choosing at least 2 from Section A and at least 2 from Section B. Every question carries 20 marks, so the paper totals 100 marks over 3 hours. Long answers should run to about 400 words, while each part of the short-note question should be about 200 words.
Which BPCG 172 Youth, Gender and Identity topics repeat most?
Work-life balance is the strongest repeater, asked in 7 of the 8 official papers from June 2022 to December 2025. Factors behind aggression and violence and the role of educational institutions in identity each appeared in 6 sessions, and theories of identity in 5. Our repeat-topic table above lists the exact sessions, so you can see which chapters deserve the most revision time.
Is the BPCG 172 solved paper useful for the December 2026 exam?
Yes, because BPCG 172 papers reuse the same core themes session after session. Seven of the eight June 2026 questions cover topics that had already appeared in at least two earlier papers, so practising these answers prepares you for likely December 2026 questions too. Pair the file with your unit-wise reading of the IGNOU blocks for the best result.
Are the BPCG 172 answers written to the IGNOU word limit?
Yes. Every long answer in the BPCG 172 file is planned at about 400 words, as the paper instructs, and each Q8 note at about 200 words. Answers open with a short definition, move through headed points, use Indian examples where they help, and close with a conclusion. This keeps them readable in exam time and close to the length examiners expect.
Which IGNOU programmes include BPCG 172 Youth, Gender and Identity?
BPCG 172 is a Generic Elective from the Discipline of Psychology, School of Social Sciences. Students of the Bachelor of Arts (General), Bachelor of Commerce (General) and Bachelor of Science (General) can choose it, which is why the same paper is written by BAG, BCOMG and BSCG learners. Check your own programme guide to confirm it sits in your chosen elective list.
How many credits and units does BPCG 172 have?
BPCG 172 is a 6-credit course spread over 4 blocks and 9 units. Block 1 introduces youth and development, Block 2 covers identity, education and youth culture, Block 3 deals with gender, sexuality and globalisation, and Block 4 covers aggression, mental health, work-life balance and equity. The term-end exam carries 70% weightage and assignments 30%.