INSIGHTSIAS

IA SIMPLIFYING IAS EXAM PREPARATION

INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

MAINS MISSION 2023

GS- I

APRIL 2023

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NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They
are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is
content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you
extra points in the form of background information.

Table of Contents
Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times. ................................................................................................................................... 5
Discuss the information provided by the Uttaramerur inscription regarding the self-government
enjoyed by the Chola villages of medieval India. (250 words)...................................................... 5
Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant
events, personalities, issues............................................................................................................... 7
Discuss the various aspects of Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Ram Rajya? How can it be achieved in
the present times? (250 words) .................................................................................................... 7
Dr B.R Ambedkar was the architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion of social justice.
Highlight Ambedkar’s contributions towards creating a democratic and inclusive India, where all
citizens have equal rights and opportunities. (250 words) ............................................................ 9
The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different
parts of the country. ........................................................................................................................ 11
Discuss the contributions of Veer Savarkar in India’s struggle for independence. (150 words) .. 11
Highlight the challenges faced by the senior citizens. There is a need in our society to recognize
and value the contributions of the elderly and ensuring they live with dignity and respect.
Elucidate. (250 words). ............................................................................................................... 13
Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. ....................................... 15
What were the obstacles encountered by India after achieving independence in incorporating
the princely state of Hyderabad into the Indian Union, and what strategies were employed to
surmount them? (250 words) ..................................................................................................... 15
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The Indus Water Treaty has been considered as one of the most successful water-sharing
agreements in the world. But has the treaty limited the usage of water resources in Jammu and
Kashmir? Critically analyse. (250 words) ..................................................................................... 17
Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India......................................................................... 19
Studies have shown that legalizing same-sex marriage can have significant mental health
benefits for LGBTQIA+ individuals. In this context, state your opinion on legalising same sex
marriages in the country. (250 words) ........................................................................................ 19
Role of women and women’s organization; population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, ..................................................................................................................... 21
How does the patriarchal social structure in India contribute to occupational segregation within
the labour market, and what steps can be taken to address this issue? (250 Words)................. 21
The impact of patriarchy on women can be significant and pervasive, affecting their personal,
social, economic, and political lives in many ways. Examine. (250 words).................................. 24
Poverty alleviation has been a significant focus in India for many years, and while progress has
been made, there is no doubt that ending poverty remains a challenging task. Analyse. (250
words) ......................................................................................................................................... 26
To fully realize the potential of India’s demographic dividend, the government must address the
significant gaps in education and skills training. Analyse. (250 words) ...................................... 31
If a positive and proactive approach is adopted towards India’s population growth, along with
pragmatic policy moves, its large population, often seen as a burden, can actually become an
asset in terms of economic growth and development. Analyse. (250 words) ............................. 34
Urbanization, their problems and their remedies............................................................................. 36
Socioeconomic inequality is indeed a major problem behind water shortages in urban areas.
There is need for more equitable distribution of water resources and sustainable water
management practices to ensure that everyone has access to water. Analyse. (250 words) ...... 36
As urbanization and population growth increase, so does the amount of municipal solid waste
produced, leading to a surge in unsanitary landfills that cause severe hazards. Examine. (250
words)......................................................................................................................................... 39
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism. ..................................................... 41
Discuss the significance of Dalit writing as a social movement and its potential to challenge
dominant narratives and create a more inclusive society in India. (250 words). ........................ 41
Salient features of world’s physical geography. ............................................................................... 43
It is pertinent to monitor and prepare for the potential impact of El Nino on India, given its
potential to significantly impact the country’s agriculture and economy. Analyse. (250 words) 43
Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-
bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. .................................. 45
What is an avalanche? Examine the natural and anthropogenic causes of an avalanche. (250
words)......................................................................................................................................... 45

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Examine the potential threat of a “wet-bulb summer” in India. Is India prepared to handle such
extreme events? What measures must be taken in order to mitigate the effects of extreme
heat?........................................................................................................................................... 48
Examine the reasons for the increasing incidence of heatwaves in different parts of the country,
and to what extent is climate change responsible for this trend? (250 words) ........................... 52
What is the significance of relative humidity and wet-bulb temperature in predicting and
mitigating the impact of heatwaves? How can this knowledge be used to design more resilient
buildings and cities in the face of increasing heatwave events? Elucidate with suitable examples.
(250 words) ................................................................................................................................. 54
Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-
continent); ...................................................................................................................................... 58
What are Rare earth elements (REEs)? REEs are critical components of many modern
technologies, and their importance is only likely to increase as these technologies continue to
evolve. Discuss. (250 words) ....................................................................................................... 58
Export hotspots play a crucial role in driving India’s export growth by acting as key centers of
production and trade. Discuss the features of major export hotspots of India. (250 words) ...... 60
Geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-
bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. .................................. 63
What are the causes for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Evaluate its impact on human health
and the economy. (250 words) ................................................................................................... 63
What are the various natural and human-caused factors contributing to the rise in global sea
levels? Analyse their potential long-term impacts on coastal communities and ecosystems. (250
words)......................................................................................................................................... 67

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Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and
Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Discuss the information provided by the Uttaramerur inscription regarding the self-
government enjoyed by the Chola villages of medieval India. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The Uttaramerur inscription is excellent inscriptional evidence of local democracy and administration
during the time of the Cholas.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the Chola local self-governing villages.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:

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Introduction:
Start by giving context of Uttaramerur inscription.
Body:
First, write in detail, the features of Chola local self-governing villages – various qualifications,
disqualifications, committees and their natures of responsibilities.
Next, write about the level of autonomy enjoyed by these Chola local self-governing villages.
Next, write about the significance of Chola local self-governing villages.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
India is the world’s oldest democracy; it is the mother of democracy. There are numerous historical
references to this. An 1,100 years old inscription from Tamil Nadu, called Uttiramerur inscription, is
an excellent inscriptional evidence of local democracy and administration during the time of the
Cholas. The inscription issued by Paranthaka Chola gives details of election to local self governance
bodies.

Prime Minister Modi recently referred to the Uttaramerur inscription in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu,
while discussing India’s democratic history.
Body

Uttarameruru inscription

There were two types of villages at the local in the Chola empire. One type of village consisted of
people from different caste and the assembly which ran this type of village was called ‘ur’. The
second type of village was ‘agrahara’ types of village which were settled by Brahmins in which most
of the land was rent-free.

The assembly of this agrahara type of village was a gathering of the adult men in brahmana villages
called ‘Sabha’ or ‘mahasabha’. These villages enjoyed a large measure of autonomy. The affairs of
the village were managed by an executive committee to which educated person owning property
were elected by drawing lots or by rotation.

The system of village autonomy with sabhas and their committees developed through the ages and
reached its culmination during the Chola rule. Two inscriptions belonging to the period of Parantaka
I found at Uttiramerur provide details of the formation and functions of village councils.

That village was divided into thirty wards and each was to nominate its members to the village
council. The qualifications to become a ward member were:

 Ownership of at least one fourth veli of land.

 Own residence.

 Above thirty years and below seventy years of age.

 Knowledge of Vedas.
However, certain norms of disqualification were also mentioned in the inscriptions. They were:

 Those who had been members of the committees for the past three years.

 Those who had failed to submit accounts as committee members.

 Those who had committed sins.

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 Those who had stolen the property of others.

From the persons duly nominated, one was to be chosen for each ward by kudavolai system for a
year. The names of eligible persons were written on palm-leaves and put into a pot. A young boy or
girl would take out thirty names each for one ward.

The inscription outlines various important committees in the sabha, each with its specific duties.
They were divided into six variyams such as samvatsaravariyam, erivariyam, thotta variyam, pancha
variyam, pon variyam and puravuvari variyam to take up six different functions of the village
administration. The committee members were called variyapperumakkal. They usually met in the
temple or under a tree and passed resolutions. The number of committees and ward members
varied from village to village.

Committee members served for 360 days before retiring. Any member implicated in wrongdoing or
discrepancies in accounts would be immediately removed from the committee, including those who
committed crimes such as forgery, or rode a donkey as punishment.

Conclusion

Hence, Chola administration gave a lot of autonomy to village councils and committees. This local
decentralization shows the acumen for good governance back in the ancient and medieval period
which was indigenously developed.

Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the
present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Discuss the various aspects of Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Ram Rajya? How can it be
achieved in the present times? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article discusses the concept of Ram Rajya, which has been often used to describe an ideal state
of governance in India.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about Mahatma Gandhi’s Ram Rajya concept and how to achieve it.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining Ram Rajya as per Mahatma Gandhi.
Body:
First, write about the various features of Ram Rajya – principles of dharma, self-governance, equality,
and non-violence. Gandhi believed in creating a decentralized political system where local
communities had a say in decision-making etc.
Next, write about the steps that must be taken in order to achieve it in the present times.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising the above.
Introduction

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‘Ram Rajya’ envisages a society in which virtue, morality and justice are the core ideals around which
day-to-day interactions between citizen and citizen and state and citizen occur. Since it is impossible
to imagine such a perfect state of affairs, Ram Rajya, in the modern sense, is often thought of as an
idealistic goal which governments should keep in mind and take inspiration from while implementing
their governance agenda.

Body

Various aspects of Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Ram Rajya

 Though Mahatma Gandhi may have coined the term in its modern avatar, the concept of
‘Ram Rajya’ has been a part of Indian thinking for centuries.
 The term has both a practical and a philosophical-cum-utopian aspect.

 Practically, it can be described as a means of putting the idea of good governance at the
centre of all governmental activity.
 But there is a deeper philosophical and spiritual resonance to the concept, which idealises
Lord Rama as a perfect ruler.
 A devout Hindu, Gandhi was greatly influenced by the teachings of the Ramayana.

 The twin principle of Gandhi’s Ram Rajya was Right Means and Right Ends.
 Ram Rajya is envisioned as that state of governance where the ruler is wise enough to place
the good of the people above the interest of his own.

 Gandhi said that for him a true Ram Rajya would ensure “equal rights to both prince and
pauper”.
 Gandhiji implied an ideal Rajya where values of justice, equality, idealism, renunciation and
sacrifice were practised

 By Ram Rajya Gandhi do not mean Hindu Raj but the kingdom of God.

 For him, Ram and Rahim were one and the same; He acknowledged no other God than the
one God of Truth and righteousness.
 One of the core aspect of Ram Rajya was true democracy in which the meanest citizen could
be sure of swift justice without an elaborate and costly procedure.

 For Gandhiji, Ram Rajya was not just a matter of communal harmony and protecting the
defenceless, but also a conversation which every Indian should have with the self.

Means to achieve Ram rajya in contemporary times

 The first step towards creating such a benevolent land is to look within.

 This form of introspection involved to magnify one’s own faults a thousand fold and shut
your eyes to the faults of your neighbours. That is the only way to real progress.

 We need to learn to love the way Ram loved Sita. There is no way to achieve Ram Rajya or
swaraj without observing this svadharma.

 There is a need to establish a strong connection of concern and understanding between

political leaders and the people.
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 Ram Rajya conveys a sense of duty on those sitting at the helm of public institutions to set
the highest of moral and ethical values. Only then a political Utopia will prevail.

 There is a need to emphasize the building of individual moral buildup and the role of the
state should be minimized.

 The Justice system should be swift, easily accessible to even the marginalized of the society.

 There should be respect for all religions and faiths, without any discrimination.

Conclusion

Gandhi summed up Ram Rajya as “the sovereignty of the people based on pure moral authority”.
Thus, Ram rajya was an ideal society where everybody follows a code of righteous living, lives
content and happy and meet their essential needs.

Dr B.R Ambedkar was the architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion of social
justice. Highlight Ambedkar’s contributions towards creating a democratic and inclusive
India, where all citizens have equal rights and opportunities. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express , Indian Express
Why the question:
Apart from political democracy, Ambedkar backed social democracy that recognises liberty, equality
and fraternity.
Key Demand of the question:
To write contributions of Dr B.R Ambedkar’s in promoting democratic unity as well protection of
domestic rights.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing a few introductory lines regarding Dr B.R Ambedkar
Body:
First, write about his role and contributions; His role as a social reformer, chairman of the draft
committee of the Indian Constitution, and first law minister of the country is well-known. He was an
educationist, economist, jurist, politician, journalist, sociologist and social reformer and worked in
the fields of culture, religion and spirituality.
Next, write about his measures in promoting democratic unity and as champion of domestic rights.
Mention about key learnings from his teaching in the present day.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

Dr B.R Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in the town and military cantonment of Mhow in the
Central Provinces (now in Madhya Pradesh). The nation is celebrating the 131st birth anniversary of B
R Ambedkar. He is one leader from the pre-independence times who has gained phenomenal after-
life recognition, respect and popularity, not only as a messiah of the Dalits but also as one of the
greatest Indians of the modern age. He was a nation-builder with a difference. Unlike Gandhi, Nehru,
Subhas Bose and Bhagat Singh, he didn’t fight against British imperialism.

December 6 is observed as the Mahaparinirvan Diwas, or the death anniversary, of Dr BR Ambedkar,

the Father of the Indian Constitution.

Body

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Ambedkar’s role as a political leader and a social reformer

 His primary fight was against the evil of untouchability and casteism in the Hindu
community.

 Ambedkar worked to embed the objectives of liberty, equality and fraternity and the
concept of dignity of the individual at the heart of the Constitution.

 Babasaheb always advocated for providing equal rights to women. Women have been given
the same fundamental right to Equality as men in the Constitution drafted by him.

 Ambedkar was the voice of the Depressed Classes on every platform. As their representative
at the Round Table Conference, he championed the cause of labour improving the condition
of peasants.

 During the Bombay Assembly’s Poona session in 1937, he introduced a Bill to abolish the
Khoti system of land tenure in Konkan.
 He was the first legislator in the country to introduce a Bill for abolishing the serfdom of
agricultural tenants.
 His essay titled ‘Small Holdings in India and their Remedies’ (1918) proposed
industrialisation as the answer to India’s agricultural problem and is still relevant to
contemporary debates.
 The Reserve Bank of India was conceptualised from the Hilton Young Commission’s
recommendation, which considered Ambedkar’s guidelines laid out in The Problem of the
Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution.
 As a member of the Bombay Assembly, he opposedthe introduction of the Industrial
Disputes Bill, 1937, as it removed workers’ right to strike. He advocated for “fair condition of
life of labour” instead of securing “fair condition of work” and laid out the basic structure of
the government’s labour policy.
 Ambedkar out rightly opposed the communist labour movements, their extraterritorial
loyalties and their Marxian approach of controlling all means of production.

 As chairman of the Constitution’s drafting committee, he took meticulous measures to build

a just society through liberty, equality and fraternity.

 Morality, Equality, Self-respect and Indianness were the four most important ideals of
Babasaheb’s vision.

 Lord Buddha’s message of compassion and harmony was the basis of his life and politics.

 Babasaheb stressed the need for politics based on the cultural values of morality and
harmony.

 He was a severe critic of Mahatma Gandhi and the politics of the Indian National
Congress for fighting only the external evil of foreign rule while ignoring the cancerous
disease within the Hindu community.

Voice of the depressed classes

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 Ambedkar was the voice of the Depressed Classes on every platform. As their representative
at the Round Table Conference, he championed the cause of labour and improving the
condition of peasants.
 During the Bombay Assembly’s Poona session in 1937, he introduced a Bill to abolish the
Khoti system of land tenure in Konkan.

 In Bombay, the historic peasant march to the Council Hall in 1938 made him a popular
leader of the peasants, workers, and the landless. He was the first legislator in the country to
introduce a Bill for abolishing the serfdom of agricultural tenants.

 His essay titled ‘Small Holdings in India and their Remedies’ (1918) proposed
industrialisation as the answer to India’s agricultural problem and is still relevant to
contemporary debates.

Conclusion
Today our legal system is progressing on the path suggested by him on many issues like property
rights for women. This shows that Babasaheb’s visionary thinking was far ahead of his time.
Ambedkar’s thinking and legacy are reflected in the pro-people, pro-poor welfare policies and
programmes of the government.

The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors

/contributions from different parts of the country.
Discuss the contributions of Veer Savarkar in India’s struggle for independence. (150
words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The controversy surrounding the legacy of Hindutva demagogue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, one of
the most divisive figures in Indian politics, has reignited a heated debate in Maharashtra.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the contributions of Veer Savarkar.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving a brief introduction about Veer Savarkar.
Body:
Write about the contributions of Veer Savarkar – several movements against British colonial rule,
played a key role in the formation of the All India Students’ Federation and the Hindu Mahasabha, He
was also a prolific writer and poet.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about the legacy of Veer Savarkar.
Introduction

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Veer Savarkar was born on 28 May, 1883 in the village Bhagpur, Nashik. His full name is Vinayak
Damodar Savarkar. He was a freedom fighter, politician, lawyer, social reformer, and formulator of
the philosophy of Hindutva.
The controversy surrounding the legacy of Hindutva demagogue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, one of
the most divisive figures in Indian politics, has reignited a heated debate in Maharashtra.

Body

Contributions of Veer Savarkar to Indian Freedom struggle

 In Pune, Savarkar founded the “Abhinav Bharat Society”.He was also involved in
the Swadeshi movement and later joined Tilak’s Swaraj Party.

 His instigating patriotic speeches and activities incensed the British Government. As a result,
the British Government withdrew his B.A. degree.
 In June 1906, Veer Savarkar, left for London to become Barrister. However, once in London,
he united and inflamed the Indian students in England against British rule in India. He
founded the Free India Society.
 The Society celebrated important dates on the Indian calendar including festivals, freedom
movement landmarks, and was dedicated to furthering discussion about Indian freedom.

 He believed and advocated the use of arms to free India from the British and created a
network of Indians in England, equipped with weapons.

 In 1908, brought out an authentic informative researched work on The Great Indian Revolt,
which the British termed as “Sepoy Mutiny” of 1857. The book was called “The Indian War
of Independence 1857”.

 The British government immediately enforced a ban on the publication in both Britain and
India. Later, it was published by Madame Bhikaiji Cama in Holland, and was smuggled into
India to reach revolutionaries working across the country against British rule.

 When the then British Collector of Nasik, A.M.T. Jackson was shot by a youth, Veer Savarkar
finally fell under the net of the British authorities. He was implicated in the murder citing his
connections with India House. Savarkar was arrested in London on March 13, 1910 and sent
to India.

 In 1920, many prominent freedom fighters including Vithalbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi and
Bal Gangadhar Tilak demanded the release of Savarkar. On May 2, 1921, Savarkar was
moved to Ratnagiri jail, and from there to the Yeravada jail.

Relevance of his ideas in Indian society today:

 Savarkar was a modernist, a rationalist and a strong supporter of social reform.

 According to Savarkar, our movies should focus on the positives of the country, keep aside
the negatives and have pride in its victories. Our youth should be inspired by movies that
focus on the positive side of things.

 In his presidential address to the annual session of the Hindu Mahasabha held in Calcutta in
1939, Savarkar spoke about how Hindus and Muslims could bury their historical differences
in a common Hindustani constitutional state.
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 Savarkar often called on his supporters to welcome the age of the modern machine.
 In an essay published in the magazine Kirloskar, and republished in a book of his essays on
the scientific approach, he argued that India would continue to lag behind Europe as long as
its leaders believed in superstition rather than science.

 He argued that any social reformer who seeks to root out harmful social practices or preach
new truths has first of all to compromise his popularity.

 A true social or religious reformer should only be driven by the desire to do good.

 Savarkar was a strong opponent of the caste system. He repeatedly argued that what the
religious books say about untouchability is irrelevant. The social practice was unfit for a
modern society.

Conclusion
Many of Savarkar’s ideas on social and religious reforms, embrace of science, and building a stronger
state continue to be relevant for India. His controversial position on Hindutva also continues to
inform current political debates. It is time that a wider set of scholars began to engage with
Savarkar’s ideas—including controversial ones.

Highlight the challenges faced by the senior citizens. There is a need in our society to
recognize and value the contributions of the elderly and ensuring they live with dignity
and respect. Elucidate. (250 words).
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article suggests that the Senior Citizens’ Welfare and Protection Act, 2019 in India needs to be
strengthened to ensure the elderly population receives adequate care and support to age healthily.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the issues faced by the senior citizens and need for the elderly care in the fast-ageing
elderly population.
Directive word:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief highlight the status of elderly population in the Indian society.
Body:
In the first part, write about the challenges faced by senior citizens – neglect, abuse, and lack of
access to healthcare etc.
Next, write about the measures that are needed to improve the above – more old-age homes,
improving healthcare facilities for seniors, and promoting awareness programs on the rights of the
elderly etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Currently, India’s population is among the youngest in an ageing world, however, a major proportion
of India’s population will be aged by 2050. This calls for more forward-looking policies incorporating

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population dynamics, education and skills, healthcare, gender sensitivity and most importantly
geriatric care.

Body

Demographic transition in India

 NFHS-5 places the total fertility rate (TFR) at 2.0. known as replacement level of fertility. This
decline is spread evenly across the country.

o 28 statesand UTs have a TFR of 9 or less, with seven below 1.6.

o All southern states have a TFR of 1.7-1.8,similar to that of Sweden.

 Even states that have not reached replacement fertility —Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — seem
to be head in that direction.
 Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan that were part of the lagging states have achieved TFRs of

 With falling fertility (currently 2.0), the median age of India has risen from 24 years in 2011
to 29 years now and is expected to be 36 years by 2036.
o With a falling dependency ratio (expected to decrease from 65% to 54% in the
coming decade taking 15-59 years as the working age population), India is in the
middle of a demographic transition.
o However, the elderly care is neglected in policies till date.

 Elderly population : Age division of Indian population (0-14) is 30.8%, (15-59) is 60.3%,
(60+) is 8.6%.
o According to Population Census 2011, there are nearly 104 million elderly persons in
India.

o It has increased from 5.5% in 1951 to 8.6% in 2011.

o Projected a rise upto 19% in 2050

Issues associated with elderly population in India

 Feminisation of ageing: The sex ratio of the elderly has increased from938 women to 1,000
men in 1971 to 1,033 in 2011 and is projected to increase to 1,060 by 2026.

o The report also noted that between 2000 and 2050, the population of 80-plus
people would have grown 700% “with a predominance of widowed and highly
dependent very old women”and so the special needs of such old women would
need significant focus of policy and programmes.

 Financial issues: Retirement and dependence of elderly on their child for basic necessity.

o Sudden increase in out-of-pocket expenses on treatment.

o Migration of young working-age persons from rural area have negative impacts on
the elderly, living alone or with only the spouse usually poverty and distress.

 Health: Multiple disabilities among the elders in old age.

o Health issues like blindness, locomotor disabilities and deafness are most prevalent.
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o Mental illness arising from senility and neurosis.

o Absence of geriatric care facilities at hospitals in rural area.

 Social issues:Indian society is undergoing rapid transformation under the impact of

industrialization, urbanization, technical & technological change, education and
globalization.

o Consequently, the traditional values and institutions are in the process of erosion
and adaptation, resulting in the weakening of intergenerational ties that were the
hallmark of the traditional family.

o Feeling of powerlessness, loneliness, uselessness and isolation in elderly.

o Generational gap.

Roadmap for elderly care with passage of time

 Increasing the monthly pension of elderly to minimum of Rs 2,000 per month.

 Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Housing for the aged, particularly the aged poor, must
be a priority.

 Assisted living facilities for indigent elderly, particularly those with age-related issues like
dementia, needs policy focus.
 More tax benefits, or at least removing tax on deposit interest for seniors.

 Enhancing the geriatric care health infrastructure especially in rural area.

 Allocation of special budget for elderly population at both levels.

 Providing entertainment facilities like libraries and clubs at panchayat level.

 Appreciations for the contributions of elderlies at village level.

Conclusion
Social security is the concurrent responsibility of the central and state governments as, mandated
under Indian constitution i.e., Well-being of senior citizens – Article 41 in particular and 46 in
general of Indian constitution. In this regard, National Policy on Senior Citizen, 2011 was framed.

For the welfare and care for the older persons, we must focus on the protection of already existing
social support systems/traditional social institutions such as family and kinship, neighbourhood
bonding, community bonding and community participation must be revived and kins should show
sensitivity towards elderly citizens.

Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

What were the obstacles encountered by India after achieving independence in
incorporating the princely state of Hyderabad into the Indian Union, and what
strategies were employed to surmount them? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
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Speaking in a village of Bidar district on March 26, Home Minister Amit Shah said that there was
‘hesitation’ on the part of the Telangana government to celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day. The
next day, the Telangana government’s social media team cited media reports to contest Mr. Shah’s
claim. Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao said that the Telangana government had
celebrated Telangana National Integration Day on September 17 last year.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges in the integration of Hyderabad and how they were overcome.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of India at independence.
Body:
First, write about the various challenges in the integration of the princely state of Hyderabad –
Nizam’s desire to remain independent, communal clashes, Razakar attacks, lack of administrative
structures etc.
In the next part, write about the various steps that were taken in this regard to integrate Hyderabad
with India.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

With the enactment of Indian Independence Act, 1947, it declared the lapse of
suzerainty (paramountcy) of the Crown. The Indian States regained their position which they had
prior to the assumption of suzerainty by the Crown. The ‘iron man of India’, Sardar Vallabh Bhai
Patel was valued on one hand for being politically astute and on the other hand for his pragmatic
acumen, necessary to bring together the more than 500 bits and pieces of royal territories into the
fold of the Indian union.

Recently a new succession battle for the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad, when there is no
kingdom has intrigued people.

Body

The issue of the princely states was not an easy affair to resolve. Unsurprisingly, when the British
announced their departure, most of the princes thought it to be the best moment to
claim independent statehood. There were many others, who were caught in a tug of war between
India and Pakistan.

Patel often invoked the patriotism of the princes in his attempt to convince them to join India. On
other occasions he reminded them of the possibility of anarchy and on event of their refusal to join.
He also introduced the concept of ‘privy purses’ as a payment to be made to the families of the
princes for their agreement to integrate with India.

With great skill and masterful diplomacy & using both persuasion & pressure, Patel succeeded in
integrating hundreds of princely states. Most princely states joined Constituent Assembly with
wisdom but others like of Junagarh, Kashmir, Manipur and Hyderabad publicly announced their
desire to claim an independent status.
How Sardar Patel tackled the Hyderabad challenge

 The Nizams ruled one of the largest kingdoms in India that spread over some 82,000 square
miles or as big as Iceland and Cuba put together between 1724 and 1948.

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 Nizam led to tyrannical ways & aspired to set up a Muslim dominion rather than integration
with India

 He wanted an independent status for Hyderabad & thus entered into negotiation of
standstill agreement with India

 Meanwhile people revolted against Nizam’s rule, particularly the peasants of Telangana due
to his worst oppression measures.

 Nizam retaliated on popular movement by unleashing a para-military force

 150,000 soldiers were mobilized by Nizam to fight against the Indian Union
 They murdered, maimed, raped and looted, targeting particularly the non-Muslims

 In Sep 1948, Indian army under operation Polo invaded Hyderabad state & overthrew its
Nizam, annexing the state merged it into the Indian Union.
Sardar Patel had strong will and his decisiveness, taking tough decisions, and his undivided loyalty
towards Mahatma Gandhi marks him out among his peers. His skillful combination of diplomatic
persuasion of pointing to the larger long term interests of the population and also with a certain
amount of arms twisting which made it clear that there would be a price to pay if the rulers did not
accept the conditions the Indian government was putting.

Conclusion
Often referred to as the “Bismarck of India”, Patel was instrumental in bringing India together. Patel
laid out the initial framework for persuading the princes to join, it was his secretary, V.P. Menon,
who did the actual groundwork of coaxing them. The final touch in the process was applied by the
Viceroy Lord Mountbatten.

The Indus Water Treaty has been considered as one of the most successful water-
sharing agreements in the world. But has the treaty limited the usage of water
resources in Jammu and Kashmir? Critically analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India
Why the question:
The demand for water resources has increased over the past decades due to dwindling water
supplies, rising population, urbanisation and inadequate water management in developing countries.
Increased demand and scarcity of this vital resource have sparked a desire to control water
resources, creating a breeding ground for conflict.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the significance and shortcomings of Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan.
Directive word:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature
of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. When ‘critically’
is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a
balanced judgment on the topic.Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context about the Indus Water Treaty.
Body:
First, write about the major provisions of the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan.

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Next, write about the successes of Indus Water Treaty in ensuring peaceful coexistence despite
troubled relations between the both countries and its significance.
Next, write about the various issues in the Indus Water Treaty which have affected both the parties
and possible solutions to it. Write how the treaty has limited the development of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction

The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the
World Bank, to use the water available in the Indus River and its tributaries. The Indus Waters Treaty
(IWT) was signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Ayub Khan.

Body

About Indus Water Treaty

The Treaty gives control over the waters of

 The three “eastern rivers” — the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej with a mean annual flow of 33
million acre- feet (MAF) — to India

 The three “western rivers” — the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum with a mean annual flow of
80 MAF — to Pakistan. India was allocated about 18% of the total water carried by the
Indus system while Pakistan was allocated the remainder.

The treaty allows India to use the western river waters for limited irrigation use and unlimited non-
consumptive use for such applications as power generation, navigation, floating of property, fish
culture, etc. Seen as one of the most successful international treaties, IWT has survived frequent
tensions, including conflict, and has provided a framework for irrigation and hydropower
development for more than half a century.

The Treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two
countries regarding their use of the rivers, known as the Permanent Indus Commission, which has a
commissioner from each country. The Treaty also sets forth distinct procedures to handle issues
which may arise:

 “questions” are handled by the Commission;

 “differences” are to be resolved by a Neutral Expert; and

 “disputes” are to be referred to a seven-member arbitral tribunal called the “Court of

Arbitration.”

Issues faced by Jammu Kashmir residents

 One of the few instances of a significant international river basin conflict being resolved in
South Asia is the IWT, signed by India and Pakistan in 1960.

 However, the J&K region’s residents claim that the treaty prevents them from utilising their
own water resources, significantly impacting the UT’s growth.

 This indicates the widespread resentment among the residents over the existence of IWT.

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 Jammu and Kashmir’s economy is mainly dependent on agriculture. Nearly 70% of the
people here depend on agriculture for their income, directly or indirectly.

o The UT’s irrigation system has merely improved over the years. In Kashmir, the
primary irrigation method (canal) has seen a dismal development.

 The region’s hydropower potential, which will give its economy a powerful boost, is not fully
realised.

o Of the potential hydropower capacity (20,000 MW), only 3,263.46 MW/19.80% have
been used so far.

o IWT only allows for run-of-the-river projects that do not affect the riparian rights of
Pakistan.

Conclusion and way forward

 India has not fully utilised its rights over the waters of the Indus system.
 Over the last few years, especially since the Uri attack, there has been a growing demand in
India to use the IWT as a strategic tool, considering that India has a natural advantage
being the upper riparian state. In the aftermath of the Uri attack, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi had said, ‘blood & water can’t flow together at the same time.’
 Accordingly, India has been working to start several big and small hydroelectric projects that
had either been stalled or were in the planning stages.

The treaty has remained “uninterrupted” because India respects its signatory and values
transboundary rivers as an important connector in the region in terms of both diplomacy and
economic prosperity.

Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

Studies have shown that legalizing same-sex marriage can have significant mental
health benefits for LGBTQIA+ individuals. In this context, state your opinion on legalising
same sex marriages in the country. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article reports on a study that found the legalization of same-sex marriage to have a positive
impact on the mental health of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about legalising same-sex marriages in the country.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context with respect to same-sex marriages.
Body:
In the first part, write about the need to legalise same-sex marriages in the country post the Navtej
Johar judgement – Equal rights, improving mental health, ending stigma, granting protection, for
true inclusivity etc.

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In the next part, write about the impediments and legal obstacles to legalising same-sex marriages
and its impact on social ethos.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced opinion on the issue.
Introduction

The debate over same-sex marriages is more of morality than on law. People try to establish a line of
distinction between the ‘societal norms’ and ‘individual liberty’ especially in the culture where
religion enjoys more prominence.

The law on same-sex marriages in India is already indirectly established by the apex court. In March
2018, the Supreme Court of India has held that an adult has a fundamental right to marry a person
of their own choice. The collective reading of this case with Navtej Singh Johar (September 2018)
can be taken as a tacit recognition of same-sex marriage. Further in 2019, The High Court of Madras
decreed and allowed the marriage under the Act.

Body

Impact of same-sex marriage on mental health

 Marriage is the building block of stable communities. By what logic then should the
government regulate the relationship between two consenting adults.

 Specifically denying same sex couples the full rights of marriage is obviously
discriminatory.

 Due to discrimination and unfair treatment, sexual minorities may have suffered more from
mental health problems than heterosexuals.
 Multiple studies have found that psychosocial stress associated with having a lesbian, gay,
bisexual, or transgender identity is implicated in the increased rate of mental health
disorders found in LGBT persons.
 This stress comprises discrimination, concealment of sexual identity, and internalized
negative attitudes about sexual or gender identity.

 a study that found the legalization of same-sex marriage to have a positive impact on the
mental health of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

 Being in a legally recognized same-sex relationship, marriage in particular, appeared to

diminish mental health differentials between heterosexuals and lesbian, gay, and bisexual
persons.

Time for allowing same-sex marriage in India

 The domain of marriages cannot be immune to reform and review.

 Reform of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 to bring self-respect marriagesunder its very
umbrella, is seen as a strong move towards breaking caste-based practices within the
institution of marriage.

 Self-respect marriages were legalised in Tamil Nadu (later, in Puducherry) through

amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

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 Self-respect marriages have done away with priests and religious symbols such as fire or
saptapadi.

 Solemnisation of such marriages requires only an exchange of rings or garlands or tying of

the mangalsutra.

 Similarly, understanding the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, the law must expand the
institution of marriage to include all gender and sexual identities.

Global laws

 Globally, the recognition of the unequal laws discriminating against the LGBTQIA+
community has acted as a trigger to reform and modernise legal architecture to become
more inclusive and equal.

 As a result of a verdict by the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Civil Union Act, 2006
was enacted, enabling the voluntary union of two persons above 18 years of age, by way of
marriage.

 In Australia, the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – General

Law Reform) Act 2008was enacted to provide equal entitlements for same-sex couples in
matters of, inter alia, social security, employment and taxation.

 In England and Wales, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013enabled same-sex couples
to marry in civil ceremonies or with religious rites.
 In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States decided that the fundamental right to
marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples.It held the denial of marriage rights to same-sex
couples to be a grave and continuing harm, serving to disrespect and subordinate gays and
lesbians.

Conclusion

At least 29 countries in the world have legalised same-sex marriage. It is time that India thinks
beyond the binary and reviews its existing legal architecture in order to legalise marriages
irrespective of gender identity and sexual orientation. The law is however a dynamic concept.
Inevitably the nature of marriage would change if there is a change in society.

Role of women and women’s organization; population and associated issues,

poverty and developmental issues,
How does the patriarchal social structure in India contribute to occupational
segregation within the labour market, and what steps can be taken to address this
issue? (250 Words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Data on women’s market and domestic work in India reveal patterns that line up with these male
preferences. In urban India, married women spend almost 7.5 times more time on domestic work as
compared to married men

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Key Demand of the question: The question requires you to explain how the patriarchal social
structure in India contributes to occupational segregation within the labour market. Additionally, you
need to suggest steps that can be taken to address this issue.
Directive words:
What steps can be taken – When the question asks you to “suggest steps,” it means you need to
provide actionable suggestions that can be taken to address the issue of occupational segregation in
the labour market.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Provide a brief introduction to the concept of patriarchal social structure in India and its impact on
occupational segregation within the labour market.
Body:
In the first part, explain how the patriarchal social structure in India contributes to occupational
segregation within the labour market. This may include discussing gender norms and stereotypes,
discrimination, and unequal access to education and training opportunities.
In the second part, suggest steps that can be taken to address the issue of occupational segregation
in the labour market. This may include promoting gender diversity and inclusion, improving access to
education and training opportunities, implementing affirmative action policies, and strengthening
legal protections against gender-based discrimination.
Conclusion:
Provide a brief conclusion on the need for systemic change to address the issue of occupational
segregation within the labour market and promote gender equality in India.
Introduction
Patriarchy is a complex and a mystifying institution of power and control in the
society. Patriarchy signifies a male dominated structure which has a long history and has existed in
every society in the world. It is essentially a system of male domination in diverse aspects of life such
as moral authority, social privilege, decision making, control of property, political leadership et al. It
has hampered the position of the middle-class working women in India in contemporary times owing
to prolonged practices of the past and submissiveness of the females.

Body
Impact of patriarchy on labour market

 Dual burden of work

 With the rise of economic wellbeing in the post 1990s India, women have found themselves
increasingly getting employed outside home.

 However there liberty has come in a form where they have to do household work combined
with office work, due to nuclearization of family and high labour cost.

 Corporate Glass ceiling

 Owing to patriarchal expectation of looking after children and doing household chores lead
to affecting the mobility of women in corporate ladder.

 Limited job venues

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o The freedom to choose one’s occupation is severely eclipsed for women, where in
recent times they are largely confined to service sector, more commonly known as
pink sector which includes Sales jobs, Information and technology, customer care,
and others.

 Wage gap

o Despite equivalent qualification for a job like man, women often bear the brunt of
patriarchy in the form of low pay.

 Safety issue

o Work often requires constant spatial mobility, which in the wake of increased cases
of violence against women, discourages them to take employment in the first place,
and further dampening India’s low women’s labour-force participation rates

Need of the hour

 Behavioral Nudge: For instance, by using taxes to incentivize fairly sharing child-care
responsibilities, or by encouraging women and girls to enter traditionally male-dominated
sectors such as the armed forces and information technology. Eg Supreme Court in India
declared that women could now hold commanding positions in Army.

o Paternity leaves for men, to share the responsibility of child rearing.

o Incentivizing companies to employ women, and reach 50% target.

 Gender Justice at Work

o Bridging the wage gap for equal work.

o Making work places safer through strong laws. India has enacted Sexual Harassment
at workplaces act.

o Promote diversity and anti-bias courses for all employees.

o Comprehensive leadership training for women to excel in their fields.

 Gender sensitization:Breaking the social barriers by gender sensitization and education at

families, schools and workplaces. Eg : In the NCERT Books, gender roles, bias and prejudice
inducing writings were removed.

 Social security and financial literacy: Formalization of jobs should be pushed to avail
benefits to many women. Until then, social security benefits should be provided to women
in unorganized sector. Eg : Self Help Group-Bank Linkage Programme in India

o Embedding financial literacy in programmes where women have significant

representation could be a good starting point.

 Strong laws and policies wrt equal pay for equal work, maternity benefits are needed to
promote women’s representation in economy.

 Political Representation: India has provided 33% reservation for women in the Panchayats
and Local Bodies. Capacity Building and training can increase their capabilities further.

Conclusion

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Gender equality is a human right which entitles all persons irrespective of their gender to live with
dignity and with freedom. Gender equality is also a precondition for development and reducing of
poverty. Gender shouldn’t be an unreasonable determining factor curbing the potential of women.

The impact of patriarchy on women can be significant and pervasive, affecting their
personal, social, economic, and political lives in many ways. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article discusses the arrest of a woman in Kerala, India, for allegedly selling illegally brewed
toddy, a traditional drink made from coconut palm sap. The author argues that the arrest is rooted in
pervasive misogyny in Kerala, which often targets women for activities that are considered morally
questionable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the impact of patriarchy on women.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining patriarchy.
Body:
In the first part, write about the ways patriarchy is prevalent in the society in terms of discriminatory
values, norms, beliefs and practices. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about impact of patriarchy on women – economic dependence, violence, domestication
and the peripherals of decision-making.
Next, mention ways to challenge patriarchy and make the society egalitarian.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction

Patriarchy is a complex and a mystifying institution of power and control in the society. Patriarchy
signifies a male dominated structure which has a long history and has existed in every society in the
world. It is essentially a system of male domination in diverse aspects of life such as moral authority,
social privilege, decision making, control of property, political leadership et al. It has hampered the
position of the middle-class working women in India in contemporary times owing to prolonged
practices of the past and submissiveness of the females.

Body
Prevalence of patriarchy in our society

 The first lessons of patriarchy are learnt in the family where the head of the family is a man/
father. Man is considered the head of the family and controls women’s sexuality, labour or
production, reproduction and mobility.

 In a patriarchal family the birth of male child is preferred to that of a female.

 Patriarchal societies propagate the ideology of motherhood which restricts women’s

mobility and burdens them with the responsibilities to nurture and rear children.

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 Family is therefore important for socializing the next generation in patriarchal values.
The boys learn to be dominating and aggressive and girls learn to be caring, loving and
submissive. These stereotypes of masculinity and femininity are not only social constructs
but also have been internalized by both men and

 While the pressure to earn and look after the family is more on the man, the women are
supposed to do the menial jobs and take care of their children and even other members of
the family. It is because of these gender stereotypes that women are at a disadvantage and
are vulnerable to violence and other kinds of discriminations and injustices.

 Systemic deprivation and violence against women: rape, sexual harassment, sexual abuse,
female feticide, infanticide, sati, dowry deaths, wife-beating, high level of female illiteracy,
malnutrition, undernourishment and continued sense of insecurity keeps women bound to
home, economically exploited, socially suppressed and politically passive

 Patriarchal constructions of knowledge perpetuate patriarchal ideology and this is reflected

in educational institutions, knowledge system and media which reinforce male dominance.

 Patriarchal constructions of social practices are legitimized by religion and religious

institutions as most religious practices regard male authority as superior and the laws and
norms regarding family, marriage, divorce and inheritance are linked to patriarchal control
over property biased against women

 Male dominated institutions like church and state also lay down rules regarding women’s
reproductive capacity

Impact of patriarchy on women

 Childcare responsibility solely on women: One big factor is maternity. Many women who
join the workforce are unable to re-join after having a child. This is because, childcare is
mainly seen as a woman’s job.

 Bias at workplace against women: The landmark legislation, which entitles a woman to 26
weeks of paid maternity leave is becoming a big hurdle.

o As per a study this increased cost for companies and this may discourage them from
hiring women.
o Mothers are also not given preference because they are seen to take less official
responsibilities due to family.

 Safety: The safety in metropolitan, tier 1 and tier 2 cities is the major issue. Concerns about
safety and Harassment at work site, both explicit and implicit.

 Unpaid work: Social norms about household work are against women’s mobility and
participation in paid work. Childbirth and taking care of elderly parents or in-laws account
for the subsequent points where women drop off the employment pipeline.

 Missing women: Due to son-meta preference, millions of girls are denied their basic rights
to education, reproductive rights and illegal foeticide.

Measures to overcome the crippling impact of patriarchy

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 Behavioural Nudge: For instance, by using taxes to incentivize fairly sharing child-care
responsibilities, or by encouraging women and girls to enter traditionally male-dominated
sectors such as the armed forces and information technology. Eg Supreme Court in India
declared that women could now hold commanding positions in Army.

o Paternity leaves for men, to share the responsibility of child rearing.

o Incentivizing companies to employ women, and reach 50% target.

 Gender Justice at Work

o Bridging the wage gap for equal work.

o Making work places safer through strong laws. India has enacted Sexual Harassment
at workplaces act.

o Promote diversity and anti-bias courses for all employees.

o Comprehensive leadership training for women to excel in their fields.

 Gender sensitization: Breaking the social barriers by gender sensitization and education at
families, schools and workplaces. Eg : In the NCERT Books, gender roles, bias and prejudice
inducing writings were removed.

 Social security and financial literacy: Formalization of jobs should be pushed to avail
benefits to many women. Until then, social security benefits should be provided to women
in unorganized sector.Eg : Self Help Group-Bank Linkage Programme in India

o Embedding financial literacy in programmes where women have significant

representation could be a good starting point.
 Strong laws and policies wrt equal pay for equal work, maternity benefits are needed to
promote women’s representation in economy.

 Political Representation: India has provided 33% reservation for women in the Panchayats
and Local Bodies. Capacity Building and training can increase their capabilities further.

Conclusion
Gender equality is a human right which entitles all persons irrespective of their gender to live with
dignity and with freedom. Gender equality is also a precondition for development and reducing of
poverty. Gender shouldn’t be an unreasonable determining factor curbing the potential of women.

Poverty alleviation has been a significant focus in India for many years, and while
progress has been made, there is no doubt that ending poverty remains a challenging
task. Analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article argues that there is a discrepancy between official poverty lines and surveys that raise
doubts about the decline in poverty rates in India.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges associated with poverty and to evaluate the performance of various
measures taken to alleviate poverty.

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Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Describe the giving statistic regarding the current status of poverty in India.
Body:
First, write about the various challenges associated with eradication of poverty in India and the
progress made so far as mentioned in the above report.
Next, evaluate the pros and cons of the various poverty alleviation measures in India – Swarnjayanti
Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), National Social Assistance Programme, Land Reforms, MGNREGA
and various PDS initiatives etc.
Suggest measures to overcome the above the limitations of the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction

According to World Bank, Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many
dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services
necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education,
poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and
insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one’s life.

In India, 21.9% of the population lives below the national poverty line in 2011. In 2018, almost 8%
of the world’s workers and their families lived on less than US$1.90 per person per day
(international poverty line).

Body

Achievements in poverty alleviation over the years

 Decline in Extreme Poverty: Extreme poverty in India was 3% points lower in 2019
compared with 2011,as poverty headcount rate declined from 22.5% in 2011 to 10.2% in
2019, with a comparatively sharper decline in rural areas.

o Slight moderation in consumption inequality since 2011, but by a margin smaller

than what is reported in the unreleased National Sample Survey -2017.

o The extent of poverty reduction during 2015-2019 is estimated to be notably lower

than earlier projections based on growth in private final consumption expenditure
reported in national account statistics.

o The World Bank defines “extreme poverty” as living on less than USD 1.90 per
person per day.

 Rural vs Urban Poverty: Poverty reduction washigher in rural areas compared with urban
Indiaas rural poverty declined from 26.3% in 2011 to 11.6% in 2019, while in urban areas the
decline was from 14.2% to 6.3% in the corresponding period.

o Rural and urban poverty dropped by 7 and 7.9% points during 2011-2019.
o Urban poverty in India rose by 2% in 2016, coinciding with the demonetisation, and
rural poverty rose by 10% in 2019.

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 Small Farmers: Smallholder farmers have experienced higher income growth.Real incomes
for farmers with the smallest landholdings have grown by 10% in annualized terms between
the two survey rounds (2013 and 2019) compared to a 2% growth for farmers with the
largest landholding.

o The growth in incomes of smallest landholders in rural areas provides more evidence
of moderation in income disparity in rural areas.

o Smallest landholders comprise a larger share of the poor population.This income

includes wages, net receipt from crop production, net receipt from farming of
animal farming and net receipt from non-farm business. Income from leasing out
land has been exempted.

Various poverty alleviation programs in India since Independence:

 Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP): It was introduced in 1978-79 and

universalized from 2nd October, 1980, aimed at providing assistance to the rural poor in the
form of subsidy and bank credit for productive employment opportunities through
successive plan periods.

 Jawahar Rozgar Yojana/Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana: The JRY was meant to generate
meaningful employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed in rural
areas through the creation of economic infrastructure and community and social assets.

 Rural Housing – Indira Awaas Yojana: The Indira Awaas Yojana (LAY) programme aims at
providing free housing to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in rural areas and main targets
would be the households of SC/STs.

 Food for Work Programme: It aims at enhancing food security through wage employment.
Food grains are supplied to states free of cost, however, the supply of food grains from the
Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns has been slow.

 National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS):This pension is given by the central government.
The job of implementation of this scheme in states and union territories is given to
panchayats and municipalities. The states contribution may vary depending on the state. The
amount of old age pension is ₹200 per month for applicants aged 60–79. For applicants aged
above 80 years, the amount has been revised to ₹500 a month according to the 2011–2012
Budget. It is a successful venture.

 Annapurna:This scheme was started by the government in 1999–2000 to provide food to

senior citizens who cannot take care of themselves and are not under the National Old Age
Pension Scheme (NOAPS), and who have no one to take care of them in their village. This
scheme would provide 10 kg of free food grains a month for the eligible senior citizens. They
mostly target groups of ‘poorest of the poor’ and ‘indigent senior citizens’.

 Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY):The main objective of the scheme continues to
be the generation of wage employment, creation of durable economic infrastructure in rural
areas and provision of food and nutrition security for the poor.

 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005:The Act
provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural household. One-third of
the proposed jobs would be reserved for women. The central government will also establish
National Employment Guarantee Funds. Similarly, state governments will establish State
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Employment Guarantee Funds for implementation of the scheme. Under the programme, if
an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days s/he will be entitled to a daily
unemployment allowance.
 National Rural Livelihood Mission: Ajeevika (2011):It evolves out the need to diversify the
needs of the rural poor and provide them jobs with regular income on monthly basis. Self
Help groups are formed at the village level to help the needy.

 National Urban Livelihood Mission:The NULM focuses on organizing urban poor in Self Help
Groups, creating opportunities for skill development leading to market-based employment
and helping them to set up self-employment ventures by ensuring easy access to credit.

 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: It will focus on fresh entrant to the labour market,
especially labour market and class X and XII dropouts.

 Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana:It aimed at direct benefit transfer of subsidy, pension,
insurance etc. and attained the target of opening 1.5 crore bank accounts. The scheme
particularly targets the unbanked poor.

Assessment
 However, none resulted in any radical change in the ownership of assets, process of
production and improvement of basic amenities to the needy.

 Scholars, while assessing these programmes, state three major areas of concern which
prevent their successful implementation. Due to unequal distribution of land and other
assets, the benefits from direct poverty alleviation programmes have been appropriated by
the non-poor.
 Compared to the magnitude of poverty, the amount of resources allocated for these
programmes is not sufficient. Moreover, these programmes depend mainly on government
and bank officials for their implementation.
 Since such officials are ill motivated, inadequately trained, corruption prone and vulnerable
to pressure from a variety of local elites, the resources are inefficiently used and wasted.
There is also non-participation of local level institutions in programme implementation.

 Government policies have also failed to address the vast majority of vulnerable people who
are living on or just above the poverty line. It also reveals that high growth alone is not
sufficient to reduce poverty.

 Without the active participation of the poor, successful implementation of any programme is
not possible

Measures needed

 Immediate support package will need to quickly reach both the existing and new poor.

o While existing safety net programs can be mobilized to get cash into the pockets of
some of the existing poor relatively quickly, this is not the case for the new poor.

o In fact, the new poor are likely to look different from the existing poor, particularly
in their location (mostly urban) and employment (mostly informal services,
construction, and manufacturing).

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o the identification of poor and vulnerable groups is need of the hour.

o India should consider fixing a universal basic income in the post-Covid period
through a combination of cash transfers, expansion of MGNREGA, and introduction
of an urban employment guarantee scheme

 Employment generation for the masses:

o A large fiscal stimulus along with intermediate informal employment insurgency

through MGNREGA and other employment generation programmes are urgent to
rein the adverse impact of covid-19 on the welfare of the masses.

 Multilateral global institutions must support the developing nations:

o Oxfam is calling on world leaders to agree on an Emergency Rescue Package of 2.5

trillion USD paid for through the immediate cancellation or postponement of 1
trillion in debt repayments, a 1 trillion increase in IMF Special Drawing Rights
(international financial reserves), and an additional 500 billion in aid.

 An effective response in support of poor and vulnerable households will require significant
additional fiscal resources.

o Providing all the existing and new extreme poor with a cash transfer of $1/day
(about half the value of the international extreme poverty line) for a month would
amount to $20 billion —or $665 million per day over 30 days.
o Given that impacts are likely to be felt by many non-poor households as well and
that many households are likely to need support for much longer than a month, the
sum needed for effective protection could be far higher.
 Decision-makers need timely and policy-relevant information on impacts and the
effectiveness of policy responses.

o This can be done using existing, publicly available data to monitor the unfolding
economic and social impacts of the crisis, including prices, service delivery, and
economic activity, as well as social sentiment and behaviours.

o In addition, governments can use mobile technology to safely gather information

from a representative sample of households or individuals.

o Phone surveys can collect information on health and employment status, food
security, coping strategies, access to basic services and safety nets and other
outcomes closely related to the risk of falling (further) into poverty.

Conclusion and way forward

 The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index-2018released by the UN noted that 271 million
people moved out of poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16 in India. The poverty rate in the
country has nearly halved, falling from 55% to 28% over the ten-year period. Still a big part
of the population in India is living Below the Poverty Line.

 Rapid economic growth and the use of technology for social sector programs have helped
make a significant dent in extreme poverty in the country.

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 Despite rapid growth and development, an unacceptably high proportion of our population
continues to suffer from severe and multidimensional deprivation. Thus, a more
comprehensive and inclusive approach is required to eradicate poverty in India.

To fully realize the potential of India’s demographic dividend, the government must
address the significant gaps in education and skills training. Analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses a recent report by the Brookings Institution that highlights the significant
education and skilling gaps in India and how they are affecting the country’s macroeconomic
outlook.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about demographic dividend, impediments to achieving and ways to overcome it.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining demographic dividend and its various features.
Body:
First, write about the various impediments to achieving the dividend – demographic dividend may
turn into a liability in the absence of enough jobs and the required skilled workforce etc.
Next, suggest ways to overcome the limitations.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction

Demographic dividend, as defined by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) means, “the
economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when
the share of the working-age population (15 to 64) is larger than the non-working-age share of the
population (14 and younger, and 65 and older).” India has one of the youngest populations in an
aging world. By 2020, the median age in India was 28 years. Demographics can change the pace and
pattern of economic growth.
The UN report, World Population Prospects 2022, forecasts that the world’s population will touch
eight billion this year and rise to 9.8 billion in 2050. What is of immediate interest to India is that its
population will surpass China’s by 2023 and continue to surge.

Body

India has long been touted as the next big economic growth story after China. India has one of the
youngest populations in an aging world. By 2020, the median age in India will be just 28 years. One
of the primary reasons for that has been its young population which constitutes 59% of all Indians.
Since 2018, India’s working-age population (people between 15 and 64 years of age) has grown
larger than the dependent population. This bulge in the working-age population is going to last till
2055, or 37 years from its beginning. The hope has remained that as the young Indian population
enters the working age, it will lead to higher economic growth.

Challenges in India to reap the demographic dividend:

 Health:
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o Healthcare provisions in India is grossly inadequate and access to healthcare is

highly inequitable. Lack of efficient public healthcare and burden of out-of-pocket
health expenditures reduces people’s capacity or disables them from investing in the
human capital of their children.

o ineffective functioning (corruption and leakages) of the public distribution system

(PDS), growing economic inequalities and lack of nutritional awareness pose
challenges in combating malnutrition

 Education:

o Basic literacy (the ability to read and write) in the overall population has progressed
modestly. However, there is persistent gender differentials, and major differentials
by caste and religion.

o The state of functional literacy and professional skills is poor. Indian graduates have
low employability and does not meet changing economic structure or support global
competitiveness.

 Rising Inequality:
o In India, a large portion of the population is below the poverty line, therefore, they
do not have easy access to primary health and education.

o There is growing inequality across social groups and income groups which translates
itself into poor socio-economic mobility.

o Lack of socioeconomic mobility hinders human capital development and traps a

large section of population to be in the vicious circle of poverty.
 Lack of Skilling:

o According to the National Sample Survey, out of the 470 million people of working
age in India, only 10% receive any kind of training or access to skilled employment
opportunities.

o There’s a huge mismatch between demand and supply when it comes to skilled
workforce and employment opportunities, which could place a strain on the
economy in the long run

 Inadequate use of knowledge bases from technology developments:

o There is a disconnect between India’s rate of technological growth and ability to

distribute the gains from it by adequately focusing on skilling and health.

o The use of technical advancements has been concentrated in few sectors and
benefits accrued by a few elitist sections of the society.

 Jobless growth:

o India’s high growth rate phase (2004-05 to 2010-11) has created significantly fewer
jobs as compared to previous decades of economic growth.

o Around 47 % of India’s population is still dependent on agriculture which is

notorious for underemployment and disguised unemployment.

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o Majority of the workforce is employed by the unorganized sector where workers are
underpaid and lack any kind of social security.

 Falling female labour force participation:

o According to data from International Labour Organization and World Bank,

India’s female labour force participationrates have fallen from 34.8 % in 1990 to 27
% in 2013.

o Socio-cultural factors and rising family incomes have been identified as the main
reasons for this decline.

o Another appalling concern is that a significant proportion of qualified women drop

out of the workforce for reasons ranging from no suitable jobs in the locality—
particularly in rural areas—to family responsibilities and marriage.

A differential planning approach is needed:

 To engineer an inclusive and sustainable growth for India, the social infrastructure like
education, health and social protection are being given utmost priority by the Government
 The gaps in the expenditure on social infrastructure like health and education should be
closed by strengthening the delivery mechanisms of the government initiatives. Protecting
and investing in people’s health, education, and skilling is vital for reducing income
inequality, and sustained inclusive economic growth.

 India needs to increase its spending on health and education. As recommended by

the National Health Policy 2017 and the NEP 2020, India needs to increase its spending on
health and education to at least 2.5 % in 6 % of GDP respectively from its current levels.
Enhancing policies to maintain and even increase health and longevity will therefore be
necessary.
 The current situation calls for more and better schools, especially in rural areas. It also calls
for better transportation links between rural areas and regional urban hubs.

 India has to invest more in human capital formation at all levels, from primary education to
higher education, cutting-edge research and development as well as on vocational
training to increase the skill sets of its growing working-age population.

 The flagship schemes such as Skill India, Make in India, and Digital India have to be
implemented to achieve convergence between skill training and employment generation.

 Bridging the gender gaps in education, skill development, employment, earnings and
reducing social inequalities prevalent in the society have been the underlying goals of the
development strategy to enhance human capabilities.

 Improved infrastructure, skill development, access to easy finance, reducing barriers to

entrepreneurship and forums for mentorship of emerging entrepreneurs in partnership
with corporates are some of measures.

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 Decentralized models of development: Social policies for each state must be differentiated
to accommodate different rates of population growth. The populations in south and west
India are growing at a much slower pace than in the central and eastern states.
Conclusion:

A multi-pronged approach is imperative to reap the demographic dividend. There is also a need
to engage with the youth and create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship. The
demographic dividend offers them a unique opportunity to boost living standards, but they must act
now to manage their older populations in the near future by implementing policies that ensure a
safe and efficient transition from the first demographic dividend to the second demographic
dividend.

If a positive and proactive approach is adopted towards India’s population growth,

along with pragmatic policy moves, its large population, often seen as a burden, can
actually become an asset in terms of economic growth and development. Analyse. (250
words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
China is projected to hand over the baton of the most populous country to India by mid-2023. But for
India, there are greater prospects for demographic advantage than serious concerns. The country
must focus on reaping the available demographic dividend.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about different approaches to be taken in order to greater prospects for demographic
advantage and reaping the available demographic dividend.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context and citing statistic regarding the population growth in India.
Body:
In the first part, write about the challenges that India will face because of it growing population.
Next, write about the various different approaches in education, health and skill development that
need to be taken in the order ensure there is equitable growth and development resulting in a
welfare state.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

According to the UNFPA State of World Population (SOWP) Report 2023, China is projected to hand
over the baton of the most populous country to India by mid-2023. The report further added that
India will have a population of 142.86 crores by mid-2023, which is 2.9 million higher than China’s
population of 142.57 crores.

Undoubtedly, India has a population problem, but any strategy to change fertility rates should be
carefully thought out. India’s population concern is largely restricted to Bihar, UP, Jharkhand,
Rajasthan and MP.

Body

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Rising population is a boon for India

 Population is a resource as long as the country’s carrying capacity is intact.

 There are greater prospects for demographic dividend than a disaster.

 With 68% of the working age population in 2023, the country continues to have a
demographic window of opportunity for the next 35 years to reap an economic dividend.
 A demographic window of opportunity in itself will not automatically turn into an economic
dividend.

 Declining and ageing populationin Japan, China, the US and other major economies.
o Potential to become a worldwide market for both production and consumption,
with lower manufacturing costs due to a relatively cheaper workforce.
o This is very much evident in India’s IT sector.

 Potential to boost per capita GDPby an additional 43% by 2061, provided the socio-
economic and political enabling environment is conducive.
Increasing Population is a bane for India

 Drastic population control methods run the risk of inducing forced population ageing.
o A total fertility rate of lessthan 8 may not be economically beneficial for India.
Once fertility tends to decline, it is hard to reverse it.

 What the country needs are policies that support an enabling environment that can provide
high-quality education, healthcare, employment, infrastructure, and gender empowerment.

o If India falls short in this, its “demographic dividend” can become a “demographic
disaster”.

 Population growth acts as a hurdle in addressing effectively the problem of poverty, hunger
and malnutrition and also in providing the better quality of health and education.

 SDGs 1, 2, 3 and 4are going to be affected adversely because of India’s existing pattern of
growth in the population.

 Presently, India is producing around 25 million job seekers in the country, however, the
country is able to provide jobs only to 7 million.This gap of 18 million is increasing the
burden of unemployment and underemployment in the country, turning a demographic
dividend into a demographic disaster.

 India’s population growth is not sustainable.India is only about 35-40% of China’s landmass.

 In the 19th century, when Europe had a demographic explosion, it had occupied America,
Australia etc. India does not have another landmass to occupy and the available landmass
cannot take this population growth.

Measures needed to ensure that population growth is a boon for India

 Employment or job creation: If India is able to generate sufficient and quality jobs for its
bulging working age population.

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 Education, skills generation and ensuring a healthy lifespan: It is critical not only for better
productivity but it also reduces excessive public spending and helps in greater capital
creation.
 Good governance: Reflected through conscientious policies, it will help in creating a healthy
environment for increasing efficiency and productivity of the population.

 India needs to invest more in the health sector. India invests only 1.3% of its GDP. The family
planning budget is only 4% of the entire health budget and within that India spends only
1.5% on birth spacing methods.

o Investments should be made particularly for the old people because by the year
2050, India’s population of old people is going to grow almost 10 times more.

 Education is very important, not only for empowering women but for fertility to decline.

o Education should be made free for women till college-level.

o Better education will help women in better decision making for family planning.

o Unless women are part of the workforce, no society can bring down fertility rates
with progress. Therefore, policies must look at the whole issue of declining
workforce participation by women.

 India needs to focus on some areas which are socially, culturally, economically depressed.
Identification of 140 high focussed districts is the right step by the governmentin this
direction. However, it needs to work in the whole of Bihar, U.P., Madhya Pradesh and
Assam.
 India needs to give huge stress on declining sex ratiosand the discrimination towards
girls so that people don’t have a high number of children in the hope of having a boy.

 India can achieve a number of SDGs if it links them with family planning.Family planning is
a promotive and preventive method for bringing down maternal mortality and child
mortality.

 It is important to see the issue of population growth not only from the national perspective
but also from the state’s point of view i.e. different states need to be encouraged to take
necessary steps for containing the population.

Conclusion

Opportunities and costs are the two sides of the coin when it comes to being the world’s largest
populous country. However, the relatively younger population of India provides higher support
ratios.

Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

Socioeconomic inequality is indeed a major problem behind water shortages in urban
areas. There is need for more equitable distribution of water resources and sustainable
water management practices to ensure that everyone has access to water. Analyse.
(250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
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Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India

Why the question:
The Extravagant habits of the wealthy elite, like swimming pools, well-maintained lawns and
regularly washed cars, are depriving poorer communities of basic water access, a new study has
found. Socioeconomic inequalities could be driving urban water crises as much as factors like climate
change or population growth in cities, it said.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about inequalities in water distribution and measures needed to address it.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context regarding the disparities of water usage in urban areas.
Body:
First, write about the manifestation of Socioeconomic inequality as water shortage – Poor
communities often lack access to clean and sufficient water resources due to their inability to invest
in water infrastructure and pay for water services, while affluent neighbourhoods with extravagant
use of water may further exacerbate water shortages for marginalized communities etc. write about
the impact of the same.
Next, write about the steps that must be taken in order to overcome the above disparities.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

Extravagant habits of the wealthy elite, like swimming pools, well-maintained lawns and regularly
washed cars, are depriving poorer communities of basic water access, a new study has found.
Socioeconomic inequalities could be driving urban water crises as much as factors like climate
change or population growth in cities.

Body
Background

The study was published in the journal Nature Sustainability April 10, 2023. The researchers
developed a system-dynamic model for the study to represent unequal water consumption by city
residents.

 The team focused on Cape Town in South Africa to study the consumption habits of
wealthier city dwellers compared to poorer ones.
 The researchers chose the metropolitan area of Cape Town as a case for two main reasons:
Firstly, the city is marked by stark socioeconomic inequalities and a starkly segregated urban
space. Second, between 2015 and 2017, Cape Town experienced a severe drought, unfolding
into an unprecedented water crisis known as Day Zero.

 The elite households in Cape Town used 2,161 litres of water per day, according to the
study. The water consumption of upper-middle-income households reached about 988.78
litres per day. On the other hand, lower-income families use only 178 litres per day and
informal households consume 41 litres a day.

 Since 2020, more than 80 metropolitan cities across the world, including London, Miami,
Barcelona, Beijing, Tokyo, Melbourne, Istanbul, Cairo, Moscow, Bangalore, Chennai,

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Jakarta, Sydney, Maputo, Harare, Sao Paulo, Mexico City and Rome have faced severe
water shortages due to droughts and unsustainable water use.

Water stress in India

 India has 4 % of the world’s freshwater which has to cater to 17 % of the world’s population.
 Approximately 600 million people or roughly around 45 % of the population in India is facing
high to severe water stress.

 As per the report, 21 Indian cities will run out of their main source of water
i.e. groundwater by 2020.

 Nearly 40 % of the population will have absolutely no access to drinking water by 2030 and
6 % of India’s GDP will be lost by 2050 due to the water crisis.
 As per NITI Aayog report (CWMI) released in June 2019, India is facing the worst-ever water
crisis in history.
 A disastrous water crisis has been creeping up on us for years. Water tables have declined
precipitously, even by thousands of feet in some parts of Punjab, Haryana and Andhra
Pradesh. Tanks and wells have gone dry.
 Some rivers have shrunk while other smaller ones have completely dried up.

 Water rationing is routine in many urban areas, while in many villages women are trudging
longer distances to fetch water.
 A recent report mentions that over 70% of surface irrigation water is being simply wasted,
nationally.

 Not only farmers are affected by the water crisis, urban dwellers in cities and towns across
India are also facing a never seen before drinking water scarcity.

 In India, there are conflicts between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over sharing of Cauvery
waters, between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh over sharing of Narmada waters, between
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over sharing of Krishna waters, etc.

Urban water resource management

 Ground water management is of utmost importance in urban areas where 50% water is
drawn from ground. E.g.: Encroachment of flood plains, ground water recharge are areas to
work with.

 Loss of green cover in urban areas and heat island effect are reasons for depleting water
sources.g.: Urban forests needs to be created like in Aarey, Mumbai.

 The Ministry of Water Resources must reconfigure its relationship with other Ministries and
Departments (Urban Development, Local Self-Government and Environment).

 Enhanced integration and coordination are needed through effective land and water
zoning regulations that protect urban water bodies, groundwater sources, wetlands and

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green cover while simultaneously working to enhance waste water recycling and water
recharge activities targeting aquifers and wells through rainwater harvesting.

Conclusion and Way Forward

 Effective land and water zoning regulations would protect urban water bodies, groundwater
sources, wetlands and green cover.

 Enhance waste water recycling and water recharge activities targeting aquifers and wells
through rainwater harvesting.

 Governance and management should increasingly interact and draw from the expertise of
fields such as hydrology (watershed sustainability), hydrogeology (aquifer mapping and
recharge) and agriculture sciences (water-sensitive crop choices and soil health).

 The importance given to groundwater conservation should not ignore surface water
conservation including the rivers and lakes which are in a critical state due to encroachment
and pollution.

 The Ministry of Jal Shakti must focus on protecting and conserving water resources on the
one hand and minimising and enhancing efficiency of water usage on the other.

As urbanization and population growth increase, so does the amount of municipal solid
waste produced, leading to a surge in unsanitary landfills that cause severe hazards.
Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India
Why the question:
The fire outbreaks at Brahmapuram dumpsite in Kochi, Kerala have caught national attention.
Key Demand of the question:
To write issues with respect increased dumping of wastes in landfills and remedies for better waste
management.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give a statistic about increasing municipal solid waste with the increasing rate of urbanisation.
Body:
First, write the problems associated with waste management in India at landfills: Leaching of
chemicals, spread of diseases, release of poisonous and toxic gages, fires, serious health and
environmental hazards to the people etc.
Next, suggest strategies to deal with solid waste so that it may prove a resource instead of waste.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

India alone generates more than 1,00,000 metric tonnes of solid waste every day, which is higher
than many countries’ total daily waste generation taken together. Large metropolis such as Mumbai
and Delhi generate around 9,000 metric tonnes and 8,300 metric tonnes of waste per day,
respectively. India suffers from inefficient and insufficient waste infrastructure and also from

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increasing rates of solid waste generation per capita. Besides, the infrastructure and technologies,
we must also concede that we have not addressed the issue from a systemic perspective.

A massive fire broke out recently at Brahmapuram dumpsite in Kochi, Kerala which has caught
national attention.

Body

Current Situation of MSW in India:

 ULBs are responsible for segregated waste collection, transporting waste in covered vehicle,
processing, recyclables, separating domestic hazardous waste and disposing inert material in
sanitary landfills

 Various studies reveal that about 90% of MSW is disposed of unscientifically in open dumps
and landfills, creating problems to public health and the environment.
 Over 377 million urban people live in 7,935 towns and cities and generate 62 million tonnes
of municipal solid waste per annum.

 Only 43 million tonnes (MT) of the waste is collected, 11.9 MT is treated and 31 MT is
dumped in landfill sites.

 Most cities have confined themselves to collection and transportation of solid waste.
Processing and safe disposal are being attempted only in a few cases.
 The CPCB report also reveals that only 68% of the MSW generated in the country is
collected of which, 28% is treated by the municipal authorities. Thus, merely 19% of the
total waste generated is currently treated.
 Disappearance of urban water bodies and wetlands in urban areas can be attributed to
illegal dumping of Construction & Demolition waste.

Some of the major issues concerning solid waste management are:

 Absence of segregation of waste at source

 Lack of funds for waste management at ULBs.

 Unwillingness of ULBs to introduce proper collection, segregation, transportation and
treatment/ disposal systems.

 Lack of technical expertise and appropriate institutional arrangement

 lack of infrastructure and technology

 lack of involvement from the private sector and non-governmental organisations

 Indifference of citizens towards waste management due to lack of awareness

 Lack of community participation towards waste management and hygienic conditions

 Lack of sewage management plan.

 About 70% of the plastic packaging products turn into plastic waste within a short period.

 Unorganized vendors and markets, existence of slum areas and Corruption are other issues
plaguing MSWM.
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Remedies to tackle MSW

 State governments should provide financial support to ULBs to improve their waste
management system under various schemes and programs.

 Initiatives like Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT should provide significant funding to improve
civic services infrastructure.

 The key to efficient waste management is to ensure proper segregation of waste at

source and to ensure that the waste goes through different streams of recycling and
resource recovery as stated in the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

 Waste to energy is a key component of SWM. Installation of waste-to-compost and bio-

methanation plants would reduce the load of landfill sites

 There is a need to encourage research and development so as to reinvent waste

management system in India.
 The focus should be on recycling and recovering from waste and not landfill. Further, it is
important to encourage recycling of e-waste so that the problem of e-waste
 Public- Private Partnership models for waste management should be encouraged.

 Construction and demolition waste should be stored, separately disposed off, as per the
Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016.
 Responsibilities of Generators have been introduced to segregate waste in to three
streams, Wet (Biodegradable), Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, wood, etc.) and domestic
hazardous wastes (diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleaning agents, mosquito
repellents, etc.) and handover segregated wastes to authorized rag-pickers or waste
collectors or local bodies.

 Sensitization of citizens as well as government authorities, community participation,

involvement of NGOs. Littering should be prohibited.

 International Best practices should be emulated. South Korea is one of the few countries to
separate and recycle food waste. It has also launched landfill recovery projects such as
the Nanjido recovery project which have successfully transformed hazardous waste sites
into sustainable ecological attractions.

Conclusion

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is one of the major environmental problems of Indian
cities. The need of the hour is scientific, sustainable and environment friendly management of
wastes.

Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

Discuss the significance of Dalit writing as a social movement and its potential to
challenge dominant narratives and create a more inclusive society in India. (250 words).
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:

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The article explores the significance of Dalit writing as a social movement that has the power to
change lives.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about importance of the representation of Dalit experiences and perspectives in literature
and how it has helped to challenge and dismantle the dominant caste system in India.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of literature as a tool of Dalit empowerment.
Body:
In the first part, write about the significance of Dalit writing as social movement -potential to
challenge the existing power structures, bring about social change, highlighting the experiences of
the marginalized, challenge the inhumanity and brutality of the caste system etc. Cite examples to
substantiate.
Next, write about the challenges in the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

The term Dalit was first used by Jyotirao Phule for the oppressed classes or untouchable castes of
the Hindu. The Dalit movement began as a protest movement, to bring socio-political
transformation in the status of Dalits in India.

Dalit writings have been an important tool in the Dalit Movement to express the feelings, pain and
sufferings of Dalits. At a time, when there was no means of communication to support the
Dalits, pen was the only solution. Even prior to the 1960s, writers like Baburao Bagul, Bandhu
Madhav, Shankarao Kharat, Narayan Surve, Anna Bhau Sathe were expressing Dalit concerns and
issues in their literature.

Body

significance of Dalit writing

 Given the Upper Castes would never allow the Dalits voice to be expressed, as it would be a
threat for their own survival, the Dalits began their own magazineand began to express their
own experiences.

 Dalit literature, the literature produced by the Dalit consciousness, emerged initially during
the Mukti movement.

 The Mukti movement was led by very poor Dalits who fought against the saint – poets of the
time.

 These literature argued that Dalit Movement fights not only against the Brahmins, but all
those people whoever practices exploitation, and those can be the Brahminsor even
the Dalits themselves.

 Dalit literature helped with the ability to give voice to the Dalit community and to bring their
stories and experiences to the forefront.

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 Through literature, Dalit writers have been able to challenge the dominant caste hierarchy
and expose the injustices and atrocities faced by the Dalit community.

 Their writing provides a platform for the marginalized to express their thoughts, emotions,
and experiences, and to assert their identity and agency in a society that has historically
denied them these rights.

 New revolutionary songs, poems, stories, autobiographies were written by Dalit writers.

 These were sung in every village, poem and other writings were read by the entire
community.

Impacts

 It helped to create awareness among the general public about the issues faced by the Dalit
community and to promote social justice and equality.
 By highlighting the struggles and achievements of the Dalit community, Dalit writing inspired
social and political movements aimed at ending caste-based discrimination and creating a
more just and equitable society. Eg.: Dalit Panther Movement
Conclusion

Thus, it can be said that the significance of Dalit writing lies in its ability to empower the
marginalized, challenge dominant discourses, and promote social justice and equality.

Salient features of world’s physical geography.

It is pertinent to monitor and prepare for the potential impact of El Nino on India, given
its potential to significantly impact the country’s agriculture and economy. Analyse.
(250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses the possibility of an El Nino event occurring in 2023 and its potential
implications.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about El-Nino and also write in detail about its effects on India and need to prepare for its
impact.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing a few introductory lines describing the El-Nino.
Body:
First, write about the mechanism of El-Nino – The role trade winds pushing warm water, difference in
temperature across the equatorial pacific, circulation between east and west in the Pacific etc.
Next, write about impact of El-Nino of global climate and the impact of El-Nino on Indian monsoon –
very dry weather on the western parts of India, crop failures and lower agricultural production etc.
Next, write about steps that must be taken in order to have better forecasting models to help predict
the impact of El Nino on agriculture and the economy and other steps to mitigate its impact.

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Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
El Niño is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is linked to a periodic warming in sea surface
temperatures across the central and east-central Equatorial Pacific. El Niño is Spanish for “the boy
child,” which is often used to refer to Jesus Christ, and the phenomenon earned this name because it
typically occurs in December around Christmas. El Niño occurs every 2-7 years, and can last
anywhere between nine months and two years.

Body
Mechanism

During El Niño, the trade winds weaken or even reverse: Instead of blowing from east (South
America) to west (Indonesia), they could turn into westerlies. As the winds blow from the west to
east, they cause the masses of warm water to move into the central and eastern equatorial Pacific
Ocean. The rise in SSTs there, thus, produces increased rainfall along western Latin America, the
Caribbean and US Gulf Coast, while depriving Southeast Asia, Australia and India of convective
currents.
El-Nino impact on Indian monsoon:

 El Nino, characterized by warming of surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, is associated

with lower than normal monsoon rainfall in India.
 El Nino has been found to impact almost half the world triggering droughtsin
Australia, India, southern Africa and floods in Peru, Ecuador, the United States, the Gulf of
Mexico, and the Colorado River basin.
 El Nino affects the flow of moisture-bearing windsfrom the cooler oceans towards India,
negatively impact the summer (south-west) monsoon.

 After all, the south-west monsoon (June-September) accounts for over 70% of the country’s
annual rainfall and irrigates over half of the crop land.

 The rain-fed kharif crops are heavily dependent on the monsoon and the quantity of rainfall
determines agricultural production.

 El Niño years tend to be drier than average, but one of the strongest El Nino of the century
(1997-98) produced a monsoon season with above-average rainfall for India.

 Researchers also believe that even the location of the warming in the Pacific may possibly
have an influence on the monsoon.

Impact of the early arrival of Indian monsoon:

 The monsoon arrived earlier than normal in India, raising hopes that output of crops like rice
and oilseeds will get a boost after a brutal heat wave hit winter-sown wheat and prompted
the nation to restrict exports.

 India is the second-biggest grower of wheat, rice, sugar and cotton, and the largest buyer of
palm, soybean and sunflower oils.

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 The livelihood of millions of farmers in the country of about 1.4 billion people depends on
rains brought by the winds from the Indian Ocean.

 The farm sector is the main source of income for 60% of its population and accounts for 18%
of the economy.

 The monsoon is critical to India’s farm output and economic growth at a time when the
country, where man-made systems like canals and tube wells irrigate only a part of the land,
is battling soaring food prices.

 Timely and normal rains are set to boost production outlook for monsoon-sown crops such
as rice, soybeans and pulses and help in softening soaring inflation.
 Bountiful rains would also fill reservoirs, which in turn would brighten prospects for winter
crops, usually planted during October and November.

 The early arrival of the south-west monsoon comes at a time when parts of Northwest India
were experiencing extremely high maximum temperatures.

Conclusion
Early or late arrival of monsoon does not mean it would bring lesser or more rainfall. Earlier this
year, IMD predicted a “normal” monsoon. It means the rainfall is likely to be in the range of 96-104
per cent of the long period average of the years 1971-2020. A good monsoon boosts crop output,
while poor rains lead to drinking water shortages, lower harvests and higher imports of some
commodities.

Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic

activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical
geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and
fauna and the effects of such changes.
What is an avalanche? Examine the natural and anthropogenic causes of an avalanche.
(250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India , Down to Earth
Why the question:
Seven people were killed while 20 others have been rescued after five or six vehicles along with 20-30
tourists were hit by an avalanche near Nathu La in East Sikkim on Tuesday morning. Search and
rescue efforts were called off after another avalanche at the same location.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about avalanche, its natural and anthropogenic causes.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining avalanche.
Body:
First, write about the natural causes of an avalanche – snowfall, wind, temperature changes, and
earthquakes etc.
Next, write about the anthropogenic causes of an avalanche – human activity, explosives, land use,
and climate change etc.
Next, write about the measures avalanche mitigation.
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Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Avalanche is a rapid downslope movement of a large detached mass of snow, ice, and associated
debris such as rocks and vegetation. An avalanche is typically triggered when material on a slope
breaks loose from its surroundings; this material then quickly collects and carries additional material
down the slope. There are various kinds of avalanches, including rock avalanches (which consist of
large segments of shattered rock), ice avalanches (which typically occur in the vicinity of a glacier),
and debris avalanches (which contain a variety of unconsolidated materials, such as loose stones
and soil).
Seven tourists were killed and a dozen injured after an avalanche struck the Gangtok-Nathu La road
in Sikkim recently.

Body

Cause of an avalanche

Natural
 Heavy Snowfall

When a high rate of snowfall occurred leading to the snow accumulation on the mountain slopes
triggered the weaker layer of snow in the snowpack of unstable areas of the mountain causes
Avalanche.

 Wind Direction
The direction of the wind determines the patterns of the snowfall as well snow accumulation on the
mountain slopes. If the strong wind blows, then the upward direction of the winds might trigger the
steep slope which causes an avalanche.

 Layering of Snow

The gradual snowfall creates layer by layer accumulation of snow that hypersensitive the snowpack.
If something catastrophic events happen then these layers of snow falls down that leads to
avalanche.

 Steeper Slopes

An avalanche is also caused by the influence of gravity. If gradual snowfalls accumulated on the
slopes of the mountain then it prone to rush downs the slopes at greater speeds.

 Higher Temperatures

Temperature is one of the important factors for the avalanche because of high temperature the
surface layer of the snowpack gets melted. The accumulated snow will become highly susceptible to
sliding down.

 Earthquakes

It is one of the important factors that triggered the layer of accumulated snowpack because
earthquakes generate seismic waves that cause the ground to vibrate.

Anthropogenic
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 Movements or Vibrations Produced By Machines and Explosives

As we know that the population increasing day by day, which requires development activities to
meet the population requirement. During the developmental activities, the terrain vehicles in
regions with unstable layers of snow can dislodge the layers from the surface and cause them to
slide down under gravity.

 Deforestation

Deforestation, clearance, or clearing is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is
thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Trees and plants always protect land against natural
disasters like floods, tidal waves, strong winds, and also avalanche. Hence, a developmental activity
for economic gains makes the mountain region an avalanche-prone area more susceptible to
deadlier avalanches.

 Construction activities & Human Excavation

of slope and its toe, loading of slope/toe, a drawdown in reservoir, mining, irrigation, vibration/blast,
Water leakage from services. Erosion of slopes due to human interference increases the vulnerability
of the terrain to slide down.
 Winter Sports Activities

Above all the factors, this factor will act like the last nail to triggered steep slopes or loose snowpack
by skiers or other winter sports activities.
Way forward

Prediction and protective measures:

 In order to reduce fatalities and to protect villages and roads, people attempt to predict and
prevent avalanches.

 Accurate avalanche predictionrequires an experienced avalanche forecaster who often

works both in the field to gather snowpack information and in the office with sophisticated
tools such as remotely accessed weather data, detailed historical weather and avalanche
databases, weather models, and avalanche-forecasting models.
 Avalanche detention wall.

 Avalanche forecasters combine their historical knowledge of past conditions with their
knowledge of the affected terrain, current weather, and current snowpack conditions to
predict when and where avalanches are most likely to occur.

 Avalanche mitigation wall.

 Such forecasting work typically takes place along mountain highways, adjacentto potentially
affected villages, at ski areas, and in terrain heavily used for backcountry skiing and
snowmobiling.

 In addition to predicting avalanches, people employ a variety of techniques to reduce

avalanche danger. Explosives are used to trigger avalanches on potentially unstable slopes
so that the avalanches will occur when people are not endangered.

 Such avalanche control is particularly effective for ski areas and highway corridors.

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 In some areas prone to avalanches, particularly near villages and fixed structures, devices
such as avalanche rakes (large reinforced fencing) are used on slopes to hold snow in place,
and diversion structures such as dams or wedges are used at the base of the slope to stop,
split, or deflect the snow in an avalanche.

 Though expensive, these defensive measures are common throughout the Alps, where
numerous villages are found in areas known for dangerous avalanches.

Examine the potential threat of a “wet-bulb summer” in India. Is India prepared to

handle such extreme events? What measures must be taken in order to mitigate the
effects of extreme heat?
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
India this year experienced its warmest February since 1877, and in November last year, the World
Bank warned that India could become one of the first places in the world where wet-bulb
temperatures could increase beyond the survivability threshold of 35°C.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the wet-bulb summer, threats posed it and potential ways to mitigate it.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by the concept of wet bulb summer.
Body:
First, write about the potential Hazards of a wet bulb summer – health, animals, agriculture and
infrastructure etc. wet-bulb summer are becoming increasingly relevant due to the effects of climate
change
Write about the potential mitigation strategies – improving urban planning, increasing access to
cooling technologies, and promoting public awareness and education.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Wet bulb temperatures are measured by wrapping a wet cloth on a thermometer and observing the
temperature at which evaporation occurs. This is distinct from the more commonly known ambient
or dry temperature, which is measured as is. Beyond 35°C, the human body cannot cool itself down
through perspiration.
India this year experienced its warmest February since 1877, and in November last year, the World
Bank warned that India could become one of the first places in the world where wet-bulb
temperatures could increase beyond the survivability threshold of 35°C.

Body

Wet bulb temperature

 Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the
evaporation of water into the air at a constant pressure.

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 WBT is a limit that considers heat and humidity beyond which humans can not tolerate high
temperatures.

 The Wet Bulb temperature is the temperature of adiabatic saturation. This is the
temperature indicated by a moistened thermometer bulb exposed to the air flow.

 An adiabatic process is one in which no heat is gained or lost by the system.

 Wet Bulb temperature can be measured by using a thermometer with the bulb wrapped in
wet muslin.

 When the water starts evaporating from the cloth, the temperature in the thermometer
begins to decrease.

 How much evaporates depends on the humidity. The wet bulb temperature will be high if
humidity is also high, but will be cool if there are dry conditions with lots of evaporation.
 With every one-degree rise in the global mean temperatures, there is a 7 per cent increase
in humidity, the IPCC report had said, indicating that higher temperatures and higher levels
of humidity in the atmosphere have already set in.
 Since pre-industrial times, global temperatures have risen by 1.1 degrees celsius.

potential Hazards of a wet bulb summer

 India is moving towards fatal climatic conditions.

 There an increased possibility of deaths if human body temperatures exceed the “wet bulb”
threshold of 35°C, because the human body cannot cool itself down through perspiration
 If the wet-bulb temperature exceeds 35º C, outdoor activity can become life-threatening.

 the plight of who must work in these conditions for daily wages would be perilous.

 Agriculture sector is more vulnerable compared to the industrial and service sectors because
workers there were more likely to be exposed to heat.

 Heatwaves are associated with increased rates of heat stress and heat stroke, worsening
heart failure and acute kidney injury from dehydration.

 Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing morbidities are particularly vulnerable.

 Promote the spread of diseases like cholera and dengue fever across endemic areas.

 Increased poverty due to failure of crops and reduced economic activities.

Is India prepared ?

 India’s heat action plans (HAPs), designed to tackle economically damaging and life-
threatening heat waves, generally focus on dry extreme heat.
 It does not consider the threats posed by humid heat, according to a report by The Centre
for Policy Research (CPR).
 It is unclear if authorities consider risk factors like the duration of continuous heat, hot
nights and so on, on a region-wise basis.

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 India has 37 HAPs across 18 states at the city, district, and state levels. Only two of these,
however, have explicitly targeted vulnerable groups.

 The rest only have broad categories such as the elderly, outdoor workers, and pregnant
women.

 Even the solutions proposed do not necessarily focus on them, the CPR report stated.

 Moreover, these HAPs do not have enough funds. Insufficient capacity building and a lack of
transparency are also matters of concern.

potential mitigation strategies

 In 2016, the National Disaster Management Agency prepared guidelines for state
governments to formulate action plans for the prevention and management of heat waves,
outlining four key strategies:
o Forecasting heat waves and enabling an early warning system

o Building capacity of healthcare professionals to deal with heat wave-related

emergencies
o Community outreach through various media

o Inter-agency cooperation as well as engagement with other civil society

organizations in the region.

 Scientific Approach:

o Climate data from the last 15-20 years can be correlated with the mortality and
morbidity data to prepare a heat stress index and city-specific threshold.

o Vulnerable areas and population could be identified by using GIS and satellite
imagery for targeted actions.
 Advance implementation of local Heat Action Plans, plus effective inter-agency coordination
is a vital response which the government can deploy in order to protect vulnerable groups.

 This will require identification of “heat hot spots”, analysis of meteorological data and
allocation of resources to crisis-prone areas.

 The India Cooling Action Planmust emphasize the urgency and need for better planning,
zoning and building regulations to prevent Urban Heat Islands.

 Provision of public messaging (radio, TV), mobile phone-based text messages, automated
phone calls and alerts.

 Promotion of traditional adaptation practices, such as staying indoors and wearing

comfortable clothes.

 Popularisation of simple design features such as shaded windows, underground water

storage tanks and insulating housing materials.

Value addition

State actions towards Heat waves assessing their geographic variations:

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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

 Key element of many states response strategy has been enhancing health risk
communications on the impact of heat waves and how citizens can take simple steps to
reduce their exposure and protect their health.
 Andhra Pradesh:

o Andhra Pradesh has strong inter-agency coordination across multiple departments

o Andhra Pradesh has also set up 1168 stations approximately one for every hundred
square kilometers for weather forecasting and modelling.

o It has developed a mobile app to disseminate information about heat waves and
advice on precautionary steps; the app is available in English and Telugu.

 Telangana:

o Telangana developed one of the first state-wide heat action plans in 2016.
o The state is now integrating the heat action plan with its action plan on climate
change.
o The Telangana plan focuses on training district officials and health staff

 Odisha:

o It has declared heat waves as a state specific disaster.

o It is developing local thresholds and analyzing vulnerability of communities in
different parts of the state.

o Odisha’s activities focus on awareness raising, capacity building and training of

healthcare staff, interagency coordination, and enabling provision of water for
vulnerable communities.

 Various states and municipalities have introduced early warning systems, public awareness
campaigns and increased training for medical professionals.

 Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Odisha have made pioneering efforts with respect to heat-health
warning systems (HHWS).

 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has adopted a heat action plan which
necessitates measures such as building heat shelters, ensuring availability of water and
removing neonatal ICU from the top floor of hospitals.

 Such warning systems include providing weather forecasts in advance, issuing warnings to
people, providing readiness of emergency response systems, and preparing doctors and
health facilities to handle a sudden influx of patients. Warnings facilitate people in taking
appropriate actions against heat-related harm.

 Access to cool environments remains the mainstay of preventing heat stress:

 In rural areas, where electricity access is a challenge, supplementing power supply of primary
health centres with solar-based systems should be undertaken. Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra
and Tripura have already deployed such systems.

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Examine the reasons for the increasing incidence of heatwaves in different parts of the
country, and to what extent is climate change responsible for this trend? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
Around 350 million Indians were exposed to strong heat stress between April and May 2022.
Between 1990 and 2019, summer temperatures on average rose by 0.5-0.9°C across districts in
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan; about 54% of India’s districts have also seen a
similar rise in winter temperatures.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about heat waves and causes of heat wave conditions and role of climate change on it
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by defining a heat wave.
Body:
In the first part of the body, start by mentioning the criteria for a heat wave: in temperature for
plains, coastal areas and hilly areas. The criteria for a severe heat wave.
In the next part, mention the causes behind heat waves in India. Write about the ways in which
climate change impacts heatwaves in India and to what extent.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about measures that must be taken to tackle heatwaves in India.
Introduction
Heat wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum
temperature that occurs during the pre-monsoon (April to June) summer season. According
to Indian Meteorological Department, Heat wave is considered if maximum temperature of a
station reaches at least 40°C or more for Plains, 37°C or more for coastal stations and at least 30°C or
more for Hilly regions.
Around 350 million Indians were exposed to strong heat stress between April and May 2022.
Between 1990 and 2019, summer temperatures on average rose by 0.5-0.9°C across districts in
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan; about 54% of India’s districts have also seen a
similar rise in winter temperatures.

Body

Reasons for India to experience increasing instances of heatwaves

 Magnified effect of paved and concrete surfaces in urban areas and a lack of tree cover.

 Urban heat island effects can make ambient temperatures feel 3 to 4 degrees more than
what they are.
 More heat waves were expected as globally temperatures had risen by an average 0.8
degrees in the past 100 years. Night-time temperatures are rising too.

 Higher daily peak temperatures and longer, more intense heat waves are becomingly
increasingly frequent globally due to climate change.

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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

 High intensity of UV rays in medium-high heat wave zone.

 Combination of exceptional heat stress and a predominantly rural population makes India
vulnerable to heat waves.

Climate change and Heatwaves

 Climate change is making heat waves phenomenon more frequent and severe
 Due to climate change, periods of hot days in heat wave conditions stretch out longer in
places like South Asia.

 Climate models reveal that future heatwaves will have a more intense geographic pattern.
The world will experience more intense, more frequent, and longer-lasting heat waves in the
second half of the 21st century.

 Increased anthropogenic activities causing increased greenhouse gas emissions show that
heatwaves will be more severe.

 Heatwaves and droughts, as a result, minimise ecosystem carbon sequestration or carbon

uptake.
 This will cause changes in the ecosystem’s carbon cycle feedback because there will be less
vegetation to hold the carbon from the atmosphere, which will only contribute more to
atmospheric warming.
 Due to climate change, the problem of heat waves is also becoming widespread across the
country, affecting not only the typical hot spots in the northwest and southeast but also
regions that aren’t used to seeing so much extreme heat.
 The effects of heat waves are even more stark because of a lack of rainfall so far this season
due climate change.

Measures to mitigate heat waves:

 Switching to lighter-colored paving or porous green roads and cool roofs, to reflect more
solar radiation.

 For instance, after a severe 2010 heat wave, the city of Ahmedabad implemented a Heat
Action Plan, including a cool-roofs program; research has shown this plan has prevented
thousands of deaths.

 Cities could increase their share of tree cover, which is significantly lower than what’s
required to maintain an ecological balance.

 People in urban areas could be encouraged to grow climbing plants and curtains of
vegetation outside their windows.

 Greenbelts around cities, for wind paths, would allow the passage of exhaust heat from
urban air conditioners and automobiles.

 Finally, air-quality standards should be enforced rigorously and continuously—not just when
air pollution reaches hazardous levels.

Way forward:

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 In 2016, the National Disaster Management Agency prepared guidelines for state
governments to formulate action plans for the prevention and management of heat waves,
outlining four key strategies:
o Forecasting heat waves and enabling an early warning system

o Building capacity of healthcare professionals to deal with heat wave-related

emergencies

o Community outreach through various media

o Inter-agency cooperation as well as engagement with other civil society

organizations in the region.

 Scientific Approach:

o Climate data from the last 15-20 years can be correlated with the mortality and
morbidity data to prepare a heat stress index and city-specific threshold.

o Vulnerable areas and population could be identified by using GIS and satellite
imagery for targeted actions.
 Advance implementation of local Heat Action Plans, plus effective inter-agency coordination
is a vital response which the government can deploy in order to protect vulnerable groups.
 This will require identification of “heat hot spots”, analysis of meteorological data and
allocation of resources to crisis-prone areas.

 The India Cooling Action Planmust emphasize the urgency and need for better planning,
zoning and building regulations to prevent Urban Heat Islands.
 Provision of public messaging (radio, TV), mobile phone-based text messages, automated
phone calls and alerts.

 Promotion of traditional adaptation practices, such as staying indoors and wearing

comfortable clothes.

 Popularization of simple design features such as shaded windows, underground water

storage tanks and insulating housing materials.

What is the significance of relative humidity and wet-bulb temperature in predicting

and mitigating the impact of heatwaves? How can this knowledge be used to design
more resilient buildings and cities in the face of increasing heatwave events? Elucidate
with suitable examples. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Relative humidity is a simple concept as weather phenomena go – but it has significant, far-reaching
consequences for how we must take care of ourselves on a hot or wet day.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about relative humidity, wet-bulb temperature, and its role in making buildings and cities
heatwave resilient.
Directive word:

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Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by defining relative humidity.
Body:
In the first part of the body, write about the significance – Relative humidity and wet-bulb
temperature and their role in designing heat wave resilient buildings – crucial factors in predicting
and mitigating the impact of heatwaves on human health and well-being, as well as on energy
efficiency and sustainability.
In the next part, write about the significance of the above with suitable examples from across the
world.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about measures that must be taken to tackle heatwaves in India.
Introduction

Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air around us. Relative humidity is a ratio, expressed in
percent, of the amount of atmospheric moisture present relative to the amount that would be
present if the air were saturated. Since the latter amount is dependent on temperature, relative
humidity is a function of both moisture content and temperature. Relative Humidity is derived from
the associated Temperature and Dew Point for the indicated hour.

Body

Significance of relative humidity and wet-bulb temperature in predicting and mitigating the impact
of heatwaves

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 On a hot day, our body uses sweat to cool itself. Sweat is released via our skin to the surface.
There, the liquid evaporates.

 When water changes phase from liquid to vapour, it absorbs heat from the surface on which
it lies. So when sweat evaporates, it absorbs heat from the skin, cooling it.

 The higher the relative humidity of air, the more it is filled with moisture.

 When air already contains a lot of moisture, it won’t easily accept more. This means that the
sweat on your skin can’t evaporate.

 At the same time, the body keeps sweating because it is still expecting to cool itself.
 As a result, if the relative humidity is high, you can sweat on a hot day even when you are
sitting still – while your body also keeps accumulating heat. This can quickly become
dangerous.
 That’s because of our body’s wet bulb temperature, exceeding which can become even fatal
for us.

 Wet-bulb temperature is the greatest temperature at which water will not evaporate in a
given quantity of humidity.

 It acts as a proxy for how efficiently the human body can regulate its temperature.
 The highest acceptable wet bulb temperature for humans is 35°C (95 °F) for six hours.

 A wet-bulb temperature in an environment of 32-35º C or higher can be quickly lethal, even

if you are not doing any physical activity or are in the shade.
 Above that point, even healthy people begin to develop serious, often deadly health
problems.

 On various times, regions in Iran, Pakistan, and India, all densely populated countries, have
neared or surpassed this level.

 Climate change is increasing the number and severity of extreme heat events as global
average temperatures rise.
 The climate crisis is rendering heatwaves more common, more frequent, more spread out,
and more potent over the Indian subcontinent.

Precautions against high summer humidity

 It would be best to check the relative humidity before stepping out, either through a
hygrometer or an app that reports on relative humidity.

 If possible, one such also avoid strenous activity or workout in such conditions, otherwise it
could cause a heat rash, heat stroke, etc.

 Another important thing is to always stay hydrated, and pick breathable clothes in
comfortable fits. Even a few hours in cool air can help your body heal after sweating in the
heat.

 If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, you can find solace at your neighbourhood
coffee shop, theatre, public library, museum, or shopping centre.

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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

 Keep blinds drawn or your curtains drawn because 76% of the sunshine that enters your
home through the windows converts to heat.

 Close the doors to the rooms you don’t use as frequently, such as bedrooms or bathrooms, if
you spend most of your time in one.

 By wasting 90% of the energy they consume, incandescent light bulbs produce the greatest
heat, therefore switching to CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) or LED bulbs can help keep
your home cool

Measures to tackle heat waves

 A relative humidity of 30-60% is generally considered to be comfortable.

 Environments that have lower levels than this typically use humidifiers to increase the
humidity.
 When the level is higher, a fan will help move the air around you and help sweat evaporate
better.

 In 2016, the National Disaster Management Agency prepared guidelines for state
governments to formulate action plans for the prevention and management of heat waves,
outlining four key strategies:

o Forecasting heat waves and enabling an early warning system

o Building capacity of healthcare professionals to deal with heat wave-related
emergencies

o Community outreach through various media

o Inter-agency cooperation as well as engagement with other civil society
organizations in the region.

 Scientific Approach:

o Climate data from the last 15-20 years can be correlated with the mortality and
morbidity data to prepare a heat stress index and city-specific threshold.
o Vulnerable areas and population could be identified by using GIS and satellite
imagery for targeted actions.

 Advance implementation of local Heat Action Plans, plus effective inter-agency coordination
is a vital response which the government can deploy in order to protect vulnerable groups.

 This will require identification of “heat hot spots”, analysis of meteorological data and
allocation of resources to crisis-prone areas.

 The India Cooling Action Plan must emphasize the urgency and need for better planning,
zoning and building regulations to prevent Urban Heat Islands.

 Provision of public messaging (radio, TV), mobile phone-based text messages, automated
phone calls and alerts.

 Promotion of traditional adaptation practices, such as staying indoors and wearing

comfortable clothes.

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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

 Popularisation of simple design features such as shaded windows, underground water

storage tanks and insulating housing materials.

Way forward

 India needs a “heat code” for cities and states that will account for both heat and humidity
while discussing heat waves.

 India also needs to implement district-level heat action plans and build infrastructure that
will support people and workers.

 If the government declares heat waves as a national disaster, governments will earmark
resources and support for the people affected.

 The National or State Disaster Response Funds could be used to build resilience.

Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and
the Indian sub-continent);
What are Rare earth elements (REEs)? REEs are critical components of many modern
technologies, and their importance is only likely to increase as these technologies
continue to evolve. Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
Scientists from the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar, have
estimated the quantity of rare earth elements that can be recovered from a toxic byproduct of
aluminium extraction that India produces in copious amounts.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of REEs.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining Rare earth elements (REEs) and why are they called rare.
Body:
Write significance of Rare Earth Elements (REE. Discuss its utility in terms of – defense, strategy
environment etc. Global Uses and Production of Rare Earth Elements. Cite examples.
Next, write about the difficulties in extracting REE and recycling them.
Conclusion:
Conclude by Summarising.
Introduction

The rare earth minerals (REM) are a set of seventeen metallic elements. These include the fifteen
lanthanides on the periodic table in addition to scandium and yttrium that show similar physical and
chemical properties to the lanthanides. The REMs have unique catalytic, metallurgical, nuclear,
electrical, magnetic and luminescent properties. While named ‘rare earth’, they are in fact not that
rare and are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust

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Body
Significance of rare earth elements

 They have distinctive electrical, metallurgical, catalytic, nuclear, magnetic and luminescent

 They are strategically very important due to their use of emerging and diverse
technologies which cater to the needs of current society.
 Its usage range from daily use (e.g., lighter flints, glass polishing mediums, car alternators) to
high-end technology (lasers, magnets, batteries, fibre-optic telecommunication cables).

 Even futuristic technologies need these REMs (For example high-temperature

superconductivity, safe storage and transport of hydrogen for a post-hydrocarbon
economy, environmental global warming and energy efficiency issues).

 The global demand for REMs has increased significantly in line with their expansion into
high-end technology, environment, and economic areas.

 They are extremely important for many modern technologies, including consumer
electronics, computers, and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced
transportation, health care, environmental mitigation, national defense etc.

 Due to their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties, they help in
technologies perform with reduced weight, reduced emissions, and energy consumption;
therefore give them greater efficiency, performance, miniaturization, speed, durability,
and thermal stability.

Difficulties in extracting rare earth elements

 Mineral reserves are often concentrated in regions that are geopolitically sensitive.

 The geographic concentration of mining and processing of the minerals may also adversely
impact their availability.
 A portion of existing production is controlled by geostrategic competitors.

 China wields considerable influence in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of

Congo through direct equity investments and its Belt and Road Initiative.

 Three-fifths of rare earth minerals, essential for clean energy, electronics, and defence
technologies, are mined in China.

 Some of the required critical mineral assets for India’s manufacturing sectors (particularly of
green technologies) are not yet ready to be mined.

 There are also some critical minerals of which there exists no known resources within India.

 Recent global geo-political factors adversely affecting critical minerals supply chains,
starting with the Covid-19 pandemic and followed by the Russia-Ukraine war.

 Indonesia, that has world’s largest nickel reserves – has banned the export of raw nickel
ore, as they seek to develop a domestic nickel processing industry.

Conclusion

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The ‘Make in India’ program whose goal is to make India a manufacturing economy will need
REEs in huge amount. Although India is among the top five nations with reserves of rare-earth
minerals, there is no required technology to extract in environmentally sustainable way. Thus, India
will need to firm up diplomatic trade channels and long-term supply contracts. There is also a need
to develop suitable technologies, promote Research and Development to tap the REE

Value addition

Minerals Security Partnership (MSP):

 The US and 10 partners — Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the
Republic of Korea (South Korea), Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the European
Commission have come together to form the MSP.

 Catalyzing investment from governments and the private sector: The new grouping
is aimed at catalyzing investment from governments and the private sector to develop
strategic opportunities.

 Focus on the supply chains of minerals: The new grouping, industry insiders say, could focus
on the supply chains of minerals such as Cobalt, Nickel, Lithium, and also the 17 ‘rare earth’
minerals.

Export hotspots play a crucial role in driving India’s export growth by acting as key
centers of production and trade. Discuss the features of major export hotspots of India.
(250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article provides an overview of India’s export hotspots based on data from the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about major export hotspots of India, their features and advantages offered by them.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of an export hotspot.
Body:
First, draw a neat representative map highlighting the major export hotspots of India.
Next, write the major features of export hotspots of India – high levels of industrial activity, skilled
labour, and access to transportation networks, which enable efficient movement of goods to
international markets etc.
Next, write about the advantages of these hotspots and a couple of their limitations.
Conclusion:
Conclude by a way forward to further promote export hotspots.
Introduction
Export hubs are collaborative business networks that help small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in
the Growth Centre sectors harness opportunities in global marketplaces. Export hubs will boost the
export capability of small to medium local and regional businesses, through supporting activities
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such as to developing collective brands, leveraging local infrastructure to scale business operations,
and positioning regional businesses to participate in global supply chains.

Body

Major features

Export hubs will undertake activities such as:

 help to address barriers to SME participation in global supply chains

 deliver improved local business capability

 increase information and resource sharing between SMEs

 provide market intelligence about export opportunities

 enhance workforce skills through training and seminars.

 Export hubs will develop export strategies, based on local strengths, which will align with the
national strategies and networks of the Growth Centres.

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Advantages of Export hubs

 Every District has products and services which are being exported, and can be further
promoted, along with new products / services, to increase production, grow exports,
generate economic activity and achieve the goal of AtmaNirbhar Bharat, Vocal for local and
Make in India.

 Helps to target export promotion, manufacturing and employment generation at grass root
level.

 Enhances manufacturing activities, promote goods and services exports, support MSMEs
and local artisans/craftsmen, broaden coverage of e-commerce linkages with Districts,
promote GI products, improve logistics & agricultural sectors and support employment
opportunities in the Districts, leading to wide-ranging economic benefits, including
investment, manufacturing & export growth.

Way forward

 India should focus on diversifying its export basket by promoting and supporting the export
of non-traditional items such as electronic goods, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles.
 India needs to improve its export infrastructure, such as ports, roads, and railways, to
reduce the cost of exports and improve efficiency.

 The government should develop regional export hubs that specialize in certain export
commodities. This would help in creating economies of scale, reducing costs, and promoting
competitiveness.

 Investment in research and development is critical to help Indian exporters produce high-
quality goods at lower costs, making them more competitive in the global market.

 The government should simplify export procedures and reduce red tape to make it easier
for Indian exporters to do business with foreign partners.
 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) should be encouraged to participate in
exports by providing them with easy access to credit, technology, and infrastructure.

 Indian exporters should leverage digital technology to reach out to global customers and
promote their products. The use of e-commerce platforms can help Indian exporters to
reach a wider market at a lower cost.

Geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features

(including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of
such changes.
What are the causes for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Evaluate its impact on human
health and the economy. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
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Why the question:

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a vast area in the North Pacific Ocean where ocean currents have
concentrated large amounts of plastic debris. The patch is estimated to cover an area of up to 1.6
million square kilometers (about three times the size of France), and it contains an estimated 80,000
metric tons of plastic debris.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its impact.
Directive word:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of
the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence. You must appraise the worth of
the statement in question. There is scope for forming an opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Describe the giving context.
Body:
First, write about the causes behind the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – poor waste management,
plastic production and consumption, and ocean currents.
Next, write about its impact on health and economy – reduced marine population, damage to fishing
nets and boats, and potential harm to human health due to the accumulation of toxic substances in
the food chain. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about the steps needed to mitigate it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) also described as the Pacific trash vortex, is a gyre of marine
debris particles in the north central Pacific Ocean. It is located about halfway between Hawaii and
California. It’s the largest accumulation zone for ocean plastics on Earth.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a vast area in the North Pacific Ocean where ocean currents have
concentrated large amounts of plastic debris. The patch is estimated to cover an area of up to 1.6
million square kilometers (about three times the size of France), and it contains an estimated 80,000
metric tons of plastic debris.

Body

Great Pacific Garbage Patch:

 Twice the size of Texas, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch stretches for hundreds of miles
across the North Pacific Ocean and is one of the most frightening examples of just how much
human activity is violating the planet.

 Marine debris and pollution consisting mostly of plastic trash is accumulating in oceans
around the world.

 The patch is characterized by exceptionally high relative pelagic concentrations of plastic,

chemical sludge, and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North
Pacific Gyre.

 Microplastics make up 94 percentof an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the patch.
But that only amounts to eight percent of the total tonnage.

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 As it turns out, of the 79,000 metric tons of plastic in the patch, most of it is abandoned
fishing gear—not plastic bottles or packaging drawing headlines today.

The causal factors of GPGP are:

 The cause of GPGP is entirely due to human beings.

 Merchant ships expel cargo, sewage, used medical equipment, and other types of waste that
contain plastic into the ocean.

 The largest ocean-based source of plastic pollution is discarded fishing gear (including traps
and nets).
 Continental plastic litter such as Food Wrappers & Containers, Bottles and container caps,
Plastic bags, Straws and stirrers etc. enters the ocean largely through storm-water runoff.

 Micro plastics (particles of less than 5 mm) such as those used in scrubbers and cosmetics
 Unlike POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Plastic pollution
has received little attention in terms of international agreements.
Impact on Economy

 Marine pollution also affects other economic activities such as shipping, fishing, aquaculture
and recreation.
 For example, each year the fishing industry bears significant costs of repairing boats and
equipment damaged by discarded fishing gear.

 In 2017, the United Nations estimated that waste pollution accounted for worldwide
economic losses of $622 million per year from tourism and $51 million per year from fishing
fleets.

 The total negative impact on marine industries is estimated to be at least $8 billion per year.
Impact on marine and human life:

 Affects movement of marine organisms:

o Ghostnets, a term coined to describe purposely discarded or accidentally lost

netting, drift through the ocean, entangling whales, seals, and turtles.

o An estimated 100,000 marine animals are strangled, suffocated, or injured by

plastics every year.

 Direct harm to species:

o Of the 1.5 million Laysan albatrosses that inhabit Midway, nearly all are likely to
have plastic in their digestive system.

o Approximately one-third of their chicks die, and many of those deaths are due to
being fed plastic by their parents.

o Fish and whales may also mistake the plastic as a food source.

 Indirect harm to species via the food chain:

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o Besides the particles danger to wildlife, on the microscopic level the floating debris
can absorb organic pollutants from seawater, including PCBs, DDT, and PAHs.

o These toxin-containing plastic pieces are also eaten by jellyfish, which are then
eaten by fish. Many of these fish are then consumed by humans, resulting in their
ingestion of toxic chemicals

 Spreading invasive species:

o Marine plastics also facilitate the spread of invasive species that attach to floating
plastic in one region and drift long distances to colonize other ecosystems. Research
has shown that this plastic marine debris affects at least 267 species worldwide.
 Affects Food-chain:

o Because the garbage blocks sunlight, algae is not growing as it should. With less
algae, the entire food chain is experiencing a negative disruption.
o In addition, the plastics floating in the ocean are leeching harmful chemicals into the
water, which are likely entering the food chain.
Measures to tackle plastic pollution:

 Local actionsare required for mitigating plastic pollution, using mechanisms such as bans on
plastic bags, maximum daily limits for emissions into watersheds, and incentives for fishing
gear retrieval.

 Countries should come together to establish measurable reduction targets for plastic waste.
A meaningful international agreement—one with clearly defined waste reduction targets is
the need of the hour.

 Effective policies must take into account all stages of the lifecycle of plastic—connecting
producers to users and ultimately to waste managers.
 Nonprofits like 5 Gyresare now pushing an agenda toward public awareness, corporate
responsibility and the idea of a circular economy — an economy that focuses on keeping
waste to a minimum while maximizing materials’ use.
 Fossil fuel subsidies incentivise the plastic market. Hence, Countries should end fossil fuel
subsidies. Annually, 4–8% of oil is used to produce raw plastic.

 India has a major problem dealing with plastics, particularly single-use shopping bags that
reach dumping sites, rivers and wetlands along with other waste.

 The most efficient way to deal with the pollution is to control the production and
distribution of plastics.
 Banning single-use bags and making consumers pay a significant amount for the more
durable ones is a feasible solution.

 Enforcing segregation of waste will retrieve materials and greatly reduce the burden on the
environment.

 Waste separation can be achieved in partnership with the community, and presents a
major employment opportunity.

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 Eco-friendly substitutes (cloth/paper/jute bags, leaves/areca leaf plates, paper straws)

should be developed. For this, scientific and financial support (soft loans and subsidies) is
required.
Conclusion:

Marine plastic pollution is a “planetary crisis,” and we should hope for a “Paris-style” global treaty
aimed at tackling it. We cannot transform our world into a ‘plastic planet’. What is needed is
collective public effort to stop plastic pollution and safeguard our ecosystem/biodiversity.

What are the various natural and human-caused factors contributing to the rise in
global sea levels? Analyse their potential long-term impacts on coastal communities and
ecosystems. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindi , Insights on India
Why the question:
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has found in a new report that the world’s sea level
is rising at an unprecedented rate, portending potentially disastrous consequences for the weather,
agriculture, the extant groundwater crisis, and social disparities.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes and impact of sea level rise.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving statistic regarding the rise of sea level due to global warming.
Body:
First, write about the various natural and man-made causes for rise sea level – thermal expansion of
seawater, melting of glaciers and ice caps, loss of ice shelves and ice sheets, and land subsidence.
Next, write about its impact – coastal erosion, flooding, saltwater intrusion, damage to crops and
biodiversity, and displacement of people.
Next, write about the steps that are needed to mitigate the impact.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Sea level rise is an increase in the level of the world’s oceans due to the effects of global warming
and other factors. As per the WMO’s ‘State of the Global Climate 2022’ report, the world’s sea level
is rising at an unprecedented rate. The rate of global mean sea-level [GSML] rise has doubled
from 2.27 mm/year in 1993-2002 to 4.62 mm/year in 2013-2022.
Body

Alarming rate of sea level rise

 Sea levels have risen by between 180 to 200 mm since 1900.

 Nearly5-0.7% of the world’s land area is at a risk of episodic coastal flooding by 2100,
impacting5-4.1%of the population assuming there are no coastal defences or adaptation
measures in place.

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 By 2100, the global population potentially exposed to episodic coastal flooding will increase
from 128-171 million to 176-287 million.

Causes behind sea-level rise

 Thermal expansion:

o When water heats up, it expands. About half of the sea-level rise over the past 25
years is attributable to warmer oceans simply occupying more space.

 Melting glaciers:

o Large ice formations such as mountain glaciers naturally melt a bit each summer.
o In the winter, snows, primarily from evaporated sea water, are generally sufficient
to balance out the melting.
o Recently, though, persistently higher temperatures caused by global warming have
led to greater than average summer melting as well as diminished snowfall due to
later winters and earlier springs.
o That creates an imbalance between runoff and ocean evaporation, causing sea levels
to rise.

 Loss of Greenland and Antarctica’s ice sheets:

o As with mountain glaciers, increased heat is causing the massive ice sheets that
cover

o Greenland and Antarctica to melt more quickly.

o Scientists also believe that meltwater from above and seawater from below is
seeping beneath Greenland’s ice sheets, effectively lubricating ice streams and
causing them to move more quickly into the sea.
o While melting in West Antarctica has drawn considerable focus from scientists,
especially with the 2017 break in the Larsen C ice shelf, glaciers in East Antarctica
are also showing signs of destabilizing.
Consequences of sea-level rise on coastal states

 Loss of habitat: Almost 3 billion people are living within 200 km of the coasts and islands all
over the world.

o A sea level rise will lead toloss of habitation and hence leads to de-urbanization.

o Indonesia is planning to shift its capital fromJakarta, the “world’s fastest-sinking

city” owing to sinking of land by 25 cm per year.

o It may also significantlyaffect tourism and recreation through impacts on landscapes

(e.g., beaches), cultural features etc.

 Agriculture: SLR will affect agriculture mainly through land submergence, soil and fresh
groundwater resources salinisation, and land loss due to permanent coastal erosion, with
consequences on production, livelihood diversification and food security.

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 Coastal fisheries and aquaculture: The negative effects of SLR on fisheries and aquaculture
are indirect, through adverse impacts on habitats (e.g., coral reef degradation, reduced
water quality in deltas and estuarine environments, soil salinisation, etc.).
 Impact on Small Island Nations: Because of small islands’ high coastline to land area ratio,
most of their human settlements, agricultural lands, and critical infrastructure are at or near
the coasts.

Vulnerability of India to global warming induced sea level rise

 As per the study by Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information
Services,Sea levels along the Indian coast are projected to rise between 3.5 inches to 34 inch
(2.8 feet) by the end of century due to global warming.

 India’s coastal regions, home to about 170 million of the country’s 1.4 billion people, are on
the front lines of a shifting climate, experiencing sea-level rise, erosion, and natural
disasters such as tropical storms and cyclones.

o The latest evidence of this vulnerability occurred in May 2020, as the strongest
storm recorded in decades in the Bay of Bengal—Cyclone Amphan—hit, forcing
several million people to evacuate.
 Climate change is expected toinundate significant sections of Mumbai by 2050, impacting
millions of people.
 India lost 235 square kilometers of land to coastal erosionbetween 1990 and 2016, placing
people’s livelihoods and homes in jeopardy, with flight to safer places occurring voluntarily
or, as a last resort, through government intervention.
 Scientific prediction suggests that 36 million Indiansare likely to be living in areas
experiencing chronic flooding by 2100.

 Sea level aroundAsia in the North Indian Ocean has increased faster than global
average, with coastal area loss and shoreline retreat.

 Similarly, mega cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata are at high risk of flooding and
sea-level rise, with millions living in these urban coastal areas likely to be relocated to safer
places in the future.

o In such circumstances, forced migration and displacement would be inevitable in the

absence of well-managed, pre-emptive relocation of populations from high-risk
areas.

Adaptation measures

 Integrated coastal management: It will help in resource management following an

integrative, holistic approach and an interactive planning process in addressing the complex
management issues in the coastal area.

o Coastal Regulation Zone notifications issued under Environmental Protection Act,

1986 will help in this integrated management.

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 Community ownership: Policy makers should engage stakeholders in the early stages of
decision-making and throughout the entire decision-making process to enhance overall
resilience in coastal areas, while supporting community ownership.
 Barriers to urban areas:Rotterdam has offered a model to other cities seeking to combat
flooding and land loss. Rotterdam has built barriers, drainage, and innovative architectural
features such as a “water square” with temporary ponds.

 Adaptation to Sea Level Rise

o Relocating utility infrastructure, such as treatment plants and pump stations, to

higher elevations would reduce risks from coastal flooding.
o Understanding and modelling groundwater conditions will inform aquifer
management and projected water quantity and quality changes.

o Coastal restoration plans may protect water utility infrastructure from damaging
storm surge by increasing protective habitat of coastal ecosystems such as
mangroves and wetlands.

o Theinjection of fresh water into aquifers can help to act as a barrier, while intrusion
recharges groundwater resources.

 Limiting global warming: More use of renewable energy (wind, solar) can help reduce
carbon emissions. Nations must act fast to attain their NDC’s and work on carbon
sequestration.

Conclusion
The Paris Agreement provides a clear vision on limiting global warming and thus, Sea level rise.
There must be awareness among the representatives of the public, different agencies of the
government, scientists, industry and the communities on the threat posed by climate change and
the steps to counter it. Sea level rise is a slow disaster that will become magnanimous and all steps
must be taken to ensure that such disasters are mitigated.

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