UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on Ladakh’s history and significance of equinoxes and solstices (Week 121)

QUESTION 1

Ladakh’s integration into Jammu and Kashmir in the 19th century marked a significant geopolitical shift in the Himalayan region. Analyse the historical process of Ladakh’s integration and evaluate its evolving strategic and economic importance to India.

QUESTION 2

Discuss the equinoxes and solstices in the context of Earth’s axial tilt and orbit around the Sun.

General points on the structure of the answers for UPSC Mains

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Ladakh’s integration into Jammu and Kashmir in the 19th century marked a significant geopolitical shift in the Himalayan region. Analyse the historical process of Ladakh’s integration and evaluate its evolving strategic and economic importance to India.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Ladakh was an independent kingdom, deeply connected with Tibet until its integration into Jammu and Kashmir in 1834.

— Its strategic importance to India is derived from the fact that it sat on the route linking Central Asia and Kashmir.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— Ladakh became part of Jammu and Kashmir through a complex historical process. As the Sikhs acquired Kashmir in 1819, Emperor Ranjit Singh turned his ambition towards Ladakh.  Until then, it was an independent Himalayan kingdom, similar to Bhutan and Sikkim. It was made a part of Jammu and Kashmir in 1834 when Gulab Singh, the Dogra feudatory of the Sikh kingdom in Jammu and Kashmir, conquered the territory and made it a part of the Sikh empire.

— After the first Anglo-Sikh war of the 1840s, the British brought the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, under their own suzerainty.

— After the Chinese occupation of Tibet, Ladakh was expected to function as a buffer zone between India and China.

— Upto 2013, India’s infrastructure development in Ladakh was minimal. Since then, India has been carving out several infrastructure projects in the region, and from 2015 onwards, Ladakh has turned into a major defence priority for India.

— The defence role of Ladakh is further heightened by Chinese interest in the region since the former’s annexation of Tibet in 1950, and more so after the 1959 Tibetan uprising, when the Dalai Lama fled into exile and was granted political asylum in India.

— The economic significance of Ladakh to India is rooted in the fact that it served as an entrepôt or a centre for trade between Central Asia and Kashmir. “Tibetan pashm shawl wool was carried through Ladakh to Kashmir. At the same time, there was a flourishing trade route across the Karakorum pass to Yarkand and Kashgar to Chinese Turkestan.

— India has been carving out several infrastructure projects in the region, and from 2015 onwards, Ladakh has turned into a major defence priority for India. The defence role of Ladakh is further heightened by Chinese interest in the region since the former’s annexation of Tibet in 1950, and more so after the 1959 Tibetan uprising, when the Dalai Lama fled into exile and was granted political asylum in India.

Conclusion:

— Ladakh’s transition from an independent Himalayan kingdom to a strategic frontier region of India reflects its enduring geopolitical and economic relevance. Today, it stands as a critical buffer zone and a fulcrum of India’s defence posture in the high Himalayas.

(Source: From independent kingdom to strategic frontier: Why Ladakh is integral to India’s history and geopolitics,

Ladakh through a bifocal lens: a short zoom-in, zoom-out history)

Points to Ponder

Read about India’s high-altitude terrain

Read about cultural exchanges between India and Central Asia

Related Previous Year Questions

The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples. (2022)

Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States. (2021)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the equinoxes and solstices in the context of Earth’s axial tilt and orbit around the Sun.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— On equinoxes, the sun rises directly above the Equator at midday. It happens twice a year, in March and September, and is the only period when both poles are illuminated at the same time.

— In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal or spring equinox falls between March 19 and 21, whereas the autumnal or autumn equinox falls between September 21 and 24. The names have been reversed for the Southern Hemisphere, therefore the fall equinox will occur on March 20, 2025.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— Equinoxes mark the time of year when the day and night are of equal length. Every other day, the Earth’s axis is tilted either towards or away from the sun. This affects how light and heat from the sun are spread throughout the hemispheres.

— The solstices are the days when the Earth is highly inclined towards or away from the Sun. On these days, the sun provides considerably different amounts of light and warmth to each hemisphere, with similarly unbalanced days and nights.

— The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which occurs between June 20 and 22, marks the longest day and shortest night of the year, as the upper half of the globe tilts towards the sun.

— In contrast, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which occurs between December 20 and 23, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, with the upper half of the earth tilted towards the sun.

Conclusion:

— While meteorological seasons are based on observable weather patterns, astronomical seasons are rooted in the Earth’s orbit and its relationship with the sun. Equinoxes and solstices serve as astronomical markers for the onset of spring, summer, fall, and winter, providing an understanding of the Earth’s annual cycle.

(Source: Spring Equinox 2025: What to know about the vernal equinox)

Points to Ponder

Read about the science of the Equinoxes

Difference between vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox

Related Previous Year Questions

Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree? (2014)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 120)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 121)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 120)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 121)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 119)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 120)

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