UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. 🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the May edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 QUESTION 1 Why is India seeing a surge in employment? Critically analyse the various factors contributing to this phenomenon. QUESTION 2 What is a cyclone and what are the different types of cyclones? Discuss how the naming convention works for a cyclone. General points on the structure of the answers 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. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. THOUGHT PROCESS You may enrich your answers by some of the following points QUESTION 1: Why is India seeing a surge in employment? Critically analyse the various factors contributing to this phenomenon. Body: — The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which has been performed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation since 2017-18, is now the most reliable source of employment/unemployment data in India. — The PLFS intends to provide quarterly changes in various labour market indicators for urban regions, as well as an annual estimate of numerous labour force indicators for both rural and urban areas at the state/UT and national levels. — Using NSSO data from 1983 to 2023, and focusing on employment figures and their changing nature, we can see that principal employment has increased for every sub-period studied from 1983. — There has been no phase of jobless growth. — Principal employment refers to individuals who work the majority of the year, as opposed to subsidiary employment, which is primarily part-time, of shorter duration, and occurs in addition to a person's primary activity. — The fastest increase in employment occurred between 2017-18 and 2022-23, with over 80 million extra jobs reported. — This expansion is widespread, affecting rural and urban sectors, industry, agriculture, construction and services, age groups, women, and so on. — Women have experienced the greatest growth during this time, with yearly rates above 8%. Older individuals (over the age of 60) are becoming more employed, at a rate of roughly 4.5% per year. — The most typical objection we hear is that there is increasing anxiety and that women and the elderly are forced to work. — With lower fertility rates and improved access to water, energy, and other resources, those working in care and the home now have more freedom if they want to work. — Manufacturing and construction expanded by 3.4 and 5.9 per cent per year, respectively, while faster growth was attained in previous years. Agriculture and services, however, have been the most successful sectors. — However, this expansion is characterised by a total increase in employment of 80 million, of which 44 million are own account workers and unpaid family workers. — At the same time, the significant increase in Direct Cash Transfers during this period may have led to increased employment options. — The average annual growth rate of salaries and earnings between 2017-18 and 2022-23 is 6.6% in nominal terms, but only 1.2% after accounting for inflation over five years. (Source: Unemployment data: Punjab better than national average; in Haryana, every third person is jobless by Kanchan Vasdev) Points to Ponder NSSO PLFS Employment Generation Schemes/ Programmes of Government of India Related Previous Year Questions Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India. (2022) Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India. (2021) QUESTION 2: What is a cyclone and what are the different types of cyclones? Discuss how the naming convention works for a cyclone. Introduction: — A cyclone is a large-scale system of air that rotates around the centre of a low-pressure area. — It is usually accompanied by violent storms and bad weather. — According to the NDMA, a cyclone is characterised by inward spiralling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Body: Different types of cyclones — The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) classifies cyclones broadly into two categories: extratropical cyclones and tropical cyclones. Extratropical cyclones — Extratropical cyclones are those which occur outside of the tropic. — They are also known as mid-latitude cyclones. — According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), they have “cold air at their core, and derive their energy from the release of potential energy when cold and warm air masses interact”. — These cyclones always have one or more fronts — a weather system that is the boundary between two different types of air masses. — These cyclones can occur over land or ocean. Tropical cyclones — These cyclones are those which develop in the regions between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. — These cyclones develop when “thunderstorm activity starts building close to the centre of circulation, and the strongest winds and rain are no longer in a band far from the centre”. — The storm's centre warms, and the cyclone's primary source of energy is the "latent heat" released when water vapour evaporates from heated ocean waters and condenses into liquid water. — However, warm and cold fronts are not connected with tropical cyclones. How does the naming convention work? — There are some basic guidelines that countries need to follow while naming a cyclone which includes: (i) It should be neutral to (a) politics and political figures (b) religious believes, (c) cultures and (d) gender; (ii) It should not hurt the sentiments of any group of population over the globe; (iii) It should not be very rude and cruel; (iv) It should be short, easy to pronounce, and not offensive to any PTC member; (v) It can be at most eight letters long; (vi) The name should be provided with its pronunciation and voice over; and (vii) The name should not repeated (not before, not after). — The list of proposed names groups the countries alphabetically and includes all of the names they suggested. The names are then assigned to each cyclone that occurs in the region on a rotating basis, regardless of whatever country provided them. — For example, the first cyclone on the list was named Nisarga (Bangladesh's option), which impacted Maharashtra, followed by Gati (India's choice, which hit Somalia), Nivar (Iran's choice, which struck Tamil Nadu), and so on. (Source: Cyclone Remal may hit West Bengal: What is a cyclone and what are its types?, Cyclone Remal to hit Bengal: How and why are cyclones named?) Points to Ponder Cyclone Remal Location of Sagar Island National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Related Previous Year Questions Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological Department. (2022) Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why? (2014) Previous Mains Answer Practice UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 51) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 52) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 52) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 53) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 53) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 52) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.
