— 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: What do you mean by below-normal, normal, and above-normal rainfall? Discuss the reasons for distorted rainfall distribution.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— The total monthly rainfall in India for a given month. Similarly, all-India seasonal rainfall refers to the total amount of rainfall received across India during a certain season.
— The monsoon season begins in June and extends across the southern peninsula, delivering rain to central India. However, rainfall in June was 11% below normal across the country.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:
Calculation of below-average, normal, and above-normal rainfall
— If ‘m’ is the mean and ‘d’ is the standard deviation of any climate variable like rainfall. Assuming the time series is normally distributed, 68 per cent of the observations fall within +/- standard deviation (d) from the mean.
— If the realised value f the variable falls between:
(i) m-d to m+d (Normal rainfall)
(ii) less than m-d (Below normal rainfall)
(iii) more than m+d (Above normal rainfall)
Reasons for distorted rainfall distribution
— The central and southern peninsular regions have received an excess of rainfall, owing primarily to the position of the monsoon trough — a semi-permanent, low-pressure area that extends between Pakistan and the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season and typically oscillates between north and south throughout the season.
— When it advances south, as it has done in this case, additional rain can fall in central, eastern, and peninsular India. When it changes to the north, the Himalayan foothills are likely to receive more rainfall, while the rest of India would have less rainfall.
— Other rain-bearing weather systems, such as an off-shore trough (a shallow trough of low pressure that forms along India’s coast during the monsoon season), have also contributed to excess rainfall in the central and southern peninsular regions.
— Since the monsoon trough has yet to move northward, rainfall has been insufficient in the northwest, extreme north, east, and northeast regions this season. Furthermore, there have been fewer rain-bearing weather systems, and those that formed did not reach or bring rain to these areas.
Conclusion:
— The rainfall from July 18 to July 24 enhanced the overall seasonal performance. During this time, a low-pressure system formed in the Bay of Bengal and then intensified, keeping the monsoon either active or robust. The system weakened about July 23.
— Between July 19 and July 25, India experienced 41% more rainfall, 80.5 mm compared to a normal of 57.2 mm. The rainfall was primarily focused in the southern peninsular (excluding Tamil Nadu) and central India regions.
(Source: How is the rainfall performance during the ongoing monsoon season? by Anjali Marar, mausam.imd.gov.in)
Points to Ponder
What is monsoon trough?
What do we mean by long period average (LPA) of rainfall?
Related Previous Year Questions
Why is the South-West Monsoon called ‘Purvaiya’ (easterly) in Bhojpur Region? How has this directional seasonal wind system influenced the cultured ethos of the region? (2023)
What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 per cent of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia? (2017)
QUESTION 2: Discuss the significance of the Munich Agreement of 1938 in the context of World War II.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— On September 29 and 30, 1938, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom signed the Munich Agreement. Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time, enthusiastically supported Hitler’s appeasement to keep Europe at peace.
— After returning from Munich, Chamberlain raised a piece of paper signed by Hitler and referred to it as a “peace with honour” proclamation. In exchange for European peace, the Germans were allowed to acquire the Sudetenland territory.
— The German-speaking people who lived in these lands, known in German as Sudetenland, became part of the new country formed after the German-dominated Austro-Hungarian Empire fell at the close of World War I in 1918.
— Hitler’s ambition to build a “Greater Germany” included annexing Sudetenland, which was home to roughly three million Sudeten Germans. Following the Munich Agreement, German troops seized these areas from October 1 to 10, 1938.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:
Significance of the Munich Agreement of 1938 in the context of World War II
— Czechoslovakia, the country whose territory was about to be annexed, was not a signatory to the Agreement. It was obliged to accede to the arrangement due to pressure from the United Kingdom and France, which had a military alliance with the country.
— At the time, Czechoslovak leader Jan Masaryk famously proclaimed, “We are not ready to accept peace at all costs!” Prime Minister Jan Syrový, who was obliged to accept the Munich Agreement, remarked, “We have been abandoned.”
— The Agreement, signed after Hitler met with Chamberlain, French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier, and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini in Munich, permitted Germany to withdraw from Sudetenland. The German occupation was scheduled to take place in four stages between October 1 and October 10, 1938.
— In certain instances, the cessation was decided through a plebiscite. The Czechoslovak government was supposed to free any Sudeten Germans who wanted to be discharged from their military and police forces within four weeks of signing the Agreement, as well as all Sudeten German prisoners. Six months after signing the Munich Agreement, Hitler violated his promises and invaded all of Czechoslovakia.
(Source: What is the Munich Agreement and the role it played in starting World War II?)
Points to Ponder
Invasion of Poland
Winter War 1940
Attack on Pearl Harbour
Related Previous Year Questions
To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically (2015)
“There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars.” Evaluate the statement. (2021)
Previous Mains Answer Practice
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 65)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 66)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 66)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 67)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 67)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 66)
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The overall situation is not very comfortable, with only one out of the four broad geographical regions, northwest India, having received better than normal rainfall. Attempt a question on below normal, normal and above normal rainfall in today's answer writing practice. (File Photo) 
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