🚨 This story is part of our special initiative for UPSC and other competitive exams. Look out for UPSC KEY on weekdays and UPSC Essentials everyday, Weekly news express with MCQs, Key Terms of the past week, Quizzes as well as The Indian Express 360° Upsc Debate, Society & Social Justice, UPSC Mains Practice, Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik, UPSC Ethics Simplified, Experts Talk, and more. 🚨 UPSC Essentials brings to ytoou its new initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing will cover 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. We will cover one new subject four days in a week. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. QUESTION 1 Discuss the impact of the melting of Himalayan glaciers on India's water resources. QUESTION 2 What do you understand by globalisation and discuss the impact of globalisation on Indian society? 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: Discuss the impact of the melting of Himalayan glaciers on India's water resources. Introduction: A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about melting of glaciers. — The melting of glaciers is a natural process and cannot be controlled. However, the melting of glaciers does increase the risks related to glacier hazards. — Ice and snow in the Hindu Kush Himalayan ranges is an important source of water for those rivers, which flow through 16 countries in Asia and provide fresh water to 240 million people in the mountains and another 1.65 billion downstream. The people living in these mountains who have contributed next to nothing to global warming are at high risk due to climate change. (Source: ‘This is a warning’: As Himalayan glaciers melt, Indian scientists warn Pakistan’s floods could get worse) Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: Impact of the melting of Himalayan glaciers — Glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates across the Hindu Kush Himalayan mountain ranges, and if greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically curtailed, they might lose up to 80 per cent of their volume this century. — Global warming is accelerating the loss of Himalayan glaciers much faster than scientists previously thought, destabilizing a fragile system that’s helped regulate the earth’s atmosphere and key water cycles for millennia. — Melting glaciers have a significant impact on water resources of Himalayan rivers due to changes in glacier basin hydrology, downstream water budget, and impact on hydropower plants due to variations in discharge, flash flood and sedimentation. — Glacial melt has contributed to the intense monsoon rains caused by a rising Arabian Sea and the weather-changing impacts of La Nina. — Floods and droughts have plagued human civilizations since antiquity, but their frequency and severity are growing as the earth warms and glaciers melt. (Sources: Glacier retreat in Himalayas to cause water crisis: study by Esha Roy, Himalayan glaciers could lose 80% of their volume if global warming isn’t controlled, study finds) Conclusion: Your conclusion should be short. — Several Indian institutes/universities/organisations (including the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), the Space Application Centre (SAC), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and others) monitor Himalayan glaciers for various scientific studies, including glacier melting, and have reported accelerated heterogeneous mass loss. (Source: pib.gov.in) Points to Ponder Urban floods Global warming in Himalayan glaciers Related Previous Year Questions Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent. (2014) How will the melting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India? (2020) QUESTION 2: What do you understand by globalisation and discuss the impact of globalisation on Indian society. Introduction: A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about globalisation. — Globalisation involves a stretching of social and economic relationships throughout the world. This stretching is driven by economic policies such as liberalisation, which refers to a set of policy decisions made by the Indian government since 1991 to open up the Indian economy to the global market. — The involvement of transnational companies (TNCs) is particularly crucial among the various economic variables driving globalisation. TNCs are multinational corporations that manufacture goods or provide services in more than one country. (Source: ncert.nic.in) Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: Impact of Globalisation on Indian Society Communications — Significant technological and telecommunications infrastructure advancements have resulted in dramatic transformations in worldwide communication such as Telephones (landlines and mobiles), fax machines, digital and cable television, electronic mail, and the Internet. — To more efficiently build global interconnection, the Government of India has launched an ambitious initiative known as 'Digital India,' in which every trade would involve digitalisation. It will make India a "digitally empowered society" and a "knowledge economy." Employment — A new worldwide division of labour has formed, with increasingly regular manufacturing output and employment taking place in developing places. — For the youth from urban centres, globalisation and the IT revolution has opened up new career opportunities. — There is a demand for skilled workers due to the increase in the manufacturing sector. Many young people are seeking employment in all these segments. — There has been a surge in many sectors in the unorganized sector as well, which has boosted the country's employment rate. — Corporate culture is a branch of management theory that aims to boost productivity and competitiveness by establishing a distinct organizational culture that involves all members of a company. — The spread of multinational companies and the opportunities opened up by the information technology revolution has created in the metropolitan cities in India. Political Changes — The neo-liberal economic policies reflect a political vision of free enterprise which believes that a free reign to market forces will be both efficient and fair. — The European Union (EU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are few examples of regional organisations that play a larger role. — The growth of International Governmental Organisations (IGOs) and International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) has added another political component. Culture — Globalisation has several effects on culture and India has been receptive to cultural influences. — The "Culture Unites All" campaign, launched during the inaugural G20 CWG conference in Khajuraho, is a call to action to recognize the connections that exist throughout the world's diverse yet interconnected cultures. It aims to spotlight locally known traditional arts and crafts such as Lambani embroidery on the global stage. — Globalisation has resulted in cultural consumption (of art, food, fashion, music, and tourism) shaping to a large extent the growth of cities. (Sources: G20’s Culture Unites All campaign: Shared heritage, mutual respect by Govind Mohan, ncert.nic.in) Note: You may also add the impact of globalisation on: Science and technology Agriculture Cuisine Sports Conclusion: Your conclusion should be short. — Globalisation is more than just worldwide linkages; it also involves fundamental changes in the capitalist system of production and communication, labor and capital organization, technical advancements and cultural experiences, modes of government, and social movements. — At the “Culture Unites All” campaign, the intangible cultural heritage element, practised and led by women of the Lambani community, serves as a significant source of livelihood and sustenance for the community. (Source: G20’s Culture Unites All campaign: Shared heritage, mutual respect by Govind Mohan) Points to Ponder Advantages of globalisation LPG (liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation) Related Previous Year Questions To what extent globalisation has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain. (2016) New in the list: UPSC Essentials: Society & Social Justice | Urbanisation and associated issues. Check out! Previous Mains Answer Practice UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 8) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 9) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 9) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 10) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 9) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 10) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 9)
