UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on World War I and jet streams (Week 109)

QUESTION 1

Over a million Indian soldiers fought in World War I (WWI). Assess the significance of its contribution to India’s nationalist movement, economy, and social fabric.

QUESTION 2

Discuss the formation, characteristics, and seasonal variability of jet streams. How does modern aviation strategically utilises these atmospheric currents, citing their benefits and potential hazards?

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.

QUESTION 1: Over a million Indian soldiers fought in World War I (WWI). Assess the significance of its contribution to India’s nationalist movement, economy, and social fabric.

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

Introduction:

— WWI was possibly the globe’s first genuinely global event, with far-reaching consequences around the planet. It concluded on November 11, 1918, with the proclamation of an armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, and resulted in a shift in global order.

— One of the most immediate and visible changes brought about by the First World War was the fall of long-standing empires, most notably the Ottoman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Russian Romanov Empire.

— The commencement of the First World War brought an end to the ‘Hundred Years’ Peace’ (1815-1914), which had existed since the Congress of Vienna in 1815. This is not to suggest that there were no wars during this time period; hostilities such as the Crimean War between 1853 and 1856 did occur, but they were on a smaller scale than wars like the First World War.

Body:

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

— While the Allied Powers – Britain and France – eventually won the First World War over the Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Ottoman Turkey – the Gallipoli campaign (February 1915 to January 1916) ended in defeat for the Allies as they attempted to take control of the Dardanelles straits from Ottoman Turkey.

— It is vital to note that the First World War did not see significant technological advancements in military strategies. Air power had made only a few appearances and had not become a significant component of modern combat. Tanks had recently made their appearance to overcome the constraints of trench combat, and the British used them for the first time in 1916. The fact that the Western Front remained largely a fixed line demonstrates the battle tank’s limited significance, as the First World War was fought primarily in the trenches.

— Due to a lack of scientific developments during the conflict, a great number of young men perished on the battlefields, often as a result of untreated wounds that became septic. Penicillin, for example, was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, following World War I.

— India also supplied a considerable number of soldiers to the war effort, with over a million fighting in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The India Gate is a war memorial to the Indian troops who died fighting in mostly European wars.

Conclusion:

— The League of Nations was formed at the close of World War I, and it established a system of mandates to monitor countries controlled by Germany and the Ottoman Empire. Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine (all regions of the defunct Ottoman Empire) were placed under the control of two European obligatory powers. Syria and Lebanon passed to France, while Iraq and Palestine went to Great Britain. The political solutions established after World War I were precarious and unstable.

(Source: Echoes of 1914: How current global tensions mirror the road to World War I, directortourism.assam.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

Read about other important festivals of North-East India

Related Previous Year Questions

How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it. (2021)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the formation, characteristics, and seasonal variability of jet streams. How does modern aviation strategically utilises these atmospheric currents, citing their benefits and potential hazards?

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

Introduction:

— Jet streams are narrow bands of high winds that travel thousands of miles from west to east. Major jet streams are found near the higher regions of the atmosphere, around 9 to 16 kilometres above the earth’s surface, and can reach speeds of over 320 kph.

— The jet streams move to the north or south depending on the season. During the winter, the wind current is strongest. They are also closer to the equator in the winter.

— The three main jet streams are the Polar Front, Subtropical, and Tropical jet streams. In India, the tropical jet stream influences the origin and duration of the summer monsoon.

Body:

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

Formation of Jet Streams

— They are generated because of two key ingredients: rotation and heating.

— The earth is unevenly heated due to the disproportionate concentration of solar heating in the tropics and the absence of warmth at the poles. This causes the atmosphere to move, as some particles of air become warmer and more buoyant than others. But the globe also rotates, which limits the resulting fluid flow, notably in the north-south direction. These two elements cause the ensuing flow to spread west-eastward and produce jet streams.

Characteristics of Jet Streams

— These are narrow bands of strong winds blowing from west to east.

— They follow the boundary between hot and cold air.

— During the winter months in both the northern and southern hemispheres, jet streams are at their fiercest.

Conclusion:

How does modern aviation utilise atmospheric currents?

— Most commercial flights fly at jet stream altitude, and a strong jet stream can offer a powerful tailwind to a trip heading from west to east, such as the British Airways journey from New York to London. This helps to minimise travel time for such planes by increasing their speeds.

— Modern aviation takes advantage of air currents in several important ways:

— Jet streams, or high-altitude winds, can considerably cut flight time and fuel consumption when flown with, whereas turbulence, another atmospheric phenomenon, necessitates careful management and mitigation measures.

— Airlines intentionally plan routes to use jet streams for eastward trips, decreasing travel time and fuel consumption. They avoid regions of known turbulence to protect passenger comfort and safety.

(Source: What is a jet stream, which helped a flight beat speed record?, http://www.climate.gov)

Points to Ponder

Read about polar vortices, and atmospheric rivers

What are Rossby waves?

Related Previous Year Questions

What is the phenomenon of ‘Cloudbursts’? Explain. (2024)

What is the concept of a ‘demographic winter’? Is the world moving towards such a situation? Elaborate. (2024)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 108)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 109)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 108)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 109)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 108)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 107)

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