UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing 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. QUESTION 1 India is now the most populous country in the world, having overtaken China. What are the major causes of overpopulation in India? What are the key highlights of the State of World Population (SOWP) report? QUESTION 2 Pepper has played an important role in shaping the world. How it was used as a medium of cultural exchange between India and other countries? 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: India is now the most populous country in the world, having overtaken China. What are the major causes of overpopulation in India? What are the key highlights of the State of World Population (SOWP) report? Introduction: — According to the State of World Population (SOWP) report, ‘8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities’ published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN had announced that India is now the most populous country in the world, having overtaken China in population and the world’s population had crossed the 8 billion mark. — There are various causes of overpopulation in India such as — Poverty Illiteracy Ignorance about family planning Low contraceptive usage Early marriage (Source: UN population report: Key takeaways for India and the world by Esha Roy, Society & Social Justice | Population and associated issues (Part 1) by Manas Srivastava) Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: State of World Population (SOWP) — According to the report, 68 per cent of India’s total population is between the ages of 15 and 64 years, which is considered the working population of a country. About 25 per cent is between 0-14 years; 18 per cent between 10 and 19 years, 26 percent between 10 and 24 years, and 7 per cent above 65 years. — More than half of the projected increase in global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries — the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania. — Central and Southern Asia is expected to become the most populous region in the world by 2037. — The latest projections suggest that the rate of global population growth has fallen due to declining fertility. — The UN has said that already 60 per cent of the world’s population lives in a region where the fertility rate is below replacement level, up from 40 per cent in 1990. — Despite the continuing decline in the average number of births per woman, the total annual number of births has remained stable at around 140 million since the late 1980s due to the youthful age distribution of the global population. — In 2021, most births worldwide occurred in the two most populous regions—Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. One of the reasons for population growth globally flagged by the UNFPA has been that of increasing life expectancy. — Fertility rates have been dropping in various parts of the world, as have mortality rates all over the world, with better access to health care and improving standards of living. — The 2023 report finds that life expectancy among men now stands at 71 years while among women it stands at 76 years. Globally, life expectancy reached 72.8 years in 2019, an increase of almost 9 years since 1990, the UN said in its 2022 report. — As much as 68 per cent of India’s population belongs to the 15-64 years category, and 26 per cent in the 10-24 years group, making India one of the youngest countries in the world. (Source: UN population report: Key takeaways for India and the world by Esha Roy) Conclusion: — The population in many countries, like Japan and South Korea, are on the decline. A declining fertility rate, women not having children, is accompanied by an ageing population, and one that is out of the workforce. — However, the fertility rate in India has been steadily dropping. The National Family Health 5 Survey (2019-21) found that India attained a Total Fertility Rate of 2.0 for the first time, less than the replacement level of 2.1, falling from 2.2 in NFHS 4 (2015-16). (Source: UN population report: Key takeaways for India and the world by Esha Roy) Points to Ponder Challenges of overpopulation What opportunities does a large population provide a nation? Related Previous Year Questions Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (2021) “An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples. (2016) QUESTION 2: Pepper has played an important role in shaping the world. How it was used as a medium of cultural exchange between India and other countries? Introduction: — Pepper has been widely consumed for most of recorded history, it was seen as a luxury good. It was produced almost exclusively along the Malabar Coast in the southwest of India. — There is archaeological evidence to show people were using pepper as early as 2000 BCE in ancient India. The spice is believed to have been exported to other parts of Asia and North Africa. — The earliest evidence of pepper being consumed outside of the Indian subcontinent comes from Egypt — the mummified remains of Ramesses the Great from 1213 BCE had peppercorns in the nostrils. — Pepper was immensely popular among the Romans, with Marcus Gavius Apicius the historian estimating that 80 per cent of Roman recipes contained the spice. (Source: Pepper: The magic spice from Kerala that triggered global trade, drained the Romans and spawned new empires by Mira Patel) Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: — Black pepper is indigenous to the Malabar Coast which largely corresponds to the present-day state of Kerala. Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan traveller, referred to Malabar as “the land of pepper” and noted how there “pepper grains are poured out for measuring by the bushel, like millet in our country.” — The Zamorins had used pepper for centuries to trade with people all across the known world while also consolidating their power. — The Zamorins welcomed Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traders, along with other local kings and chieftains, usually by pledging to safeguard people and property. — The Persians had always sailed to the coast to Malabar, bringing back with them ships full of pepper to the Mediterranean. — The trade of pepper along the Asia coasts also helped spread Islam further east, soon extending from East Africa to the southern coast of China. — The Dutch East India Company established its first trading post on Indian soil in 1605, following which, using a combination of military force and revolutionary trade practices, they monopolised the sale of pepper. — The Portuguese, however, were also unable to meaningfully dominate pepper-producing areas along the Malabar Coast. They essentially served as middlemen between growers, traders, and consumers. (Source: Pepper: The magic spice from Kerala that triggered global trade, drained the Romans and spawned new empires by Mira Patel) Previous Mains Answer Practice UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 16) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 15) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 17) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 16) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 17) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 16) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.
