UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 6)

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UPSC Essentials brings to you 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

What are tides, and how do they differ from waves? List out the types of tides.

QUESTION 2

Examine the influence of Indian art and culture on the neighbouring countries of the Indian Subcontinent.

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: What are tides and how are they different from waves? List out the types of tides.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about tides and how it is formed.

— Tides are defined as “periodical rise and fall (once or twice) of the sea level due to attraction of sun and moon”. The gravitational pull of the moon is higher as compared to the gravitational pull of the sun.

— The study of tides is very complex as it varies in frequency, magnitude and height.

— The centrifugal force (the force that acts to counterbalance gravity) combined with gravitational pull results in the formation of two major tidal bulges on the earth.

How they are different from waves?

— The waves are energy that moves across the ocean’s surface. Winds provide energy to the waves that travel along the surface of the ocean and release energy on shorelines.

— The open oceans have the greatest waves. They continue to grow larger as they move and absorb energy from the wind.

— The height of the waves is determined by the strength of the wind and how long it blows in a single direction. Waves can be classified as:

Steep Waves: These are the younger waves and are formed by local winds.

Steady Waves: These originate from far places.

(Source: ncert.nic.in)

Body:

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

Types of Tides

Classification of Tides	Tide	Characteristics
Based on Frequency	Semi-diurnal tide	Two high tides and two low tides each day. Most common tidal pattern. Tides are of the same height.
	Diurnal tide	Only one high tide and one low tide each day. Tides are of the same height.
	Mixed tide	They have variations in their height. Story continues below this ad Mainly occur along North America’s west coast and Pacific Ocean Islands.
Based on the positions of the Sun, Moon and Earth.	Spring tide	Tides will be higher when the sun, the moon, and the earth are in a straight line. These tides are spring tides. They occur twice a month, on a full moon day and a new moon day.
	Neap tide	The sun and the moon are at a right angle to each other and the forces of the sun and the moon tends to counteract each other. There is a seven-day gap between a spring tide and a neap tide. When the moon’s orbit is closer to Earth (Perigee), the tidal range is higher and when the moon’s orbit is far to the Earth (Apogee), the tidal range is less. When the Earth is closer to the Sun (Perihelion), the tidal range is higher and when the Earth is far to the Sun (Apogee), the tidal range is less.

— The time between the high tide and low tide is called ‘ebb’ (when the water level is falling) and ‘flood’ (when the water level rises).

(Source: ncert.nic.in)

QUESTION 2: Examine the influence of Indian art and culture on the neighbouring countries of the Indian Subcontinent.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about culture with respect to India.

— Culture plays an important role in the development of any nation. It represents a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices. 

— India had been in trade communication with the outside world since the middle of the third millennium B.C. Despite India being bordered by oceans on three sides and the Himalayas on the north, Indians continue to communicate with the rest of the world.

— However, the most notable component of this encounter has been the expansion of Indian culture and civilisation throughout the world.

(Source: http://www.nios.ac.in, http://www.india.gov.in)

Body:

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

Indian Culture in Central Asia

— Central Asia is a landmass bound by China, Russia, Tibet, India and Afghanistan. India has maintained commercial contact with these countries since 2nd century B.C.

— Traders to and from China regularly crossed the region which later became famous as the Silk Route. Along the way, there were rest stops for monks and missionaries, pilgrims and merchants, and these eventually became well-known centres of Buddhist learning.

— The cultural interactions between India and Central Asian countries can be seen in the findings of ancient stupas, temples, monasteries, pictures, and paintings in all of these countries.

— Among the Central Asian kingdoms, Kuchi was a vital and flourishing core of Indian culture. It was the kingdom where the Silk Route split and rejoined at the Dun-huang caves in China.

— A continual migration of instructors and monks from India to Khotan has witnessed the history of the Indo-Khotanese friendship.  Khotan was well-known for its silk industry, dancing, music, literary pursuits, economic operations, and exports of gold and jade.

— A great number of Sanskrit manuscripts, translations, and transcriptions of Buddhist writings in Sanskrit were recovered from the buried monasteries.

Indian Culture in East Asia

— The Sanskrit, Buddhist, and Jain texts indicate that interactions between the two regions go back more than two thousand years ago

— The classical Sanskrit and Pali texts from India carry references of the region using various names such as Kathakosha, Suvarnabhumi (the land of god) or Suvarnadvipa (the golden island), indicating that this was a region that attracted Indian merchants.

— Translation of Sanskrit books into Chinese language.

— With the rise of Buddhism, China began to build large-scale cave temples and monastic complexes.

— The ‘dhyana yoga’ philosophy reached Korea in the eighth to ninth century AD.

— Sanskrit was accepted as the sacred language in Japan. Monks were given special training to write the Sanskrit syllables and mantras.

— Trade in spices, aromatic wood and most importantly gold is known to have flourished.

Indian Culture in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia

— Sri Lanka became a Buddhist stronghold and is so to this day. Pali was adopted as their literary language. Buddhism has a significant impact on Sri Lankan culture. The Dipavansa and Mahavamsa are well-known Buddhist sources in Sri Lanka.

— With Buddhism, Indian Art forms also reached Sri Lanka, where the themes, styles and techniques of paintings, dance, folklores and art and architecture were taken from India.

— In Burma, Pagan was a great centre of Buddhist culture from the eleventh to the thirteenth century.In the third and fourth centuries AD, Brahminical images and Buddhist temples began to be built. The earliest images discovered in Thailand are of Lord Vishnu.

— Brahmanism and Buddhism existed alongside each other in Thailand in the pre-Sukhothai period of the 13th century.

— A Tamil inscription found in Takua-pa testifies trade links between the Pallava region of South India and southern Thailand.

— The kings of Indian heritage controlled the famous kingdoms of Champa (Annam) and Kamhuja (Cambodia).  They built massive monuments and adorned them with sculptural depictions of Shiva and Vishnu. Buddha and other deities from the Indian Epics and Puranas.

NOTE: You can cite examples of various temples or monasteries built outside India wherever required.

Conclusion:

Your conclusion should be short.

— You can write about the efforts of India that has been taken with respect to maintaining the relations with the countries. For example:

Any treaty between India and neighbouring country

Any scheme or project (Tri-lateral Highway, TAPI pipeline, etc)

(Source: http://www.nios.ac.in, Explained: The historical and cultural connections between India and Thailand by Adrija Roychowdhury)

Post your inputs and answers to points to ponder in the comment box below and engage with other aspirants too. All the best!

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(The UPSC Essentials Indian Express is now on Telegram- Indian Express UPSC Hub. Click here to join our YouTube channel and stay updated with the latest updates.