UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice : GS 1 (Week 8)

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

Floods are the most common natural disaster in India. Highlight some steps that should be taken to ensure proper flood management.

QUESTION 2

Discuss how the contributions of several socio-cultural reformers from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries shaped social life in India.

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: Floods are the most common natural disaster in India. Highlight some steps that should be taken to ensure proper flood management.

Note: This topic can be a part of both GS 1 and GS 3.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about floods.

— India is highly vulnerable to floods and they are a recurrent phenomenon, which causes massive loss of lives and damage to livelihood systems, property, infrastructure and public utilities.

— The most common risks associated with flooding are the contamination of drinking-water facilities, and standing water, which can be a breeding site for mosquitoes, bring chemical hazards, and cause injuries.

(Source: http://www.who.int, ndma.gov.in)

Body:

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

Steps to Ensure Proper Flood Management

— Structural measures include storage reservoirs, embankments, and diversions to reduce flood hazards by keeping damage-causing waters away from agricultural areas, cities, industries, etc. For example, reservoirs conserve water for irrigation, electricity generation, water supply, etc.

— Non-structural methods such as flood forecasting, warnings, and flood plain zoning, help in the timely evacuation of people and regulate the use of floodplains.

— Due to dense built-up areas, with poor water, sanitation, drainage and wastewater infrastructure, risks like flooding are felt intensely in our cities.

— Most urban civic bodies conduct a monsoon audit ahead of the season to ensure that stormwater drains, tanks and lakes exist and work, and that they are not choked by construction debris, silt, garbage or blocked by encroachments.

— The medium-term approach is to integrate drainage, water supply, and wastewater systems to retain the heavy rain that may fall in a short period, as well as to treat and recycle wastewater to ensure clean water and sanitation for the remainder of the year.

— To reduce local flooding, we need to improve how city roads are built and repaired.

— Conserving and protecting urban forests, wetlands, rivers and lakes are critical to addressing climate change-induced flooding, water scarcity and heat waves and improving livability.

— India has the technological capacity to map all of its cities and towns, using high-resolution satellite and local topographical data to identify areas most prone to flooding.

— Following a series of deadly urban floods in cities such as Mumbai and Surat in the early 2000s, India has done well to enhance its forecasting, early warning, and evacuation systems in many large cities.

(Sources: How to prevent disruptions by flood and extreme weather events by Aromar Revi, Monsoon havoc in India: How floods can be a valuable resource by Sharad Jain)

Conclusion:

Your conclusion should be short.

— We must preserve and prepare our cities for future flooding, drought, and heat waves brought on by climate change.

— The most effective approach to accomplish this is to ensure that all city dwellers have access to essential environmental services such as water, sanitation, drainage, and solid waste management.

(Source: How to prevent disruptions by flood and extreme weather events by Aromar Revi)

Points to Ponder

Control of Floods in the Himalayas

Urban Floods

Related Previous Year Questions

Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (2020)

In what way can floods be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in India? (2017)

Major cities in India are becoming vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss. (2016)

QUESTION 2: Discuss how the contributions of several socio-cultural reformers from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries shaped social life in India.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about social reforms.

— The social reform movements that evolved in India in the nineteenth century arose in response to the issues that colonial Indian society faced. The most well-known issues are sati, child marriage, the prohibition on widow remarriage, and caste prejudice.

— The reforms were a creative combination of modern ideas of Western liberalism and a new look at traditional literature.

(Source: ncert.nic.in)

Body:

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

Some of the Social Reformers

Jotiba Phule

— She was the first women social reformer who opened a school for women in Pune. It was established to provide greater impetus to girl child education and empowerment among the female.

— Phule is remembered for her work against caste and gender discrimination, as well as her unwavering opposition to society’s then-orthodox norms.

— Savitribai and her husband defied patriarchal customs in India by creating a school for girls from different castes. More schools were established in the region as a result, with Savitribai serving as a teacher.

— She is also remembered for fighting for widows’ rights and their right to live.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy

— He was born into a prosperous upper-caste Brahmin family, Roy grew up within the framework of orthodox caste practices of his time: child marriage, polygamy and dowry were prevalent among the higher castes and he had himself been married more than once in his childhood.

— He was a polyglot and knew many languages such as Bengali, Persian, Arabic, Sanskrit and English.

— He was particularly intrigued by the Unitarian faction of Christianity and was drawn by the precepts of monotheism that, he believed, lay at the core of all religious texts.

— He wrote extensive tracts on various matters of theology, polity and human rights, and translated and made accessible Sanskrit texts into Bengali.

— In 1814, he started the Atmiya Sabha (Society of Friends), to nurture philosophical discussions on the idea of monotheism in Vedanta and to campaign against idolatry, casteism, child marriage and other social ills.

— In 1817, he collaborated with Scottish philanthropist David Hare to set up the Hindu College (now, Presidency University). He followed it up with the Anglo-Hindu School in 1822 and, in 1830, assisted Alexander Duff in setting up the General Assembly’s Institution, which later became the Scottish Church College.

— His relentless advocacy alongside contemporaries such as Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar finally led to the abolition of Sati under the governor generalship of William Bentinck in 1829.

Dayanand Saraswati

— Dayanand Saraswati made a contribution to the battle against social discrimination and untouchability. He had founded multiple Vedic schools.

— He was a believer in the supreme authority of the Vedas and established the Arya Samaj in 1875, leading a reform movement within orthodox Hinduism.

— His beliefs included a rejection of idolatry and the overly ritualistic traditions of Hinduism, supporting women’s education, denouncing child marriage, and opposition to untouchability.

— The book “Satyarth Prakash” by Dayanand Saraswati emphasised the “return to Vedic principles”.

Note: You can mention other social reformers:

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Debendranath Tagore

Kesavchandra Sen

Henry Vivian Derozio

Annie Besant

(Sources: Who was Dayanand Saraswati, whose 200th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year? Remembering Savitribai Phule, who fought for women’s rights in 19th century India)

Conclusion:

Your conclusion should be short.

— Social reformers from Punjab and Bengal in India exchanged ideas with reformers from Madras and Maharashtra. The Christian missionaries also reached remote corners of present-day Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya.

— Translations of writings of social reformers from one Indian language to another took place. For instance, Vishnu Shastri published a Marathi translation of Vidyasagar’s book in Indu Prakash in 1868.

( Source: On Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s 250th birth anniversary, remembering the legacy of the father of Modern Indian Renaissance by Paromita Chakrabarti)

Points to Ponder

Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856

Related Previous Year Questions

The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th-century social reform movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (2017)

Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss. (2020)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

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

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 7)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 7)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 8)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 7)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 8)

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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