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UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It 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.
🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for March 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨
Discuss how India’s water diplomacy balances regional cooperation with its national and strategic interests.
Discuss the significance of equinoxes and solstices in the context of Earth’s axial tilt and orbit around the Sun. Examine the cultural and historical importance of the vernal equinox in various societies.
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.
QUESTION 1: Discuss how India’s water diplomacy balances regional cooperation with its national and strategic interests.
Introduction:
— Transboundary rivers, such as the Brahmaputra and Indus, are critical determinants of regional stability, and good water diplomacy is essential for fostering collaboration and resolving conflicts over shared resources.
— The Helsinki Rules of 1966 on the “Uses of the Waters of International Rivers” establish standards for the use of transboundary rivers.
Body:
Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)
— On September 19, 1960, India and Pakistan signed the International Water Treaty to define the allocation of the Indus and its tributaries.
— The treaty granted India complete control over the eastern basin rivers, including the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, while Pakistan gained exclusive access to the western basin rivers, the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, while allowing Indian facilities for “non-consumptive usage” such as hydroelectric power production.
India-Bangladesh
— The Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) was established in 1972 as a bilateral framework to effectively resolve issues of mutual interest concerning common/border/trans-boundary rivers.
— On December 12, 1996, the Ganga Water Treaty was signed, which marked a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation. The contract guaranteed an equitable distribution of river water following the completion of the Farakka Barrage.
— The Teesta water-sharing pact is another important bilateral arrangement between the two countries.
India and Nepal
— Even before Nepal and India became sovereign nations, water cooperation began under British India in 1894. The Sarada Agreement initiated formal water-sharing agreements between the two countries. The pact permitted the construction of the Banbassa barrage on the Mahakali River (also known as Sarada in India) to offer irrigation facilities for both countries.
— Multiple agreements were consolidated under the Mahakali Treaty of 1996 to form the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, which provides power generating and flood management.
India-Bhutan
— The development of hydropower, which began in 1961 with the Jaldhaka Project, is one of the most important cornerstones of India-Bhutan relations.
— Bhutan’s rivers, including the Wangchu, Sankosh, and Manas, offer enormous hydroelectric potential, and India has played a significant role in the development of Bhutan’s hydropower industry. The “2006 Agreement on Hydropower Cooperation” codified India and Bhutan’s accord.
Conclusion:
— To date, India’s water diplomacy approach has struck a balance between regional cooperation and national interests. The Indus Waters Treaty, Ganga Treaty, and Mahakali Treaty illustrate India’s commitment to scheduled water sharing systems.
— China’s unwillingness to follow international water-sharing regulations, as evidenced by how it controls the Mekong River, compounds the situation. Such behaviour is compatible with the concept of hydro-hegemony, in which a dominating state in a shared river basin uses its riparian location, economic and military might, and technological capabilities to gain control of water resources.
(Source: India’s water diplomacy: Balancing regional cooperation and strategic interests)
To read more: India’s water diplomacy: Balancing regional cooperation and strategic interests by Anudeep Gujjeti
Points to Ponder
Read more about Indus Water Treaty
Read more about Teesta river water agreement
Read about the sources of the Himalayan rivers
Related Previous Year Questions
The groundwater potential of the Gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India? (2024)
Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations. (2016)
QUESTION 2: Discuss the significance of equinoxes and solstices in the context of Earth’s axial tilt and orbit around the Sun. Examine the cultural and historical importance of the vernal equinox in various societies.
Introduction:
— With the advent of the vernal equinox on March 20, the Northern Hemisphere begins its spring season and the Southern Hemisphere begins its autumn season.
— On equinoxes, the sun rises directly above the Equator at midday. It happens twice a year, in March and September, and is the only period when both poles are illuminated at the same time.
Body:
— In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal or spring equinox falls between March 19 and 21, whereas the autumnal or autumn equinox falls between September 21 and 24. The names have been reversed for the Southern Hemisphere, therefore the fall equinox will occur on March 20, 2025.
— Equinoxes mark the time of year when the day and night are of equal length. Every other day, the Earth’s axis is tilted either towards or away from the sun. This affects how light and heat from the sun are spread throughout the hemispheres.
— The solstices are the days when the Earth is highly inclined towards or away from the Sun. On these days, the sun provides considerably different amounts of light and warmth to each hemisphere, with similarly unbalanced days and nights.
— The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which occurs between June 20 and 22, marks the longest day and shortest night of the year, as the upper half of the globe tilts towards the sun.
— In contrast, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which occurs between December 20 and 23, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, with the upper half of the earth tilted towards the sun.
Significance of Spring Equinox in different cultures
— The ancient Babylonian calendar began with the first full moon after the March equinox, a tradition passed on by many civilisations that celebrate the new year in the spring.
— Nowruz, the Persian New Year, falls on the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. For almost 3,000 years, Zoroastrians around the world, especially the Parsi community in India, have celebrated the event.
— The Vernal Equinox Day is a national holiday in Japan, and Easter, one of the most important days in the Christian calendar, is decided by the vernal equinox.
(Source: Spring Equinox 2025: What to know about the vernal equinox)
Points to Ponder
Read about the science of the Equinoxes
Difference between vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox
Related Previous Year Questions
Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree? (2014)
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