UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on the impact of pre-sleep screen time on health and significance of the Sarhul festival (Week 96)

QUESTION 1

Discuss the impact of pre-sleep screen time on sleep quality and overall health. Suggest measures to mitigate its adverse effects.​

QUESTION 2

Discuss the significance of the Sarhul festival in the socio-cultural and political landscape of the tribal communities in Jharkhand and the Chhotanagpur region. How does this festival reflect the communities’ relationship with nature and their historical experiences?​

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: Discuss the impact of pre-sleep screen time on sleep quality and overall health. Suggest measures to mitigate its adverse effects.​

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

Introduction:

— According to a new study, each hour of screen use after bedtime raised the likelihood of experiencing insomnia by 59% and reduced sleep duration by 24 minutes. Humans require seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Previous research has connected sleep deprivation to a variety of medical and mental problems, including exhaustion, impaired immune systems, anxiety, and despair.

— The survey, among other things, asked respondents about their screen time before bed, the internet content they viewed, and their sleep quality.

Body:

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

— Regression analysis, a mathematical tool used to identify the nature of a relationship between variables, revealed that those who did not use screens in bed had a 24% lower risk of reporting insomnia symptoms than those who did. However, the study found that the sort of screen activity made no difference.

— The study showed no significant differences between social media and other screen activities, implying that screen use is the primary determinant in sleep disruption.

— The study discovered that “time displacement” — in which screen use delays sleep by taking up time that would otherwise be spent resting — rather than emotional stimulation is the primary reason why screen time impacts sleep.

— If screen use takes up time that could otherwise be spent sleeping, this could explain the decrease in sleep duration. If “increased arousal” was a significant cause to poorer sleep, the study would have found “associations between screen time and sleep for the different screen activities”.

Conclusion:

— According to the findings, limiting screen time before bedtime is critical for improving sleep quality.

— To improve sleep quality, limit screen time in bed, ideally 30-60 minutes before bedtime. If you do use displays, try turning off notifications to reduce disturbances during the night.

— Chelsie Rohrscheib, a neurologist and sleep researcher, told Newsweek that people should begin their evening wind-down practice one to two hours before bedtime.

(Source: How screentime before bed is keeping you awake)

Points to Ponder

How screen time affects the quality of sleep?

What is insomnia? Read more about it.

Related Previous Year Questions

Child cuddling is now being replaced by mobile phones. Discuss its impact on the socialization of children. (2023)

Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work From Home’ on family relationships. (2022)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the significance of the Sarhul festival in the socio-cultural and political landscape of the tribal communities in Jharkhand and the Chhotanagpur region. How does this festival reflect the communities’ relationship with nature and their historical experiences?​

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

Introduction:

— The Sarhul festival will usher in the new year and the spring season for tribals in Jharkhand and the surrounding Chhotanagpur district. Sal trees (Shorea robusta) are revered in tribal culture. They are revered as the home of Sarna Maa, the deity who protects the community from natural disasters.

— Sarhul, meaning “worship of the Sal tree,” is one of the most treasured tribal festivities. It is based on nature worship and honours the symbolic marriage of the Sun and Earth.

Body:

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

— A male priest from the village (pahan) portrays the Sun, while his wife (pahen) represents the Earth. This union is essential to all life on Earth, as it relies on the interaction of the Sun’s rays and the soil.

— Sarhul might be interpreted as a celebration of the cycle of life itself. Only when the rites are completed do the tribals begin ploughing their fields, sowing their crops, or going into the jungle to gather produce.

— The main rites take place on day two of the three-day celebration at Sarna Sthals. These communally protected “sacred groves” can be found near villages throughout Chhotanagpur, which covers Jharkhand, parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar.

How is it celebrated?

— Homes and Sarna Sthals are decorated with triangular, red and white Sarna flags in the days leading up to the event. On the first day of Sarhul, the village’s pahan, who follows a strict fast, gathers water for the ceremonies, cleans the dwellings and Sarna Sthals, and collects Sal flowers for rites.

— The primary rituals are performed the next day at the Sarna Sthal. The deity is honoured with Sal flowers, and a rooster is sacrificed. Villagers want prosperity, safety, and a healthy harvest. Holy water is then sprinkled across the hamlet, accompanied by traditional music and dances such as Jadur, Gena, and Por Jadur. Later, young men go to neighbouring ponds and rivers to fish and catch crabs for the ceremonial feast.

— The final day is marked by a huge community feast in which people share handia (rice beer) and eat a variety of foods. The celebration concludes with the pahan bestowing blessings and the locals praying.

Conclusion:

— Sarhul has been celebrated by tribes such as the Oraon, Munda, Santal, Khadia, and Ho, each with their own festival name and celebration style.

— In his landmark study Oraon Religion and Customs (1928), anthropologist Sarat Chandra Roy found that Sarhul transformed over time from a hunting-focused tradition to one orientated on agricultural practices.

— Sarhul accompanied tribes such as the Munda, Oraon, and Santal as they were taken to distant areas as bonded labour in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Today, the event is held in a variety of locations, including Assam’s tea estates, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

(Source: In celebration of tribal festival Sarhul, link to communities’ history, politics)

Points to Ponder

Read more about Sarhul festival

Read about the tribes mentioned in the article and their habitats

Related Previous Year Questions

Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge systems when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems. (2021)

Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific contexts should they be considered as a single category? (2022)

How did colonial rule affect the tribals in India and what was the tribal response to the colonial oppression? (2023)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 96)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 95)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 96)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 95)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 95)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 94)

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