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-3 to check your progress. 🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the December issue of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 QUESTION 1 Discuss the possible benefits of the Automated & Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) technology being implemented in National Highway projects by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). QUESTION 2 The IPBES Nexus Report emphasises the interconnectivity of global issues such biodiversity loss, climate change, water and food insecurity, and health concerns. Discuss. 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: Discuss the possible benefits of the Automated & Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) technology being implemented in National Highway projects by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Introduction: — The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has accelerated the implementation of the Automated & Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) system to address delays in the completion of numerous National Highway projects around the country. — A number of "intelligent road construction machines" have been designed to improve the durability and longevity of roads built, give real-time documentation, and boost productivity. Body: Benefits of the Automated & Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) technology — This will give real-time data on the state of each project, with a survey conducted alongside work at every stage of the road-building process. The generated data will be sent in real time to stakeholders, including the MoRTH. — The advent of numerous types of machinery for highway construction has significantly accelerated the process. Such machines will aid in the completion of projects according to specified timelines. — NHAI is piloting AIMC on the 63-kilometer-long Lucknow-Kanpur Motorway Project, commonly known as the Awadh Motorway, using automated and intelligent machines such as GPS-aided motor graders, intelligent compactors, and stringless pavers. — The AIMC system will use a GPS-aided motor grader for earthworks, subbase, and base layers, as well as an intelligent compaction roller (IC roller) and a single drum/tandem vibratory roller for soil, subbase, and base layer compaction. — GPS-aided motor graders, also known as 3D machine control technology, will process data from GNSS and angle sensors. Conclusion: — It will determine the precise position and orientation of the grader's blade in real time and compare it to the desired design surface or grade as defined in the digital design blueprints. — India currently has approximately 1.46 lakh kilometres of national highways. Out of this network, around 3,000 km are high-speed lines, with plans to build a further 45,000 km by 2047. — According to a MoRTH official, the department researched the systems of nations such as the United States, Norway, and the European Union, where AIMC is already in place, before developing this pan-India strategy. (Source: Why Roads Ministry will deploy ‘intelligent machines’ for National Highways construction by Dheeraj Mishra) Points to Ponder Read about GPS-aided motor graders Read about NHAI Related Previous Year Questions How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? (2018) Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (2022) QUESTION 2: The IPBES Nexus Report emphasises the interconnectivity of global issues such biodiversity loss, climate change, water and food insecurity, and health concerns. Discuss Introduction: — A recent significant scientific study has stressed the close connections among some of the most pressing problems confronting humanity, including poverty, biodiversity loss, and climate change, and the necessity of taking an integrated approach to solving these problems. — According to the research, attempting to address these issues independently while disregarding the relationships with and effects on others was not only likely to be ineffectual but also detrimental. Body: — The research, the first of its kind to examine the links between these several problems, was prepared by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), a global organisation of scientific experts. The group investigated five important challenges—climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, water scarcity, and health risks—and discovered that they were inextricably linked. — "They interact, cascade and compound each other in ways that make separate efforts to address them ineffective and counterproductive," said the report's conclusion. — It stated that the current style of carrying out economic operations has significant detrimental implications on biodiversity, climate change, food production, water quality, and health. The unaccounted-for costs of these detrimental impacts are estimated to be between $10 and $25 trillion each year. — IPBES is the biodiversity and natural ecosystems equivalent of the more well-known Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It assesses the current state of biodiversity and ecosystems by periodically reviewing all available scientific knowledge. IPBES, like the IPCC, does not develop new science. It solely uses existing knowledge to produce consolidated assessments. Conclusion: — IPBES published its inaugural assessment in 2019, assessing the damage to global biodiversity. According to the research, up to one million different plant and animal species, out of an estimated eight million in total, were facing extinction threats, more than ever before, owing primarily to changes in natural ecosystems caused by human activity. — It stated that approximately 75% of the Earth's land area and 66% of marine ecosystems have been "significantly altered," with more than 85% of wetlands "lost." — The Nexus Report is the most recent IPBES study, and it highlights the substantial interlinkages between the five key global issues. Its main lesson is that answers to all of these difficulties must be coordinated so that beneficial actions made on any of them do not have a detrimental influence on others, which is very doable, as demonstrated by multiple existing ways. (Source: Climate change and biodiversity loss are connected: Key takeaways from NEXUS report by Amitabh Sinha) Points to Ponder What is IPBES? Link between biodiversity loss and climate change Related Previous Year Questions Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the Government in this regard. (2023) Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in infrastructural projects? Examine the role of PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in India. (2022) Previous Mains Answer Practice UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 81) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 82) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 82) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 81) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 82) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 81) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. 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