UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on Role of methane in climate change and INS Arighaat (Week 67)

QUESTION 2

Evaluate the significance of the Arighaat nuclear submarine in India’s strategic defence capabilities.

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 role of methane in climate change compared to carbon dioxide (CO2). How does methane’s impact on global warming differ from that of CO2, and what are the potential strategies to mitigate methane emissions?

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

Introduction:

— Warming global temperatures cause permafrost in wetlands to thaw. This releases carbon that had been trapped in the ice and transforms it into CO2 and methane. However, agriculture and human activity account for 60 per cent of the methane released into the atmosphere.

— Wetlands and other non-human sources can occasionally produce methane. Permafrost, or frozen ground packed with carbon from extinct animals and plants, can be found in these habitats. These ecosystems have existed for hundreds of thousands of years.

Body:

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

Role of methane in climate change compared to carbon dioxide

— Humans get the majority of their energy from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. The majority of methane emissions in the energy sector come from oil and gas.

— Over a 20-year timeline, methane traps approximately 84 times as much heat as carbon dioxide (CO2), which is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and is perhaps the most well-known greenhouse gas.

— The only distinction between them is how long they stay around. On average, methane disappears after 12 years, whereas CO2 continues to warm the planet for centuries. That means CO2 is the primary cause of climate change, but potent methane continues to wreak havoc in its short lifetime.

Other sources of methane emissions

— Rusty or damaged equipment: Methane emissions can happen unintentionally. For example, it often escapes into the atmosphere when the equipment is rusty or damaged or even has something as simple as a loose screw.

— Gas flaring: When operators burn off natural gas linked to oil production. Flaring turns methane into CO2 that then goes into the atmosphere, but raw methane can still escape during the process.

— Venting: Sometimes companies release small amounts of natural gas directly into the atmosphere, which is called venting. Operators flare and vent because it can be expensive to process and transport the relatively small amount of gas that comes out of the ground during oil extraction.

Potential strategies to mitigate methane emissions

— National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): It includes climate resilient activities, such as methane reduction practices in rice production, which help to significantly reduce methane emissions.

— The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) is implementing the National Livestock Mission, which involves breed improvement and balanced rationing. Feeding superior quality balanced rations to livestock helps to reduce methane emissions.

— Initiatives such as ‘The Gobar (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources) -Dhan’ and the New National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme promote biodegradable waste recovery, waste conversion into resources, and methane emission reduction.

Conclusion:

— According to the International Energy Agency, oil and gas companies could slash their methane emissions by a whopping 75% if they spotted and fixed leaks.

— The European Union passed a new regulation in May that will force fossil fuel companies to routinely measure, report and reduce how much methane they are emitting. If they spot a leak, they need to fix it within 15 working days.

(Source: How does methane play a role in climate change?)

Points to Ponder

Why is methane harmful for the environment?

What is the government’s initiative towards methane emissions reduction?

Related Previous Year Questions

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)

The adoption of electric vehicles is rapidly growing worldwide. How do electric vehicles contribute to reducing carbon emissions and what are the key benefits they offer compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles? (2023)

QUESTION 2: Evaluate the significance of the Arighaat nuclear submarine in India’s strategic defence capabilities.

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

Introduction:

— India’s second nuclear submarine, the Arighaat, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam. This Arihant-class submarine will “further strengthen India’s nuclear triad, enhance nuclear deterrence, help in establishing strategic balance and peace in the region, and play a decisive role in the security of the country”.

— INS Arighaat will join its predecessor, the nuclear submarine INS Arihant, as a key component of India’s nuclear triad, which refers to a country’s ability to launch nuclear missiles from platforms in the air, land, and at sea.

Body:

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

Significance of the Arighaat nuclear submarine

— The commissioning of INS Arighaat will improve the Navy’s nuclear strike capacity. The nuclear-capable Agni 2, Agni 4, and Agni 5 missiles may be launched from land, and the Indian Air Force’s fighter aircraft, such as the Rafales, Su-30MKIs, and Mirage 2000s, can deliver nuclear weapons.

— The nuclear-powered Arighaat will be armed with indigenously developed K-15 missiles with a range of over 700 kilometres. Arighaat, like Arihant, is powered by 83 MW pressurised light-water nuclear reactors, allowing it to remain submerged and undiscovered for far longer than conventional diesel-electric submarines.

— India’s “No first-use” policy commits it to using nuclear weapons solely for deterrence and retaliation. With its capability to survive a nuclear attack and then unleash a retaliatory strike, a nuclear sub acts as a very strong deterrent.

— The creation of Arighaat required advanced design and manufacturing technologies, extensive research and development, the use of specific materials, complicated engineering, and highly skilled personnel.

— It stands out for having indigenous technologies and equipment developed, planned, manufactured, and integrated by Indian scientists, industry, and navy personnel.

Conclusion:

— SSBNs are part of the country’s nuclear deterrent, and constitute the sea leg of the triad, the other two being the air and land delivery systems.

— India’s nuclear doctrine, in addition to committing to “no first use”, states that India must have a minimum credible deterrent that must be capable of massive retaliation in case of a nuclear attack by any adversary.

— This deterrent is aimed at preventing nuclear escalation of any conflict between two nuclear weapon states. Arighaat will strengthen this deterrence.

(Source: An Expert Explains: What the commissioning of INS Arighaat means to India by Biswajit Dasgupta, INS Arighaat: India’s second nuclear sub by Amrita Nayak Dutta)

Points to Ponder

Read about INS Arihant

What is India’s nuclear doctrine?

Related Previous Year Question

What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve maritime security. (2022)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 66)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 66)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 66)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNesF36gKu4?si=JBG-AHx2Y0kYBs4v