UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on U-WIN portal and re-introduction of Cheetahs (Week 61)

QUESTION 2

Critically analyse the proposal to introduce cheetahs into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, considering its ecological and conservation implications.

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 significance of the U-WIN portal for vaccination of children in India. How will this portal help in immunisation?

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

Introduction:

— Children under the age of six and expectant moms are enrolled on U-WIN using their official IDs, such as Aadhaar, and mobile phone numbers. Records of all 25 injections given to a child—as well as the two given to pregnant mothers—can be entered during registration.

— The platform creates a chequered vaccination certificate that colour codes all vaccines. After each injection is given (and documented on U-WIN), the date is added to the card, which also displays the due date for the following batch of immunisations. The software also sends parents SMS reminders when their children are due for the next medication.

— The digital vaccine certificate — which can be downloaded by parents using their registered mobile numbers — does away with the need to maintain the physical vaccination booklet.

Body:

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

Significance

— For health workers, the platform can automatically generate a due-list of children in their respective areas.

— U-WIN also registers all births, the three vaccines against polio, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis administered at birth, a child’s birth weight, and any physical deformities observed at birth.

— These data-points can be utilised by other government programmes as well — the idea is to eventually connect all digital records through ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) ID.

— U-WIN will also be linked to the government’s existing eVIN platform for inventory management. eVIN tracks all vaccine vials, from large central stores to each vaccination site in the country.

— eVIN keeps track of the number of doses used, the number of doses that go to waste, and the number of open vials that are submitted back by the sites, and is used by sites to raise demands for vaccines.

— With U-WIN running on the same principles, and using the same digital infrastructure as CoWIN, adoption should not be a major challenge.

— Once the database matures, U-WIN will allow the government to study micro-trends across areas.

How will U-WIN help with immunisation?

— Reminders that U-WIN will furnish to parents are likely to improve compliance.

— U-WIN will ensure portability — children who have received their first vaccines in one village/city can receive the rest of the doses elsewhere in the country.

— The portal might help reduce errors.

— U-WIN will provide granular, individualised details of childhood immunisation across the country.

— Registration at birth may also help in bringing down the number of “zero dose” children — those who have not received any vaccinations.

Conclusion:

— Recently released data from the WHO and UNICEF show that while 93% of children received their first vaccine dose, there were still 1.6 million zero dose children in India in 2023.

— Under the existing approach, ASHA workers manually enter inoculation data, which is subsequently compiled in state and national registries – a process that typically takes more than a month. Immunisation at private healthcare facilities is frequently not documented. U-Win will record every vaccination occurrence and provide real-time vaccination statistics to healthcare policymakers.

(Source: How children win with U-WIN, govt’s new online vaccine portal by Anonna Dutt)

Points to Ponder

What is the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)?

National Family Health Survey

What is eVIN platform?

Related Previous Year Questions

COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid management of the pandemic. (2020)

What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines? (2022)

QUESTION 2: Critically analyse the proposal to introduce cheetahs into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, considering its ecological and conservation implications.

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

Introduction:

— Madhya Pradesh, which presently has 21 cheetahs in the Kuno National Park (KNP), is preparing to welcome a fresh batch of spotted felines after developing the second such facility at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in the state’s Mandsaur district.

— This new home for cheetahs, which covers 64 square kilometres, was built in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary at a cost of Rs 17.72 crore.

Body:

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

What makes it suitable for re-introduction of the Cheetahs?

— The wildlife sanctuary sits atop a flat rocky plateau, with the Chambal River cutting the sanctuary into two almost equal halves.

— In 1960, the Gandhi Sagar Dam was constructed within the sanctuary’s area. The Gandhi sanctuary comprises open grasslands with dry deciduous trees and shrubs.

— The topsoil of the sanctuary is shallow due to the rocky terrain and exposed sheetrock.

— The landscape looks like Maasai Mara [a national reserve in Kenya known for its savanna wilderness and wildlife including lions, giraffes, zebras, hippos, elephants, and, of course, cheetahs].

— According to a senior official, Gandhi Sagar has the best habitat for the cheetahs [in India] after Kuno.

Conclusion:

— Cheetahs, the fastest terrestrial animals, were declared extinct in the country in 1952. The government’s ambitious effort to repopulate India with cheetahs includes relocating them from Africa.

— On September 17, 2022, eight Namibian cheetahs—five female and three male—were released into enclosures at the KNP as part of the Cheetah Reintroduction Project. Another batch of 12 cheetahs from South Africa arrived in the park in February 2023.

— Since March 2023, seven adult cheetahs and three cubs have perished in the Kruger National Park for various reasons. The KNP now has 21 cheetahs – six males, seven females, and eight pups.

(Source: How the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as India’s second home for cheetahs by Anand Mohan J)

Points to Ponder

Location of Kuno National Park and Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary

Cheetah – IUCN Status, WPA 1972

Related Previous Year Question

Rehabilitation of human settlements is one of the important environmental impacts which always attracts controversy while planning major projects. Discuss the measures suggested for mitigation of this impact while proposing major developmental projects. (2016)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 59)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 60)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 60)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 59)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 59)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 60)

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