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Journalism of Courage
UPSC Essentials brings to you its new initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing will cover 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.
Each day, we will cover one new subject. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-3 to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to attempt questions on topics related to GS-4.
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 give you an edge over the other candidates and helps in the better presentation of the answer.
— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be use 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: What is Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)? Why a regional navigation system matters to India?
Introduction:
A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a basic fact such as:
Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is a regional navigation satellite developed by the Indian Space Research and Organisation (ISRO) to meet the nation’s positioning, navigation and timing requirements. (Add a sentence more here, to make it a proper introduction.)
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:
— NavIC is designed with a constellation of seven satellites and a network of ground stations operating 24 x 7.
— Three satellites of the constellation are placed in geostationary orbit at 32.5°E, 83°E, and 129.5°E, respectively, and four satellites are placed in inclined geosynchronous orbit with an equatorial crossing of 55°E and 111.75°E, respectively, with an inclination of 29° (two satellites in each plane).
— The ground network consists of a control centre, a precise timing facility, range and integrity monitoring stations, two-way ranging stations, etc.
— NavIC offers two services: Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic users.
— The NavIC coverage area includes India and a region up to 1500 km beyond the Indian boundary.
Why it is important for India?
— India is the only country that has a regional satellite-based navigation system. There are four global satellite-based navigation systems: the American GPS, the Russian GLONASS (GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema), the European Galileo, and the Chinese Beidou.
— NavIC open signals will be accurate up to 5 metres and restricted signals will be even more accurate. GPS signals, by contrast, are accurate up to around 20 metres.
— NavIC provides coverage over the Indian landmass and up to a radius of 1,500 km around it. In this region, NavIC signals will likely be available in even hard-to-reach areas. Unlike GPS, NavIC uses satellites in a high geostationary orbit — the satellites move at a constant speed relative to Earth, so they are always looking over the same region on Earth.
— NavIC signals come to India at a 90-degree angle, making it easier for them to reach devices located even in congested areas, dense forests, or mountains.
The usage of NavIC system has increased in India. NavIC finds utilisation in national projects like public vehicle safety, power grid synchronisation, real-time train information system and fishermen safety. Other upcoming initiatives (such as) common alert protocol-based emergency warning, time dissemination, geodetic network and unmanned aerial vehicles are in the process of adopting NavIC system. (Union Minister of State for the Department of Space Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Parliament)
— With an aim to promote the civilian use of NAVigation with the Indian Constellation (NavIC), L1 frequency is being introduced in all its future satellites.
The seven satellites in the NavIC constellation so far use two frequencies for providing positioning data — L5 and S band. The new satellites NVS-01 onwards, meant to replace these satellites, will also have L1 frequency that can be used by devices that run on low power, single-frequency chips such as smart watches and security systems.
NOTE: Do not make the body overloaded with facts and data. Select points which you think are most essential.
Conclusion:
Your concluding remark should be short and should encapsulate both parts of the answer or you may gain some impressive marks by the examiner on going beyond and giving an international angle, for example:
ISRO plans to set up ground stations in Japan and France to better triangulate the entire area under NavIC coverage – the system is likely to become more accurate than GPS. The satellites placed directly over India also ensure better availability of signals in varied geographical regions compared to GPS, which India receives at an angle making it difficult to access in dense forests or valleys.
Sources: (ISRO’s new NavIC satellite launches successfully: Why a regional navigation system matters to India by Anonna Dutt, http://www.isro.gov.in)
Points to Ponder:
— What is the difference between PSLV and GSLV?
— What is the RLV-TD, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation?
QUESTION 2: What are Biofuels? Discuss the government’s efforts for promoting its uses.
Introduction:
A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a basic fact such as:
— Biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels, called “biofuels,” to help meet transportation fuel needs. The two most common types of biofuels in use today are ethanol and biodiesel, both of which represent the first generation of biofuel technology.
— Ethanol is an alcohol used as a blending agent with gasoline to increase octane and cut down carbon monoxide and other smog-causing emissions.
— Biodiesel is a liquid fuel produced from renewable sources, such as new and used vegetable oils and animal fats and is a cleaner-burning replacement for petroleum-based diesel fuel.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:
— The National Biofuel Policy was introduced in 2018 and is aimed at reducing dependence on imports by encouraging fuel blending. With bioethanol, biodiesel, and bio-CNG in focus, its key parts include the Ethanol Blending Programme (EPB), production of second-generation ethanol (derived from forest and agricultural residues), increasing capacity for the production of fuel additives, R&D in feedstock, which is the starting material for ethanol production, and financial incentives for achieving these goals.
— After initially setting a 20 per cent blending target for 2030, the government has advanced by five years its target for achieving 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. The amended National Biofuel Policy-2018 has now set the new target for 2025–26 instead of 2030.
— The National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC), with the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas as its head, is the agency to coordinate this blending programme.
— The policy’s goal is to enable biofuels’ availability in the market, thereby increasing their blending percentage. A target of 20 per cent blending of ethanol in petrol is proposed by the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025–26. An indicative target of 5 per cent blending of biodiesel in diesel /direct sale of biodiesel is proposed by 2030. This goal is to be achieved by:
(a) reinforcing ongoing ethanol/biodiesel supplies through increasing domestic production
(b) setting up Second Generation (2G) biorefineries.
(c) development of new feedstock for biofuels.
(d) development of new technologies for conversion to biofuels.
(e) creating a suitable environment for biofuels and their integration with the main fuels.
Conclusion:
Your concluding remark should be short and should encapsulate both parts of the answer or you may gain some impressive marks by the examiner by quoting sentences some report, for example:
The National Policy on Biofuel aims at promoting the production of biofuels under the “Make in India” program and was also included in the excise duty exemption to promote their production. The policy also allows the use of excess rice or damaged food grains as feedstock for ethanol production. As per a report by the government, from 38 crore litres of ethanol procured during 2013–14, it jumped nearly eight times to 322 crore litres in 2021–22.
Sources: (World Biofuel Day: Biofuels, their future , Why has Centre advanced its 20% ethanol blending target by five years? by Parthasarathi Biswas, mopng.gov.in, http://www.energy.gov)
Point to Ponder:
Amendments in the National Biofuels Policy, 2022
Previous Mains Answer Practice:
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