UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on importance of microprocessor and concept of theatre commands (Week 119)

QUESTION 1

Discuss the relevance of India’s first wholly indigenous microprocessor in terms of technological self-sufficiency and strategic autonomy.

QUESTION 2

Discuss the concept of ‘theatre commands’. How would integrating the Army, Navy, and Air Force under unified regional commands enhance India’s operational capability in modern multi-domain warfare?

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 relevance of India’s first wholly indigenous microprocessor in terms of technological self-sufficiency and strategic autonomy.

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

Introduction:

— Semiconductors are unique, in that most materials are either conductors — which let electric current flow — or insulators — which block electricity. For instance, a copper wire is a conductor, while glass is an insulator.

— Semiconductor chips are the building blocks of modern computation. From smartphones to the vast data centres powering the Internet, from electric cars to cruise missiles, from high-end luxury products to weather-predicting supercomputers — all of them run on these tiny chips.

Body:

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

— The Union IT Minister recently unveiled India’s first wholly indigenous microprocessor, a type of semiconductor chip, at Semicon India 2025. The Indian Space Research Organisation’s semiconductor laboratory built the chip, known as Vikram 3201.

— The small chips are manufactured in highly specialised manufacturing facilities (known as foundries) using a rigorous process known as wafer fabrication (or wafer fab). Semiconducting material, such as silicon, is first sliced into a thin piece.

— VIKRAM3201 is the first “Make-in-India” 32-bit microprocessor that can withstand the extreme environmental conditions found in launch vehicles. The CPU was built in Semiconductor Laboratory’s 180nm CMOS semiconductor fab.

— This processor is a more improved version of the indigenously manufactured 16-bit VIKRAM1601 microprocessor, which has been used in the Avionics system of ISRO’s launch vehicles since 2009.

— The microprocessor was designed to work with open-source software toolsets as well as an in-house simulator and IDE, and it was tested with flying software.

— This is the first of its sort in India, and it enables Atmanirbharata to develop high-reliability microprocessors and onboard computers for launch vehicle navigation, guidance, and control.

(Source: India gets its first indigenous microprocessor: What are semiconductor chips and why are they significant?, http://www.isro.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

Read more about semiconductors

Read about microprocessor

Related Previous Year Questions

The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in 1990s. How has this invention impacted the everyday life of human beings? (2021)

Discuss the work of ‘Bose-Einstein Statistics’ done by Prof. Satyendra Nath Bose and show how it revolutionized the field of Physics. (2018)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the concept of ‘theatre commands’. How would integrating the Army, Navy, and Air Force under unified regional commands enhance India’s operational capability in modern multi-domain warfare?

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

Introduction:

— The theaterisation plan seeks to integrate the Army, Navy, Air Force, and their resources into specific ‘theatre’ commands, for deployment under a single, unified command structure.

— Each command will be assigned a specific geographical region, combining the resources of the three services for operational roles.

Body:

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

— The Army and IAF currently have seven commands each, and the Navy has three. In addition, there are two tri-service commands — the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which manages India’s nuclear arsenal. There is also the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQIDS), which was created after the Kargil conflict to fulfil the need for an institutional framework for higher management of defence.

— The defence establishment believes that theatre commands will ensure integration among the three services, paving the way for them to fight future wars jointly, instead of individually without adequate coordination.

— Modern wars, which are expected to become increasingly multi-domain in nature, call for better coordination among land, sea, and air assets, as well as newer platforms such as UAVs and high-precision strike weapons, and domains like cyber and space.

— In the event of a future conflict involving drone and high-precision missile attacks combined with cyber attacks and land wars, the services would benefit by coordinating their planning and integrating their assets under a single command and control structure.

— The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the post of CDS in the rank of a four-star general. In a statement, the government said the CDS would head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) — to be created under the Defence Ministry — as its secretary. The DMA was mandated to:

(i) Promote jointness in procurement, training, and staffing for the services through joint planning and integration of their requirements;

(ii) Facilitate the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of joint/ theatre commands; and

(iii) Promote the use of indigenous equipment by the services.

Conclusion:

— However, there are differing views on whether creating theatre commands is the only way to integrate the three services and create jointness among them. The Army, Navy and Air Force have been taking other steps to promote jointness, including cross-postings among themselves, creation of joint logistics nodes, and ensuring jointness in procurement, training, and staffing through joint planning and integration of their requirements.

— The new plan proposed adversary-based joint theatre commands instead of four defined theatre commands. This would involve carving out from the 17 service-specific military commands operating under the three services, integrated theatre commands for the northern and eastern borders with China, another for the western borders with Pakistan, and a third maritime command to tackle threats in the maritime domain.

(Source: India’s plan for creating theatre commands in defence, and the challenges)

Points to Ponder

Read more about defence forces

Read more about theatre commands

Related Previous Year Questions

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders to ferry arms/ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat. (2023)

India has a long and troubled border with China and Pakistan fraught with contentious issues. Examine the conflicting issues and security challenges along the border. Also give out the development Programme (BADP) and Border Infrastructure and Management (BM) Scheme. (2024)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 118)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 117)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 118)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 117)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 117)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 118)

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