UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice : GS 3 (Week 12)

QUESTION 1

James Webb is an international collaboration between NASA, ESA (the European Space Agency), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). What are the goals of the mission? How it is different from Hubble Telescope?

QUESTION 2

India has added significant photovoltaics capacity over the past decade, achieving over 50 GW by 2022. Discuss the recent initiatives taken by India in adopting solar energy.

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: James Webb is an international collaboration between NASA, ESA (the European Space Agency), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). What are the goals of the mission? How it is different from Hubble Telescope?

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about james webb telescope.

— James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is an international collaboration between NASA, ESA (the European Space Agency), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

— The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) will be a large infrared telescope with a 6.5-meter primary mirror. The telescope was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana in 2021.

— It will explore every stage of our Universe’s history, from the first brilliant glows after the Big Bang to the development of solar systems capable of supporting life on planets such as Earth and the evolution of our own Solar System.

(Source: http://www.nasa.gov)

Body:

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

Goals of James Webb Telescope

The science goals for the Webb can be grouped into four themes:

— To look back around 13.5 billion years to see the first stars and galaxies forming out of the darkness of the early universe.

— To compare the faintest, earliest galaxies to today’s grand spirals and understand how galaxies assemble over billions of years.

— To see where stars and planetary systems are being born.

— To observe the atmospheres of extrasolar planets (beyond our solar system), and perhaps find the building blocks of life elsewhere in the universe.

Difference between James Webb and Hubble Telescopes

— James Webb will primarily look at the Universe in the infrared while Hubble primarily studied optical and ultraviolet wavelengths (though it has some infrared capability).

— Webb has a much bigger mirror than Hubble which means light collecting area of Webb can peer farther back into time than Hubble is capable of doing.

— Hubble is in a very close orbit around the earth, while Webb will be 1.5 million kilometers (km) away at the second Lagrange (L2) point.

— The JWST will be able to see right through and into massive clouds of dust that are opaque to earlier generation visible-light observatories like the Hubble Telescope.

— Webb is equipped with cameras and other instruments sensitive to infrared or “heat” radiation, and the Hubble is not.

(Sources: NASA’s Webb Telescope and the first look at the universe from 13 billion years ago by Rishika Singh, nasa.gov.in)

Conclusion:

Your conclusion should be short. You may include:

— The JWST is the largest and most powerful telescope ever built. Recently, the United States space research agency NASA said the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe, a major event in astronomy.

— James Webb Space Telescope will be “a giant leap forward in our quest to understand the Universe and our origins”, as it will examine every phase of cosmic history: from the Big Bang to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets to the evolution of our own Solar System.

(Source: NASA’s Webb Telescope and the first look at the universe from 13 billion years ago by Rishika Singh)

Points to Ponder

Recent Developments

Related Previous Year Question

Launched on 25th December, 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes? What are the key goals of this mission? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race? (2022)

QUESTION 2: India has added significant photovoltaics capacity over the past decade, achieving over 50 GW by 2022. Discuss the recent initiatives taken by India in adopting solar energy.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about solar energy.

— India has enormous solar energy potential. Solar photovoltaic electricity may be successfully harnessed, giving enormous scalability in India. Solar also permits dispersed power generation and quick capacity increase with short lead periods. Off-grid decentralized and low-temperature applications will be helpful for rural applications as well as addressing other energy demands for electricity, heating, and cooling in both rural and urban locations.

— Solar energy has had a noticeable influence on the Indian energy landscape in recent years. Millions of people in Indian communities have profited from solar energy-based decentralized and distributed applications that satisfy their cooking, lighting, and other energy demands in an environmentally benign manner.

(Source: mnre.gov.in)

Body:

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

Initiatives taken by India

Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects

— It was rolled out in December 2014 with the objective to facilitate the solar project developers to set up projects expeditiously.

— The solar parks are developed in collaboration with the State Governments and their agencies, CPSUs, and private entrepreneurs.

— The scheme’s second phase has an objective to set up solar PV projects through Government Producers using domestic cells & modules in WTO compliant manner to facilitate national energy security and environmental sustainability for Government purposes.

— Examples: NTPC Floating Solar Plant Ramagundam (100 MW), NTPC Floating Solar Plant Kayamkulam (92 MW), Rihand Dam Floating Solar Power Plant (50 MW), etc.

Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Programme

— The objective of the scheme is to achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 40,000 MW from Grid Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) projects.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme

The scheme has three components:

— Component-A: For Setting up 10,000 MW of Decentralized Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants on barren land.

— Component-B: For Installation of 17.50 Lakh stand-alone solar agriculture pumps.

— Component-C: For Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid Connected Agriculture Pumps.

One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)

— The idea for the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative was put forth by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, at the First Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in October 2018.

— In May 2021, the United Kingdom and India agreed to combine forces of the Green Grids Initiative and the One Sun One World One Grid initiative and jointly launch GGI-OSOWOG at the COP26 summit being hosted by the UK at Glasgow in November 2021.

There are various other schemes launched by the Government of India to encourage generation of solar power in the country like Solar Park Scheme, VGF Schemes, CPSU Scheme, Defence Scheme, Canal bank & Canal top Scheme, Bundling Scheme, Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme etc.

(Sources: pib.gov.in, Experts Explain: What it will take to fulfill India’s solar power dream by Rajeev Jindal and Ashish Garg, Why India’s approach to renewable energy is effective by Sachchidanand Tripathi and Eeshan Chaturvedi)

Conclusion:

Your conclusion should be short. You may include:

— According to the research by Global Energy Monitor, India plans to add 76 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar and wind power by 2025 which could save up to $19.5 billion a year (over 15 lakh crore) caused due to the burning of coal.

— India stands 4th in solar PV deployment across the globe as on end of 2021. Solar power installed capacity has reached around 61.97 GW as on November 30, 2022. Presently, solar tariff in India is very competitive and has achieved grid parity.

(Sources: mnre.gov.in, India plans to shift to solar, wind power by 2025; to save $19.5 billion a year by Esha Roy)

Points to Ponder

Key Components of Solar Energy

Targets declared at COP 26

Limitations in Installing

Related Previous Year Question

Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA)? (2021)

India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate. (2019)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

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UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 11)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 10)

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