UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers 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. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-3 to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for September 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 QUESTION 1 What are the challenges related to governance and institutional coordination in tackling urban noise pollution in India? QUESTION 2 Discuss the strategic and economic significance of India’s deep-sea mineral exploration in the Indian Ocean Region. General points on the structure of the answers for UPSC Mains 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 FOR UPSC MAINS You may enrich your answers by some of the following points QUESTION 1: What are the challenges related to governance and institutional coordination in tackling urban noise pollution in India? Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Noise pollution is one of the health hazards that has crept up unacknowledged in Indian cities. Legally, it is already recognised as an air pollutant under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Medically, it is among the leading contributors to hypertension, sleep disruption, stress disorders, and cognitive decline — conditions that together shorten lives and push people toward premature death. — The World Health Organisation recommends residential daytime exposure not exceed 55 dB(A) — roughly the volume of a normal conversation. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — India’s Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 set similar limits: 55 dB from 6 am to 10 pm, and 45 dB at night. But the decibel scale is not linear: a 10 dB increase means a ten-fold rise in intensity. Traffic corridors in Indian cities often exceed 70 dB(A). Challenges in tackling noise pollution — Noise monitoring is sparse, enforcement is weak, and responsibility is scattered across multiple authorities. As with air quality, symbolic fixes — occasional honking bans or festival crackdowns — do little to tackle structural drivers. The result: a chronic, unaddressed public health crisis. — Inadequate monitoring renders policymakers blind. Unlike air pollution, where satellites and low-cost sensors have revolutionised monitoring, noise data in India is intermittent, reactive, and incomplete. — Structural and cultural constraints make enforcement difficult. Without realising that noise can be as hazardous as smog, many residents accept or even participate in noisy behaviour. — Governance is fragmented, with pollution control bodies, municipalities, and police all having limited jurisdiction, resources, and incentives to act. Conclusion: — Treating noise on par with air and water pollution. Researchers and policymakers should design evidence-based interventions grounded in public-health data. — Monitoring must expand dramatically. Real-time sensors can create integrated maps of sound exposure. Machine-learning tools can distinguish sources — traffic, construction, industry — and guide targeted responses. — Health studies should explicitly track noise exposure, especially near schools, hospitals, and low-income areas. — Urban planning must incorporate noise mitigation. Green buffers such as trees and parks absorb sound, while zoning can shield residential areas from high-intensity noise corridors. — Governance reforms are essential. Noise regulations must be enforceable, backed by transparent data and accountability. Agencies must collaborate across sectors — from pollution boards to transport departments and municipalities. (Source: Too loud to ignore: Why Indians should care about noise pollution in cities) Points to Ponder Read more about Urban Planning Read more about Noise Pollution Related Previous Year Questions Industrial pollution of river water is a significant environmental issue in India. Discuss the various mitigation measures to deal with this problem and also the government's initiatives in this regard. (2024) What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? (2023) QUESTION 2: Discuss the strategic and economic significance of India’s deep-sea mineral exploration in the Indian Ocean Region. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — India has become the first country in the world to have two contracts with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) exploration. — It now commands the largest area allocated for PMS exploration in the international seabed — a scientific achievement of strategic importance. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: Significance of PMS — Polymetallic Sulphides are deposits on the ocean floor, rich in strategic and critical metals such as copper, zinc, lead, gold, and silver, along with trace amounts of rare and precious elements. — Since land resources containing these minerals are very limited for India, exploring PMS in the deep ocean could enhance resource security. These metals are essential for high-technology applications, renewable energy systems, and green technologies. — PMS deposits are generally found near hydrothermal vents, which are like hot springs on the ocean floor. The ocean seabed has cracks. Through these cracks, the cold seawater interacts with the magma under the earth’s crust, and is expelled back in a hot gush. This expelled water is rich in minerals, which are then deposited on the ocean floor as solids. Deep Ocean Mission — The ongoing Deep Ocean Mission program of the government has enhanced these capabilities, including the acquisition of new deep-sea vessels and advanced tools, such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Matsya, a deep-sea vehicle under development for the ambitious Samudrayaan mission, will provide an additional boost to India’s deep-ocean mineral exploration capacity. The NCPOR’s plan is three-phased: Phase I: Conduct reconnaissance surveys using ship-mounted tools and identify potential locales of PMS Phase II: Conduct near-seabed surveys using advanced tools such as AUVs and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) to confirm the occurrence of PMS Phase III: Resource-evaluation of the identified PMS deposits. Conclusion: — Exploration for PMS is technically more challenging than other deep-sea mineral investigations. PMS deposits are concentrated near hydrothermal vent systems along mid-ocean ridges, where the seabed is composed of hard, highly complex and uneven rocky terrain at depths of 2,000–5,000 meters. They are generally located in some of the remotest areas of the planet. — PMS survey operations are thus challenging, requiring deep-sea vessels with dynamic positioning and precise navigation and communication systems. — PMS exploration demands a highly multidisciplinary team with expertise in marine geology, geophysics, oceanography, biology and deep-sea technology. (Source: India wins second mineral exploration contract in the Indian Ocean: What is this, why it matters) Points to Ponder What are PMS? Read more about Indian Ocean Region Related Previous Year Question Mineral resources are fundamental to the country's economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the environmental hazard due to mining. (2025) Previous Mains Answer Practice UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 120) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 121) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 120) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 121) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 121) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 120) 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.
