🚨 This story is part of our special initiative for UPSC and other competitive exams. Look out for UPSC KEY on weekdays and UPSC Essentials everyday, Weekly news express with MCQs, Key Terms of the past week, Quizzes as well as The Indian Express 360° Upsc Debate, Society & Social Justice, UPSC Mains Practice, Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik, UPSC Ethics Simplified, Experts Talk, and more. 🚨 UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing 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. QUESTION 1 India’s Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 scripted history by successfully landing on the lunar surface. Discuss the new upgrades in Chandrayaan-3 as compared to Chandrayaan-2. QUESTION 2 What is Micro Irrigation and what are the benefits of Micro Irrigation? Discuss the government’s efforts with reference to Micro Irrigation. 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: India’s Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 scripted history by successfully landing on the lunar surface. Discuss the new upgrades in Chandrayaan-3 as compared to Chandrayaan-2. Introduction: A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about chandrayaan-3. — Chandrayaan-3 has become India’s first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the moon. It is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. — According to ISRO, the mission’s three objectives were to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, to demonstrate a Rover roving on the Moon and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments. — The spacecraft landed on the region of the moon's equator during the previous moon mission because it is easier and safer here. The terrain and temperature are more conducive for a long and sustained operation of instruments. Sunlight is also present, offering a regular supply of energy to solar-powered instruments. — The polar regions are different as most parts of it lie in a completely dark region without sunlight and temperatures can go below 230 degrees Celsius which creates difficulty in the operation of instruments. (Source: Chandrayaan-3: All you need to know about the mission and what happens after its successful Moon landing) Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: Upgrades in Chandrayaan-3 — The software and hardware in Chandrayaan-3 have been equipped with several additional capabilities: Strengthened legs — A Lander does not have wheels; instead, it features stilts or legs that are designed to touch down on the lunar surface and subsequently stabilise. Around 7.2 kilometres from the Moon's surface, Chandrayaan-2 lost control of its fall. Its communications system sent data about the loss of control up to 400 metres above the surface. — The legs of Chandrayaan-3 have been strengthened to ensure that it would be able to land, and stabilise, even at a speed of 3 m/sec, or 10.8 km Bigger fuel tank — The Chandrayaan-3 Lander is carrying more fuel than Chandrayaan-2. This has been done to ensure that the Lander is able to make a last-minute change in its landing site, if it needs to. Sun on all its faces — The Chandrayaan-3 Lander has solar panels on four sides, instead of only two in Chandrayaan-2. This is to ensure that the Lander continues to draw solar power, even if it lands in a wrong direction, or tumbles over. At least one or two of its sides would always be facing the Sun, and remain active. Multiple stress tests — The Lander has been subjected to multiple stress tests and experiments, including dropping it from helicopters. ISRO created several kinds of test beds at one of its facilities to simulate lunar landing conditions. Updated software — The hazard detection and avoidance camera and the processing algorithm have been upgraded. — The navigation and guidance software has also been updated. — Multiple layers of redundancies have been added to ensure that if one system does not work because of any reason, something else will. More instruments — Additional navigational and guidance instruments are on board Chandrayaan-3 to continuously monitor the Lander’s speed, and make the necessary corrections. — Laser Doppler Velocimeter, which will fire laser beams to the lunar surface to calculate the Lander’s speed. — New sensors and cameras have also been added. (Source: New in Chandrayaan-3: key upgrades that bring hope and confidence by Johnson T A) Conclusion: Your conclusion should be short. You may include: — The six payloads on the Vikram lander and rover Pragyan remain the same as the previous mission. — There will be four scientific payloads on the lander to study lunar quakes, thermal properties of the lunar surface, changes in the plasma near the surface, and a passive experiment to help accurately measure the distance between Earth and the Moon. — There are two payloads on the Rover, designed to study the chemical and mineral composition of the lunar surface and to determine the composition of elements such as magnesium, aluminium and iron in the lunar soil and rocks. — India’s Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 scripted history by successfully landing on the lunar surface and became the only country to have ever done so. (Source: Chandrayaan-3: All you need to know about the mission and what happens after its successful Moon landing) Points to Ponder Components of Mission Findings Related Previous Year Question India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions including the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission, but has not ventured into manned space mission. What are the main obstacles to launching a manned space mission, both in terms of technology and logistics? Examine critically. (2017) QUESTION 2: What is Micro Irrigation and what are the benefits of Micro Irrigation? Discuss the government’s efforts with reference to Micro Irrigation. Introduction: A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about micro irrigation. — Micro Irrigation is a unique and comprehensive process that aims to enhance crop productivity by improving water use efficiency through Micro Irrigation Systems. — It is the slow application of continuous drips, tiny streams or miniature sprays of water above or below the soil surface. — Micro irrigation system is effective in saving water and increasing water use efficiency as compared to the conventional surface irrigation method. Benefits of Micro Irrigation — It helps reduce water consumption, growth of unwanted plants (weeds), soil erosion and cost of cultivation. — It can be adopted in all kinds of land, especially where it is not possible to effectively use flooding method for irrigation. — It is useful in undulating terrain, rolling topography, hilly areas, barren land and areas having shallow soils. — It provides higher crop production and reduces labour costs. — It reduces the use of fertilizers and benefits by increased soil fertility. — The judicious use of available water will help in better water management. (Sources: www.govtschemes.in, www.ncert.nic.in) Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: Government’s Efforts Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme — It is a central government scheme to promote micro-irrigation — drip or sprinkler systems — which is implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. — The scheme was launched in 2006 and was subsumed into the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojna (PMKSY) in 2015 as one of its four components. — The funding is provided by the centre is around 40 per cent and the rest is financed by states and farmers themselves. The proportion is different in hilly and north-eastern states. — The main objectives of the scheme are to enhance water-use efficiency and increase productivity, thus bolstering farmer incomes. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) — The Government of India has been implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Micro Irrigation with the objective to enhance water use efficiency in the agriculture sector by promoting appropriate technological interventions. Micro Irrigation Fund — The scheme is committed to providing access to irrigation for the agricultural farm by prioritising water conservation and its management. — It has several benefits such as higher subsidy on micro irrigation systems, free service for 3 years after installation of micro irrigation system and water use efficiency. — States can avail the fund in form of loan from NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) at 3 per cent below the cost of funds and the 3 per cent being compensated by central government. (Sources: Irregularities in Centre’s drip irrigation scheme in Jharkhand: How the Express investigation progressed, what it showed by Abishek Angad, govtschemes.in, pmksy.gov.in) Conclusion: Your conclusion should be short. You may include: — Farmers are encouraged to participate in the PDMC plan through extensive exposure in the press and print media, the distribution of leaflets/booklets, the organisation of workshops, exhibits, farmer fairs, and information on State/Government of India web pages, among other things. — To encourage farmers to build drip and sprinkler irrigation systems under the PDMC plan, the government gives financial assistance/subsidies at 55 per cent of the suggested unit cost to small and marginal farmers and 45 per cent to other farmers. (Source: pib.gov.in) Points to Ponder Sprinkler and Drip Irrigation Challenges in implementation Related Previous Year Questions How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India’s water crisis? (2021) Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting scenario. (2020) What is Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India? (2022) Previous Mains Answer Practice UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 11) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 12) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 13) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 12) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 13) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 12) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 9) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.
