UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 21)

QUESTION 1

How does the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) help in a seamless working platform for users of climate information and services?

QUESTION 2

How did the Green Revolution help India to achieve food security?

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: How does the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) help in a seamless working platform for users of climate information and services?

Body:

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

— The National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) launched by India Meteorological Department (IMD), envisions to bring a seamless working platform for users of climate information and services, and help decide and mitigate climate risks for key sectors — agriculture, energy, disaster management, health and water.

— The Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) is a global partnership of governments and groups dedicated to the development and improved use of climate information and services.

— The GFCS intends to bring together academics and consumers of climate information and services to make educated and decisive decisions for long-term improvement.

— The announcement to establish a GFCS was announced in 2009 during the third World Climate Conference in Geneva. It was headed by their respective National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS), and it involves active participation of policymakers, planners, investors, and vulnerable populations or sectors.

— GFCS intends to generate high-quality data on temperature, rainfall, wind, soil moisture, ocean conditions, and other critical weather factors from national and international databases.

— It will result in long-term historical averages of these parameters, maps, risk and vulnerability studies, assessments, and long-term predictions and scenarios.

— The five major components under GFCS are:

(i) Observations and Monitoring

(ii) Research

(iii) Modelling and Prediction

(iv) Climate Services Information System

(v) User Interface Platform and Capacity Building.

— At present, the priority sectors where the GFCS focuses upon are agriculture and food security, energy, health, water and disaster risk reduction.

— The national framework will be based on country-specific weather and stakeholder needs. Unlike the GFCS, the nodal agency for the formulation and implementation of the national framework in India will be the IMD.

— The NFCS will attempt to bridge operational gaps among the numerous entities that demand climate services. These include hydrological, electricity, renewable energy, transportation, dams and irrigation, as well as health organisations at the federal, state, and local levels.

(Source: Why India is launching a national framework for climate services by Anjali Marar)

Points to Ponder

Why the NFCS is needed?

How the NFCS will be implemented?

What the NFCS will do?

Related Previous Year Questions

Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (2022)

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)

QUESTION 2: How did the Green Revolution help India to achieve food security?

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about green revolution.

— Monkomb Sambasivan Swaminathan played a major role in the set of changes introduced in farming in the 1960s and ‘70s that helped India achieve food security.

— Swaminathan’s research carried him to educational institutions in Europe and the United States, and in 1954, he began working on transferring genes for fertiliser response from Japonica kinds to Indica varieties at the Central Rice Research Institute in Cuttack.

— It was the first attempt to develop high yielding varieties which can respond to good soil fertility and good water management.

— Agriculture in India was not particularly productive. Years of colonial administration had a negative influence on its growth, and the country lacked the means to upgrade the industry.

Body:

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

— Green Revolution involved the provision of high-yielding variety seeds, adequate irrigation facilities and fertilisers to Indian farmers in regions of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, which changed this dramatically.

— When India attained independence in 1947, we were producing around 6 million tonnes of wheat per year. Wheat output has increased to almost 10 million tonnes per year by 1962. However, between 1964 and 1968, yearly wheat output climbed from around 10 million tonnes to almost 17 million tonnes.

— The problem with the traditional wheat and rice varieties was that they were tall and slender. These ‘lodged’ – fell flat on the ground — when they grew and their earheads were heavy with well-filled grains produced in response to high fertiliser doses.

— Swaminathan’s research on rice, a reduction in plant height was sought to make them less lodging-prone.

— The developing semi-dwarf wheat varieties using mutagenesis — exposing plants to chemicals or radiation to introduce desirable modifications in their DNA — did not, however, work: The lowering of plant heights led to a simultaneous reduction in the size of the grain-bearing panicles.

— In his pursuit for the optimum variety, he contacted American scientist Orville Vogel. He was involved in the development of Gaines, a ‘dwarf wheat’ with a high yield. It contains dwarfing genes from the Norin-10 dwarf wheat. Vogel concurred, but was sceptical about the wheat’s prospects in the Indian environment.

(Source: How MS Swaminathan triggered the Green Revolution and helped India achieve food security)

Points to Ponder

Who was MS Swaminathan?

Why India needs a Green Revolution 2.0?

Side effects of the Green Revolution

Related Previous Year Question

Sikkim is the first ‘Organic State’ in India. What are the ecological and economical benefits of Organic State? (2017)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 20)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 19)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 19)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 20)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 19)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 20)

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