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. 🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the October 2023 issue of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com 🚨 QUESTION 1 What is CAR-T cell therapy? Discuss how effective and different is this from other cancer treatments. QUESTION 2 What is Seaweed Farming? Highlight the importance of Seaweed Culture in India. 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: What is CAR-T cell therapy? Discuss how effective and different is this from other cancer treatments. Introduction: — CAR-T is a revolutionary therapy that modifies immune cells, specifically T-cells, by turning them into potent cancer fighters known as CAR-T cells. — T-cells are special cells (White blood cells detect and combat illness and infection) whose primary function is cytotoxic, it can kill other cells. — In CAR-T therapy, cells are genetically modified into cancer-fighting cells. These supercharged cells are then put back into the body, and they go after cancer cells — especially in blood cancers like leukaemia and lymphomas. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: Efficacy of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy — According to Dr. Sidddhartha Mukherjee, the global data on the efficacy of this treatment looks “very good” with all refractory tumours, lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma responding to it. — The effectiveness of CAR-T therapy in children has been 90 per cent. — This would be a 14-day process, followed by two or three days of infusion, and the cure rates could be 80 to 90 per cent, depending upon the kind and intensity of leukaemia. In myeloma, the cure rates are 80 to 90 per cent. How effective and different is this from other cancer treatments? — Gene therapy is designed to cure and provide lifelong benefits while chemotherapy and immunotherapy may only add a few months or years to a cancer patient’s life. — It makes treatment easier with a one-time therapy [unlike several sessions of chemotherapy] that can be truly transformative for a patient. It’s a lifeline for non-responsive cancer patients. — NexCar19 is a type of CAR-T and gene therapy developed in India by ImmunoACT, a company founded at IIT Bombay. — The treatment is intended to target cancer cells that express the CD19 protein. This protein acts as a flag on cancer cells, allowing CAR-T cells to recognise and attach to the cancer cells, initiating the elimination process. — NexCAR19 therapy is for people with B-cell lymphomas who didn’t respond to standard treatments like chemotherapy, leading to relapse or recurrence of the cancer. Conclusion: — The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted market authorisation for NexCAR19, India's first indigenously developed CAR-T cell therapy, paving the way for its commercial launch in India, where it is expected to cost a tenth of what it does elsewhere. — Even some developed nations don’t have their own CAR-T therapies; they import them from the United States or Europe. India is now one of the first developing countries to have its indigenous CAR-T and gene therapy platform. (Source: India’s own CAR-T cell therapy: What is it, when will it be available, and at what cost? by Rahul Purwar, ‘Global data on the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy for cancer looks very good’: Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee) Points to Ponder B-cell leukaemia is most common among children. Are they eligible for the therapy too? Who can get the NexCAR19 therapy? Related Previous Year Question Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity in India to treat a wide variety of medical conditions including Leukaemia, Thalassemia, damaged cornea and several burns. Describe briefly what stem cell therapy is and what advantages it has over other treatments? (2017) QUESTION 2: What is Seaweed Farming? Highlight the importance of Seaweed Culture in India. Introduction: — Seaweeds are microscopic algae that grow on rocky shores and in marine and shallow coastal waters. They are a renewable source of food, energy, chemicals, and medicines with applications in nutrition, industry, biomedicine, agriculture, and personal care. — Seaweeds play an important role in coastal ecosystems, providing essential ecosystem services as well as socioeconomic benefits to a variety of marine organisms. — The seaweed industry contributes significantly to the long-term development of rural coastal areas. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer: Importance of Seaweed Culture in India — Seaweeds are primarily used in laboratories, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cardboard, paper, paint, and processed foods as a source of agar, agarose, and carrageenan. — Rich seaweed beds occur around Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa, Karwar, Varkala, Vizhinjam and Pulicat in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Chilka in Orissa. — Seaweed cultivation is a highly remunerative activity involving simple, low cost, low maintenance technology with short grow-out cycle. — Coastal fisher-families, especially fisher-women, their societies/ SHGs, and farmers/ entrepreneurs will be benefitted. — The Red Algae, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria dura and Kappaphycus alvarezii are highly suitable for cultivation on floating Bamboo Rafts or TubeNets held in the sea. — Large-scale cultivation of commercially important seaweeds in the coastal waters of maritime states would close the demand-supply gap in the country's agar and alginate manufacturing industry. — Participation of coastal fisher population — Mass production of Spores Conclusion: — The current production is about 35,000 tonnes and the target under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is about 1.1 million tonnes. India has a seaweed production potential of 10 million tonnes. — The government recently sanctioned Rs 125 crore to Tamil Nadu government to set up a seaweed park. (Source: India hasn’t made much headway in seaweed production, says govt officia, dof.gov.in) Points to Ponder Selection of Site for Seaweed Cultivation States where the seaweed cultivation is done Related Previous Year Questions 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) Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard? 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