UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 5)

We will cover one new subject four days in a week. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-3 to check your progress.

QUESTION 1

What do you understand by a public-private partnership (PPP)? Discuss the role of PPP in economic development.

QUESTION 2

Discuss the importance of natural farming. Give suggestions to scale up chemical-free farming.

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 do you understand by a public-private partnership (PPP)? Discuss the role of PPP in economic development.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about public-private partnership. The definition of PPP can be taken from authentic sources such as website of world bank.

— Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are a mechanism for the government to procure and implement public infrastructure and/or services using the resources and expertise of the private sector.

— PPPs combine the skills and resources of both the public and private sectors through sharing of risks and responsibilities. This enables governments to benefit from the expertise of the private sector and allows them to focus instead on policy, planning and regulation by delegating day-to-day operations.

(Source: https://ppp.worldbank.org/)

Body:

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

Role of PPP in Economic Development

Redevelopment of Railway Stations through Public-Private Partnership

— NITI Aayog has been working closely with the Ministry of Railways to accelerate the renovation of railway stations around the country.

— A self-sustaining PPP-based approach for developing world-class stations has been completed.

Eco-Tourism Facilities through Public-Private Partnership

— NITI Aayog’s initiative for holistic development of islands and sustainable eco-tourism projects in seven islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

There are various other developments taken towards economic development such as:

— To address the absence of trained healthcare providers, general practitioners, and specialists, the Vertical has designed a PPP strategy for linking an existing district hospital to a medical college.

— Concerns have been raised about the viability of social infrastructure initiatives. As a result, the Ministry of Finance approved an increase in viability gap funding (VGF) allocation for social sector projects in the current fiscal year to encourage private investment in social sector facilities such as schools and hospitals.

— NITI Aayog has created a model concession agreement for the operation and maintenance of electric buses in cities via public-private partnerships (PPPs) on operating expenses (OPEX).

— NITI Aayog assisted the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in developing the ‘Guiding Principles for Resolution of Stuck Projects’ under execution by MoRTH/NHAI/NHIDCL through BOT (Toll/Annuity/HAM), EPC, Item Rate.

— In light of the Department of Commerce’s planned multimodal logistics parks strategy, NITI Aayog developed a model concession framework for the “development of multimodal logistics parks (MMLPs) through PPP.”

(Source: https://www.niti.gov.in/verticals/ppp)

Conclusion:

Your concluding remark should be short.

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the private sector to collaborate with the government on infrastructure development as part of the PM Gati Shakti initiative, which aims to coordinate infrastructure development in order to cut logistical costs in line with industrialized countries.

— He also urged the private sector to make use of the Gati Shakti portal’s 400 layers of geospatial data, which includes information on existing and planned infrastructure, forest land, and industrial estates.

— In order to achieve a successful PPP, a careful analysis of the long-term development objectives and risk allocation is essential. The legal and institutional framework in the country also needs to support this new model of service delivery and provide effective governance and monitoring mechanisms for PPPs. A well-drafted PPP agreement for the project should clearly allocate risks and responsibilities.

(Source: PM: True public-private partnership in infra creation with Gati Shakti)

Points to Ponder

Potential Benefits of Public Private Partnerships

Potential Risks of Public Private Partnerships

Related Previous Year Question

Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in infrastructural projects? Examine the role of PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in India. (2022)

Examine the development of Airports in India through joint ventures under Public – Private Partnership (PPP) model. What are the challenges faced by the authorities in this regard. (2017)

Adoption of PPP model for the infrastructure development of the country has not been free of criticism. Critically discuss pros and cons of the model. (2013)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the importance of natural farming. Give suggestions to scale up chemical-free farming.

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about natural farming.

— Natural Farming is a chemical-free farming system with a modern understanding of ecology, recycling, and on-farm resource optimization.

— It is a diversified farming system based on agroecology that mixes crops, trees, and animals with functional biodiversity.

— It is primarily focused on on-farm biomass recycling, with a focus on biomass mulching, the use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations, soil aeration, and the avoidance of any synthetic chemical inputs.

— It is considered a cost-effective farming practice with scope for increasing employment and rural development.

(Source: http://naturalfarming.dac.gov.in/)

Body:

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

Importance of Natural Farming

— Improves the yield of the farms as compared to conventional farming.

— It does not use synthetic chemicals and hence ensures better health. It eliminates health risks and has higher nutrition density.

— Ensures better soil, improved agro-biodiversity and use of water with lesser carbon and nitrogen footprints.

— Increases the income of farmers and helps in cost reduction.

— It leads to employment generation when done on a commercial level.

Suggestions to scale up chemical-free farming

— The focus should be on promoting natural farming in rainfed areas such as beyond the Gangetic basin, which is home to half of India’s farmers. The rainfed regions use only a third of the fertilisers per hectare compared to the areas where irrigation is prevalent.

— Enable automatic enrolment of farmers transitioning to chemical-free farming into the government’s crop insurance scheme like PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

— Promote microenterprises that produce inputs for chemical-free agriculture.

— Evolving the curriculum in agricultural universities and upskilling the agriculture extension workers on sustainable agriculture practices.

— The government should facilitate an ecosystem in which farmers learn from and support each other while making the transition.

— Support monitoring and impact studies which would ensure an informed approach to scaling up sustainable agriculture.

(Source: A roadmap for India’s natural farming ambitions by Abhishek Jain)

Conclusion:

You may end your answer by some general yet impactful statements.

— In India, Natural farming is promoted as Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP) under a centrally sponsored scheme- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).

— Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to natural, chemical-free, organic and zero-budget farming. It is the third time in the last four budget speeches that (zero budget) natural farming finds a mention.

— NITI Aayog along with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had convened several high-level discussions with global experts on Natural farming practices.

(Sources: A roadmap for India’s natural farming ambitions by Abhishek Jain,  https://www.niti.gov.in/)

Points to Ponder

Zero Budget Natural Farming

Components of Natural Farming

Initiatives of Government in Natural Farming (Natural farming, through National Mission on Natural Farming, organic farming through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region.)

Need for Natural Farming

Related Previous Year Questions

How did land reforms in some parts of the country help to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginal and small farmers? (2015)

Post your inputs and answers to points to ponder in the comment box below and engage with other aspirants too. All the best!

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(The UPSC Essentials Indian Express is now on Telegram- Indian Express UPSC Hub. Click here to join our YouTube channel and stay updated with the latest updates.