UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 6)

The popular question for the coming week: How to make the best use of The Indian Express newspaper for UPSC CSE? and more…

You can send me your queries at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com or join Telegram: The Indian Express UPSC Hub or ask me Live! @ 8 PM, July 5.

UPSC Essentials brings to you its new initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing will cover 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.

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

The performance of the agriculture and allied sector has been buoyant over the past several years. Discuss.

QUESTION 2

How India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy will be helpful in fighting against climate change? How the Long-term strategies are different from nationally determined contributions (NDCs)?

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: The performance of the agriculture and allied sector has been buoyant over the past several years. Discuss

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about Indian agriculture.

— The Indian agriculture sector has been growing at an average annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent during the last six years. It grew by 3.0 per cent in 2021-22 compared to 3.3 per cent in 2020-21.

— In recent years, India has also rapidly emerged as the net exporter of agricultural products. In 2020-21, exports of agriculture and allied products from India grew by 18 per cent over the previous year.

— This period of buoyant performance could be ascribed to the measures taken by the Government to promote farmer-producer organisations, encourage crop diversification, and improve productivity in agriculture through support provided for mechanisation and the creation of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).

(Source: http://www.indiabudget.gov.in)

Body:

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

— The agriculture and allied activities sector significantly contributed to the country’s overall growth and development by ensuring food security.

Growth and Initiative in Agriculture

— The interventions of the Government have been in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income. The committee had identified improvement in crop and livestock productivity, diversification towards higher value crops, better resource efficiency, enhanced cropping intensity, improvement in real prices received by farmers and shift from farm to nonfarm occupations as being significant sources of growth.

— The minimum support price (MSP) secure the price at one and half times the all-India weighted average cost of production.

— As per Fourth Advance Estimates for 2021-22, the production of food grains and oil seeds has been increasing Year-on-Year (YoY).

— Production of pulses has also been notably higher than the average of 23.8 million tonnes in the last five years.

— Ensuring hassle-free credit availability at a cheaper rate to farmers has been the top priority of the Government of India.

— The Kisan Credit Card is not only limited to agricultural products, it has also been extended to to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers in 2018-19.

— To ensure that the farmers pay a minimal interest rate to the banks, the Government of India has introduced the Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS), now renamed Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), to provide short-term credit to farmers at subsidised interest rates.

— Farm mechanisation helps increase productivity through timely and efficient use of other inputs and natural resources. Under the Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM), State Governments are being assisted in training and demonstrating agricultural machinery and helping farmers procure various farm machinery and equipment.

— A focus on the horticulture sector and the thrust towards allied activities have diversified farmers’ income making them more resilient to weather shocks.

— Organic and natural farming provides chemical fertiliser and pesticide-free food grains and other crops, improves soil health and reduces environmental pollution.

Other Initiatives in Agriculture

— PM KISAN Scheme

Central Sector Scheme to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers.

The financial benefit of ₹6,000 per year is transferred into the bank accounts of farmer families through DBT.

— Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

AIF is a financing facility operational from the year 2020-21 to 2032-33 for the creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets, with benefits including 3 per cent interest subvention and credit guarantee support.

— Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

It is currently the largest crop insurance scheme in the world in terms of farmer enrolments.

The scheme promises minimal financial burden on the farmer, with farmers paying only 1.5 per cent and 2 per cent of the total premium for the Rabi and Kharif seasons, respectively, with Centre and State Governments bearing most of the premium cost.

(Source: http://www.indiabudget.gov.in)

Conclusion:

Your concluding remark should be short. You may use some of the following points.

— The agricultural sector needs re-orientation in the backdrop of certain challenges like adverse impacts of climate change, fragmented landholdings, sub-optimal farm mechanisation, low productivity, disguised unemployment, rising input costs, etc.

— There has been a greater focus on the development of the food processing sector hat can help to reduce wastage/loss and increase the length of storage, ensuring better prices for the farmers.

— A well-developed food processing sector with improved infrastructure like cold storage and better logistics helps reduce wastage, improve value addition, ensure better farmers’ returns, promote employment, and increase export earnings.

(Source: Agriculture sector has done well, needs ‘re-orientation’: Economic Survey)

Points to Ponder

Digital initiatives for agriculture

Organic Farming

Challenges in Indian agriculture

QUESTION 2: How India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy will be helpful in fighting against climate change? How the Long-term strategies are different from nationally determined contributions (NDCs)?

Introduction:

A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about long-term low emission development strategy.

— India is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and is home to nearly one-sixth of the world’s population. Its growth momentum is a vital component of global development and is required to achieve the world’s sustainable development goals.

— India had submitted its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27).

— India is the fourth biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China, the United States and the European Union (EU) if the contribution of the EU is considered as a block.

(Source: unfccc.int)

Body:

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

— India’s long-term strategy will have details of the key sectoral low-carbon transition pathways till the goal of net zero is realized by 2070. It is expected to be keenly watched for the plans on the phase-down of coal-based power generation which often comes under criticism from developed countries and climate NGOs.

— India listed some of the measures planned to take in the coming decades to achieve net-zero status such as:

Decarbonising of electricity and transport sectors

Redesigning of urban spaces

Increase in energy and material efficiency

Revitalisation of forests

Push for climate-oriented research and development.

Features of Long-term Strategy

— Rational utilization of national resources

— Increase in the use of biofuels, especially ethanol blending in petrol, increase in e-vehicle penetration and increase in the use of green hydrogen fuel.

— Integrated planning of cities for mainstreaming adaptation and enhancing energy and resource efficiency, effective green building codes and rapid developments in innovative solid and liquid waste management.

— Low-carbon development transitions in the industrial sector should not impact energy security, energy access and employment.

— The transition to a low-carbon development pathway will entail several costs pertaining to the development of new technologies, new infrastructure, and other transaction costs.

(Source: pib.gov.in)

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

— Long-term strategies are different from the NDCs, or nationally-determined contributions. NDCs contain specific actions or targets that have to be achieved by 2030. The long-term strategies have to reveal estimated low-carbon pathways that will lead to a country attaining net-zero status, in India’s case, by 2070.

— The 2015 Paris Agreement has asked the countries to prepare and submit two kinds of climate action plans — one for the short term, and another for long-term.

— The short-term climate action plans, also called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), have to be submitted every five years, with specific actions being taken over 5- or 10-year periods.

— The NDCs of all countries currently contain the actions they are taking till 2030.

— In its NDC, India has promised three main targets for 2030 —

45 per cent reduction in emission intensity (emission per unit of GDP) from 2005 levels,

50 per cent share of renewables in electricity generation, and

Creation of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink through forests.

(Source: unfccc.int, India to unveil its long-term low-carbon strategies today by Amitabh Sinha)

Conclusion:

Your concluding remark should be short.

— To reach the net-zero destination, India is planning large-scale interventions in five sectors — energy and electricity, transport, urban design, industries, and forestry. The plan also involves focused research and development efforts aimed at developing climate-specific technologies, and mobilisation of financial resources, both public and private, domestic and international.

— In the energy sector, for example, decarbonisation would come mainly through expanding the share of renewable energy, rationalising the utilisation of fossil fuels, and focusing on demand-side management.

— Low carbon development in the transport sector would be driven mainly by the electrification of both public and private vehicles, phased transition to cleaner fuels, and the introduction of intelligent traffic systems. Similar focus areas have been identified for other sectors as well.

(Source: Road to net-zero status by Amitabh Sinha)

Points to Ponder

National Hydrogen Mission

Ethanol blending

Paris Agreement

Related Previous Year Question

What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the government of India? (2020)

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)

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

(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.

(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.