UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on gender gap and threats of glacier melt (Week 110)

Question 2 for UPSC Mains GS Paper 1

Discuss the dual threats of glacier melt and erratic monsoon patterns to Himalayan river systems.

General points on the structure of the answers for UPSC Mains

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.

QUESTION 1: Discuss how socio-economic, cultural, and structural gender gaps are shaping reproductive choices and contributing to India’s fertility decline.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction

— The Global Gender Gap Report relies on the groundwork laid by previous programs such as the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), established in 1984, and the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women, which have helped promote gender equality.

— Gender equality was reinforced as a global goal in 2015 when it was listed as Sustainable Development Goal 5 in the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is set to be realised by 2030.

— The Global Gender Gap Report is significant because policymakers use it to monitor progress towards reducing gender inequality. If one looks at India’s performance in the most recent report, the parity score is 64.1%, one of the lowest in South Asia. In the third parameter, health and survival, India has improved its scores for sex ratio at birth and healthy life expectancy.

Body:

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

— There are concerns over the declining fertility rate. India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) – the average number of children per woman – has dropped to 2.0, according to the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) State of World Population Report 2025.

— A TFR of 2 is considered the replacement level as two kids will replace their parents. But since some kids die, the replacement level is considered as 2.1. Hence, India’s TFR has fallen below the replacement level of 2.1.

— The dropping fertility rate is also linked to India’s ranking in the Global Gender Gap Index, demonstrating how external factors influence reproductive freedom and choice. Economic, social, cultural, and political variables all influence couples’ choices to have fewer or no children. Fertility is thus a socially manufactured outcome rather than a question of individual choice.

— In a survey by the UNFPA and YouGov conducted in 14 countries, including India, 20 per cent of respondents were of the view that they may be unable to have the number of children they want. One in five cited future concerns like climate change, war and pandemics as reasons behind having fewer children.

— Furthermore, there are significant geographical variations in fertility rates throughout India. According to the NFHS-5, just five states—Bihar (2.98), Uttar Pradesh (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26), Meghalaya (2.91), and Manipur (2.17)—continue to exceed the replacement rate of 2.1. In comparison, southern and western states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat have fertility rates below replacement norms, ranging from 1.6 to 1.9. TFR has also decreased in both urban (1.6) and rural (2.2) areas.

— High fertility rates are frequently related with increased demand on public infrastructure and lower levels of women’s education and agency, whereas low fertility rates raise worries about improved economic and social stability. Although the fall in fertility is sometimes viewed as a result of women’s choices, the reality is more complicated. The state and society have a vital role in generating enabling conditions for parenthood, particularly motherhood. It includes guaranteeing equal access to healthcare and defending reproductive rights.

— According to the NFHS 2019-21, Andhra Pradesh reported a TFR of 1.47 in urban areas and 1.78 in rural areas, both significantly lower than the replacement level of 2.1. However, simply recommending that couples have more children is insufficient. Concrete guarantees that provide economic and social stability would help make motherhood a viable option.

— Domestic obligations and parenthood must go beyond gendered norms to address the dropping fertility rate. It is not a ‘women’s issue,’ but one that must be addressed at both the societal and policy levels. After all, caste, religion, and patriarchy all have a strong influence on fertility choices in India.

Conclusion:

— The dropping birth rate must be viewed in the light of larger socioeconomic and institutional challenges. According to the UNFPA and YouGov poll, men and women’s desires for motherhood are changing. Furthermore, in India, women make few reproductive decisions on their own. Social pressure, particularly a preference for male children, influences women’s reproductive decisions.

(Source: What gender gap lens reveals about declining fertility rate)

Points to Ponder

Read about Global Gender Gap Report

Read about fertility rate

Related Previous Year Questions

What is regional disparity? How does it differ from diversity? How serious is the issue of regional disparity in India? (2024)

Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society. (2023)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the dual threats of glacier melt and erratic monsoon patterns to Himalayan river systems.

Climate models predict that warming leads to changes in the monsoon’s timing and intensity. (PTI)

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— The floods causing havoc in Himachal Pradesh demonstrate the catastrophic potential of climate change-induced weather patterns. Early in the monsoon, torrential rains caused a series of cloudbursts in Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba districts, resulting in landslides, road closures, and fatalities.

— The entire economic loss in the region surpasses Rs 700 crore, and the environmental impact is equally serious. Heavy rainfall eroded soil, deposited sediment, and damaged agricultural lands, exacerbating the local community’s predicament.

Body:

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

— India’s Himalayan provinces, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of Nepal and Bhutan, have seen an increase in extreme weather occurrences during the previous decade.

— This upward tendency is not accidental. Scientists relate it to global climate change, which has a fundamental impact on regional weather systems. The implications are significant. More severe storms, unpredictable rainfall, rapid glacier melting, and increased flooding.

— One of the primary consequences of global warming is increased atmospheric moisture. As the Earth’s average temperature rises due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations, the atmosphere can contain around 7% more water vapour every degree Celsius increase. This extra moisture means that when conditions are ideal, rainfall becomes heavier and more severe.

— In the Himalayas, this means more frequent and intense cloudbursts, which are rapid, localised heavy rains that can dump hundreds of millimetres of water in hours. These events frequently cause flash floods, damaging downstream villages with little notice.

— Himalayan glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, with some shedding up to 30 metres of ice thickness per year. This melting immediately affects river flow levels, particularly during the summer months, raising the risk of floods during severe monsoons.

— The proximity of these glaciers, combined with heavy rainfall, increased the volume of water in rivers such as the Beas, Yamuna, and Ganges, which can overflow, eroding banks and flooding communities.

Conclusion:

— The Himalayan region is especially vulnerable due to its complicated topography. Mountain slopes quickly funnel rainwater into valleys, and unstable slopes make the terrain prone to landslides, exacerbating flood risks.

— The repeated relocation and damage put a burden on government resources and pose a challenge to disaster response systems. Many rural villages lack basic infrastructure and early warning systems, leaving them particularly susceptible.

— Incorporating local geology and hydrology into planning can greatly reduce vulnerability, ensuring that infrastructure remains operational even during extreme occurrences. Furthermore, adopting sustainable land-use techniques like afforestation and slope stabilisation can help avoid soil erosion and landslides, which are common after severe rains.

(Source: Himachal floods: How can Himalayan region safeguard its people, heritage, ecosystems from climate change?)

Points to Ponder

Read about melting of glaciers

Interlinking of rivers

Related Previous Year Questions

What is the phenomenon of ‘Cloudbursts’? Explain. (2024)

The groundwater potential of the Gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India? (2024)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 110)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 109)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 110)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 109)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 108)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 109)

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