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UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice -Test 18
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1. Distribution of coal fields does not provide a requisite basis for the locational aspects of thermal power plants in India. (10 Marks) (150 Words)
2. Keeping the recent developments in view, how can the energy crisis of India be circumvented by harnessing non-conventional energy resources? (10 Marks) (150 Words)
3. The Red Sea and Persian Gulf have recently assumed significant geopolitical importance. Comment. (10 Marks) (150 Words)
4. Keeping in view of the urbanisation in India being accompanied with lifestyle changes, reducing the individual carbon footprint for sustainable food production and consumption is a necessity. Examine the statement in light of the Smart Cities programme. (15 Marks) (250 Words)
5. Mentioning the characteristics of National Investment and Manufacturing Zones, discuss how it can create necessary social infrastructure and skill development facilities for meeting the needs of people in India. (15 Marks) (250 Words)
Answers
1. Distribution of coal fields does not provide a requisite basis for the locational aspects of thermal power plants in India. (10 Marks) (150 Words)
APPROACH:
●Brief introduction about thermal power plants in India.
●Mention briefly about the importance of coal fields in its locational pattern.
●List out other factors which influence industrial location as well.
ANSWER: Thermal energy accounts for ~62% of India’s electricity production. Out of this, coal and lignite based power plants constitute 89% of thermal power.
India’s coal fields are concentrated in a few regions especially in the basins of rivers like Damodar, Mahanadi, Son, Godavari,etc. Tertiary coal is found in North East India, Jammu Kashmir, Rajasthan, etc. Access to coal is one parameter for locating thermal power plants. Eg: Bokaro power station near Bokaro coalfields But thermal power plants are scattered all across the country and not concentrated in a few locations.
While proximity to coal field is a determinant, several other factors play key roles in locating thermal power plants:
1. Demand for power and proximity to the market. Eg: Mundra power station of Gujarat powers the industrial houses, depending on imported coal from Indonesia
2. Import of coal also led to thermal power plants near coast and ports as seen in Gujarat and Maharashtra
3. Problem of overloading electricity grid if many power plants concentrate at a region
4. Transmission losses due to long distance electricity transmission favour disbursed power plant locations
5. Other parameters include availability of land, water and skilled manpower
6. Improved transportation facilities allow cheaper and faster movement of coal to power plants located far from coal fields
The upcoming Ultra Mega Power Plants also have both coastal and interior locations and their higher efficiencies allow transmission to multiple states. Thus, proximity to coal fields is not the major criteria in locating thermal power plants.
2. Keeping the recent developments in view, how can the energy crisis of India be circumvented by harnessing non-conventional energy resources? (10 Marks) (150 Words)
APPROACH:
●Briefly mention about the energy crisis faced by India.
●Mention how India can reduce it through adopting non conventional energy resources.
ANSWER: Non conventional energy resources are those which are non exhaustible in general and extracted using unconventional methods. They are a vital alternative to the non renewable sources of energy like coal, petroleum etc. to circumvent the energy crisis faced by India.
India is dependent upon the coal for thermal energy production. About 60% of energy is sourced using coal as raw material. Even though India has started to produce surplus energy for its requirements, it faces high amount of AT&C losses in distribution and supply of power making it energy deficient.
Energy crisis of India can be circumvented by harnessing non conventional energy resources through:
● Solar Energy: Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal power production can be done through new technologies such as off grid solar production, grid connected solar technology etc.
● Wind Energy: Wind-Solar photovoltaic hybrid system, wind offshore turbines, reducing the tariffs associated with wind energy components etc. can enhance the production.
● Biomass Energy: The biological material derived from living can be harnessed through composting the municipal solid waste, manufacturing waste etc. and also through burning the timber. It is also necessary to develop technology for biorefineries that will convert biomass into a range of valuable fuels, chemicals, materials, and products
● Hydro Energy: Large and Small hydroelectric power plants produce electricity using turbines and generators, construction of dam across the rivers to harness its renewable energy potential.
● In addition to this, different technologies have been developed to harness the unconventional source of energy like Coal Bed Methane, shale gas etc.
● Nuclear energy is harnessed by recycling the already used fuel in a breeder reactor and it produces more fuel than it consumes while also producing additional energy for India.
Indian Government has already initiated plans and policies to meet the renewed energy demands. As part of combating the energy crisis, India has enhanced its commitment to produce 450 giga watts of renewable energy.
3. The Red Sea and Persian Gulf have recently assumed significant geopolitical importance. Comment. (10 Marks) (150 Words)
APPROACH:
●Brief introduction about Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
●Mention its geopolitical importance linking recent events.
ANSWER: Persian Gulf is a shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean that lies between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran.
The Red Sea is a narrow strip of water extending southeastward from Suez, Egypt to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects with the Gulf of Aden and with the Arabian Sea. About 2.5% of the world’s oil output travels through the Suez canal, approximately 97 ships per day.
The Persian Gulf and its coastal areas are the world’s largest single source of crude oil. Powerful naval forces from several countries remain in its waters to protect the flow of oil to the rest of the world.
●The 2019-2020 persian gulf crisis is an ongoing tension between Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States in Persian gulf.
● The US military presence in the region caused a tension between the two countries. These tensions threaten the use of the Strait of Hormuz. Almost a fifth of the world’s oil passes through this narrow strait which lies off the south coast of Iran. This may hamper International shipping through the region which will affect the World economy with a huge rise in the price of oil.
The Red Sea is a vital artery of the global economy.From the Suez Canal that links it to the Mediterranean, to the straits of the Bab al Mandab that connect it to the Indian Ocean, it connects Europe and Asia through its maritime traffic. Around 10% of seaborne cargo sails through its waters every year including the majority of Asian trade with Europe.
●The opening of China’s first overseas military base in Djibouti, along one of the world’s busiest and most critical waterways has further elevated the geopolitical stakes in the region and raised concerns about the increasing militarization of the Red Sea.
●India has joined the Djibouti Code of Conduct/ Jeddah Amendment, as Observer, following the high level meeting of the Djibouti Code of Conduct held virtually.The DCOC, established in 2009, is aimed at repression of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Western Indian Ocean Region, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
4. Keeping in view of the urbanisation in India being accompanied with lifestyle changes, reducing the individual carbon footprint for sustainable food production and consumption is a necessity. Examine the statement in light of the Smart Cities programme. (15 Marks) (250 Words)
APPROACH:
●Briefly list out the current urbanisation scenario and its impact on carbon footprint.
●Examine the steps in Smart Cities Programme which reduce the footprint.
●Mention the steps taken to achieve the same.
ANSWER: According to the UN’s World Urbanisation Prospects 2018, around 34% of Indians live in urban areas. With migration, technology advancement and increasing job avenues, Indian urbanisation is expected to reach even higher levels.
But urbanisation is often accompanied by lifestyle changes which have large impact on overall carbon footprint
●Greater reliance on private transport increasing pollution levels
●Increasing food wastage associated with extravagant feasts also pushes up the carbon emissions
●Use of disposable utensils and cutlery, and plastic-based food packaging have a detrimental effect on environment
●More use of non-local food items can widen the carbon footprint through transportation emissions
●Rampant city expansion outwards also leads to filling of wetlands and other carbon reservoirs, reducing carbon sequestration
Hence it is necessary to reduce individual carbon footprint especially with regard to sustainable food production and consumption. The Smart Cities Mission of the government of India aims to create 100 smart cities focusing on 4 pillars- physical infrastructure, social infrastructure, environment and governance.
It has several components to reduce carbon footprint
●Use of energy efficient technology and resources in transport and construction
●Extensive use of ICT for governance and public service delivery, eliminating the need for unnecessary travel and congestion
●A Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework is created specially for the smart cities
In addition, other possibilities to reduce carbon footprint related to food production and consumption include
●Promoting urban and peri-urban farming making cities self sufficient for food
●Special focus on use of ancillary space for agriculture including rooftops, land along highways, parks, river banks, etc.
●Vertical farming can be undertaken using techniques like aquaponics, aeroponics, etc with minimal space, pesticide use, labour cost, etc.
●Promoting use of degradable alternatives to plastic food packaging and cutleries
These individual steps can complement macro level actions at city and state levels to reduce overall carbon footprint
●Sustainable waste management including source segregation and recycling of non-biodegradable waste
●Enforcing policies to discourage single-use plastics
Better awareness generation among the city population and adequate infrastructure to support a green lifestyle can help reduce individual carbon footprint and mitigate adverse effects of climate change. This can help achieve India’s INDC targets as well.
5. Mentioning the characteristics of National Investment and Manufacturing Zones, discuss how it can create necessary social infrastructure and skill development facilities for meeting the needs of people in India. (15 Marks) (250 Words)
APPROACH:
●Introduce the characteristics of NIMZ.
●Examine how it can enhance skill development and social infrastructure creation.
●Address the issues faced by NIMZ as well.
ANSWER: National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZ) envisage creating dedicated zones for manufacturing with an objective of increasing the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25% within a decade and creating 100 million jobs.
Characteristics of National Investment and Manufacturing Zones
●Establishment of NIMZ as Special Purpose Vehicle, which ensure planning of the Zone
●Local Enhancements as administration and works are carried out by local people
●Flexible Labour rules and Exit Policy- would ensure participation of Small and Medium Enterprises to develop necessary social infrastructure without fear of loss
●Green Technology a Preferential treatment for environmentally friendly products and technologies would ensure commitment of India in bigger forms like Paris pact and ensure future oriented development of social infrastructures
●Incentives like Tax Benefits, Infrastructures to simplify enter and exit policy for firms would ensure commitments from domestic and international entrepreneurs to play a key role in development of Social Infrastructure
●Future Oriented Skilling- NIMZs will be eligible for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) and thus make possibility of keep newer technologies and required skill building into the foray
●Land Availability and Selection- Of selection and Impact Assessing of its minimum area of 5000 hectares by respective State Governments, with preferences to infertile lands would keep the farmers and others on their feet.
●Interconnectedness with Rest of Country- Industrial Corridors and Bharatmala, Sagarmala, and other ambitious projects would synergise with Proposed NIMZ to make economic integration of country in a rapid pace
●Self-Governing Institutions – Will be declared by the State Government as Industrial Township under Article 243 Q(c) of the Constitution, making an important administrative machinery in NIMZ alike SEZ
NIMZ: enable skilling
●Attract foreign and domestic investment into manufacturing creating more demand for skilled labour
●Promote advances in manufacturing technology which would lead to future oriented skilling eg: skilling centres through PPP model
●The large scale of NIMZs can help create standardised NSQF-linked skilling modules covering the entire spectrum of manufacturing
●Integration of skill development programmes of centre and state to enable outcome oriented skilling
NIMZ: enable creation of social infrastructure
●NIMZs would promote development of transport and communication infrastructure in the surrounding areas leading to overall development.
●They would incentivise investment in health and education for families of workers, which can be beneficial for local population also
●Indirect avenues of employment can open more streams of income for people of nearby areas
However there exists challenges in realising their full potential
●The scale of the project would require large initial investment
●Red Tapism can lead to delays which can affect economic viability.
●It might take very long for trickle down to be effective in developing nearby areas
A stable policy regime along with mission mode implementation can help realise the full potential of NIMZs. Specific thrust has to be given to NIMZs in the upcoming industrial policy. NIMZ will provide a productive environment to persons transitioning from the primary sector to the secondary and tertiary sectors, which is necessary if we are to reap the benefits of India’s Demographic Dividend that is projected to peak in one or two decades.