UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It 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-1 to check your progress.

Lakshadweep’s culture and society evolved much differently than the rest of India due to its geographical isolation and absence of colonialism. Discuss.

How does “green road” construction foster environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive development in the Himalayas?

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.

QUESTION 1: Lakshadweep’s culture and society evolved much differently than the rest of India due to its geographical isolation and absence of colonialism. Discuss.

Introduction:

— Lakshadweep is India’s smallest Union Territory, which is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km.

— The majority of its residents are Muslims, however the Islam practiced in Lakshadweep differs from that practiced elsewhere in India, with islanders sharing ethnic, linguistic, and cultural ties to Malyalis, Arabs, Tamils, and Kannadigas.

Body:

— The islands came under the dominion of the Arakkal kingdom of Kannur, Kerala’s only Muslim dynasty, in the 16th century. Controlling Lakshadweep was a matter of pride for the kingdom, which was regularly at odds with European countries.

— The Islamic influence in the Lakshadweep came through the Arabs rather than through the Mappila community of Malabar. “Lakshadweep islanders speak Malayalam with a greater admixture of Arabic than the mainland Mappilas, and write Malayalam in the Arabic rather than Malayali script.

— The tradition of matriliny — where descent and property is traced through the mother’s line — distinguishes Lakshadweep’s Islamic society.

— Apart from caste, the existence of a pre-Islamic Hindu society in the islands can be deduced from the discovery of a number of buried idols, and the existence of several traditional island songs in praise of Ram and alluding to snake worship.

— Andrew W Forbes, a scholar of Islamic studies, believes that islanders converted to Islam over an extended period of time, through regular contact with Arab merchants and sailors travelling between Arabia and the Malabar coast.

— Amini, Kalpeni, Andrott, Kavaratti, and Agatti are the oldest islands that were inhabited, and certain families here claim to be descendants of converts to Islam from Nair and Namboodiri Brahmin families on the mainland.

(Source: How Lakshadweep’s unique cultural landscape developed by Adrija Roychowdhury)

Points to Ponder

Important Islands of Lakshadweep

Related Previous Year Questions

Given the diversities among tribal communities in India, in which specific contexts should they be considered as a single category? (2022)

Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States. (2021)

QUESTION 2: How does “green road” construction foster environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive development in the Himalayas?

Introduction:

— Green Roads are the life-line of this remote and inaccessible region. They are considered as key for sustainability in the Himalayas.

— The objective of green growth is to ensure that natural assets deliver their full economic potential, which includes providing clean air and water as well as the resilient biodiversity required to maintain food security and human well-being.

Body:

— The road sector is an indicator of growth and plays an important role in encouraging overall development.

— Access to roads is critical for economic growth and livelihood development in the Himalayas.

— It is crucial to revolutionise the roads industry, which is currently experiencing a quantum leap through road upgradation, realignments, and new construction, in order to further the green growth goal in mountainous areas.

— These “green roads” would prioritise sustainability, minimise environmental impact and promote biodiversity conservation.

— They would essentially prevent destabilising the slopes as repair and maintenance is both difficult and expensive.

— The nearby mountainous nation of Bhutan offers helpful lessons on Environmental Friendly Road Construction (EFRC) approaches that might be applied to the construction of green roads.

— The “cut and carry” approach takes the place of the conventional “cut and throw” method: It is necessary to abandon the conventional “cut and throw” approach, which seriously damages the vegetation cover along the valley’s edge and exposes the vulnerable slopes to monsoon rains.

— The sites of spoil deposits, barriers, walls, drainage points, and other structures like crib walls, gabion walls, and bioengineering measures that will be used must all be included in the road design and drawings.

Conclusion:

— The region’s network of rural and border roads is only likely to get bigger in the future, giving policymakers a chance to switch from conventional to “green road” construction methods and policies.

— They are not only better for the environment but are also cheaper in the long run. The initial investments during the first two years of construction are undoubtedly higher than in the case of a road constructed using traditional methods.

— Maintenance and monsoon restoration costs are substantially lower over the total lifetime of the road.

— There are other economic benefits such as, fewer road blockages, less stocking of essential supplies by communities, less damage to flora and fauna and less damage to private properties and cultural heritage sites.

(Source: ‘Green roads’ are key for sustainability in the Himalayas by Sandeep Tambe and Vinod B Mathur)

Points to Ponder

Green Highways

Related Previous Year Questions

How are the fjords formed? Why do they constitute some of the most picturesque areas of the world? (2023)

In what way can floods be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in India? (2017)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 31)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 32)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 33)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 32)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 32)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 33)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.