UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice

UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 34)

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.

Discuss how western disturbances affect weather patterns in India.

The transformation of India’s digital landscape has made education inclusive. Discuss

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: Discuss how western disturbances affect weather patterns in India.

Body:

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

— Western disturbances are storms that originate over the Mediterranean Sea region and may bring rainfall to northwestern India in the winter.

— Winter precipitation in the Himalayan region is caused mainly by Western Disturbances. These are large eastward-moving rain-bearing wind systems that originate beyond Afghanistan and Iran, picking up moisture from as far as the Mediterranean Sea and even the Atlantic Ocean.

— Western Disturbances are the primary source of rainfall over north and northwest India during the post-monsoon and winter months.

— Western Disturbances are the third major contributors to India’s annual rainfall after south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon.

— Western disturbances have been showing a declining trend in recent times.

Recent Examples

— Jammu and Kashmir normally, the region gets its first snowfall in the first half of December, and then through most of January. But it has been mostly dry this season.

— Ladakh has had no precipitation at all in December or January.

— Mumbai recorded hottest January in last 10 years.

Conclusion:

— During winters, about four to six western disturbance events happen every month on an average.

— The winter snow is a source of steady moisture to the soil that is vital for winter crops, particularly horticulture.

(Source: Why Kashmir and Ladakh are without snow this winter, its implications by Alind Chauhan , Amitabh Sinha, Why Mumbai is sweltering this January: Three reasons by Nayonika Bose)

Points to Ponder

South-west monsoon and the North-east monsoon.