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 the impact of the climate change on the Indian coastline.

The 299-member Constituent Assembly had a bright set of 15 women who came from diverse backgrounds. Discuss the role of women who wrote the Constitution of India.

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 the impact of the climate change on the Indian coastline.

Body:

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

— Around the world, coastlines are expected to experience one of the most significant effects of climate change. Stronger waves and currents brought on by rising sea levels are expected to modify coasts and perhaps inundate or even submerge many low-lying regions.

— India has a coastline that stretches about 7,500 kilometres. While current research indicates that sea-level rise in this area is likely to be smaller than in many other locations, this does not mean that there is no risk.

— A new study by scientists of IIT Bombay has now concluded that the impacts of climate change on India’s coasts, at least in terms of:

(i) Coastal sediment transport,

(ii) Shoreline erosion and

(iii) Overall coastal vulnerability.

— The amount and rate of erosion of coastlines is generally studied using data from the past and extrapolating the changes into the future.

— Wind vectors influence wave height as well as direction, and also the currents that in turn affect the rates of coast sediment transport and erosion.

— For example, the coast in Udupi of Karnataka is likely to be around a 25% increase in average wind speeds, resulting in about a 35% increase in mean wave height in the region.

— Increased sediment transport would probably cause erosion to increase by 1.5 times during the next 30 years compared to the preceding three decades.

— There are various factors where the coastline is uninterrupted or is interspersed with barriers like harbours or river-mouths play a role such as different location and local geo-morphology.

— There is likely to be greater attack on our beaches and coasts in the future which will lead to a greater vulnerability of the coastline.

Conclusion:

— More studies, based on projected data and using new and sophisticated climate models, require to be undertaken for a better assessment of the potential impacts.

— In the meanwhile, we need to strictly enforce the current regulations, including the Coastal Regulation Zone rules.

(Source: How climate change can erode Indian coastline more intensely than ever)

Points to Ponder

Important places on Indian coasts

Climate change

Related Previous Year Questions

Discuss the consequence of Climate change on the food security in tropical countries. (2023)

What are the forces that influence ocean currents? Describe their role in fishing industry of the world. (2022)

How will the melting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India? (2020)

QUESTION 2: The 299-member Constituent Assembly had a bright set of 15 women who came from diverse backgrounds. Discuss the role of women who wrote the Constitution of India.

Introduction:

— The 299-member Constituent Assembly had a bright set of 15 women who came from diverse backgrounds and endured patriarchy, caste oppression, child marriage and widowhood.

— These experiences informed their discussions, arguments and positions on subjects like reservations, minority rights and legislative finances.

— During the debate around the Hindu Code Bill, members like Durgabai Deshmukh and Hansa Kumari made strong arguments for a Uniform Civil Code, which they believed would ensure more equality for women.

— Dakshayani Velayudhan and Begum Aziaz Rasul opposed reservations and separate electorates for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. They argued that reservations would perpetuate the unbridgeable divide between minorities and the majority.

Body:

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

— These women fought for an India that would reflect the contributions of both genders. Their main objective was to achieve political, social, and economic equality for all members of society. Even though these women were subjected to offensive remarks from some members of the Constituency Assembly, they spoke their opinions and were instrumental in shaping the independent and secular nation of India.

Annie Mascarene

— She fought to integrate the princely state of Travancore into the newly independent India and became the first woman to hold a ministerial and legislative assembly position in Travancore.

— Mascarene in the Constituent Assembly Debates firmly believed in the centralisation of power for a smooth functioning of a democracy.

— She also warned against complete centralisation which would negatively affect the nature of democratic institutions.

Hansa Jivraj Mehta

— On August 15, 1947 as the country celebrated its Independence and President Rajendra Prasad took the pledge of freedom, Mehta presented the country’s first national flag on behalf of the women of India.

— Mehta remained committed to women’s issues throughout her life and, in the Constituent Assembly, made strong arguments against reservations for women.

Dakshayani Velayudhan

— Velayudhan affirmed that the Constituent Assembly does not just “provide a new framework for the country but also grants the people a new framework of life”.

— She was a Gandhian and opposed untouchability. She supported Article 17 of the Constitution which abolishes untouchability.

Amrit Kaur

— Amrit Kaur played an important role both during the freedom struggle and in shaping independent India. Kaur joined Gandhi in the Civil Disobedience movement in 1930 and was passionate about the political participation of women.

— She advocated for the Uniform Civil Code along with Hansa Mehta and wanted to replace “free practice of religion” with “freedom of religious worship” in the draft Constitution.

Ammu Swaminathan

— She actively fought to erase caste-based discrimination in India.

— In 1917, she formed the Women’s India Association along with Annie Besant to address the social and economic problems of women workers.

— In the Constituent Assembly, Swaminathan supported the adult franchise and the removal of untouchability.

Durgabai Deshmukh

— She is remembered as the ‘Mother of Social Work’, Durgabai Deshmukh was one of the drivers of rigorous nation-building and social reform.

— She pioneered the Andhra Mahila Sabha in 1937, which became an institution of education and social welfare.

— In the Constituent Assembly, she weighed in on judicial matters and advocated lowering the age from 35 to 30 to hold a seat in the Council of Ministers.

Begum Aizaz Rasul

— She was the only Muslim woman member in the Constituent Assembly and advocated for minority rights in a secular state.

— Rasul was also the President of the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation and established the All India Women’s Hockey Association for 20 years.

Vijaya Laxmi Pandit

— In the Assembly, Pandit emphasised the responsibilities of a free India towards its citizens and other countries.

— Vijaya Laxmi Pandit was the first woman cabinet minister in the British era. She was also one of the first leaders to call for an Indian constituent assembly to frame a Constitution.

— She was the only woman delegate at the United Nations Organisation Conference. She was also the first woman President of the UN General Assembly in 1953.

(Source: The women who wrote the Constitution of India)

Points to Ponder

Vijaya Laxmi Pandit

Related Previous Year Questions

How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism? Discuss. (2018)

Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.’ Substantiate your view. (2018)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 39)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 40)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 41)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 40)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 41)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 40)

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