UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 33)Premium Story

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing 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-2 to check your progress.

Discuss how the current phase of Red Sea shipping attacks differs from prior threats posed by Somali pirates in the region. What impact will it have on India?

The relationship between India and Maldives is going through considerable strain. Discuss.

Introduction

— An introduction 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 a trusted source and include authenticated 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 the current phase of Red Sea shipping attacks differs from prior threats posed by Somali pirates in the region. What impact will it have on India?

Introduction:

— Red Sea, one of the most significant shipping routes in the world, is seeing tensions rise as a spillover of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

— The situation around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, has escalated due to recent attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants.

Body:

— The Houthis are a rebel group locked in a civil war with the Yemen government for almost a decade. Houthi militants from Yemen have attacked or seized commercial ships 12 times.

— These illegal attacks are an unacceptable threat to the global economy, undermining regional security and are threatening to drive up fuel prices.

How is the current phase of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea different from the threats posed by Somali pirates in the region in an earlier phase?

— Between 2000 and 2016, Somali pirates posed a continual threat to trade ships in the Gulf of Aden (into which the Red Sea opens in the south via the Bab al-Mandab Strait), the Guardafui Channel (near the point of the Horn of Africa), and the Somali Sea.

— Unlike the attacks by the Houthis, the Somali pirate actions had no overt political agenda or goals, and were essentially hijackings for ransom.

— From 2016 to 2022 there were no pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden area, and from being an HRA (High Risk Area) it had been designated an HSA (Heightened Security Area).

Impact on India

— Concerns have been raised in recent weeks about Iran-backed Houthi terrorists attacking several commercial ships in the Red Sea as part of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

— Ports, Shipping and Waterways secretary T K Ramachandran said the problems in the Red Sea will have “no impact” on India’s maritime trade with the rest of the world.

— The Indian Navy is continuing to monitor the maritime security situation in the North and Central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Conclusion:

— The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, often known as the “Gate of Tears” in Arabic, connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. It connects Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.

— The group is named after the Houthi tribe. The Houthis are Zaydi Shias backed by Iran, while the Yemen government has the support of Iran’s biggest rival Saudi Arabia and the West.

(Source: Problems in Red Sea will have no impact on India’s maritime trade: Shipping secretary Ramachandra, Attacks on ships, costly rerouting and more: What is happening in Red Sea, as spillover of Gaza war by Rishika Singh, Politics and piracy: How Houthi attacks in Red Sea are different from the earlier Somali hijackings by Parthasarathi Biswas)

Points to Ponder

Israel-Hamas conflict

Red Sea