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-3 to check your progress.

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When: WEDNESDAY | Jan 31, 2024 | 6:00 PM

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What are melanistic tigers and what makes tigers melanistic? How setting up a melanistic tiger safari near Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) will boost tourism?

The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 has successfully achieved all its objectives. 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: What are melanistic tigers and what makes tigers melanistic? How setting up a melanistic tiger safari near Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) will boost tourism?

Introduction:

— Melanism is a genetic condition in which an increased production of melanin, a substance in the skin that produces hair, eye, and skin pigmentation, results in black (or nearly black) skin, feathers, or hair in an animal.

— Many royal Bengal tigers of Similipal belong to a unique lineage with higher-than-normal levels of melanin, which gives them black and yellow interspersed stripes on their coats.

— These tigers are not entirely black, and are therefore more accurately described as being pseudo-melanistic.

Body:

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

What makes tigers melanistic?

— Uma Ramakrishnan and her student Vinay Sagar of the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NBCS) in Bengaluru discovered that a single mutation in the gene Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep) causes black tigers to develop stripes that appear to have broadened or spread into the tawny background.

— Genetic examinations of other Indian tiger populations, as well as computer simulations, reveal that the Similipal black tigers are inbred and descended from a tiny founding population of tigers.

— The STR cats live in isolation from other tigers, so they reproduce among themselves.

— Approximately 37 per cent of tigers in the Similipal Tiger Reserve are pseudomelanistic, characterized by wide, merged stripes.

Setting up a melanistic tiger safari near Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)

— Melanistic tigers have been recorded only in the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha. As per the 2022 cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation, 16 individuals were recorded at Similipal Tiger Reserve, out of which 10 were melanistic.

— Susanta Nanda, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Odisha, stated that approximately 200 hectares of land along the Dhanbad-Balasore National Highway-18 have been identified for the proposed safari. The place is around 15 kilometres from the STR and has a scenery similar to Simlipal.

— The safari aims to allow wildlife conservationists, researchers, and enthusiasts to see the rare big cats from up close, and to create awareness about the need for their conservation.

— The sighting of tigers is difficult in STR because of its vast area, and the safari has been proposed as an added attraction for visitors to Similipal.

The state government will also have to obtain other statutory clearances, including approval from the Central Zoo Authority, a body under the Environment Ministry that has oversight over zoos in the country.

(Source: What are Odisha’s famous black tigers, and why is the state planning a safari around them? by Sujit Bisoyi)

Points to Ponder

Tiger Reserves in India

NTCA

Related Previous Year Questions

Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India’s wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites. (2023)

How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? (2018)

QUESTION 2: The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 has successfully achieved all its objectives. Discuss.

Introduction:

— POEM-3, India’s innovative low-cost space platform based on the spent PS4 stage of the PSLV-C58 vehicle that launched XPoSat on January 1, 2024, has met all of its objectives.

— After deploying the satellite into its intended 650 km orbit, the vehicle was lowered to a 350 km circular orbit to reduce the time of orbit degradation once the experiment was completed.

— It is a three-axis attitude-controlled platform with power generation, telecommand, and telemetry capabilities to support payloads.

Body:

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

— POEM-3 carried nine payloads from VSSC, PRL, academia, and space start-ups inducted through IN-SPACe. The experiments include:

— Women Engineered Satellite (WESAT) developed by LBS Institute of Technology for Women to study the comparison between solar irradiance and UV index;

— A radiation shielding experiment;

— An amateur radio;

— Three propulsion systems by space start-ups, and an interplanetary dust count experiment by Physical Research Laboratory;

— Two types of fuel cell systems were developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. One of the fuel cells that uses hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity and releases heat and water as bi-product is expected to be a precursor for energy systems required for a space station.

Conclusion:

— After completing all objectives, more tests with POEM-3 are intended to generate data for future missions, including impending POEM configurations. With the orbital decay and return of POEM-3 in three months, the PSLV-C58 XPoSat mission will leave no debris in space.

— India has targeted setting up a space station in the low Earth orbit by 2035.

(Source: ISRO’s space platform POEM-3 achieves all payload objectives, set to re-enter Earth, www.isro.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

ARKA200 (Xenon Based Electric Propulsion)

RUDRA (HAN based Green Propellant Thruster)

Other space missions of ISRO

Related Previous Year Questions

What is the main task of India’s third moon mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the Virtual Launch Control Centre’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota. (2023)

Launched on 25th December, 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes? What are the key goals of this mission? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race? (2022)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 35)

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

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 35)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 34)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 34)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 35)

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