Insights IAS GS Analytica

SAMPLE ANSWERS/SYNOPSIS

Question: UPSC CSE 2021 – GS1

Q15. How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the
weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain. (Answer in 250 words)
Introduction 1
As per the latest IPCC report (AR6), Arctic ice is at its lowest level in more than 150 years and
Antarctic Glaciers are declining at an unprecedented rate. This may adversely affect global
sea levels, salinity levels, and weather patterns, thus impacting human livelihood as well.
OR
Introduction 2
Arctic and Antarctic regulate the earth’s atmospheric and ocean circulation by maintaining
the temperature contrast between tropical and Polar Regions. However, unprecedented
melting of polar ice due to global warming is threatening to disturb this balance, thus
affecting weather patterns and human livelihood.

Body
Impact of melting on Weather Pattern

Features Arctic ice Antarctic Glacier

Impact on Jet Melting of arctic sea ice will Melting glacier disturbs polar
Stream weaken the polar jet stream, vortex, thus causing Sudden
thus destabilising polar vortex. stratospheric warming in
• This aggravates freezing Antarctica
cold waves in American • Increased wildfire incidence
and Europe during winter in Australia in 2019-2020
was related to SSW

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 •
It also causes Heat waves
in other parts where
warm air reaches polar
areas e.g. Heat dome in
Canada last year caused
the temperature to rise
upto 49.5 degree C
Global sea level Arctic sea ice melting doesn’t Antarctic glacier melting add
rise impact sea level directly freshwater, thus disturbing
thermo-haline circulation.
This could impact El nino and La
nina phenomenon
Weakening Melting ice weakens Atlantic
AMOC Meridional Overturning
Circulation
• This will weaken Gulf
stream, thus making
eastern America
extremely cold and may
weaken monsoon over
south-Asian region

Permafrost It will release large amount of

Melting methane gas which will further
increase global temperature and
disturb carbon cycle
Amplification of IPCC report points out that Arctic Feedback loop: Melting glacier
temperature region has been warming at twice weakens the albedo, thus
the rate of global average, thus increasing temperature, which
causing Arctic amplification further increases melting rate

Impact of melting on Human activities

Negative Impact:
• On communities: Arctic communities are extremely vulnerable to ice and permafrost
melting e.g. Inuit hunters (North Greenland) are finding it difficult to hunt seals,
walrus and polar bears.
• On Food security: Rising sea level due to Antarctic glacier melting is making large part
of land uncultivable.
o Further, Heat waves and weather unpredictability is leading to crop loss.
• On livelihood: Warming sea temperature is shifting marine ecosystem northward,
thus affecting fishing and other livelihood activities of coastal communities
• On coastal cities: rising coastal erosion, storm surge is threatening coastal cities.
Reports say, South Mumbai could be submerged by 2050. Indonesia is shifting its
capital from Jakarta to Nusantara due to sea level rise.

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 • On disaster management: Increasing Heat waves, wildfires, super storms are making
human life further vulnerable to disaster
Positive impact:
• Opening trade route: The distance from Rotterdam to Yokohama will be cut by 40%
compared to the Suez route.
• Increased accessibility of resources: 25% of rare earth is believed to be buried in
Greenland. Further, oil and natural gas will become easy to exploit due to melting
Arctic ice.

Conclusion:
IPCC warns that melting of ice and glacier will become irreversible unless, urgent actions are
not implemented. What is needed is global consensus on sustainable resource utilization of
arctic regions as well as actions plan to reduce global warming.

How relevant was InsightsIAS Mains test series in answering this question
 We already asked similar Questions in our test series
 Q. What factors are responsible for the ice-albedo feedback that has extended
the melting season in the Arctic in recent times? (10M) (IWIL21 Test 21)
 Q. “Changes in the Arctic and global ecosystem, induced by melting Arctic
ice, can be highly disruptive for India”. Elaborate. (Core Batch Intensive Test
31, Mini IPM Test 16)
 Q. Highlight the major observations of the recent Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) report. In light of this latest report, discuss the
measures that the world and India needs to take urgently to combat climate
change (15M)

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Question: UPSC CSE 2021 - GS3

Syllabus: Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in
everyday life

Q16. The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and
Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in 1990s. How has this invention impacted the
everyday life of human beings? (Answer in 250 words)
Introduction 1:
LEDs are light emitting system which is much more efficient, durable and cheaper. Invention
of LEDs and in particular blue LEDs have revolutionised lives of human beings in
unprecedented ways - from LED used in mobile screens to LED bulbs used in homes and
streetlights to LED used in Quantum technology. The contribution towards invention of blue
LED was recognized by Nobel committee in 2014.
Introduction 2:
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when a current flows
through it. In order to get white light, Green and Red LEDs had already been invented in 1950s
and 60s, but blue LEDs was missing link, which was eventually invented by the trio of scientists
in 1990s and therefore received Nobel Prize in 2014.
Body:

Why Nobel Prize was awarded for the invention of Blue LEDs:

• The Invention was revolutionary as it completed the spectrum of primary colours

(Red-Green-Blue): This led to production of White and other coloured lights

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 • Redefined lighting industry: Led to mass production of LEDs and boost to the photo-
electronic industry

• Overcame the issue of tinkering blue LEDs: While red and green LEDs have already
been around for nearly half a century, for 30 years could only produce dim blue LEDs
with very limited applications.

• Widespread impact in everyday life of people of all sections: Be it poor to rich,

everyone comes in contact with usage of LEDs every day e.g. through Mobile phones
or traffic lights

Impact of blue LEDs on everyday life of Human beings

 Saving on Cost: Invention of blue LED led to the mass production of white LEDs,
thereby reducing the cost for common men
 Under UJALA scheme, government bulk procured white LED lamps and has
till date has distributed over 36cr LED bulbs at subsidized rates.
 Greater Efficiency, Luminosity (brightness) and Durability: LEDs are 10 times more
durable and efficient (LEDs also last up to 100,000 hours, compared to 10,00 hours for
incandescent bulbs)
 High applicability: The invention of blue LED has led to the production of different
shades of light and over various applications in different sizes e.g. LED TVs, O-LED,
smartphones, Traffic light, Medical sensors or laptops with retina screens, etc.

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  LEDs offer higher contrast than their predecessor technologies and are also
energy efficient.
 Organic-LED or O-LED offers flexibility in shaping the screens e.g. Curved
screen TV, Mobiles
 Reachability to far areas: LED lamps being efficient and durable are used in off-grid
solar power usages in far and remote regions where traditional supply of electricity is
not possible
 On Environment: Being more efficient and durable, LEDs is expected to play major
role in carbon emission cut in power sector without compromising the energy security
of people.
 As per government data, UJALA scheme has saved over 386 crore tonnes of
reduction in CO2 emissions, resulting from inefficient lighting.
 Reduced release of toxic mercury, which was used in fluorescent lamps.
 On Economy: Invention of blue LEDs gave a boost to the new industry of photo-
electronics. Its use in various fields such as optical communication, alarm and
security systems, remote-controlled operations, robotics, etc. has given boost to
domestic LED industry.
 It has given impetus to creation of jobs
 On lifestyles: LEDs enhanced quality of the product and availability of better
specifications for the consumers e.g. Smart LED Bulbs changes colours as per the mood
and gives relaxation. E.g. Philips Hue
 Looking into the future, UV-emitting LEDs could be used to create basic yet effective
water-purification systems, because UV light can destroy micro-organisms.

LEDs do have negative impact as well:

 Impact on Human Health: As per studies, life-long exposure of the retina and lens to
blue peaks from LEDs can increase the risk of cataracts and age-related muscular
degeneration.
 Impact on animals: LED lights seem to adversely affect species in different ways.
Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings can be lured inland by artificial light rather than into
the ocean, while migrating juvenile Salmon's attraction to light may leave them
vulnerable to predators.
 Increased import dependence: Since India has to import most of the semi-conductor
products, large usage of LED has increased India’s trade deficit
 India imports 100% of its semiconductors, spending about $24 billion annually

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 Conclusion:
In this digital age, the invention of Blue LED is continuing to find its usefulness in advanced
technologies such as Li-Fi, Quantum Technology (wherein ‘light’ can be used as a unit of
Qbits), etc. The government needs to create an ecosystem for the LED-based electronic
industry in India and also encourage safer and wider use of LEDs for its people.
With 20% of the world's electricity used for lighting, it's been calculated that optimal use
of LED lighting could reduce this to 4%.

Question: UPSC CSE 2021 – GS2

Q10. “The USA is facing an existential threat in the form of a China that is much more
challenging than the erstwhile Soviet Union.” Explain. (Answer in 150 words)

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s
interests

Introduction 1:
USA’s global hegemony is being threatened by the ‘rise of China’ and is proving to be an
existential threat in terms of Trade War, Global governance (AIIB vs IMF), Economic
competition (e.g. China’s BRI initiative), Asymmetric warfare, etc.
Introduction 2:
Growing rivalry, competition, and contention between USA and China in the current
geopolitical circumstances have been termed as ‘existential threat’ for the USA (US Strategic
Document, 2021). This can be seen in form of China’s rising economic, strategic and
asymmetric warfare capabilities. Some experts have called this a ‘New Cold War’.

Body:
For the body, I usually used this formula to create dimensions in my answer for most of the
IR questions:

𝑇𝑃2 𝑆 2 𝐶 2 𝐸

(Remember it as Tamil nadu Public Service Commission Exam)

P= Political

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P= People to People
S= Strategic
S= Security
C= Connectivity
C= Cultural
E= Economy
T= Technology

USA existential threat in the Past and the Present:

Features Past: Challenges from Present: Challenge from China

erstwhile USSR
Political Soviet’s Socialism Vs Challenge to democracy: US democracy Vs
USA Capitalism China’s ‘authoritarian’ one-party rule
Challenge to US-led global order: E.g. AIIB
Vs IMF
These are much more challenging as against
direct threats in the past, threats from
China are veiled and indirect (No Overt
Conflict)

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 Strategic US-Soviet hegemonic Hegemonic Challenge: USA and China are
competition in Bi-Polar fighting for regional and economic
world dominance e.g. China’s 9 dash lines in the
South China Sea Vs USA’s ‘Pivot to Asia’ and
QUAD

Multi-Polar world (countries such as

Russia, India, and Japan, act as swing
states, as they have a choice whether or not
to align with the US or China.)
Security Conventional and Military Challenge: Although the USA has
Nuclear weapons clear advantages in traditional weapons,
balance was China is developing ‘Asymmetric warfare’
comparatively similar for e.g. China’s Quantum satellite Micius
both the countries (Space Warfare)
Cyber Challenge: China is using cyber-
espionage e.g. Huawei Security scandal
2019
These are much more challenging than
traditional Nuclear weapons based threat

Connectivity China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) as well

as ‘String of Pearls’ is threatening the USA
and its allies
Cultural Regulated Society Challenge to American value system: China
not only regulates its society but also there
is an allegation of meddling into the
democratic system of democratic
countries e.g. China meddling in the
election of Taiwan (US’s ally)
Economic Far less integrated; a Challenge of Trade deficit: A highly
interdependence world divided into economically integrated world with China
Marshall Plan(US block) enjoying a trade surplus of over $500bn
vs. Cominform (USSR with the US
block) USA indebted: China owns over 3.6% of the
USA’s national debt
Technology Earlier era was marked Technologically, China has emerged as the
by the Technology global manufacturing hub
race(by the 1970s, the It controls over 80% of the supply chain on
US was rapidly Critical Rare Earth Metals
outpacing the Soviet
Union in technology,
especially consumer
electronics)

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What India should do in the present global context?

• Balanced approach: India should have a balanced approach with both China and the
USA based on its self-interests.
o US says India Is a Natural Ally of US in the New Cold War, and Chinese’s
Ambassador in India has lately argued writing “together a new chapter” with
“a shared future for mankind” with India.
• Good relation with the USA: A new Cold War between the US and China will help
deepen the US-India partnership (e.g. through QUAD) and ensure that India is not
facing China alone in case of conflict.
• Counter expansionist policy of China: India to have good relations with countries like
Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, etc. (which has a dispute with China)
• Opportunity to promote new multilateralism under India’s aegis of ‘Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam’- i.e. restructuring the societal behavior and economic order for
equitable sustainable development.
Conclusion:
The ‘new’ Cold War is much more evenly balanced and requires the US to be more cautious
and respectful while treating its partners. The US needs its allies more than it did during the
‘Old’ Cold War. As India has become a member of the UNSC and Hosts G-20 summit in 2022,
India should assume the leadership role and propose a new globalization model based on
equality, fairness, and, humanity.

How relevant was the InsightsIAS Mains test series:

We directly asked Questions on this:

• A ‘new Cold War’ between the US and China is very different from the US-Soviet
Cold War. Highlight the threats and opportunities that the current geopolitics present
for India. (Core Batch Intensive Test 33)
• Growing rivalry between the US and China could spell a strategic moment for India.
Comment. (10 Marks 150 words) (IPM’21 Test 10)
• “Developments in the recent past suggest that the US’s ability to shape global politics
is clearly receding.” Do you agree? Justify your arguments. 15 Marks (IPM’21 Test 10)

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