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APPROACH – ANSWER: G. S. MAINS MOCK TEST - 2418 (2023)

1. Elaborate on the key traits inherent to the sculptures of the Vijayanagara Empire. (Answer in
150 words) 10
Approach:
• Write a short note on the Vijayanagara empire.
• Highlight the key traits inherent to the sculptures of the empire.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
Established in 1336 by Harihara-I and Bukka Raya-I, the Vijayanagara empire was a Hindu
empire based in the Deccan plateau region of South India. The empire enjoyed its greatest
political and cultural prominence under Emperor Krishna Deva Raya. The Vijaynagara empire
patronized and encouraged development of sculpture, painting, and architecture, which was
reflected in the innovations in Hindu temple construction during this period (1336-1646 AD).
Key traits of the sculptures of the Vijayanagar empire include:
• Combination of multiple cultural influences: The Vijayanagara sculptures combined the
architectural models of the Chalukyas, Cholas, Pandyas and Hoysalas.
• Sculpture material: Local hard granite was the preferred building material for architecture
because of its durability. However, due to its proneness to flaking, soapstone, which was soft
and easily carved, was preferred for reliefs and sculptures. In order to cover the unevenness of
the sculptures, artists employed brightly painted plaster to smooth over and finish rough
surfaces.
• Tradition of bronze sculpture: The sculptors experimented with bronze portrait sculptures in
order to preserve knowledge of the royal patron for posterity. At Tirupati, life-size standing
portrait statues were cast in bronze, depicting Krishna Deva Raya with his two queens,
Tirumalamba and Chinnadevi. The sculptor has combined the likeness of the facial features
with certain elements of idealisation. The idealisation is further observed in the manner the
physical body is modelled to appear imposing as well as graceful. The standing king and
queens are depicted in praying posture, that is, both hands held in the ‘namaskara mudra’.
• Temple sculptures:
o Sculptures were integrally linked with architecture in the creation of the Vijayanagara
temples. Large life-size figures of men, women, gods, and goddesses adorn the gopuram of
many Vijayanagara temples. Temple pillars often have engravings of charging horses or
hippogryphs (yali)—horses standing on hind legs with their forelegs lifted and riders on
their backs. The horses on some pillars stand seven to eight feet tall. On the other side of the
pillars are often carvings from Hindu mythology.
o Another element of the Vijayanagara style is the carving and consecration of large
monolithic statues, such as the Sasivekalu Ganesha and Kadalekalu Ganesha at Hampi, the
Gommateshvara (Bahubali) monoliths in Karkala and Venur, and the Nandi bull in Lepakshi.
This style of sculpture can also be seen in the Vijayanagara temples of Kolar, Kanakagiri, Shringeri
and other towns of Karnataka; the temples of Tadpatri, Lepakshi, Ahobilam, Tirumala
Venkateswara, and Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh; and the temples of Vellore, Kumbakonam,
Kanchi, and Srirangam in Tamil Nadu. The mingling of South Indian styles under the Vijayanagara
empire resulted in a richness not seen in earlier centuries, including a focus on reliefs and
sculptures that surpassed that seen previously in India.
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2. Women revolutionaries made brave and unforgettable contributions to the freedom struggle in
India. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) 10
Approach:
• Give an overview of the role of women in the freedom struggle.
• Discuss the contributions of the women revolutionaries to the freedom struggle in India.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
The history of the Indian freedom struggle would be incomplete without mentioning the
contributions of women. They fought with true spirit and undaunted courage and faced various
tortures, exploitation and hardships to earn us freedom. They also took charge of the freedom
struggle at many instances when male freedom fighters were in prison.
The women revolutionaries and their contributions include:
• Leela Nag: She was the first woman to be recruited as a member of a revolutionary organisation
Dacca Shree Sangha in 1924. She established the Deepali Sangha, a revolutionary group that
provided combat training to women. Her strong patriotic editorials and radical ideas made her a
threat to the British.
• Bina Das: She played a key role in students’ protests against the Simon Commission. In 1932,
she opened fire on Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson in the convocation hall at Calcutta
University when she was supposed to get her graduation degree.
• Pritilata Waddedar: Inspired by Surya Sen, Waddedar joined his underground group. She
played an important role during the Chittagong Armoury Raid of April 1930, ruining the
telegraph and telephone lines.
• Durgawati Devi: She was a revolutionary who joined the armed struggle against colonial rule.
As a member of Naujawan Bharat Sabha, she helped Bhagat Singh escape in disguise from

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Lahore after the 1928 killing of the British officer Saunders. Later, as revenge for the hanging of
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Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, she made an unsuccessful attempt to kill the former Punjab
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Governor, Lord Hailey.

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• Kalpana Dutta: She was inspired by the martyrdom of Khudiram Bose and was one of the
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members of Surya Sen’s revolutionary group. She played a key part in the Chittagong
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Armoury Loot along with Surya Sen.

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• Shanti Ghosh (Das): Inspired by her senior Prafullanalini Brahma, Shanti became an active
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member of the revolutionary group, Yugantar. In 1931, Shanti Ghosh and Suniti Choudhury,
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aged 14 and 15 years respectively, shot dead the then District Magistrate of Comilla, Charles
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Geoffrey Buckland Stevens.

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• Nanibala Devi: Widowed at the age of 15, she joined the freedom struggle when she met her
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nephew Amarendranath Chatterjee, who was one of the foremost members of the revolutionary
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group Juganatar. She became an active participant in the struggle by helping planned attacks.
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Women revolutionaries made unforgettable contributions to the growth of militant nationalism in

India. Apart from their role in revolutionary activities, women also called upon their countrymen
and upon the British government the urgent need for social, economic, legal and political reforms to
improve the lives of women in the sub-continent.

3. Discuss how the introduction of English education in India by the British helped strengthen
anti-colonialism in the country. (Answer in 150 words) 10
Approach:
• Briefly provide the motives behind introduction of English education by the British in India.
• Discuss how it helped in strengthening the anti-colonial stand.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
The introduction of English in India was motivated by a mixture of anti-Orientalism, disdain for
local culture as well as administrative pragmatism. The administrative needs of the company
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 required Indians well-versed in the classic and vernacular languages. Further, speaking in English
was not enough. Indians had to think and behave like Englishmen as well. This pedagogic enterprise
of imperialism, therefore, was to inculcate a spirit of loyalty among its Indian subjects who would
believe in its providential nature and its civilising mission.
However, the new system of education had far-reaching consequences on strengthening the anti-
colonialism in India:
• As a moral study English did not function as effectively because there were not enough
material rewards for liberal education in India. More importantly, the educated Indians
selectively adopted this knowledge and deployed it to interrogate colonial rule itself.
• As government appointments were open only to people who knew English, two sets of people
emerged i.e., those who knew English and a non-English knowing mass of people. The barriers
of caste, conservatism and religious orthodoxy were hence dissolved, at least for the first
set of people.
• The slow and gradual promotion of Western learning in India ultimately led to a new spirit of
rationalism and a new critical outlook in the Indians which finally led to the emergence of a
spirit of nationalism; championing of self-rule and self-reliance.
• English served as the main catalyst propelling the Indian nationalists to accept the
Western model of nation-state as the defining principle of their nationalism. The early
nationalists, who mainly came from the Western educated elite, ignored the inner conflicts
within Indian society and assumed the existence of nation as a homogeneous entity with a
single set of interests.
• As a consequence of the spread of Western educational system, new notions of reason, justice
and utilitarian concerns of welfare began to mould the minds of the educated Indians in
search of an answer to the problems of poverty and impoverishment that plagued Indian
society of the late 19th century. It acted as a catalyst in fostering the awareness of colonial
economic exploitation.

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• A feeling of dissatisfaction also developed toward the existing governmental and missionary
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institutions. This led to the establishment of a few notable institutions aiming at imparting
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sound education to Indian youth on national lines such as the Anglo-Mohammedan Oriental
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College in Aligarh (1875), the D.A.V. College in Lahore (1886), and the Central Hindu College in
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Varanasi (1898).
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The colonial administration was keen to promote an education policy, which served its own
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interests. It totally ignored the importance of mass education. More emphasis was given to Western
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literature, philosophy and humanities, technology and natural science was neglected. At the end of
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the British rule in India, the literacy rate of India stood at just 12%. However, the few educated
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elites helped in exposing the exploitation of India by the British and served as the leaders of masses
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who fought for Indian independence.

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4. The disintegration of the Soviet Union in the late 20th century had a profound impact on India.
Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) 10
Approach:
• Briefly highlight the reasons behind the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
• Elaborate on the impact of the disintegration of the Soviet Union on India.
• Conclude appropriately.
Answer:
The USSR was a confederation of 15 republics with Russia as the leader. It disintegrated in 1991
into smaller units due to various factors, such as:
• Economic failure of Communism in Eastern Europe and the USSR.
• Rise of nationalism in countries like the Baltic republics, Ukraine, Georgia etc.
• The twin reforms i.e. Glasnost (political openness) and Perestroika (economic restructuring)
as reforms to revitalize the USSR.
• Gorbachev’s decision to allow elections with a multi-party system.
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 Disintegration of the USSR led to the end of the Cold War, arms race and ideological confrontation. It
further led to change in power equations resulting in a unipolar world. It also had a profound
impact on India.
Impact of disintegration of Soviet Union on India:
• Collapse of the Communist ideology: The collapse of the Soviet Union was the collapse of an
idea too, and with the discrediting of the Communist ideology, Indian Socialism which was the
guiding philosophy of statecraft and economic policy-making, confronted a crisis of
confidence.
• End of the ideological battle: The disintegration of the USSR showed the lacunae of the
Socialistic model of economic governance to the developing world. It was seen as a victory of
Capitalism over Socialism, often termed as the ‘end of ideology’ thesis.
o It was a lesson for India to rethink its economic leaning between Socialism and
Capitalism.
• Rise of the free-market economic model: Dominance of Western institutions like the IMF and
World Bank in the global economic governance pushed developing countries to adopt neo-
liberal economic policies.
o India adopted a free-market economic model in the form of LPG reforms post-1991.
• Decline in financial aid to other countries: Though a member of the Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM), India had mutual strategic cooperation with the USSR as per the 1971 Indo–Soviet
Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation. The financial aid from the Soviet Union to India
was significantly reduced due to the disintegration of the USSR.
o This was also one of the reasons for the balance of payments crisis of India in 1991.
• Pressure on India to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): Ever since the disintegration,
Indian public opinion and political parties have articulated deep concern over mounting
pressure from the USA on India to sign the NPT.
o Arm-twisting tactics of the USA was evident in the case of the supply of rocket

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technology to India by Russia. co
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Although the transformation of India is attributable to several causes, the collapse of the Soviet
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Union had its share in the same, especially with respect to the change in political ideas and
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philosophy.
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5. In view of the prevailing issues, discuss the need for reforming the urban infrastructure and
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mobility services in India through a gender lens. (Answer in 150 words) 10

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Approach:
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Discuss the constraints faced by women in urban areas.

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• State why urban spaces must be designed from a gender perspective.

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• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
All the inhabitants of a city do not have a common, universal urban experience. Building
infrastructure in cities that is gender-blind can lead to the social and economic exclusion of a large
section of the population, as it affects their ability to access, navigate and participate in the city.
Seeing from a gender lens, cities often fail to address women’s needs of infrastructure and
mobility in the following ways:
• All over the world, nearly one in three women do not have access to safe, inclusive toilets.
• A lack of safe public space and parks, coupled with unaffordable accommodation, promote
gender-based violence and exclusion, especially for older and disabled women.
• Nursing mothers often find themselves in a quandary when they are out in public and they
need to nurse.
• Women are disproportionately burdened with household tasks such as collecting water, which
requires them to travel long distances, leaving less time for other activities like education
and employment.
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 ○ A study by the National Commission for Women found that on an average, a rural woman in
India walks more than 14000 km a year just to fetch water.
• According to the Women and Mobility study conducted in Bhopal, Gwalior and Jodhpur, 50% of
sexual harassment cases against women in cities took place while using public transport
and 16% while waiting.
• Usually, women tend to travel more chain trips and non-work related trips, compared to
men due to dual responsibility.
Considering these issues, there is a need for reforming the urban infrastructure and mobility
services across all fronts, some of which include:
• Physical infrastructure: It includes well-lit streets, footpaths, free public toilets that are open
24/7, parks, benches, etc.
○ Women are more likely to travel during off-peak hours. Thus, it needs to be ensured that
transit stops and stations are well surveilled, as they are often deserted during off-peak
hours.
• Social infrastructure: It includes community housing, shelter homes, public child-care
facilities, and skill development centers.
○ Safe, free and comfortable spaces for women to stop and nurse their babies in the public
realm must be designed into the city.
• Mobility infrastructure: It includes free or low-cost public transport, particularly quality bus
transport ensuring adequate frequency and connectivity, and well-maintained bus stands.
○ Women are amongst the biggest users of public transport across Indian cities. Therefore,
establishing well-connected and safe public transport is a must.
○ Hiring more female staff and providing women exclusive transport facilities can be utilized
to address their safety concerns.
○ There should be focus on improving walking and cycling infrastructure to ease first and last
mile connectivity for women.

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○ New routes and schedules should be introduced based on data on women’s mobility.
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• Institutional infrastructure: It includes public hospitals and reproductive health facilities,
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mental health facilities, legal aid centers, one-stop crisis centers.

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○ Their location makes all the difference in their accessibility to women. Thus, these
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institutions should be established in the vicinity of almost all residential areas.

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In this context, women representatives and leaders can bring the needs and requirements of
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women users to the forefront in the urban planning debate and help realize their right to the city
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and inclusive urban development.

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6. In India, the rate of growth of elderly population in 2011-21 was about three times the rate of
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growth of the general population. In this context, discuss why policies for the elderly are a
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crucial aspect for India's overall development. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Approach:
• Give an overview of the elderly population in India.
• Discuss why policies for the elderly are crucial for India’s overall development.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
India’s elderly population (aged 60 and above) is projected to touch 194 million in 2031 from 138
million in 2021, a 41 per cent increase over a decade, according to the National Statistical Office’s
(NSO) Elderly in India 2021 report. This points towards a concept called 2nd Demographic
Dividend, where the accumulated wealth of the elderly can be put to use in both economic and
human development of the country.
Given the importance, it becomes imperative to have policies specifically designed for geriatric
care. The policies must focus on rectifying the following issues faced by the elderly population:

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 • Health issues: With growing age, various anatomical and physiological changes often lead to
reduced immunity, poor health and morbidity. Also, the rising costs of healthcare necessitates
proper policy framework to cater to the needs of this section of the population.
• Income insecurity: Retirement and subsequent loss of income aggravates issues related to
costly geriatric healthcare, lowering of self-esteem, etc.
• Adoption of technology: Technology has a significant role to play in positive ageing. However,
the elderly often struggle in understanding and adopting various new and emerging
technologies. Policies must focus on bridging this digital divide for them.
• Awareness generation: Inaccessibility to social security schemes owing to lack of awareness
about the schemes for the elderly, eligibility criteria and cumbersome procedures are some of
the major reasons for low accessibility.
• Framing holistic laws: Currently, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens
Act, 2007, is applicable prospectively. As a result, many elderly persons who transferred their
property before the enactment of the Act cannot take legal action against their children. Also,
the Act does not contain any assurance for the childless elderly.
Addressing these issues through a comprehensive policy is crucial for India’s development due to
the following reasons:
• Economic development: The elderly population makes substantial contributions to the
economy through participation in the formal or informal workforce (often beyond retirement
age), taxes and consumption, and transfers of assets and resources to their families and
communities.
• Unpaid care work: Elderly persons, particularly women, play a vital role in providing unpaid
care for spouses, grandchildren and other relatives, including those with disabilities.
• Political participation: With variation across contexts, the elderly in some countries, notably
in advanced democracies, can carry significant weight, which is mostly associated with the
concentration of economic resources and a tradition of political participation.

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• Social capital: Many elderly persons tend to be actively involved in community and civic life
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through volunteering, governance of public institutions, and participation in community-based
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institutions.
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With the growing proportion of the elderly persons in the global population, there is greater
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acknowledgement of the importance of ageing, as it provides significant opportunities for

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sustainable development.
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7. While globalisation is allegedly responsible for human rights violations, it allows human rights
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movements to counter its excesses and negative effects. Elaborate with relevant examples.
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(Answer in 150 words) 10

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Approach:
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• In the introduction, explain globalisation and its general impact.

• Explain how globalisation leads to violation of human rights.
• Explain how globalisation allows human rights movements to counter its excesses.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
Globalisation is a process of interaction and integration among the people, communities, and
governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided
by information technology.
• Globalisation has proved to be a double edged sword. It has been allegedly responsible for
human rights violations as follows: Globalisation has led to relocation of industries to areas
where it not only leads to environmental degradation but also directly impacts the rights of
forest dwellers, indigenous people dependent on natural resources as was argued in the case of
establishment of POSCO plant, a South Korean steel major in Odisha.
• Trans-National Companies (TNCs) are increasingly becoming more powerful and influential
and often use their influence to encourage governments to adopt policies of liberalization,
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 deregulation and privatization that ignore human rights as well as rights of workers. For
instance, in the 1990s, Nike sportswear was plagued with damning reports that its global
supply chain was being supported by child labour in places like Cambodia and Pakistan.
• Increased use of technology raised issues related to the right to privacy. Similarly
technologies, such as digitalization, biotechnology and human cloning, etc. have serious
implications for the realization of various human rights.
• Globalisation has led to a culture of consumerism where corporations strive hard and
compete fiercely to increase their profits and capture more market share. For example, the use
of famous personalities or women in sexually explicit advertisements. It dictates life's
priorities not on the basis of rational and free decision making but on corporate interests, which
poses a serious challenge to the realization of human rights.
• The Copenhagen Declaration itself recognizes that the rapid processes of change and
adjustment due to globalisation have been accompanied by intensified poverty, unemployment
and social disintegration.
However, the same globalisation has also promoted human rights movements that counter its own
excesses as explained below:
• Globalisation has led to the development of legislations such as the International Covenants on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
under Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which ensure protection of human rights.
• International bodies such as the IMF and World Bank provide loans and policy advice to the
developing nations to eradicate poverty and the WTO agreements try to balance the norms and
standards of human rights along with the economic aspects of the liberalization of trade.
• Globalisation has contributed to the development of corporate social responsibility and the
concern for the accountability of non-state actors, such as transnational corporations for
their activities, particularly when impacting negatively on the environment, on communities,
and so on.

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• Consumer boycotts and campaigns have also led TNCs to be more attentive to social
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responsibility and to their reputation risk.
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• It has also helped in opening up the avenues, and acceptance of rights of women, as well as
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those belonging to depressed class/caste/race, etc.

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There is a need to rethink about the manner in which globalisation spreads. The world should strive
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towards ethical globalisation.

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8. The present drainage system of the Himalayas is, to a great extent, the result of progressive
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river piracy. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) 10

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Approach:
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• Give a brief introduction to stream piracy.

• Describe how the present drainage system of the Himalayas is the result of progressive stream
piracy.
• Give a brief conclusion.
Answer:
The diversion of the part of the course of a river by another river is called stream diversion or
stream/river capture or stream piracy. River capture is a natural process, which is more active in
the youthful stage of the valley development because the streams are actively engaged in
headward erosion and valley lengthening but it can also occur during mature and senile stages of
the valley development through the process of lateral erosion and meander intersection.
The drainage system refers to the origin and development of streams and their channels through
time. It is believed that the present drainage system of the Himalayas is the outcome of
progressive river piracy during various stages of drainage development. The headward erosion
has been the most active process of river capture in the Himalayas. River capturing has been a
frequent phenomenon in the evolution of the present drainage system of Himalayas which can be
understood with the help of following examples:
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 • Yarlung Tsangpo was sequentially captured by the paleo-Red, Irrawaddy and Lohit Rivers,
before its final capture by the Brahmaputra.
• The Arun Kosi, a head tributary of the Kosi river, has captured the Phung Cho, a southern
tributary of the Tsangpo (the upper part of Brahmaputra) river.
• Two head-tributaries of the Ganga e.g. the Bhagirathi and the Vishnuganga have captured
the source tributaries of the Sutlej river.
• The deviation in the course of the Saraswati river is believed to be caused by river piracy.
The headward erosion by the Yamuna cut the channel deeper and deeper eventually leading to
the capture of the flow of the Saraswati.
• The water divide between the tributaries of the Song river (a tributary of the Ganga river) and
the Asan river (a tributary of the Yamuna river) is only a few metres wide near Dehradun. It is
expected that the Song river may capture the Asan river and thus the upper course of the
Yamuna may be diverted to the Ganga via the Asan and the Song rivers.
In the initial stage of their development, most of the streams and their tributaries are engaged in
active headward erosion resulting in continuous creeping or shifting of water divides and
lengthening of their valley thalwegs. The stronger and more powerful streams (in terms of channel
gradient, stream velocity and discharge and kinetic energy) capture the upper courses of weak and
sluggish streams.

9. Illustrate the geographical distribution of polymetallic nodules and discuss their significance.
(Answer in 150 words) 10
Approach:
• Give a brief introduction about polymetallic nodules.
• Give details regarding the distribution of polymetallic nodules.
• Write about significance of polymetallic nodules.

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• Conclude accordingly. co
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Answer:
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Polymetallic nodules (PMNs) are potato-shaped, largely porous nodules found in abundance
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carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea. Besides manganese and iron, they contain
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nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium, of which nickel, cobalt and
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copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance.

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Geographical distribution of PMNs:

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PMNs were first discovered in the 19th century in the Kara Sea, in the Arctic Ocean off Siberia. Later,
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they were found to occur in most oceans of the world. However, nodules of economic interest are
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more localized. Three areas have been selected by industrial explorers:

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I. the centre of the north central Pacific Ocean,

II. the Peru Basin in the south-east Pacific Ocean and
III. the centre of the north Indian Ocean.
They can occur at any depth, but the highest concentrations have been found between 4,000 and
6,000m.

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 Significance of PMNs:
• Economic significance:
o They contain significant amounts of critical metals known as Rare Earth Elements and
other metals which are important for high-tech manufacturing industries like electronic
devices, smartphones, batteries, solar panels etc.
o PMNs extracted from deep-ocean, in contrast to terrestrial deposits, contain multiple
commodities in one deposit; for example, nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone
contain Mn, Ni, Cu and Co.
• Strategic significance: Presence of PMNs gives strategic edge to a country. For example,

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exploration of PMNs in India will not only help in countering the influence of China but also help
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improve bilateral relations with Japan, Germany, South Korea etc.
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• Ecological significance:
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o Deep-ocean mining used to extract PMNs can also avoid some of the environmental issues
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associated with terrestrial mining. Unlike metal ores on land which rarely have metal yields
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above 20%, and are often less than 2%, these PMNs are 99% usable minerals – 33% metal
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and the rest useful in products like construction aggregate and fertilizer since there are no
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toxic levels of heavy elements like mercury or arsenic.

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o So there are no toxic tailings or mining waste like on land, no deforestation, no open pits, no
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contaminated rivers or aquifers etc.

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• Social significance: Unlike much of the land mining, PMNs mining does not use child labour.
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Source of critical metals: The development of societies towards a more sustainable future
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cannot proceed without critical metals. Deep-ocean mining can not only deliver the metals
necessary for this transition but can do so with a low carbon footprint which is 90% less than
land mining.
Recognizing the significance of PMNs, India launched its Deep Ocean Mission to explore PMNs in
the Indian Ocean. It is expected that extracting PMNs will help India strengthen its strategic position
vis-à-vis China besides helping its economy to grow.

10. What do you understand by archipelagos? Explain the different processes involved in their
formation, with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10
Approach:
• Explain what you understand by archipelagos.
• Discuss the formation of archipelagos and substantiate with examples.
• Conclude accordingly.

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Answer:
An archipelago is a group of islands closely scattered in a body of water. Usually, this body of
water is the ocean, but it can also be a lake or river. For example, the Malay archipelago, the
largest group of islands in the world, consists of more than 17,000 islands in Indonesia and
approximately 7,000 islands in the Philippines.
Types of archipelagos: Depending on the geological origin, the islands of the archipelagos can be
oceanic or continental islands.
• Oceanic archipelagos: These are the group of islands that do not belong to a particular
continental tectonic plate, but are of volcanic origin. These forms at a greater speed. For
example, the Hawaiian archipelago.
• Continental archipelago: These islands are formed by continental fragments that have been
separated from the continent by the movement of tectonic plates and other geological
processes. For example, the British Isles and Balearic Islands.
Processes involved in the formation of archipelagos include:
• Volcanic activity: Volcanic activity that can form archipelagos includes a hotspot, where an
area within the oceanic crust is heated and has a constant supply of magma spewing out from
within and cooling off to form land. The relatively stationary hotspot acting on the shifting
crust is what creates a chain of islands or archipelagos. For example, the Hawaiian
archipelago is formed by a series of volcanoes.
• Erosion and sediment deposit formation: Movement of erosional agents like water can break
down rock into sediments. These small sediments can carry away to a new location and settle to
form island-like structures. For example, the coral clay archipelago of Florida Keys formed
out of sediments transported by ocean currents and gradually built up on the reef structure.
• Tectonic movements: Continental fragments are archipelagos that have separated from a
continental landmass due to the Earth’s tectonic movements. For example, Farallon Islands off

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the coast of California. co
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o Apart from this, archipelagos also formed at a convergent plate boundary where oceanic
gm

plate gets subducted into the mantle and melt to raise convection currents. Such group of
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islands called as Island arc Volcanoes. For example, Fiji, Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
51

• Glacial retreat: This phenomenon leads to the flooding of valleys and rise in sea level leaving
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coastal mountain ranges standing tall. The coastal mountain ranges eventually become
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archipelagos. For example, the Malay archipelago, the largest on the Earth, was formed by a
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glacial retreat.
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• Post-glacial rebound: In this process, land that was squashed by the weight of heavy glaciers
ha

during the Ice Age slowly regains its shape, like a sponge and islands are formed out of this land.
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For example, the Finnish archipelago (the archipelago in Finland).

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Apart from these major processes, archipelagos also form due to changes in the course of rivers, the
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drying up of lakes, etc. Archipelagos, as a geological structure are not only important in terms of
human settlement but are also pertinent for ecological preservation.

11. Tribal and folk arts in India are confronting several challenges of the modern age in a bid to
survive. Discuss. Also, highlight the various initiatives taken by the government in this regard.
(Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Give a brief introduction regarding India’s cultural heritage.
• Highlight the challenges confronted by tribal and folk arts in India.
• State the art forms that survived the generations.
• Discuss the initiatives taken by the government to revive them.
• Conclude accordingly.

10 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

Answer:
India is known for its rich cultural heritage, but there are several art forms that are dying in the
country. For instance, Sohrai and Khovar, are two traditional tribal art forms, which originated in
Hazaribagh and are moving towards extinction.
Challenges to tribal and folk arts in India:
• Unorganized sector: A vast majority of India’s artists have struggled to earn decent wages and
don’t have regular jobs. Their livelihood is dependent on regular performances mainly relying
on live concerts and roadshows.
• Diminishing practitioners and dying traditions: There are only a small number of people and
communities that are still practising these art forms due to lack of economic incentives.
• Low tourism potential: The concept of travelling for art and experiencing the rural tribal
culture is very new to India leading to low popularity among the tourists.
• Urbanisation: With growing urbanisation, the ancient practices are either looked down upon
as 'backward' or are forgotten owing to the advancement of lifestyle and aspirations.
• Advancement of technology: The advances in technology present a challenge for the survival
of the tribal and folk art. For instance, transition from painting to digital wallpapers, embroidery
to synthetic designs, brass making to silver, etc.
Despite all the challenges various tribal and folk arts have survived across generations like the
Gond Art inspired by the rustic life of the Gond and Baiga tribes of Central India, Warli paintings
from Maharashtra, the traditional Santhal painting of Bihar, etc.
Various initiatives taken by the government of India to revive them:
• Shilpgram: It promotes folk and tribal art and crafts of the zone by organizing seminars,
workshops, exhibitions, craft fairs and providing design development & marketing support to
the artisans living in the rural areas.

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• Zonal Cultural Centres: To protect, preserve & promote various forms of folk, traditional art
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and culture throughout the country, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural
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Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and
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Thanjavur.
51

• National Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP): It can be termed as the lifeline of the Zonal
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Cultural Centres. Under this scheme, various festivals of performing arts, exhibitions, yatras, etc.
kk
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are organized in member States. These festivals provide an opportunity to understand various
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cultures of our country.

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• Octave: It aims to promote and propagate the rich cultural heritage of the North East region
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comprising eight States namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim,
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Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura to the rest of India.

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• Guru Shishya Parampara: This scheme envisages transmitting our valued traditions to the
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coming generations. Disciples are trained under veterans in art forms, which are rare and
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vanishing. These art forms of the region are identified and eminent exponents are selected to
carry out the training programmes in ‘Gurukula’ tradition.
Folklore has an important role in handing down social norms, moral laws, religious knowledge and
wisdom, and in keeping the social structure stable. They hold such deep cultural and social
influences. The art forms are not only a reflection of the culture; they are the indigenous intelligence
passed through generations. Therefore, the art forms & their practitioners along with their entire
knowledge need to be conserved.

12. Highlight the distinguishing features of Indian classical dances. Also, discuss how these dances
are a manifestation of spirituality. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Write about the distinguishing features of Indian classical dances.
• Mention the spiritual aspects of the classical dances.
• Conclude accordingly.
11 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
Answer:
The Sangeet Natak Akademy recognizes 8 classical dances in India i.e. Bharatnatyam, Kathak,
Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Sattriya, Mohiniyattam and Manipuri. The Indian classical dances trace
their roots to ‘Natya Shastra’ by Bharat Muni. Natya Shastra is also known as the fifth veda i.e.
‘Natyaveda’, representing the essence of four existing Vedas.
Distinguishing features of Indian classical dances:
• Indian dances are centered around Pathya (words) from Rigveda, Abhinaya (gesture) from
Yajurveda, Geet (music and chant) from Samaveda, Rasa (emotions) from Atharvaveda.
• They have mudras or hand movements depicting particular meanings.
• All dance forms are structured around the nine rasas or emotions including love, anger,
compassion, disgust, laughter and peace, etc.
• Indian dances are considered to be the mystic manifestation of the five metaphysical elements
of nature (Panchatatva) in the human body. These are: Odissi (water), Kuchipudi (earth),
Mohiniyattam (air), Bharatnatyam (fire) and Kathakali (ether).
• Indian classical dances have two basic aspects - Tandava (vigorous and masculine) and Lasya
(gentler or feminine).
• All dances are divided into nritta, nritya, natya. They are differentiated as under:
o Nritta: Abstract dance movements with rhythm, but without expression of a theme or
emotion. It is also called pure dance.
o Nritya: Interpretive dance, using facial expressions, hand gestures, and body movements to
portray emotions and express themes.
o Natya: The dramatic aspect of a stage performance, including spoken dialogue and mime, to
convey meaning and enact narrative.
Indian classical dances are dances of the mind and soul and they manifest spirituality in the
following ways:

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Divine origin of dance: It is believed that Brahma, the creator, created dance to enjoy the
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ananda (bliss) of the Absolute Truth. Brahma gave the first lessons on Natya to Bharata.
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Thereafter, Bharata demonstrated the forms of dancing before Lord Shiva.

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• Developed alongside religious rituals: Schools of Indian classical dance such as Kuchipudi,
51

Bharatnatyam, etc. developed as a part of religious ritual in which dancers worshiped the gods
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by telling stories about their lives and exploits.

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• Cosmic spirituality: Lord Shiva performs the cosmic dance to maintain the balance in this
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world. Here, Lord Shiva is regarded as Natraja - the king of all dances.
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• Union of this world with cosmos: These dances are meant to be performed in such a way that
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they embody the true devotion to the Supreme Lord, devoid of all concerns of this world. For
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example, the erstwhile devadasi tradition. From this perspective, the dancer visualizes her body
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as the temple and dances as the offering to the lord.

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Thus, Indian classical dances are a unique cultural heritage of India, which can safely be considered
as unparalleled as a mixture of ‘bliss’ and ‘spirituality’.

13. Despite the Chauri Chaura incident slowing down the momentum of Indian freedom struggle
for a while, the Non-Cooperation Movement remains a watershed in the history of the Indian
freedom struggle. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Give a brief introduction about the Chauri Chaura incident.
• Discuss how the incident slowed down the momentum of the freedom struggle.
• Discuss the importance of the Non-Cooperation Movement by enumerating the positive impacts
of the movement.
• Conclude on the basis of the above points.

12 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

Answer:
The Chauri Chaura incident occurred in the last phase of the Non-Cooperation Movement
(NCM). On February 5, 1922, the police had opened fire on the protestors who were protesting
against liquor sale and high food prices. In retaliation, the agitated crowd torched the police station
with policemen inside resulting in the death of 22 policemen.
The Chauri Chaura incident slowed down the momentum of Indian freedom struggle for a while
due to the following reasons:
• The NCM came to an end as Gandhiji called it off unilaterally. Thereafter, the Congress
Working Committee also resolved to roll it back. It was decided to take the Movement to the
passive phase and focus on constructive work like popularization of khadi, construction of
national schools, and campaigning for temperance, for Hindu-Muslim unity and against
untouchability.
• The arrest of Gandhiji and his sentencing to jail for six years also slowed down the momentum
of the NCM.
• Many nationalist leaders including C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal
Nehru etc. expressed bewilderment at the sudden withdrawal of the Movement. This led to
disintegration, disorganization and demoralization among the nationalist ranks and two
factions were created within the Congress – Swarajists and No-Changers.
However, the NCM still remains a watershed in the history of Indian freedom struggle
because:
• It inculcated fearlessness among the masses. According to Subhash Chandra Bose, the
Movement led to a peak of boiling public enthusiasm and the masses had started taking
initiatives. Eventually, there was dissatisfaction amongst the masses, which germinated the
seeds of extremism, as the goals of the NCM were not reached.
• With the Non-Cooperation Movement, nationalist sentiments reached every nook and

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corner of the country and politicized every stratum of the population—the artisans, peasants,
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students, urban poor, women, traders, etc.

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• Colonial rule was based on two myths—one, that such a rule was in the interest of Indians and
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two, that it was invincible. The second myth of being invincible had been challenged by
51

Satyagraha through mass struggle.

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• It shook the British government, which was stumped by the extent of the Movement and forced
ni
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the British government to take demands of protesters seriously in the future.

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• The Movement established the popularity of the Congress Party among the people and
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established Gandhiji as a leader of the masses.

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Moreover, the Non-Cooperation Movement established a strong base for future endeavours of the
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nationalists as seen in the Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement where people
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participated in large numbers. This paved the path for uprooting the British government from India
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in 1947.

14. Bring out the contributions of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in the fields of education and
foreign affairs. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Provide a brief background about Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
• Write about the contributions of S.Radhakrishnan in the field of education.
• Mention his contributions in the field of foreign affairs of India.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was India’s first Vice President who played a vital role in enhancing
India’s educational system. His birthday, 5th September, is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in
India.

13 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Contribution of S.Radhakrishnan in the field of education
• Contribution in teaching: Dr. Radhakrishnan remained a teacher throughout his life.
o He had a long academic career and taught at Chennai’s Presidency College and Calcutta
University, and even served as the vice chancellor of Andhra Pradesh University and BHU.
o He also taught Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford for 16 years.
o He also taught at the Mysore University, University of Calcutta, and University of
Chicago.
• Improving university system: After India attained independence, Dr. Radhakrishnan headed
the University Commission in 1948.
o His committee played a pivotal role in shaping an education system based on India’s
needs at the time.
o The Radhakrishnan Commission Report was India's first evaluation of the university
system.
• Views on education: According to him, Education is acquiring knowledge beyond what is
academic and professional. It is the assimilation of values and ideas for character building
and preparing to face life’s challenges.
• Indian Philosophy: He played a huge role in placing Indian philosophy on the global map.
He focused on Hindu schools of thought and expanded his area of interest to include
Buddhist teachings and theories.
Contribution in the field of Foreign Affairs
• Ambassador to the USSR from 1949 to 1952:
o Through his peaceful diplomatic brokering, he successfully established a cordial
relationship between India and the Soviet Union. This was further aided by the efforts of
Dr. Radhakrishnan in developing good relations with people close to Joseph Stalin.
• As a President: Dr. Radhakrishnan also served as the second President of India from 1962
to 1967.

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o He voiced issues concerning both India and the world during his term as President.
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o It is said that he had postulated a peace plan for the Vietnam War in 1965.
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• Represented India at international organisations:

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o League of Nations: In 1931 he was nominated to the League of Nations Committee for
51

Intellectual Cooperation.
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✓ Dr. Radhakrishnan also challenged what he saw as the divisive potential and
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dominating character of self-professed international organizations such as the

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League of Nations.
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✓ Instead, he called for the promotion of a creative internationalism based on the

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spiritual foundations of integral experience.

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o UNESCO: Dr. Radhakrishnan had been actively involved in the newly incorporated UNESCO
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serving on its Executive Board as well as leading the Indian delegation from 1946-1951.
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The life of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and his contributions are great assets for the school of
Indian modern philosophy. He was a man of knowledge and an educationist, and he contributed a
lot to the field of education and foreign affairs.

15. Enumerate the factors driving feminization in agriculture and discuss its effects. Also, state the
ways in which women can be empowered in this regard. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Give a brief introduction about feminization of agriculture in India.
• Mention factors driving feminization of agriculture in India and discuss its effects.
• Suggest some ways in which women can be empowered in this regard.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
The Economic Survey 2017-18 says that there is feminization of the agriculture sector with an
increasing number of women in multiple roles as cultivators, entrepreneurs, and labourers. The
14 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
 Agriculture sector employs 80 per cent of all economically active women in India. In rural India,
85% of women are engaged in agriculture.
Factors driving feminization of the agriculture sector in India:
• Migration of men: Owing to various factors like agrarian distress, better employment
opportunities and wages, men mostly migrate from rural areas to cities or from agricultural
states to industrial states, thus leaving behind women to handle the agriculture.
• Low cost of production: Women are more willing to accept low paid irregular work and are
easy to hire and fire especially in rural areas. Thus, compared to men more women are engaged
as labour in the agriculture sector as it is a labour intensive sector.
• Socio-cultural factors: Women are given less preference when it comes to education and skill
development. So they tend to participate more in the low skilled labour force of the agriculture
sector. Also, due to the patriarchal mindset of the society, they are prevented from moving out
and joining non-agricultural works.
Effects of the feminization of agriculture:
• It brings women into the public sphere and allows them to socialize with various
communities.
• It makes their labour visible and can potentially lead to building of women’s skill and
confidence.
• It has given them the opportunity to organize and enhance their bargaining power.
• It has also led to increased burden as women have to carry household chores, which
undermine their wellbeing.
However, they face various challenges like difficulties in use of technology, credit access due to
non-availability of land holdings, and accessing market information. Women have been
confined to traditional, low paying roles such as winnowing, harvesting, which furthers the gender
economic disparity.

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Women can be more empowered in this context in the following ways:
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• Ownership of land: Only 13 percent rural women engaged in agriculture own land. Giving
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ownership rights will help them in accessing benefits under multiple agriculture schemes that
51

are reserved for landowners.

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• Women centric extensive service: Adapting extension services to the needs of women farmers
ni
ti(

will be beneficial. Under farm mechanization, a focus on innovating farm machines that are
ar

better suited to females should be given.

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• Gender budgeting: In 2020-21, only 5 per cent of the total budget was sensitive to gender
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neutral outcomes and focused specifically on women-centric schemes, which need to be

hi

increased to provide more incentives to women.

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• Role of civil society: They can organize agrarian women into collectives, educating them about
Fo

their rights, enabling access to the state and giving them sustainable livelihood training.
• Alternative economic opportunities: Schemes like MGNREGA and NRLM will empower them
in negotiating wages.
With women predominant at all levels of production, pre-harvest, post-harvest processing,
packaging, marketing of the agricultural value chain, it is imperative to adopt gender specific
interventions. An inclusive transformative agricultural policy should aim at gender-specific
interventions to raise productivity of small farm holdings, and integrate women as active agents in
rural transformation.

16. In India, suicide has become one of the leading causes of death among those aged 15-29.
Bringing out the reasons behind the same, discuss the priority areas of the National Suicide
Prevention Strategy. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Give an overview of the extent of suicides in India.
• Mention the reasons for rising suicides among the youth in India.
15 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
 • Discuss the priority areas of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
In India, suicide has become the number one cause of death among those aged 15-29 years. As per
the NCRB, a total of 1,64,033 suicides were reported in the country in 2021, which is an
increase of 7.2% in comparison to the previous year.
Reasons for rising suicides among the youth in India:
• Family problems: It accounts for nearly one-third of the total cases. Changing family structure
as well as lack of communication among members of different generations leave individuals
with a sense of insecurity, which sometimes leads to their emotional and mental breakdown.
○ Forced marriage, infertility, domestic violence, husband's infidelity, dowry demands and the
inability to continue with education or work, etc. have led to severe depression in women,
which at times, culminates into suicide.
• Economic and professional status: Discontentment with the current performance and status
as well as indebtness are the key factors pushing people towards suicide. According to a report
prepared by the Health Ministry, the maximum number of suicides accounting for 63.3%
occurred among those who earn less than Rs. 1 lakh per annum.
• Illness: Lack of access to dependable medical advice and financially viable treatment when
contracted with life threatening disease lead to hopelessness and urge to end one’s life. Mental
health and associated depression conditions also contribute towards suicide cases, especially in
the aftermath of the COVID-pandemic.
• Unemployment: Unemployment rate in India is very high (at around 8 percent), which leads to
pressure among the youth and depression, which is one of the leading causes of suicide.
• Substance abuse: Substance abuse is a significant factor in suicides among the youth.
According to the National Mental Health Survey (2015-16), more than 22% of India’s population

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over 18 years suffers from a substance disorder, including alcoholism, use of tobacco and drug
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abuse.
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Considering the need to prevent suicides as a public health priority, the Ministry of Health and
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Family Welfare has announced the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. It aims to reduce suicide
51

mortality by 10% by 2030 and has the following priority areas:

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• It seeks to establish effective surveillance mechanisms for suicide within the next three years.
ti(
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This can be done by reinforcing leadership, partnerships and institutional capacity in the
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country.
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• It endeavours to establish psychiatric outpatient departments that will provide suicide

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prevention services through the District Mental Health Programme in all districts within the
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next five years.

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• It aims to integrate a mental well-being curriculum in all educational institutions within the
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next eight years. Further, awareness can be increased by developing community resilience and
societal support for suicide prevention.
• One of the priorities also includes reducing easy access to means of suicide, in line with
which the government plans to phase out hazardous pesticides.
• There is a component for stigma reduction, as stigma is seen as a hurdle in the process of
seeking counseling and treatment options. The government also plans to create guidelines for
the media on responsible reporting about suicides.
• Strengthening data collection on suicide and attempts to suicide will also be a priority along
with developing community resilience and societal support for suicide prevention and reducing
suicidal behaviour.
To achieve the goals set out in the strategy, the government, both at the Central and state levels,
need to stay the course until the targets are achieved. Further, the government can inspire hope for
suicide prevention by enacting a National Suicide Prevention Policy with a psycho-social, public
health, and community-based approach.

16 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

17. Explaining their formation, provide an account of the various kinds of deserts found across the
world along with their characteristics. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Briefly explain deserts in the introduction.
• Mention various kinds of deserts found in different areas of the world and the reasons for their
formation, along with their characteristics.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
A desert is an extremely dry area of land with extreme environments and sparse vegetation. They
are likely to develop in areas where annual precipitation is less than 250 mm. It is one of Earth’s
major types of ecosystems, supporting a community of distinctive flora and fauna specially adapted
to the harsh environment.
Geologists group deserts into five categories:
• Subtropical deserts: They are found along the Tropic of Cancer, between 15 and 30 degrees
north of the Equator, or along the Tropic of Capricorn, between 15 and 30 degrees south
of the Equator, where convection cells diverge. They are caused by the circulation patterns of
air masses. Hot, moist air rises into the atmosphere near the Equator. As the air rises, it cools
and drops its moisture as heavy tropical rains. The resulting cooler, drier air mass moves away
from the Equator. As it approaches the tropics, the air descends and warms up again. The
descending air hinders the formation of clouds, so very little rain falls on the land below.
Subtropical deserts include the Sahara Desert in Northern Africa, the Kalahari Desert in
Southern Africa and the Tanami Desert in Northern Australia.
• Coastal Deserts: Cold Ocean
currents contribute to the

)
formation of coastal deserts. They
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are generally found on the western
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edges of continents near the

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Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

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Winter fog, produced by upwelling

51
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cold currents, frequently blanket

kk

coastal deserts and block solar

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radiation. The heavy fog drifts

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onto land. Although humidity is

kr

high, the atmospheric changes

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that normally cause rainfall are not present. For example,

hi

the cold Humboldt Current flowing from Antarctica to

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Southern Chile creates the Atacama Desert of South America,

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while the cold Benguela Current is critical to the formation of

the Namib Desert.
• Rain Shadow Deserts: These deserts exist near
the leeward slopes of some mountain ranges. When moisture-
laden air hits a mountain range, it is forced to rise. The air
then cools and forms clouds that drop moisture on
the windward (wind-facing) slopes. When the air moves over
the mountaintop and begins to descend the leeward slopes,
there is little moisture left. The descending air warms up,
making it difficult for clouds to form. For example, the Death Valley, in the U.S. is in the rain
shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Similarly, Patagonian Desert lies in the rain shadow
position on the leeward side of the Andes.
• Interior Deserts: They are found in the heart of continents. By the time air masses from coastal
areas reach the interior, they lose all their moisture. They are sometimes called inland deserts.
For example, the Gobi Desert in China and Mongolia.
• Polar Deserts: Parts of the Arctic and the Antarctic are classified as deserts. They are very dry,
but not in the traditional sense. Unlike other types of deserts, they are cold all year round with
17 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
 frigid winters. Instead of sand, the surrounding surface is covered in layers of ice and snow.
They experience little precipitation because above 660N and S latitude there is very little
moisture in the air due to extreme cold temperatures.
Deserts are found on every continent and cover about one-fifth of Earth’s land area. They are home
to around 1 billion people—one-sixth of the Earth’s population. It has been observed that in semi-
arid areas that border deserts, climate change and human activities have led to increased
desertification.

18. Giving a brief account of the lakes formed due to Earth's movement, discuss the economic and
ecological significance of lakes. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Introduce by giving the definition of lakes.
• Explain the different types of lakes due to Earth’s movement.
• Discuss the economic and ecological significance of lakes.
• Conclude appropriately.
Answer:
Lakes are defined as large areas of water bodies that occupy the hollows of the Earth’s surface, are
surrounded by land, and are not connected to the seas except by rivers or streams. Lakes can be
formed due to various factors such as Earth’s movement, glaciation, volcanic activity, erosion,
deposition, and human and biological activities.
The lakes formed due to Earth’s movements are as follows:
• Tectonic lakes:
○ These lakes are formed when depressions in the Earth’s surface occur due to the sagging,
warping, bending and fracturing of the Earth’s crust.

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○ Some examples of such lakes are Lake Titicaca in the Andes, Caspian Sea, Baikal Lake,
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Sea of Aral, and Wular Lake in India.
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gm

• Rift Valley lakes:

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○ Due to the faults in the Earth’s crust, rift valleys are formed by sinking of land between two
51

parallel faults.
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○ Examples of such lakes are East African Rift Valley Lake extending from Zambia in Africa
ni

till Jordan in the Middle- East, Tanganyika, Malawi, Rudolf, Albert, Dead Sea etc.
ti(
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Human life is closely linked to the water bodies, and lakes are no different. They not only play a
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crucial role in the economic, social, and cultural life of people but are also a key link in our
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ecological system.
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Economic significance of lakes

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• Means of communication: They are a cheap and convenient mode of transportation for bulk
and heavy materials such as iron, coal, cement etc. For example, the Great Lakes of North
America and St. Lawrence waterways are used as the chief arteries of commerce.
• Industrial development: Development of all sectors are greatly influenced by the proximity to
the lakes. For instance, the HOMES Districts in the USA near the Great Lakes, Wuhan in China
near Lakes Poyang, etc.
• Water storage: They are used as water storages for supply of water for human consumption
and industrial purposes. For example, Lake Thirlmere supplies water to Manchester, Okhla
Reservoir supplies water to Delhi, etc.
• Hydroelectric power generation: Lakes are a great source of water for clean and cheap hydel
power generation. For example, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in North America, Abu Bakar
Dam in Malaysia and Bhakra Nangal in India.
• Source of minerals: Lakes are a source of minerals such as common salts, rock salt, gypsum,
Borax etc., and have led to the development of chemical industries around them.

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 Ecological significance of lakes:
• Nutrient cycling: Lakes play a critical role in nutrient cycling through water, carbon, and
nitrogen cycles.
• Regulation of water levels: During the period of heavy rainfall, lakes absorb the excess water
and thus prevent flooding, while during the lean seasons, they release water to the rivers and
maintain a steady flow. This ensures ecological flow and helps maintain the fragile
ecosystem of rivers and related water bodies.
• Moderation of climate: Differential heating of deep and large water bodies helps
moderate the climate of the surrounding regions. It also creates a conducive environment for
rainfall.
• Conservation of species: Lakes play a critical role in conserving the ecosystem and its diversity
by providing life-sustaining conditions for a range of species. For example, Chilika lake and
Bhitarkanika lake in India.
Lakes all over the world are facing threat due to climatic and anthropogenic factors. A plan to
protect lakes encompassing local bodies, local population, and national and state level agencies
focusing on conservation and rejuvenation of lakes is the need of the hour.

19. India has the potential to generate 180,000 MW of ocean thermal energy, however, progress in
this regard has been slow. In this context, highlight the associated challenges and suggest
remedial measures. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Give a brief introduction about ocean thermal energy and recent initiatives taken to harness it.
• Discuss various reasons for slow progress of India in tapping its potential in this context.
• Highlight associated challenges and suggest remedial measures.

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Ocean Thermal Energy is harnessed through a process called Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
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(OTEC). OTEC is a process or technology for producing energy by harnessing the temperature
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differences (thermal gradients) between ocean surface waters and deep ocean waters. The OTEC
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system uses a temperature difference of at least 20 degrees Celsius to power a turbine to produce
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electricity. India has a theoretical potential of 180,000 MW of ocean thermal energy. India is
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geographically well-placed to generate ocean thermal energy, with around 2000 kms of coastal
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length along the South Indian coast, where a temperature difference of above 20 degree Celsius is
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available throughout the year.

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To tap ocean thermal energy, the National Institute of Ocean Technology, under the Union Ministry
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of Earth Sciences (MoES) is establishing an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant with a capacity
of 65 kilowatts (kW) in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep. The plant will power the one lakh litres per day
low temperature thermal desalination plant, which converts seawater into potable water. The
plant is the first of its kind in the world as it will generate drinking water from sea water using
indigenous technology, green energy and environmentally friendly processes.
However, progress in this regard has been slow due to various challenges:
• High cost: Setting up of OTEC plants for harnessing thermal energy potential requires
significant costs of pumping and piping infrastructure. It is economical at very large scales only.
The small land based OTEC plants need kilometres of piping to move a high volume of cold
water from deep ocean. Its cost could be up to 75% of the total power plant costs.
• Restricted location: The suitable locations to harness OTEC are reduced to equatorial and
tropical zones.
• Lack of technology: Most technologies are currently at pre-R&D demonstration stage of the
initial stage of commercialization.
• Environmental concerns: It can have potential impact on marine organisms and ecosystems
due to discharge of cooler, denser and nutrient rich water from the plants, entanglement in
19 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
 cables, entrapment, noise generation and pollutants. It can also lead to biofouling i.e. unwanted
accumulation of algae, microorganisms, plants etc.
Remedial measures required in this context:
• Policy support is required for harnessing the potential of ocean thermal energy. It should not
only include a robust national policy, but a proper plan of financial deployment to accelerate the
existing program.
• There is a requirement of investment in R&D. Private sectors should be encouraged and be
given incentives to contribute to technological development in this regard.
• India should take efforts to promote international collaborations in the field of utilising ocean
energy and also bring littoral countries on a single platform for contributing in this field.
• There is a need to develop more demonstration projects at feasible sites so that a careful
study of EIA can be done.
Ocean thermal energy has the potential to generate a constant, clean source of electricity unlike
intermittent electricity from renewable resources like wind and solar. So, there is a need to create
awareness about the potential of ocean thermal energy and its long-term benefits including
reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

20. Bringing out the availability of natural gas hydrates in India, discuss the promise as well as the
challenges associated with their exploration. (Answer in 250 words) 15
Approach:
• Explain what you understand by natural gas hydrates.
• Throw some light on its availability in India.
• Mention its potential and the challenges associated with it.
• Conclude on a positive note.

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Natural gas hydrates are a naturally occurring, ice-like combination of natural gas and water.
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These are crystalline forms of methane and water and exist in shallow sediments of outer
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continental margins. They are envisaged as a viable major energy resource for the future and are
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mainly found in oceans and polar regions.

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Availability of natural gas hydrates in India:

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• In India, gas hydrate resources are estimated at 1,894 trillion cubic meters (tcm) and these
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deposits occur in Eastern, Western and Andaman offshore areas.

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• Assessment of geological conditions and limited available seismic data suggests a high
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possibility of occurrence of large quantities of gas hydrates within the EEZ of India. The two
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promising sites that have been identified are the Krishna‐Godavari (KG) and the Mahanadi
basins.
• Large, highly enriched accumulations of natural gas hydrate have been discovered in the Bay of
Bengal. This is the first discovery of its kind in the Indian Ocean that has the potential to be
producible.
Natural gas hydrates are of immense importance and promise in the following ways:
• Future energy resource: The amount of gas within the world’s gas hydrate accumulations is
estimated to greatly exceed the volume of all known conventional gas resources. If India
produces only 10% from this gigantic treasure, it can meet India’s overwhelming energy
requirement for about 100 years.
• Climate-friendly energy: Using methane from gas hydrate as an energy resource would be,
compared to other hydrocarbons, relatively climate-friendly as combustion of methane is twice
as efficient as burning coal.
• Importance for other studies: Gas hydrates are also important for seafloor stability studies,
because “melting” gas hydrate may cause seafloor “land” slides.

20 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Despite their significance, the following challenges are associated with their exploration:
• Issue with methodology: One of the toughest challenges is that natural gas hydrates are hard
to detect by using seismic methods, the main tool used by the oil industry.
• Issues with production: Producing the gas in hydrate structures causes the solid structure that
is drilled to disintegrate causing problems for drilling in these formations.
○ Existing hydrocarbon resources still make this resource unfeasible for production.
○ Also, the resources near the ocean bottom may be affected by seasonal changes of water
temperature releasing natural gas thus decreasing resources.
• Geohazard: Natural gas hydrates may be a significant hazard because they alter sea floor
sediment stability, influencing collapse and landsliding.
• Impact on global climate change: Global warming may cause hydrate destabilization and gas
release through a rise in ocean bottom water temperatures. Methane release in turn would be
expected to accelerate warming, causing further dissociation, potentially resulting in runaway
global warming.
As one of the cleanest fossil fuel options, natural gas hydrates could be an important source of
energy for future energy scenarios. It will become highly valued as a local energy resource,
particularly for nations like India with limited conventional domestic energy options.

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