UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 45)

QUESTION 2

Discuss the initiatives taken by India in adopting solar energy.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

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— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.

— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.

Way forward/ conclusion

— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.

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— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.

Self Evaluation

— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.

THOUGHT PROCESS

You may enrich your answers by some of the following points

QUESTION 1: What do you mean by dryland agriculture? List the issues related with dryland agriculture.

Introduction:

— Almost 65 per cent of India’s arable land area of around 140 million hectares is classified as rainfed.

— Farming activities in such locations are often characterised by low production, high risk, and a lack of use of modern technology/agronomic practices.

— Drylands are places with little soil moisture and high evapotranspiration, which results in a year-round water deficit.

— Dryland farming increases the amount of organic matter in the soil, which improves its fertility and structure. It also contributes to addressing the issue of hunger and malnutrition in society.

Body:

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

Problems Associated with Dryland Agriculture

Soil and Moisture

— Alfisols and vertisols predominate in semiarid locations, while inceptisols and entisols can be found in river basins and desert regions.

— Crops cultivated in alfisols are prone to severe drought stress, but those planted in vertisols are less susceptible to drought due to their higher water-holding capacity.

— Water erosion has been identified as the principal culprit in Central India’s mountainous and undulating terrains.

— Salinization has been identified as a significant source of soil degradation.

Environmental changes in water logging and salinity

— Soil degradation has a close link with water logging and salinity problems. Irrigation salinity has a major impact on dryland crops.

— The major causes of water logging and salinity are overirrigation, poor drainage, improper irrigation for damaged soils etc.

Dietary habits and nutritional characteristics of crops grown

— Crops produced in drylands are confined to oilseed pulses and coarse grains such as bajra.

— Dryland crops are not particularly profitable, resulting in an economic imbalance. Crop substitution is another option.

Conclusion:

— Watershed-based approaches are found to be more productive regarding water and soil conservation.

— Several technologies for dryland farming can help to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse emissions and promoting soil carbon sequestration.

(Sources: Dryland Farming: Bringing watershed management back to the policy agenda by Pravesh Sharma, krishi.icar.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

Contribution of Drylands to Indian Agriculture

Importance of dry land farming

Related Previous Year Questions

What is Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India? (2022)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the initiatives taken by India in adopting solar energy.

Introduction:

— India has enormous solar energy potential. Solar photovoltaic electricity may be successfully harnessed, giving enormous scalability in India.

— Off-grid decentralized and low-temperature applications will be helpful for rural applications as well as addressing other energy demands for electricity, heating, and cooling in both rural and urban locations.

— Millions of people in Indian communities have profited from solar energy-based decentralized and distributed applications that satisfy their cooking, lighting, and other energy demands in an environmentally benign manner.

Body:

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

Initiatives taken by India

Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects

— It was rolled out in December 2014 with the objective to facilitate the solar project developers to set up projects expeditiously.

— The solar parks are developed in collaboration with the State Governments and their agencies, CPSUs, and private entrepreneurs.

Examples: NTPC Floating Solar Plant Ramagundam (100 MW), NTPC Floating Solar Plant Kayamkulam (92 MW), Rihand Dam Floating Solar Power Plant (50 MW), etc.

Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Programme

— The objective of the scheme is to achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 40,000 MW from Grid Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) projects.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme

The scheme has three components:

— Component-A: For Setting up 10,000 MW of Decentralized Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants on barren land.

— Component-B: For Installation of 17.50 Lakh stand-alone solar agriculture pumps.

— Component-C: For Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid Connected Agriculture Pumps.

One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)

— In May 2021, the United Kingdom and India agreed to combine forces of the Green Grids Initiative and the One Sun One World One Grid initiative and jointly launch GGI-OSOWOG at the COP26 summit being hosted by the UK at Glasgow in November 2021.

Conclusion:

— According to the research by Global Energy Monitor, India plans to add 76 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar and wind power by 2025 which could save up to $19.5 billion a year (over 15 lakh crore) caused due to the burning of coal.

— India stands 4th in solar PV deployment across the globe as on end of 2021. Solar power installed capacity has reached around 61.97 GW as on November 30, 2022.

(Sources: mnre.gov.in, Experts Explain: What it will take to fulfill India’s solar power dream by Rajeev Jindal and Ashish Garg, Why India’s approach to renewable energy is effective by Sachchidanand Tripathi and Eeshan Chaturvedi)

Points to Ponder

Limitations in Installing

Key Components of Solar Energy

Related Previous Year Questions

Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA)? (2021)

India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate. (2019)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 43)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 44)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 43)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 44)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 43)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 44)

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