Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on climate change-induced glacier retreat and air pollution crisis (Week 106)

Indian Express

a day ago

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-3 to check your progress.
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The persistent air pollution crisis underscores the need for effective air quality monitoring and dust control measures. Critically analyse the shortcomings in the current air quality monitoring infrastructure and dust mitigation strategies.
Critically analyse how climate change-induced glacier retreat in the Himalayas is exacerbating the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and suggest mitigation strategies at the community and policy levels.
Introduction
— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.
— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.
Body
— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.
— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.
— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.
— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.
— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.
Way forward/ conclusion
— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.
— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.
Self Evaluation
— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.
QUESTION 1: The persistent air pollution crisis underscores the need for effective air quality monitoring and dust control measures. Critically analyse the shortcomings in the current air quality monitoring infrastructure and dust mitigation strategies.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— One of the government's top priorities is to reduce air pollution. It must now design an effective strategy and put words to action.
— The locations of air quality monitoring stations in the capital, for example, did not meet the specifications set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
— According to the non-profit Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Delhi had the highest PM 10 (particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometres) levels of any of the 130 cities covered under the Centre's National Clean Air Programme in fiscal year 2024-25. During this time, the average PM 10 concentration in the capital was four to five times that of the WHO's recommendation.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:
— Delhi had an average annual PM 10 concentration of 206 µg/m3, while Byrinhat and Patna had values of 200 and 180 µg/m3, respectively.
— Cities participating in the clean air programme have been assigned a target of reducing inhalable PM 10 particles by up to 40% or meeting national ambient air quality criteria by 2025-26, compared to the 2017 baseline year. The NCAP assesses PM10 reductions on a fiscal year basis.
— Managing PM 10 is one of the less problematic components of Delhi's pollution problem. These particles settle faster than smaller PM 2.5 particles, making filtration devices more effective at trapping them.
— Road dust accounts for roughly 60% of these bigger pollutants, and basic municipal services can eliminate this threat at the source. According to a study conducted by experts at IIT Delhi, mending potholes, repairing unpaved roads, and removing waste dumps can cut city pollution by 15 to 25%.
— Another study conducted by experts at IIT Kanpur found that strategies such as vertically covering construction areas and using water spray and windbreakers to prevent building materials such as sand from dispersing can improve air quality by up to 50%.
Conclusion:
— NCAP was launched in 2019 and encompasses 131 cities. The goal is to reduce particulate matter pollution by 40% by 2025-26 or achieve National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The 131 communities in 24 states, known as non-attainment cities, were chosen because they failed to fulfil national air quality criteria for five consecutive years between 2011 and 2015.
(Source: Delhi's clean air programme should focus first on air quality monitoring, checking dust emissions, Delhi's PM 10 levels highest in FY 2024-25 among cities covered under clean air programme: New analysis)
Points to Ponder
Harmful effects of PM 10 and PM 2.5 on health?
Preventive measures for air pollution
Related Previous Year Questions
Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India's National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve revised standards? (2021)
What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the government of India? (2020)
QUESTION 2: Critically analyse how climate change-induced glacier retreat in the Himalayas is exacerbating the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and suggest mitigation strategies at the community and policy levels.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— 'The Himalayas are sounding an alarm,' the Union Environment Minister warned during a climate meeting in Kathmandu. 'As a consequence of global warming due to human activity, glaciers are retreating, threatening the future of water security for populations downstream.'
— Scientific studies have long demonstrated that climate change is causing Himalayan glaciers to melt at an unprecedented rate, affecting water resources, agriculture, and livelihoods.
— Rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, growing human-wildlife conflict, depleting water sources, and an alarming increase in landslides, floods, heatwaves, forest fires, and droughts are quickly becoming the new normal in the Himalayan region.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:
— According to a 2019 study published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances, 'glaciers across the Himalayas experienced significant ice loss over the past 40 years, with the average rate of ice loss twice as rapid in the 21st century compared to the end of the 20th century.'
— Himalayan glaciers are constantly disappearing due to global warming, resulting in the formation of artificial lakes known as GLOFs. When they burst, they cause mayhem. In October 2023, Sikkim's South Lhonak Lake produced a severe flood in the Teesta River region. It completely destroyed the Teesta III hydropower dam and caused extensive damage.
— A similar GLOF was behind the 2013 Kedarnath floods, which killed over 6,000 people. Another disaster struck Uttarakhand's Chamoli district in 2021, when an ice-rock avalanche caused flash floods that killed over 200 people and destroyed hydroelectric infrastructure.
— Scientists and environmentalists predict that such floods will become more common in India's hill states as glaciers melt faster due to climate change.
— According to the South Asia Water Initiative's report Monitoring of Glaciers, Climate, and Runoff in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya Mountains, remote sensing data estimates that Himalayan states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh have approximately 7,500 glacier lakes. Of these, 190 are rated as 'very high' risk of producing a GLOF.
Conclusion:
Mitigation strategies
— Experts say that top-down solutions are failing. 'Multinational consultancies are being brought in to tackle problems that require local understanding, while the knowledge and experience of local communities are being overlooked. This approach must change.
— Infrastructure development also needs a major shift. There is no need for the large-scale infrastructure projects; instead, small-scale, sustainable development is the key.
— Tourism should be decentralised, focusing on lesser-known destinations rather than building up major hotspots. There is a need to adopt a policy that ties conservation with livelihood generation.
(Source: How climate change and rapid development are pushing the Himalayan region to the brink)
Points to Ponder
Impact of climate change of water bodies in India
How climate change affects agriculture?
Related Previous Year Questions
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? (2023)
Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (2022)
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