Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on Periodic Labour Force Survey and impacts of climate change on India's military preparedness (Week 103)
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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Climate change is increasingly recognised as a national security imperative. Discuss the multifaceted impacts of climate change on India's military preparedness and strategic stability.
The recent methodological and frequency updates to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) aim to provide more timely and representative labour market data. Discuss the significance of these changes for economic policy-making in India.
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: Climate change is increasingly recognised as a national security imperative. Discuss the multifaceted impacts of climate change on India's military preparedness and strategic stability.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— In February 2025, Goa and Maharashtra saw India's first-ever winter heatwave, making it the hottest February in 125 years.
— Geopolitical upheavals in climate policy, characterised by the United States' turn to isolationism and transactionalism, manifested in tariffs and withdrawals from international institutions, as well as diminished clean-energy support from the United Kingdom and the European Union, have generated deep uncertainty and disruption.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:
— The EU's latest Omnibus plan, meant at streamlining sustainability standards, risks creating regulatory complexity and postponing critical investments, undermining Europe's competitiveness as China and Japan adopt stronger sustainability frameworks.
— India risks increased susceptibility as global temperatures rise to 2.4 to 3 degrees Celsius, well above the Paris Agreement's aspirational target of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Impacts of climate change on India's military preparedness and strategic stability
— Military might is based not just on technology and manpower, but also on consistent environmental conditions. As climate stability deteriorates, India's military readiness is jeopardised on several fronts.
— Rising temperatures, for example, could lower the payload capacity of the Indian Air Force's C-17 Globemaster III aircraft by roughly 30%, posing a significant challenge during operational missions.
— Addressing these diverse dangers requires a comprehensive and aggressive response. Climate resilience must be included into India's overall security strategy.
(i) Climate adaptation planning should become integrated into military operations, similar to the US Department of Defense's Climate Adaptation Plan (2024-2027). Critical infrastructure must undergo rigorous climate-risk assessments, be evaluated on a regular basis, and even be systematically renovated to increase resilience.
(ii) Increasing institutional capability is crucial. Establishing specialised units, such as a weather squadron inside military engineering services, might offer the armed forces with actionable climate knowledge. It is equally important to incorporate climate issues into military drills and war games.
Conclusion:
— India can strengthen international engagement by forcefully pressing for more climate money, technological transfers, and regional disaster preparedness measures.
— Climate change is more than just an environmental or economic concern; it is a national security priority. India's military readiness, economic stability, and regional peace all rest on how well it adjusts to a more unpredictable future. Climate resilience must not be India's wasted strategic opportunity of the twenty-first century.
(Source: India's military must prepare for climate change)
Points to Ponder
Impact of climate change
Suggest proactive measures to enhance the military's resilience will ensure preparedness in the face of evolving climate challenges.
Related Previous Year Questions
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)
'Climate change' is a global problem. How will India be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India are affected by climate change? (2017)
QUESTION 2: The recent methodological and frequency updates to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) aim to provide more timely and representative labour market data. Discuss the significance of these changes for economic policy-making in India.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— India's Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released a new and updated edition of the Periodic employment Force Survey (PLFS), launching timely data on the state of the employment market.
— The PLFS was started in 2017 as an annual survey to replace the five-year Employment-Unemployment Surveys. PLFS has previously provided a quarterly report on India's unemployment, but only for urban regions.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:
— Shifting to a monthly reporting cycle promises to improve policy evaluation. Historically, timely official data was lacking when determining the impact on unemployment, for example, a pandemic-induced lockdown or a disruption such as demonetisation.
— The PLFS has undergone changes that go beyond simply increasing its frequency. For one, the sample design has been enhanced and the sample size increased. The sample size for each cycle of surveys will now be 2,72,304 households, a 2.65-fold increase over the number of sample houses covered by the PLFS up to December 2024.
— These adjustments to the PLFS technique and frequency are desirable. As India's economy expands and seeks global investors, reliable and accurate data will be essential.
— The district has been designated as the key geographical unit in order to assure sample observations from the majority of districts in the PLFS sample, hence improving the estimates' representativeness. Notably, the yearly reporting period has been shifted to the calendar year, beginning in January 2025 rather than July-June. This change would allow for the timely update of India's labour market statistics in the databases maintained by international authorities.
Conclusion:
— The current data on the Indian labour market leaves much to be desired. For example, according to April data, while the general jobless rate in India is 5.1%, it climbs to 6.5% in urban regions and 8.7% in female urban areas.
— The most concerning news is that youth (15-29 years old) unemployment is 13.8% across India, 17.2% in urban regions, and 23.7% among young urban women.
(Source: Labour Force Survey has an update. It's a welcome one)
Points to Ponder
Read more about PLFS
Related Previous Year Questions
Discuss the merits and demerits of the four 'Labour Codes' in the context of labour market reforms in India. What has been the progress so far in this regard? (2024)
Most of the unemployment in India is structural in nature. Examine the methodology adopted to compute unemployment in the country and suggest improvements (2023)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 102)
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UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 101)
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