Author: Explains

GS2 (International Relations)

What is the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)? What is it’s importance for Pakistan and China? What are India’s views on it?

GS1 (Culture)

The general perception of heritage in India is biased towards historical monuments, artifacts and scriptures. Analyze the reasons for such a perception and suggest a broad framework of scope of what heritage should constitute with reasons.

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For understanding how to answer this questions, see these pointers by K Siddhartha.

Here is a video discussing the question.

The only meaning of success is living your life the way you want to.

Instructions: Write the following essay in 1000-1200 words.

Read this post to understand the main points for this topic.
The video below contains some discussion about the essay.

Air pollution has been a constant news theme over the last two weeks. The other few being – Debate on banning of 500, 1000 rupee notes & Ease of business to some extent.

We will start this write up by quickly introducing the basics of AQI (Air Quality Index) and what it measures:

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Here are two graphical timelines of places in Delhi and Bangalore. Note that the constant theme is prominence of PM2.5

source

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AQI, developed by IIT Kanpur & sponsored by Central Pollution Control Board. Keep these 5 points in mind before we go into Particulate matter pollution in detail:

– The USP of AQI is  “One Number- One Colour-One Description.”

– Previous index only monitored 3 parameters. New AQI will monitor 8 type of pollutants. 8 pollutants * 6 categories.

– But the AQI doesn’t monitor Benzene – a carcinogen chemical from Petrol and diesel. Also, there are no conditional safety protocols.

– Industrial units use non-standardised machines to measure PM2.5 & other levels & come under the self-certification regime. So GoI has no way of checking on these products.

What is Particulate Matter? What is PM2.5?

PM is a term used to describe the mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. It can be either human-made or naturally occurring. Examples: Dust, ash and sea-spray

PM (including soot) is emitted during the combustion of solid and liquid fuels, such as for power generation, domestic heating and in vehicle engines. It varies in size (i.e. the diameter or width of the particle)

PM2.5 means the mass per cubic metre of air of particles with a size (diameter) generally less than 2.5 micrometres (µm)

Why is PM2.5 bad?

Being tiny, these particles easily reach the lungs. From there, they can travel through the bloodstream and reach the heart. Long exposure to PM2.5 can worsen asthma and heart conditions (it is also carcinogenic). They also cause runny nose, sneezing and coughing.

Unfortunately, planting more trees does nothing to solve the problem. Since PM2.5 are particles and not gases, they can’t be processed by the leaves.

What are the anthropogenic and natural causes of air pollution in Delhi?

#1. Natural Causes: 

a) Low temperature in winter leads to low wind velocity, which reduces the dust dispersal process

b) Landlocked cities , no moderate sea effect

#2. Anthropogenic factors:

a) Road dust – Dust emanating from unpaved roads and peak construction activities causes silicosis.

b) Vehicular emissions – Increased number of diesel vehicles, huge commuters, absence of integrated transport public infrastructure adds the problem

c) Industrial vehicles – Dirty power plants, coal usage in hotels, diesel generators contributes SO2 and NOX which can cause major respiratory ailments

d) Waste burning – Crop residue burning in neighbouring states – Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh transfers pollutants to Delhi

e) Improper waste management – Burning of waste at landfills and lack of waste segregation at source adds particulate matter into the atmosphere

How big is this menace of crop residue burning/ straw burning?

An analysis of Delhi’s air pollution and future trends by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), a CSIR body found out that 60% of Delhi’s particulate matter pollution comes from neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (straw burning + vehicular fumes)

Moreover, even if Delhi were to adopt the cleanest-grade fuel available, ensure that power plants in the vicinity adopt stringent emissions and ensure tidy pavements, pollution would persist well above globally-recommended safe levels, unless neighbouring states too adopted similarly stringent policies.

Why do farmers burn their crop residues?

Rice residue has to be burned, removed or incorporated into the soil in order to prepare elds for the next wheat crop. Farmers also burn rice residue also because many believe that it has a beneficial effect on yields.

– Burning increases the availability of some nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium in the short run

– However, it can also result in the loss of plant nutrients such as nitrogen, potash, sulphur and negatively a ect the local microbial population and organic carbon

But, a growing major concern regarding residue burning emerges from its e ects on air pollution and climate change. Incomplete combustion of biomass such as agriculture residues generates black carbon which is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide.

What has the government done to alleviate this problem?

#1. In a December 2015 order, the National Green Tribunal had called for a curb on straw burning, and had recommended that satellite-based monitoring mechanisms be adopted and local government officers engaged to take action against stubble burning.

#2. It had also suggested engaging the concerned patwaris, block development officers and police stations for immediate action via SMS.

#3. The NGT had also recommended putting agricultural residue to alternative uses like energy generation, and for producing ethanol, paper and packaging material, to benefit the farmers and also to protect the environment.

The problem with that is: So far, seven power plants that generate electricity from straw have been built in Punjab, and six more are on the drawing board. But together, all 13 would consume only 1.5 million of the 20 million tons of straw produced in Punjab every year, or less than 10 % of total straw.

#4. On behalf of the Centre, the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in the agriculture ministry made a policy decision to extend financial assistance to the farmers for procuring ‘Happy Seeder’, which is used for sowing wheat without burning any rice residue.

While Punjab needs about 1,000 such machines, at present it has only about half as many. A plan worth Rs 6,600 crore was drawn up to purchase machines like choppers and shredders, ‘Happy Seeders’ and ‘zero tillage’ but the Centre delayed releasing the payment.

Read this curated op-ed to understand the efficient use of rice straw

 

GS4 (Ethics)

Should our decisions be judged only according to the circumstances? Are our intentions also important? Discuss with the help of examples.

GS3 (Economics)

Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to wide disparities between the rich and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism driving inclusive growth in India? Discuss.

(Previous Year UPSC 2014 Question)

GS2 (Water disputes)

Recently there have been many instances  of disputes over river water not only inside India, e.g. Karnataka-Tamil Nadu, Punjab-Haryana, but also between India and her neighbours such as Pakistan and China. Why do such disputes arise? Are these disputes increasing or have such problems always been present?

GS1 (Communalism)

Communalism is a social problem which has socio-economic causes and which has socio-economic solutions. Critically comment

GS4 (Case Study)

You are a brand manager in a fast growing food product company. Lately you and your colleagues have been assigned a project where you to have to form a branding strategy for a new product. The highlight of the product is that it contains lesser calories and is directed towards the new generation who are facing obesity related problems. However, you have come to know that there is a catch. The product contains an artificial low calorie sugar, which has been reported to cause severe health problems. In this background –

a) Give an analysis of the possible outcomes based on whether you go ahead with the product launch or you oppose the move.

b) What will be the stand that you would take in the above scenario and why?

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GS3 (Indian Economy)

India’s exports have fallen for almost 2 years now. What are the reasons for such a contraction? What measures has the government taken to improve the situation?