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GS Paper: GS1

  • Examine the potential of wind energy in India and explain the reasons for their limited spatial spread. (भारत में पवन ऊर्जा की संभावना का परीक्षण कीजिए एवं उनके सीमित क्षेत्रीय विस्तार के कारणों को समझाइए|)

  • Describe the characteristics and types of primary rocks. (प्राथमिक चट्टानों की विशेषताओं एवं प्रकारों का वर्णन कीजिए।)

  • Mention the significance of straits and isthmus in international trade. (अंतर्राष्ट्रीय व्यापार में जलसंधि व स्थलसंधि के महत्त्व का उल्लेख कीजिए ।.)

  • Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological Department. (भारतीय मौसम विज्ञान विभाग द्वारा चक्रवात प्रवण क्षेत्रों के लिए मौसम सम्बन्धी चेतावनियों के लिए निर्धारित रंग-संकेत के अर्थ की चर्चा करें।)

  • Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work From Home’ on family relationships.

    The Work From Home (WFH) model, accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, has reconfigured the interface between work and family.

    Positive Impacts of WFH on Family Relationships

    Increased Family Time and financial stability due to reduced commuting time and cost

    Strengthening of Emotional Bonds – Eg- Shared meals and daily conversations improving marital and parent-child relationships.

    Improved value transmission and greater “parent watch” over children.

    Opportunity for renegotiation of gender roles. Eg- Increased involvement of men in childcare and household responsibilities.

    Support for Elderly Care – Easier supervision and emotional support for ageing parents.

    Improved Work-Life Balance – Flexibility in scheduling family and work commitments.

    Greater flexibility in work led to an increased number of women entering the workforce.

    Negative Impacts of WFH on Family Relationships

    Blurring of Work-Family Boundaries – Eg- Extended work hours causing stress and irritability.

    Constant proximity–

    Reduction in personal space and time leading to conflicts as reflected in increasing divorce rates

    Rise in cases of domestic violence during COVID

    Dual Burden on Women – paid work + disproportionate housework and care duties.

    Mental Health Strain – Isolation from colleagues leading to isolation and loneliness.

    Sedentary Family Habits- Parents and children transitioning directly from work/school screens to leisure screens without leaving the house.

    Lower-income households face stress due to cramped living conditions and unstable jobs.

    Way Forward

    Clear work-hour norms to protect family time

    Gender-sensitive workplace policies

    Mental health support for employees

    Hybrid work models offering flexibility

    The right to disconnect Bill needs to be passed to ensure work life balance in the WFH context.

  • Troposphere is a very significant atmospheric layer that determines weather processes. How?

    The troposphere is the lowermost layer of the atmosphere, extending from the Earth’s surface to approximately 8 km at the poles and 18 km at the equator.

    Troposphere- (0-18 km) Weather-active layer. Holds 75% of atmospheric mass.

    Stratosphere- (18-50 km) Home to the ozone layer. Temperature increases with height.

    Mesosphere- (50-85 km) Coldest layer. Meteors burn up here.

    Thermosphere- (85-600 km) Ionosphere location. Facilitates satellite orbits.

    Exosphere- (600 km+) Fades into outer space.

    Significance of Troposphere

    Hydrological Cycle Engine- Holds 99% of atmospheric water vapor, driving all rain and snow.

    Aerosol Nucleation- Hosts dust and pollutants that act as “seeds” for raindrops.

    Environmental Lapse Rate- Temperature drops 6.5°C per km, facilitating cloud-forming condensation.

    Greenhouse Regulation- Contains most CO2 and Methane, maintaining Earth’s habitable temperature.

    Zone of atmospheric convection – Vertical mixing redistributes heat and moisture. Eg- Cumulonimbus cloud development.

    Mass Concentration- Contains 75% of the atmosphere’s mass, providing the pressure needed for winds.

    Boundary Layer Dynamics- The lowest part (PBL) interacts with the surface, determining local microclimates.

    Cyclogenesis Theatre- All tropical and extra-tropical cyclones originate and intensify within this layer.

    Tropopause Lid- Acts as a thermal ceiling, trapping weather within the troposphere.

    Jet streams at upper troposphere steer weather systems. Eg- Subtropical jet influencing Indian winter weather.

    Major Challenges

    Tropospheric Warming- Breach of the 1.5°C threshold has permanently altered weather baselines.

    Increased frequency and intensity of La Niña-El Niño has destabilized global rainfall predictability.

    Polar Vortex Instability- Stratospheric warming is pushing Arctic air into mid-latitudes. Eg- cold waves in Europe.

    Height Expansion- As the troposphere warms, it is physically expanding upward.

    Ground-Level Ozone- Increasing heat is turning tropospheric pollutants into toxic smog.

    Understanding and protecting tropospheric processes is therefore critical for weather prediction, disaster management, and sustainable human survival.

  • The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.

    The reorganisation of states and territories in India has been a dynamic process shaped by administrative efficiency, linguistic identity, cultural aspirations, and political considerations.

    Reorganisation Under British Rule (Mid-19th Century onwards)

    Provinces were created for administrative convenience, not cultural or linguistic coherence. Eg- Bengal Presidency included Bengal, Bihar, Orissa – too large to govern efficiently.

    Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon along communal lines – reversed in 1911 due to Swadeshi agitation.

    Separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency (1936) and creation of Orissa Province (1936).

    Post-Independence Reorganisation

    Integration of Princely States (1947-50)

    565 princely states merged into the Indian Union through instruments of accession and mergers.

    Rajasthan formed from 19 princely states, Madhya Bharat from Central Indian states.

    Linguistic Reorganisation

    Dhar Commission (1948) & JVP Committee (1949) opposed linguistic reorganisation.

    States Reorganisation Commission (SRC, 1956) under Fazl Ali recommended reorganisation on linguistic basis.

    States Reorganisation Act (1956) created 14 states and 6 union territories.

    Subsequent Reorganisations

    Bombay split into Maharashtra and Gujarat (1960) after Samyukta Maharashtra Movement

    Punjab trifurcated into Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh (1966) on linguistic basis

    Northeastern states carved out – Nagaland (1963), Meghalaya (1972), Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura.

    Goa became a state in 1987 after liberation from Portuguese rule (1961).

    Recent Reorganisations

    Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand created in 2000 from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh respectively – driven by demands for better governance and tribal identity.

    Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 after prolonged agitation.

    Union Territory Changes

    Reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir into two UTs (2019) under Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act.

    Ladakh was created as a separate UT (2019).

    However, continuous demands for new states (Vidarbha, Gorkhaland, Bodoland) indicate the process remains ongoing.

    The reorganisation of states reflects India’s capacity for democratic accommodation of diverse aspirations within a federal framework.

  • How is the growth of Tier 2 cities related to the rise of a new middle class with an emphasis on the culture of consumption?

    Tier 2 cities are urban centers with a population between 50,000 and 100,000. Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities house over 51% of MSMEs and are witnessing a 20-25% annual growth in organized retail.

    Reasons for Growth of Tier 2 Cities

    Infrastructure Push- Projects like Bharatmala and PM Gati Shakti. Eg- Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway

    Increasing industrialization and urbanization – 37% population living in cities

    Regional Air Connectivity under UDAN Scheme increasing accessibility.

    IT Decentralization- Companies moving to “Spoke-and-Hub” models in cities like Kochi.

    Reverse Migration among skilled professionals due to work from home culture and increasing cost of living in Tier-1 cities

    Lower Cost of Operations for startups.

    Educational Hubs-expansion of IITs, IIMs, and private universities in cities like Jodhpur and Bhubaneswar.

    Smart Cities Mission- Digital and civic upgrades in 100 cities improving “Ease of Living.”

    Linkages between growth of tier-2 cities and the new consumption-oriented middle class

    Economic Decentralisation – Movement of industries and services beyond metros has generated stable salaried employment.

    Rising Disposable Incomes due to rising incomes and lower cost of living allows higher discretionary spending.

    Real Estate Boom – Growth of housing, malls, multiplexes, and gated communities reshape lifestyles.

    Expansion of organised retail, food chains, and lifestyle services cater to aspirational consumers. Eg- Zudio, McDonald in tier-2 cities

    E-commerce Penetration- Deep logistics networks by Amazon and Flipkart

    Digital Penetration – Internet, smartphones, and OTT platforms diffuse global consumer culture. Eg- Online shopping and influencer-driven consumption.

    Cultural Shift from Necessity to Lifestyle Consumption – Travel, dining out, fitness centres, and entertainment becoming routine expenses. Eg- fitness chains like Cult.fit

    Credit Expansion – Easy access to loans and EMIs fuels consumption. Eg- Buy Now, Pay Later option.

    Changing Social Values – Individualism and aspiration replace frugality and traditional restraint.

    Ensuring that consumption-led growth is inclusive and sustainable is needed to make Tier-2 cities as engines of equitable urban development.

  • Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century ? Give reasons.

    Under British rule, India experienced an unprecedented frequency of famines (31 major famines) leading to over 60 million deaths.

    Reasons for sudden spurt in famines in colonial India

    Commercialisation of agriculture – Shift from food crops to cash crops reduced local food availability. Eg- Expansion of indigo, cotton, and opium cultivation under Company pressure.

    Rigid land revenue systems with fixed and high revenue demands forced peasants to sell grain during scarcity.

    Collapse of handicrafts increased dependence on agriculture and reduced household resilience during crop failure.

    Disruption of traditional famine-coping mechanisms like community grain banks due to British policies.

    Free trade ideology (laissez-faire attitude) prioritised exports over local needs. Eg- Continued grain exports during famines like the Great Famine of 1876-78.

    Neglect of agricultural investment heightened vulnerability to monsoon failure. Eg- Limited irrigation outside canal colonies.

    Diversion of foodgrains for British soldiers during world war II led to over 3 million deaths during Bengal famine of 1943

    Role of Viceroys – Lord Lytton exported 320,000 tons of wheat to England during the Great Famine of 1876-1878

    Thus, spurt in famines was an “administrative and man-made” phenomenon. It underscores the critical role of the state in ensuring food security at present.

  • Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India.

    Thomas Friedman defines globalization as the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states, and technologies, making it farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper. It has accelerated the diffusion of technology thereby enabling efficient use, substitution, and management of scarce resources.

    Relationship between globalisation and new technology

    New technologies reduce the constraints of distance, time, and cost.

    Efficient Resource Utilisation– Eg- Precision agriculture using satellite data and sensors to reduce water and fertiliser use.

    Shift from Resource-Intensive to Knowledge-Intensive Growth– Eg- India’s IT-ITeS sector generating exports with minimal material input compared to manufacturing.

    Global Diffusion of cleaner and resource-efficient technologies. Eg- Solar and wind technologies.

    Integration into Global Value Chains (GVCs) – Technology enables countries to specialise in specific stages of production. Eg- India as the pharmacy of the world.

    Resource constraints stimulate technological innovation for low-cost solutions for energy, healthcare, and mobility. Eg- telemedicine under eSanjeevani

    The Circular Economy- Globalization facilitates the trade of “waste-as-resource” across borders.

    Exposure to global markets compels efficiency and innovation. Eg- Indian manufacturing adopting automation and Industry 4.0 to remain competitive.

    Technology for Resource Governance– GIS, remote sensing, and digital dashboards used for water management and climate action in India.

    Collaborative R&D- globalization pools global intellect. Eg- ITER project for nuclear fusion involving the EU, US, India, and China.

    Negative Impacts

    Unsustainable Extraction of mineral resources- Eg- Massive Lithium mining in South America to fuel the global EV boom.

    E-Waste Accumulation- Eg- Humanity produces 62 million tonnes of electronic waste every year.

    Technological Imperialism- Eg- Disputes over “Intellectual Property Rights” (IPR) for high-efficiency carbon-capture tech.

    Carbon Footprint of Logistics- Eg- global shipping and aviation account for ~10% of CO2 emissions.

    Digital Divide- Access to tech itself becomes a “scarce resource.” Eg- Only 40% of the Global South having access to 5G.

    Global competition for resources leading to conflicts

    China’s weaponization of rare earth supply chains.

    US attempt to take over Greenland

    Obsolescence by Design- Tech firms globally produce short-lived products to drive sales, wasting minerals. Eg- Smartphones designed with non-replaceable batteries.

    Labor Exploitation for Resources- Eg- Child labor in Cobalt mines in the DRC.

    Impact on India

    For India, the path forward lies in “Frugal Innovation” to ensure that the digital revolution does not come at the cost of the environment.