Daily Answer Writing

Model Answer

India’s groundwater crisis is a pressing environmental challenge that threatens the sustainability of its water resources, vital for agriculture, drinking, and sanitation. With nearly 25% of the world’s groundwater being extracted, India has become the largest user globally. In 2023, the annual groundwater extraction reached 241.34 billion cubic meters, primarily for irrigation, which accounts for 62% of the agricultural water needs.

Several factors contribute to this alarming crisis:

1. Water-Intensive Agriculture Practices: The preference for high-yield, water-intensive crops such as paddy and sugarcane has led to excessive groundwater withdrawal. States like Punjab and Haryana experience significant over-extraction, resulting in salinization and chemical contamination of aquifers.
2. Population Growth and Urbanization: India’s population has surged from 1.29 billion in 2016 to an estimated 1.45 billion in 2024, substantially increasing demand for water. Urban migration places additional pressure on city aquifers, with major cities like Bengaluru relying on tankers due to declining groundwater levels.
3. Climate Change and Erratic Rainfall: Climate change has made monsoon patterns unpredictable, reducing recharge rates. The southwest monsoon, crucial for groundwater replenishment, recorded a rainfall shortfall of 5.6% in 2023.
4. Industrial Pollution: Unregulated discharge of industrial effluents contaminates groundwater with heavy metals and chemicals. For instance, Kanpur’s tanneries have significantly polluted local water sources.
5. Unsustainable Mining Practices: Mining activities in states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh lead to heavy metal contamination and depletion of aquifers, posing serious health risks.

Despite government initiatives like the Atal Bhujal Yojana and Jal Shakti Abhiyan aimed at improving groundwater management, more robust measures are required.

Sustainable solutions must include:

• Adopting Water-Efficient Practices: Promoting drip and micro-irrigation can significantly reduce water usage in agriculture.
• Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR): Implementing MAR techniques and expanding rainwater harvesting systems can replenish groundwater levels effectively.
• Regulatory Reforms: Revising electricity subsidies to discourage excessive extraction and ensuring metered connections can incentivize conservation.
• Community Engagement: Raising awareness about sustainable practices and involving local communities in water management can foster a culture of conservation.
• Technological Innovations: Utilizing AI and IoT for real-time monitoring of aquifer health can enable proactive management strategies.

In conclusion, addressing India’s groundwater crisis requires immediate and coordinated action from all stakeholders. By integrating sustainable practices, community involvement, and technological advancements, India can secure its groundwater resources for future generations.

Model Answer

Challenges in Harnessing Ocean Thermal Energy in India

India holds significant potential to generate 180,000 MW of ocean thermal energy, but the progress in harnessing this resource has been slow due to several challenges.

1. High Initial Costs

Setting up Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plants requires substantial investment, particularly in the infrastructure for pumping and piping. The cost of piping, which moves cold water from the deep ocean, can constitute up to 75% of the total plant cost. This makes OTEC economically viable primarily at large scales, deterring widespread adoption, especially for smaller plants.

2. Limited Location Suitability

OTEC systems are most effective in equatorial and tropical zones where there is a significant temperature difference of at least 20°C between surface and deep ocean water. India’s southern coastal areas are well-suited for this technology, but the number of locations that meet the requirements for OTEC is limited, constraining its widespread application.

3. Technological Barriers

While the potential is immense, most OTEC technologies are still in the pre-R&D or early commercialization stages. The lack of mature, scalable technologies hinders the large-scale development of OTEC plants in India, with most projects being limited to small demonstration plants.

4. Environmental Concerns

OTEC systems can negatively impact marine ecosystems. The discharge of cooler, nutrient-rich water can affect local marine organisms, leading to potential ecosystem disruptions. Moreover, issues like entanglement of marine life in cables, biofouling, and noise pollution are also environmental concerns that need to be addressed.

Remedial Measures

1. Policy and Financial Support

The government must formulate a robust national policy, including financial incentives to promote OTEC development. A clear roadmap for financial deployment will help overcome cost-related challenges.

2. Investment in R&D

Increased funding in research and development is crucial. The private sector should be encouraged to invest in OTEC technology, with incentives such as tax breaks or subsidies to spur innovation.

3. International Collaboration

India should seek international partnerships to leverage global expertise in ocean energy. Collaborating with neighboring countries will help establish a stronger regional framework for ocean energy development.

4. Increased Demonstration Projects

India needs to develop more demonstration projects, especially in feasible locations, to gather data for environmental impact assessments (EIA) and fine-tune technology.

Conclusion

India can unlock the vast potential of ocean thermal energy, providing a clean and constant energy source that can complement other renewable resources like wind and solar.

मॉडल उत्तर

प्रवासी भारतीयों का महत्व और सरकार की पहल

भारत के प्रवासी भारतीय, जो भारतीय मूल के व्यक्ति (PIO) और गैर-निवासी भारतीय (NRI) के रूप में जाने जाते हैं, विश्व के सबसे बड़े प्रवासी समुदायों में से एक हैं। 2024 में, प्रवासी भारतीयों ने भारत को 129.1 बिलियन डॉलर का धन प्रेषण भेजा, जो देश की GDP में 3.3% का योगदान देता है। इनका योगदान न केवल आर्थिक है, बल्कि ये सांस्कृतिक राजदूत के रूप में भी कार्य करते हैं, जिससे भारत की सॉफ्ट पावर को बढ़ावा मिलता है।

प्रवासी भारतीयों का राजनीतिक और कूटनीतिक महत्व भी अत्यधिक है। वे द्विपक्षीय संबंधों को मज़बूत करते हैं और वैश्विक मंचों पर भारत की आवाज़ को उठाते हैं। उदाहरण के लिए, भारतीय मूल के सांसदों ने भारत-ब्रिटेन मुक्त व्यापार समझौते की वार्ता में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई है।

सरकार को प्रवासी समुदाय के साथ जुड़ने के लिए कई पहल करनी चाहिए। e-Migrate प्लेटफार्म के माध्यम से, सरकार ने विदेशों में रोजगार चाहने वाले भारतीयों के लिए सुरक्षित अवसर प्रदान किए हैं। MADAD पोर्टल के जरिए, प्रवासी भारतीयों को आपात स्थितियों में सहायता प्राप्त होती है। इसके अलावा, OCI योजना प्रवासी भारतीयों को भारत में विशेषाधिकार प्रदान करती है, जिससे उनकी सांस्कृतिक विरासत को बनाए रखने में मदद मिलती है।

अनुसंधान और शैक्षणिक पहल, जैसे VAJRA और रामानुजन फेलोशिप, प्रवासी वैज्ञानिकों और शोधकर्ताओं को भारत में काम करने के अवसर प्रदान करती हैं। ये पहल प्रवासी भारतीयों के ज्ञान और अनुभव का लाभ उठाने में सहायक हैं।

निष्कर्षतः प्रवासी भारतीय भारत की वैश्विक पहचान को सुदृढ़ करते हैं। सरकार को उनकी क्षमताओं का अधिकतम उपयोग करने के लिए नीतियों में सुधार करना चाहिए और प्रवासी समुदाय के साथ मजबूत संबंध स्थापित करना चाहिए। इससे न केवल भारत का विकास होगा, बल्कि वैश्विक स्तर पर भी भारत की स्थिति में सुधार होगा।

Model Answer

Potential Impact of Arctic Ice Melting on Oceans

The Arctic’s sea ice is melting at an alarming rate, with NASA reporting a 13% decrease in Arctic ice every decade, resulting in a 95% loss over the past 30 years. According to the World Economic Forum, the Arctic may be ice-free in the summer by 2040 if greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked. The melting of Arctic ice can have several profound effects on the oceans:

1. Sea Level Rise: As the Arctic ice melts, it adds freshwater to the oceans, contributing to a rise in global sea levels. This is a significant concern for coastal regions worldwide.
2. Ocean Chemistry Changes: The influx of freshwater from melting ice dilutes carbonate ions in the seawater, disrupting the ocean’s ability to neutralize carbon dioxide and reducing ocean pH. This results in increased ocean acidity, which harms marine life.
3. Impact on Marine Life: Acidification and changes in water temperature threaten the survival of marine creatures, including fish, corals, and other sea life, causing disruption to ecosystems and food chains.
4. Disruption of Ocean Currents: The influx of freshwater makes the seawater less dense, potentially altering or halting major ocean currents. These currents play a crucial role in regulating the global climate and distributing heat across the planet.

How India Could Be Affected by Arctic Ice Melting

India could experience several impacts due to the melting of Arctic ice, as observed in various studies:

1. Rising Sea Levels: According to the World Meteorological Organization, sea levels along India’s coasts are rising faster than the global average due to the melting ice in the Arctic. This poses a threat to coastal cities and low-lying areas, leading to flooding and loss of land.
2. Migration: The rise in sea levels and the increase in intense cyclones have already displaced 1.5 million people from the Sundarbans delta. A rapid increase in sea levels could trigger widespread migration from coastal regions, leading to social and economic challenges.
3. Impact on Indian Monsoon: The reduction in Arctic sea ice affects the Greenland Sea and the Central Pacific Ocean’s temperatures, which in turn impacts the Indian monsoon. A decrease in ice cover can lead to less rainfall during the monsoon season, affecting agriculture and water resources in India.

In conclusion, the melting of Arctic ice presents significant global and local challenges, with wide-reaching consequences for the oceans and countries like India. Immediate action to reduce emissions and address climate change is essential to mitigate these impacts.