General Studies 2021 GS Paper I 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Mention

Q7

Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on regional environment. (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

2021 में घटित ज्वालामुखी विस्फोटों की वैश्विक घटनाओं का उल्लेख करते हुए क्षेत्रीय पर्यावरण पर उनके द्वारा पड़े प्रभाव को बताइए । (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

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Directive word: Mention

This question asks you to mention. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'mention' requires concise, factual enumeration of volcanic eruptions in 2021 with brief environmental impacts. Structure as: brief global overview → 2-3 specific eruptions with regional environmental effects → concluding observation on volcanic-environment linkage.

Key points expected

La Palma (Cumbre Vieja), Spain: September-December 2021, destroyed 3,000+ buildings, lava flows reached Atlantic, toxic gas emissions
Mount Nyiragongo, DRC: May 2021, 32 deaths, lava destroyed Goma suburbs, displaced 400,000+, groundwater contamination fears
Mount Semeru, Indonesia: December 2021, 50+ deaths, volcanic ash covered villages, triggered lahars, disrupted agriculture in East Java
Global environmental impacts: SO2 aerosols affecting regional air quality, temporary cooling effects, ash-induced respiratory hazards, agricultural damage, water source acidification
Regional specificity: La Palma's marine ecosystem damage from lava-ocean interaction; Nyiragongo's Lake Kivu gas saturation risks; Semeru's ash fall on densely populated Java

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	2	Correctly interprets 'mention' as requiring brief, factual enumeration rather than elaborate analysis; covers both global occurrence AND regional environment impact as dual demands; stays within 150-word constraint while addressing both components	Addresses both parts but either over-elaborates on one eruption or lists eruptions without environmental linkage; minor misinterpretation of brevity required	Treats as 'discuss' or 'explain' with lengthy descriptions; misses either global occurrence or environmental impact entirely; exceeds word limit significantly
Content depth & accuracy	20%	2	Accurately identifies 3+ major 2021 eruptions with correct locations, timing, and specific environmental impacts (atmospheric, terrestrial, aquatic); no factual errors on casualties or geographic details	Identifies 2 eruptions with basic environmental impacts; minor errors in dates/locations or generic environmental statements without regional specificity	Includes pre-2021 eruptions (e.g., Eyjafjallajökull 2010) or incorrect years; confuses regional impacts; vague 'pollution' statements without specificity
Structure & flow	20%	2	Clear spatial or thematic organization (e.g., by continent or impact type); seamless transition between enumeration and impact analysis; maintains coherence despite word constraint	Logical but basic structure; some abrupt transitions between eruptions; either too list-like or too narrative without clear pattern	Disorganized chronology or geography; random jumping between eruptions and impacts; no discernible structure; fragmented sentences due to space mismanagement
Examples / case-law / data	20%	2	Precise data points: La Palma's 3,000+ buildings destroyed, 2,000 hectares covered; Nyiragongo's 400,000 displaced; Semeru's ash reach in km; specific environmental metrics (SO2 tonnes, lava flow duration)	Round-number estimates for casualties/displacement; mentions lava/ash but without quantitative or temporal specificity; one eruption with detail, others generic	No data or grossly inflated/deflated figures; confuses eruption scales; omits specific examples entirely or uses invented statistics
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	2	Brief synthesis noting 2021's unusual concentration of explosive volcanism or linking to broader volcanic hazard preparedness; or observes climate-volcano feedback without overstating	Generic concluding sentence on volcanic dangers; no synthesis of 2021 pattern; restates earlier points without added value	No conclusion; or irrelevant digression into unrelated topics (volcanic energy, mythology); or speculative claims about global cooling from 2021 eruptions

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