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General Studies 2021 GS Paper III 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Explain

GS Paper III — Q4

How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India's water crisis? (Answer in 150 words)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

भारत के जल संकट के समाधान में, सूक्ष्म-सिंचाई कैसे और किस सीमा तक सहायक होगी ? (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

Q4 of the 2021 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper III, as printed
The question as printed in the 2021 General Studies paper
Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2021 General Studies questions

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

Micro-irrigation—comprising drip and sprinkler systems—applies water with precision directly to the plant roots or soil surface. By eliminating conveyance runoff and drastically minimizing evaporation and deep percolation losses, it achieves 30–70% water savings over conventional flood irrigation.

Extent and Regional Impact This efficiency is critical for water-stressed states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. While micro-irrigation currently covers only about 10% of India’s net irrigated area, it has the potential to span over 50% of the area under horticulture and water-intensive crops like sugarcane and cotton.

Limitations and Complementary Measures However, high initial capital costs, fragmented landholdings, erratic rural electricity, and crop-specific suitability limit its standalone reach. To fully avert the water crisis, scaling micro-irrigation under PMKSY’s Per Drop More Crop must be complemented by watershed management, rationalization of power and water pricing, and crop diversification away from water-guzzling staples.

What "Explain" is asking you to do

Make the working of something clear — what sets it off, what follows from what, and what it produces. Explain is the Commission's mechanism word: it dominates the technical papers and the “explain why” stems, where the marks sit in the causal chain and not in the label.

Structure that answers it

State what it is → the initiating condition → the chain of cause, step by step → an instance where it plays out → what the chain produces

Where marks are lost

Describing what something looks like instead of why it works that way. Naming the stages without linking them reads as description too.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: Situation > Analysis > Measures > Assessment. explain: definition/context > points in order > small example > short close Full marks: Precise mechanism (drip/sprinkler) with quantified savings and clear limits (cost/land size).

Key points expected

  • Explains 'how' via drip/sprinkler efficiency vs flood irrigation
  • Quantifies 'extent' (e.g., 40-60% water saving)
  • Links to 'more crop per drop' or water table recharge
  • Identifies limits (e.g., high cost, small landholdings, maintenance)

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Mechanism of water conservation and the specific limits of its impact on the national crisis.  · 150 words

    explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close

    Must cover

    • Explains 'how' via drip/sprinkler efficiency vs flood irrigation
    • Quantifies 'extent' (e.g., 40-60% water saving)
    • Links to 'more crop per drop' or water table recharge
    • Identifies limits (e.g., high cost, small landholdings, maintenance)

    Loses marks

    • Generic 'saves water' without mechanism
    • Ignores the 'extent' or limitations
    • Aspirational writing without implementable measures

    Earns more

    • Mentions PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana)
    • Cites specific water saving percentage (e.g., 40-60%)
    • Mentions 'more crop per drop' slogan
    • References specific crops (e.g., vegetables, fruits)

    Extra mark

    • Mentions specific state adoption (e.g., Rajasthan, Maharashtra)
    • References specific cost-benefit ratio

Practice this exact question

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