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

Q7

Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India's National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards? (Answer in 150 words)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (डब्ल्यू.एच.ओ.) द्वारा हाल ही में जारी किए गए संशोधित वैश्विक वायु गुणवत्ता दिशानिर्देशों (ए.क्यू.जी.) के मुख्य बिंदुओं का वर्णन कीजिए। विगत 2005 के अद्यतन से, ये किस प्रकार भिन्न हैं ? इन संशोधित मानकों को प्राप्त करने के लिए, भारत के राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम में किन परिवर्तनों की आवश्यकता है ? (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

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Directive word: Describe

This question asks you to describe. 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 'describe' requires a factual, systematic presentation of the revised WHO AQGs 2021, followed by comparative analysis with 2005 standards and prescriptive recommendations for India's NCAP. Structure: brief introduction noting the 2021 revision context → three-part body covering new guidelines, 2005 vs 2021 differences, and NCAP modifications needed → concluding remark on health-economic imperative.

Key points expected

2021 WHO AQGs: PM2.5 annual 5 μg/m³ (from 10), PM10 annual 15 μg/m³ (from 20), NO2 annual 10 μg/m³ (from 40), and new guidelines for O3, CO, SO2 with tightened 24-hour standards
Key differences from 2005: substantial lowering of all pollutant thresholds, addition of new pollutants (ultrafine particles, black carbon), stronger evidence linking low-level exposure to mortality/morbidity
India's NCAP gaps: current targets (20-30% reduction in 131 cities) are process-oriented, not outcome-based; Indian NAAQS for PM2.5 (40 μg/m³) is 8× WHO 2021 standard
Required NCAP changes: revise NAAQS to WHO-aligned phased targets, expand monitoring network beyond 131 cities, mandate sectoral emission inventories, strengthen enforcement through CPCB-SPCB coordination
Specific sectoral shifts: accelerate BS-VI Phase II, enhance industrial emission norms, promote distributed renewable energy to reduce crop-residue burning and thermal power dependence

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	2	Answer correctly interprets 'describe' as requiring factual enumeration of 2021 guidelines, explicitly contrasts with 2005 standards using comparative data, and transitions logically to prescriptive NCAP recommendations without confusing description with analysis	Answer describes 2021 guidelines adequately but comparison with 2005 is vague or missing specific numerical changes; NCAP section drifts into general pollution control rather than standards-alignment	Misinterprets directive as 'discuss' or 'analyse', provides opinion without factual description, or completely omits either the 2005 comparison or NCAP recommendations
Content depth & accuracy	20%	2	Precise numerical values for all major pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO) with correct units (μg/m³/ppb), accurate identification of 2005 vs 2021 threshold changes, and technically sound NCAP prescriptions grounded in Environmental Protection Act, 1986 and Air (Prevention) Act, 1981	Correctly identifies 2-3 major pollutants with some numerical values; comparison mentions 'stricter standards' without specifics; NCAP suggestions are generic (more trees, public transport) rather than standards-specific	Factually incorrect values (e.g., confusing annual vs 24-hour standards), omits key pollutants, misstates 2005 baseline, or suggests legally/technically infeasible NCAP modifications
Structure & flow	20%	2	Tripartite structure clearly demarcated (2021 guidelines → 2005 comparison → NCAP changes) with seamless transitions; maintains 150-word discipline without fragmentation; each section proportionally balanced (~50 words each)	Recognizable three-part structure but with uneven weighting (e.g., excessive detail on guidelines, rushed NCAP section) or abrupt transitions; minor word limit deviation (±20 words)	No discernible structure, jumbled presentation mixing all three demands; severe word limit violation; or bullet-point dumping without paragraph coherence
Examples / case-law / data	20%	2	Incorporates specific Indian data: current NAAQS vs WHO comparison, NCAP's 131 non-attainment cities, 2022 CPCB report showing 96 Indian cities exceed revised WHO PM2.5; references WHO's systematic review methodology or India's National Ambient Air Quality Standards notification	Mentions India or NCAP without specific numbers; or cites WHO without Indian context; generic reference to 'air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR' without data linkage	No Indian examples or data; entirely generic global references; or irrelevant case-law (e.g., citing water pollution judgments for air quality question)
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	2	Concludes with integrated insight linking health burden (WHO estimate: 7 million premature deaths annually) to economic productivity loss (~1.4% India's GDP per World Bank), advocating phased standards adoption recognizing India's development constraints while emphasizing aspirational trajectory	Routine concluding sentence restating importance of clean air; or abrupt ending without synthesis; no recognition of implementation challenges or phased approach	Missing conclusion; or concludes with unrelated grandstanding; or suggests immediate adoption ignoring India's economic-technical feasibility, demonstrating poor policy understanding

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