General Studies 2023 GS Paper III 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Discuss

Q18

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

जलवायु परिवर्तन पर अंतर-सरकारी पैनल (आई. पी. सी. सी.) ने वैश्विक समुद्र-स्तर में 2100 ईस्वी तक लगभग एक मीटर की वृद्धि का पूर्वानुमान लगाया है। हिंद महासागर क्षेत्र में भारत और दूसरे देशों में इसका क्या प्रभाव होगा? (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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Directive word: Discuss

This question asks you to discuss. 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 'discuss' requires a comprehensive examination of multiple dimensions of sea level rise impacts across India and the Indian Ocean region. Structure as: brief introduction acknowledging IPCC AR6 projections → spatially organized body covering India (coastal states, Sundarbans, Mumbai, Chennai), then regional impacts (Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan) → sectoral impacts (agriculture, infrastructure, displacement, security) → conclusion with adaptation/mitigation measures.

Key points expected

Specific mention of vulnerable Indian coastal states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal (Sundarbans) with population at risk figures
Regional coverage beyond India: Maldives (existential threat), Bangladesh (dense deltaic population), Sri Lanka (colombo port, tourism), Pakistan (Indus delta, Karachi)
Multi-dimensional impacts: coastal inundation, saltwater intrusion affecting agriculture (Sundarbans, Tamil Nadu delta), infrastructure damage (ports, nuclear plants at Kudankulam/Tarapur), internal displacement, climate migration
Economic and security dimensions: loss of fishing livelihoods, damage to Mumbai/Chennai ports, potential submergence of military installations (INS Kadamba, Karwar), Indo-Bangladesh climate migration pressures
Data citation: IPCC AR6 specifics, NASA/GISAT satellite data on Indian coastline recession, World Bank estimates on economic losses for South Asia
Forward-looking elements: India's National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notifications, regional cooperation through BIMSTEC/SAARC frameworks

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	3	Recognizes 'discuss' requires balanced coverage of India AND other Indian Ocean countries, not India alone; addresses both physical and human geography dimensions; maintains 2100 timeframe context throughout	Covers India adequately but treats other countries superficially or as afterthought; understands discuss means multiple angles but misses regional balance	Misinterprets as 'describe India only' or 'explain causes of sea level rise'; focuses on mitigation rather than impacts; ignores temporal context of 2100 projection
Content depth & accuracy	20%	3	Precise on IPCC AR6 specifics (likely range 0.43-0.84m under SSP2-4.5, up to 1m+ under high emissions); accurate on Indian coastal geography (Sundarbans as most vulnerable, not generic 'coastal areas'); correct on regional geopolitics (Maldives sovereignty threat, Bangladesh-India migration nexus)	Generally accurate but vague on IPCC scenario specifics; mixes up AR5 and AR6 figures; broad coastal references without specificity; minor errors in regional country coverage	Factually incorrect IPCC figures (e.g., confuses with 2m or 0.5m); omits regional dimension entirely; includes irrelevant content on global warming causes or Paris Agreement negotiations
Structure & flow	20%	3	Clear spatial organization (India first, then regional countries) OR sectoral organization (physical, economic, social, security) with explicit transitions; 250-word discipline maintained; each paragraph advances the discussion without repetition	Readable structure but inconsistent organization (mixes spatial and sectoral haphazardly); some paragraph overlap; word count slightly over/under but manageable	No discernible structure; bullet points without integration; severe word management issues (significantly over/under); repetitive content across paragraphs
Examples / case-law / data	20%	3	Specific data: 4.2 million Indians at risk from 1m rise (Climate Central); Mumbai's $46-50 billion asset exposure; Maldives' 80% land below 1m; references to CRZ 2011/2019 amendments, National Action Plan on Climate Change; satellite data from ISRO/National Remote Sensing Centre	Some data present but unsourced or generic ('millions affected'); mentions policies without specificity (e.g., 'coastal protection laws'); limited regional examples beyond India and Bangladesh	No quantitative data; no policy references; examples limited to 'Sundarbans' and 'Maldives sinking' without elaboration; or entirely absent examples
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	3	Synthesizes India-regional interdependence (e.g., climate migration as bilateral issue); identifies governance gaps (weak CRZ enforcement, lack of regional early warning systems); proposes concrete measures (regional BIMSTEC climate resilience framework, nature-based solutions for Sundarbans); ends with forward-looking insight on blue economy trade-offs	Standard conclusion summarizing points; generic call for 'international cooperation' and 'sustainable development'; no critical insight on implementation barriers	No conclusion or abrupt ending; purely descriptive summary without synthesis; unrealistic or irrelevant recommendations (e.g., 'build sea walls everywhere'); or shifts to unrelated climate issues

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