General Studies 2023 GS Paper III 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Analyse

Q7

Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures. (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

बाँधों की विफलता हमेशा प्रलयकारी होती है, विशेष रूप से नीचे की ओर, जिसके परिणामस्वरूप जीवन और संपत्ति का भारी नुकसान होता है। बाँधों की विफलता के विभिन्न कारणों का विश्लेषण कीजिए। बड़े बाँधों की विफलताओं के दो उदाहरण दीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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Directive word: Analyse

This question asks you to analyse. 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 'analyse' requires breaking down causes of dam failures into distinct categories with causal relationships, not mere listing. Structure: brief introduction on dam significance → categorized analysis of causes (structural, natural, operational, design) → two specific examples with year/location/impact → concise conclusion on mitigation lessons.

Key points expected

Structural causes: foundation failure, material fatigue, seepage/piping, inadequate spillway capacity
Natural causes: extreme rainfall/floods, earthquakes, landslides into reservoir
Human/operational causes: poor maintenance, operational errors, delayed warnings, construction flaws
Example 1: Machhu Dam-II failure (1979, Gujarat) - 20,000+ deaths due to excessive rainfall and inadequate spillway design
Example 2: Morbi Dam failure (1979, Gujarat) or recent Rishiganga/NTPC Tapovan flash flood (2021, Uttarakhand) - glacial burst causing cascade dam failure
Design evolution: lessons leading to Dam Safety Act 2021 and CWC guidelines

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	2	Demonstrates 'analyse' by categorizing causes into structural, natural, and operational dimensions with interlinkages shown; avoids mere enumeration	Lists causes without clear categorization or causal analysis; treats 'analyse' as 'list'	Describes dam functions or gives generic disaster narrative without analysing failure causes specifically
Content depth & accuracy	20%	2	Covers 3-4 distinct cause categories with technical precision (piping, overtopping, liquefaction); includes both pre- and post-independence Indian examples	Mentions 2 cause categories superficially; examples lack specific details or are only international	Vague causes like 'heavy rain' or 'poor construction' without specificity; factually incorrect example details
Structure & flow	20%	2	Logical progression: intro → categorized causes → examples → conclusion; 150-word discipline maintained with seamless transitions	Present but disjointed structure; word count significantly over/under; abrupt shifts between sections	No discernible structure; random information dump; fails to address both parts (causes AND examples) adequately
Examples / case-law / data	20%	2	Two precise Indian examples with year, location, specific failure mode and casualty/impact figures; Machhu-II (1979) and Rishiganga (2021) preferred	Two examples but missing critical details (year or exact cause); or one Indian and one international example	Only one example, or incorrect examples (e.g., Bhopal gas tragedy), or no specific data/figures provided
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	2	Brief forward-looking conclusion linking to Dam Safety Act 2021, risk-based management, or climate-resilient design; shows policy awareness	Generic conclusion on 'need for better maintenance' without specific institutional or policy reference	No conclusion; or purely descriptive ending; or introduces new causes/examples not discussed in body

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