General Studies 2024 GS Paper II 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Discuss

Q20

Discuss the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of Maldives for India with a focus on global trade and energy flows. Further also discuss how this relationship affects India's maritime security and regional stability amidst international competition ? (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

वैश्विक व्यापार और ऊर्जा प्रवाह पर ध्यान केन्द्रित करते हुए भारत के लिये मालदीव के भू-राजनीतिक और भू-रणनीतिक महत्त्व पर चर्चा कीजिए। आगे यह भी चर्चा करें कि यह सम्बन्ध अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय प्रतिस्पर्धा के बीच भारत की समुद्री सुरक्षा और क्षेत्रीय स्थिरता को कैसे प्रभावित करता है ? (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में लिखिए)

Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2024 General Studies questions

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 balanced, multi-faceted examination of Maldives' importance covering all three aspects: trade/energy flows, maritime security, and regional stability under international competition. Structure as: brief introduction locating Maldives in India's maritime neighbourhood → body paragraphs addressing each component with interlinkages → conclusion with forward-looking policy prescription. Maintain 250-word discipline with approximately 40 words for intro, 160 for body, 50 for conclusion.

Key points expected

  • Maldives' location astride critical sea lanes: 8°N latitude, proximity to 8-10 degree channel and One-and-a-Half Degree Channel through which 50% of India's trade and 80% of energy imports transit
  • China's 'debt-trap diplomacy' and Indian Ocean militarization: Hambantota precedent, potential dual-use infrastructure, Maldives as 'string of pearls' node
  • India's maritime security architecture: Coastal Radar Chain, Dornier aircraft deployment, information fusion centre, joint patrolling agreements
  • Regional stability dimensions: SAARC dynamics, 'India First' vs 'India Out' campaigns, Male's foreign policy oscillations under different governments (Yameen vs Solih)
  • SAGAR vision and neighbourhood first policy: humanitarian assistance (Operation Cactus 1988, water crisis 2014, COVID-19 vaccines), capacity building, infrastructure projects like Greater Male Connectivity Project
  • Strategic hedging and multi-alignment: Maldives' engagement with China (FTA 2017), Saudi Arabia, Turkey; implications for India's exclusive influence

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Demand-directive understanding20%3Covers all three mandated components—trade/energy flows, maritime security, regional stability under competition—with explicit interlinkages; treats 'discuss' as requiring examination of multiple perspectives rather than mere descriptionAddresses two of three components adequately; treats directive as descriptive listing without analytical interconnections; misses 'international competition' dimensionAddresses only one component or conflates all three without distinction; ignores word limit constraint; misinterprets 'discuss' as 'list' or 'define'
Content depth & accuracy20%3Precise geographic references (8° channel, One-and-a-Half Degree Channel); accurate data on trade/energy percentages; correct identification of specific projects (Addu radar, Uthuru Thila Falhu); nuanced grasp of Maldivian domestic politicsGeneric references to 'strategic location' without specific channels; approximate or outdated data; conflates Maldives with other Indian Ocean states; superficial treatment of domestic politicsFactual errors (confusing Maldives with Mauritius/Seychelles); incorrect channel names; misrepresents India's policy initiatives; irrelevant content on Sri Lanka or Bangladesh
Structure & flow20%3Logical progression from geographic determinism → economic imperatives → security challenges → regional dynamics; smooth transitions between trade, security, stability; integrated treatment rather than siloed paragraphsThree separate paragraphs with minimal linkage; some repetition between sections; adequate but mechanical organization; conclusion merely summarizesDisjointed structure; no clear paragraphing; random arrangement; missing introduction or conclusion; exceeds word limit significantly
Examples / case-law / data20%3Specific instances: Operation Cactus 1988, 2014 water crisis, 2021 Greater Male Connectivity Project, 2017 China-Maldives FTA, 2023 Indian Ocean Conference; quantitative anchors on trade/energy flows; recent developments (2023-24)Generic references to 'Chinese debt' without Hambantota parallel; outdated examples (pre-2014); no quantitative data; missing recent developmentsNo examples or irrelevant examples; invented data; examples from wrong countries; excessive focus on historical colonial period
Conclusion & analytical edge20%3Forward-looking policy synthesis: SAGAR 2.0, blue economy cooperation, climate-security nexus; acknowledges Maldives' agency in hedging; balanced assessment of limits to Indian influence; 15-20 words precisely craftedStandard 'neighbourhood first' restatement without operational specifics; one-sided triumphalism or excessive alarmism; no policy prescriptionAbsence of conclusion; abrupt ending; irrelevant moral platitudes; defeatist or hyper-nationalist tone; exceeds word limit in conclusion alone

Practice this exact question

Write your answer, then get a detailed evaluation from our AI trained on UPSC's answer-writing standards. Free first evaluation — no signup needed to start.

Evaluate my answer →

More from General Studies 2024 GS Paper II