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General Studies 2024 GS Paper III 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Explain

GS Paper III — Q4

Explain the role of millets for ensuring health and nutritional security in India. (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

भारत में स्वास्थ्य एवं पोषण की सुरक्षा को सुनिश्चित करने के लिए मोटे अनाजों की भूमिका को समझाइए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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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.

Millets—jowar, bajra, ragi, foxtail, little and proso—are nutrient-dense, low-water cereals that strengthen India’s health and nutritional security. Nutritionally, they contain more protein, dietary fibre, iron, calcium and B-vitamins than rice/wheat, and their low glycemic index helps regulate blood sugar. This addresses malnutrition: iron and micronutrients reduce anaemia, while protein and energy support child growth and reduce stunting; low GI and fibre aid diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention, and gluten-free millets suit celiac patients. For food security, millets are drought-tolerant, require less water and thrive on marginal drylands in Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra, ensuring harvests under climate stress, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. They provide affordable, locally grown nutrition for low-income households and improve household nutritional security in India. Policy integration through the National Millet Mission, inclusion in PDS and Mid-Day Meal schemes, and export promotion enhances farmer incomes and dietary diversity. Thus, millets link climate-resilient agriculture with better nutrition.

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: GS3 Agriculture & Nutrition: Situation > Analysis > Measures > Assessment. explain: definition/context > points in order > small example > short close Full marks: Links specific nutrients to health outcomes and connects climate resilience to food security.

Key points expected

  • Nutritional profile: high protein, fiber, iron, and low glycemic index
  • Health benefits: management of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity
  • Nutritional security: addressing micronutrient deficiency (hidden hunger)
  • Agricultural resilience: low water requirement and climate adaptability

Evaluation rubric

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

  1. The answer Definition of millets, their specific nutritional value, and their role in India's food security. 10 marks · 150 words

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

    Must cover

    • Nutritional profile: high protein, fiber, iron, and low glycemic index
    • Health benefits: management of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity
    • Nutritional security: addressing micronutrient deficiency (hidden hunger)
    • Agricultural resilience: low water requirement and climate adaptability

    Loses marks

    • Generic discussion of 'healthy food' without specific millet data
    • Ignoring the 'nutritional security' aspect (focusing only on health)
    • Aspirational writing without linking to Indian context

    Earns more

    • Mention of 'Shree Anna' or 'Nutri Cereals' branding
    • Reference to International Year of Millets 2023
    • Comparison with rice/wheat in terms of water footprint
    • Mention of specific millet varieties (Jowar, Bajra, Ragi)

    Extra mark

    • Specific statistic on millet production or export value
    • Reference to a specific government scheme (e.g., PM-PRANAM)

Practice this exact question

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