General Studies 2025 GS Paper I 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Discuss

Q5

What are non-farm primary activities ? How are these activities related to physiographic features in India ? Discuss with suitable examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

गैर-कृषि प्राथमिक गतिविधियाँ क्या हैं ? ये गतिविधियाँ भारत में भौगोलिक विशेषताओं से किस प्रकार संबंधित हैं ? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों के साथ चर्चा कीजिए । (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए) 10

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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 balanced examination of both parts—defining non-farm primary activities and explaining their physiographic linkages. Structure: brief definition (20-25 words) → physiographic-activity mapping with examples (100 words) → concluding observation on economic significance or regional variation (25-30 words).

Key points expected

Clear definition: non-farm primary activities include mining, quarrying, fishing, forestry, and animal husbandry—extractive industries outside crop cultivation
Himalayan region: temperate forests → timber, medicinal plants; alpine pastures → pastoralism (yak, sheep rearing in Ladakh, Sikkim)
Peninsular plateau: mineral-rich ancient crystalline rocks → iron ore (Odisha-Jharkhand belt), coal (Damodar valley), bauxite (Eastern Ghats)
Coastal plains and islands: marine fishing (Kerala, Gujarat coasts); aquaculture (brackish water shrimp farming in Andhra Pradesh)
Thar desert: limited but present salt extraction, gypsum mining; arid pastoralism (camel, goat rearing)
Gangetic plains: limited non-farm primary due to alluvial dominance, but minor sand mining, freshwater fisheries in oxbow lakes

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	2	Addresses both components—definition AND physiographic relationship—without conflating non-farm primary with secondary/tertiary activities; maintains analytical balance between the two parts	Covers both parts but treats them sequentially without establishing clear linkages; or briefly mentions physiography without systematic region-wise treatment	Misinterprets non-farm primary as agro-processing/industry; ignores physiographic dimension entirely; or writes only on agriculture/farm activities
Content depth & accuracy	20%	2	Precise geological and geographical reasoning (rock types, terrain, climate) explaining WHY specific activities locate where they do; accurate regional distribution	Lists activities and regions correctly but provides superficial causal explanations; minor geographical inaccuracies in location of resources	Confused categorization (includes manufacturing as primary); major factual errors (wrong regions for minerals/fisheries); or extremely limited coverage
Structure & flow	20%	2	Logical physiographic progression (mountains→plateau→plains→coasts→desert) or systematic resource-based organization; seamless transitions; fits 150 words precisely	Acceptable organization but somewhat haphazard regional jumping; adequate paragraphing; minor word management issues	Disorganized listing without spatial logic; abrupt shifts; significantly over/under word limit; poor paragraph breaks
Examples / case-law / data	20%	2	Specific, current examples: Singhbhum iron ore, Ratnagiri fishing, Ladakh yak pastoralism, Rann of Kutch salt; possibly mentions tribal communities dependent on these activities	Generic examples (mining in Chhattisgarh, fishing in Kerala) without specificity; or fewer examples covering limited physiographic variety	No Indian examples; irrelevant foreign comparisons; or examples completely mismatched to physiographic claims
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	2	Insightful closing: environmental constraints/sustainability challenges, climate change impact on alpine pastures/marine fisheries, or policy implication (MGNREGA convergence, Blue Economy)	Routine summary restating points; or brief mention of employment/livelihood significance without fresh insight	No conclusion; abrupt ending; or irrelevant digression into unrelated topics (urbanization, industrial policy)

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