Geography 2022 Paper II 50 marks Critically examine

Q6

(a) Why do disparities in development and incomes between regions persist in large countries like India ? How does the recent ADP plan address the issue ? 20 (b) Critically examine the role of IRNSS-NavIC programme on the satellite navigation system of India. 15 (c) Examine the role of high population concentration in Indian slums in making them more vulnerable during pandemic conditions like the COVID-19. 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) भारत जैसे बृहद् देशों में प्रदेशों में विकास तथा आय में असमानता क्यों पाई जाती है ? अभिनव ए.डी.पी. योजना इस विषय का निदान किस प्रकार करती है ? 20 (b) भारतीय उपग्रह नेविगेशन प्रणाली में आई.आर.एन.एस.एस.-नाविक योजना की भूमिका का समालोचनात्मक परीक्षण कीजिए । 15 (c) भारतीय मलिन बस्तियों में अत्यधिक जनसंख्या संकेन्द्रण की भूमिका का परीक्षण कीजिए जो उन्हें कोविड-19 जैसी महामारी के समय अधिक सुभेद्य बनाती है। 15

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Directive word: Critically examine

This question asks you to critically examine. 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 question demands critical examination across three parts: (a) requires explaining why regional disparities persist and evaluating the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), (b) critically examines IRNSS-NavIC's role in India's satellite navigation, and (c) examines slum vulnerability during COVID-19. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its 20 marks, and 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure with a brief composite introduction, dedicated sections for each sub-part with clear headings, and a concluding synthesis on spatial inequality and technological/policy interventions.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Historical-colonial legacy, unequal resource endowment, infrastructure gaps, agglomeration economies, and market failures causing persistent regional disparities; ADP's 49 indicators across health, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, and basic infrastructure with 'delta ranking' approach
  • Part (a): Critique of ADP—data quality issues, competition vs. cooperation among districts, sustainability concerns, and comparison with previous programmes like Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF)
  • Part (b): Technical specifications of IRNSS-NavIC (7 satellites, dual-frequency S and L bands, restricted and service areas); strategic autonomy from GPS/GLONASS/Galileo; applications in disaster management, fisheries, agriculture, and military
  • Part (b): Critical limitations—limited global coverage compared to GPS, smartphone compatibility issues, ground segment vulnerabilities, and delayed civilian adoption; comparison with BeiDou and future GAGAN integration
  • Part (c): Structural factors—high density (Dharavi: 3,00,000 persons/sq km), shared water points, narrow lanes preventing social distancing, lack of tenure security disrupting relief delivery, and informal employment preventing work-from-home
  • Part (c): COVID-19 specific vulnerabilities—reverse migration, loss of livelihoods, limited healthcare access, and state responses like Mumbai's 'Chase the Virus' strategy and Delhi's community kitchen model

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Demonstrates precise understanding of cumulative causation/Myrdal's backwash effects for (a), technical architecture of NavIC including geostationary and inclined geosynchronous orbits for (b), and urban vulnerability theory including Wratten's urban environmental health model for (c); no conceptual conflation between regional inequality theoriesIdentifies basic concepts like trickle-down vs. spread effects, satellite navigation generically, and overcrowding in slums but with imprecise terminology or missing theoretical frameworksConfuses ADP with Smart Cities Mission, describes GPS instead of NavIC, or conflates slum vulnerability with general urban poverty without pandemic-specific analysis
Map / diagram15%7.5Includes at least two relevant visuals: for (a) a map showing aspirational districts concentration in eastern India/tribal belts; for (b) a schematic of NavIC constellation coverage; for (c) a cross-section diagram of slum density and infrastructure; all properly labelled with geographic coordinates or scaleOne generic map or diagram present but lacking specificity—e.g., unlabelled India map or simple NavIC logo without orbital configuration; or describes visuals textually without drawingNo maps or diagrams; or entirely irrelevant sketches that do not illuminate spatial patterns of disparity, satellite coverage, or slum morphology
Indian regional examples25%12.5For (a): contrasts NCR/Bangalore with Mewat (Haryana) or Nandurbar (Maharashtra) aspirational districts; for (b): cites specific NavIC applications like fishermen safety in Tamil Nadu coast or precision agriculture in Punjab; for (c): references Dharavi (Mumbai), Seemapuri (Delhi), or Topsia (Kolkata) with specific COVID-19 mortality/morbidity dataMentions generic regions like 'eastern India' or 'coastal states' without district-level specificity; cites slums without naming; or uses outdated pre-2015 examples for ADPNo Indian examples; or factually incorrect associations like placing aspirational districts in Kerala or describing European slum conditions for Indian context
Spatial analysis20%10For (a): analyzes core-periphery gradients, corridor effects, and borderland disadvantages; for (b): evaluates spatial coverage gaps—NavIC's limited effectiveness beyond 1,500 km from Indian landmass; for (c): examines intra-urban spatial segregation, distance decay from healthcare facilities, and disease diffusion patterns in dense settlementsAcknowledges spatial patterns descriptively without analytical depth—e.g., 'north is developed, south is developing' or 'slums are crowded' without explaining spatial processesTreats all regions or settlements as spatially homogeneous; no recognition of distance, accessibility, or locational factors in any sub-part
Application / policy20%10Critically evaluates ADP's competitive federalism and real-time monitoring through Champions of Change platform; assesses NavIC's strategic value for missile guidance and disaster resilience; proposes integrated slum upgrading combining tenure regularization, infrastructure, and health surveillance for pandemic preparednessLists policy features without critical evaluation—e.g., describes ADP indicators without assessing implementation gaps, or mentions Swachh Bharat for slums without COVID-specific adaptationNo policy discussion; or proposes generic solutions unrelated to question context like 'education for all' for regional disparities without spatial targeting mechanisms

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