Q5
Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50 (a) Identify the jute-producing areas and discuss the major causes of decline of jute mill industry in India. (b) Urban built environment in big cities of India creates key changes in biophysical character of the landscape. Discuss. (c) Explain the geological characteristics and ecological significance of the Eastern Ghats. (d) Explain the cultural regions of India based on their cultural attributes. (e) Why are critical minerals essential for the economic development and national security in India?
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
निम्नलिखित में से प्रत्येक प्रश्न का उत्तर लगभग 150 शब्दों में दीजिए : 10×5=50 (a) भारत में जूट उत्पादक क्षेत्रों की पहचान कीजिए तथा जूट मिल उद्योग में गिरावट के प्रमुख कारणों की विवेचना कीजिए। (b) भारत के बड़े शहरों में शहरी निर्मित वातावरण भू-दृश्य के जैव भौतिकीय चरित्र में मुख्य परिवर्तन पैदा करता है। विवेचना कीजिए। (c) पूर्वी घाटों की भूवैज्ञानिक विशेषताओं और पारिस्थितिक महत्व की व्याख्या कीजिए। (d) भारत के सांस्कृतिक क्षेत्रों की उनकी सांस्कृतिक विशेषताओं के आधार पर व्याख्या कीजिए। (e) भारत के आर्थिक विकास और राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा के लिए क्रांतिक खनिज क्यों आवश्यक हैं?
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' demands a balanced treatment with critical examination across all five parts. Allocate approximately 30 words (20%) to each sub-part, ensuring (a) identifies specific jute belts before analysing decline factors, (b) links urban structures to biophysical transformations, (c) contrasts Eastern with Western Ghats geologically, (d) maps cultural regions with defining attributes, and (e) connects critical minerals to strategic sectors. No conclusion is needed; each part should be self-contained with precise geographical terminology.
Key points expected
- (a) Jute belts: West Bengal (Nadia, Murshidabad), Bihar (Purnia), Assam (Goalpara); decline causes include competition from Bangladesh, synthetic substitutes, mill obsolescence, labour issues, and water pollution in Hooghly basin
- (b) Urban biophysical changes: heat island intensification, reduced infiltration/permeability, altered drainage patterns, loss of green cover, particulate matter trapping, and microclimate modification in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru
- (c) Eastern Ghats: Archaean gneisses and schists, discontinuous hill ranges (vs. Western Ghats continuity), lower elevation (600-1200m), rich bauxite/iron ore deposits, and ecological significance as Eastern Ghats elephant corridor and Cauvery-Krishna-Godavari watershed divide
- (d) Cultural regions: Aryan-Hindu core (Indo-Gangetic), Dravidian south (Tamil-Kerala), Tribal belt (Central India), Himalayan-Tibetan Buddhist, and Northeastern mosaic with specific attributes like language, kinship, and settlement patterns
- (e) Critical minerals: lithium (battery storage), rare earth elements (electronics), cobalt (EVs), graphite (anodes), and their role in renewable energy transition, defence manufacturing, and reducing import dependence from China
Evaluation rubric
| Dimension | Weight | Max marks | Excellent | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept correctness | 20% | 10 | Demonstrates precise command across all parts: for (a) distinguishes between raw jute cultivation and mill processing decline; for (b) correctly identifies albedo modification and hydrological disruption; for (c) accurately describes khondalite geology; for (d) avoids conflating cultural regions with political states; for (e) correctly classifies minerals under Atomic Minerals Directorate list | Shows basic understanding with minor errors: vague on jute mill vs. cultivation distinction, conflates Eastern/Western Ghats geology, or lists minerals without strategic context | Fundamental misconceptions: describes jute decline only as climate-related, confuses cultural regions with linguistic states only, or misidentifies critical minerals as bulk commodities like coal or iron ore |
| Map / diagram | 20% | 10 | Includes at least two relevant sketch maps: one showing jute belt concentration in Ganga-Brahmaputra delta with mill locations, and another depicting Eastern Ghats discontinuous alignment with major rivers; or a cultural regions map with clear boundaries; diagrams are neat, labelled, and integrated with text | Provides one rough sketch map or mentions map work without clear execution; diagrams lack proper labelling or scale | No map or diagram despite strong geographical content; or includes irrelevant diagrams that do not address any sub-part |
| Indian regional examples | 20% | 10 | Rich specificity throughout: for (a) names Howrah, Titagarh, Shyamnagar mills; for (b) cites Delhi's ridge degradation or Mumbai's Mithi river encroachment; for (c) mentions Araku Valley or Mahendragiri; for (d) specifies Braj, Malwa, or Kongu Nadu; for (e) references Lithium Triangle imports or Khanij Bidesh acquisition strategy | Some regional examples but generic: mentions 'West Bengal' without districts, 'big cities' without naming, or cultural regions without sub-regional specificity | Entirely generic or no Indian examples: discusses urban environment without Indian city references, or describes cultural regions using only foreign comparisons |
| Spatial analysis | 20% | 10 | Demonstrates sophisticated spatial thinking: for (a) analyses locational disadvantage of Indian mills vis-à-vis Bangladesh cultivation; for (b) explains vertical stratification of urban heat islands; for (c) contrasts linear vs. discontinuous orographic patterns and their rain shadow effects; for (d) explains how physical barriers shaped cultural diffusion; for (e) maps mineral supply chain vulnerabilities spatially | Basic spatial awareness: mentions location without analysing spatial relationships, or describes patterns without explaining processes | Aspatial treatment: lists facts without geographical organisation, or treats all sub-parts as non-spatial topics |
| Application / policy | 20% | 10 | Integrates contemporary policy relevance: for (a) mentions National Jute Policy 2005 or Jute Technology Mission; for (b) cites Smart Cities Mission green infrastructure or urban heat action plans; for (c) references Eastern Ghats conservation under CAMPA or biodiversity heritage sites; for (d) discusses cultural zone protection in tourism policy; for (e) explains Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment 2023 or Khanij Bidesh Ltd. strategic acquisitions | Mentions policy in passing without specificity, or suggests generic solutions without government scheme names | No policy or application dimension: purely descriptive answer without contemporary relevance or governance implications |
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