Geography 2023 Paper II 50 marks Discuss

Q7

(a) Discuss the green energy initiatives of India as a signatory nation to the Paris Agreement. 20 (b) India's poultry sector has become one of the fastest growing areas of the country's agricultural sector. Examine its opportunities and challenges. 15 (c) Critically examine the ecological and economic impact of Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area development. 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) पेरिस समझौते पर हस्ताक्षरकर्ता राष्ट्र के रूप में भारत की हरित ऊर्जा पहल पर चर्चा कीजिए। 20 (b) भारत का पोल्ट्री क्षेत्र देश के कृषि क्षेत्र के सबसे तेजी से बढ़ते क्षेत्रों में से एक बन गया है। इसके अवसरों और चुनौतियों का परीक्षण कीजिए। 15 (c) इंदिरा गांधी नहर कमांड क्षेत्र विकास के पारिस्थितिक और आर्थिक प्रभाव का समालोचनात्मक परीक्षण कीजिए। 15

Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2023 Geography 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' for part (a) requires a balanced, multi-faceted treatment covering India's NDCs, sectoral targets, and implementation mechanisms, while parts (b) and (c) demand 'examine' and 'critically examine' respectively—calling for opportunities-challenges balance and dual-sided evaluation with evidence. Structure: brief integrated introduction; allocate ~40% words to part (a) on green energy (20 marks), ~30% each to poultry sector (b) and IG Canal (c); conclude with synthesis on sustainable development trade-offs.

Key points expected

Part (a): India's NDC commitments (450 GW non-fossil by 2030), National Solar Mission, wind energy corridors, green hydrogen mission, and linkage to Paris Agreement Article 4 & 7
Part (a): Sectoral initiatives—UJALA, EV policy, energy efficiency, and climate finance mechanisms like National Adaptation Fund
Part (b): Opportunities—vertical integration, export potential (AP, Tamil Nadu), employment generation, maize-soybean linkage, integration with food processing
Part (b): Challenges—avian influenza biosecurity, feed cost volatility, environmental concerns (manure management, antibiotic resistance), market price fluctuations
Part (c): Economic impacts—agricultural transformation in Thar Desert, shift from pastoralism to settled farming, cropping pattern change (cotton/wheat replacing bajra), GDP contribution to Rajasthan
Part (c): Ecological impacts—waterlogging and salinity in Sri Ganganagar/Hanumangarh, groundwater rise, sand dune stabilization vs. loss of traditional pasture, command area inequity between head and tail reaches

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Concept correctness	20%	10	Demonstrates precise understanding of Paris Agreement mechanisms (NDCs, global stocktake), distinguishes between renewable vs. green hydrogen; accurately identifies poultry value chain stages and IG Canal's lift vs. flow irrigation systems; uses correct technical terms (CSP, FCR, waterlogging, conjunctive use)	Basic familiarity with solar/wind targets and poultry growth but confuses green hydrogen with conventional renewables; vague on canal command technicalities; minor errors in NDC targets or poultry statistics	Fundamental misconceptions—treats Paris Agreement as binding treaty with penalties, conflates poultry with dairy sector, describes IG Canal as entirely gravity-fed or misidentifies command area states
Map / diagram	15%	7.5	Includes at least two relevant sketches: for (a) India's renewable energy potential zones map or solar park locations; for (c) annotated IG Canal command area showing feeder canals, districts, and problem zones (waterlogging in Stage I); diagrams are neat, labeled, and integrated with textual analysis	One generic renewable energy map or rough IG Canal sketch with partial labeling; diagrams present but not effectively referenced in answer; missing scale or directional arrows	No maps or diagrams; or irrelevant sketches (e.g., world map of climate zones); poorly drawn with no labels; diagrams contradict textual claims
Indian regional examples	25%	12.5	Rich regional specificity: for (a) cites Bhadla solar park (Rajasthan), Muppandal wind farm (Tamil Nadu), Kutch wind-solar hybrid; for (b) references Namakkal (Tamil Nadu) egg production, Andhra Pradesh's integration with aqua feed, Haryana's contract farming; for (c) details Sri Ganganagar's citrus belt, Bikaner's groundnut shift, specific villages affected by waterlogging	Mentions Rajasthan for solar and general 'western India' for poultry without specific districts; knows IG Canal is in Rajasthan but lacks district-level detail; some examples accurate but sparse	Generic or incorrect regional attribution—places major solar parks in Kerala, confuses poultry belts with dairy belts (Gujarat white revolution), misidentifies canal command in Punjab or Haryana
Spatial analysis	20%	10	Demonstrates sophisticated spatial reasoning: for (a) analyzes renewable energy geography—Thar Desert solar potential, Western Ghats wind corridors, Himalayan hydropower; for (b) explains poultry cluster formation around feed availability (maize belts in Karnataka, MP) and market access; for (c) analyzes command area inequity through head-tail gradient, agro-ecological transformation, and sand dune stabilization patterns	Some spatial awareness—mentions desert conditions for solar and general 'western region' for poultry; basic head-tail distinction for canal but without explaining mechanisms; treats regions as containers rather than analyzing spatial processes	Aspatial treatment—lists initiatives without geographic logic; ignores locational factors for poultry growth; describes IG Canal impacts without reference to space, distance, or distribution patterns
Application / policy	20%	10	Critically evaluates policy effectiveness: for (a) assesses PLI schemes, green bonds, challenges in grid integration and storage; for (b) examines National Livestock Mission, APEDA export protocols, biosecurity regulations; for (c) evaluates participatory irrigation management, drainage policy failures, sustainable groundwater policies, and suggests conjunctive use or drip integration	Lists policies without critical evaluation—mentions ISA, NLCP, PM-KUSUM as achievements without gaps; acknowledges waterlogging problem but offers generic solutions; limited policy integration across parts	No policy engagement or purely descriptive listing; fails to identify any policy gaps or solutions; suggests irrelevant or outdated policies (e.g., Green Revolution for IG Canal); no forward-looking recommendations

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 →