Q6
(a) Industrial waste is diversified. Discuss the potentials and challenges associated with it. (20 marks) (b) How is cultural background of States of India reflected in the attributes of sex and age structure? (15 marks) (c) Discuss the targets of focused interventions of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan : Catch the Rain, 2024 in rural and urban areas. (15 marks)
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a) औद्योगिक अपशिष्ट विविधीकृत है। इससे जुड़ी क्षमताओं और चुनौतियों की विवेचना कीजिए। (20 अंक) (b) भारतीय राज्यों की सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि, लिंग और आयु संरचना की विशेषताओं में कैसे परिलक्षित होती है? (15 अंक) (c) ग्रामीण एवं शहरी क्षेत्रों में जल शक्ति अभियान : वर्षा जल संचयन, 2024 के केंद्रित हस्तक्षेपों के लक्ष्यों की विवेचना कीजिए। (15 अंक)
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, analytical treatment with multiple perspectives. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its 20 marks, and roughly 30% each to parts (b) and (c). Structure with a brief composite introduction, then dedicated sections for each sub-part with clear headings, and a synthesizing conclusion that links industrial sustainability, demographic transition, and water security as interconnected dimensions of India's human-environment geography.
Key points expected
- Part (a): Diversified nature of industrial waste (hazardous, non-hazardous, e-waste, biomedical, construction debris) with sectoral distribution
- Part (a): Potentials including resource recovery, circular economy, energy generation (WTE plants), and employment in recycling sectors
- Part (a): Challenges encompassing regulatory gaps, informal sector dominance, transboundary movement, and technological limitations in processing diverse waste streams
- Part (b): Regional variations in sex ratio reflecting cultural practices—Punjab/Haryana's male-skewed ratios versus Kerala/Tamil Nadu's balanced/female-advantaged ratios
- Part (b): Age structure variations linked to fertility transitions—higher youth bulge in BIMARU states versus aging in southern states, connected to cultural norms around family size and son preference
- Part (c): Jal Shakti Abhiyan 2024 rural targets: rainwater harvesting structure rejuvenation, pond/tank restoration, spring shed development, and greywater management
- Part (c): Urban targets: stormwater drain desilting, rooftop rainwater harvesting mandates, lake rejuvenation, and AMRUT 2.0 convergence for water-sensitive urban design
Evaluation rubric
| Dimension | Weight | Max marks | Excellent | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept correctness | 20% | 10 | Precise classification of industrial waste types (hazardous, e-waste, plastic, construction); accurate demographic concepts (dependency ratio, sex ratio, demographic dividend); correct understanding of Jal Shakti Abhiyan as time-bound campaign mode intervention distinct from Jal Jeevan Mission | Basic awareness of waste categories and demographic terms but conflates sex ratio with sex composition or confuses Jal Shakti Abhiyan with Jal Jeevan Mission; superficial treatment of demographic transition stages | Fundamental errors such as treating industrial waste as homogeneous, confusing crude birth rate with fertility rate, or describing Jal Shakti Abhiyan as only a rural drinking water scheme |
| Map / diagram | 15% | 7.5 | Includes at least two relevant visuals: for (a) a flow diagram of industrial waste management hierarchy or location map of major hazardous waste clusters; for (b) population pyramids comparing Punjab and Kerala; for (c) schematic of rooftop rainwater harvesting or watershed map | Single generic diagram (e.g., basic population pyramid without regional specificity) or poorly labeled sketch lacking integration with answer text | No diagrams, or irrelevant/illegible sketches that demonstrate misunderstanding of spatial relationships |
| Indian regional examples | 25% | 12.5 | Rich regional specificity: for (a) cites Moradabad brass industry waste, Tirupur textile effluent, or Morbi ceramic waste; for (b) contrasts Punjab's 893 sex ratio with Kerala's 1084 and links to matrilineal traditions; for (c) names specific interventions like Chennai's restored water bodies or Meghalaya's spring shed management | Generic mentions of 'northern states' or 'southern states' without specific data points; limited to one well-known example per sub-part | No Indian examples, or factually incorrect attributions (e.g., citing high sex ratio for Haryana, confusing state-level demographic patterns) |
| Spatial analysis | 20% | 10 | Demonstrates spatial reasoning: for (a) explains clustering of waste processing in Gujarat/MP due to common effluent treatment plants; for (b) analyzes north-south demographic divergence and east-west tribal belt variations; for (c) distinguishes between water-scarce regions (Rajasthan, Marathwada) requiring intensive intervention versus water-abundant areas | Acknowledges regional variation without explaining underlying spatial processes; lists regional differences descriptively rather than analytically | Treats all regions uniformly without spatial differentiation; confuses scale levels (national aggregates substituted for regional analysis) |
| Application / policy | 20% | 10 | Integrates policy frameworks: for (a) references PWM Rules 2016, E-Waste Rules 2022, and Extended Producer Responsibility; for (b) connects to Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and implications for future workforce geography; for (c) links to Atal Bhujal Yojana, AMRUT 2.0, and climate adaptation through rainwater harvesting mandates | Mentions relevant policies superficially without explaining their geographical implementation or limitations; generic reference to 'government schemes' | No policy references, or outdated/incorrect policy names; fails to connect demographic trends to planning implications or water conservation to SDG targets |
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