Geography 2025 Paper I 50 marks Elucidate

Q2

(a) How does denudation chronology help in understanding the sequential development of landscapes and landforms? Elucidate. (20 marks) (b) What is deep-sea mining? What are the potential benefits and risks associated with it? (15 marks) (c) Man and wildlife conflicts are ever increasing. Discuss its causes, consequences and remedies. (15 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) भूदृश्यों एवं स्थलाकृतियों के क्रमिक विकास को समझने में अनाच्छादन कालानुक्रम किस प्रकार सहायक है? स्पष्ट कीजिए। (20 अंक) (b) गहरे समुद्र में खनन क्या है? इससे संबंधित संभाव्य लाभ एवं खतरे क्या हैं? (15 अंक) (c) मनुष्य एवं वन्यजीव संघर्ष निरंतर बढ़ते जा रहे हैं। इसके कारणों, परिणामों एवं सुधारों पर चर्चा कीजिए। (15 अंक)

Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2025 Geography questions

Directive word: Elucidate

This question asks you to elucidate. 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 'elucidate' demands clear explanation with illustrative detail. Structure: brief introduction defining denudation chronology; Part (a) ~40% word budget (20 marks) covering Davisian/Penckian cycles, polycyclic relief, etchplanation with Indian examples like Western Ghats escarpments; Part (b) ~30% (15 marks) defining deep-sea mining, then balanced benefits-risks analysis with ISA regulatory context; Part (c) ~30% (15 marks) discussing HWC drivers, ecological/economic consequences, and multi-stakeholder remedies. Conclude with integrated reflection on sustainable resource use.

Key points expected

  • (a) Denudation chronology: Davisian cycle of erosion (youth-mature-old), Penck's parallel retreat, King's etchplanation; polycyclic relief identification through erosion surfaces/peneplains; application to Indian landscapes like Nilgiri plateau or Mysore plateau surfaces
  • (a) Sequential landscape development: recognition of multiple erosion cycles, relict landforms, correlation with base-level changes; use of morphometric analysis and relative/absolute dating techniques
  • (b) Deep-sea mining definition: extraction of polymetallic nodules, sulphides, crusts from abyssal plains/hydrothermal vents; ISA regulatory framework under UNCLOS
  • (b) Benefits vs risks: critical minerals for green transition vs ecosystem destruction, sediment plumes, noise pollution, biodiversity loss in chemosynthetic communities; India's exploration contract in Central Indian Ocean Basin
  • (c) HWC causes: habitat fragmentation, linear infrastructure, crop raiding, livestock predation, human population pressure; specific Indian cases like elephant corridors, Gir lion dispersal, leopard conflicts in Himachal
  • (c) Consequences and remedies: economic losses, retaliatory killing, ecosystem disruption; mitigation through E-Surveillance, compensation schemes, community reserves, landscape connectivity (e.g., Kanha-Pench corridor), PM-KISHA for crop protection

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness22%11Precise definitions: for (a) distinguishes Davisian vs Penckian models, explains etchplanation and polycyclic relief; for (b) correctly identifies ISA authority, nodule types, UNCLOS provisions; for (c) distinguishes HWC types (predation, crop damage, competition) with ecological vs conflict perspectivesBasic definitions present but conflates Davis/Penck or misses etchplanation; vague on ISA/UNCLOS; lists HWC causes without typological clarityConfuses denudation with deposition; describes shallow offshore mining as deep-sea; conflates HWC with general biodiversity loss
Map / diagram18%9For (a): labeled sketch of erosion cycle stages or polycyclic relief cross-section; for (b): diagram of nodule distribution or mining technology; for (c): conflict hotspot map or corridor connectivity diagram; minimum 2 relevant, well-annotated visualsOne generic diagram (e.g., simple erosion cycle) without specific annotation; or describes diagrams without drawingNo diagrams despite strong visual potential; or irrelevant sketches with no labels
Indian regional examples20%10(a) Specific erosion surfaces: Mysore plateau (900m, 600m levels), Nilgiri-Doda Betta, Rajmahal Hills relict; (b) India's CIOB exploration contract, Samudrayaan mission; (c) Site-specific HWC: Hassan elephant corridor, Gir lion dispersal to Greater Gir, snow leopard conflicts in Spiti, human-tiger interface in SundarbansGeneral mention of Western Ghats or Himalayas without specific locations; India mentioned for deep-sea mining without CIOB specifics; generic HWC referencesNo Indian examples; or factually wrong locations (e.g., polymetallic nodules in Arabian Sea)
Spatial analysis20%10(a) Explains spatial patterns of erosion surface preservation related to structure, climate, base-level; (b) Analyzes spatial distribution of nodule fields vs vent fields, proximity to EEZ boundaries; (c) Maps conflict intensity against habitat fragmentation indices, corridor pinch-points, human density gradientsDescribes spatial patterns without explanatory mechanism; lists locations without spatial relationshipsNo spatial reasoning; treats all locations as interchangeable
Application / policy20%10(a) Applied geomorphology: terrain evaluation for infrastructure, hazard assessment; (b) Critical evaluation of ISA Mining Code 2024, precautionary approach, India's strategic mineral security; (c) Critical assessment of Project Elephant, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, community-based insurance, E-Surveillance effectiveness, landscape-level planningLists policies without critical evaluation; generic sustainable development closingNo policy mention; or irrelevant policies; purely descriptive without application focus

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 →

More from Geography 2025 Paper I