Geography 2025 Paper I 50 marks 150 words Compulsory Explain

Q5

Answer the following in about 150 words each: (a) Why did the Welfare Approach in Human Geography emerge as a significant perspective in 1970s? (10 marks) (b) What are the key environmental and economic challenges linked to the extraction and processing of critical minerals? (10 marks) (c) "Pull factors in internal migration are often based on perceptions rather than reality." Explain. (10 marks) (d) "Regional imbalances are the product of in situ and ex situ factors." Elucidate it with examples. (10 marks) (e) Why is systems analysis important in urban planning and what are its limitations? (10 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निम्नलिखित में से प्रत्येक का लगभग 150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए : (a) मानव भूगोल में कल्याणकारी उपागम 1970 के दशक में एक महत्त्वपूर्ण दृष्टिकोण के रूप में क्यों उभरा? (10 अंक) (b) महत्त्वपूर्ण (क्रिटिकल) खनिजों की निकासी एवं प्रसंस्करण से संबंधित मुख्य पर्यावरणीय एवं आर्थिक चुनौतियाँ क्या हैं? (10 अंक) (c) "आंतरिक प्रवासन में अपकर्ष (पुल) कारक अक्सर धारणाओं पर आधारित होते हैं वास्तविकता पर नहीं।" व्याख्या कीजिए। (10 अंक) (d) "प्रादेशिक असंतुलन यथास्थान एवं बहिस्थान कारकों के परिणाम हैं।" इसे उदाहरणों के साथ स्पष्ट कीजिए। (10 अंक) (e) नगरीय नियोजन में तंत्र विश्लेषण क्यों महत्त्वपूर्ण है और इसकी सीमाएँ क्या हैं? (10 अंक)

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Directive word: Explain

This question asks you to explain. 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

This multi-part question requires explaining five distinct concepts with approximately 150 words per sub-part. Allocate roughly equal time and word count (~30 words per mark) across all parts since each carries 10 marks. Begin each sub-part with a clear definition or context, develop with specific examples, and conclude with a brief synthesis. For (a) trace the paradigm shift from quantitative to welfare; for (b) balance environmental and economic dimensions; for (c) use migration theories; for (d) apply Myrdal's cumulative causation; for (e) contrast systems benefits with practical constraints.

Key points expected

  • (a) Welfare Approach: critique of quantitative revolution, social relevance movement, Smith's welfare geography, focus on inequality and basic needs, shift from positivism to radical/liberal perspectives
  • (b) Critical minerals: environmental degradation (land use, water pollution, tailings), economic challenges (price volatility, supply chain concentration, geopolitical dependencies, circular economy needs)
  • (c) Migration perceptions: Lee's push-pull theory modified, information asymmetry, place utility concept, aspirational migration, remittance-driven perception gaps, case of rural-urban migration in India
  • (d) Regional imbalances: in situ factors (resource endowment, historical advantages, agglomeration economies) and ex situ factors (central policies, global market integration, infrastructure corridors), examples from backward regions
  • (e) Systems analysis: holistic interconnection of urban subsystems (transport, housing, services), feedback loops, simulation modeling; limitations: data intensity, unpredictability of human behavior, rigid structure

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Precisely defines welfare geography's emergence from positivist critique, distinguishes critical minerals from strategic minerals, correctly applies Lee's migration theory with perceptual modification, accurately operationalizes in situ/ex situ dichotomy using Myrdal/Kaldor, and correctly identifies systems theory origins in urban planningBasic definitions correct but conflates welfare approach with humanistic geography, lists mineral challenges without distinguishing extraction from processing stages, describes migration factors without theoretical framing, mentions regional factors without clear categorization, describes systems analysis superficiallyConfuses welfare approach with welfare economics, conflates critical minerals with all minerals, treats pull factors as purely economic without perceptual dimension, fails to distinguish in situ from ex situ factors, describes systems analysis as merely 'systematic planning'
Map / diagram15%7.5Includes a systems diagram for (e) showing urban subsystems with feedback loops, or a flow diagram for (c) showing perception-reality gaps in migration decision-making; diagrams are properly labeled and integrated with textMentions need for systems approach diagrammatically but no actual figure, or includes generic migration flow arrows without specificity; diagrams if present lack integration with explanationNo diagrams despite spatial nature of questions; or includes irrelevant maps (e.g., India political map) without connection to question demands
Indian regional examples20%10For (a) cites Indian welfare geography applications; for (b) uses lithium in J&K/Rajasthan or rare earths in Kerala/Orissa; for (c) uses Bihar- Delhi/Mumbai migration corridor; for (d) contrasts NCR with Bundelkhand or Koraput; for (e) cites Delhi Master Plan or Smart Cities MissionGeneric references to 'backward areas' or 'mineral-rich states' without specificity; mentions migration to cities without naming origins; cites regional plans without demonstrating knowledge of specific imbalancesNo Indian examples; or inappropriate examples (e.g., using international migration for internal migration question, or citing outdated Five Year Plans without contemporary relevance)
Spatial analysis25%12.5Demonstrates spatial thinking: for (a) maps welfare variations spatially; for (b) analyzes global-local production networks and environmental justice; for (c) explains distance decay in information flows affecting perceptions; for (d) applies core-periphery modeling; for (e) explains spatial interdependencies in urban systemsAcknowledges spatial dimension but treats topics as aspatial; lists regional variations without explaining spatial processes or patterns; understands migration as movement without spatial interaction theoryCompletely aspatial treatment; treats all topics as purely economic or social without geographical perspective; no recognition of spatial inequality, distance, or regional differentiation
Application / policy15%10Connects to contemporary policy: for (a) SDG alignment; for (b) critical mineral agreements, Atmanirbhar Bharat; for (c) National Migration Policy, portability of benefits; for (d) Aspirational Districts Programme, PM-SAGARMALA; for (e) AMRUT 2.0, integrated urban planning mandatesMentions policies generically without specificity; or describes problems without policy responses; understands welfare approach as academic only without applied dimensionsNo policy connection; or proposes unrealistic/anachronistic policies; fails to recognize that systems analysis limitations directly affect policy implementation capacity

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