UPSC Mains 2021 GS Paper 3 with Solutions - 2 | UPSC Previous Year Question Papers and Video Analysis PDF Download

Q.11. Do you agree that the Indian economy has recently experienced V-shaped recovery ? Give reasons in support of your answer. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks

Indian Economy was adversely impacted last year due to the impact of covid 19 Pandemic. Government of India had to impose lockdown and other restrictions to contain the spread of the virus. Indian economy also registered negative growth rate in the second quarter of previous year.

This slowdown in economy was temporary and pandemic was the sole reason. Once central government and different state governments eased the restriction, Indian economy got a boost. 

What is V-shaped recovery? 

A V-shaped recovery occurs when an economy that has experienced a sharp economic decline experiences a rapid and strong rebound. Such recoveries are typically accompanied by a significant shift in economic activity as a result of a rapid re-adjustment of consumer demand and business investment spending. A V-shaped recovery can be thought of as the best-case scenario for an economy in recession because of the economy’s rapid adjustment and quick recovery in the major metrics of macroeconomic performance.

Points in support of India’s V-shaped recovery

• According to the Economic Survey 2020-21, the Indian economy is on its way to a significantly faster growth recovery following the ‘once-in-a-century’ Covid-19 disaster. After the epidemic destroyed all important sectors of growth and disrupted demand, the survey predicts a ‘V-shaped’ economic recovery for the country.
• According to the study, India’s economic growth will be 7.7 percent, in keeping with past government advanced forecasts of growth. Despite an annual decrease, India’s efforts enabled the country greatly reduce the impact of Covid-19 on economic growth. 
• Demand-side initiatives were announced in a measured manner during the unlock phase. A public investment programme centered on the National Infrastructure Pipeline is likely to hasten this demand drive and further the recovery.
• Another important point raised in the Economic Survey was the need for structural reforms to alleviate supply-side concerns. “As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission, India started a spate of multi-sectoral supply-side structural changes to add flexibility and resilience to supply chains.” 

Points against India’s V-shaped recovery

• The government claimed that India was experiencing a V-shaped recovery by using the Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) comparison method, which indicated that GDP expanded by 20% in Q1 this year compared to Q1 last year. Critics of the administration adopted the Quarter-On-Quarter (Q-o-Q) approach, which revealed that the economy fell by 17 percent in Q1 this year compared to Q4 (January, February, and March) of the previous fiscal year, to suggest that the economy was rapidly losing momentum.
• Many economists also suggest that India is witnessing K shaped recovery post lockdown. Following a recession, different areas of the economy recover at different speeds, times, or magnitudes, resulting in a K-shaped recovery. This is in contrast to a consistent, uniform recovery throughout sectors, industries, or populations.

Though it is yet debatable that weather India is facing V-shaped recovery or not, but Indian Economy is surely on reviving side after the negative growth last year. Various government schemes and collaboration of public and private sector will certainly help India to achieve its economic goals.

Q.12. “Investment in Infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth”. Discuss in the light of India’s experience. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks

The infrastructure sector is a major economic driver in India. The sector plays a critical role in propelling India’s overall development, and the government places a high priority on implementing policies that will ensure the country’s world-class infrastructure is built in a timely manner. Power, bridges, dams, roads, and urban infrastructure development are all part of the infrastructure sector.

According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), FDIs in the construction development sector (townships, housing, built up infrastructure, and construction development projects) and construction (infrastructure) activities totaled US$ 26.14 billion and US$ 25.38 billion, respectively, between April 2000 and June 2021. In FY21, infrastructure operations accounted for 13% of overall FDI inflows of US$ 81.72 billion. This shows the potential of this sector.

Why Investment in Infrastructure is needed for an inclusive economic growth?

• Infrastructure development promotes inclusive growth and poverty reduction by creating new jobs and economic activities; lowering production and transportation costs through improved transportation and connectivity; increasing overall production capacity; connecting markets and other economic facilities that may extend beyond the country; and improving access to key facilities such as health, education, and other basic services.
• It should be highlighted that good quality infrastructure is critical not only for faster economic growth but also for inclusive growth. By inclusive growth, we mean that the advantages of growth are shared by the majority of a country’s inhabitants. As a result, inclusive growth will alleviate poverty and reduce income disparity in the country.
• Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) are dispersed throughout the economy, and their production and growth require access to quality and dependable infrastructure services in order to compete efficiently with large-scale enterprises, which can often build some of their own infrastructure, such as installing their own small power plants or generators.
•  Furthermore, large-scale businesses might position themselves near ports and transportation hubs where the necessary infrastructure is accessible.
• Small businesses are extensively spread across the economy and must rely on the provision of general infrastructure amenities. Thus, constructing general infrastructural facilities enables small businesses to compete successfully with big-scale companies, while being labor-intensive generates a significant number of job possibilities. This will aid in the alleviation of poverty in developing countries.
• Infrastructure expansion, such as irrigation, rural electrification, highways, and road transport, would encourage agricultural growth and the establishment of agro-processing enterprises. These general infrastructure facilities will assist farmers and owners of processing companies in obtaining raw materials, fertilizers, and other inputs at a low cost, as well as in transporting their goods to markets in large towns and cities.

Government Initiatives  

• The government has allocated Rs. 233,083 crores (US$ 32.02 billion) to improve transportation infrastructure in the Union Budget 2021. The government increased the number of projects included in the ‘National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)‘ to 7,400. As of 2020, 217 projects totaling Rs. 1.10 lakh crore (US$ 15.09 billion) had been completed. As of July 2021, the government had invested US$ 1.4 trillion in infrastructure development through the NIP.
• The government intends to develop a geospatial digital platform as part of the GatiShakti National Master Plan to facilitate the planning and monitoring of projects ranging from telecom networks to gas pipelines to roads and railroads.
• The Second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-2) will improve dam safety by developing dam safety rules, bringing in worldwide experience, and introducing new technologies. The project will be carried out at 120 dams spanning Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, as well as at the national level via the CWC.
• Government of India has ambitious road and maritime connectivity programmers in the form of Bharatmala and Sagarmala Missions. This will enhance the logistics facilities in India.

To increase accountability and transparency in the infrastructure sector, it is necessary to facilitate the assimilation of data and information from all stakeholders, including Central and State Governments, Urban Local Bodies, Banks and Financial Institutions, PE funds, and private investors, both local and foreign, on a single platform.

Q.13. What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013 ? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India? (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks

The National Food Security Act of 2013 (also known as the ‘Right to Food Act’) is an Indian law aimed at providing subsidized food grains to around two-thirds of the country’s 1.2 billion population. It was signed into law on September 12, 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013. The National Food Security Act of 2013 (NFSA) is a one-of-a-kind measure implemented by the Indian government to combat hunger and defend people’s food rights. The government’s care of the individual is based on the dietary requirements throughout the life cycle in the life cycle approach.

Objective

• To ensure food and nutritional security in the human life cycle by ensuring that individuals have access to enough quantities of high-quality food at affordable rates in order to live a dignified life.

Salient Features

• Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): Under the Targeted Public Distribution System, it covers roughly 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population for obtaining subsidized foodgrains (TPDS).
• State-wise coverage: Using data from the NSS Household Consumption Survey for 2011-12, the Planning Commission calculated state-by-state coverage and gave “inclusion ratios” for each state.
• Subsidized prices under TPDS and their revision: Rice, wheat, and coarse grains will be accessible at subsidized prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg under the TPDS for a period of three years from the date of the Act’s commencement. Following that, prices will be appropriately tied to the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• Identification of Households: States/UTs are responsible for identifying eligible families within the scope of the TPDS coverage specified for each State.
• Nutritional support to women and children: Under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) programmes, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children aged 6 months to 14 years would be entitled to meals that meet nutritional guidelines. Malnourished children up to the age of six have been prescribed higher nutritional standards.
•  Maternity Benefit: Pregnant women and nursing mothers will be eligible for a maternity bonus of at least Rs. 6,000.
• Women Empowerment: For the purposes of issuing ration cards, the head of the family must be the oldest woman in the home who is at least 18 years old.
• Food Security Allowance: Provision for a food security allowance for eligible recipients in the event that they are unable to obtain their food grains or meals.
• Transparency and Accountability: To guarantee transparency and accountability, provisions have been implemented for the disclosure of PDS records, social audits, and the formation of Vigilance Committees.
• Penalty: In the event that a public worker or authority fails to comply with the remedies proposed by the District Grievance Redressal Officer, the State Food Commission may impose a penalty.

Hunger and Malnutrition

• India has slipped to 101st place out of 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021, down from 94th place in 2020. With a score of 27.5, India falls into the serious category for hunger. This has pushed the urgency and necessity for improvements in India’s dietary strategy to the fore.
• Nutrition encompasses more than simply food; it also includes factors such as economics, health, water, sanitation, gender perspectives, and social standards. As a result, proper implementation of other programmes can also help improve nutrition.
• The convergence of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, and nutrition-related programmes will result in a comprehensive shift in India’s nutrition situation.

Q.14. What are the present challenges before crop diversification ? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (Answer in 250 words)  15 Marks

Crop diversification is the addition of new crops or cropping systems to a farm’s agricultural production, taking into account the various returns from value-added crops with complementing marketing prospects.

• Cropping System: The crops, crop sequences, and management techniques utilized on a certain agricultural field over a number of years are referred to as a cropping system. Sequential cropping, mono-cropping, intercropping, relay cropping, mixed cropping, and alley cropping are the most common cropping systems in India. 

Many farmers adopt the mixed crop-livestock strategy to raise their living and earning levels.

• Animal husbandry, often known as animal agriculture, is a branch of science concerned with the activity of humans raising, farming, and caring for farm animals (livestock) such as cattle, dogs, sheep, and horses for profit.
• It refers to the raising of livestock and the selective breeding of animals. It is a sub-discipline of agriculture.

Challenges before crop diversification

• The majority of the country’s farmed land is totally reliant on rain.
• Suboptimal and excessive use of natural resources, such as land and water, has a severe influence on the environment and agriculture’s long-term viability.
• Animal husbandry, after fossil fuels, is the second greatest source of human-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a major contributor to deforestation, water and air pollution, and biodiversity loss.
• Inadequate supply of better cultivar seeds and plants.
• Land fragmentation makes modernization and mechanization of agriculture more difficult.
• Basic infrastructure, such as rural roads, power, transportation, and communications, is in poor condition.
• Inadequate post-harvest technologies and facilities for perishable horticulture products post-harvest handling.
• Very weak agriculture industry.
• Linkages between research, extension, and farmers are weak.
• Inadequately trained human resources, as well as widespread and widespread illiteracy among farmers.
• Most crop plants are affected by a variety of diseases and pests.
• Horticultural crops have a poor database.
• Investments in the agriculture industry have decreased over time.

Technologies help in providing opportunity for crop diversification

• Soil and Water Sensors: These sensors can monitor moisture and nitrogen levels, and the farm can use this information instead of relying on a predetermined timetable to determine when to irrigate and fertilize. This not only saves money by making better use of resources, but it also helps the farm be more environmentally friendly by conserving water, controlling erosion, and lowering fertilizer levels in local rivers and lakes.
• Weather Tracking: Farmers can use this technology to get enough prior notice of frost, hail, and other weather events so that they can take preparations to protect their crops or at the very least limit losses.
• Satellite Imaging: Crop imagery allows a farmer to inspect crops as if he or she were standing there, but without having to do so. Even analysing photographs once a week can save a farm a significant amount of time and money. Additionally, this technology can be combined with crop, soil, and water sensors to provide farmers with notifications as well as suitable satellite imagery when danger thresholds are exceeded.
• Vertical Farming: Vertical farming is a growing trend in agriculture. The process of producing food in vertically stacked layers is known as vertical farming, and it is a kind of urban agriculture. This has numerous advantages. The capacity to grow in urban surroundings, and hence having fresher meals available faster and at cheaper rates, is perhaps the most obvious. Vertical farming, on the other hand, will not be limited to urban areas as previously thought. Farmers from all over the world can use it to make better use of available land and cultivate crops that would otherwise be impossible to grow in those areas.
• Mini-chromosomal Technology: A mini-chromosome is a small structure within a cell that contains relatively little genetic material but can retain a lot of information in layman’s terms. Agricultural geneticists can add dozens, if not hundreds, of features to a plant using mini-chromosomes. Drought tolerance and nitrogen utilisation are two examples of complicated characteristics. The most exciting aspect of mini-chromosomal technology is that the native chromosomes of a plant are not altered in any manner. As a result, regulatory approval and consumer acceptability are both expedited.

Way Forward

• Crop diversification has the potential to quadruple farmers’ income and provide food security for the country, notwithstanding the problems that must be addressed.
• As a result, the government must encourage crop diversification by purchasing crops other than wheat and rice at the MSP. This could also help conserve the subsurface water supply, which is running out.
• Agricultural emissions can also be reduced by better livestock management, technology-assisted fertilizer application monitoring, minor field plan adjustments, and other more efficient agricultural approaches.

Q.15. What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of the society? (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks

"Biotechnology is a wide discipline that harnesses cellular and bimolecular processes to develop technologies that help in improving the health and lives of the people.”

Recent research  and developmental achievements in applied Biotechnology:

1. Stem Cell Research
   • Stem cells can keep dividing infinitely and have the capacity to differentiate into different types of body cells during the early development of an organism. In a laboratory, researchers can program these stem cells to differentiate into specific types of cells. This is where the innovation of biotechnology steps in. Imagine an individual with the degenerative spinal disorder that severely impacts their quality-of-life. With the help of stem cell research, it might be possible to grow these stem cells in vitro, in a lab setting, and then implanted back into the affected individual’s body. This would help restore their cognitive acuity, vision, hearing, and other physical features. This may sound far-fetched and like a plot from a sci-fi movie, but the preliminary results have been promising.
2. Human Genome Project
   • Often lauded as the one of greatest feat of exploration in human history, the Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international scientific research project coordinated by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Energy. It was officially launched in 1990 with the goal of determining the sequence of nucleotide base pairs that make up human DNA. In April 2003, the researchers announced that they had completed a preliminary sequencing of the entire human genome. This work of the HGP has allowed researchers to begin to understand the blueprint for building a person. As researchers learn more about the functions of genes and proteins, it has aided them in identifying genes that cause diseases.
3. Targeted Cancer Therapies
   • Currently, established standard chemotherapies are toxic for healthy cells. Targeted cancer therapies are drugs that work either by interfering with the function of specific molecules or by only targeting known cancerous cells, in order to minimize damage to healthy cells. According to the National Cancer Institute, “Eventually, treatments may be individualized based on the unique set of molecular targets produced by the patient’s tumor.”
4. CRISPR
   • Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is a relatively new gene-editing system that has been hailed as a groundbreaking tool in medical research. Of its many uses, HIV research is one of them. Researchers can now keep up with the constant genetic mutations by actively testing newly found mutations and constantly editing them to tweak targeted therapies.
5. 3D Printed Organs
   • Artificial limbs have been in use for centuries, and there has been a steady improvement in the mobility and versatility of bionic limbs. Now new advances in bionic technology and 3D printing have taken it even further. It has made it possible to artificially construct internal organs like heart, kidney, and liver. Doctors have been able to implant these into individuals that need them successfully.
6. m-RNA Vaccine
   • An mRNA vaccine is a type of vaccine that uses a copy of a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA) to produce an immune response. The vaccine delivers molecules of antigen-encoding mRNA into immune cells, which use the designed mRNA as a blueprint to build foreign protein that would normally be produced by a pathogen (such as a virus) or by a cancer cell. These protein molecules stimulate an adaptive immune response that teaches the body to identify and destroy the corresponding pathogen or cancer cells. The mRNA is delivered by a co-formulation of the RNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles that protect the RNA strands and help their absorption into the cells. In RNA therapeutics, messenger RNA vaccines have attracted considerable interest as COVID-19 vaccines.

How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of the society?

• Biotechnology revolutionized the medical science resulting in controlled the death rate and world class treatment possible in India itself. 
• Biotechnology strengthens the soft power of the nation which improve sthe economy, trade and ultimately drastic improvement in per capita income. 
• Biotechnology helps in accessing health of the people from the corners of India through genome sequencing which ultimately conducive for the government in framing targeted policy initiatives. For example: National nutrition mission, Indradhanush mission , Universal or immunization programme.
• Biotechnology helps in developing vaccines for age old incurable diseases. for example: malaria , covid-19 vaccine(DNA-RNA vaccines).
• With the help of biotechnology we are unable to treat genetic diseases which are more prevalent in unaware poor section of the society.
• Biotechnology makes these medicinal facilities affordable top poorer sections of the society. 
• Research and development in biotechnology helps in employment creation, setting up of new higher education institutions for research, etc. 

CSIR, CCMB , Institution of  Genomics , National Institute OF Virology , ETC. are the prominent institutions which makes India world leader in the field of biotechnology.

Q.16. The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in 1990s. How has this invention impacted the everyday life of human beings? (Answer in 250 words)  15 Marks

Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura are rewarded for inventing a new energyeffcient and environment-friendly light source – the blue light-emitting diode (LED). In the spirit of Alfred Nobel, the Prize awards an invention of greatest beneft to mankind; by using blue LEDs, white light can be created in a new way. With the advent of LED lamps we now have more long-lasting and more effcient alternatives to older light sources.

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current flows through it. When current passes through an LED, the electrons recombine with holes emitting light in the process. LEDs allow the current to flow in the forward direction and block the current in the reverse direction.

How has LED’s impacted the everyday life of human beings:

• A modern white LED light blub converts more than 50 percent of the electricity it uses into light. Compare that to the 4 percent conversion rate for incandescent bulbs, and you have one efficient bulb. Besides saving money and electricity for all users, white LEDs’ efficiency makes them appealing for getting lighting to folks living in regions without electricity supply. A solar installation can charge an LED lamp to last a long time, allowing kids to do homework at night and small businesses to continue working after dark.
• LEDs also last up to 100,000 hours, compared to 10,000 hours for fluorescent lights and 1,000 hours for incandescent bulbs. Switching more houses and buildings over to LEDs could significantly reduce the world’s electricity and materials consumption for lighting.
• A white LED light is easy to make from a blue one. Engineers use a blue LED to excite some kind of fluorescent chemical in the bulb. That converts the blue light to white light.
• LEDs find applications in various fields, including optical communication, alarm and security systems, remote-controlled operations, robotics, etc. It finds usage in many areas because of its long-lasting capability, low power requirements, swift response time, and fast switching capabilities. 
• Some other uses of LED’s in everyday life of humans: Used for TV back-lighting, Used in displays, Used in Automotives, LEDs used in the dimming of lights, etc. 

Q.17. Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference ? (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks

U.K host the COP 26 UNFCCC from October 31 to November 12. More than 190 countries of the world attend this conference at Glasgow as a response to the global climate change. COP comes under UNFCCC which was formed in 1994. The UNFCCC was established to work towards “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere”.

The major outcomes of COP26:

• Global temperature – A clear consensus on a target of keeping global temperature rise down to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The target of 2 degrees of the Paris Agreement still remains.
• Transition from fossil fuels – It is the first clear recognition of the need to transition away from fossil fuels by phasing down the use of coal.
• Importance of Adaptation – Adaptation attained greater significance and there is a commitment to double the current finance available for this to developing countries.
• Global Methane Pledge –  An agreement is signed among 100 countries to cut methane emissions by 30 % by 2030.
• Ending deforestation – A group of 100 countries has agreed to begin to reverse deforestation by 2030. Since the group includes Brazil and Indonesia where large areas of forests are being ravaged by legal and illegal logging, there will be progress in expanding these carbon sinks on the planet.
• US-China Joint Declaration on Climate Change -Both the countries are moving towards a less confrontational and more cooperative relationship overall.
• Clarity on Article 6 of Paris agreement– There is greater clarity on how bilateral carbon trades can proceed and the creation of a centralised hub that replaces Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism.

 The commitments made by India in its conference

• To raise the non-fossil fuel- based battery capacity of the country to 500 GW by 2030.
• To meet 50% of the country`s energy need using renewable energy by 2030.
• To reduce the total projected carbon emission by one billion tonnes between now and 2030.
• To become carbon neutral and net zero emissions by 2070.
• Phasing out the coal – India introduced an amendment to the original draft to replace the phrase “phase out” with “phase down” playing negatively with both the advanced as well as a large constituency of developing countries.
• Global Methane Pledge – India did not join the Global Methane Pledge despite methane being the second-most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere after carbon dioxide.
• Ending deforestation – India refused to join the group due to concerns over a clause on possible trade measures related to forest products.

India has launched the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative for developing the infrastructure of small island nations.

Q.18. Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention the important components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks

• Landslides refer to the rapid movement of rock, soil, and vegetation down the slope under the influence of gravity. Earth flow, mass movement, mudflow, rotational slip, and avalanches are different types of landslides.
• The intensity and magnitude of the landslide depends on the geological structure, angle of dip of the slope, nature of sedimentary rocks, and the human interaction with the slope.

Causes of Landslides

• Rainfall and Snowfall-
• Heavy and continuous rainfall lead to heavy landslides in the areas of steep slopes where National Highways and roads have been constructed. For example; The Nashri area between BatoteRamban- Ramsu, and Banihal (Jammu and Kashmir) is frequently subjected to landslides. 
• Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions
  • Earthquakes are the most important cause of landslides in the folded mountainous areas like Himalayas in India. In the Kashmir valley, the earthquake of 1905 resulted into landslides in the lesser and the Greater Himalayas in which several thousand people lost their lives.
• Volcanic eruptions also trigger landslides in the mountainous regions.
• Mining, Quarrying and Road cutting-
• The continuous extraction and quarrying of coal, minerals, and stones from the mines and quarries and the development of roads by cutting the steep slopes in the folded mountains causes landslides.
  Examples: Frequent landslides in Himalayas and the Eastern and Western Ghats.
• Loading by construction of houses-
• The unplanned growth of towns and cities in the hilly areas without following the geology of that region causes landslides. 
• For example: The eastern slope of Nanital (Uttarakhand) is sinking because of the heavy load of hotels and residential structures.
• Deforestation-
  • Deforestation and other human activities also induce landslides.

Effects of landslides

• Short Term Effects 
• Loss of Lives and Properties.
• Roadblocks, destruction of railway lines. 
• Channel blocking due to rock – falls
• Diversion of river courses due to landslides causing floods
• Loss of natural Beauty.

Long term impacts

• Permanent landscapes can be changed.
• Cultivable land can be loss.
• Soil erosion and permanent loss of fertile soil.
• Population shift and relocation of populations and establishments.
• Drying up natural water resources.

National Landslide Risk Management Strategy 

• National Landslide Risk Management Strategy was made by NDMA. It clearly brings out the message for the need to strengthen and mainstream landslide disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and relief mechanism through mapping, early warning system (EWS), awareness generation, capacity building, formulation of mountain zone regulations / policies and mitigation of problematic landslides. 

Important components

• Landslide Hazard Zonation: It covers aspects of reliability and validation of landslide zoning maps in Indian scenario and proposes future plan of activities for landslide zoning. 
• Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning System 
• Awareness Programmes: It aims towards a culture of awareness generation and preparedness; so that people in the society become alert and aware in case of an emergency or take some preventive measures before the disaster strikes. 
• Capacity Building and Training of Stakeholders: The key recommendations include a Nationwide Training Need Assessment (TNA) in Landslide Risk Management and Inclusion of new technology inputs for capacity building and training programs on landslide DRR. 
• Preparation of Mountain Zone Regulations and Policies 
• Stabilization and Mitigation of Landslide and Creation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Landslide Management.

Q.19. Analyse the multidimensional challenges posed by external state and non-state actors, to the internal security of India. Also discuss measures required to be taken to combat these threats. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks

India very nature of association with the world makes it closely precarious whether its history, geography or its changing position in the present world order. It has been facing challenges on the front of internal security since independence from various state and non-state actors.

The External State actors refer to those groups which have formal backing of a sovereign state for carrying out any intended action that goes against the interest of the ensuing state. While on the other hand the Non state actors have a considerable power that  influences the international events and they lack a formal state backing.

How do External State actors are responsible for posing a challenge to internal security:

• Countries surrounding India are indeed exploiting the volatile situation through a turmoil in the northeast and the other bordering regions to use it against the interests of these regions. They do so by providing them with a political backing, economic assistance, logistic support, military training or arms supplies. 
• These actors provide support to the various insurgent groups and add fuel to fire in an already volatile situation. Be it the Naxalites, or separatist groups through funding, training or logistics.
• They also indulge in carrying out cyber warfare through hacking and other espionage.

How do Non state actors creates problems of security for India:

• Insurgency North-East suffers from violent movements and clashes based upon ethnic identities. China is alleged to support such acts for instance. 
• Terrorism Pakistan is an exporter of terrorism to India. Non-state actors like terrorist groups for instance Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad are a continuous threat.
• Non state actor -sponsored terrorism, motivated by fundamentalist ideologies, backed by secretive financial networks, use of IT, clandestine access to chemical-biological and nuclear materials, and illicit drug trafficking, has emerged as a threat to international stability. They largely aim at destabilising the country. Done through sporadic terrorist strikes, that spreads terror and panic. And adversely affects the ability of the Indian state to pursue economic modernisation.
• Naxalism the Left wing extremism badly affects states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• Drug trafficking and Human-trafficking  Inter and Intra state trafficking takes place, through golden crescent and golden triangle routes.
• Excessive usage of the Counterfeit currency that corrodes the economy from inside, it facilitates black money and money laundering activities demands for fake currency, thereby creating a positive feedback loop. 
• Communalism Propagandas are run and funded by the minds of the enemy country and other non-state actors (NGOs and CSOs) to destabilize India by damaging the socio-religious fabric.
• Cross Border Cyber attacks meted against the critical infrastructure of the state. 

Strategies to curb the challenge posed on our security 

• India must develop indigenous counter radicalisation programme to disseminate a political and a liberal counter narrative.
• Specialised task force, research wings and think tanks be formed.
• Civic society must play a critical role in combating threat that affects the multitude of the population. 
• Educational achievement, awareness campaigns and interfaith discussions must be carried upon. 
• India must be vary of cyber indoctrination 
• There must be a strong law and order apparatus to resist threat in the first place. 
• Avoid radicalisation along religious and ethnic lines. 
• Reducing illegal trade of the narcotics and smuggling through a strong law enforcement been put at a place.
• Economic growth in order to minimise the regional disparities.
• Enhancing the technical surveillance.
• Enhancing the intelligence gathering infrastructure.
• Increasing operational efficiency and better border management. 

Conclusion
Both state and non-state factors from outside have created problems in our internal security framework. It is very essential  to guard our borders and strengthen our diplomacy. And also we must make sure that the socio cultural ethos be revitalised and adequate and effective breathing spaces be provided so that the security of the state both internal and the external sphere is well guarded.

Q.20. Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate the menace of terrorism. (Answer in 250 words) 15 Marks

The complexity in the word terrorism lies in the fact that it tries to mean of spreading fear or hatred in the minds of the innocent people to spread its propaganda through the lens of good or bad. It continues to spread far and wide. Thus India has a clear stand on International terrorism that it must not be supported and must be condemned to the beat of nationa ability. 

Causes of terrorism 

• Illiteracy, poor governance, poverty.
• Corruption
• Historical injustice and human rights violation
• Narrative that has a negative connotation
• High unemployment 
• Radicalisation and fanaticism.

Sources of terrorist funding that provide for linkage and an obnoxious nexus

• Drugs and smuggling
• Illicit trafficking
• Extortion and Hawala trading 
• Radicalisation and brain washing by organisation to produce a certain kind of version of what is honest and real. 
• The introduction of the internet has made the youth the most vulnerable amongst all the groups as they are widely recruited to fulfil the brutish objectives.
• They try to breach the security of the country using secessionist means. 
• The terrorism is emerging fast as a competitive industry that uses land, labor, capital and entrepreneurship to use it to meet their illegitimate demands and desires.

Measures to eradicate the menace of terrorism

• There is a need for a security oriented approach that involves a collaboration between police and intelligence and also redress the causes that can be a possible hotbed for the rise of the terrorist activities. 
• It is vital to combat the threats associated with terrorism the Mumbai attack, the Pathankot attack still are so fresh in the memories of  the countrymen. Therefore there must be agreement on various parameters so that a national strategy be drawn out.
• Ensuring the fruits of socio economic development are inclusive.
• The administration is more accountable. And more respondent to the needs of the people. 
• Coordination between different agencies responsible for the security of the country. 

A multi pronged approach where the whole world unites to reach to a common goal of peace and progress of the world and fellow countrymen where the most vulnerable of all sections are protected so that they don’t fall a prey to a ploy in the hands of these extremist organisations. Therefore action that is proactive and quick must be taken so that the loss is absorbed well.