UPSC Mains 2020 GS Paper 3 with Solutions - 1 | UPSC Previous Year Question Papers and Video Analysis PDF Download

Q.1. Explain intergenerational and intergenerational issues of equity from the perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable growth. (Answer in 150 words) 

Intergenerational equity represents a widely recognized principle of international environmental law providing for the preservation of natural resources and the environment for the benefit of future generations. It has roots in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and forms a core tenet of sustainable development frameworks.

Inter-generational equity implies that present generation has not inherited the planet rather it is trustee of it. So one generation, should handover the planet at least in same health as it has inherited, if not with improved condition.

Intragenerational equity is concerned with equity between people of the same generation and aims to assure justice among human beings that are alive today, as reflected in Rio Principle 6, mandating particular priority for the special situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed and those most environmentally vulnerable.

Issues with Intra generational and intra generational equity:

• Inclusive growth as the economic growth that is distributed fairly across society and creates opportunities for all. It refers to ‘broad-based’, ‘shared’, and ‘pro-poor growth’. Inclusive growth includes the concept of equity.  This has two aspects
  • Intergenerational equity: the growth should reduce inequality in the future generation by redistributing the wealth eg: wealth tax, inheritance tax.
• Intragenerational equity: the growth should be pro –poor, thus reducing the present inequality.
• Equity can also be applied across communities and nations within one generation. The reason that intragenerational equity is a key principle of sustainable development is that inequities are a cause of environmental degradation.

In light of these broad goals, sustainable development encompasses a number of sub issues with Intra generational and intra generational equity:

• Poverty deprives people of the choice about whether or not to be environmentally sound in their activities.
• alleviation of poverty,
• public participation in decision making,
• technological limits to growth,
• environmental limits to growth,
• quality of life,
• precautionary decision making,
• and integration of environmental policy.

Inclusive growth is a concept that advances equitable opportunities for economic participants during economic growth with benefits incurred by every section of society. Inclusive growth is not possible without inter and intra generational equity.

Sustainable growth is a growth which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of the future generation. Thus it is based on the principle of intergenerational equity.
Intergenerational equity contains inter-temporal implications in respect of the utilization of the resources, it tends to a fair utilization of resources by human generations in past, present and future, it tries to construct a balance of consumption of resources by existing societies and the future generations. Inter-temporal aspects tries to make a balance between the distribution of resources and recycling of resources to a good extend, which is a very concerning issue due to the growing degradation of environment and depletion of resources.

• One of the primary object of the concept of intergenerational equity is the development of resources by one generation enhance the opportunity of economic sustainability for the future generation
• Concept of intergenerational equity promotes socio-economic development and it makes a bridge between social and economic development with environmental protection

Sustainable growth a broader concept than inclusive growth seeks to promote human well-being, in the senses of both economic growth and social well-being, while simultaneously protecting and conserving the environment, in recognition that continued ecological health is a necessary condition of human well-being. Sustainable growth also is not possible without inter, intra generational equity and inclusive growth.

Q.2. Define potential GDP and its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP? (Answer in 150 words.)   10 Marks

Potential gross domestic product (GDP) is defined in the OECD’s Economic Outlook publication as the level of output that an economy can produce at a constant inflation rate. Although an economy can temporarily produce more than its potential level of output, that comes at the cost of rising inflation.

Determinants of Potential GDP:

1. Capital formation: High capital is a determinant of high growth and hence high growth. It needs huge investment and leads to increased productivity in economy and necessitated upgradation of skills for its utilization. Ex- Japan during its high growth phase of 1913 to 1939 saw investment rate between 16 to 20%.
2. Capital-output ratio: It is the units of capital required to produce one unit of output. It reflects the productivity of the economy.
3. Savings and investment: Savings in an economy which are productively invested is another important factor.
4. Occupational structure: Optimum distribution of occupation or labour across sectors like primary, secondary and tertiary sector determines level of growth in an economy. Ex- Transfer of Indian labour from Primary sector to manufacturing and services has also been an enabling factor for growth.
5. Technological progress: It is one of the biggest enablers and one which has been shaping the direction of growth since industrial revolution. Ex- If initial Industrial revolution led to massscale production, then Industrial Revolution 3.0 and 4.0 is powering growth through digital technology through disruptions.
6. Other factors involves institutional and policy changes:
   • Competitive markets
   • Stable prices
   • Free trade
   • Flexible capital markets
   • Avoiding high marginal tax rates
   • Securing property rights and land acquisition
   • Political stability

What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP?

• Unskilled labour force
• Poor infrastructure
• Redundant technology
• Inequality
• High Infation.

Q.3. What are the main constraints in transports and marketing of agricultural produce in India? (Answer in 150 words.) 10 Marks

Agricultural marketing system is defined in broadest terms as, physical and institutional set up to perform all activities involved in the flow of products and services from the point of initial agricultural production until they are in the hands of ultimate consumers.

Issues in Agriculture Marketing

1. Skewed Risk Distribution: Globally, enhanced food production has changed the market dynamics leading to pressure on prices of our produce. Input costs are constantly on the rise, severely impacting farmers’ incomes, debt repayment capacity and their livelihood. What makes matters worse is that all the risks in the farm-to-market cycle are borne by the farmer — these include, among others, production, storage, and transport risks, outbreak of pests, and price uncertainty. Urgent steps need to be taken to minimize the risk for farmers and distribute the risk equitably across the agro-value chain.
2. Quality of Produce: After Green Revolution and with various Lab to Land Programmes we have amplified the quantity of produce but the rising income and standard of life, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, mushrooming of processing industries there is a call for enhancing the quality of produce not only quantity of produce which has restricted the potential of agriculture marketing both at national and international market.
3. Transaction and Marketing Costs: Price spread (is defined as the difference between the price paid by consumers and the net price received by the producer for an equivalent quantity of farm produce) is much higher due to traditional marketing system like APMC, though digital marketing government has been launched to minimize the price spread but in country like India it is a distant dream, as when the overall agriculture market in India would be integrated into one nation one market.
4. Price discovery: at right time and right place is not streamlined in our country, may be a consumer is paying 80/- per kg of tomato but farmer may be selling to intermediaries at 20/- per kg. So due to in efficient price discovery mechanism agriculture marketing is not efficient as it should be.
5. Poor Agriculture Logistics: Storage and transportation of bulky and perishable agriculture produce is an issue. Agriculture marketing cannot be developed until and unless agriculture logistics is developed.
6. Poor Infrastructure of Agriculture Market: Though APMC markets are decades old and every transaction is levied with tax and cess to develop the market infrastructure but still the overall infrastructure is outdated without any sound system.
7. Consumer Satisfaction: is top most priority in any marketing system, with lack of grading, sorting, standardization, hygiene farmers produce fetch less price in international market during export.

Reforms in agriculture Marketing

• Policy Measures
  1. Digitalization of Agriculture Marketing
  2. Contract Farming
  3. Freedom to sale and Purchase
  4. Essential Commodities and stock limits
  5. Minimum Support Price

Q.4. What are the challenges and opportunities in food processing sector in the country? How can income of the farmers can sustainably be increased by encouraging food processing? (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks

Food processing sector in India is a composite sector comprising two broad segments viz. organized and unorganized segments.

There are an estimated 25-lakh micro food processing enterprises in the country, which are unorganized and unregistered. With 7% of investment in plant & machinery, the unorganized enterprises contribute of 74.3% of employment (a third of which are women), 12% of output and 27% of value addition in the food-processing sector. Nearly 66 per cent of these units are located in rural areas and about 80 per cent of them are family-based enterprises.

Bottle Necks in Growth of FPI:

Lack of efficient supply chain infrastructure and inadequate expansion of processing and storage capacity commensurate with agriculture production have been identified as the main reasons for higher wastages, higher cost of production, lower value addition in food processing sector.

Perishable commodities Meat, Fish and Fruits & Vegetables, in particular, have recorded higher degree of wastage and have a negligible share in food output. Minimization of losses in perishable segment would require huge investment in farm gate infrastructure, storage & cold chain infrastructure and expansion of processing capacities.

Lower Value addition – India despite being one of the major producer of agri-commodities, the level of food processing and value addition continues to remain low affecting our competitiveness & export performance and income of farmers.

Significant gap in Cold Chain capacity is one of the important reasons for higher wastage of agri produce particularly perishable segments. Cold Chain infrastructure involves heavy investment with long payback period which is beyond the capacity of individual food processors.

Inadequate production and availability of processable variety of raw material is a major area of concern, which arises due to inadequate emphasis on developing appropriate varieties and extension activities.

Inadequate linkage of processors, exporters and bulk purchasers with farmers resulting in mismatch between the requirements of industry and supply of agri-produce by the farmers. The problem is often compounded by legal provisions relating to restrictions on commodity storage and movement.

Lack of awareness: Processors face difficulty in availing benefits under schemes being implemented by different agencies of central and state governments in the absence of exclusive supportive forum at the state level. Lack of awareness and absence of appropriate knowledge sharing & guidance forum adds to their problem.

Poor Credit Facility: Food processing units, largely operating in MSME segment, face problem in their access to bank credit due to seasonal and perishable nature of the commodities handled by these units. High cost and inadequate credit do not attract prospective entrepreneurs choosing food processing sector for investment.

Bureaucracy: Multiple clearances are required for setting up of food processing units. The small processors are also required to go through the same processes as is applicable to larger units. Availing permission for Change in Land Use (CLU), environmental clearance, water and power connections are not only time consuming but also costly.

Labour Laws: Food processing units are required to comply with labour laws in relation to lay-off, retrenchment and closure even though these units run seasonally. Further, payment of minimum charges for electricity even though units run for few months in a year, adversely affects the commercial viability of the processing units.

Marketing of processed food is a major problem faced by food processors particularly the micro and small processors. Given the scale of operation, individual units are unable to invest in marketing and branding impacting performance of the sector.

Sector specific Entrepreneurship Development training and Incubation Services are weak areas inhibiting growth of the sector.

Co-ordination: A number of research institutes are undertaking R&D for product, process, and technology improvement & development. There is a need for coordinated action on research and dissemination of research output to the industry.

GHP & GMP: Lack of adequate emphasis on food safety along the food value chain to promote Good Hygiene Practice (GHP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to maintain standards of food quality. Moreover, food testing, quality certification and safety issues are other weak areas which needs priority attention

Food safety culture: While awareness of food safety is rising, especially among the educated in cities, the population at large remains ignorant about basic food safety issues such as common adulterants in food, checking the freshness of food products etc. For this, large-scale behavioural change communication programmes are required to educate citizens about basic food safety issues so that they can take responsibility for their own health, create a ‘food safety culture’ and act as a check on the food processing industry for better adherence to standards

Opportunities for food processing

Urbanization: The total urban population in the country as per Census 2011 is more than 377 million constituting 31.16% of the total population. In coming days the share of urban India will grow which has high demand for processed food, this urban demand will act as a propeller for emerging industry.

Changing Consumer Preference: There is a huge transformation in the lifestyle of consumers due to increase in disposable income and information available due to rapid evolution of the social media. Due to changing lifestyle and work culture, we also see a change in trends in consumption patterns. There is demand for not only processed food but value added healthy processed food.

Growing Working Class: With education level growing year upon year, there is growth in working class too specially in metropolitan cities contributing to demand for processed food.

How it will benefit farmers:

Operation Greens:
In the budget speech of 2018-19, a new Scheme “Operation Greens” was announced on the line of “Operation Flood”, with an outlay of Rs. 500 crore to promote Farmer Producers Organizations, agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management.

Operation Greens seeks to stabilize the supply of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) crops and to ensure availability of TOP crops throughout the country round the year without price volatility.

The scheme was extended during June 2020 to cover all fruits & vegetables (TOPS TO TOTAL) for a period of six months on pilot basis as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has launched the scheme. NAFED will be the Nodal Agency to implement price stabilisation measures.

The strategy will comprise of a series of measures as decided by the Ministry which include:

Short term Price Stabilisation Measures: MoFPI will provide 50% of the subsidy on the following two components:

• Transportation of Tomato Onion
•  Potato(TOP) Crops from production to storage;
• Hiring of appropriate storage facilities for TOP Crops;
• Long Term Integrated value chain development projects
• Capacity Building of FPOs & their consortium
• Quality production
• Post-harvest processing facilities
• Agri-Logistics
• Marketing / Consumption Points
• Creation and Management of e-platform for demand and supply management of TOP Crops.

Agri Export Policy 2018

Draft National Food Processing Policy -2019:
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries released the Draft National Food Processing Policy, 2019 for public comments.

Aims:
The draft policy aims for the development of the food processing sector and addressing the critical gaps hampering its growth.
It also aims to increase investment in the sector by six-fold by 2035.

Objectives:
Reducing wastage at the farmer level to increase their incomes:

• Supporting the food processing industry to create employment opportunities
• Ensuring a higher deployment of credit in the sector
• Enhancing the availability of safer, affordable, and higher quality food products for consumer, and Infrastructure and skill-building to meet the demands of the sector.

The food processing industry in India is increasingly seen as a potential source for driving the rural economy as it brings about synergy between the consumer, industry and the farmer. It will act as an engine for propelling the dream of Doubling farmers Income. Rightly said by Mahatma Gandhi “The future of India lies in its villages” and we have to carefully nurture future of India by nurturing important Rural and agro based Industries like Food processing units which has immense potential in coming days.

Q.5. What do you understand by nanotechnology? And how its helping in health sector? (Answer in 150 words.) 10 Marks

Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. In its original sense, nanotechnology refers to the projected ability to construct items from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, high performance products.

Nanotechnology in Medical and Healthcare Applications:

Nanotechnology is already broadening the medical tools, knowledge, and therapies currently available to clinicians.

Nanotechnology is being used in developing countries to help treat disease and prevent health issues. The umbrella term for this kind of nanotechnology is Nano-medicine.

Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology in medicine, draws on the natural scale of biological phenomena to produce precise solutions for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Below are some examples of recent advances in this area:

• Commercial applications have adapted gold nanoparticles as probes for the detection of targeted sequences of nucleic acids, and gold nanoparticles are also being clinically investigated as potential treatments for cancer and other diseases.
• Better imaging and diagnostic tools enabled by nanotechnology are paving the way for earlier diagnosis, more individualized treatment options, and better therapeutic success rates.
• Nanotechnology is being studied for both the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis, or the buildup of plaque in arteries.
• In one technique, researchers created a nanoparticle that mimics the body’s “good” cholesterol, known as HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which helps to shrink plaque.
• The design and engineering of advanced solid-state nanopore materials could allow for the development of novel gene sequencing technologies that enable single-molecule detection at low cost and high speed with minimal sample preparation and instrumentation.
• Nanotechnology researchers are working on a number of different therapeutics where a nanoparticle can encapsulate or otherwise help to deliver medication directly to cancer cells and minimize the risk of damage to healthy tissue. This has the potential to change the way doctors treat cancer and dramatically reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy.
• Research in the use of nanotechnology for regenerative medicine spans several application areas, including bone and neural tissue engineering. For instance, novel materials can be engineered to mimic the crystal mineral structure of human bone or used as a restorative resin for dental applications.
• Researchers are looking for ways to grow complex tissues with the goal of one day growing human organs for transplant. Researchers are also studying ways to use graphene nanoribbons to help repair spinal cord injuries; preliminary research shows that neurons grow well on the conductive graphene surface.
• Nanomedicine researchers are looking at ways that nanotechnology can improve vaccines, including vaccine delivery without the use of needles.
• Researchers also are working to create a universal vaccine scaffold for the annual flu vaccine that would cover more strains and require fewer resources to develop each year.

Nanomicelles:

• With the advance in nanotechnology, researchers across the globe have been exploring how to use nanoparticles for efficient drug delivery.
• Similar to nanoshells and nanovesicles, nanomicelles are extremely small structures and have been noted as an emerging platform in targeted therapy.
• Nanomicelles are globe­like structures with a hydrophilic outer shell and a hydrophobic interior.
• This dual property makes them a perfect carrier for delivering drug molecules.
• Now a multi­disciplinary, multi­institutional team has created a nanomicelle that can be used to deliver a drug named docetaxel, which is commonly used to treat various cancers including breast, colon and lung cancer.
• The nanomicelles are less than 100nm in size and are stable at room temperature.
• Once injected intravenously these nanomicelles can easily escape the circulation and enter the solid tumours where the blood vessels are found to be leaky.
• These leaky blood vessels are absent in the healthy organs. “Chemical conjugation would render the phospholipid­docetaxel prodrug to be silent in the circulation and healthy organs.
• But once it enters the cancer cells, the enzymes will cleave the bond to activate the drug, and kill the cancer cells.

As with all technologies, nanotechnology carries a significant potential for misuse and abuse on a scale and scope never seen before. However, they also have potential to bring about significant benefits, such as improved health, better use of natural resources, and reduced environmental pollution.

Q.6. How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by the science-based technologies?(Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks

Introduction:

Science has been the driver of human development. It has come a long way from the find of fire to the age of digital technologies. It has penetrated all aspects of human life. For ex-

• Agriculture and food: Ex- Machines from sowing seeds to Tractor, drip irrigation, fertilisers etc.
• Education: Online and distance education, research to understand world better
• Health: Ex- Covid-19 vaccine within 1 year, Treatment for diseases like cancer
• Space: Ex- Human into space (Proposed Gaganyan mission)
• Defence: Ex- Tanks, missiles, highly sophisticated missile defence systems
• Digital technology: Ex- Artificial intelligence, 5G etc.

These are very few examples and science today influence our life from moment we wake up to everything we do till we can go to sleep. This has been the major parameter of develpment measurement of human and countries today.

Striking changes triggered by science-based technologies in agriculture:

1. Commercialization of crops: Science-based technologies have ensured high productivity leading to agriculture diving into commercialization and becoming remunerative. Ex- Bt Cotton using Genetically modified seeds.
2. Food security: Ex- High-yielding seed created using technologies has led to food security around the world like Green revolution in India.
3. Better monitoring of soil and sustainable agriculture: Ex- technologies like Soil health card, remote sensing or drones have ensured agriculture is better prepared to ensure cropping with care of soil and sustainability in times of global warming.
4. Efficient irrigation: Ex- In times of water crisis, Drip irrigation, Sprinkler irrigation is changing the way we use water with focus on “Water use efficiency”.
5. insights into trend, better monitoring as well as advances in R&D making agriculture a highly predictable and demand-aligned activity: Ex- Big data, Internet of things etc. are changing the way agriculture so far depended on climate variability.
6. Precision farming: Ex- Using new management practices and technologies (GIS, remote sensing etc.) precision farming determines inputs needed for optimum heath of soil and better productivity.
7. Intensive agriculture leading to Soil, water and air pollution: Ex- Use of fertilisers, pesticides, crop burning etc. as a result of use of these technologies have led to environmental concerns as well rising from agricultural practices.

So, science-based technology has triggered striking changes in agriculture from sowing to marketing. We need to be careful for one causing problems (pollution and decrease in soil fertility), while have to look forward to its evolution in times of climate change when land can’t increase but production has to.

Q.7. How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? (Answer in 150 words)   10 Marks

EIA is the management tool for identifying environmental, social and economic impacts of a project before decision-making. Thus, it seeks to ensure optimal use of natural resources within the context of sustainable development.

What is the EIA cycle proposed in EIA notification, 2006?

It talks of 4-stages of EIA to be followed in accordance with the norms. These are:

• Screening
• Scoping
• Public hearing
• Appraisal

It also talks of category of projects: Category A and Category B (B1 and B2 projects). In this category A and category B1 projects need mandatory EIA and B2 category does need EIA.

Category A projects are appraised at the national level by the Impact Assessment Agency and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).

Category B projects are appraised at the state level with B1 needing EIA and B2 does not need it. State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the state level EAC are provided for clearance of the category B projects.

Draft EIA amendments and why it has become controversial?

Features and Argument for bringing in draft EIA, 2020:

Ramp up availability/production of bulk drugs: COVID-19 demand and disruption of global supply chain the government thought to bring certain sectors under B2 category (no EIA required). Ex- projects or activities in respect of bulk drugs and intermediates, manufactured for addressing various ailments

Decentralization of approval process: Recategorization will lead to clearance from state level itself thereby fastening the process.

Expeditious disposal of the proposals within given time-line and reduced scrutiny through single window online clearance

Revive project by putting an end to policy paralysis: It allows for post-facto clearances.

Controversial features:

• Post-facto clearances: It will legalize operations (ongoing and closed projects) without EIA and in violation category through fines. This will weaken the sanction against violations weakening the environmental fight. Earlier courts have cracked down on such violating industries.
• Ex- Environment ministry itself claimed that the LG polymer gas leak in Vishakhapatnam this year was due to violation of EIA norms (Post expansion of capability it applied for approval)
• Regressive and non-transparent: It allows for projects to be declared by the government as strategic. Once notified strategic no information about project will be in public domain and no public consultation. Ex- All inland waterways and national highways are excluded from public consultation and these are one of the major causes of deforestation and displacement of people.
• Disempowerment of people: Violations can only be represented by the government representatives and project proponents not citizen, public consultation initially only for 20 days (norm is 30 days), drafts only in English and Hindi and technical jargons in drafts is criticised by experts as the disempowerment of people by depriving them say in EIA.
• Recategorization as B1, B2 projects: This is dilution of the environmental norms as many projects will not be assessed by the appraisal committee now.
• Increased validity of the environment clearances (mining projects to 50 years from 30 years currently and river valley projects to 15 years from 10 years currently) will risk environmental, social and health consequences
• Federalism concerns: B2 project not to be brought before State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) is said to weaken its role in implementing innovative/cost-efficient technologies or processes to prevent the degradation of the environment.
• Protecting polluting sectors in case of modernisation and expansion: Exemption from EIA and public consultation for construction projects expansion up to 1,50,000 Sq. metres.

The draft EIA has created concerns among civil society, environmental experts, people (protest in Kerala) as well as UN special Rapporteurs criticized it against the violation of environmental laws.

Other issues in current EIA process:

Political and bureaucratic strong hold on EIA process as generally, they lack expertise from environment, social and civil society sector.

Applicability: In times of global warming, biodiversity loss we need more polluter pay principle, while phasing out sectors with most adverse impacts (Ex- Coal based plants). But EIA is increasing the exemptions and reduces applicability.

Public hearing: Mostly symbolic and public do not have access to EIA on time and largely their inputs are ignored by committee.

Lack of trained professional and Erroneous reports: Many EIA’s find copy and paste info which is violation of all EIA norms. Further preparation of EIA is done by consultants who are selected based on cost and not expertise.

Public and government authority included at much later stage unlike in developed countries where their involvement at early stage makes the process robust.

The consideration of alternatives in EIA is largely missing and process is oriented towards compensation more. (Centre for Science and Environment)

In scoping process expert committee is the decision maker and public consultation is missing as it is optional. Ex- Netherland, UK etc. takes public consultation from this stage itself.

Way ahead:

Court judgements w.r.t. public consultation in EIA:

In Hanuman LaxmanAroskar v Union of India case court held public consultations to have an intrinsic character (values in seeking views of the local and beyond – Traditional knowledge and experience in region) and instrumental character (hearing the voices of those communities that would be affected by the activity).

In this case court also recognised value of local community knowledge in EIA along with the S&T in it.

In Tirupur Dyeing Factory Owners Assn v Noyyal River Ayacutdars Protection Association case (2009) court held that the right to information and community participation is a co-terminus process in the EIA.

In Research Foundation for Science Technology National Resource Policy v UoI, (2005) case court said that the states must promote public awareness through wide and effective dissemination of information to deepen public participation.

In Centre for Social Justice vs Union of India (2001) court said that the local villagers may not understand the language and tone of EIA report. Hence, they should be made aware about it through gram panchayats, nagar panchayat etc.

Other measures:
Drafts of EIA to be made more inclusive and drafted in all scheduled languages as many high courts ordered recently.

Sustainable development approach: Though, economy might be immediate concern due to slow growth, yet, Covid-19 and existing challenges like climate change has forced us to think in terms of sustainable development. So, we rather need a EIA process based on public trust doctrine (Current draft delegated this responsibility to project proponents to assess and submit reports).

EIA is based on precautionary principle and this must not be diluted. Because our natural resources once lost can’t be replenished at same rate of consumption currently happening.

Move towards Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) by focussing on sectoral policies determined by sustainable development right from start.

Q.8. What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security? (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks

The Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a campaign for water conservation and water security in the country.

Government of India has launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), a water conservation campaign, which is being implemented in 256 water-stressed districts of the country.

The Phase–I was implemented from 1st July, 2019 to 30th September, 2019 across the country and Phase–II is being implemented from 1st October, 2019 to 30th November, 2019 in the Southern States which receive retreating monsoon.

During the campaign, officers, groundwater experts and scientists from the Government of India expected to work with State and District officials in these districts to promote water conservation and water resource management by focusing on accelerated implementation of five target interventions, viz.

• water conservation & rainwater harvesting,
• renovation of traditional and other water bodies/ tanks,
• reuse and recharge of bore wells,
• watershed development and
• intensive afforestation.

With this campaign, huge awareness has been generated and various stakeholders, viz. government departments, agencies, NGOs, officials, Panchayats, individuals, etc. have started taking steps for water conservation.

The water conservation interventions will also be supplemented with special interventions including the development of block and district water conservation plans, promotion of efficient water use for irrigation and better choice of crops through Krishi Vigyan Kendras.