UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions 2019: GS1 Geography | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: Assess the impact of global warming on the coral life system with examples. (Geography)
Ans: 

Global Threat to Coral Life System: The coral life system, housing the highest biodiversity globally and supporting over 500 million people directly, faces severe threats due to mass coral bleaching events in the last three years. Unprecedented global warming, climate changes, and growing local pressures have made coral reefs among the most endangered ecosystems on Earth.

Impact of Global Warming on Coral Life System:
As temperatures rise, mass coral bleaching events and infectious disease outbreaks become more frequent. Events like the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2017 resulted in approximately 50% coral mortality. Bleached corals experience reduced growth rates, reproductive capacity, increased disease susceptibility, and elevated mortality rates.

Ocean acidification, driven by increased CO2 levels, weakens skeletons and impairs growth in reef-building organisms. Sea level rise may increase sedimentation, smothering coral, while changes in storm patterns lead to stronger and more frequent storms causing reef destruction. Alterations in coral ecosystems impact dependent species, disrupting food sources, shelter, and recruitment habitats.

Changes in precipitation increase runoff of freshwater, sediment, and pollutants, leading to algal blooms and murky water conditions. Altered ocean currents affect connectivity, temperature regimes, and coral larvae dispersal. The gradual decrease in marine plants in warmer waters reduces nutrients available to animals along the food chain.

The collapse of coral life systems due to global warming has direct impacts on tourism, aquaculture, pharmaceutical industries, and coastal community resilience. A way forward involves limiting global average temperature rise, addressing local pollution, and adopting circular economic practices. Reinforcing commitments to global agreements like the Paris Agreement and aligning with Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 13, is crucial for combatting climate change and preserving coral life globally.

Q2: Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology. (Geography)
Ans: 

Mangroves: Guardians of Coastal Ecology: Mangroves, resilient salt-tolerant vegetation flourishing in intertidal zones of rivers and estuaries, are integral to the 'tropical wetland rainforest ecosystem.'

Encompassing approximately 200,000 square kilometers across 30 countries globally, mangrove forests are dwindling, with India's mangrove cover at 4,482 sq km. Over 35% of the world's mangroves have already been depleted.

Causes of Depletion

• Clearing: Extensive clearing for agriculture, human settlements, industries, and shrimp aquaculture depletes mangroves at an annual rate of 2-8 percent.
• Overharvesting: Exploitation for firewood, construction, pulp, and charcoal production, along with animal fodder.
• Damming of rivers: Dams alter water flow and sediment supply to mangroves, affecting salinity levels.
• Destruction of coral reefs: Loss of coral reefs exposes mangroves to intensified waves, eroding the sediment bed.
• Pollution: Fertilizers, pesticides, and industrial effluents from rivers pose severe threats to mangroves.
• Climate change: Unusual climate patterns, low rainfall, and elevated sea surface temperatures jeopardize mangrove survival.

Importance of Mangroves in Coastal Ecology

Mangroves, highly productive ecosystems, support 30 plant species in the Sundarbans alone. They serve as vital breeding, feeding, and nursery grounds for fisheries, offering timber and fuel wood.

Mangrove forests play a crucial role in water filtration, preserving coastal ecology by filtering sediments from rivers and floodplains, benefiting coral reefs.

Functioning as natural shock absorbers, mangroves mitigate high tides, waves, and protect shorelines from erosion, reducing the impact of cyclones and tsunamis.

Conservation Measures

Given their significance, stringent enforcement of coastal regulations, application of scientific management practices, and active involvement of local communities are imperative for the conservation and sustainable management of these invaluable mangrove forests.

Q3: Can the strategy of regional-resource based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India? (Geography)
Ans: 

National Manufacturing Policy and Regional Manufacturing: The National Manufacturing Policy targets a 25% contribution to the country's GDP from manufacturing by 2022. However, uneven development among regions highlights the significance of regional manufacturing.

Employment Generation through Regional-Resource Based Manufacturing:

• Strategically organized industries utilizing local raw materials can drive increased production and processing, contributing to overall regional development.
• Manufacturing generates employment across various skill levels, particularly benefiting unskilled and semi-skilled labor with improved wages compared to the informal sector.
• The industry fosters entrepreneurship and job opportunities in ancillary sectors, supporting growth in secondary and tertiary industries.
• Greater demand for consumer goods stimulates a self-sustaining cycle of local production, distribution, and support in secondary and tertiary sectors.
• Reduction of income disparities between rural and urban areas mitigates distress migration.

Challenges to Regional-Resource Based Manufacturing

• States like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh possess abundant mineral resources, but inadequate infrastructure, especially in roads and power, poses a significant obstacle.
• Limited skills among the workforce in these manufacturing sectors.
• Challenges faced by the MSME sector, including marketing, credit, growth, and the absence of suitable manufacturing technology.
• Expensive and high-risk nature of Intellectual Property protection and enforcement in India.

Government Strategies for Harnessing Regional Manufacturing Potential:

• Orissa's 'Odisha Industrial Development Plan: Vision 2025' focuses on five sectors to attract investments, aiming to generate employment for 30 lakh people.
• Uttar Pradesh's 'One District, One Product' scheme promotes traditional industries in respective districts to stimulate local economies and create jobs.
• The North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) encourages MSMEs to establish in the north-east region.
• States promote forest-based industries and tribal products to address unemployment and poverty.
• Promotion of Geographical Indication (GI) tagged products, fostering local manufacturing with global market potential.

Conclusion: Overall national development requires a balanced and coordinated approach to foster decentralized manufacturing economies in each region.

Q4: Discuss the factors for localisation of agro-based food processing industries of North-West India. (Geography)
Ans: Agro-based food processing industry, aptly recognised as ‘sunrise industry’, is described as one that adds value to agricultural raw materials. This value addition converts the raw agricultural products into marketable, easy-to-use or edible products like corn flakes, chips, ready to serve drinks, etc.

The Indian food processing industry accounts for 32% of the country’s total food market. It is one of the largest industries in India and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth.

However, the North-West India showcases a better-developed agro-based food processing industry. The factors for this localisation are as follows:

Geography: The region is blessed with a diverse agro-climatic zones, fertile soil and undulating plains. These support a multitude of crops, vegetables and fruits round the year which provide ample raw material.

Raw material: Availability of diverse raw materials viz. cereals, fruits, vegetables and livestock provide attractive base for food processing industry in this region. For instance, Punjab accounts for 17% of rice and 11% of wheat production of India. This region also has the distinction of having the largest population of livestock and largest producer of milk in India.

Infrastructure: Well-connected transportation network, subsidised electricity, irrigation facilities (such as Indira Gandhi canal and Bhakhra Nangal) and ample warehousing and storage facilities contribute to flourishing agro-based industries in the region.

Agricultural marketing: This region has well-developed agri-export zones, market yards, organised APMCs and mandis, etc. which have provided a conducive environment for the establishment of agro-based industries.

Socio-economic status: The population of the region has good literacy rate, including financial literacy, and enjoys an efficient banking network. This helps channel easy availability of credit and capital investment.

Policy support: The Punjab government operates an agricultural mega project policy to facilitate investment in the food processing sector. Additionally, large landholdings, single window clearance, permission to set up private sub e-markets, amendment to APMC Act, etc. have enabled agro-based industries in this region to flourish.

Capacity building and R&D: Capacity building of the manpower in food processing sector in India is spearheaded by the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management which is located in Sonepat, Haryana. Likewise, a prominent institution for research and development to improve agricultural productivity and business opportunities is the Indian Institute of Maize Research located in Ludhiana, Punjab.

The initiatives taken at the Union level like permitting 100% FDI through the automatic route in food processing sector and Scheme for Mega Food Parks under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries are conducive steps. However, the challenges for the industry remain such as fluctuations in the availability of raw material due to climate change, inadequate implementation of the APMC Act, multiplicity of ministries and laws to regulate food value chain, etc.

Q5: What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (Geography)
Ans: Water stress occurs when the water resources in a region or country fall short of its needs, either due to excessive demand or poor water quality hindering its use.

Water Stress in India

• India, hosting nearly 17% of the world’s population, possesses only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources.
• As per the NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report 2018, 21 major cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people, with 12% of India’s population already facing the 'Day Zero' scenario.
• The Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas of World Resources Institute ranks India 13th among the 17 most water-stressed countries globally, signaling a water emergency. However, there is regional variation, with not all areas equally affected.

Regional Variation and Causes

• Regions in northwestern and central India face severe water stress, while eastern parts receive abundant rainfall for groundwater recharge.
• Intra-regional disparities exist, such as flooding in north Bihar versus heat challenges in south Bihar. Mumbai faces frequent flooding, while Vidarbha, nearby, grapples with drought.

Factors Influencing Water Crisis

• Geographical factors: Diverse physiography leads to varying rainfall, with areas in rain shadow zones and arid climates.
• Climatic factors: Changing climate results in increased floods, droughts, and erratic monsoons.
• Agricultural practices: Water-intensive crops like paddy and sugarcane are cultivated without considering agro-climatic zones, leading to excessive groundwater extraction.
• Human factors: Rapid urbanization concentrates populations around major cities located in rainfall-deficient regions. Encroachment and contamination contribute to water body destruction.

Proposed Solutions

• Encourage conservation agriculture, adapting farming practices to crop needs and local conditions, promoting less water-intensive crops in stressed regions.
• Incorporate rainwater harvesting into urban development projects, citing the commendable Mission Kakatiya in Telangana as an example.
• Declare freshwater sources as water sanctuaries, treating water as a resource rather than a commodity.
• Support initiatives like the formation of the Jal Shakti ministry to address water issues comprehensively and the Jal Jeevan mission aiming to provide piped water to all rural households by 2024.

Q6: How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism? (Geography)
Ans: The Himalayan States, including the Northeast, and the Western Ghats are grappling with the adverse impacts of development initiatives and tourism, as highlighted in the NITI Aayog's report on Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Himalayan Region.

Negative Impacts:

• Traditional eco-friendly and aesthetic architecture is being replaced by inappropriate and hazardous constructions.
• Improperly designed roads and associated infrastructure pose challenges.
• Inadequate solid waste management contributes to environmental degradation.
• Air pollution, degradation of water sources, and loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services are growing concerns.
• These issues were evident in the Kedarnath floods of 2013.

Suggested Solutions:

• Urgent attention is required for the reports by committees on Western Ghats ecology led by Madhav Gadgil and K. Kasturirangan, emphasizing the importance of ecological sensitive zones (ESZ) in the face of development.
• The establishment of a Himalayan Authority for coordinated and holistic development of the entire Himalayan region is recommended by NITI Aayog.
• Clear demarcation and planning for infrastructure development, incorporating systematic urban planning, and developing tourist hubs with stringent controls are essential. This includes provisions for no encroachment areas and well-preserved forested zones.
• In tourism, applying the carrying capacity concept to destinations, implementing and monitoring tourism sector standards, and offering performance-based incentives for States adhering to these standards are crucial measures.
• States should increase spending on sustainable tourism development. For instance, Uttarakhand invests only 0.15% of its total expenditure in a sector that ranks second in tourist arrivals.
• Sharing and adopting best practices among States can be promoted. Sikkim, for example, can serve as a model for sustainable agriculture, waste management, and ecotourism.
• Collaborative and participatory frameworks for capacity building in conservation are necessary. Encouraging viable enterprises that provide sustained economic incentives and support local communities align with SDG Goal 8 (decent work and economic growth) and Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production).
• Establishing a linkage between development and conservation is crucial to improve the standard of living for mountain communities and meet overall economic needs.
• Effective implementation of schemes and policies holds significance for achieving desirable results.

Q7: How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and coastal environment? Give suitable examples. (Geography)
Ans: Ocean currents, whether surface or deep, are continuous streams of water following specific paths and directions, such as the Gulf Stream (a warm current) and the Labrador current (a cold current). Water masses refer to extensive homogeneous bodies of ocean water with vast volumes, characterized by temperature and salinity, involving the downwelling of denser cold water and upwelling of less dense water. An example is the North Atlantic Deep Water mass in the Norwegian Sea.

Impacts of ocean currents:

• On marine life: Ocean currents serve as distributors of nutrients, oxygen, and essential elements for the survival of fish and zooplankton. They facilitate the transportation of plankton between different areas, with examples like the Gulf Stream carrying plankton from the Mexican Gulf to the coasts of Newfoundland and north-western Europe, creating significant fishing grounds.
• On coastal environment: Ocean currents contribute to the horizontal heat balance of the Earth, with warm currents transporting tropical waters to colder regions and cold currents bringing frigid waters to lower latitudes. They also influence the weather conditions along coastal areas, moderating climates in certain regions and intensifying desert-like conditions in others.

Impacts of water masses:

• Downwelling of water masses: This process transports essential oxygen downward, benefiting marine organisms. However, it discourages nutrient enrichment in seawater, resulting in areas with low marine productivity.
• Upwelling of water masses: Beneficial for rich marine life, upwelling brings dissolved oxygen and nutrients to the surface. For instance, the nutrient-rich upwelling of cold water off the coast of Peru has transformed the region into one of the world's most productive fishing grounds.

Global warming's impact: Global warming disrupts the sinking of cold, salty water due to increased glacier and sea ice melting. This disruption can potentially slow or halt ocean circulation, leading to drastic effects on marine life and coastal environments. Consequently, addressing global warming is an urgent necessity.