UPPSC PCS Mains Answer Writing

Introduction

India reached 50% non-fossil installed capacity in 2025, five years early, and now targets another 500 GW over the next decade.

Strengths

• Non-fossil sources form about 55% of 558.89 GW capacity.
• PLI for solar modules is building domestic manufacturing.
• PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM spread rooftop and farm solar.

Challenges

• Capacity is not generation; coal still dominates actual supply.
• Storage and transmission lag behind solar additions.
• Import dependence for cells, wafers and critical minerals.

Global leadership

• ISA (about 130 members) projects India as voice of Global South.
• USD 25 million to the Africa Solar Facility builds goodwill.
• Exporting PM-KUSUM model, starting with Mauritius.

Way forward

• Scale battery and pumped storage with viability gap funding.
• Strengthen Green Energy Corridors and DISCOM finances.

Introduction

Eight Next Generation Corvettes on Navy in-house designs, built by GRSE and GSL, mark a step from licensed production to indigenous design.

Progress

• Production rose from ₹46,429 crore (2014–15) to about ₹1.78 lakh crore.
• Exports reached ₹38,424 crore, to over 80 countries.
• Positive indigenisation lists and DAP 2020 favour Buy (Indian-IDDM).

Constraints

• Dependence on imported engines, sensors and electronics.
• Low R&D spending and long procurement cycles.
• Cost and time overruns in PSU shipyards.

Economic gains

• Corvettes alone create about 72 lakh shipyard person-days.
• MSME supply chains get 460 lakh person-days of work.
• Exports strengthen strategic partnerships in the IOR.

Supporting evidence

• Targets 2029: ₹3 lakh crore production, ₹50,000 crore exports
• Defence budget 2026–27: ₹7.85 lakh crore
• DAP 2020; iDEX (2018)

Way forward

• Raise defence R&D and involve private industry and start-ups (iDEX).
• Fix timelines and accountability in shipbuilding contracts.

Introduction

Bonded labour persists despite Article 23 and the 1976 Abolition Act, largely because release is not followed by rehabilitation.

Gaps

• Delay in release certificates denies scheme benefits.
• Vigilance committees are often inactive.
• Survivors fall back into debt without livelihood support.

Court's directions

• Uniform procedure for assistance within 7 days of release.
• Centre's SOP to be implemented within six months.
• Guidelines with NHRC; verification ordinarily within 24 hours.

Significance

• Treats identification, release and rehabilitation as one continuum.
• Strengthens Article 21 dignity with Article 23.
• Fixes accountability on district administration.

Conclusion

• Converging rehabilitation with housing, land and skills schemes can end the cycle of bondage.

Introduction

Only six States have Legislative Councils, created or abolished under Article 169 by Parliament on an Assembly resolution.

Arguments for

• Brings experts, teachers and graduates into law-making.
• Allows a second look at hasty legislation.
• Represents local bodies through indirect election.

Arguments against

• Can only delay Bills; it has little real power.
• Often used to accommodate defeated politicians.
• Adds cost; creation and abolition depend on ruling party.

Reform ideas

• Second ARC suggested a Council of Local Governments.
• A national policy on Councils can end ad hoc decisions.
• Make graduates' and teachers' constituencies more meaningful.

Supporting evidence

• Art. 169, 171, 197 (delay of 3+1 months)
• Abolitions: WB 1969, Punjab 1970, TN 1986
• Second ARC (2007) on Local Governance

Conclusion

• Councils add value only if reformed to deepen expertise and local-body voice.

Introduction

In a 48-hour operation, a Navy warship, maritime patrol aircraft and MARCOS airdropped from a C-17 freed all 20 crew of the Azini.

Why piracy is back

• Naval attention diverted by Red Sea attacks.
• Weak governance and poverty in coastal Somalia.
• Illegal fishing fuels local grievances.

India's role

• Continuous anti-piracy deployments in the Gulf of Aden since 2008.
• IFC-IOR at Gurugram shares maritime information.
• MAHASAGAR vision projects India as a security partner.

Challenges

• Vast area against limited ships and aircraft.
• Legal gaps in prosecuting captured pirates.
• Coordination among multiple navies.

Way forward

• Use the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022 for prosecution.
• Expand space-based surveillance and capacity-building of littoral states.

Introduction

Murasu made landfall near Ongole with 110–120 km/h winds, showing the recurring cyclone risk on India's east coast.

Evolution

• Accurate IMD track forecasts with Doppler radars and satellites.
• Mass evacuation has cut deaths sharply since the 1999 Odisha super cyclone.
• NDMA guidelines and the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project.

Gaps

• Economic losses to crops, fisheries and power lines remain high.
• Rapid intensification due to warm seas is hard to forecast.
• Weak urban drainage worsens flash floods.

Community role

• Multipurpose cyclone shelters and village task forces.
• Last-mile alerts via Cell Broadcast and the Common Alerting Protocol.
• Mangroves act as natural bio-shields.

Supporting evidence

• Disaster Management Act, 2005; NDMA, NDRF
• 1999 Odisha super cyclone vs. Phailin (2013) evacuation success
• Sendai Framework 2015–2030

Way forward

• Shift from zero-casualty to zero-loss with resilient infrastructure and insurance.
• Restore mangroves and enforce coastal zoning.

Introduction

Biosphere reserves, under UNESCO's MAB Programme (1971), combine a protected core with buffer and transition zones for sustainable use.

Indian experience

• 18 reserves, 13 in UNESCO's network; Cold Desert added in 2025.
• Nilgiri communities turn invasive Lantana into crafts.
• Five-year Integrated Management Plans piloted in four reserves.

Challenges

• Limited funding under a Centrally Sponsored sub-scheme.
• Conflicts over resource use in buffer zones.
• Invasive species and climate change.

Significance

• Learning sites for sustainable development.
• Link to Kunming–Montreal GBF targets.
• Recognise community knowledge and rights.

Way forward

• Give reserves legal backing and dedicated funds.
• Promote eco-tourism and green value chains for locals.

Introduction

Rules under the VB-G RAM G Act, which replaced MGNREGA, require any complaint on scheme implementation to be resolved within 15 days.

Positive features

• Multiple channels: in person, post, digital platform, helplines.
• No refusal on technical grounds like format or language.
• Time-bound resolution builds trust.

Concerns

• Mandatory FIR for financial irregularities dropped from draft.
• Action-taken reports no longer placed before local bodies.
• Digital channels may exclude poor workers.

Role of social audit

• Gram Sabha scrutiny exposes ghost workers and fake bills.
• Meghalaya's 2017 law shows how to institutionalise it.
• Complements grievance systems with community oversight.

Supporting evidence

• MGNREGA 2005, Sections 17 & 19
• CPGRAMS (DARPG)
• MP Right to Public Services Act, 2010

Conclusion

• Grievance rules work best when backed by independent social audit units and public disclosure.

Introduction

India's COP31 agenda centres on a Climate Finance Work Programme and developed countries' Article 9.1 obligations.

Why finance divides

• The USD 100 billion goal was met late and partly through loans.
• Developing countries need trillions for adaptation and transition.
• CBDR-RC principle places primary duty on historic emitters.

Other view

• Developed nations want a wider contributor base, including China.
• They stress private finance and carbon markets.
• Fiscal stress limits public budgets.

India's approach

• Voluntary GGA indicators to protect policy space.
• Leadership through ISA and land restoration (26 million ha).
• Supports voluntary, not mandatory, carbon markets.

Way forward

• Clear definitions of climate finance and grant-based adaptation funding.
• Reform MDBs to lend more and cheaper for climate.

Introduction

Using VELC on Aditya-L1, IIA scientists showed a coronal mass ejection expanding asymmetrically, improving models of solar eruptions.

Space weather

• CMEs cause geomagnetic storms on Earth.
• They disrupt satellites, GPS and HF radio.
• Strong storms can damage power grids.

Significance for India

• Protects over 50 Indian satellites, including NavIC.
• Builds indigenous science capacity in IIA, PRL and IUCAA.
• Gives India data to share with the world.

Challenges

• Low spending on basic research.
• Need for more ground stations and data scientists.
• Converting data into operational forecasts.

Supporting evidence

• Aditya-L1: PSLV-C57, 2 Sept 2023; seven payloads
• Indian Space Policy 2023; IN-SPACe
• XPoSat (2024), AstroSat (2015)

Way forward

• Set up a national space-weather forecasting service.
• Link missions like AstroSat, XPoSat and Aditya-L1 to universities.