UPSC MAINS ESSENTIALS
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UPSC Exam Notes presents a dedicated initiative to help you excel in Mains answer writing practice. This program covers both static and dynamic components of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus across various General Studies (GS) papers. Each session is crafted to provide valuable insights and techniques to improve your answer-writing skills, aiming to enrich your preparation for the UPSC CSE Mains. Start with today’s answer-writing exercise based on GS-III topics to evaluate and track your progress.
Additionally, UPSC Exam Notes releases its November issue of the monthly magazine, packed with critical content, expert analyses, and recent updates to assist your preparation. Dive into the issue to enhance your knowledge base. We welcome your feedback and insights in the comments or via email.
UPSC Exam Notes offers guidance on structuring Mains answers effectively to maximize your score and presentation.
Introduction
- Begin your answer with a concise introduction of 3-5 lines. Avoid one-liner introductions as they often lack context.
- Start by providing basic information, definitions, or key facts from trusted sources to set the foundation for your answer.
Body
- This is the core of your answer. Analyze the question carefully to understand its requirements and address each aspect fully.
- Use a mix of points and short paragraphs for clarity. Avoid long paragraphs or purely point-based responses, as balanced formatting enhances readability.
- Incorporate data from reliable sources, such as government publications, to strengthen your arguments and make your answer more credible.
- Analyze based on the question’s demand, but avoid over-analysis, which may dilute the answer’s impact.
- Highlight key terms by underlining, helping your response stand out and improving its presentation.
- Use flowcharts or tree diagrams where relevant to organize information efficiently, saving time and boosting clarity. These should be applied thoughtfully and only when they add real value.
Way Forward/Conclusion
- Conclude on a positive, forward-looking note. Highlight potential solutions or the broader implications of your analysis.
- If an unresolved issue is crucial to the topic, briefly mention it, but avoid repeating points from the introduction or body.
- Where applicable, reference findings from relevant national or international reports, surveys, or quotations to add weight to your conclusion.
Self-Evaluation
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Model Answer (Approach Outline): This is not a definitive model answer but an approach to tackling the question effectively. |
Introduction:
The proposed cloud seeding initiative in Delhi has encountered several delays owing to unfavourable weather conditions and the lack of suitable cloud formation. Following Diwali, the air quality across Delhi-NCR worsened significantly, prompting authorities to enforce Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Each winter, the capital and its neighbouring regions experience severe air pollution and smog, posing health risks—especially to individuals with respiratory ailments—and disrupting transportation through reduced visibility that leads to flight cancellations and traffic hazards.
Body:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) designates the October–December period as the post-monsoon season, a time when monsoon systems—such as low-pressure areas and depressions that generate rainfall—are generally absent. During this period, calm winds and dry atmospheric conditions prevail, except when western disturbances pass through northern India, bringing limited rain or snow.