UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on inclusive education and influence of La Niña on global weather systems (Week 105)

QUESTION 1

Examine the influence of La Niña on global weather systems and its implications for climate forecasting. Why do global climate models sometimes struggle to accurately predict La Niña events?

QUESTION 2

India’s evolving digital infrastructure has played a key role in promoting inclusive education. Critically discuss the opportunities and challenges this transformation presents.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Examine the influence of La Niña on global weather systems and its implications for climate forecasting. Why do global climate models sometimes struggle to accurately predict La Niña events?

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— La Niña means “Little Girl” in Spanish. La Niña is sometimes known as El Viejo, anti-El Niño, or “a cold event.” La Niña has the opposite effect of El Niño. During La Niña, trade winds are stronger than usual, bringing warmer water to Asia. Upwelling occurs off the West Coast of the Americas, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface.

– The chilly waters of the Pacific force the jet stream north. This often causes drought in the southern United States and heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. During a La Niña, winter temperatures are lower in the north and warmer in the south. La Niña might lead to a more severe hurricane season.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that equatorial sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean were close to or below average last year. During the ‘watch’ phase of La Niña in November and early December, ENSO conditions were neutral.

— The Oceanic Nino Index (ONI) in the Nino 3.4 zone, one of four key regions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean used to identify the ENSO phase, was -0.3°C.

— Temperature variations from the equatorial Pacific’s three-monthly average sea surface temperature are used to calculate the ONI. A La Niña begins when the ONI in this region is -0.5 degrees or lower.

— If ONI readings exceed the threshold, temperatures will swiftly return to normal, resulting in a short and mild La Niña episode. Experts estimate that the weak La Niña will become ENSO-neutral from March to May 2025. This indicates that La Niña will have minimal impact on the Indian winter this year.

Conclusion:

— Weather models perform better when sea surface temperatures shift significantly, such as during a major El Niño or La Niña event.

— This is unlikely to be the case this time, which has likely resulted in weather models failing to accurately predict conditions because they are unable to account for minute temperature differences in their inputs.

(Source: Where is La Niña? And why did global models err in their predictions? by Anjali Marar, oceanservice.noaa.gov)

Points to Ponder

What is the Indian Ocean Dipole? How it can limit El Nino effects

Read about El Nino and La Nina

Related Previous Year Questions

Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree? (2014)

What is a twister? Why are the majority of twisters observed in areas around the Gulf of Mexico? (2024)

QUESTION 2: India’s evolving digital infrastructure has played a key role in promoting inclusive education. Critically discuss the opportunities and challenges this transformation presents.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Pioneering digital public infrastructure (DPI) trials have enabled India’s digital landscape to undergo such a spectacular transition.

— These DPIs are digital channels that allow for the smooth delivery of important services, which benefits society.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— The Indian DPI ecosystem, known as the “India Stack,” has played a critical role in harnessing the power of identities, payments, and data interchange to drive economic growth and build a more equitable digital economy.

— The Right to Education statute applies until the age of 14 or Std VIII, which is the conclusion of the elementary school stage.

— The number of AI-based tutoring systems is expanding.

— Indian DPIs have the potential to close wealth gaps and build a resilient and effective digital economy that benefits individuals and organisations, beginning with empowering small businesses to improve access to healthcare and promoting financial and digital inclusion for citizens from less affluent socioeconomic backgrounds.

— The recently released Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, which surveyed 14-18-year-olds across the country, discovered that nearly 89 per cent of those polled had a smartphone at home. An even higher percentage, 92 per cent, said they could use a smartphone.

Conclusion:

— Although the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and ASER use different metrics and methods for assessing learning, both point to the fact that basic learning levels of elementary school children need significant improvement.

— India has achieved universal elementary education enrollment, and we are on track to attain universal secondary and higher secondary enrollment.

(Source: ASER 2023: Male youth in rural India dominate smartphone ownership, girls lag in digital skills, How smartphones can make education inclusive by Madhav Chavan, ASER 2023 report: On education, let’s listen to the teenagers by Rukmini Banerji)

Points to Ponder

National Achievement Survey (NAS)

National Education Policy, 2020

Related Previous Year Questions

Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge systems when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems. (2021)

Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (2021)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 104)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 105)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 104)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 105)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 104)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 103)

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