UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-3 to check your progress. 🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the December issue of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 QUESTION 1 Discuss how the Genome India Project contributes to our understanding of India's genetic diversity. How would this project help to advance personalised medicine and public health in the country? QUESTION 2 What do you understand by the term “rat hole mining”? Discuss the difficulties encountered by authorities in enforcing the ban on rat-hole mining in northeastern India. 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. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. THOUGHT PROCESS You may enrich your answers by some of the following points QUESTION 1: Discuss how the Genome India Project contributes to our understanding of India's genetic diversity. How would this project help to advance personalised medicine and public health in the country? Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — The 'GenomeIndia' project aims to establish India as a global powerhouse for genomic research, putting the country at the forefront of the next scientific and medical revolution. — Genome India, an ambitious national initiative supported by the Indian government's Department of Biotechnology, was begun in January 2020. — The Department of Biotechnology recently unveiled a new platform and methodology for sharing its 10,000 human genome datasets. The sequences of healthy individuals from 99 ethnic groups in the country have helped construct a baseline map of India's genetic diversity. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: What is genome sequencing? — The human genome is essentially an instruction manual that we inherit from our parents that governs how our bodies develop and function. This genetic information controls everything from a person's height to the colour of their hair and eyes, as well as the diseases they may inherit or be predisposed to. It is a tome composed with only four letters: A, C, G, and T, which represent the four bases that combine to form everyone's unique genetic makeup. The total human genome has around 3 billion pairs of nucleotides. — To sequence the genome, researchers first extract data from the blood. However, working with the full genome is incredibly tough. So, the researchers divided it into smaller pieces and labelled them. A sequencer is then used to decipher these tiny segments of genetic material. Once completed, it is assembled using tags to form a whole genome, similar to how one would construct Ikea furniture by numbers. Importance of Genome India Project — This map can assist in identifying the genetic foundation or risk factors for a variety of diseases. These can then be utilised as targets to create medicines and diagnostic tests. Newer medicines for various diseases function by changing, removing, or adding specific genes, which would be impossible without a genetic map and knowledge of which genes cause the condition. — An Indian dataset contributes to the discovery of novel variations. So far, the researchers have detected 135 million genetic variants in 10,000 genomes, including 7 million that are not recorded in worldwide databases. — Population level sequencing can also inform scientists and physicians about the frequency with which particular genetic changes known to cause disease arise, indicating how widespread a disease may be. For example, the MYBPC3 mutation, known to cause cardiac arrest at a young age, is prevalent in 4.5% of the Indian population but is uncommon worldwide. — It may also aid in identifying rare diseases and developing gene treatments to cure them. — It can also assist in identifying resistance-indicating variations, such as genes that may render certain drugs or anaesthetics ineffective in specific populations. Conclusion: — The second phase of the initiative would involve sequencing the genomes of people who have a certain ailment. This will allow researchers to compare diseased and healthy genomes, assisting in the identification of genes that cause or predispose a person to specific diseases. They may be able to investigate the genetic alterations that occur when a person contracts a disease. — For the time being, Indian researchers will have managed access to the data. Scientists who want to use the data would have to respond to a request for proposals and interact with the department. To ensure data confidentiality, it will be double blinded. (Source: What is the Genome India project, why it matters by Anonna Dutt) Points to Ponder Read about other such projects across the world What is the second phase of the project? Read more about Genome India project Related Previous Year Questions What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines? (2022) What do you understand about nanotechnology and how is it helping in the health sector? (2020) QUESTION 2: What do you understand by the term “rat hole mining”? Discuss the difficulties encountered by authorities in enforcing the ban on rat-hole mining in northeastern India. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Rat-hole mining, a method of extracting coal from narrow, horizontal seams, is common in Meghalaya. The term "rat hole" refers to narrow pits dug into the ground, usually only large enough for one person to descend and extract coal. — After digging the pits, miners use ropes or bamboo ladders to descend to the coal seams. The coal is then physically removed with rudimentary instruments like pickaxes, shovels, and baskets. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — The National Green Tribunal (NGT) prohibited the practice in 2014 and upheld it in 2015. According to the NGT: "It is also informed that there are umpteen number of cases where by virtue of rat-hole mining, during the rainy season, water flooded into the mining areas resulting in death of many… individuals including employees" — The injunction was issued in Meghalaya, where this coal mining method was still widely used. The state government then appealed the order to the Supreme Court. — OP Singh, a professor of environmental studies at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong, told The Indian Express in 2018 that rat-hole mining is classified into two forms. "In the side-cutting procedure, narrow tunnels are dug on the hill slopes, and workers enter until they reach the coal seam." "The coal seam in the hills of Meghalaya is very thin, less than 2 meters in most cases," he explained. — The other method of rat-hole mining, known as box-cutting, involves creating a rectangular aperture ranging from 10 to 100 square meters and then digging a vertical pit 100 to 400 feet deep. When the coal seam is discovered, rat-hole-sized tunnels are built horizontally through which workers retrieve the coal. — Rat hole mining offers severe safety and environmental risks. Mines are often unregulated, with no safety measures such as sufficient ventilation, structural support, or worker protective equipment. Furthermore, the mining process can result in land degradation, deforestation, and water contamination. Conclusion: — Rat hole mining is illegal, and illegal mining is a law and order issue that is a state concern, hence it is primarily the responsibility of the state/district government to take appropriate deterrent action. (Source: Several workers stuck in a coal mine in Assam: What is ‘rat-hole’ mining?) Points to Ponder What are the environmental and safety concerns? Read about coal mines where this practice is still followed. Related Previous Year Questions What are the consequences of Illegal mining? Discuss the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ concept of GO AND NO GO zones for the coal mining sector. (2013) Environmental Impact Assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at coal pitheads. (2014) Previous Mains Answer Practice UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 85) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 84) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 84) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 85) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 84) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 85) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
