UPSC_CS MAINS 2013 Paper I

Points to Remember: Increased impervious surfaces (concrete, asphalt) Reduced vegetation cover Anthropogenic heat generation Building geometry and material properties Meteorological factors (wind patterns, solar radiation) Urban canyon effect Introduction: Urban heat islands (UHIs) are a significant environmental challenge in global urban areas. A UHI is a metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding … Read more

Points to Remember: High degree of decentralization in India’s cotton textile industry. Factors contributing to decentralization: raw material availability, labor costs, technology, market access, government policies. Both advantages and disadvantages of decentralization. Need for a balanced approach to further development. Introduction: India boasts the world’s second-largest cotton textile industry, renowned for its decentralized structure. Unlike … Read more

Points to Remember: Availability of Uranium and Thorium in India and globally. Technological advancements and their impact on resource utilization. Environmental concerns associated with nuclear energy. International collaborations and their role in securing resources. Future prospects of nuclear energy and resource management. Introduction: The dwindling reserves of fossil fuels and the growing concerns about climate … Read more

Points to Remember: India’s shale oil and gas reserves. Potential benefits of exploitation. Challenges hindering exploitation. Environmental concerns. Economic viability. Policy implications. Introduction: India possesses significant reserves of shale oil and gas, estimated to be substantial enough to potentially meet the nation’s energy needs for a considerable period. However, the extraction and utilization of these … Read more

Points to Remember: Western Ghats’ geological structure and steep slopes. High velocity of river flow. Short river length. Proximity to the sea. Influence of monsoon patterns. Introduction: Deltas are alluvial plains formed at the mouth of a river where it meets the sea. They are characterized by a branching network of distributaries and fertile, low-lying … Read more

Points to Remember: Current status of sugar mills in South India. Factors driving potential expansion (e.g., sugarcane production, government policies, market demand). Challenges hindering expansion (e.g., land acquisition, water scarcity, environmental concerns). Comparative analysis with other Indian regions. Future outlook and sustainability considerations. Introduction: The Indian sugar industry is a significant contributor to the national … Read more

Keywords: Landslides, Himalayas, Western Ghats, causes, frequency. Required Approach: Primarily factual and analytical, drawing upon geographical and geological data to explain the differences in landslide frequency. Points to Remember: Geological Differences: Rock type, age, and structure. Geomorphological Factors: Slope angle, topography, and drainage patterns. Climatic Conditions: Rainfall intensity and duration, snowmelt. Human Activities: Deforestation, road … Read more

Points to Remember: Definition of temperature inversion. Mechanisms causing temperature inversion. Effects on weather patterns (e.g., fog, smog, reduced visibility). Impacts on habitats and ecosystems (e.g., plant and animal life). Mitigation strategies. Introduction: Temperature inversion, a meteorological phenomenon, refers to a deviation from the normal decrease of air temperature with altitude. Instead of the usual … Read more

Points to Remember: Latitude: The influence of the subtropical high-pressure belts. Continentality: The role of landmasses in modifying climate. Cold Ocean Currents: The effect of cold currents on coastal temperatures. Descending Air: The impact of atmospheric pressure systems on precipitation. Rain Shadow Effect: The role of mountain ranges in blocking rainfall. Introduction: Hot deserts are … Read more

Points to Remember: Continental Drift: The theory that continents were once joined together in a single landmass (Pangaea) and have since drifted apart. Evidence: Matching geological formations, fossil distributions, paleoclimatic data, and paleomagnetism. Introduction: The theory of continental drift, initially proposed by Alfred Wegener in the early 20th century, posits that the Earth’s continents were … Read more