UPSC Mains 2020 GS3 Q13 — Cropping patterns
What are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India? (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Whathow
- Scope keywords
- major factorsrice-wheat systemsuccessbane in India
- Implicit sub-parts
- The historical/policy context of the Green Revolution that necessitated this duo.
- Technological and institutional drivers behind the high yields and adoption.
- The ecological consequences and resource depletion caused by monoculture.
- The economic and nutritional 'lock-in' effect creating a crisis in modern Indian agriculture.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing only on the Green Revolution history without explaining why the 'system' (crop rotation) specifically persisted.
- Ignoring the role of MSP and procurement policies as a driver of 'success'.
- Failing to mention the regional concentration issues (Punjab, Haryana, Western UP) and its link to the 'bane' aspect.
- Overlooking the nutritional shift toward cereal-centric diets as a negative outcome (bane).
- Dimensions required
- Agronomic/TechnologicalPolicy/Institutional (MSP/Procurement)Environmental/EcologicalSocio-EconomicNutritional
- Marks allocation hint
Dedicate approximately 100 words to the 'success' factors (policy, tech, infrastructure) and 150 words to the 'bane' aspect (groundwater, soil, stubble burning, and economics), as the latter requires more critical depth for a 15-mark question.
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