UPSC Mains 2019 GS3 Q17 — Environment (Sustainability)
Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region. (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- DefineExplain
- Scope keywords
- carrying capacity of an ecosystemrelevant to an environmentplanning for sustainable developmentregion
- Implicit sub-parts
- What are the two core components of carrying capacity: supporting capacity (resources) and assimilative capacity (waste)?
- How does exceeding carrying capacity lead to ecological collapse or economic reversal in a specific region?
- How can carrying capacity metrics be integrated into modern urban and regional planning tools (e.g., EIA or Master Plans)?
- What is the role of technology in dynamically shifting (but not eliminating) these limits?
- Common pitfalls
- Providing a generic biological definition (population growth curves) without linking it to human regional planning.
- Ignoring the 'assimilative capacity' aspect—focusing only on resource consumption and forgetting waste/pollution limits.
- Failing to use real-world regional examples like the Joshimath land subsidence or Delhi's air quality crisis to illustrate 'exceeded capacity'.
- Treating carrying capacity as a static number rather than a dynamic threshold influenced by technology and consumption patterns.
- Dimensions required
- Ecological/BiologicalSocio-EconomicInfrastructure & Urban PlanningPolicy and GovernanceTechnological
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 4-5 marks for a precise definition and brief explanation of the dual components (supporting and assimilative). Spend the remaining 10-11 marks on the 'utility in planning' section, using specific dimensions like resource management, population density, and disaster mitigation with 2-3 brief regional case studies.
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