UPSC Mains 2016 GS1 Q19 — Inland Waterways
Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport in India. (Answer in 200 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Enumerate
- Scope keywords
- problemsprospectsinland water transportIndia
- Implicit sub-parts
- Geographical and technical constraints hindering the operationalization of National Waterways.
- Economic and infrastructural bottlenecks such as lack of multimodal connectivity and dredging issues.
- Potential for cost-reduction, fuel efficiency, and decongestion of rail and road networks.
- Strategic importance for regional development, particularly the North-East and SAGAR-MALA integration.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing only on the Ganga (NW-1) while ignoring other significant waterways like NW-2 (Brahmaputra) or NW-4.
- Confusing inland water transport with maritime shipping and ports.
- Failing to mention the 'National Waterways Act, 2016' or the 'Jal Marg Vikas Project'.
- Ignoring the environmental concerns like the impact on riverine ecology and Gangetic dolphins.
- Giving a generic list of 'transport' problems without highlighting river-specific issues like siltation and seasonal flow variation.
- Dimensions required
- GeographicalEconomicEnvironmentalRegulatory/InstitutionalTechnological
- Marks allocation hint
Devote approximately 80 words to a categorized list of problems (Technical, Financial, and Logistic). Allocate another 80 words to prospects, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and ecological benefits. Use the remaining 40 words for a concise introduction on current NW status and a forward-looking conclusion mentioning the Sagarmala initiative.
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