UPSC Mains 2015 GS3 Q15 — Environmental Conservation
Discuss the Namami Gauge and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs ? (Answer in 200 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- DiscussWhat
- Scope keywords
- Namami GangeNational Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)mixed resultsprevious schemesquantum leapsincremental inputspreserve the river Ganga
- Implicit sub-parts
- Evolutionary shift of Namami Gange compared to GAP I and GAP II.
- Specific structural and implementation bottlenecks that caused 'mixed results' in earlier interventions.
- Distinction between 'incremental' fixes (STP capacity) vs 'quantum' shifts (Aviral Dhara/Environmental flows).
- Technological and governance-led radical solutions for the future.
- Common pitfalls
- Writing a historical timeline of Ganga Action Plan without linking it to why results were 'mixed'.
- Failing to distinguish between 'Nirmal' (unpolluted) and 'Aviral' (continuous flow) aspects.
- Providing generic suggestions like 'increase awareness' instead of 'quantum leaps' like data-driven real-time monitoring or basin-scale ecological planning.
- Ignoring the federal challenges of coordination between the Center and five riparian states.
- Dimensions required
- Institutional/GovernanceEcological/EnvironmentalTechnological/InfrastructuralEconomic/FinancialSocio-cultural
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 40 words to the features of Namami Gange/NMCG, 60 words to analyzing the mixed results of past schemes (Ganga Action Plans), and 100 words to the 'quantum leaps' section, as the latter directly addresses the 'how' of future preservation and differentiates a high-scoring answer.
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