Good Morning Friends,
Following are today’s Mains Marathon Questions.
About Mains Marathon – This is an initiative of ForumIAS to help/aid aspirants in their writing skills, which is crucial to conquering mains examination.
Every morning, we post 2-3 questions based on current affairs. The questions framed are meaningful and relevant to the exam.
Write your answers in the comment box, given below.
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Questions
1) Hydropower projects planned or under construction in the Himalayas are under threat due to hazards related to Climate Change. Comment.
2) Discuss the economic significance and concerns associated with international trade settlement in rupees.
Please evaluate and allot marks
Good attempt! Your answer is a bit generic. The question specifically asks about projects in Himalayas and impacted by Climate Change. So the answer should be focused on impact of climate change on Himalayas and the resulting hazards and disasters e.g., quote issues like cloudbursts, glacial lake outburst floods, instability in slopes etc. The suggestion/way forward should correspond to these challenges.
Please evaluate and allot marks too
Much of the content is not relevant.
The significance is that it can reduce dependence on dollar and reduce the impact of volatility (fluctuation) in currency markets on trade, especially imports.
If RBI and India’s trade ecosystem is able to pull it off, it will enhance Rupee’s acceptability in international trade.
However there are many challenges, mostly operational.
First, the acceptability of Rupee in international market is very low. So not many will be willing to trade in Rupee. Countries maintain their reserves in US Dollars. not Rupee.
Second, it will work well if India has trade parity (i.e. exports = imports). As India runs deficit with most countries, it becomes difficult to settle surplus trade in Rupee.
Third, India lacks capital convertibility in Rupee. So while RBI has said the countries with trade surplus with India can invest surplus amount in Government Securities. But there are limits on the amount that can be sent back (capital control), so this is not attractive either. So overall, there is low possibility that the initiative will find acceptance.
Also Banks have raised concern that trading with banned entities under western sanctions will attract ban on Indian banks as well.
Excellent answer! Very well structured, nice to provide case study as well!
Sometimes in suggestions, it is good to provide reference as well e.g., ban on projects above 2200 m, if recommended by some Committee/Panel, try to provide the name, lends authenticity. Also give 1-2 explanatory lines for catchment area planning (more appropriate for Optional).
Rest is awesome!!
Answer 1
Great answer! Nice content. In suggestion, You can cite that Commission/Panel that has recommended limit on projects about 2200m (It should be in m, not ft.). Also do elaborate what do you mean by Pan India approach. I feel it would be better to elaborate certain points that are not self-explanatory. Overall really nice answer!
Answer 2
Points in significance are good and relevant (except liberalized capital account convertibility, I don’t think this has happened). In concerns, mention operational issues. First, very difficult to settle trade in rupee as it is not international reserve currency, no country maintains Rupee reserves. Second, because of capital controls, some of the measures suggested by RBI to adjust surplus trade may not work. Third, banks undertaking transactions with banned entities from Russia/Iran may get banned.
Que. 1
Good attempt! There is margin for some improvements. The introduction can be a bit more focused, e.g., the point related to Chamoli disaster is more relevant under reasons/causes. The points mentioned under threats could have structured better. You have mentioned GLOF multiples times. Also points cloudbursts, unstable geology/slopes, avalanches/landslides etc. can be added. Similarly in suggestions, some more points can be added like Hazard study, avoiding large dams in extremely vulnerable areas etc.
Please review
Great answer! The content is to a large extent very relevant, do emphasise the element of climate change in the answer. Mention unseasonal rainfall, extreme rainfall events, rising frequency of cloud-bursts which has increased the vulnerability.
In suggestions, add points like hazard mapping (for landslides, avalanches, GLOFs) etc. and avoiding large dams in (extremely) vulnerable areas etc. Overall good quality answer!
Thank u for the suggestions, will surely include them
Please review
Que. 2