Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
India’s environmental landscape is characterized by immense diversity and escalating challenges. Rapid economic growth, a burgeoning population, and changing consumption patterns have placed significant stress on natural resources. Currently, India faces a complex interplay of environmental issues, ranging from air and water pollution to deforestation and biodiversity loss. The recent Economic Survey 2022-23 highlighted the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, underscoring the urgency of addressing environmental concerns. Identifying the most pressing sectors and anticipating future challenges is crucial for formulating effective and sustainable environmental policies.
Currently Important Environmental Sectors in India
Several sectors demand immediate attention due to their current impact on the environment and human well-being.
1. Air Quality Management
- Importance: Air pollution is a major public health crisis in India, contributing to millions of premature deaths annually. Cities like Delhi, Kanpur, and Patna consistently rank among the most polluted globally.
- Contributing Factors: Industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, construction activities, agricultural residue burning, and transboundary pollution.
- Government Initiatives: National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019, aims for a 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 2024.
2. Water Resource Management
- Importance: India faces severe water stress, with approximately 21% of the population lacking access to safe drinking water (Jal Shakti Ministry, 2023). Groundwater depletion is a critical concern, particularly in northern India.
- Contributing Factors: Over-extraction of groundwater for irrigation, industrial use, and domestic purposes; pollution from untreated sewage and industrial effluents; inefficient irrigation practices.
- Government Initiatives: Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide functional household tap connections to all rural households by 2024.
3. Forest and Biodiversity Conservation
- Importance: India is a megadiverse country, harboring a significant portion of the world’s biodiversity. Forests play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, climate regulation, and providing livelihoods for millions.
- Threats: Deforestation due to infrastructure development, agriculture expansion, and illegal logging; habitat loss; poaching; invasive species.
- Government Initiatives: National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
4. Waste Management
- Importance: India generates over 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually (CPCB, 2022). Improper waste management leads to environmental pollution, health hazards, and resource depletion.
- Challenges: Lack of adequate infrastructure for waste collection, segregation, and treatment; low levels of recycling; informal waste sector.
- Government Initiatives: Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) focuses on improving solid waste management practices.
Sectors Likely to Become More Important in Coming Years
Several emerging environmental challenges will necessitate increased focus on specific sectors in the future.
1. Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
- Rationale: India is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and changes in precipitation patterns.
- Focus Areas: Developing climate-resilient infrastructure, promoting renewable energy sources, enhancing carbon sequestration through afforestation, and implementing disaster risk reduction strategies.
2. Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Management
- Rationale: Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and pollution threaten India’s extensive coastline and marine biodiversity.
- Focus Areas: Protecting mangrove forests, restoring coral reefs, regulating coastal development, and reducing marine pollution.
3. Plastic Pollution Control
- Rationale: Plastic pollution is a growing environmental crisis, with significant impacts on ecosystems and human health.
- Focus Areas: Reducing plastic consumption, promoting alternative materials, improving plastic waste collection and recycling, and addressing microplastic pollution.
4. Ecosystem Restoration and Nature-Based Solutions
- Rationale: Degraded ecosystems provide fewer essential services. Restoring ecosystems can enhance resilience to climate change and provide multiple benefits.
- Focus Areas: Reforestation, wetland restoration, soil conservation, and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.
| Sector | Current Importance | Future Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | High - Public Health Crisis | High - Climate Change Linkages |
| Water Resources | High - Water Stress | Very High - Climate Change Impacts |
| Forests & Biodiversity | High - Megadiverse Country | High - Carbon Sequestration & Ecosystem Services |
| Waste Management | Medium - Pollution & Health | Medium - Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency |
| Climate Change | Medium - Increasing Awareness | Very High - Existential Threat |
Conclusion
In conclusion, while air and water quality, forest conservation, and waste management remain critical environmental concerns in India today, the looming impacts of climate change, coupled with increasing pressures on coastal ecosystems and the pervasive issue of plastic pollution, will demand greater attention in the coming years. A proactive and integrated approach, encompassing policy interventions, technological innovations, and community participation, is essential to ensure environmental sustainability and safeguard India’s future. Prioritizing ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions will be crucial for building resilience and achieving long-term environmental security.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.