MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS
Q1. How can the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) help strike a balance between the objectives of economic development and pollution control measures?
GS III – Environmental Conservation related issues
Introduction:
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) defines an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a mandatory requirement for certain categories of projects in India. An EIA is a methodical process of evaluating the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project or activity before it is implemented.
The way in which it contributes to sustainable development:
- Sustainable Practices are Guided by EIA: Through the assessment of possible environmental impacts, EIA promotes the use of sustainable practices in project design, guaranteeing that long-term environmental sustainability and economic development are compatible.
- EIAs, for instance, guarantee that land usage and biodiversity disturbance are kept to a minimum in wind and solar power projects.
- Integration of Green Technologies: The EIA’s recommendations frequently result in the incorporation of green technologies, which promote economic growth without endangering the environment. Examples of these technologies include cleaner production techniques and renewable energy sources.
- EIA facilitates informed decision-making by giving decision-makers a thorough understanding of the trade-offs between environmental costs and economic benefits. This knowledge allows development plans to be developed that prioritise pollution abatement, resulting in a balanced approach.
- Pollution Abatement Mitigation Measures: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) specifies certain steps to reduce adverse effects on the environment, like installing pollution control equipment or building wastewater treatment facilities.
- For instance, Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), which treat wastewater to keep industrial waste from polluting rivers and groundwater and safeguarding aquatic ecosystems and public health, are recommended in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for industrial clusters.
- Creative Solutions: Including pollution abatement methods under the guidance of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) not only tackles environmental issues but also encourages the creation of creative solutions, which boosts economic growth.
- The synthesis of pollution reduction with economic development is exemplified, for instance, by the EIA-guided creation of environmentally friendly industrial parks that integrate waste management systems, green infrastructure, and sustainable technologies.
- Through the promotion of informed decision-making, pollution prevention, public participation, and sustainable resource management, EIAs can pave the way for a future in which environmental well-being and economic progress go hand in hand. EIAs are more than just a tool for environmental compliance; they are a strategic instrument for achieving harmonious development.
Q2. Analzye the importance and difficulties of creating an ecosystem in India for the manufacture of semiconductors and displays.
GS II – Government Policies and Interventions
Introduction:
- In terms of electrical conductivity, a semiconductor is a class of material whose characteristics lie halfway between those of conductors and insulators. Impurities and external electric fields can be used to control a semiconductor’s electrical conductivity.
Importance:
- Strategic Security: Because semiconductors are used in everything from cellphones to defence gear, domestic manufacturing increases India’s strategic autonomy and strengthens national security by lowering reliance on foreign suppliers and lowering the danger of supply chain disruptions.
- Technological Independence: India can build its own solutions and become independent of foreign technologies by accelerating the development of its indigenous ecosystem and reducing dependence on imported chips, which impedes the country’s ability to develop its own technology.
- Economic Driver: The industry supports downstream industries like electronics manufacturing, draws in foreign investment, and produces high-skilled jobs that have a knock-on effect on the economy.
- Decreased Imports: India now imports semiconductors worth over $60 billion a year. By reducing imports, domestic manufacture can bolster the country’s balance of payments and save a large amount of foreign cash.
- Cutting back on the amount of components purchased from overseas sources results in shorter supply chains, cheaper shipping, and faster turnaround times—all of which cut expenses.
Obstacles in the ecology of display manufacturing:
- Technological Complexity: The inherent technological complexity involved in creating cutting-edge display technologies makes it difficult to build an ecosystem for the manufacturing of displays.
- Capital-intensive: Investing a significant amount of capital in state-of-the-art machinery and facilities is necessary to build a strong display manufacturing infrastructure.
- Supply Chain Restraints: Manufacturing operations may be negatively impacted by supply chain vulnerabilities such as geopolitical conflicts or disruptions.
- Global Competition: At the global level, strategic planning and ongoing improvement initiatives are necessary to compete on cost, quality, and technical innovation.
- Infrastructure bottlenecks: Inadequate water resources, inconsistent power supplies, and ineffective logistics impede fab operations. Modernising infrastructure to satisfy the industry’s demanding standards is a major challenge.
The next step:
- Research and development investment: To stay competitive and meet the changing needs of the market, embrace innovation.
- Collaborative Partnerships: Teamwork can reduce risks, exchange knowledge, and jointly address issues in manufacturing and technology development.
- Supply chain diversification is finding alternate suppliers for essential components and raw materials to provide a more flexible and robust manufacturing environment.
- Agile Market plans: Anticipate trends, invest in market information, and quickly modify production plans to meet shifting demands. Remain flexible in reaction to market dynamics and consumer preferences.
- Intellectual Property Protection: To protect intellectual innovations, make wise licencing decisions, invest in strong patent tactics, and keep an eye out for infringement.
- India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): With the mission’s success, the government should support and encourage India’s aspiration to become a major worldwide centre for electronics design and manufacture.
