MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS
Q1. Describe what is meant by “social capital.” How does it improve the governance of good?
GS III – Governance related issues
Introduction:
- Social capital is a collection of resources or shared beliefs that enable people to collaborate in a group setting to successfully accomplish a common goal.
- Social capital is essential for improving effective governance in a number of ways:
- It can encourage civic involvement and participation, which can improve government institutions’ responsiveness and accountability.
- It can help with problem-solving and group action, which can enhance the provision of public goods and services.
- Inclusion and social cohesion can lessen conflict and violence while advancing social justice.
- It can improve coordination and collaboration between various parties while lowering transaction costs and information asymmetries.
- It can promote learning and creativity, which can improve the flexibility and efficiency of governance structures.
- Good governance depends on social capital, which promotes collaboration, civic participation, trust, and group action. Governments should actively foster and protect social capital because they understand its importance in bolstering democratic institutions and societal well-being.
Q2. Determine and talk about the elements that contribute to India’s natural vegetation’s diversity. Evaluate the importance of wildlife sanctuaries in India’s rain forest regions.
GS III – Environmental Conservation
Introduction:
- The natural vegetation of India is remarkably diverse due to a multitude of biological, climatic, and topographical factors.
The following factors contribute to India’s diversity of natural vegetation:
- Geographic Variation: India’s vast and varied terrain, which stretches from the southern coast to the northern Himalayas, produces a wide range of climatic conditions that lead to distinct ecosystems and plants.
- Climate Variation: Regional vegetation patterns in India are directly influenced by the country’s varied climates, which range from tropical in the south to temperate in the north.
- Monsoon Winds: The monsoon winds provide significant amounts of rainfall, which in some places encourage the formation of tropical rainforests and xerophytic flora in desert areas.
- Altitude: India’s varying altitudes, ranging from the Himalayas to lower regions, are responsible for the country’s diversified vegetation, with temperate woods found at lower altitudes and alpine plants at higher altitudes.
- Soil Types: Through a variety of vegetation supports, India’s numerous soil types—including red, alluvial, laterite, and desert soils—have an impact on plant species and their distribution.
- The importance of wildlife sanctuaries in India’s rainforest regions
- Conservation of Biodiversity: It offers safe havens for a vast array of animal and plant species, some of which may be endemic or threatened.
- Research and Education: By acting as living labs, these sanctuaries help scientists and environmentalists better understand and analyse complicated ecosystems.
- Tourism and Economic Gains: Properly run wildlife sanctuaries can draw ecotourism, which boosts the local economy.
- Carbon Sequestration: The process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere depends on rainforests.
- Ecological Balance: By offering crucial ecosystem services like pollination, soil fertility, and water filtration, rainforests contribute significantly to ecological balance.
- Geographical factors such as location, climate, altitude, soil, and biodiversity contribute to India’s rich natural vegetation, and rainforest wildlife sanctuaries are essential for scientific study, tourism, conservation, sequestration of carbon dioxide, and ecological health.
