VISION IASHowever, the gradual increment of desertification shows that steps taken by the government...

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Approach – Answer: General Studies Mains Mock Test 1052 (2018)

1. The location of iron and steel industry depends on a multitude of factors. Discuss with examples. Also

account for the gradual shift of the industry towards coastal regions over time.

Approach:

In the first part of the answer, write down various factors which determine the location of Iron and

Steel Industry.

Provide examples to substantiate.

Finally, discuss the reasons for gradual shift of industry towards coastal regions with examples.

Answer:

The iron and steel industry forms the backbone of the industrial development and its location is

determined by various factors such as:

Raw material:

o Near iron ore mines: To reduce the transportation cost, Industries are located near mines with

Iron ore, manganese, limestone, dolomite deposits. For example: Rourkela in India and Kuznetsk

Basin in Western Siberia.

o Near coal Fields: Inefficiency of railway engines during the Industrial Revolution times made it

cheaper to transport iron ore to coalfields not vice versa. For example: Appalachian-Pennsylvania

in USA, Wuhan in China.

Transportation: Location near coastal regions reduces the cost of transporting raw material (usually

imported) from port to factories. For example, Chicago in USA, Vishakapatnam in India.

Modern Technology: such as electric smelters, Open hearth system etc. have helped in shifting of

steel industries away from coal and iron-ore reserves by making efficient use of scrap metal & also

reducing energy requirement. For example, Bhushan steel plant in Ghaziabad.

Industrial Inertia: Industries continue to be located in the same area despite decline of locational

advantages e.g. depletion of raw material. For example, Ruhr in Germany; Pittsburg in the USA.

Developmental policies of government for backward regions: For example, Bhilai and Salem

plants in India.

Strategic reasons: After WWII, the USA and the USSR adopted a policy to not allow the

concentration of the industry in one region. Thus, in the USA some plants were setup in the western

region such as California and the USSR in the eastern side towards Pacific coast.

Over time, Iron and Steel Industry started shifting towards coastal regions such as steel industry in Osaka-

Kobe, Japan, Steel plant at Vishakhapatnam, Ratnagiri, and the coastal cities of the USA such as

Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago. The reasons are:

Depleting coal resource in mainland changed economics of cost of transportation of raw material

versus that of finished product.

Near ports, steel can be exported and raw material can be imported with ease.

https://freeupscmaterials.org




2. Identify the regions being impacted by desertification in India. Bringing out the major reasons for it,

analyse the effectiveness of steps taken to combat it.

Approach:

Write a basic definition of desertification in introduction.

Then try to bring out areas/regions being impacted by it in India.

Then elaborate some of the major reasons for increasing desertification in India.

Finally give the steps take so far in combating it and analyse the effectiveness of those steps.

Answer:

Desertification is land degradation in

arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas

resulting from various factors, including

climatic variations and human activities.

In India, a rough estimate by

environmental reports tells that nearly

30% area i.e. 96.4 MHA out of 328.72

MHA is degraded or facing

desertification. In eight states,

Rajasthan, Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra,

Jharkhand, Nagaland, Tripura and

Himachal Pradesh- around 40% to 70%

of land has undergone desertification.

Twenty-six out of Twenty- nine states

have reported an increase in the area

undergoing desertification in the past 10

years.

Desertification occurs due to both anthropogenic and natural factors which can be summarized as the

following:

Soil erosion due to land and water: It is responsible for around 16% of desertification in India. Even

mining leads to erosion of soil nutrients.

Vegetation destruction by deforestation and overgrazing to accommodate the need of growing

population, accelerates desertification.

Farming Practices: Agricultural activities in the vulnerable ecosystems along with excess use of

water, fertilizers and pesticides leads to erosion of nutrients, increase in salinity resulting into

desertification.

Urbanization and land development projects: These put huge pressure on land which is expected to

grow further in future.

Climate Change: As the days get warmer and periods of drought become more frequent,

desertification becomes more and more eminent.

India being a signatory to UNCCD has taken many steps to combat desertification such as: National

Action Programme to Combat Desertification, Integrated Watershed Management Programme, National

Afforestation Programme, Fodder and Feed Development Scheme etc.

However, the gradual increment of desertification shows that steps taken by the government have not been

very effective. This can be attributed to reasons such as shortage and weakness of institutional and human

capacity, lack of dedicated funds, need of coordination among concerned ministries, disproportionate

attention to planning than implementation etc.

Thus, government intervention needs to be streamlined with equal focus on both curative and preventive

measures, which needs to be then periodically reviewed to check the impact on desertification.





3. Assess the changes in distribution pattern of the 'golden fibre' industry in India over the past half

century. Also, giving reasons for its decline, enumerate the measures that the government has come up

with in order to revive it.

Approach:

Briefly introduce the golden fibre crop and mention why it is called so.

Outline the shift in distribution of jute industry over the past half century in India and reasons for the

shift.

Enlist the reasons for decline of the jute industry in the country.

Mention the initiatives taken by the government to arrest the same.

Conclude your answer with few suggestions and measures.

Answer:

Golden Fiber

The Jute is popularly known as the „golden fiber‟ not only because of its golden silky shine but also being

a cash crop, it‟s industry makes for a profitable economic venture. Next only to cotton, jute is the cheapest

and most important of all textile fibres, due to its versatility in usage (geo-textiles to apparel, carpet,

decorative items, upholstery, home furnishings) and other features like softness, strength, length, lustre

and uniformity.

Distribution pattern of jute industry

After the 1947 Partition, the jute producing areas went to Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan) whereas

most of the jute mills remained with India. Starting with the World War-II jute industry has been losing

ground to synthetic fibers and over the past half century, jute industry in India has seen many fluctuations.

India has lost its position of being largest exporter of raw jute to Bangladesh, while it still remains the

largest producer and consumer of jute products in the world.

Currently, jute industry is distributed in states of West-Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa,

Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh.

Shifts in jute industry

Of late, the jute industry has witnessed following changes in distribution:

West Bengal has lost its industrial significance and many industries are either lying sick or have

closed. Due to overcrowding in traditional belt of Hugli, the industry has been shifting along Ganga

river in northern plains. Also, Kolkata is no longer an important international port.

There has been marked shift towards Godawari delta, as this region has developed paper industry

which uses mixture of jute and sabai grass as raw material.

Demand of Jute from urban areas, apart from traditional uses like sugar, wheat and rice packing bags

– this has led to shifting of industry near to the market.

Places like east UP and Andhra also meet the natural requirements of Jute industry. Cheap labour is

also available.

Decline of Jute Industry

Moreover, Indian jute industry has witnessed decline due to:

A. Supply Side constraints:

1. Shortages of raw material domestically as major producing areas now lie in Bangladesh.

2. Inability of mill owners to upgrade their product according to the trends in the market.

3. Due to strong trade union movement in the traditional jute producing region, the investors shifted

their money to other regions and even in other ventures.

4. Instability in Jute prices due to erratic production of the crop

5. High input cost of production due to lack of upgradation of machinery.

B. Demand Side Constraints:

1. Tough competition from synthetic packing materials of the advanced countries of Europe and

North America.

2. Emergence of substitutes and wide-scale adoption of containerisation and development of plastics





Measures taken

Jute Packaging Mandatory Act, 1987 with an objective to protect the Jute industry.

National Jute Policy (2005) for state-of-the-art manufacturing.

Jute Technology Mission (JTM) was launched in 2006 for R&D into all dimensions of the industry.

National Jute Board Act 2008 gives statutory backing to National Jute Board for taking measures for

all-round development of the industry.

Jute Corporation of India provides support to jute farmers through Minimum Support Price (MSP)

operation whenever the raw jute price falls below the MSP.

Way forward

As jute industry is highly labor-intensive and eco-friendly it needs revival in an increasingly

environmentally-conscious world.

India should leverage this opportunity by revisiting its raw jute procurement and export policies,

renovating and modernizing the production machinery, diversifying the product range, improving the

quality and developing new products.

4. With appropriate examples of footloose industry, discuss its significance for India.

Approach:

Explain footloose industry using relevant examples.

Highlight its significance for India.

Answer:

Footloose industry is a general term for an industry that remains nearly indifferent to locational aspects of

business such as material resources, markets or transport. These industries often have spatially fixed costs

and are not affected by transportation costs. Thus, a wide range of locations is possible within an area of

sufficient population. Some examples of such industries, like bakery, watch-manufacturing, electronics,

diamonds etc. use very wide range of light raw materials and thus, the attractive influence of each separate

material diminishes. Similarly, IT and ITeS can be established anywhere where the physical infrastructure

and workforce is available.

Characteristics of footloose industry:

Significance for India:

Solution to regional disparities: Such industries can be bridge regional disparity as their

development can be influenced by appropriate policy and governance measures like tax rebates,

physical infrastructure development, land acquisition and law and order situation. Southern states

have used such policy measures to develop IT industry while northern and eastern states are yet to

leverage the same.





Employment generation potential: Heavy industries are capital intensive but footloose industry is

generally labour intensive. Thus, it has immense potential to create employment. With

decentralisation, textile has practically become a footloose industry, with huge labour absorption

capacity.

Boost to development of skilled populace: Footloose industry needs skilled workers to serve on

quality and productive jobs. Thus, it incentivises the development of colleges, training institutes,

apprenticeship courses etc. in a given region e.g. proposed Indian Institute of Skills in Kanpur.

Boost to growth of allied/ related sectors: It boosts overall economy of the region by growth of

related sectors like hospitality, real estate, recreational activities etc. For example, establishment of IT

offices has boosted development of nearby areas in Maharashtra.

Development of agglomerations: Suburban land is often cheaper. Out of town surroundings and easy

access to workers in suburbs provides ideal location for building business parks. It also helps in

decongestion of cities.

Exports potential: Such industries have huge potential for exports, for example, the diamond and

other industries in Gujarat have led to its emergence as one of the largest exporting States in India

Environment-friendly: Since, such units are relatively less polluting, lesser environmental costs are

associated with these

Thus, it is important that the Centre and the States pay attention to this sector. States must improve ease of

doing business. Centre must support through skill development, credit schemes etc. specific to various

footloose industries. A coherent effort can only help realise the true potential of this sector.

5. India has a long way to go in identifying shale gas rich basins and acquiring the necessary technology

to extract shale gas. Discuss.

Approach:

Briefly outline the potential of shale gas reserves in India.

Discuss the status of discovery of these reserves and the problems in extracting shale gas, especially the

lack of technology.

Conclude with the way forward.

Answer:

India is among the largest consumer of energy in the world, but it is not endowed with abundant energy

resources of its own. High reliance on imported energy imperils nation‟s fiscal stability and energy

security.

Therefore, revolution in Shale Gas extraction can offer some relief.

Reserves in India

A study by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has estimated recoverable resources in 3 out of

26 sedimentary basins in India. The Ministry of Petroleum has identified six potential basins of shale gas

in India. These are as follows:

Assam-Arakan Basin

Gondwana Basin (Damodar Valley)

Krishna-Godavari Basin

Kaveri Basin

Cambay (Khambat) Basin

Indo-Gangetic Basin

There is still scope for further identification and confirmation of these resources.





Technological challenges in extracting the shale gas

Horizontal drilling: Shale rock is sometimes found 3,000 meters below the surface. Therefore, after

deep vertical drilling, technology is needed to drill horizontally for considerable distances in various

directions to extract the gas rich shale

Technology for hydro-fracturing: Extraction of shale needs the injection of water and other

chemicals in the gas-bearing rocks at very high pressure for creating fissures in them. The process of

using water for breaking up the rock is known as “hydro-fracturing” or “fracking”. Indian firms lack

sufficient resources and capital for this process.

Resource assessment: Ascertaining true potential is a challenge in the face of lack of funds and

unattractive government incentives.

In addition to the above-mentioned technological challenges, shale gas extraction would need redressal of

the following issues as well:

Regulatory and environmental framework: Shale-gas production results in large scale water

contamination.

Availability of open land: As compared to natural gas, shale gas production needs large tracts of land

for exploration and extraction.

Water availability: The use of huge amount of water in extraction process is a challenge for water

starved India.

Rationalization of gas prices: this is required to boost investment and investors‟ confidence.

In view of stagnant oil and gas production and rising import dependency, it will be well worth the effort to

address the above challenges to exploit our shale gas prospects. The recently adopted Hydrocarbon

Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) 2016 by the Indian government providing for unified license

and other attractive measures does show the way forward.

6. Plastic waste is a major environmental and public health problem in India, particularly in the urban

areas. Elucidate. Can the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 help in addressing the problems

related to plastic waste?

Approach:

In introduction, highlight the status of plastic waste in India and use of plastic in urban setting.

Write about the harmful impact of plastic waste on environment and public health.

In the last part, discuss how the provisions of the new Rules can help in addressing the issue.

Answer:

India is among the top 10 global consumers of plastic. Plastic products have high utility due to its

inexpensive, light and versatile nature. However, being non-biodegradable it poses complex

environmental and health problems.





The consumption of plastic is way more in urban India as compared to the rest. Plastic carry bags are one

of the main sources of plastic waste. Furthermore, the majority of plastic recycling units are located in

densely populated urban slums. The waste water produced in recycling units is directly drained in water

bodies.

Impact on Environment

Plastics choke water bodies which impacts aquatic life.

Plastics serve as nuclei onto which other harmful hydrophobic substances (like DDT,

hexachlorobenzene) sorbs. By way of ingestion, these nuclei, bio accumulates in fish and other marine

species over time.

Due to buoyancy, plastics act as vehicle for introducing invasive species to new habitats.

Impact on Public Health

Bio accumulated plastic enters the food chain and has adverse health impacts.

Plastic bags/containers and blocked drains/gutters become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which

cause malaria and chikungunya.

Plastics contain chemicals like phthalates and flame retardants which affects endocrine system

adversely. Toxic monomers may cause cancer and reproductive problems.

Ever expanding landfills becoming breeding ground for pathogens and become a public nuisance.

Burning of plastic waste produce hazardous dioxins.

Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 will help in addressing the problem in the following ways.

Stipulation of 50 micron thickness for plastic sheets is likely to increase its cost by about 20%. Hence,

the tendency to provide free carry bags will decrease and collection by the waste-pickers will

increase.

The introduction of the collect back system of waste generated from various products by the

producers/brand owners of those products will improve the collection of plastic waste, its reuse and

recycle.

Manufacture and use of non-recyclable multilayered plastic will be phased out.

It clearly identifies the responsibility of waste generator (segregation, payment of fee for plastic waste

management etc.) and that of retailers and street vendors.

The prescribed options on reuse of plastic in various applications namely, road construction, waste to

oil, waste to energy will enhance the recycling of plastic.

However, the implementation of the rules in the letter and spirit is the key to get the desirable outcomes.

7. Energy efficiency in buildings need to be at the core of India's urbanization strategy. Comment. In this

context elaborate the significance of Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2017.

Approach:

Briefly discuss the energy constraints arising out of rapid urbanisation.

Discuss how energy efficiency in buildings will be critical in this regard.

Discuss the significance of ECBC in improving energy efficiency.

Answer:

India has been witnessing rapid urbanisation with 40.76% of the country's population expected to reside in

urban areas by 2030. This implies an increase in the demand for energy for housing, transportation,

industry, lightning etc. Being an energy deficient country, it is critical that we conserve our energy

resources by moving to more efficient energy usage standards.

Globally the building sector accounts for 42% electricity usage which is more than any other sector.

Energy efficient buildings are less expensive to operate, more comfortable to live in and more

environmentally friendly thus diminishing the impact of unmindful urbanisation.





The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2017 compares very favorably with international best

practices, and if implemented correctly, could make new buildings producers of electricity rather than

simply consuming energy.

ECBC provides current as well as futuristic advancements in building technology to further reduce

building energy consumption and promote low-carbon growth.

It sets parameters for builders, designers and architects to integrate renewable energy sources in

building design with the inclusion of passive design strategies.

The code aims to optimise energy savings with the comfort levels for occupants, and prefers life-cycle

cost effectiveness to achieve energy neutrality in commercial buildings.

With the adoption of ECBC 2017 for new commercial building construction throughout the country, it

is estimated to achieve a 50% reduction in energy use by 2030. This will translate to energy savings of

about 300 billion units by 2030 and peak demand reduction of over 15 GW in a year. This will be

equivalent to expenditure savings of Rs 35,000 crore and 250 million tonnes of CO2 reduction.

Thus, the ECBC is significant for energy efficiency in buildings as it has the potential to bring

convergence between urbanisation and sustainable development.

8. How does the PAT scheme make efficiency in energy consumption attractive in energy-intensive

industries? Examining its performance so far, suggest measures for improvement.

Approach:

In the introduction, briefly, describe and write about the objective of the PAT scheme.

Explain the advantage for the industries in the PAT scheme.

Discuss the outcome of the schemes.

Suggest measures to further improve the outcome of the scheme.

Answer:

Perform Achieve Trade (PAT) is an innovative, market-based trading scheme announced in 2008. It aims

to improve energy efficiency in industries by trading in energy efficiency certificates in energy-intensive

sectors. The 2010 amendment to Energy Conservation Act (ECA) provided a legal mandate to PAT. Its

benefits are:

Energy efficient investment would enable industries to save at the minimum 5% of their estimated

energy cost.

Reduction in input energy cost enhances the global competitiveness of Indian industries.

It reduces the industries‟ vulnerability to availability and price volatility of fossil fuel energy

resources.

In contrast to other renewable energy certificates, there is the absence of floor and ceiling prices for

energy saving certificates issued under this scheme.

Recently, the government has presented the data about the first phase of the scheme which ended in 2015;

according to which, the scheme has:

Contributed to an emission reduction of 31 million tonnes of Co2 which has resulted in saving of Rs.

37,685 crores.

Exceeded the target set, resulted in saving of energy equivalent to 8.67 million tonnes of oil.

Also led to investments of Rs. 24,517 crores in energy efficiency measures.

Measures for improvement:

Deepen the coverage in the existing sectors like iron and steel sector, pulp and paper sector etc.

Broaden the coverage by bringing more and more energy intensive areas under the scheme.

Bureau of energy efficiency (BEE) needs to play a more active role of mentor to the industry.

Strong monitoring and reporting system to build confidence among stakeholders.





9. Air quality in Indian households, especially in rural areas, is lethal due to a number of factors. In this

context, highlighting the challenges faced in improving indoor air quality, enumerate the measures that

can be taken to address them.

Approach:

Define indoor air pollution while mentioning its sources.

Mention the impact of indoor air pollution, especially in rural areas.

Highlight the effect of indoor air pollution on health.

Discuss the challenges faced in improving indoor air quality.

Suggest measures to curb/mitigate the problem.

Answer:

Indoor air pollution is the degradation of indoor air quality by harmful chemicals and other materials. Its

principal sources are: combustion, building material and bio-aerosols. The health impacts of indoor air

pollution far outweigh those of outdoor air pollution in developing countries.

Reasons for Indoor Air Pollution in India:

In developing countries, majority of the rural population still uses unclean energy resources, like

wood, cow dung, coal etc.

Incomplete combustion of biomass fuels emits suspended particulate matter, carbon monoxide, poly

aromatic hydrocarbons etc.

Poor Ventilation leads to accumulation of harmful pollutants inside the premises.

Indoor air quality also becomes a greater concern during the winter because cold temperatures and

stagnant air have a way of creating a build-up of pollutants near the ground & people tend stay inside

with poor ventilation for a longer duration.

Indoor tobacco smoking and passive smoking.

Because of non-metalled roads and muddy house-floors in rural areas, there is huge amount of dust

particles in air which adds to air pollution.

Indoor air pollution causes several adverse health effects such as pneumonia, chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease etc

Challenges in improving the indoor air quality:

Variable choice of fuel for combustion in traditional stoves, depending on local availability makes it

difficult to execute programs aimed at making people switch to more eco-friendly fuel.

Lower rate of adoption of non-traditional stoves due to lack of awareness, design complications,

higher maintenance costs, higher price-elasticity

Lack of better insight into the contextual and psychosocial factors on part of policymakers behind

the sustained use traditional methods of cooking

Lack of research to assess the exposure levels of indoor pollutants.

Overbearing emphasis only on outdoor air pollution.

No inter-sectoral approach towards clean household energy practices.

Measures needed:

Large scale distribution of cleaner fuels to enhance their usage through schemes like Pradhan Mantri

Ujjwala Yojna.

Public awareness towards severe health consequences of traditional fuels.

Modification of the design of cooking stove & incorporating traditional factors, local norms

&practices into its making. The National Biomass Cookstoves initiative under the Ministry of New

and Renewable Energy (2009-10) is an example.

Improvement in ventilation through house design.

Inter-sectoral coordination and global initiative.

Tackling indoor air pollution especially in rural areas in an opportunity to improve health, reduce poverty

and protect environment.





10. What is Joint Forest Management (JFM)? Highlight its potential in improving the livelihood of the

forest dwellers and fringe forest communities.

Approach:

Explain the term Joint Forest Management with respect to India.

Through examples, highlight the significance of participation by local communities in Joint Forest

Management with the government authorities.

Mention the improvements that the Joint Forest Committee has made/ can make with respect to the

lives of forest dwellers.

Conclude.

Answer:

Joint Forest Management (JFM) is partnership involving both the forest departments and local

communities in natural forest management. The concept was introduced by Government of India through

the National Forest Policy of 1988. Under JFM, village communities are entrusted with the protection and

management of nearby forests. The communities are required to organize forest protection committees,

village forest committees, village forest conservation and development societies, etc. Each of these bodies

has an executive committee that manages its day-to-day affairs. In return of their services to the forests,

the communities get the benefit of using minor non-timber forest produce. As a result, the forest can be

conserved in a sustainable manner.

For example:

Controlled grazing of cattle by the Gaddi and Gujjar tribes in the Himalayan states prevents the

widespread growth of wild grass, thus contributing towards conservation of biodiversity.

Bishnoi community of Rajasthan plays a very significant role in ecological conservation.

Joint conservation effort with the nomadic tribe of Maldharis, living in vicinity of Gir National Park,

has contributed to the improvement of lion population.

The potential role of Joint Forest Management in improving the livelihood of the forest dwellers and

fringe forest communities are as follows:

For working in coordination with villagers, Forest Committees are constituted, which play an active

role to increase the agriculture and forest production and processing their produce.

Employment opportunities, such as sustainable tourism are created in villages so that villagers are

dissuaded from illicit felling and encroachment of forests.

Attempts are made to provide other basic facilities so that pressure on forest is minimized.

The Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 along with the Forest Rights Act plays a

significant role towards ensuring entitlement to forest dwellers.

A specific woman sub-committee in the Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) ensures gender

balance.

The JFMC provides training on animal husbandry, poultry farming, dairy development and

managing small forestry enterprises along with implementation of the National Rural Employment

Guarantee programme in fringe forest areas.

Non-wood forest products (NWFP) are also important to JFM. NWFP are integral to lifestyle of

forest-dependent communities. They fulfill basic requirements, provide gainful employment during

lean periods and supplement incomes from agriculture and wage labor. Medicinal plants collected

through JFM have an important role in rural health.

Thus, the significance of Joint Forest Management lies not only in optimizing forest use and ecosystem

management but also in adopting an inclusive approach towards ensuring that the forest dwellers become

a part of the mainstream development.





11. The metallic minerals found in India are mainly confined to the Peninsular plateau region. What are

the reasons for their uneven distribution? Also, discuss the impact it has on the location of industries in

India.

Approach:

First of all give a brief spatial picture of different metallic minerals distribution in India.

Then bring out reasons for their uneven distribution.

Finally, discuss the impact it has on the location of industries in India with examples.

Answer:

The map of distribution of minerals in India depicts that most of the metallic minerals‟ occurrence are

mainly confined to the Peninsular Plateau Region with sporadic occurrence in few other regions.

The metallic minerals mainly consist of Manganese, bauxite, copper and iron ore. The region comprising

the Chotta Nagpur Plateau and the Orissa plateau covering the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal and

Orissa accounts for country‟s 93 percent Iron ore production.

Other regions having peninsular characteristics, like South Western Belt comprising Karnataka and Goa,

possess Garnet Iron ore, and Karnataka plateau and Tamil Nadu possess Bauxite and Ferrous minerals.

Central belt includes Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra which includes

bauxite and Manganese etc.

The reasons for their uneven distribution is attributed to the varied geological structure of the country.

The plateau region represents the ancient shield of the earth's crust. The ancient shield was formed out of

volcanic eruptions and contains solidified magma. The lava brought out deposition of many minerals in

the region. Thus the bulks of valuable minerals are products of pre-Palaeozoic age and are mainly

associated with the metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Peninsular India. Whereas, the northern plains

are the most recent physiographic feature formed by alluvial deposits brought by the rivers. Thus the vast

tract of North India is devoid of minerals of economic significance.

The location of minerals is a huge factor in determining the location of industries apart from factors like

availability of water, connectivity, labour availability etc.

Few Illustrations:

Industries using weight losing raw materials are located

in proximity to source of raw materials. For example, in

iron and steel industry, both iron ore and coal are weight-

losing raw materials. This is why most of iron and steel

industries are located either near coalfields i.e. Bokaro,

Durgapur, etc. or near source of iron ore i.e. Bhadravati,

Bhilai and Rourkela. Similarly, Vijayanagar steel plant at

Hospet uses iron ore and limestone. The Salem steel

plant in Tamil Nadu is also one such example.

The location of Aluminium industry is governed mainly

by the availability of bauxite. For eg. HINDALCO has

its aluminium plant in Renukoot

In India, the main sources of lead and zinc ore is the

Zawar deposits of Rajasthan. The Debari plant of

Udaipur erected by Hindustan Zinc is one such example.

12. The mining of sand and gravel has reached a level that is threatening the environment and ecosystem.

Comment. What can be done to ensure that such mining is carried out in a sustainable manner?

Discuss in context of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate

Change.

Approach:

Give a brief picture of mining of sand and gravel in India.

Bring out its threats/effects on environment and ecosystem.

Discuss in context of guidelines issued by MoEFCC to ensure that such mining is carried out in a

sustainable manner.





Answer:

With rapid urbanization and infrastructure development, the mining of sand and gravels has seen

exponential rise in recent decade. Though no official data on quantum of sand mining of sand and gravel

is available yet it can be very easily assessed that it is causing serious issues to environment and

ecosystem as:

It impacts in-stream habitat due to increase in river gradient or increase in sediment transport and

sediment deposit. This may increase turbidity which prevents penetration of light required for

photosynthesis.

It may lead to bank erosion and change of morphology of river causing destruction of riparian

vegetative cover.

It may lead to shifting of channels causing floods in unflooded areas.

It may pollute ground water by reducing the thickness of filter materials especially when done at the

top of recharge fissures.

Unscientific and unregulated sand mining may lead to severe health hazards due to air quality

degradation and dust fog.

It may lead to increased concentration of suspended sediment in the river which in turn causes

siltation of water resources projects.

Degradation can deplete the entire depth of gravelly bed material, exposing other substrates that may

underline the gravel which could in turn affect the quality of aquatic habitat.

To ensure that mining is carried out in sustainable manner, recommendations under the Sustainable Sand

mining Management Guidelines 2016 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change may be

followed which includes:

Getting environment clearance for mining lease by the appropriate district or state or central level

Authority. This should include mandatory public consultation.

Reducing dependency on sand – through training of architects & engineers and shift towards

alternative source of aggregates other than sand and gravel

Deploying high end technologies – for conducting scientific and systematic mining, better

monitoring (through remote sensing etc.), tracking of mined out mineral as well as for promotion of

manufactured sand and artificial sand in construction.

Identification and proper demarcation of mining area considering minimum distance between

mining sites and crucial hydraulic structure or river bank, replenishment rate of river, whether stream

channel is abandoned and not active etc.

Concentrate activities to minimise disturbance - Extraction from river bed should be localized to a

few bars so that habitat and species diversity is not affected.

Also, one key challenge to sustainable sand mining is that of illegal mining. The Centre and states must

ensure vigilance and necessary guidelines must be issued regarding the same. Cue can be taken from

Kerala, which has put in a robust mechanism to check illegal mining. Only through such comprehensive

efforts sand mining can become a sustainable activity.

13. Wetlands are being lost rapidly due to encroachment and rapid urbanization. In this context, critically

analyse the provisions of the new Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 notified by the

Government in dealing with the situation.

Approach:

Start with the basic definition of Wetlands.

Then giving a brief picture of wetlands in India, bring out some reasons for their loss.

Finally, analyse the provisions of the New Wetland Rules, 2017 in dealing with the situation.

Answer:

Wetlands can be defined as lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems where the water

table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. They support rich

biodiversity and provide wide range of ecosystem service such as water purification, flood mitigation etc.





Of late, wetlands are threatened due to encroachment, rapid urbanization and activities like pollution,

hydrological alteration, over-exploitation etc. In this context, the Government has come out with new

Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

Features of the new rules

Setting up of National Wetlands Committee (NWC), headed by MoEFCC secretary, to monitor

implementation of these rules and oversee works carried out by states and to advise Central

Government.

Setting up of State Wetland Authorities in each state/ UTs headed by State‟s Environment Minister

which will develop comprehensive list of activities to be regulated and permitted within notified

wetland and their zone of influence. It will also define strategies for „wise-use‟ of wetlands and its

conservation

Prohibition of activities like conversion of wetland for non-wetland uses including encroachment of

any kind, setting up and expansion of industries, waste dumping and discharge of untreated wastes

and effluents from industries, cities, towns, village etc.

Mandatory preparation of a list of all wetlands and list of wetlands to be notified within six months by

state authorities. Based on it, a comprehensive digital inventory of all wetlands will be created and

updated every ten years. However, there are some shortcomings sighted by environmentalist and

therefore, they are apprehensive about the effectiveness of the new rules-

They are silent on the process of appeal against the decision of wetlands authorities.

The term “wise use” to be determined by the state wetland authority is open to wider interpretation

and may be misused.

2010 and 2016 rules covered all wetlands including man-made wetlands other than river channels and

paddy fields. The new rules exclude human-made water bodies and structures constructed for

aquaculture, salt production etc.

Passing of identification and notification of wetlands to the states have been criticised on the grounds

that they have a poor record of their conservation in the past.

Nevertheless, the new rules have tried to decentralize the responsibilities by setting up of state wetland

authority. It will also increase expertise in this area as this authority will involve one expert each in the

field of wetland ecology, hydrology, fisheries etc. It may also enhance the conservation work at local

level.

14. Processing and safe disposal of garbage must replace the current model of landfills in order to

transform our cities to being 'smart'. Elucidate. In this context, analyse the reasons for failure of waste

management policies in India.

Approach:

Briefly give your understanding of a „smart‟ city – in context of garbage management with description

of current model of waste disposal i.e. landfills.

Mention the advantages of garbage processing over landfills.

For the second part, briefly mention the waste management policies in India.

Then, enlist reasons for failure of waste management policies.

Give a forward-looking conclusion.

Answer:

When it comes to garbage management, „smart‟ is synonymous with „sustainable‟. As a UN Report

projects that by 2050, 60% of India‟s population will come to live in urban areas, India has started on a

mission to turn its cities „smart‟. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management forms one of the crucial

infrastructure services in this context.

Currently, MSW is not managed scientifically. Out of the 62 million tonnes (MT) of MSW generated per

annum, only 43 MT is collected, 11.9 MT is treated while 31 MT is dumped in landfill sites. This

unscientific and unsanitary dumping leads to various problems:





Contamination of ground water due to leachate generation in landfills posing health risks. Leachate is

the liquid formed when waste breaks down in landfill and water filters through waste. This liquid is

highly toxic and can pollute land, groundwater and streams.

Landfills also generate greenhouse gases lie methane. These gases are inflammable and cn lead to fire

as well.

Huge quantum of untreated waste creates challenge of land availability

Disasters such as collapse of Ghazipur landfill in east Delhi, recurring fires at Deonar landfill in

Mumbai etc. leading to casualties

Thus, going by sustainability principle, garbage processing offers the following advantages:

Proper segregation of waste at source making subsequent steps such as recycling & resource recovery

easier

Reduced final residue can be then discarded scientifically in sanitary landfills

Energy-from-waste element converts waste into renewable energy and organic manure and also,

reduces the volume of waste

Various stages such as collection, transportation, treatment etc. offers employment opportunities.

Concerning the waste management, the government came out with various policy measures such as

Environment Protection Act, 1986, Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 etc. But these have not delivered

the desired results, owing to following reasons:

Rapid urbanization with low ecological awareness and lack of citizen participation in waste

management

Lack of India-specific studies on characterization of MSW to design adequate processing methods

Inadequate implementation of rules by the ULBs due to various reasons including absence of auditing

and other accountability mechanisms

Majority of the solid waste management budget is allotted for collection and transportation leaving

very little for processing and disposal.

Resistance for notification of new landfill sites by local residents, leading the existing landfill sites to

run beyond their capacity

Non-involvement of informal sector such as rag pickers etc. into the waste management plan

Financial non-viability of waste-to-energy projects

Thus, India needs to involve and integrate its organized sector and unorganized sector and empower its

ULBs. This only can ensure the success of Swachh Bharat Mission and the actualization of the dream of

„smart‟ urban India.

15. The perennial problem of smog across large parts of North India has worsened despite government and

judicial interventions. Examine. What feasible steps can be taken to effectively address this problem?

Approach:

Begin with a brief description of the issue & list its causes.

Mention steps taken by the government & the judiciary over the years to combat this issue.

Suggest a few reasons for their failure.

Conclude by listing a few pertinent solutions to address this problem effectively.

Answer:

Large areas in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP and other regions of North India, which gets covered with

thick layer of smog usually in winters, have been facing the problem of worsening air quality year on year.

The reasons behind this include cold weather and stagnant winds trapping smoke, mainly from burning of

crop stubbles, lit garbage, industrial pollution and road dust, in lower layers of the atmosphere.

Steps taken by the Centre and state governments:

The „odd-even‟ rule aimed at decongestion of roads.

Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality.

Implementation of Bharat Stage norms.

Imposition of green cess on commercial vehicles etc.





Steps taken by the judiciary:

The judiciary has also taken cognizance of the issue & issued directives to the Centre & state

governments, such as:

Appointing Environment Pollution Control Authority

Banning the sale of fire crackers in the national capital

Enforcing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

Ordering a shift to CNG for commercial vehicles etc.

Additionally, the National Green Tribunal prohibited burning of crop residue in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana,

Rajasthan & UP. It also ordered phasing out of diesel vehicles for Central & State government personnel.

However, despite these measures, the problem of smog has become a persistent annual phenomenon. This

can be attributed to the passive & reactionary attitude of the state governments, pressure on urban areas,

geographic causes like northern India witnessing no daily change/reversal in direction of wind movement

due to continentality, lack of a proper coordination mechanism among concerned authorities, poor

implementation of judicial directives, and negligence on part of civic agencies to ensure greening of road

margins to check dust levels.

Steps required to effectively address the problem:

Despite these, a comprehensive action plan needs to be implemented that should include the following:

Effective policy and financial support: for utilization of crop residue, paddy straw and other agro-

waste into biomass briquette making, livestock feed, compost etc.

Greening of cities on a mission mode: via landscaping of open spaces and paving of all public areas

to reduce dust.

Strict implementation of Waste Management Rules: specifically, to ensure re-utilization of

construction and demolition waste and strict enforcement of ban on burning of municipal waste.

Stress on use of public transport, along with adequate parking reforms and infrastructure creation to

ease mobility across cities.

Adoption of international best practices, such as the steps taken during the Great London Smog, the

air pollution action plan in Beijing and Mexico.

To ensure the success of above steps, inter-State and inter-Departmental coordination becomes imperative.

16. Why is the distribution of major fishing areas skewed towards the higher latitudes as compared to the

tropics? What are the challenges that the fishery industry is facing globally? Enumerate the measures

taken by the various international bodies in order to make the activity more sustainable.

Approach:

Discuss the factors that make higher latitudes preferable than tropics.

Discuss the challenges faced by fishery industry globally.

Enumerate the measures taken by the international bodies.

Answer:

The major commercial fishing grounds are located in the cool waters of the middle and high latitudes of

northern hemisphere because:

Best fishing grounds are found above continental shelves which are not more than 200 metres below

the water surface, where plankton of all kinds are most abundant. Such extensive continental shelves

are located in higher or mid latitudes in the northern hemisphere e.g., the banks off Newfoundland, the

North Sea etc.

Marine life is found to be best developed in oceans with a temperature lower than 20°C. Therefore,

continental shelves of the tropics are relatively less rich in plankton.

Coastlines are very much indented and are backed by strong relief such as sheltered inlets and

estuarine coasts that make ideal sites for fishing ports and villages.

Mixing of cold and warm currents occurs here which results in plankton growth and consequently

fishes.





Westerlies result in ocean current circulation which also aids the conditions for fish population

growth.

Fishing is more economical in higher latitudes because in tropical waters fishes are found in multiple

varieties of breeds which is not suitable for scalable commercial exploitation.

Nutrient content of high latitude fishes is greater than the tropics. Also, the shelf life of fish in

tropical climate is lower & there is high oil content in the fish affecting their taste & commercial

value.

Commercial fishing industry requires high capital investment and hence it is well established in

developed countries, which are mainly located in higher latitudes.

Challenges faced by the fishery industry:

Inland fish production has declined due to proliferation of water control structure, marine piracy,

loss of habitat and indiscriminate fishing.

Marine fishing has declined due to depleting resources, energy crisis and resultant high cost of

fishing.

Exploitation beyond near shore regions, which should have been used as a buffer zone to augment &

replenish resources in both near shore & off-shore regions, has been injudicious.

The sector is also experiencing loss of biodiversity on account of adverse climate change.

Domination by unorganised sector which operates on traditional lines with little proliferation of

technological improvements.

Countries are yet to realise the potential of deep-sea fishing.

Poor infrastructure especially in relation to marine fishing results in significant post-harvest losses.

Poor quality of fish feed.

Security of fishermen especially along the maritime boundaries.

Measures taken by the various international bodies in order to make the activity more sustainable:

United Nations Agreement on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (commonly called

the UN Fish Stocks Agreement) provides the framework for conservation and management of

straddling and highly migratory fish stocks in high seas areas.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has formulated Code of Conduct for Responsible

Fisheries as well as various international Plan of Actions for management of Sharks, incidental catch

of Seabirds, illegal fishing etc.

Sustainable Development Goal 14 focusses on the conservation & sustainable use of oceans, seas &

marine resources with a special emphasis on threats like overfishing.

International nonprofit organizations such as Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) promote

responsible fish farming practices through their certification program and IUCN coordinates

conservation & management of marine biodiversity.

17. Despite similarity in natural endowments, certain areas attract industries while others do not. What can

be the possible reasons for this? In this context, identify the major industrial regions in India and

mention the factors which led to their development as industrial regions.

Approach:

Briefly introduce by highlighting areas rich in natural resources but still not developed.

Mention the factors other than raw materials, which are responsible for attracting industries in the

region.

Enlist the major industrial regions in India, explaining the factors responsible for their growth

Answer:

Natural resources are important in determining the location of an industry. However, in addition, there are

other factors that lend comparative advantage to some places while their absence restricts industrial

growth. For instance, in India, N-E States, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, MP, Bihar and UP despite

being rich in natural resources are unable to attract relatively more industries.





These factors include:

Infrastructure: Availability of power, transport.

Labour: Availability of skilled and technical expertise, cheap labour.

Market: Nearness reduces transport cost and is essential for perishable and heavy commodities.

Capital: Industries concentrate in regions that already have or are likely to attract capital, banking

and insurance facilities.

Government policies: o India's five year plans and state policies of Industrial locations: Oil refinery at Mathura, coach

factory at Kapurthala and fertiliser plant at Jagdishpur are some of the results of government

policies.

o Governance: Poor governance reduces the security of property rights, increases costs and the

risks in investment. For instance states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are adversely affected due

to Naxalism.

In the past, industrial location was driven to a large extent by the local availability of natural resources and

on physical assets. However, as the economy evolves, intangible assets such as knowledge, information

processing/innovation spillover also need to be factored in. Any location that offers an optimal mix of the

aforementioned factors becomes ideal for industries to locate. In some cases industrial inertia ensures that

the industry prefers to run in its former location although the initial favourable factors like raw material

source or cheap labour may no longer be available.

MAJOR INDUSTRIAL REGIONS IN INDIA:

MUMBAI-PUNE INDUSTRIAL REGION: o Factors: Cotton textile, Mumbai High Petroleum field, Mumbai Port, nuclear energy plants,

Capital .

HUGLI INDUSTRIAL REGION:

o Factors: Jute, indigo and tea from Assam and Darjeeling, coalfields of Damodar Valley and Iron

fields of Chhotanagpur, Port of Hugli, cheap labour, Government policies led to petroleum

refinery at Haldia, Diesel Engine factory at Chittranjan etc

MADURAI-COIMBATORE-BENGALURU REGION:.

o Factors: Cotton Textile industry, heavy engineering Industries in Bangalore, software industry,

Government policies led to Petroleum refinery at Chennai, iron and steel plant at Salem and

fertiliser plants, Bharat electricals, HAL etc

AHMEDABAD-VADODRA REGION: o Factors: Textile industry, Petroleum Oil-field, petro-chemical industries, several ports.

CHHOTANAGPUR REGION: o Factors: Coal, Iron Ore, six large iron and steel plants at Jamshedpur, Burnpur-kulti, Durgapur,

Bokaro, and Rourkela; Damodar valley corporation, cheap labour.

VISHAKHAPATNAM-GUNTUR REGION: o Factors: Agriculture, Coalfields of Godavari basin, Iron and steel plant at Vishakhapatnam.

Vishakhapatnam and Machilipatnam ports, Petroleum refinery

GURGAON-DELHI-MEERUT REGION: o Factors: light and market oriented industries such as Electronics, Light Engineering, and

electrical goods, software industry, attracts FDI and Capital,

KOLLAM-THIRUVANANTHPURAM REGION: o Factors: Devoid of minerals but based upon Hydropower and Plantation agriculture, food

Processing, coconut and coir industries.

18. Despite biofuel utilisation being given emphasis since the last decade, their economic, environmental

and social sustainability is a matter of debate. Comment.

Approach:

Briefly explain bio fuels. Dwell on the emphasis placed on these by mentioning the related steps

undertaken.

List down their importance.

Discuss the concerns associated with bio fuels under economic, environmental and social subheads.

Conclude with suggestions.





Answer:

Biofuels are fuels produced through biological processes, such as agriculture and anaerobic digestion.

Some examples of bio fuels are ethanol, Jatropha green diesel, algae etc. Given that these are

environmentally better than conventional fuels, the government has been promoting their use since the

adoption of National Policy on Biofuels in 2009.

Importance of bio fuels

These provide a strategic advantage in matters of energy security.

These supplement conventional energy sources to meet rising transportation requirements.

These are cost-effective, less polluting and reduce greenhouse gases‟ emission up to 65 percent.

Biofuels are made from different sources such as manure, waste from crops and specifically-grown

plants and thus are easier to source and process.

Biofuel crops add to crop diversity and increase farm income.

Growing biofuel industry has immense potential to create jobs.

However, bio-fuels usage has been a matter of debate in terms of sustainability owing to some concerns

such as:

Economic concerns:

Moderating oil prices make oil competitive globally and biofuels less attractive.

Energy options like nuclear power and shale gas present better economic alternative.

Social concerns

"Food vs fuel" debate i.e. land dedicated to bio-fuels plantations competes with food security and poverty

reduction targets for countries like India. It may also impact fodder cultivation for animals.

Environmental concerns

Carbon emissions levels during production: Large scale biofuel industries add to emissions and

cause small scale water pollution. Without efficient means of production, overall carbon emission may

not reduce.

Impact on bio diversity: Expansion of biofuel production in the tropics has resulted in the loss of

tropical forest and wetlands, and in temperate regions biofuel production has encroached into set-

aside lands. Biofuel feedstock plantations have been shown to support far lower levels of biodiversity

than natural ecosystems, and can cause soil erosion and the pollution of watercourses.

Keeping in mind the above benefits as well as concerns related to bio-fuels, it is imperative for the

governments to promote biofuel production practices that would not hamper food and fibre production,

nor cause water or environmental problems, and would enhance soil fertility. The selection of land on

which to grow the feedstock is a critical component of the ability of biofuels to deliver sustainable

solutions.

19. Selective focus on ensuring the sustained supply of strategic minerals is imperative for India. In this

context, discuss the challenges for India in terms of their exploration and production. What approach

can India adopt to address these challenges?

Approach:

Define strategic minerals and briefly discuss the reasons as to why they are strategically important.

Establish India's dependence on imports to meet its requirements of Strategic minerals.

Cite other issues & challenges for India in terms of exploration and production of Strategic Minerals.

Conclude by discussing the approach India should adopt to address these challenges.





Answer:

Strategic Minerals is a broad-based category that constitutes various minerals and elements such as Tin,

Cobalt, Lithium, Tungsten etc. The notion of strategic material could differ for every country depending

on its needs and nature of mineral deposits available.

Certain minerals are considered as strategic because of following reasons:

Their substitutes are limited or lead to a loss of properties and are often subject to the same constraints

(e.g. production is concentrated in a few geographies).

Potential for accelerating their production/supply is very limited as many of these can only be

produced as a by-product of base metals extraction

There is a swift increase in their demand because these are key inputs for metal intensive technology

such as hi tech defence applications, hybrid cars etc. & dependence on these technologies is

increasing worldwide.

As India aspires to establish and strengthen its own high-tech industry base to ensure & sustain growing

industrialization, it is important for India to selectively focus on sustained supply of such strategic

materials. At present, India is dependent on imports to a large extent and is thus vulnerable to supply/price

fluctuations.

Challenges for India in exploration and production:

Current understanding and knowledge of these minerals is limited and thereby India remains exposed

to sub-optimal responses to the strategic risk.

The notion of „strategic minerals‟ is relatively new to policy makers in India as compared to other

major economies of the world. Thus, limiting the scope for cross-cutting analysis and policy-making.

Inconsistent mining regulations, legislative regimes and environmental risks for many of these

minerals

Besides non availability of some strategic minerals, there are technological challenges associated with

the exploration of available minerals such as polymetallic nodules.

Investment is not incentivised as in other countries. Thus, investors find it non-profitable venture as

extracting such minerals usually is complex and technology intensive.

Potential approach for India may include:

Access to raw materials in world markets: Entering into bilateral agreements with mineral rich

countries, to secure supply for both the short term and long term requirements.

Framework to foster sustainable supply from Indian sources: Incentivising domestic producers to

produce these metals through relevant fiscal measures.

Increase resource efficiency and promoting recycling: Investing in research so that substitutes can

be found. Recycling can also help meet a part of the demand of these metals.

Build a national stockpile: to meet supply in case of exigencies & keep prices under control.

20. The location of fertilizer plants is closely related with location of oil refineries and coal producing

areas. Elaborate. Also, account for the setting up of fertilizer plants nearer to consumer centres such as

in Uttar Pradesh.

Approach:

Elaborate upon how location of fertiliser plants is closely related with location of oil refineries and

coal producing areas.

Discuss the factors responsible for setting up fertiliser plants nearer to consumer centres.

Answer:

Currently, India is one of the largest producer and consumer of fertilizers in the world. The health and

growth of the fertilizer industry is vital for boosting agricultural productivity, ensuring food security,

generating employment opportunities and ensuring regional development.





The fertilizer industry mainly grew in the post independence era and got concentrated in Gujarat, Uttar

Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

The location of fertilizer industry is closely related to oil refineries and coal producing areas because:

Naphtha obtained during refining of oil is used as a basic raw material for production of Nitrogenous

fertilizers.

Methane obtained from coal seams and during coal production is used for manufacturing ammonia,

which is then used for making nitrogen based fertilizers like Urea.

Fertiliser industry requires constant supply of energy. Thus, its location near to oil and coal resources

fulfils that requirement.

Coal producing areas are also associated with production of other rock minerals which are needed in

fertiliser production process.

However, quite recently the fertilizer plants are increasingly located near to the consumer centers due to

the following reasons:

Due to intensive cultivation in the Indo-Gangetic plains, rate of Fertiliser consumption has increased

especially in the Green Revolution belt comprising of Punjab and Northern Uttar Pradesh region. This

has necessitated the dispersion of industry towards consumer centres such as Gorakhpur, Panipat etc.

Ease of transport through Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdhishpur(HVJ) gas pipeline and rail has facilitated

diversification of this industry at Vijaypur, Jagdalpur, Aonla, Gadipan, Babrala and Shahjahanpur.

Further, due to increased incidents of soil degradation, the demand for fertilizers has intensified in the

core agricultural belts. This has further fuelled the localization of fertilizer plants.

Fertiliser subsidy by government has also incentivised decentralised fertiliser production near the

consumer centres.

Thus, fertilizer industry is no more bound to the hitherto raw material rich regions. New set of demand

and supply side factors coupled with government policies have started playing crucial role in determining

its final location.

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