Q.The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples.
How to approach: Align your primary arguments to support the thesis with authoritative reports, Supreme Court judgments, or historical facts while briefly acknowledging caveats.
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The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) defines desertification as land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas resulting from climatic variations and human activities. It is a global challenge that transcends traditional climatic boundaries.
Body
Drivers of Desertification:
Climate Change: Shifting rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and frequent droughts degrade vegetation cover, initiating desertification.
Loss of Natural Vegetation: Deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable land use expose topsoil to severe wind and water erosion.
Rapid Urbanization: Expanding urban centers deplete local resources, leaving surrounding lands degraded and vulnerable.
Global Evidence of Desertification Transcending Boundaries:
Global Scale: According to the FAO, desertification affects nearly two-thirds of all countries, impacting over a billion people.
Africa: Severe drylands cover two-thirds of the continent, with rapid desert expansion in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
Asia: Expanding deserts in China and India, soil erosion in Nepal, and degraded grasslands in Central Asia make Asia the most heavily impacted continent by population.
Latin America: Despite hosting vast tropical rainforests, nearly a quarter of Latin America and the Caribbean consists of degraded drylands facing desertification.
Conclusion
Desertification is a pressing global crisis. Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030 requires holistic, trans-boundary land management strategies.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2020 (Question 2) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper I — Heritage, History, Society & Geography → Physical, Human & Indian Geography |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 10 Marks • 150 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 7–8 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Substantiate / Justify: Prove the validity of the given statement using strong empirical evidence, historical precedents, or data. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2020 GS1 (Geography)
How should I structure the answer for this UPSC Mains 2020 GS Paper I question on Geography?
This 2020 GS Paper I question carries 10 marks with a 150-word limit and uses the "Substantiate / Justify" directive. Align your primary arguments to support the thesis with authoritative reports, Supreme Court judgments, or historical facts while briefly acknowledging caveats. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words) and aim to finish within 7–8 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2020 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper I — Heritage, History, Society & Geography under the syllabus module "Physical, Human & Indian Geography". You can explore all repeated questions from Geography in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Geography PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
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