Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- Q. Hyper-local weather forecasting can strengthen climate-resilient agriculture and disaster management in India. Discuss with reference to IMD’s block-level monsoon forecast system and Bharat Forecast System.
- Q. The PM-SHRI scheme reflects both the promise of school transformation and the challenges of cooperative federalism in education. Discuss.
Q. Hyper-local weather forecasting can strengthen climate-resilient agriculture and disaster management in India. Discuss with reference to IMD’s block-level monsoon forecast system and Bharat Forecast System.
(UPSC GS Paper III: Science and Technology, Agriculture, Disaster Management, Climate Change)
Introduction:
India’s agriculture is highly dependent on the southwest monsoon. However, rainfall is often uneven across regions, districts and even blocks. Therefore, broad weather forecasts are not always sufficient for farmers and local administrators. IMD’s new block-level monsoon forecast system and Bharat Forecast System aim to address this gap through hyper-local forecasting.
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Role in Agriculture
- Block-level monsoon forecasts can help farmers decide the correct time for sowing. This is important because premature sowing without adequate rainfall may lead to seed loss and crop failure.
- Localised rainfall forecasts can also guide irrigation, fertiliser application, pest control and harvesting. This is useful in rainfed regions, where farmers depend mainly on monsoon rainfall.
- The Bharat Forecast System, with its 6-km resolution, can provide more precise short- and medium-range weather information. This can support climate-resilient agriculture and reduce uncertainty for farmers.
Role in Disaster Management
- Hyper-local forecasts can improve preparedness for heavy rainfall, floods, heatwaves and other extreme weather events.
- Local administrations can issue timely warnings, prepare shelters, regulate transport and protect vulnerable communities.
- Impact-based forecasting can also help authorities understand the likely effects of weather events on crops, roads, electricity, water bodies and public safety.
Challenges
- The success of such systems depends on dense observational data, automatic weather stations, Doppler weather radars and strong computing capacity.
- Forecasts must also be communicated in simple language through mobile phones, local media, Panchayats and agriculture extension networks.
Way Forward
- India should expand weather observation infrastructure, integrate forecasts with Krishi Vigyan Kendras and promote local-language advisories.
- Digital access in rural areas should also be improved so that farmers can use weather information effectively.
Conclusion:
Hyper-local forecasting can transform weather information into practical decision-support for farmers and administrators. If implemented effectively, IMD’s new systems can strengthen climate-resilient agriculture, reduce disaster losses and improve rural livelihoods.
Q. The PM-SHRI scheme reflects both the promise of school transformation and the challenges of cooperative federalism in education. Discuss.
(GS Paper II – Education, Governance and Centre-State Relations)
Introduction:
PM-SHRI, or Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2022 to upgrade more than 14,500 existing schools into model institutions that showcase the implementation of NEP 2020. The scheme aims to improve public school education through modern infrastructure, digital learning, competency-based pedagogy and continuous quality assessment.
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Promise of School Transformation
- PM-SHRI schools are expected to provide a safe, inclusive and stimulating learning environment. They include smart classrooms, computer labs, integrated science labs, Atal Tinkering Labs, ICT facilities, digital libraries and vocational labs.
- The scheme promotes experiential, inquiry-driven, holistic, flexible and learner-centred pedagogy. It also focuses on competency-based learning, real-life application of knowledge, STEAM education, sports, arts and early childhood care.
- The School Quality Assessment Framework can help monitor performance and support continuous improvement. Student registries can also help track enrolment and learning progress.
- Thus, PM-SHRI can create exemplar schools that may guide wider school reforms and improve learning outcomes in public education.
Cooperative Federalism Challenges
- The scheme also shows the challenges of Centre-State coordination in education. Education is a sensitive social sector where States have their own language policies, curriculum priorities and political concerns.
- West Bengal has raised concerns over funding and branding, as States have to bear 40% of the cost while the scheme carries the PM-SHRI name. Tamil Nadu has concerns over the three-language formula under NEP 2020. Kerala has raised ideological concerns over NEP implementation.
- The requirement of signing an MoU has delayed implementation in these States. Linking PM-SHRI with Samagra Shiksha funding has further increased Centre-State tensions.
Way Forward
- The Centre and States should resolve concerns through dialogue. The scheme should allow flexibility for State Curriculum Frameworks, regional languages and local educational needs. Fund release should be transparent and predictable. Monitoring should focus on learning outcomes, inclusion and school quality.
Conclusion:
PM-SHRI has the potential to become an important instrument for improving the quality of public-school education in India. By combining modern infrastructure, digital learning, competency-based pedagogy, green practices and continuous quality assessment, it can help create model schools for wider reform. However, education is a shared and sensitive governance area. Therefore, the scheme must be implemented through dialogue, State flexibility and respect for regional concerns. Its real success will depend not merely on upgrading buildings, but on improving learning outcomes, inclusion, teacher capacity and student welfare.
