UPSC CARE Mains Practice 7th January 2026
Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- India’s emergence as the world’s largest rice producer has intensified concerns over water security, climate change, and ecological sustainability.” Critically examine the challenges associated with rice cultivation in India and suggest measures for achieving sustainable rice production.
- Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) have emerged as a major challenge in rapidly urbanising Indian cities.Explain the causes and impacts of the UHI phenomenon and discuss how it affects urban biodiversity, particularly birds, suggesting suitable climate-resilient and ecologically sensitive mitigation measures.
India’s emergence as the world’s largest rice producer has intensified concerns over water security, climate change, and ecological sustainability.” Critically examine the challenges associated with rice cultivation in India and suggest measures for achieving sustainable rice production.
Introduction:
In 2025, India emerged as the world’s largest rice producer and exporter, supplying nearly 40% of global rice exports. While this strengthens global food security, it has also exposed serious sustainability challenges, especially in water-stressed regions.
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Challenges Associated with Rice Cultivation
- Groundwater Depletion:
Rice is highly water-intensive, consuming 3,000–4,000 litres per kg. In Punjab and Haryana, groundwater extraction exceeds recharge by up to 57%, leading to inter-generational ecological injustice. - Environmental Degradation:
Flooded paddy fields emit methane, contributing 10–20% of agricultural GHG emissions. Stubble burning further aggravates PM2.5 pollution and winter smog. - Health Risks:
Use of arsenic-contaminated groundwater leads to arsenic accumulation in rice, increasing risks of cancer and neurological disorders. - Economic Stress on Farmers:
Rising costs of deep borewells and energy-intensive pumps trap small farmers in debt, while subsidies disproportionately benefit large farmers. - Climate Vulnerability:
Climate change may reduce rice yields by 6–10%, with erratic monsoons threatening rainfed eastern India.
Measures for Sustainable Rice Production
• Shift from input subsidies to direct income support and payments for ecosystem services.
• Promote water-efficient technologies like DSR, AWD, SRI, and micro-irrigation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
• Develop climate-resilient rice varieties under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture.
• Break rice–wheat monoculture through diversification into millets, pulses, and agroforestry.
• Strengthen community-led groundwater governance and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
Conclusion:
Rice remains indispensable for food security, but its unchecked expansion threatens India’s water–energy–climate nexus. Sustainable rice production requires policy reform, technological innovation, and diversification to balance food security with ecological resilience.
Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) have emerged as a major challenge in rapidly urbanising Indian cities.Explain the causes and impacts of the UHI phenomenon and discuss how it affects urban biodiversity, particularly birds, suggesting suitable climate-resilient and ecologically sensitive mitigation measures.
Introduction:
Rapid urbanisation in India has significantly altered local microclimates, leading to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon, wherein urban areas record higher temperatures than their rural surroundings. Growing concretisation, shrinking green spaces and rising anthropogenic heat emissions have transformed cities into heat-retaining environments, intensifying climate risks for both humans and urban ecosystems.
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Causes of Urban Heat Island Effect
- Excessive concretisation (urban deserts): Asphalt and concrete absorb and store heat, while reduced vegetation lowers evapotranspiration.
- Urban canyon effect: High-rise buildings trap radiant energy, restrict wind flow and inhibit night-time heat release.
- Anthropogenic heat emissions: Heat from vehicles, industries, air conditioners and fossil fuel use raises ambient temperatures.
- Urban haze and pollution: Air pollutants act as a greenhouse layer, trapping outgoing long-wave radiation.
- Altered humidity dynamics: Higher temperatures reduce relative humidity, increasing thermal discomfort.
Impacts of Urban Heat Islands
Human and economic impacts:
UHIs increase heat-related illnesses, raise electricity demand for cooling (by up to 20%), reduce labour productivity and increase healthcare costs, while also affecting tourism and food price stability.
Environmental impacts:
They alter urban microclimates, disturb rainfall patterns, increase stormwater runoff, reduce groundwater recharge and worsen air quality through thermal inversion and ground-level ozone formation.
Impact on Urban Biodiversity, Especially Birds
Birds serve as early indicators of urban ecological stress. Elevated temperatures cause dehydration, hyperthermia and oxidative stress. Behavioural responses include reduced daytime activity, nest abandonment and shortened breeding seasons. Empirical studies from Indian cities reveal declining bird abundance and species richness in hotter urban zones, leading to biotic homogenisation, where only heat-tolerant species dominate.
Way Forward
- Promote urban greening through native trees, green roofs and parks.
- Restore urban ponds and wetlands as natural heat sinks and wildlife habitats.
- Adopt climate-sensitive urban design using cool roofs, reflective and permeable surfaces.
- Develop biodiversity corridors linking green and blue spaces.
- Strengthen building codes and encourage citizen participation.
These measures align with the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, SDG-11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG-15 (Life on Land).
Conclusion:
Urban Heat Islands are not merely thermal anomalies but ecological warnings. Integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning can simultaneously cool cities and conserve biodiversity, ensuring resilient and livable urban futures.
