Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
5) Critically analyze the need to promote the emerging slew of shared mobility options and app-based ride providers in India.(250 words)
Why this question
Even though the governments, including the central and the state governments have tried to
increase and improve the public transport system, the efforts have not been successful in weaning people away from private transport and traffic woes continue. The issue is related to GS 3 syllabus under the following heading-
Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to dig deep into the emerging shared mobility options and app-based ride providers and analyze the advantages offered by them and problems faced by them.
Directive word
Critically analyze- We have to scrutinize and look into the details of the issue. We have to identify the key aspects of the question, have a discussion on each one of them and form a personal opinion on the issue in the end.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Mention the increase in number of motor vehicles in India from 5.4 million in 1981 to 210 million in 2015. Also mention the emerging shared mobility options and app-based ride providers and give some examples like Zoom car etc.
Body-
- Discuss briefly the meaning of shared mobility.
- Discuss its advantages vis a vis public transport system. E.g. it provides end-to-end mobility, more customized services, complements well with self-driving technology, on-demand availability, the flexibility to choose vehicle type as per need and freedom from parking hassles. It also cuts down costs related to car ownership, such as maintenance, service and insurance etc.
- Discuss the problems faced by such shared mobility services e.g they don’t fall within the ambit of stage carriages or contact carriages, regulatory issues related to pricing etc.
Conclusion- mention how —electrification, shared mobility, connectivity and autonomous driving— will drive the future of mobility and transportation and form a balanced, fair and a concise opinion on the issue.
