Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
7) Do you think mere amendment of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) act, 1981 will aid the fight against pollution in the country? Critically analyse.(250 words)
Why this question:
The article explains that amending and updating the 1981 Air Act will help in the battle against pollution.
Key demand of the question:
One has to explain that Air pollution in India is not simply an environmental problem, but a major public health concern. It impacts all those breathing in the polluted air — children, the elderly, women and men alike. As its concentration worsens in India and statistics grow grimmer, so do our policymakers’ reactions.
Directive:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief set the context of the question by highlighting the air pollution concerns being witnessed in the capital.
Body:
Explain that Statistics show that India is in a worse situation compared to its global counterparts. According to Greenpeace, 22 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities are in India and Delhi has yet again bagged the position of the world’s most polluted capital. These are grim figures, especially when compared to India’s neighbours: Five in China, two in Pakistan and one in Bangladesh. In 2018, India was placed in the bottom five countries on the Environmental Performance Index, ranking 177th out of 180 countries, along with Bangladesh, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nepal.
Then explain what the root causes of the situation are.
Discuss most importantly significance of amending the air pollution act.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way ahead.
