Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
5. Improving air quality in the cities requires a transformative planning approach guided by the singular objective of reducing the use of polluting vehicles. In the light of the statement above discuss and analyse the significance of India switching to new emission standards in the coming days. (250 words)
Reference: You Tube
Why this question:
The question is in the backdrop of the fact that BS 6 will be the new emission standard that all vehicles in the country will have to adhere to from April 1, 2020. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the context of the question in detail and explain in what way such transformative planning approach is the need of the hour to overcome the challenge of Pollution in the country.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly highlight the shift from BS IV to BS VI.
Body:
- Discuss the current conditions of pollution in the Indian cities.
- Explain why is it important to upgrade these norms?
- Upgrading to stricter fuel standards helps tackle air pollution.
- Global automakers are betting big on India as vehicle penetration is still low here, when compared to developed countries.
- At the same time, cities such as Delhi are already being listed among those with the poorest air quality in the world. The national capital’s recent odd-even car experiment and judicial activism against the registration of big diesel cars shows that governments can no longer afford to relax on this front.
- Discuss what steps are to be taken to address the challenges.
Conclusion:
Conclude that outcome of such policies should be welcomed for the positive impact it will have on air quality and public health and more of such approaches should be taken up in future.
