Mains Practice Questions

1. We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

Quotes to Enrich Your Essay:

• Chief Seattle: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children."
• Mahatma Gandhi: "The earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."

Theoretical and Philosophical Dimensions:

• Intergenerational Responsibility and Sustainability:
  • The concept of intergenerational justice emphasizes that the present generation has a moral obligation to safeguard natural resources for future generations.
  • The Rights of Future Generations Theory (John Rawls) argues that sustainable development should be prioritized over short-term economic gains.
• Environmental Ethics and Human Responsibility:
  • Deep Ecology (Arne Naess): Advocates for a shift from anthropocentrism (human-centered) to ecocentrism (nature-centered) thinking.
  • Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic: Encourages treating the environment as a community to which we belong, rather than as a resource to exploit.

Policy and Historical Examples:

• Failures Due to Environmental Neglect:
  • Deforestation in the Amazon: Short-term economic benefits from logging and agriculture have long-term consequences for biodiversity and climate.
  • Industrial Revolution and Pollution: Rapid industrialization without environmental safeguards led to issues like the Great Smog of London (1952).
  • Aral Sea Crisis: Over-extraction of water for agriculture led to the near disappearance of a once-thriving ecosystem.
• Sustainable Models of Development:
  • The Chipko Movement (India): A grassroots movement emphasizing ecological conservation through local participation.
  • Scandinavian Renewable Energy Models: Nations like Sweden and Denmark have successfully transitioned to green energy while maintaining economic prosperity.

Contemporary Examples:

• Corporate and Technological Innovations in Sustainability:
  • Tesla and Electric Vehicles: Leading the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in transportation.
  • Circular Economy Initiatives: Companies like Unilever and IKEA are reducing waste by implementing sustainable supply chains.
• Global Environmental Efforts:
  • Paris Agreement (2015): A global framework for limiting climate change and reducing carbon emissions.
  • India’s Renewable Energy Push: Ambitious goals to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030.
  • Afforestation and Conservation Projects: Initiatives like the Bonn Challenge aim to restore degraded ecosystems globally.

2. Progress is best measured not by speed, but by direction.

Quotes to Enrich Your Essay:

• Mahatma Gandhi: "There is more to life than increasing its speed."
• Peter Drucker: "Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things."

Theoretical and Philosophical Dimensions:

• Quality vs. Speed in Development:
  • Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach: Progress should be evaluated based on improvements in human well-being, not just economic indicators.
  • Aristotle’s Golden Mean: Advocates a balanced approach to progress, avoiding extremes of haste or stagnation.
  • Buddhist Philosophy (Middle Path): Emphasizes steady, mindful growth rather than reckless speed.
• Ethical Dimensions of Measured Progress:
  • Utilitarianism (John Stuart Mill): Decisions should focus on maximizing overall well-being rather than short-term gains.
  • Gandhian Model of Development: Emphasizes self-sufficiency, sustainability, and equitable growth rather than mere industrialization.

Policy and Historical Examples:

• Failures Due to Rapid but Misguided Growth:
  • The Soviet Union’s Industrialization Drive: Led to environmental degradation and unsustainable economic policies.
  • 2008 Financial Crisis: Rapid expansion of the financial sector without proper regulation resulted in a global economic collapse.
• Success Stories of Steady and Purposeful Progress:
  • India’s Green Revolution: Prioritized long-term agricultural productivity over short-term economic growth.
  • Germany’s Energiewende (Energy Transition): A gradual, well-planned shift to renewable energy without destabilizing the economy.
  • Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index: Measures progress through holistic well-being rather than GDP alone.

Contemporary Examples:

• Technology and Business Strategies:
  • Slow and Steady Growth of Infosys: Unlike tech companies chasing rapid valuation, Infosys focused on sustainable business expansion.
  • Tesla’s Long-Term Vision: Despite initial losses, its strategic focus on sustainable transport has led to long-term industry transformation.
• Governance and Global Development Trends:
  • India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) Initiative: Emphasizes long-term domestic industrial growth rather than import dependency.
  • Universal Basic Income Experiments (Finland): Focus on long-term economic security rather than short-term job creation