QUESTION 17
GS3
15 marks
Define the concept of “carrying capacity” of an ecosystem as relevant to the environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region.
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Define carrying capacity and explain why it matters for planning sustainable regional development.
Define + ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Definition: maximum population or activity an ecosystem can sustain without degradation≈50 words
- 2Relevance: tourism limits, urban planning, water use, waste assimilation≈50 words
- 3Examples: Joshimath, Shimla water crisis, Himalayan hill stations≈50 words
- 4Tools: carrying capacity studies, EIA, zoning≈50 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
DefinitionWhy vitalExamplesPlanning toolsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Not applying carrying capacity to tourism, water or urban planning
- No case like Joshimath subsidence or Shimla's 2018 water crisis
Draw this
- Graph: population curve flattening at carrying capacity
Value addition
- ExampleShimla's 2018 water crisis showed tourism and population outgrowing supply.Government of Himachal Pradesh
- CaseThe Supreme Court (2024) asked for carrying capacity assessments of Himalayan towns.Supreme Court
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 17 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Ritika Chitlangia · Page 6 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Abhishek Singh · Page 5 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.