UPSC Mains 2014 · GS III · Q14 · 12.5 marks · 200 words

Drought has been recognized as a disaster in view of its spatial expanse, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effects on vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), discuss the mechanisms for preparedness to deal with likely El Niño and La Niña fallouts in India.

हिन्दी में

सूखे को उसके स्थानिक विस्तार, कालिक अवधि, मंथर प्रारम्भ और कमज़ोर वर्गों पर स्थायी प्रभावों की दृष्टि से आपदा के रूप में मान्यता दी गई है। राष्ट्रीय आपदा प्रबन्धन प्राधिकरण (एन० डी० एम० ए०) के सितम्बर 2010 मार्गदर्शी सिद्धान्तों पर ध्यान केन्द्रित करते हुए भारत में एल नीनो और ला नीना के सम्भावित दुष्प्रभावों से निपटने के लिए तैयारी की कार्यविधियों पर चर्चा कीजिए।

Disaster Risk ReductionDisaster Management

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “How is Flash drought different from conventional drought? Discuss about the vulnerability of India to Flash drought related hazards.”

Shreyansh SuranaAIR 413 · CSE 2022 · 209 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a figure

68 % area of India is prone to draught as per Geological Survey of India.

Flash DroughtConventional Drought
(1) Intensifies over very short duration eg: 2-6 weeks.(1) Takes long period of time to culminate say- months.
(2) Generally multiple factors acting in concert. eg: Low rainfall + Heatwave + Dry spells.(2) Even one factor prolonged can cause drought eg: Low rainfall over a period of time.
(3) Difficult to predict and take precautionary measure(3) Easier to mitigate by proper water and resource management. eg: National Watershed Management Program.

Body · points and prose

Vulnerability of India to Flash Drought

  1. Large number of people directly dependant on rain-fed agriculture - 48 % rainfed area.

  2. Already exesebaratiing land desertification (30% area vulnerable- MoES).

  3. Large cattle population depend on direct grazing.

  4. Water security → (Diagram showing bars for 2005 at 1800 lit and 2018 at 1100 lit, with caption "Already water stressed")

  5. Industry like- coal power plant, etc. dependent on water.

Way Ahead:

  • Land degradation Atlas to be used for mitigation (ISRO)
  • Scientific dam operation and maintenance
  • Traditional knowledge - Tanka, Johad, Kuls, etc.

Close · a way forward

None written.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper III, Q14. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.