UPSC Mains 2015 · GS III · Q16 · 12.5 marks · 200 words

The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.

हिन्दी में

भारतीय उप-महाद्वीप में भूकम्पों की आवृत्ति बढ़ती हुई प्रतीत होती है । फिर भी, इनके प्रभाव के न्यूनीकरण हेतु भारत की तैयारी (तत्परता) में महत्वपूर्ण कमियाँ हैं । विभिन्न पहलुओं की चर्चा कीजिए ।

Disaster ManagementDisaster Risk Reduction

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Some regions in India, including Delhi, are highly vulnerable to the impact of earthquakes originating in the Himalayas. Discuss. What institutional measures have been taken to mitigate earthquake losses in India? Do you think there are significant gaps that still exist?”

Animesh PradhanAIR 2 · CSE 2023 · 234 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a figure

About 59% of India is vulnerable to earthquakes with Hazard Zone V, IV and III accounting for 11%, 18% and 30% respectively.

Various regions like Delhi are vulnerable to earthquakes →

Body · points

Diagram
[Map of India showing seismic zones] - Legend: - Shaded area with solid fill: Zone V - Shaded area with diagonal lines: Zone IV - Shaded area with grid lines: Zone III - Shaded area with simple box: Zone II - Caption: earthquake Hazard vulnerability
  1. Geomorphology

Due to historical Delhi ridge across Potwar plateau in Delhi, vulnerability in disturbance of plate tectonics is higher.

Diagram
[Map of North India] - Labeled 'Himalayas' with arrow - Point marked 'Delhi' - Circle area labeled 'Potwar plateau'

  1. Earthquake swarms as seen traversing from Afghanistan/Hindukush to Delhi, Ramgarh & Palghar etc.

  2. Population density with 4 crore population and high density, probability of loss of lives/property is higher.

  3. Violation of floor safety Index - usually flouted by skyscrappers in NCR - Gurgaon & Noida - increasing the overall vulnera-bility.

  4. Building design - Unsustainable construction practices and adjacent & proximate building structures make them prone to larger damage.

  5. Sensitive terrain - especially in the Terai region marking a transition from Himalayas to plain.

Institutional measures to mitigate earthquake loss →

  1. National Policies like National Retrofitting Mission, National Building Code signify the sustainable measures to control damage.

  2. Schemes of PM 10 point agenda helps in increased community participation & technology infusion.

  3. Bodies like NDMA, SDMA, DDMA and Disaster Response Force, NSS etc. increase the robustness of the institutional set up.

  4. Technology like SAGE Model, Quake App, SATARK App in Odisha etc.

  5. International like Sendai Framework, Hyogo Protocol, CDRI etc.

Diagram
Present gap -> 1) Lack of community participation -> 2) Institutional mechanism shortfall to check unsustainable building -> 3) Awareness to deal earthquake for public -> 4) Technology infusion (Ex LiDAR uses in US) -> 5) lack of funds for 'build back better'

Close · a quotation

Hence, "it is not the disaster that kills, but the lack of prepardness that does"

3 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper III, Q16. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.