UPSC Mains 2019 · GS III · Q18 · 15 marks · 250 words

Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help disaster mitigation in the case of landslides.

हिन्दी में

किसी भी आपदा प्रबंधन प्रक्रम में आपदा तैयारी पहला कदम होता है। भूस्खलनों के मामले में, स्पष्ट कीजिए कि संकट अनुक्षेत्र मानचित्रण किस प्रकार आपदा अल्पीकरण में मदद करेगा।

Disaster Risk ReductionDisaster Management

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Analyse the reasons behind the increasing vulnerability of the Himalayan region to landslides. What steps can be taken for their management and control?”

Sandeep BadadAIR 82 · CSE 2025 · 199 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Landslides are sudden slip of debris of rock & land under influence of gravity. They are destructive in hilly regions like Himalayas.

Body · points

Vulnerability of Himalayan region

  1. Rise in frequency in recent decade → Joshimath episode

  2. Unconsolidated deposits → vulnerable to slip

  3. Tectonic activity → Trans-Eurasian seismic belt

Diagram
* Map of India depicting landslide prone regions: * Shaded areas in the Himalayan belt along the northern border * A dot in the Joshimath area

Landslide prone regions

④ Rainfall → cloud burst & heavy intense rainfall triggers ⑤ avalanch and snowfall can trigger landslide ⑥ Human activities → construction of → large dams → altered stability → Urban density → breached carrying tourism, building capacity footfall ⑦ Glacial outburst also trigger landslides ⑧ Steep slopes make them vulnerable

Steps taken to manage & control

Following NDMA guidelines & other initiatives: ① Zonation and mapping of landslide prone areas eg ISRO landslide Atlas

  1. Hazard risk vulnerability assessment

  2. Regulatory measures → building byelaws → restriction on construction

  3. Capacity building of locals → training and drills

  4. Structural measure → Creating bunds, walls → Afforestation on slopes → Stability → Fencing to minimise slippage

  5. Report by Expert committee on Himalayan Ecosystem → calls for minimal interference

  6. Sustainable tourism, indigenous

Close · a summary

architecture (wooden houses).

With adequate measures it can be managed & controlled.

2 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 2019, General Studies Paper III, Q18. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.