UPSC Mains 2019 · GS III · Q8 · 10 marks · 150 words

Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters.

हिन्दी में

आपदा प्रभावों और लोगों के लिए उसके खतरे को परिभाषित करने के लिए भेद्यता एक अत्यावश्यक तत्त्व है। आपदाओं के प्रति भेद्यता का किस प्रकार और किन-किन तरीकों के साथ चरित्र-चित्रण किया जा सकता है? आपदाओं के संदर्भ में भेद्यता के विभिन्न प्रकारों पर चर्चा कीजिए।

Disaster Risk Reduction

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Global Assessment Report 2019 highlights India's vulnerability towards disaster. Mention its findings and discuss the reasons for disaster Vulnerability.”

Abhijit RayAIR 50 · CSE 2021 · 139 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

With India's unique geographic location and physiography, it is one of the most vulnerable nations from a disaster prone perspective.

Body · points

Global Assessment Report 2019

  • geology of India - one of the most important reasons for its vulnerability
  • Himalayan region - most vulnerable to earthquake due to faults in between continental plate.
  • rising population eg: unplanned urbanization - giving rise to increased vulnerability.
  • vulnerability of cyclones due to long coastline and pressure conditions both before and after monsoon.

Challenges

  • focus more on post disaster relief in India.
  • socioeconomic conditions limit people's ability to give attention to disaster management.

Way forward

  • Apada Mitra initiative - that allows community involvement in relief and rescue.
  • Implementation of Sendai framework

Close · a way forward

India's vulnerability to disasters is a reality that must be dealt with international cooperation (eg CDRI)

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

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper III, Q8. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.