UPSC Mains 2026 · GS III · Q18 · 15 marks · 250 words

“Community participation is the cornerstone of effective disaster management”. Analyse this statement with suitable examples from India. Also discuss the challenges to community participation and measures to strengthen it.

हिन्दी में

“सामुदायिक सहभागिता प्रभावी आपदा प्रबंधन की आधारशिला है ।” इस कथन का विश्लेषण भारत से उपयुक्त उदाहरणों के साथ कीजिए । सामुदायिक सहभागिता की चुनौतियों और इसे मजबूत करने के उपायों की चर्चा भी कीजिए ।

Disaster Risk ReductionDisaster Management

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Bring out the importance of community-based disaster management in India.”

Wasim Ur RahmanAIR 281 · CSE 2024 · 122 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Community Based Disaster Management (CBDM) refers to managing and planning disaster mitigation through active involvement of the local community.

Body · points

Diagram
PRIs local school NGOs \ | / \ | / ( Stakeholders in CBDM ) / | \ / | \ local leaders local businesses civil society

Importance of CBDM

  1. Participatory management & solution finding

  2. Decentralised planning

  3. Bottom up approach

  4. Inclusion of local knowledge of vulnerabilities and solutions

  5. Better preparedness to deal with variety of disasters.

  6. Better coordination during actual disaster.

  7. community is the first responder and most reliable helping hands.

Steps required

  1. Formal training needs to be given

  2. Generating awareness about the standards of disaster response.

  3. More engagement through use of social media and technology.

Close · a summary

CBDM is a sustained and better path to prepare ourselves for disaster which can be helpful during any form of disaster. E.g- Kathmandu Earthquake

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 2026, General Studies Paper III, Q18. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.