"Recurring floods and landslides expose governance gaps in disaster preparedness"
Hazard vs. Disaster Risk
a hazard is a physical event; a disaster occurs when it intersects with vulnerability and inadequate governance
Sendai Framework 2015–2030
international DRR framework with four priorities and Target G for universal multi-hazard EWS by 2030
India's disaster landscape is shaped by two intersecting forces: its diverse and ecologically dynamic physiography, and decades of development choices that have systematically increased exposure to natural hazards. Floods are the most frequent natural disaster in India by area affected, while landslides rank as the second most frequent hazard in hilly terrain, affecting approximately 13% of India's total landmass (~0.42 million sq km). Risk is concentrated in the Himalayan arc — covering Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and the northeastern states — and the Western Ghats, spanning Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Goa.
The overarching legal framework is the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which established a three-tier institutional structure: the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at the apex (chaired by the Prime Minister), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) chaired by Chief Ministers, and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) at the district level. Internationally, India is a signatory to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, whose four priority areas include understanding disaster risk, strengthening governance, investing in resilience, and enhancing preparedness. Target G of the Sendai Framework calls for universal access to multi-hazard early warning systems by 2030 — a target India is yet to fully operationalise.
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), also known as the Gadgil Committee, submitted its report recommending that large portions of the Western Ghats be designated Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) with strict restrictions on quarrying, mining, and construction. Its recommendations have faced sustained political resistance from the states concerned, a tension that lies at the heart of recurring disaster vulnerability in Kerala and neighbouring states.
A foundational insight for UPSC aspirants is that natural hazards and disasters are not synonymous. A hazard is a physical event — heavy rainfall, a steep slope, a river in spate. A disaster occurs when that hazard intersects with a vulnerable population, a degraded ecosystem, and inadequate governance. The same rainfall event can produce zero fatalities in one location and hundreds in another, depending on land-use patterns, early warning infrastructure, and the quality of local governance. This distinction — between hazard and disaster risk — is central to the Sendai Framework and to any sophisticated mains answer on disaster management.
The Brahmaputra basin exemplifies this complexity. The river and its tributaries are inherently dynamic: they shift channels, deposit sediment, and inundate floodplains during the monsoon as part of their natural ecology. The problem is not flooding per se but the dramatic increase in human exposure. Expanding settlements on floodplains, embankment construction that restricts natural river movement, wetland loss, and forest degradation in catchments have collectively amplified vulnerability. …
Consider the following statements regarding 'Earth Hour':
1.It is an initiative of UNEP and UNESCO.
2.It is a movement in which the participants switch off the lights for one hour on a certain day every year.
3.It is a movement to raise the awareness about the climate change and the need to save the planet.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding disaster risk in India:
1.A natural hazard and a disaster are equivalent concepts under the Sendai Framework.
2.Embankments along the Brahmaputra can increase disaster consequences when floods exceed their design limits.
3.The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel recommended designation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas to reduce landslide vulnerability.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which of the following correctly describes the institutional structure it establishes?
Which of the following best explains why similar rainfall events can produce vastly different disaster outcomes in different locations?
Consider the following statements about the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030:
1.It is the successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action.
2.Target G of the Sendai Framework calls for universal access to multi-hazard early warning systems by 2030.
3.India has not signed the Sendai Framework.
4.One of its four priority areas is 'Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience'.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Assertion (A): Treating wetlands, forests, and mangroves as protective infrastructure is central to reducing disaster risk in India.
Reason (R): These ecosystems regulate water flows, stabilise slopes, and buffer coastal communities, thereby reducing exposure to floods, landslides, and storm surges.
Which of the following is correct?
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