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Q78 (IAS/2023) Geography › World Human & Economic Geography › Global humanitarian issues Official Key

Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in news in the recent past for its very severe famine?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 4 (Somalia). This selection is accurate based on the country's protracted history of instability and recent humanitarian crises.

  • Decades of Civil Strife: Somalia has lacked a stable central government since the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991, leading to prolonged conflict involving warlords, clans, and extremist groups like Al-Shabaab.
  • Severe Famine: The Horn of Africa region, particularly Somalia, faced a catastrophic famine in 2011 and near-famine conditions in 2017 and 2022-23 due to the worst drought in forty years, exacerbated by global supply chain disruptions.
  • Comparison: While Angola had a long civil war, it has been relatively stable since 2002. Costa Rica and Ecuador are in Latin America; Costa Rica is notably peaceful with no military, and while Ecuador faces recent unrest, it has not experienced decades of civil war or severe famine like Somalia.

Therefore, Somalia’s combination of persistent conflict and recurring acute food insecurity makes it the most fitting answer.

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Q. Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in news in the recent pas…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 2.5/10
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This is a 'Headline to History' question. While triggered by the 2023 Horn of Africa drought news, the answer relies on the country's static reputation (Somalia = Civil War + Famine). If you track 'Conflict Zones' in your map work, this is a sitter; otherwise, it requires specific current affairs recall.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Has Angola experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been in the news in 2023 for a very severe famine?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 83
Strength: 4/5
“Africa has witnessed a catastrophic growth in the incidence of both mass starvation and chronic hunger. Te famine vulnerable countries of the world have been shown in Fig. 8.32. It may be observed from Fig. 8.32 that the worst afected areas of famine lie in the continent of Africa. Te Sahel region, stretching over Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Madagascar record one famine year after almost every two years. Te deaths in the famines of the decade of 1990s were in millions. Te other highly vulnerable areas to famines are Mongolia, western parts of China, parts of Afghanistan, Iran, Baluchistan, Sindh (Pakistan), Bangladesh, Myanmar, parts of India Central American countries and parts of Bolivia and Paraguay (Fig.”
Why relevant

Says the worst-affected areas of famine lie in Africa and lists regions/countries where famine is frequent, establishing Africa as a continent with recurrent severe food crises.

How to extend

A student could note that Angola is an African country (from a map) and therefore plausibly vulnerable, then check country-specific histories and 2023 news for confirmation.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 82
Strength: 5/5
“Te administration can reduce the miseries of such people by an efective Public Distribution System (PDS) through which the edibles and essential commodities are provided at a cheaper rate. Hunger and famine in particular, is intolerable in the modern world because it is unnecessary and unwarranted (Sen and Dreze, 1989). Famine causation has often been linked to natural disasters, population growth and war, producing a reduction in food supply. But some major famines (for example, Bengal in 1943) were not preceded by a signifcant decline in food production or absolute availability, and in some cases have been associated with food export.”
Why relevant

States famine causation is often linked to war and that famines can occur even without production declines, highlighting a pattern where conflict produces severe food shortages.

How to extend

Since the statement mentions decades of civil strife, a student could combine this rule with independent knowledge that prolonged conflict can create famine-like conditions and then look up Angola's conflict history and 2023 reports.

Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 29: World Population > Some Basic Population Problems > p. 298
Strength: 3/5
“India, China, Indonesia, Zaire). It is most disheartening to note that the countries of Monsoon Asia which can ill-afford any further increases in population register some of the greatest population increases. According to a recent United Nations survey, four out of five people in the world are probably underfed. Many of the Asian countries suffer acute shortages of food and many people perish in famines every year. The problem of food shortages is greatest in China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, where there are far more mouths to be fed than there are crops to be harvested. For clothing, Asia's needs are not too great, thanks to its tropical climate.”
Why relevant

Notes that many African countries suffer acute food shortages and high undernourishment, giving an example list that frames Africa-wide vulnerability to famine.

How to extend

Use this general pattern plus a world map to treat Angola as among many vulnerable African states and then consult specific humanitarian data or news for Angola in 2023.

Economics, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Food Security in India > Why food security? > p. 42
Strength: 4/5
“It creates a shortage of food in the affected areas. Due to shortage of food, the prices goes up. At the high prices, some people cannot afford to buy food. If such calamity happens in a very wide spread area or is stretched over a longer time period, it may cause a situation of starvation. A massive starvation might take a turn of famine. A Famine is characterised by wide spread deaths due to starvation and”
Why relevant

Provides a working definition of famine as widespread starvation and deaths caused by prolonged shortage of food, clarifying what 'very severe famine' would mean.

How to extend

A student could apply this definition to 2023 reports about Angola to judge whether reported conditions meet the threshold of a 'very severe famine'.

Economics, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Food Security in India > Suggested Activity > p. 44
Strength: 2/5
“Nothing like Bengal famine has happened in India again. It is, however, disturbing to note that even today, famine like conditions exist in many parts of the country, leading to starvation deaths at times. Natural calamities and pandemics may also lead to food shortage. For example Covid-19 pandemic had an adverse impact upon the food security. Restriction on movement of people and goods and services impacted economic activity. Therefore food security is needed in a country to ensure food at all times, including calamities and pandemics Who are food-insecure? Although a large section of people suffer from food and nutrition insecurity in India, the worst affected groups are landless people with little or no land to depend upon, traditional artisans, providers of traditional services, petty selfemployed workers and destitutes including beggars.”
Why relevant

Explains that natural calamities and pandemics can lead to food shortages and famine-like conditions, showing multiple pathways (not only war) to severe food crises.

How to extend

Combine this with knowledge of recent global shocks (e.g., pandemic, climate events) to consider alternative or compounding causes for any 2023 food emergency in Angola and then check reporting for causes.

Statement 2
Has Costa Rica experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been in the news in 2023 for a very severe famine?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 83
Strength: 4/5
“Africa has witnessed a catastrophic growth in the incidence of both mass starvation and chronic hunger. Te famine vulnerable countries of the world have been shown in Fig. 8.32. It may be observed from Fig. 8.32 that the worst afected areas of famine lie in the continent of Africa. Te Sahel region, stretching over Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Madagascar record one famine year after almost every two years. Te deaths in the famines of the decade of 1990s were in millions. Te other highly vulnerable areas to famines are Mongolia, western parts of China, parts of Afghanistan, Iran, Baluchistan, Sindh (Pakistan), Bangladesh, Myanmar, parts of India Central American countries and parts of Bolivia and Paraguay (Fig.”
Why relevant

Lists 'Central American countries' among areas vulnerable to famine, suggesting the region can experience serious food crises.

How to extend

A student could note Costa Rica is in Central America and therefore check regional news/historical records to see if Costa Rica specifically had prolonged strife or a 2023 famine.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 82
Strength: 4/5
“Te administration can reduce the miseries of such people by an efective Public Distribution System (PDS) through which the edibles and essential commodities are provided at a cheaper rate. Hunger and famine in particular, is intolerable in the modern world because it is unnecessary and unwarranted (Sen and Dreze, 1989). Famine causation has often been linked to natural disasters, population growth and war, producing a reduction in food supply. But some major famines (for example, Bengal in 1943) were not preceded by a signifcant decline in food production or absolute availability, and in some cases have been associated with food export.”
Why relevant

States that famine causation is often linked to war and that effective public distribution systems can reduce famine, linking civil strife/administration failure to food shortages.

How to extend

One could use this rule to ask whether Costa Rica experienced sustained internal conflict or PDS breakdown that might cause famine, then verify with country-specific sources.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 81
Strength: 3/5
“Te main causes of famines have been described briefy in the following: 1. Natural calamities: Any aspect of physical environment's natural functions that may adversely afect human society to cause social disruption may be an important cause of famines. Te earthquakes, snowstorms, foods, droughts, and epidemics are such natural hazards. Te impact of these hazards is more serious in the developing and poor countries. India is not an exception to this.”
Why relevant

Identifies natural calamities (droughts, floods, epidemics) as major causes of famines, implying multiple non-conflict pathways to severe food shortages.

How to extend

Check whether Costa Rica in recent years faced such calamities in 2023 that could explain reports of a severe famine absent long-term civil strife.

Economics, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Food Security in India > Suggested Activity > p. 44
Strength: 3/5
“Nothing like Bengal famine has happened in India again. It is, however, disturbing to note that even today, famine like conditions exist in many parts of the country, leading to starvation deaths at times. Natural calamities and pandemics may also lead to food shortage. For example Covid-19 pandemic had an adverse impact upon the food security. Restriction on movement of people and goods and services impacted economic activity. Therefore food security is needed in a country to ensure food at all times, including calamities and pandemics Who are food-insecure? Although a large section of people suffer from food and nutrition insecurity in India, the worst affected groups are landless people with little or no land to depend upon, traditional artisans, providers of traditional services, petty selfemployed workers and destitutes including beggars.”
Why relevant

Notes pandemics and movement restrictions (e.g., COVID-19) can lead to food shortages, showing how global or regional shocks produce famine-like conditions.

How to extend

A student could investigate whether pandemic-related disruptions or other shocks affected Costa Rica's food supply chains around 2023.

Economics, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Food Security in India > Food Security in India > p. 46
Strength: 2/5
“Since the advent of the Green Revolution in the early-1970s, the country has avoided famine even during adverse weather conditions. India has become self-sufficient in foodgrains during the last 30 years because of a variety of crops grown all over the country. The availability of foodgrains (even in adverse weather conditions or otherwise) at the country”
Why relevant

Gives an example (India) where technological/agricultural change prevented famine, highlighting that famines are not inevitable and depend on national capacity.

How to extend

Use this contrast to check Costa Rica's agricultural resilience and policies to assess plausibility of decades-long famine or a sudden 2023 famine.

Statement analysis

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Statement 3
Has Ecuador experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been in the news in 2023 for a very severe famine?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Economics, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Food Security in India > Why food security? > p. 42
Strength: 5/5
“It creates a shortage of food in the affected areas. Due to shortage of food, the prices goes up. At the high prices, some people cannot afford to buy food. If such calamity happens in a very wide spread area or is stretched over a longer time period, it may cause a situation of starvation. A massive starvation might take a turn of famine. A Famine is characterised by wide spread deaths due to starvation and”
Why relevant

Defines famine as widespread starvation caused by prolonged shortages and price spikes—gives a clear criterion for what counts as a 'very severe famine'.

How to extend

A student could apply this definition to 2023 news reports about Ecuador to check if reported conditions meet the criterion (widespread deaths, prolonged shortages, price/inaccessibility issues).

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 82
Strength: 5/5
“Te administration can reduce the miseries of such people by an efective Public Distribution System (PDS) through which the edibles and essential commodities are provided at a cheaper rate. Hunger and famine in particular, is intolerable in the modern world because it is unnecessary and unwarranted (Sen and Dreze, 1989). Famine causation has often been linked to natural disasters, population growth and war, producing a reduction in food supply. But some major famines (for example, Bengal in 1943) were not preceded by a signifcant decline in food production or absolute availability, and in some cases have been associated with food export.”
Why relevant

States that famine causation is often linked to war and conflict as well as natural disasters—connects 'decades of civil strife' to possible famine risk.

How to extend

A student can use this rule to ask whether Ecuador had prolonged internal conflict in prior decades that plausibly disrupted food supply chains.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 83
Strength: 3/5
“Africa has witnessed a catastrophic growth in the incidence of both mass starvation and chronic hunger. Te famine vulnerable countries of the world have been shown in Fig. 8.32. It may be observed from Fig. 8.32 that the worst afected areas of famine lie in the continent of Africa. Te Sahel region, stretching over Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Madagascar record one famine year after almost every two years. Te deaths in the famines of the decade of 1990s were in millions. Te other highly vulnerable areas to famines are Mongolia, western parts of China, parts of Afghanistan, Iran, Baluchistan, Sindh (Pakistan), Bangladesh, Myanmar, parts of India Central American countries and parts of Bolivia and Paraguay (Fig.”
Why relevant

Provides examples and a global pattern of famine-vulnerable regions, including some parts of Latin America (parts of Bolivia and Paraguay).

How to extend

Using a world map and this list, a student could note that South American countries have had famine vulnerability and therefore check whether Ecuador is similarly listed in other sources or news.

Economics, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Food Security in India > Suggested Activity > p. 44
Strength: 4/5
“Nothing like Bengal famine has happened in India again. It is, however, disturbing to note that even today, famine like conditions exist in many parts of the country, leading to starvation deaths at times. Natural calamities and pandemics may also lead to food shortage. For example Covid-19 pandemic had an adverse impact upon the food security. Restriction on movement of people and goods and services impacted economic activity. Therefore food security is needed in a country to ensure food at all times, including calamities and pandemics Who are food-insecure? Although a large section of people suffer from food and nutrition insecurity in India, the worst affected groups are landless people with little or no land to depend upon, traditional artisans, providers of traditional services, petty selfemployed workers and destitutes including beggars.”
Why relevant

Notes that famine-like conditions can persist in modern times and can follow natural calamities or pandemics—shows famines are not only historical phenomena.

How to extend

A student might investigate whether recent shocks (economic crisis, pandemic aftereffects, weather events) affected Ecuador in 2023 to produce famine-like conditions.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 84
Strength: 3/5
“In India, the frequency of famines was very high during the Mediaeval and British period, but after Independence a number of projects were launched to reduce the famine conditions. A large number of dams, multi-purpose projects and irrigation projects, the fast means of transportation and communications have largely overcome the problems of famine. Still there are, however, some areas which are vulnerable to famine condition. Te famine prone areas of India have been shown in Fig. 8.33. It may be seen from Fig. 8.33 that the greater parts of the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and some parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are vulnerable to famines.”
Why relevant

Describes how post-independence infrastructure and policies reduced famines in India, implying that weak governance or lack of such measures can leave regions vulnerable.

How to extend

A student could compare Ecuador's governance, PDS/food assistance and infrastructure to this pattern to assess plausibility of prolonged food shortages.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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Statement 4
Has Somalia experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been in the news in 2023 for a very severe famine?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"the capacity of the agricultural sector ... has been severely hampered by the decades of conflict. ... leading to severe food shortages and significant displacement of the rural population"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly links 'decades of conflict' to damage in the agricultural sector.
  • States that this decline led to 'severe food shortages' and displacement.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Somalia has not had a central government since 1991 when the Siad Barre regime was toppled, and was in a state of civil war for several years prior to that. ... Fighting among these militias was one of the causes of the devastating 1992–93 famine"
Why this source?
  • Describes prolonged political collapse and civil war since 1991.
  • Connects fighting among militias to a 'devastating 1992–93 famine', showing historical linkage between conflict and famine.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The 2020-2023 drought, considered the most severe in four decades, brought the country to the brink of famine resulting in an estimated 43,000 deaths."
Why this source?
  • Summarizes the 2020–2023 drought that 'brought the country to the brink of famine'.
  • Gives 2023-era figures: millions needing humanitarian support and an estimated 43,000 deaths, supporting the claim of a very severe recent famine/crisis.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 83
Strength: 5/5
“Africa has witnessed a catastrophic growth in the incidence of both mass starvation and chronic hunger. Te famine vulnerable countries of the world have been shown in Fig. 8.32. It may be observed from Fig. 8.32 that the worst afected areas of famine lie in the continent of Africa. Te Sahel region, stretching over Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Madagascar record one famine year after almost every two years. Te deaths in the famines of the decade of 1990s were in millions. Te other highly vulnerable areas to famines are Mongolia, western parts of China, parts of Afghanistan, Iran, Baluchistan, Sindh (Pakistan), Bangladesh, Myanmar, parts of India Central American countries and parts of Bolivia and Paraguay (Fig.”
Why relevant

Identifies the Sahel region (including Somalia) as one of the worst-affected areas for famines, noting repeated famine years and millions of deaths in past decades.

How to extend

A student could combine this regional pattern with a map and historical timelines to infer Somalia's long-term vulnerability to food crises and then check recent 2023 news sources for confirmation.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > dESErtIfIcatIon or dESErtISatIon. > p. 17
Strength: 4/5
“In countries where desertifcation is particularly extensive and severe are Jordan, Lebanon, Somalia, Ethiopia, Southern Sudan, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Western Sahara. Te Sahel region of Africa sufers severe drought after every two years. In the decade of 1990 it recorded one of the worst drought as a result of which the crop production was minimal and thousands of people died because of starvation. Te resulting threat of starvation spurs population of the afected areas to increase their farming and livestock pressure on the denuded land, further contributing to their desertifcation. It has been suggested that Mali may be the frst country in the world rendered uninhabitable by environmental destruction.”
Why relevant

Lists Somalia among countries with extensive and severe desertification, and links the Sahel to frequent severe droughts that caused crop failure and starvation in the 1990s.

How to extend

Use basic climate/drought knowledge plus Somalia's inclusion here to infer ongoing risk of food shortages and then look up 2023 drought/famine reports for Somalia.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Setting > Recent International Migration > p. 102
Strength: 5/5
“Because of the rising number of civil wars, and local conflicts, the total number of internally displaced persons now adds upto about 45 million worldwide. Africa (Somalia, Sudan), Albania, Macedonia, and South-West Asia (Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, etc.) are the worst affected regions, with upto 25 million people having been internally displaced. During the recent decades, the major destinations for the permanent settlers have been the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The contributions of the Third World countries to their immigration is nearly 77%. In recent period, environmental degradation and natural disasters have also forced the people to out-migrate from their places.”
Why relevant

States that Africa (Somalia, Sudan) is among regions worst affected by civil wars and has large numbers of internally displaced persons, indicating prolonged conflict and displacement.

How to extend

Combine this pattern of long-term civil strife and displacement with food-insecurity mechanisms to justify checking contemporary 2023 news about famine in Somalia.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 82
Strength: 4/5
“Te administration can reduce the miseries of such people by an efective Public Distribution System (PDS) through which the edibles and essential commodities are provided at a cheaper rate. Hunger and famine in particular, is intolerable in the modern world because it is unnecessary and unwarranted (Sen and Dreze, 1989). Famine causation has often been linked to natural disasters, population growth and war, producing a reduction in food supply. But some major famines (for example, Bengal in 1943) were not preceded by a signifcant decline in food production or absolute availability, and in some cases have been associated with food export.”
Why relevant

Explains that famines are often linked to war and reductions in food supply, giving a causal rule connecting conflict to famine risk.

How to extend

Apply this causal rule to Somalia (noted for conflict in other snippets) to reason that civil strife could produce severe food shortages and then verify 2023 reports.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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Pattern takeaway: UPSC prioritizes the 'Conflict-Hunger Nexus'. They rarely ask about pure weather-driven droughts in stable nations; they focus on 'Failed States' or regions with chronic instability (Sahel, Horn of Africa) where humanitarian aid is blocked by conflict.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Source: Standard Current Affairs (The Hindu World Page/Monthly Magazines) covering the 'Horn of Africa' crisis.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: World Geography (Africa Mapping) + GS2 (International Relations/Humanitarian Crises).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Conflict-Hunger' Hotspots: Yemen (Civil War + Blockade), Tigray/Ethiopia (Ethnic conflict), South Sudan (Civil War), Haiti (Gang violence), and Afghanistan (Post-regime change economic collapse).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not memorize every food shortage. Filter for 'Complex Emergencies'—situations where *War* and *Weather* collide to create 'Famine' (IPC Phase 5). The keyword 'decades of civil strife' was the biggest clue, not just the famine.
How to study

This tab shows concrete study steps: what to underline in books, how to map current affairs, and how to prepare for similar questions.

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Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Drivers of famine: natural hazards, conflict and population pressure
💡 The insight

Famine causation often combines natural disasters, war and population growth that reduce food availability.

High-yield for UPSC because questions ask about causes of food insecurity and famines across regions; links to disaster management, agrarian policy and conflict studies. Mastering this enables candidates to analyse policy responses and multi-causal scenarios in essays and GS papers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 82
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 83
🔗 Anchor: "Has Angola experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been in th..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 The Sahel and recurrent African famine-prone zones
💡 The insight

The Sahel region is repeatedly identified as one of the worst-affected areas for famines in Africa.

Important for geography and current affairs: helps answer location-based questions on vulnerable regions, climate impacts and humanitarian crises. Useful for mapping questions and for linking regional vulnerability to international relief efforts.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 83
🔗 Anchor: "Has Angola experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been in th..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Administrative and infrastructural famine mitigation (PDS, irrigation, transport)
💡 The insight

Effective public distribution systems and investments in dams, irrigation and transport reduce famine vulnerability.

Relevant for governance and public policy: frequently tested in questions on poverty alleviation, food security and disaster management. Knowing this helps evaluate policy efficacy and propose practical interventions in answers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 82
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 84
🔗 Anchor: "Has Angola experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been in th..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Causes of famines: natural hazards, conflict and administrative failure
💡 The insight

Famines commonly result from natural disasters, war, population pressure and failures in administration or distribution systems.

High-yield for UPSC because it links environment, disaster management and governance; useful for essay and GS3 questions on food security and crisis response. Helps frame policy-oriented answers evaluating causes and remedies for food crises.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 81
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 82
🔗 Anchor: "Has Costa Rica experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been i..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Geographic patterns of famine vulnerability
💡 The insight

Certain world regions (Sahel, parts of Asia and some Central American areas) are repeatedly identified as vulnerable to famine.

Important for questions on regional development, humanitarian crises and foreign policy; enables comparison-based answers on why some regions face recurring food shortages and how geography and socioeconomics interact.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 83
🔗 Anchor: "Has Costa Rica experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been i..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Role of agricultural policy and food distribution in preventing famine
💡 The insight

Agricultural modernization and effective public distribution systems can avert famines and reduce food insecurity.

Crucial for answering GS3 and ethics questions on public policy, welfare schemes and crisis mitigation; allows evaluation of interventions like Green Revolution and PDS in preventing large-scale starvation.

📚 Reading List :
  • Economics, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Food Security in India > Food Security in India > p. 46
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 82
🔗 Anchor: "Has Costa Rica experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been i..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Causes of famines
💡 The insight

Famines arise from a mix of natural disasters, war, population pressure and policy/market failures, which is essential when evaluating claims about famine origins.

High-yield for UPSC because questions often ask about drivers of food crises and disaster management; links to topics on conflict, climate impacts, demographic pressures and governance responses. Mastering this helps answer analytical questions on why famines occur and how to prevent them.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 82
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Famines > p. 83
🔗 Anchor: "Has Ecuador experienced decades of civil strife and food shortages and been in t..."
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🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Global Report on Food Crises' (GRFC) is the flagship report tracking these numbers, released by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN). Expect a question on 'IPC Phase 5' (Catastrophe/Famine) criteria or the 'Black Sea Grain Initiative's' impact on African food security.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Apply 'Stereotype Mapping': Costa Rica is famous for being the 'Switzerland of Central America' (stable, no army, eco-tourism)—eliminate immediately. Ecuador is a middle-income oil exporter; while it has crime issues, it lacks 'decades of civil war' leading to mass starvation. Angola's major civil war ended in 2002. Somalia is the only option synonymous with 'Failed State' + 'Piracy' + 'Famine' for the last 30 years.

🔗 Mains Connection

Link this to GS-2 (India's role in the Global South—e.g., supplying grain to Afghanistan or vaccines to Africa) and GS-3 (Disaster Management: Distinction between Natural Drought vs. Man-made Famine).

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2018 · Q18 Relevance score: 3.70

Very recently, in which of the following countries have lakhs of people either suffered from severe famine/acute malnutrition or died due to starvation caused by war/ethnic conflicts ?

IAS · 2002 · Q98 Relevance score: 2.98

Consider the following countries : 1. Anglo 2. Colombia 3. Congo 4. Sudan Which of these countries has/have been suffering from civil war?

CDS-I · 2005 · Q112 Relevance score: 0.13

In which one of the following countries was a peace accord signed recently to end a two-decade old civil war ?

CDS-I · 2003 · Q27 Relevance score: -0.97

In which one of the following countries is the ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis lead to a great violence in recent times?

IAS · 2004 · Q132 Relevance score: -1.51

Which one of the following cities (they were in the news in recent times) is not correctly matched with its country?