UPSC Mains 2021 GS3 Q8 — Disaster Management
Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- DiscussGive examples
- Scope keywords
- vulnerability of Indiaearthquake related hazardsmajor disasterssalient featureslast three decades
- Implicit sub-parts
- Geological and tectonic reasons for India's high seismic vulnerability (Himalayan vs. Peninsular).
- Socio-economic vulnerability factors such as unplanned urbanization and poor building code compliance.
- Chronological selection of major earthquakes post-1994 with specific impact characteristics.
- Categorization of 'features' beyond just death tolls, including secondary hazards like liquefaction or landslides.
- Common pitfalls
- Spending too much space on plate tectonics theory while ignoring the 'human/built environment' aspect of vulnerability.
- Failing to stick to the 'last three decades' timeline by including the 1934 Bihar or 1950 Assam earthquakes.
- Listing dates and locations of quakes without describing their specific 'salient features' (e.g., the time of day impact in Latur or the urban devastation in Bhuj).
- Neglecting to mention the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seismic zoning map as a framework for vulnerability.
- Dimensions required
- Geophysical/TectonicSocio-economic/StructuralGeographic (Regional diversity)Disaster Management/Policy
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 40-50 words to explain the 'why' of India's vulnerability (zoning and tectonics). Use 80-90 words to detail 3-4 specific examples from the last 30 years (Latur, Bhuj, Kashmir, or Nepal/Sikkim impact), focusing on their unique characteristics. Reserve 10-20 words for a forward-looking conclusion on mitigation.
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