Disaster management — UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 PYQ

2026

1. Q7
   Discuss how the contradiction between “rapid infrastructure development” and “disaster-risk reduction” in ecologically-sensitive areas of India can be managed, with suitable examples.

   10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →
2. Q18
   “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.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2024

1. Q17
   What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030).

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
2. Q18
   Flooding in urban areas is an emerging climate-induced disaster. Discuss the causes of this disaster. Mention the features of two such major floods in the last two decades in India. Describe the policies and frameworks in India that aim at tackling such floods.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2023

1. Q7
   Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures.

   10 marks 150 words Medium Model answer →

2022

1. Q8
   Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudburst in the context of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2021

1. Q8
   Discuss India’s vulnerability to earthquake-related hazards. Give examples, including salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
2. Q18
   Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention the important components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2020

1. Q18
   Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India, departing from the earlier reactive approach.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2019

1. Q8
   Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and their threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
2. Q18
   Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help in disaster mitigation in the case of landslides.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2018

1. Q18
   Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing the ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015–2030).’ How is this framework different from the ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005’?

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2017

1. Q18
   On December 2004, the tsunami wreaked havoc on 14 countries, including India. Discuss the factors responsible for the occurrence of a tsunami and its effects on life and the economy. In the light of NDMA guidelines (2010), describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2016

1. Q15
   The frequency of urban floods due to high-intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discuss the reasons for urban floods, highlighting the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →
2. Q16
   With reference to NDMA guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2015

1. Q16
   The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →

2014

1. Q14
   Drought has been recognized as a disaster in view of its spatial expanse, temporal duration, slow onset, and lasting effects on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with El Niño and La Niña fallouts in India.

   15 marks 250 words Hard Model answer →

2013

1. Q18
   How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management? As an administrator, what key areas would you focus on in a disaster management setup?

   15 marks 250 words Medium Model answer →