Tips to Prepare for Disaster Management Topic for UPSC Civil Service Mains Exam

The general studies III paper in the UPSC civil services mains examination is considered to be the most diverse among the 4 general studies papers, as it includes topics as diverse as economics, internal security, disaster management, science and technology, and agriculture.

Among these topics, internal security and disaster management is a newly listed topic that is of high importance as internal security and disaster management act is something that civil service officers have to deal with quite frequently in their careers.

Both the facts of the events as well as the analyses and knowledge on topics like the National Disaster Management Authority will be relevant for this topic along with the static portions of the rules and regulations to follow. Questions from this section will test your analytical ability and critical thinking along with your basic knowledge about the topic.

Internal Security and Disaster Management Syllabus as per latest UPSC Mains Pattern

The topics listed by UPSC under internal security and disaster management are as follows:

Disaster and Disaster Management:

• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal social security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal social security challenges, basics of cybersecurity; money-laundering and its prevention.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
• Various security forces and agencies and their mandate

Disaster Management for UPSC

• This topic is dynamic and gains prominence with every natural disaster that occurs in the country be it floods, earthquakes or landslides.
• The cyclone Amphan in 2020 and Fani in 2019 set an example for planned management of natural disasters by which huge human loss was averted. This is an area that you should prepare.
• Apart from natural disasters, man-made disasters such as fires, chemical spills, groundwater contamination, etc. are also studied.
• You should stick to one standard textbook for the static part and refer to a good newspaper for the dynamic content.
• NDMA publications and NCERT Class XI textbook ( Natural Hazards & Disaster Management ) are major sources for this section.

UPSC Questions from the Last Few Years:

2013 UPSC Mains Examination

• How important is vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management? As an administrator, what are key areas that you would focus on disaster management?

2014 UPSC Mains Examination

• Drought has been recognized as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect 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 the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India.

2015 UPSC Mains Examination

• 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.

2016 UPSC Mains Examination

• With reference to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand.
• The frequency of urban floods due to high-intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods. Highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.

2017 UPSC Mains Examination

• On December 2004, tsumani brought havoc on 14 countries including India. Discuss the factors responsible for the occurrence of Tsunami and its effects on life and the economy. In the light of guidelines of National Disaster Management Authority (2010) describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.

2018 UPSC Mains Examination

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

Internal Social Security for UPSC

This topic is subdivided and discussed in different subsections briefly below:

Development and Spread of Extremism

• This social security topic has a very narrow scope but is very important as Naxal issues are often seen in the news.
• Explore the relationship between poverty, lack of development, unemployment and the rise of left-wing terrorism such as Naxalism and Maoism. The issue’s origins, development, the response of the government and current situation should be studied. Since this topic has a narrow scope, you can make good notes for them and refer to them as and when needed.

Sources:

• The Hindu newspaper
• Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) website
• Challenges to Internal Security of India by Ashok Kumar

H3- Questions from the Last Few Years:

2013 UPSC Mains Examination

• Article 244 of the Indian Constitution relates to the Administration of Scheduled areas and tribal areas. Analyze the impact of non-implementation of the provisions of the fifth schedule on the growth of Left Wing Extremism.

2013 UPSC Mains Examination

• The persisting drives of the government for the development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who face multiple displacements with Malkangiri and Naxalbari foci, discuss the corrective strategies needed to win the left-wing extremism (LWE) doctrine affected citizens back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.

2017 UPSC Mains Examination

• The north-eastern region of India has been infested with insurgency for a very long time. Analyze the major reasons for the survival of armed insurgency in this region.

2018 UPSC Mains Examination

• Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend, but still affects many parts of the country. Briefly explain the Government of India’s approach to counter the challenges posed by LWE.

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