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Disaster Management

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Home/Disaster Management/Page 2

Mains Answer Writing Latest Questions

suraj kumar Subudhi
  • 1
suraj kumar SubudhiBegginer
Asked: July 13, 2024In: ,
  • 1

How can we use technology and community help to better manage and respond to disasters around the world?

disastermanagementquestiontech
  1. Tanshil
    Tanshil Begginer

    Effective disaster management and response globally can be significantly enhanced by integrating advanced technology with active community involvement. Key technological solutions include early warning systems using satellites, sensors, and mobile alerts; data analytics and AI for predictive modelinRead more

    Effective disaster management and response globally can be significantly enhanced by integrating advanced technology with active community involvement. Key technological solutions include early warning systems using satellites, sensors, and mobile alerts; data analytics and AI for predictive modeling and real-time monitoring; drones and robotics for surveillance and supply delivery; and GIS for mapping and resource management. Communication platforms, including emergency networks and social media, play a crucial role in information dissemination and coordination.

    Community engagement is equally important, focusing on preparedness programs, volunteer networks, and local early warning systems. Crowdsourced data collection and reporting help in rapid assessment and targeted relief efforts. Public-private partnerships can leverage additional resources and expertise.

    The integration of technology and community efforts is achieved through platforms that combine both elements, providing centralized hubs for data collection, analysis, and coordination. Interactive apps and online portals facilitate information sharing and real-time updates. Training communities to effectively use these technologies during disasters is crucial.

    By combining cutting-edge technology with strong community participation, disaster management becomes more efficient, responsive, and adaptive. This comprehensive approach not only improves immediate disaster response but also contributes to long-term risk reduction and builds more resilient societies worldwide.

     

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Tanshil
  • 1
TanshilBegginer
Asked: July 13, 2024In:
  • 1

How can we ensure that advanced disaster response technologies are accessible and effective in developing countries with limited infrastructure, and what role can local communities play in bridging potential technological gaps?

  1. Tushar Rajput
    Tushar Rajput Begginer

    Ensuring that advanced disaster response technologies are accessible and effective in developing countries with limited infrastructure is a critical challenge. Let’s explore some strategies and the vital role local communities can play: Systemic Response to Disasters: Recommendation: Countries shoulRead more

    Ensuring that advanced disaster response technologies are accessible and effective in developing countries with limited infrastructure is a critical challenge. Let’s explore some strategies and the vital role local communities can play:

    1. Systemic Response to Disasters:
      • Recommendation: Countries should establish disaster mitigation policies that remain in place regardless of changes in government. These policies should adopt a whole-of-government approach.
      • Why?: This consistency ensures that disaster responses are adequately funded, and budgets are allocated for disaster-resistant infrastructure, immediate relief, and rebuilding. It streamlines disaster risk reduction (DRR) processes and prevents incomplete responses to individual disasters.
    2. Advanced Planning:
      • Recommendation: Governments should plan ahead for disasters rather than reacting after they occur.
      • Why?: Identifying policies, procedures, and expected roles in advance allows for efficient deployment of disaster infrastructure. Community networks should be established to ensure timely response.
    3. Protect Critical Infrastructure:
      • Recommendation: Prioritize safeguarding traditional infrastructure (e.g., electricity, internet) as the foundation for newer technologies.
      • Why?: Reliable infrastructure enables connectivity, communication, and data exchange during emergencies.
    4. Aerial Robotics (Drones):
      • Role: Aerial robotics, including drones, can transform disaster aid. They:
        • Map terrain effectively.
        • Assess damage in real time.
        • Provide high-resolution mapping for situational awareness.
        • Deliver items faster and more efficiently.
      • Example: WeRobotics’ AidRobotics program uses drones to create high-resolution aerial images after flooding, aiding relief efforts.
    5. Community Engagement:
      • Role of Local Communities:
        • Identification of Needs: Communities understand their immediate needs best. They can identify vulnerabilities and challenges specific to their context.
        • Coordination and Preparedness: Local groups can coordinate preparations, supplement official response efforts, and implement emergency programs.
        • Decision Making: Involving communities in decision-making ensures relevance and effectiveness.
      • Why?: Communities are uniquely positioned to address local nuances that external agencies may overlook.
    6. Capacity Building:
      • Role of NGOs and Local Organizations:
        • NGOs can provide training and capacity-building programs.
        • Local organizations can learn to operate and maintain advanced technologies.
      • Why?: Empowering local actors ensures sustained use and maintenance of technology.
    7. Collaboration and Partnerships:
      • Role: Governments, NGOs, private sector, and local communities should collaborate.
      • Why?: Partnerships pool resources, share knowledge, and create a holistic approach to disaster response.

    In summary, bridging technological gaps requires a multi-stakeholder approach. By involving local communities, building capacity, and leveraging advanced technologies, we can enhance disaster resilience even in resource-constrained settings.

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Ameya Srivastava
  • 1
Ameya SrivastavaLearner
Asked: July 13, 2024In:
  • 1

What is the framework of Sendai? Describe the significant steps that India has taken to manage disasters based on the Sendai framework.

upsc: disaster management
  1. Jitendra Singh
    Jitendra Singh Begginer

    India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic conditions. About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area isRead more

    India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic conditions. About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought. Considering the vulnerabilities of India, Sendai Framework plays an important role in response, recovery and resilience of India in terms of disaster management.

    Sendai Framework

    1. Sendai framework is a 15-year voluntary, non-binding agreement adopted at the Third World Conference on DRR. It is a successor instrument to Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005- 2015.
    2. It recognizes that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders including local government, the private sector and other stakeholders.
    3. The Sendai Framework has set seven targets and four priorities along with guidelines for a substantial reduction in losses including a reduction in the number of deaths from disasters, number of people affected by disasters, economic losses and infrastructure losses.
    4. It also calls for an increase in capacities through national and local strategies, international cooperation and improved access to early warning.
    5. The Sendai Framework works hand in hand with the other 2030 Agenda agreements, including The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, The Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the New Urban Agenda, and ultimately the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Important Initiative Taken By India Based On Sendai Framework

    In furtherance to its commitment to the Sendai framework, the Government has taken up several important initiatives post-Sendai Declaration.

    1. Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Reduction (AMCDRR): India hosted the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Reduction (AMCDRR) in November 2016. It provided an opportunity for multiple stakeholders to come together and make specific commitments to the implementation of Sendai Framework.
    2. New Delhi Declaration: The ‘New Delhi Declaration’ declares the commitment of participating governments towards preventing and reducing disaster risk, and strengthening the resilience of communities, nations in the Asian region. It also emphasises the need to enhance the capacity of communities and ensure participation of all stakeholder groups towards achieving resilience.
    3. Asian Regional Plan: The ‘Asian Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework’ focuses on the ‘How to’ reduce disaster risk at national and local levels. It has arrived at a longer-term road map of cooperation and collaboration, spanning the 15-year horizon of the Sendai Framework, as well as a two-year action plan to further disaster risk reduction with specific, actionable activities.
    4. Prime Minister’s 10-Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction: This agenda includes motives such as, to build a coalition to support disaster resilient infrastructure, encourage greater involvement and leadership of women, leverage technology to enhance the efficiency, develop a network of universities to work on disaster issues, utilize the opportunities provided by social media and mobile technologies, build on local capacity and initiative and bring about greater cohesion in the international response to disasters, etc.
    5. Training programmes: First national-level Training of Trainers programme for Sendai Framework was organised in 2017 by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Aim of the programme was to sensitise various Central Ministries and Departments on the utilisation of Sendai Monitor for developing action plans for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
    6. International Cooperation on Disaster Management: India had signed bilateral/ multilateral agreements with the several countries for cooperation in the field of disaster management like SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters, Agreement between India and Russia on cooperation in the field of Emergency Management, and Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between India and Germany on cooperation in the field of Disaster Management, etc.
    7. KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND REGIONAL COOPERATION: India is keen to share her expertise and help other countries in disaster response as it did during the Japan Earthquake in 2011 and Nepal earthquake of 2015. The government of India is making consistent efforts to promote regional cooperation by hosting the SAARC Disaster Management Centre to reduce disaster risks in the region and promoting knowledge sharing among the SAARC countries.

    India Specific Initiatives

    1. A National Disaster Management Plan was framed by the NDMA. It provides a framework and direction to the government agencies for all phases of the disaster management cycle. It has short, medium and long term measures that will be completed within the time frame of 5, 10, and 15 years. 2.
    2. The Government of India has issued a set of priority actions to all the State Government based on the goals, targets and priorities of Sendai Framework 2015-2030.
    3. In line with Sendai priority 4, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is strengthened, both in terms of state-of-the-art training and equipment so as to further empower it as a professional disaster response force.
    4. Government of India has approved the creation of National Disaster Response Reserve (NDRR) through a revolving fund of Rs.250 crore to be operated by the National Disaster Response Force. This dedicated fund would enable the NDRF to maintain a ready inventory of emergency goods and services.
    5. The Government of India has constituted the National Disaster Response Force Academy at National Civil Defence College, Nagpur for training to personnel involved in disaster management and response.

    The Sendai Framework also calls upon all the stakeholders to be involved in disaster preparedness and mitigation planning as well as the relief and recovery phase. In the mission of Disaster Risk Reduction, there is a need for collaboration by all entities, public and private, to strengthen the mechanisms for disaster risk reduction by using and sharing reliable and affordable modern technology for capacity building. The country requires protocols to involve civil society in myriad post-COVID roles.

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Ameya Srivastava
  • 1
Ameya SrivastavaLearner
Asked: July 13, 2024In:
  • 1

Local people used their indigenous and traditional wisdom to respond to natural disasters long before we began employing cutting-edge technologies for disaster management. Discuss, using an example, how traditional knowledge contributes to disaster management in light of the assertion.

upsc: disaster management
  1. Kirti Sharvan
    Kirti Sharvan Begginer

    Natural disasters are not a new phenomenon. History of the havoc of natural disasters is as old as the history of mankind on the face of planet earth. The urge for survival helped human beings to observe and study the behaviour pattern of Nature around them and prepare themselves for forthcoming disRead more

    Natural disasters are not a new phenomenon. History of the havoc of natural disasters is as old as the history of mankind on the face of planet earth. The urge for survival helped human beings to observe and study the behaviour pattern of Nature around them and prepare themselves for forthcoming disasters. These observations are preserved in the form of traditional knowledge in the minds of local communities, which comes to rescue at the time of natural disasters. According to the World Risk Index, six out of the world׳s ten highest disaster risk countries are in Asia and the Pacific. Thus we find riches of traditional knowledge here to respond to disasters.

    Some Of The General Observations Due To Traditional Knowledge

    1. Landslide: New cracks or unusual bulges in the ground or street pavements; Rapid increase in stream water levels; Sticking doors and windows and sudden decrease in stream water levels though rain is still falling or just recently stopped.
    2. Earthquake: Different behaviour of a particular variety of fish (Singhi) which comes to the top of the water level before an earthquake.
    3. Tornado: Sudden change in the colour of the sky.
    4. Floods: In coastal communities, since ancient times communities have been using bioindicators like Tree-Tempe-tank being situated at elevated areas is the safest flood shelter, black ants with eggs climbing up, symbolises heavy rain.
    5. Wildfires and desertification: Running cows indicates severity during village fire, the direction of wind indicates the weather forecast and growth of wild indicates desertification. These have over the years been culturally accepted and tested for successful results.

    Some Successful Practices In India Using Traditional Knowledge

    1. The Kashmir region is known for its traditional earthquake-safe construction practices, where two types of construction practices are prevalent: Taq system (timber laced masonry) and Dhajji-Dewari system (timber frame with infill walls).
    2. Traditional Bamboo plantation in Northeast: Planting bamboo helps to protect the bunds from being breached and prevent rapid runoff from the river channel when the river overflows during heavy rainy days. Moreover, planting bamboo along fish ponds and paddy fields prevents soil erosion and stops water from submerging low areas during peak flooding days.
    3. In Tamil Nadu, to protect crops from floods, farmers plant flood-resistant paddy seed using indigenous agriculture practices. They broadcast the seeds in late summer and early monsoon without any chemical fertilizer, it grows well and before the flood season its root goes deep and the plant becomes strong. Such plants grow so well that during harvesting the plants are cut into two pieces; one is used for fodder and the other part for the annual renovation of thatched houses.
    4. In West Bengal and Odisha, to save fish from floods, farmers in the coastal regions put bamboo pegs in the fish pond before the flood and just before the pond submerges with flood water they hang fried fenugreek on these pegs at different places in a pond putting it in thin cotton cloths. As per the farmers, if the fried fenugreek is hanged inside the pond then the fishes don’t leave the pond. This considerably reduced the risk of washing away from the fishes in floodwater.
    5. Taanka is a traditional rainwater harvesting technique indigenous to the Thar desert region of Rajasthan. A Tanaka is a cylindrical paved underground pit into which rainwater from rooftops, courtyards or artificially prepared catchments flows. Once filled, the water stored in a tank can last throughout the dry season and is sufficient for a family of 5-6 members. Similar practices in the form of Johad, Khadin, Kund, and Baoli, etc. helps the communities to withstand the drought and harsh climate.
    6. Indigenous communities of Andhra Pradesh and other drought-prone areas practice shifting cultivation and grow drought-resistant tuber crops which follow a cycle providing enough space for conservation.

    Some Examples From The Globe

    1. Tsunami in Indonesia: In the islands of Indonesia singing of the animal below is believed to work as a premonition of disaster. This phenomenon is used as an early warning sign for tsunami waves. This has significantly helped the tsunami vulnerable island community to take appropriate action on the tsunami warning.
    2. Floating Gardens of Bangladesh and Boat Schools: Many parts of Bangladesh are flooded either due to a large coastline in the Bay of Bengal or due to flooded rivers of the country. A novel method of farming in moving boats with the help of traditional knowledge has come to rescue the communities from economic impacts of frequent floods. Similarly, even in floods, students do not miss their classes due to Boat schools.
    3. Traditional predictions of calamities in Africa: In African countries, drought and occasional floods are common disasters. Communities predict the calamity by observing the height of the nests of the amahlokohloko bird (Ploceus spp.) on trees to predict floods. When floods are likely to occur the nesting of the amahlokohloko is very high up the trees next to a river and when floods are unlikely the nests are low down. They also used the cry of certain birds to predict rain and yields of certain wild fruit plants to predict famine.

    The important role that local knowledge and practices can play in reducing risk and improving disaster preparedness is now acknowledged by disaster risk reduction specialists. However, they have yet to be commonly used by communities, scientists, practitioners and policy-makers. The local and indigenous knowledge needs to be integrated with science and advanced technologies before it can be used in policies, education, and actions related to disaster risk reduction and climate change.

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Deepika Gopirajan
  • 1
Deepika GopirajanBegginer
Asked: July 14, 2024In:
  • 1

How can AI be used to improve the accuracy of disaster predictions and early warning systems,What are the challenges in implementing AI in disaster management,and how can they be addressed?

question
  1. Petchi Saravanan
    Petchi Saravanan Begginer

    AI can significantly enhance the accuracy of disaster predictions and early warning systems by analyzing vast amounts of data quickly and identifying patterns that humans might miss. For example, AI algorithms can process weather data, satellite images, and historical records to predict hurricanes,Read more

    AI can significantly enhance the accuracy of disaster predictions and early warning systems by analyzing vast amounts of data quickly and identifying patterns that humans might miss. For example, AI algorithms can process weather data, satellite images, and historical records to predict hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes with greater precision. This helps authorities issue timely warnings, potentially saving lives and reducing damage.

    However, there are challenges in implementing AI in disaster management. First, AI systems need a large amount of accurate and diverse data, which might not always be available. Second, AI models can be complex and require specialized knowledge to develop and maintain. Additionally, there’s a risk of over-reliance on AI, which might lead to complacency if human oversight is reduced.

    To address these challenges, we can invest in better data collection and sharing practices to ensure AI has the information it needs. Training programs can be developed to equip more people with the skills to work with AI. Finally, combining AI with human expertise can create a more reliable system, where technology and human judgment complement each other.

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Sonali B
  • 1
Sonali BBegginer
Asked: July 16, 2024In:
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Does a good disaster risk reduction formula involve community resilience?

upsc: disaster management
  1. Kartik Sharma
    Kartik Sharma Begginer

    Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and reducing the risks of disaster. It aims to reduce socio-economic vulnerabilities to disaster as well as deal with the environmental and other hazards that trigger them. Community resilience is the sustained abilityRead more

    Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and reducing the risks of disaster. It aims to reduce socio-economic vulnerabilities to disaster as well as deal with the environmental and other hazards that trigger them. Community resilience is the sustained ability of a community to use available resources (energy, communication, transportation, food, etc.) to respond to, withstand, and recover from adverse situations. This allows for the adaptation and growth of a community after disaster strikes. The scope of community resilience extends beyond natural disasters and includes man made ones too.

    Role Of Community Resilience In Drr

    1. Communities are getting increasingly complex, and so are the challenges they face. Human-caused and natural disasters are more frequent now and costly too. Factors like climate change, globalization, and increased urbanization can bring disaster related risks to greater numbers of people.
    2. In this backdrop community resilience becomes crucial. Developing community resilience benefits disaster planners and community members alike. It expands the traditional preparedness approach by encouraging actions that build preparedness while also promoting strong community systems.
    3. In disaster risk reduction key preparedness activities such as continuity of operations plans for organizations, compiling disaster kits etc continue to be essential. A resilience approach adds features like building social connectedness and improving everyday health, wellness, and community systems.
    4. Earlier, the approach to Disaster Management (DM) was primarily reactive and relief-centric. However, disaster response alone is not sufficient as it yields only temporary results at a very high cost.
    5. Community resilience allows better planning for disasters to reduce disaster losses-rather than waiting for an event to occur and paying for it afterward.
    6. Although disasters will continue to occur, actions that move the nation from reactive approaches to disasters to a proactive stance where communities actively engage in enhancing resilience will reduce many of the broad societal and economic burdens that disasters can cause.
    7. The emphasis on community resilience has emerged from the need to identify principles and measures to protect development gains from shocks and stresses. Thus the aim here is to engage the community to ensure that shocks and stresses do not lead to a long-term downturn in development progress.

    Community Resilience Is Not Enough

    Communities do not exist in isolation. The level of a community’s resilience is also influenced by capacities outside the community, in particular by emergency management services but also by other social and administrative services, public infrastructure, and a web of socio-economic and political linkages with the wider world. Apart from community resilience we need:

    1. Understanding Disaster Risk by promoting the collection, analysis, management, and use of relevant data and practical information and ensuring its dissemination.
    2. Strengthening disaster risk governance by establishing and strengthening government coordination forums composed of relevant stakeholders at the national and local levels, and having a designated national focal point for implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.
    3. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
    4. To enhance international mechanisms, such as the International Recovery Platform, for the sharing of experience and learning among countries and all relevant stakeholders.

    Disaster Management has to be a multi-disciplinary and proactive approach. Besides various measures for putting in place institutional and policy framework, disaster prevention, mitigation, community resilience, and preparedness have a key role to play in achieving our goal of moving together, towards a safer India.

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Sonali B
  • 1
Sonali BBegginer
Asked: July 16, 2024In:
  • 1

Although the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure is a very promising effort, unless it is seen in conjunction with the Sendai framework and Paris Climate Change targets, it may not be able to achieve its full potential. Talk about it.

upsc: disaster management
  1. Ranjan Gaikwad
    Ranjan Gaikwad Begginer

    Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi announced a global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 held in the USA, in September 2019. This partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks, financRead more

    Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi announced a global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 held in the USA, in September 2019. This partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks, financing mechanisms, private sector, and knowledge institutions will promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development.

    Ambitions Of Cdri

    1. Developed through consultations with more than 35 countries, CDRI envisions enabling a measurable reduction in infrastructure losses from disasters, including extreme climate events.
    2. Established as a platform for generating and exchanging knowledge, CDRI will conduct country-specific and global activities. CDRI will provide member countries technical support and capacity development, research and knowledge management, and advocacy and partnerships to facilitate and encourage investment in disaster resilient infrastructure systems.
    3. CDRI focuses on developing resilience in ecological infrastructure, social infrastructure with a concerted emphasis on health and education, and economic infrastructure with special attention to transportation, telecommunications, energy, and water.

    Coalition For Disaster Resilience Infrastructure(Cdri) And Sendai Framework

    1. Infrastructure systems are critical to enabling the transformation necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and it is critical that they are risk-informed and resilient, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
    2. In the face of increasing levels of systemic disaster risk, including in the context of climate change, CDRI addresses the challenge of building resilience into infrastructure systems.
    3. By providing access to good practices to develop appropriate standards and regulatory mechanisms to manage infrastructure development in a manner that fosters resilience, the CDRI enables national level systemic resilience with implications for globally interconnected systems.
    4. The CDRI supports countries to upgrade their systems to ensure disaster and climate resilience of existing and future infrastructure, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Sendai Framework.
    5. In line with the Sendai Framework and its core provisions, CDRI will support efforts to build back better from COVID-19 impacts towards the attainment of the 2030 Agenda.
    6. The Sendai Framework recommends strengthening disaster resilient public and private investments through structural, nonstructural, and functional disaster risk prevention and reduction measures in critical facilities.
    7. CDRI encourages the revision of existing or the development of new building codes, standards, and rehabilitation and reconstruction practices at the national or local levels.
    8. CDRI calls for the promotion of proper design and construction, including the use of the principles of universal design and the standardization of building materials; retrofitting and rebuilding; and nurturing a culture of maintenance.

    Coalition For Disaster Resilience Infrastructure And Paris Climate Change Goals

    1. Climate-related extreme events are increasing globally, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further reinforced the need for robust disaster preparedness and investment in renewable energy, green infrastructure, energy and resource efficiency, large-scale retrofitting, renovation projects, and the circular economy.
    2. The CDRI is a welcome initiative to help tackle these objectives in a multilateral approach, which will help in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, through both global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced climate change adaptation action.
    3. CDRI is aimed towards achieving the adaptation goal. CDRI forms the basis of India’s vision for global climate action that also takes into account issues of equity, development, and the special needs of developing and least developed countries.

    CDRI, thus, aims to enable the achievement of objectives of expanding universal access to basic services and enabling prosperity as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals, while also working at the intersection of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Climate Agreement.

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Ritika Jaiswal
  • 1
Ritika JaiswalBegginer
Asked: July 19, 2024In:
  • 1

uttarakhand disaster
  1. Rajeshwari Meena
    Rajeshwari Meena Begginer

    Cutting down trees and manipulating mountain slopes to build roads in Uttarakhand's highly loose terrain rocks is not a correct step to promote tourism. Here's why: Environmental concerns: Uttarakhand is known for its rich biodiversity, and the state government has a responsibility to protect its naRead more

    Cutting down trees and manipulating mountain slopes to build roads in Uttarakhand’s highly loose terrain rocks is not a correct step to promote tourism. Here’s why:

    1. Environmental concerns: Uttarakhand is known for its rich biodiversity, and the state government has a responsibility to protect its natural resources. Cutting down trees and altering the natural slope can harm the local ecosystem, disrupt wildlife habitats, and increase the risk of landslides.
    2. Erosion and landslides: The loose terrain in Uttarakhand is prone to erosion and landslides, which can be exacerbated by human activities like deforestation and slope manipulation. This can lead to damage to roads, properties, and even loss of life.
    3. Unsustainable development: Promoting tourism through unsustainable means like deforestation and environmental degradation can harm the long-term prospects of tourism in the state. It can also damage the state’s reputation and lead to negative perceptions among tourists.

    Instead, the government can consider alternative measures to increase tourism in Uttarakhand while ensuring environmental sustainability:

    1. Ecotourism: Focus on ecotourism initiatives that promote responsible travel practices, such as hiking, trekking, birdwatching, or wildlife viewing. This can help reduce the impact on the environment while generating revenue for local communities.
    2. Sustainable infrastructure: Invest in sustainable infrastructure development, such as eco-friendly resorts, homestays, and public facilities. This can include using locally sourced materials, renewable energy sources, and minimizing waste generation.
    3. Community-based tourism: Encourage community-based tourism initiatives that involve local residents in the tourism industry. This can help distribute economic benefits more evenly and promote cultural exchange between tourists and locals.
    4. Conservation efforts: Collaborate with conservation organizations to protect Uttarakhand’s natural habitats, wildlife reserves, and national parks. This can include habitat restoration projects, wildlife monitoring programs, and community engagement initiatives.
    5. Digital promotion: Utilize digital platforms to promote Uttarakhand’s unique cultural heritage, natural beauty, and adventure opportunities. This can include social media campaigns, online travel guides, and virtual tours.
    6. Invest in rural development: Focus on rural development initiatives that improve basic amenities like healthcare, education, and sanitation in rural areas. This can enhance the overall quality of life for local residents and make them more receptive to tourism development.
    7. Partnerships with local communities: Establish partnerships with local communities to develop sustainable tourism projects that benefit both tourists and locals. This can include joint venture agreements, community-based enterprises, or cooperative initiatives.
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Bhairavi Gauatam
  • 1
Bhairavi GauatamBegginer
Asked: July 19, 2024In: , ,
  • 1

Describe the motivations behind state and non-state actors’ targeting of the Critical Information Infrastructure (CII). Talk about the measures the Indian government took to protect their CII as well.

upsc: it & computers
  1. Santosh Singh
    Santosh Singh Learner

    According to Information Technology Act, 2000, Critical Information Infrastructures (CII) are vital computer resources that, if incapacitated or destroyed, will leave a debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety across both public and private sectors. Their significanRead more

    According to Information Technology Act, 2000, Critical Information Infrastructures (CII) are vital computer resources that, if incapacitated or destroyed, will leave a debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety across both public and private sectors. Their significance is well understood and hence they are also target of attacks by adversarial state and non-state actors. Broadly such attacks lead to information system compromise, control takeover, component destruction, and sensitive information extraction.

    Reasons behind targeting of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) by state and non-state actors

    • Critical information: CII holds sensitive and confidential information about nuclear facilities, reactor designs etc, making it a potential target for state and non-state actors. For instance, the Stuxnet computer virus was unleashed against Iran’s enrichment program.
    • New dimension to warfare: CII broadens the scope for combat, taking it a step ahead of conventional warfare. Additionally, disabling these systems takes a handful of skilled personnel compared to dedicated weapons systems or armies in conventional wars.
    • National security: CII deals with physical and cyber systems that are essential to a nation in their capabilities to govern the broader security scenario and any damage to it has a devastating effect on national security, political, economic and social welfare domains of the nation.
    • Sabotaging state apparatus: Critical infrastructure like power grid, reactors etc are far more interconnected today, both in terms of geography and across sectors. A small malfunction may spread across different segments, having a wide-ranging impact, which may or may not have been assessed.
    • Create Mistrust: A cyber-attack on a specific component exposes vulnerabilities in the entire system, which negatively impact relations with allies and adversaries alike.

    Challenges in protecting the CIIs

    • Lack of Internal Resources: Many organizations including those that help to maintain Critical Infrastructure do not have enough trained security professionals to meet their security needs.
    • Reluctance in Sharing Information: Fear of losing a competitive edge over rivals inhibits the private and public sector to share information about the vulnerability of their systems.
    • Lack of coordination among agencies: Some of the agencies report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, while others report to the Prime Minister’s Office, Defence ministry, MeitY etc.
    • Capability Asymmetry: India lacks indigenization in hardware as well as software cybersecurity tools. This makes India’s cyberspace vulnerable to cyberattacks motivated by state and non-state actors.

    Steps taken by Govt to protect Critical information infrastructure

    • National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) to regulate and protect the nation’s CIIs.
    • The Government has also notified Information Technology (National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre and Manner of Performing Functions and Duties) Rules, 2013 (“NCIIPC Rules”)
    • Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): For responding to computer security incidents.
    • National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) under National Security Council Secretariat coordinates with different agencies at the national level for cyber security matters.
    • National Cyber Coordination Centre to generate necessary situational awareness of cyber security threats and enable timely information sharing for proactive, preventive and protective actions.

    There is a requirement for better understanding of vulnerabilities, including interdependencies between infrastructures. Hence, we need to evolve a comprehensive security policy to address the physical, legal, cyber and human dimensions of security.

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Lakshmi Devi
  • 1
Lakshmi DeviBegginer
Asked: July 20, 2024In:
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Numerous chemical accidents, such as the Bhopal gas tragedy and the Visakhapatnam gas leak, have highlighted the dangers associated with hazardous chemicals (HAZCHEM) in India. Talk about the shortcomings and level of readiness for Chemical Disaster Management (CDM) in India ...

upsc: disaster management
  1. Babita Singh
    Babita Singh Begginer

    The Bhopal Gas tragedy of 1984 is the amongst the worst chemical disaster in history, where over 2000 people died due to the accidental release of the toxic gas Methyl Isocyanate. Recently, the Vizag gas leak at LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam killed 12 people and sickened hundreds. Chemical disaRead more

    The Bhopal Gas tragedy of 1984 is the amongst the worst chemical disaster in history, where over 2000 people died due to the accidental release of the toxic gas Methyl Isocyanate. Recently, the Vizag gas leak at LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam killed 12 people and sickened hundreds. Chemical disasters, though low in frequency, have the potential to cause significant immediate or long-term damage, like injuries, permanent disabilities, loss of lives, damage to property and environment. India is amongst the very few countries, which have enshrined the right to live in a clean and wholesome environment as a fundamental right. After the Bhopal disaster in 1984, Chemical Disaster Management (CDM) received greater emphasis and following steps have been taken to prepare the mechanism to deal with any such disaster:

    • Regulatory framework: There are various legislations, which take into account CDM. For, example, Indian factories Act, 1948, The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules 1989, The Chemical Weapons Convention Act 2000, CAEPPR Rules 1996, Public Liability Insurance Act 1991, Explosives Act-1884, Insecticide Act-1968, Environment (Protection) Act-1986, and Disaster Management (DM) Act-2005. These regulatory frameworks deal with various issues like working conditions, regulating the usage of chemicals, mitigation efforts etc.
    • Institutional framework: A separate Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), has been earmarked as the nodal ministry for management of chemical disasters to ease coordination amongst other ministries, institutions and agencies to manage these disasters. Besides, research institutes like IITs, NEERI, etc. are also working in this domain.
    • NDMA guidelines to ministries/departments and states for preparing DM plans: The guidelines focus on all aspects of the DM cycle including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, relief, rehabilitation and recovery.
    • Other technical efforts: Installation of major accident Hazard Control System, GIS-based Emergency Management System, Environment Risk Reporting and Information Systems (ERRIS), etc.
    • Capacity building: Financial assistance has been provided for capacity development in CDM to various disaster management training institutes.

    While considerable progress has been made in the management of chemical disasters, critical gaps still exist in certain areas

    • Complex web of laws: Regulatory frameworks have numerous laws for various aspects under different ministries thus making it more difficult in terms of synchronizing the policies and have various issues at implementation levels and making it even more difficult for regulations.
    • Gaps in codes of practices, procedures and standards: There is a lack of national level risk assessment criteria and acceptable risks for chemical plants. Also, there are lacunae in procedure for conduct of safety audit and departmental inspections.
    • Untrained professionals: There is a lack of knowledge amongst the government officials, medical staff, as well as staff of the industry on CDM. Also, there is a shortage of clear accessible information on potential chemical hazards and their management.
    • Infrastructural gaps: Institutional framework for providing technical support at various levels is a key requirement for sustaining proper development and implementation of an effective disaster management system. These have not been fully identified.
    • Gaps in post disaster management: Mechanisms to deal with social and economic impacts of chemicals on human health, society and the environment, including liability, compensation and redress are not streamlined and strengthened to take adequate care of post disaster mitigation.

    Although good efforts have been made to minimize such accidents and to improve emergency preparedness at all levels, more needs to be done. One step in this regard can be preparing a database of all potential chemicals used in industries. Substantial efforts are still required to predict the potential occurrence of disasters, assess the damage potential, issue warnings, and to take other precautionary measures to mitigate their effects.

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