Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major…

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)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

भूकंप संबंधित संकटों के लिए भारत की भेद्यता की विवेचना कीजिए। पिछले तीन दशकों में, भारत के विभिन्न भागों में भूकंप द्वारा उत्पन्न बड़ी आपदाओं के उदाहरण प्रमुख विशेषताओं के साथ दीजिए। (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

The question as printed in the 2021 General Studies paper

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Model answer

Drafted with AI by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key. How we build rubrics and answers.

(a) Vulnerability: About 59% of India's landmass lies in Seismic Zones III-V, including the Himalayan belt, the Northeast and Kutch (Zone V). Dense population, unregulated construction, weak enforcement of building codes (IS 1893) and unstable geology amplify risk.

(b) Major earthquake disasters (last three decades):

1993 Latur (M6.2): A shallow, intraplate earthquake killed about 10,000 people, mainly through collapse of non-engineered masonry houses.
2001 Bhuj (M7.7): About 20,000 deaths, widespread building failure, liquefaction and heavy economic loss.
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake: The tsunami it triggered devastated the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Tamil Nadu coast.
2005 Kashmir (M7.6): Rescue difficulties in rugged terrain and school collapses.
2011 Sikkim (M6.9): Landslides and remote-area response challenges.
2015 Nepal: Damage and deaths in Bihar.

These show that vulnerability stems not only from seismicity but also from poor preparedness; code compliance and retrofitting are essential.

How this answer will be evaluated

Framework: GS3 Environment: threat, causes, impact, mitigation

What earns full marks: Precise tectonic analysis with 2-3 specific, well-described disasters from the last 30 years.

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

The answer Analyze India's seismic vulnerability and detail major disasters from the last 30 years. 10 marks · 150 words

discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close
Must cover
- Identify India's seismic zones (Zones IV and V)
- Explain tectonic causes (Himalayan belt, subduction)
- Cite specific disasters (e.g., 2001 Bhuj, 2015 Nepal)
- Mention salient features of the cited disasters
Loses marks
- Generic description of earthquakes without India-specific data
- Listing disasters without their salient features
- Ignoring the 'last three decades' constraint
Earns more
- Reference to National Seismic Hazard Map
- Mention of specific death tolls or economic loss
- Reference to building codes (BIS IS 1893) or NDMA guidelines
- Mention of recent events (e.g., 2016 Imphal earthquake)
Extra mark
- Reference to specific seismic parameters (e.g., Richter scale)
- Mention of specific mitigation bodies (e.g., NDMA, NDRF)

What "Discuss" is asking you to do

Lay the issue out from more than one side — how it arose, what is claimed for it, what is held against it, and where it now stands. UPSC attaches discuss to broad topics with several live dimensions, so coverage of the dimensions earns more than the strength of your opinion.

Structure that answers it

Set the issue up → the case as it is made → the case against → the dimension both sides leave out → where the balance now lies

Where marks are lost

Listing facts with no thread between them, or arguing one side throughout and calling it a discussion.

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Model answer

(b) Major earthquake disasters (last three decades):

How this answer will be evaluated

Evaluation rubric

Must cover

Loses marks

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Extra mark

Structure that answers it

Where marks are lost

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