(a) Bring out the causes for more frequent occurrence of landslides in the Himalayas than in the Western Ghats. (b) There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghats. Why?

Theme

T27 Landslides in the Himalayas & Western Ghats

What UPSC asks in this theme

A cross-paper theme: GS1 asks why landslides are more frequent in the Himalayas than the Western Ghats; GS3 asks causes, effects and the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy.

What to cover

• Himalayas: young fold mountains, seismicity, rainfall, road-cutting, deforestation
• Western Ghats: heavy rainfall, laterite soil, quarrying, plantations
• NLRMS components: hazard mapping, early warning, awareness, mountain zone regulations
• Mitigation: slope stabilisation, drainage, afforestation, building codes

Writing the answer

• Comparison questions need a side-by-side of causes
• End with a mitigation framework linked to NDMA

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 4 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.