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

Theme

T30 Monsoon, El Niño & drought

What UPSC asks in this theme

UPSC asks about monsoon mechanism and culture, monsoon Asia feeding half the world, changing monsoon due to human landscapes, El Niño's effects, and drought preparedness.

What to cover

• Monsoon mechanism: differential heating, ITCZ, jet streams, Tibetan plateau
• El Niño, La Niña, IOD and Indian rainfall
• Human-induced changes: land use, aerosols, urbanisation
• Drought as disaster: NDMA guidelines, monitoring, contingency crop plans
• Monsoon and culture (e.g. Purvaiya in Bhojpur)

Writing the answer

• Link the physical process to agriculture and food security in your conclusion

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 5 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.