UPSC Themes

UPSC CSE Mains 2026 · GS3 · 15 marks · 250 words

“Community participation is the cornerstone of effective disaster management”. Analyse this statement with suitable examples from India. Also discuss the challenges to community participation and measures to strengthen it.

Theme

T160 Disaster management frameworks: DM Act, Sendai, resilience, community, dam safety

What UPSC asks in this theme

A repeated GS3 theme: community participation, resilience and Sendai targets, the shift from reactive to proactive DM, Sendai vs Hyogo, vulnerability and risk assessment, and dam failures.

What to cover

Writing the answer

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 6 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.

On the map

Map module 2: Drainage & water bodiesMap module 4: World physical frameworkMap module 5: Hazard zonesMap module 12: Environment overlays

More PYQs from this theme

  1. GS3202415 marks

    What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030).

  2. GS3202310 marks

    Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyse the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures.

  3. GS32020

    Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach.

  4. GS32018

    Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-30)’. How is this framework different from ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005’?

  5. GS32013

    How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management? As an administrator, what are key areas that you would focus on in a Disaster Management System.

All 20 GS3 2026 questions · Technology, Economy, Environment, Security & Disaster Management · Report a typo