Theme T38 · Resources & Economic Geography

Glaciers, cryosphere & sea-level rise

6PYQs

5GS1

1GS3

2014–20256 distinct years

1asked 2024–26

Roadmap · step 70 of 171 · Stage 2: Building blocks

← Step 69Step 71 →See the full roadmap

What UPSC asks

A heavily repeated theme: melting Himalayan glaciers and water resources, Arctic vs Antarctic melting effects, cryosphere and global climate, sea-level rise threatening island nations, and IPCC projections for India.

Prepare these

Himalayan glacier retreat and river flows
Arctic sea ice vs Antarctic land ice: different effects
Cryosphere and albedo feedback
Sea-level rise: small island states, Indian coasts, Indian Ocean region
IPCC findings

Answer writing

Link physical change → human impact → adaptation

Directive words in these PYQs: Discuss (1), Explain (1), Bring out (1).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

Step 69: Coastal zone: resources, erosion & hazard preparedness

Comes back later in

Later themes that take this one further.

Step 92: Water security: scarcity, conservation & management Step 137: Climate change impacts on India: food security, Himalayan & coastal states

On the map

Map module 4: World physical framework Practise in the sketch lab: GS1 2020

Syllabus lines covered

GS1-L12 — Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
GS3-L14 — Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

All 6 PYQs, newest first

GS1202510 marks · 150 wordsGS1-GEO-07-M2025-Q04
How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples.
Report a typo
GS3202315 marks · 250 wordsGS3-ENV-03-M2023-Q18
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region?
Also needs: T34 Coastal zone: resources, erosion & hazard preparedness Report a typo
GS12021GS1-GEO-07-M2021-S02
How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain.
Report a typo
GS12020GS1-GEO-07-M2020-S02
How will the melting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India?
Also needs: T44 Water security: scarcity, conservation & management Report a typo
GS12017GS1-GEO-07-M2017-S02
How does the cryosphere affect global climate?
Report a typo
GS12014GS1-GEO-07-M2014-S01
Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.
Report a typo