Theme T27 · Physical Geography & Hazards
Landslides in the Himalayas & Western Ghats
4PYQs
3GS1
1GS3
2013–20213 distinct years
What UPSC asks
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.
Prepare these
- 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
Answer writing
- Comparison questions need a side-by-side of causes
- End with a mitigation framework linked to NDMA
Directive words in these PYQs: Describe (1), Mention (1), Discuss (1), Suggest (1), Bring out (1), Why (1).
Linked themes
Builds on: study these first
These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.
Comes back later in
Later themes that take this one further.
On the map
Map module 1: Physical IndiaMap module 4: World physical frameworkMap module 5: Hazard zonesPractise in the sketch lab: GS1 2021
Syllabus lines covered
- GS1-L10 — Salient features of world's physical geography.
- GS3-L15 — Disaster and disaster management.
All 4 PYQs, newest first
- GS12021GS1-GEO-01-M2021-S01
Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats.
- GS32021GS3-DM-01-M2021-S02
- GS12016GS1-GEO-01-M2016-S01
- GS12013GS1-GEO-01-M2013-S02