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Q1Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
The 2013 Uttarakhand disaster is often described as a 'Himalayan tsunami'. Which of the following were contributing factors?
1. Extremely heavy rainfall over a short period
2. Breach of Chorabari Lake above Kedarnath
3. Extensive construction activity in the floodplain
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 and 2 only
- B1 and 3 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. The 2013 Uttarakhand disaster resulted from a convergence of extreme rainfall, the breach of Chorabari Lake, and rampant construction in the floodplain which left no buffer zone. Over 5,000 people are estimated to have perished.
Q2Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which of the following areas in India is most vulnerable to a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)?
1. Sikkim
2. Ladakh
3. Uttarakhand
4. Coastal Odisha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 and 3 only
- B1, 2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C2 and 4 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Correct. Sikkim, Ladakh and Uttarakhand all lie in glaciated Himalayan terrain with numerous moraine-dammed lakes that can burst. Coastal Odisha faces cyclone and storm-surge risks, not GLOFs.
Q3Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Scale — Measures
- ARichter scale — Wind speed
- BBeaufort scale — Earthquake intensity
- CEnhanced Fujita scale — Tornado intensityCorrect
- DSaffir-Simpson scale — Tsunami height
Explanation
Correct. The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale classifies tornadoes by their estimated wind speeds and resulting damage, from EF0 (light damage) to EF5 (incredible destruction).
Q4Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India functions under the chairpersonship of the:
- AHome Minister
- BPrime MinisterCorrect
- CChief Justice of India
- DCabinet Secretary
Explanation
Correct. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
Q5Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Consider the following statements about cyclone shelters:
1. They are elevated structures built in cyclone-prone coastal areas to provide safe refuge during storm surges.
2. The design of cyclone shelters in India has been guided by NDMA guidelines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Cyclone shelters are elevated, wind-resistant structures that serve as safe havens during cyclones. NDMA, along with state disaster management authorities, has published guidelines for their design, capacity and maintenance.
Q6Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie in which seismic zone?
- AZone II
- BZone III
- CZone IV
- DZone VCorrect
Explanation
Correct. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie in Seismic Zone V due to their proximity to the Indo-Burma subduction zone and the Andaman Sea spreading centre. The devastating 2004 tsunami originated from an earthquake near this plate boundary.
Q7Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
The term 'El Nino' refers to:
- AA periodic cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean surface waters
- BA periodic warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean surface waters near the coast of PeruCorrect
- CA strengthening of the easterly trade winds across the Pacific
- DAn increase in upwelling along the South American coast
Explanation
Correct. El Nino is the warm phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), characterised by anomalous warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. It can trigger droughts in India and Australia and heavy rains in Peru.
Q8Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Embankments along rivers are used for flood control. Which of the following is a disadvantage of embankments?
1. They can lead to waterlogging of land behind the embankment.
2. Breaches in embankments can cause more destructive flooding than would occur without them.
3. They prevent silt deposition on agricultural fields in the floodplain.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. Embankments cause waterlogging by preventing drainage, create catastrophic flooding when breached (because water has accumulated behind them), and stop beneficial silt from reaching farmland — all well-documented disadvantages.
Q9Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which of the following correctly describes a 'hazard zonation map'?
- AA map showing the distribution of hospitals in disaster-prone areas
- BA map demarcating areas according to their expected levels of hazard from potential disastersCorrect
- CA map showing real-time satellite imagery during a disaster event
- DA map of historical disaster fatalities over the last century
Explanation
Correct. A hazard zonation map divides a region into zones of varying degrees of expected hazard, based on factors such as geological structure, terrain, past events and susceptibility. Examples include seismic zone maps and landslide susceptibility maps.
Q10Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Consider the following statements:
1. Earthquakes along the Himalayan belt are primarily caused by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
2. The Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and the Main Central Thrust (MCT) are major fault systems in the Himalayas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. The Indian plate has been colliding with the Eurasian plate for approximately 50 million years, making the Himalayan belt one of the most seismically active zones on Earth. The MBT and MCT are major thrust systems produced by this collision, and earthquakes frequently occur along and near these faults.
Q11Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which of the following human activities can increase flood vulnerability in urban areas?
1. Encroachment on natural drainage channels
2. Excessive concretisation reducing percolation
3. Destruction of wetlands that act as sponges
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. All three activities increase urban flood risk. Encroachment blocks drainage, concretisation increases run-off, and wetland destruction eliminates natural water storage. The recurring floods in Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru illustrate these factors.
Q12Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which of the following coasts of India is most vulnerable to tropical cyclones?
- AGujarat coast
- BKerala coast
- CEast coast, especially Andhra Pradesh and OdishaCorrect
- DKonkan coast of Maharashtra
Explanation
Correct. The east coast of India, especially the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, is the most cyclone-prone region. The Bay of Bengal generates far more cyclones than the Arabian Sea, and these frequently make landfall on the eastern seaboard.