Hydro-meteorological Disasters
Environment & Ecology
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
Central to GS1 (Physical Geography, Climate Change), GS3 (Disaster Management, Environmental Degradation, Climate Change), and understanding India's vulnerability and adaptation strategies in the face of changing climate patterns.
Hydro-meteorological disasters are natural hazards caused by extreme meteorological and hydrological events, such as heavy rainfall, floods, droughts, cyclones, and heatwaves. These events are increasingly influenced by climate change, leading to higher frequency and intensity, posing significant challenges to disaster management and sustainable development.
Facts & tables
- Types
- Include floods, flash floods, landslides, droughts, cyclones, cloudbursts, and hailstorms.
- Triggers
- Primarily driven by extreme weather phenomena like intense rainfall, often exacerbated by climate change.
- Vulnerability
- India, with its diverse geography and large population, is highly vulnerable to various hydro-meteorological disasters.
- Impacts
- Cause widespread damage to agriculture, infrastructure, livelihoods, and human lives, leading to economic losses.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Climate Change |
| Conceptual area | Disaster Management |
| Conceptual area | Extreme Weather Events |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| India Meteorological Department (IMD) | Provides weather forecasts and warnings |
| National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) | Coordinates national response and policy |
| Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) | Conducts research and provides scientific inputs |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- Disasters caused by extreme weather/water events (floods, landslides, droughts, cyclones).
- Frequency and intensity increasing globally, linked to climate change.
- India highly vulnerable due to geography and population density.
- Requires robust early warning, mitigation, and adaptation strategies.
- Impacts include loss of life, infrastructure damage, and economic disruption.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2026 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
Timeline
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Climate Change
Conceptual area
-
Disaster Management
Conceptual area
-
Extreme Weather Events
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2026
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Landslide dams river in rain-battered Arunachal, warning for Assam downstream
Hydro-meteorological disasters, such as floods and landslides triggered by extreme rainfall, are increasing in frequency and intensity, largely due to climate change, necessitating enhanced disaster preparedness and climate adaptation strategies.
See also
Past papers
2023–2026 · 8 questions
In the news
Landslide dams river in rain-battered Arunachal, warning for Assam downstream
Hydro-meteorological disasters, such as floods and landslides triggered by extreme rainfall, are increasing in frequency and intensity, largely due to climate change, necessitating enhanced disaster preparedness and climate adaptation strategies.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct ?
1. It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
2. It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.
3. National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Hydrogen obtained from fossil fuels (primarily natural gas) through steam methane reforming, where the resulting carbon emissions are captured and stored using Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies, is known as Blue Hydrogen, not Green Hydrogen. Statement 2 is Correct: Green Hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis, using electricity generated entirely from renewable energy sources (such as solar or wind). It is a completely zero-emission process. Statement 3 is Correct: The National Green Hydrogen Mission launched by the Government of India has set quantified targets for 2030. It aims to develop a green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum. This will lead to the abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, alongside reducing fossil fuel imports and creating over 6 lakh jobs. Therefore, the correct option is B.
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.
Statement II:
Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.
Statement III:
As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Earth’s rotation and axis can shift due to changes in how mass is distributed across the planet, such as melting polar ice. ✅Statement I is correct: * Studies show that Earth’s rotation and axis are shifting slightly due to internal mass redistribution. ✅ Statement II is correct: * But it doesn’t explain the shift — solar flares affect only the upper atmosphere, not Earth’s rotation. ✅ Statement III is correct: * It explains the shift — melting polar ice moves water toward the equator, altering Earth’s mass distribution and spin.
Consider the following activities :
1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively
2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime
3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters
How many of the above activities are often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration?
All three activities mentioned are indeed methods often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration. * Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively is known as enhanced weathering. The basalt reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and forms stable carbonates, effectively storing the carbon dioxide and preventing it from contributing to global warming. * Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime can help absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The increased alkalinity enhances the ocean's capacity to act as a carbon sink. * Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters is a direct method of carbon capture and sequestration where carbon dioxide is captured at its source and then stored in a way that prevents it from being released into the atmosphere.
Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change :
I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
II. India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019.
III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets.
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct ?
1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II.
2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I.
3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement I is Correct: India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is indeed a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. It outlines the strategic framework necessary for sectoral transitions in energy, transport, industry, and forestry to meet this long-term goal. Statement II is Incorrect: While India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) does record an approximately 8% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 compared to 2019, this decrease is attributed to the economic slowdown and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, not to structural or strategic efforts towards long-term emission reductions. Therefore, it does not empirically support the strategic framework of LT-LEDS. Statement III is Correct: The IPCC emphasizes that climate-resilient development depends on rapid, deep, and immediate emission reductions in the short term. This approach can be seen as contradicting the long-term focus of strategies like LT-LEDS if they do not also incorporate aggressive short-term actions. Therefore, the correct relationship is that Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in Statement I, making option B correct.
The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 °C. Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above‐said report?
I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts.
II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Wet-bulb temperature combines heat and humidity. When it exceeds 35°C, the human body can no longer cool itself through sweating, posing a serious threat to survival. ❌ Statement I: Incorrect
* Though flooding, cyclones, and droughts are valid climate threats, they are not directly related to the World Bank's warning about wet-bulb temperatures. ✅ Statement II: Correct
* When wet-bulb temperatures cross 35°C, the body cannot release heat, making it fatal for humans and animals.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change.
Statement-II: Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Carbon markets, which include mechanisms like cap-and-trade systems and carbon offsets, are increasingly being used as a tool to incentivize emissions reductions and help in the fight against climate change. So, statement 1 is true. * Carbon markets typically work by transferring resources from emitters (usually in the private sector) to entities that can reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, which can be either private entities or the government. So, statement 2 can also be true.
Which organization has enacted the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss?
✅ A. The European Union:
The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is an EU legislative initiative adopted in 2024. It sets binding targets to restore ecosystems, fight climate change, and protect biodiversity across EU member states. ❌ B. The World Bank:
An international financial institution providing loans and grants; it does not enact laws like the NRL. ❌ C. OECD:
An organization promoting economic cooperation and policy coordination; it does not enact binding environmental laws such as the NRL. ❌ D. FAO:
A UN agency focused on hunger and agriculture; it does not enact regional laws like the NRL.
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), India refrained from signing the “Declaration on Climate and Health”.
Statement II:
The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health is a binding declaration; and if signed, it becomes mandatory to decarbonize health sector.
Statement III:
If India’s health sector is decarbonized, the resilience of its health-care system may be compromised.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
At COP28, India chose not to sign the “Declaration on Climate and Health,” and this decision can be understood by analyzing the nature of the declaration and India’s concerns. ✅ Statement I: Correct. India did not sign the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, unlike over 120 other countries. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect. The declaration is not legally binding; it is a voluntary political commitment. Signing it does not legally mandate countries to decarbonize their health sectors immediately. ✅Statement III: Correct. India’s concern is that rapid decarbonization of its health sector could compromise the resilience and accessibility of healthcare services, given current developmental challenges and resource constraints. Therefore, only Statement III correctly explains Statement I, while Statement II is factually wrong about the binding nature of the declaration.