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Northern Ireland (NI) has finally developed a new government this month after a two-year political stalemate between the two main parties since the 2022 elections to the Stormont Assembly. 

Power-Sharing Returns to Northern Ireland

The Good Friday Agreement/ the Belfast Agreement, signed on 10 April 1998, was a political deal designed to bring an end to 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles.

• It set up a new government for Northern Ireland, representing both nationalists and unionists.

About Northern Ireland

• It is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom (the others being England, Scotland and Wales).
• It is the smallest member of the United Kingdom

Geographic Location:

• Geographically, it is part of Ireland but politically, it is part of the United Kingdom (UK)
• It  has coasts on the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
• It  is separated on the east from Scotland, another part of the United Kingdom, by the narrow North Channel.
• Capital: Belfast (major port)

Attractions of Northern Ireland

• Giant’s Causeway: It is the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Northern Ireland. 
  • It is a spectacular ancient volcanic rock formation dating back an estimated 60 million years.
• Lough Neagh: It  is a freshwater lake in Northern Ireland and is the largest lake on the island of Ireland and in the United Kingdom.
• Slieve Donard: It is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland.

News Source: The Hindu

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The European Union launched a naval mission to protect the Red Sea shipping lane from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Red Sea Mission Of EU to Secure Red Sea From Houthi Attacks

• Red Sea Crisis: The EU Red sea mission was launched in response to an attack on the U.S.-owned cargo vessel in the Red Sea region, specifically targeted twice within two hours in the Gulf of Aden.
• The Iran-backed Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have been attacking the vital shipping lane in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war.
• Houthis have been attacking commercial and military shipping in the busy Red Sea, across which 12 percent of global trade travels.

EU Red Sea Mission: Aspides

• Mission Aspides: The EU plans to operationalize a mission named Aspides, meaning “shield” in Greek, within a few weeks, deploying at least four naval vessels.
• Objective of Mission: To Facilitate freedom of navigation on the Red Sea.
• Early Warning System: The operation will send European warships and early warning systems to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters.
• Mandate of the Operation: The mission will refrain from engaging in offensive actions on Yemeni territory for an initial duration of one year.

Global Impact of Houthi Attacks

• Decline in Revenues from Suez Canal: Revenues from the Suez Canal have decreased by 40 to 50% since this year.
• Increase in Cost of Trade and Delivery times: Delivery times for shipments between Asia and the EU have increased by 10 to 15 days, and the costs of these shipments have gone up by around 400 per cent.
• Decline in Geopolitical Stability: The Israel-Hamas conflict along with Houthi attacks in the Red Sea has further led to a decline in geopolitical stability and caused unrest in the region. 
• Global Supply Chain Impact: The attacks have disrupted global supply chains, affecting the transportation of goods including energy supplies, food products, and manufactured goods. 
• Impact on India: The attacks have led to costlier imports, higher energy prices, security concerns for Indian merchant vessels and risk for Indian diaspora in conflict-ridden regions.

Source: Hindu

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Recently, a 5-day International Conference on Photonics, Quantum Information, and Quantum Communication, was organised by the Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences in Kolkata. 

• A century ago, Satyendra Nath Bose’s work joined the ranks of pivotal publications in quantum mechanics, alongside Planck (1900), Einstein (1905), and Niels Bohr (1913).

About Satyendra Nath Bose 

Satyendra Nath Bose was an Indian mathematician and physicist, an expert in theoretical physics. His contributions helped improve the Standard Model of Particle Physics.

Birth: Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1894.

Academic Life: By the age of 15, pursued a Bachelor of Science degree at the Presidency College

• Finished his MSc in Mixed Mathematics in 1915.

Inspired by: Jagdish Chandra Bose and Prafulla Chandra Ray.

Career: Lecturer at Calcutta University, along with astrophysicist Meghnad Saha.

• Bose and Saha published English translations of Albert Einstein’s special and general relativity papers.
• Went to Europe to work for two years at X-ray and crystallography laboratories alongside Albert Einstein and Marie Curie.
• Returned to India and was appointed professor of physics and then Head of Department at Dhaka University in 1927.
• In 1945, he returned to the University of Calcutta and retired in 1956.
• Vice-Chancellor of the Visva-Bharati (1956-58).

Breakthrough: He had derived Planck’s law for black body radiation (which refers to the spectrum of light emitted by any hot object) without any reference to classical electrodynamics. 

• Bose asked Albert Einstein to review his research paper in 1924.
• Impressed by Bose’s findings, Einstein arranged for the publication of the paper and also translated it into German.

Death: February 4, 1974, after a severe heart attack at the age of 80.

Contributions of Satyendra Nath Bose

• Bose-Einstein Condensate: It predicted that at very low temperatures near absolute zero, all particles will condense into a single state, called Boson. It is also known as the Fifth state of matter.
• Derived Planck’s law – Planck’s Law was discovered by Max Planck. 
  • Planck’s law was correct, but its derivation was not correct.
  • By treating radiation as a gas of photons (Photon gas) and using new statistical techniques for counting photon states, Bose provided a new derivation of Planck’s law.
• Bose-Hubbard Model: His work inspired the development of the Bose-Hubbard model which  describes the behaviour of ultra-cold atoms trapped in an optical lattice.
  • It has applications in quantum computing and quantum simulation.
• God Particles: 
  • In the 1960s, Peter Higgs carried out further research using Bose-Einstein Statistics and wrote a paper about a very unstable particle that survives for a fraction of a second after its birth, and then it breaks apart producing other fundamental particles.
  • He called this particle “Higgs Boson Particle” or “God Particle”.

Also Read: Bharat Ratna Awards 2024: Award Winner List

News Source: The Hindu

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The recent study Published in the Elsevier Journal emphasised that besides local emissions, rapidly changing climate is a significant factor affecting air quality in India.

La Nina Impacted Air quality in India in the Winter of 2022: Study

• The study was conducted by the  National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune.
• La Nina Influence on Air Quality: The Study has argued that the unusual air quality in some Indian cities in the winter of 2022 could be attributed to the La-Nina prevailing at that time.
• First Time Connection: This is the first time that air quality in Indian cities has been linked to a La Nina event — and indirectly to climate change, which is making El Nino and La-Nina more severe.

Key Finding of the Study

• Anomaly In Usual Condition (2022): West Indian and south Indian cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, experienced worse-than-usual air quality while Northern Indian cities, including Delhi, were cleaner than usual.
  • For Example: PM2.5 concentrations in Ghaziabad in 2022 winter saw a reduction of about 33% from normal levels while Delhi saw a reduction of about 10% whereas Mumbai saw a rise in PM2.5 by  30%, and  Bengaluru registered a 20% rise.
• Triple dip La Nina: The researchers used the global air circulation data as a result of La-Nina and equated it with the wind patterns over the Indian region. 
  • These anomalous wind patterns showed a strong sensitivity to the prevailing  La Nina conditions and disappeared when these conditions were not present.

How Has La Nina Affected Air Quality?

• Change in Wind Direction: The normal wind direction ie, a North-westerly direction during winters changed to a North-South direction.
  • As a result the pollutants and smoke from stubble burning being carried from Punjab and Haryana bypassed Delhi and Gangetic Plains  and flew over Rajasthan and Gujarat to southern regions.
• Deviation in local wind circulation near Mumbai: In 2022, the local winds persisted in one direction for more than a week or 10 days instead of changing direction every four to five days. 
  • Wind currents alternate between blowing from the land to the sea every few days.
  • It led to a greater accumulation of pollutants in Mumbai as the winds carried pollutants out of the city when they blew from the land towards the sea. 

News Source: Indian Express

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Scientific discovery has raised understanding about two genetically different species of green anaconda.

New Species of Green Anaconda Discovered in Orinoco Basin

• Southern Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus): This species is already known and resides in Peru, Bolivia, French Guiana, and Brazil. It’s commonly referred to as the “Southern green anaconda”.
• Northern Green Anaconda (Eunectes akayima): Recently discovered, this species is found in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. It’s named the “Northern green anaconda”.
  • The two species closely resemble each other in their physical characteristics.

About Green Anaconda

• Green anacondas are also known as giant anacondas.
  • Females can grow over seven meters long.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern
• Scientific name: Eunectes murinus
• Size: Green anacondas are the largest and longest snakes in the world.
• Habitat: They mostly live in rivers and wetlands in South America.
• Green anacondas are not venomous. 
• Amazing Skills: Green anacondas are fast movers and asphyxiate (squeeze and suffocate) large prey before swallowing them whole.
• Threats: Climate change, Habitat degradation River Pollution, etc.

News Source: Down to Earth

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African-Mediterranean wader bird spur-winged lapwing has been spotted at Ammavaripet Lake near Warangal for the first time in India.

About Spur-Winged Lapwing

• It is a wading bird. 
• Scientific Name:  Vanellus spinosus.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern 
• Habitat: Spur-winged lapwings live primarily in the sub-Saharan belt of central Africa. 
  • This species thrives in the environment of marshes and freshwater wetlands. 
• Native: The Middle East and Mediterranean regions.
• Dieting and Forage:
  • Carnivore:  Feeds on insects, worms, and small fish.

• Distinctive Features Of Spur-Winged Lapwing

  • It has striking brown, black, and white plumage. 
    • Its face, neck, and belly are white
    • It has a black crown on its head. 
  • Its eyes are bright red. 
  • They have long, thin legs  that enable them to wade and run in marshy and shallow areas. 
  • This bird is vocal and produces repeated “sik-sik-sik…” calls.

Ammavaripet Lake

• Ammavaripet Cheruvu is a lake located in Hanamkonda, Telangana, India.  
• This lake is famous for fishing and birdwatching. 
• Ammavaripet Cheruvu derives its name from the nearby village of Ammavaripet.

News Source: Thehindu

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Recently, the Union Government has increased the allocation of the ‘Sustainable & Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector’ scheme for the next two financial years (2024-26) by 23% from Rs 576.41 crore to Rs 708.69 crore.

• This increased allocation comes out amid a shortfall in availability of natural rubber which has resulted in rising import of natural rubber from countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations.

Natural Rubber Production In India: Current Status

• There are over 13 lakh rubber growers in the country with Kerala accounting for a major chunk of the production, which was 8.39 lakh tonnes in FY23. 
  • Consumption, however, during FY23 was 13.5 lakh tonnes.

Financial Assistance To Natural Rubber Producers

• Implementation: Through the Rubber Board.
• Vision: For supporting the plantation of rubber, generation of planting material, productivity enhancement, formation of rubber producers societies, and rubber research and training.
  • This will aim to develop rubber clones suitable for different agro-climatic regions of the country to expand rubber cultivation to new areas.
• Utilization of Allocation: 
  • Increase in Plantation Areas: In traditional areas, including Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, rubber plantation will be undertaken on 12,000 hectares.
    • In non-traditional areas like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and north-east states, 3,752 hectares will be brought under rubber cultivation during 2024-26. 
      • Planting assistance at Rs 2,00,000 per ha will be provided for SC growers in non-traditional regions.
    • In the North East (NE), planting materials worth Rs 50,000 per ha will be supplied for plantation under the INROAD project. 
  • Additional Incentives: The rate of assistance has been increased to Rs 40,000 per hectare from Rs 25,000 per hectare, which will help cover the increased cost of production and provide additional incentives to growers.
  • Rubber Producers Societies (RPS): Assistance will be provided for the formation of around 250 new RPS and the formation of another 1450 farmer clusters will be supported in non-traditional and NE regions. 
  • Group Processing Centres (GPC): To ensure the quality and standardisation of rubber sheets, the setting up of GPC is being promoted. The construction of 18 GPCs will be supported in the NE and Non-Traditional regions.
  • National Institute of Rubber Training (NIRT): The establishment of three nodal centres of NIRT in NE region Agartala, Guwahati and Nagaland have been proposed with an outlay of Rs 5.25 crore.
  • Others: Various measures like Educational Stipends, Women empowerment schemes, Assistance for House construction, Group Life Insurance cum Terminal Benefit, Personal Accident Insurance Scheme and pension scheme have been provided for with an outlay of Rs  7.02 crore for the next two years.
• No Impact on Import Duty: The government is not considering any cut in import duty on rubber as of now as the differential between the local and international prices is maintained.
• Significance: The welfare measures are implemented to improve the quality of life of workers, to retain the existing tappers/workers and to attract more tappers, particularly women.

News Source: The Indian Express

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Recently, SpaceX launched Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida carrying the private Odysseus moon lander built by Houston-based Intuitive Machines. 

• The Nova-C lander was deployed from the lander and is now on its way to the moon.

Earlier Such Privately-led Attempts

• Israel’s Beresheet in 2019, Japan’s Hakuto in 2023 and the American Peregrine in 2024. However, all of them failed to land on the Moon.

About the IM-1 Mission: Odysseus Moon Lander

• NASA selected Intuitive Machines to build a lander as part of the space agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services Initiative (CLPS), in which a commercial firm receives a contract. 
• Aim of the Mission: To place Odysseus moon lander at crater Malapert A near the lunar south pole. 
• Payloads: Odysseus carries five NASA payloads, and commercial cargo. 
  • Lander: It is equipped with solar panels which will allow it to generate 200 Watts of power on the lunar surface. 
  • Main Engine: It is placed at the bottom of Odysseus, uses liquid methane as fuel, and liquid oxygen as oxidiser.
• Mission Life: It will have a mission life of 14 Earth days, in the presence of sunlight. 
• Functions: 
  • Study interactions between the lunar surface and plumes, which are clouds of gas. 
  • Conduct Radio Astronomy Experiments
  • Demonstrate precision landing technologies, and exhibit communication and navigation mode capabilities. 
• Future Implication: It will provide insights into the lunar surface environment paving the way for Starship’s Human Landing System putting the first NASA Artemis astronauts on the Moon. 

News Source: The Indian Express

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This article is based on the news “Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023: States, UTs must act as per definition in TN Godavarman judgement, says SC ” which was published in the Down To Earth. The Supreme Court, in an interim order, said that ‘’the states and Union territories (UT) must act according to the definition of forest as laid down in the landmark TN Godavarman Thirumalpad v. Union of India judgement issued in 1996.

States Must Follow Definition of Forest Laid Out in 1996 Judgement, Says Supreme Court

• PLI Challenging Amendments to Forest Conservation Act: The Supreme Court court was hearing a public interest litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Forest Conservation Act. The Act was amended by the Union government in 2023.
• Prior Permission of SC: The court also directed that its prior permission will be necessary for Setting up any Zoo or Safari in a forest.
  • These are exempted from the definition of forests, according to Section 5 of FCAA 2023.
• Publication of Forest land Records: The Court also directed that a comprehensive land record as per Rule 16 of Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023 should be available on the official website.
  • These include within its ambit forest-like areas to be identified by the expert committee, unclassed and community forest lands.

What Is a Forest?

• According to the 1996 Godavarman Judgement:  “forest” would include: 
  • Any land recorded as “forest” in government records; and 
  • Any land that satisfied the dictionary definition of forest. (The Oxford Dictionary defines forest as “a large area covered with trees and undergrowth.”)

Amendment To the Forest Conservation Act 2023 (FCAA) 

Key Amendments 

• Introduction of  a preamble to the Forest Conservation Act 2023, reflecting India’s commitment to preserving forests, and biodiversity, and addressing climate change challenges. 

• • Amending the name of the Act to Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam (translated as Forest Conservation and Augmentation) from the existing Forest Conservation Act.
• Delineates two categories of land under the Act’s jurisdiction: 
  • (i) land declared/notified as a forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 or under any other law, and 
  • (ii) land not covered in the first category but notified as a forest on or after October 25, 1980, in a government record. 
• Exemptions in Certain Kinds of Lands 
  • In Section 1A(2)(a), for instance, the following kind of land is exempted: “such forest land situated alongside a rail line or a public road maintained by the Government, which provides access to a habitation, or to a rail, and roadside amenity up to a maximum size of 0.10 hectare in each case. 
  • The Act also exempts all strategic linear projects of “national importance and concerning national security” within 100 km of international borders.
• Expansion of Permitted Activities: It facilitates silvicultural operations, wildlife safaris, and eco-tourism, as specified by the central government. 

• Streamlining Approval Processes: Previously, state governments needed central government approval to assign forest land to non-government entities. The amendment extends this requirement to all entities, with approvals subject to central government terms and conditions. 
• This aims to eliminate ambiguities and expedite decision-making on proposals involving non-forestry use of forest land. 

Criticism of Amendment To the  Forest Conservation Act 2023 

• Changing the Scope of “Forest”

  • The Act seeks to redefine ‘forest’ in India, restricting it to officially designated lands. 
  • This eliminates restrictions on commercial activity on non-designated forest land, impacting areas like the Aravalli and Niyamgiri ranges inhabited by vulnerable tribal groups. 

• Exemptions for Linear Infrastructure

  • Linear infrastructure projects near national borders may be exempt from forest clearance permissions. 
  • The lack of clear definitions for “strategic linear projects” raises concerns, particularly in Northeastern states where this exemption could have significant environmental implications. 

• Consultation Shortcomings

  • Criticism surrounds the lack of alterations recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee despite numerous objections from various stakeholders, including tribal groups and environmental activists. 

• Jeopardizing Forest Conservation and Indigenous Community

  • Despite the Forest Rights Act, indigenous communities’ consent for forest land diversion has dwindled. The proposed amendments prioritise carbon neutrality through fast-growing plantations, limiting the Forest Conservation Act’s scope. 

• Centralized Control Concerns

  • Centralization of power in the central government raises concerns, particularly regarding exemptions for strategic projects near international borders. States like Nagaland and Sikkim express worry over the potential impact on their territories.

• Human-Animal Conflict: 

  • The radio collared elephant killed a person when he entered human habitation in Wayanad district. Therefore, It endangers not only forests and wildlife, but also the well-being and livelihoods of forest-dwelling communities.

• By Section Wise Shortcomings :

• • Section 1A(2)(c)(ii): Forest land used for security-related infrastructure excluded from the Act’s purview 
  • Section 1A(3): Statutory reliance on compensatory afforestation which has a very poor track record in India 
  • Section 1A(2)(c)(iii): Unrestricted exemption for defence and public utility projects in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas 
  • Section 2(2): Arbitrarily permitting activities such as survey and exploration in forest.
  • Lack of clear definitions for crucial terms.

Way Forward 

• Specified Definition of Forest: After assessing the estimates of land under forest a specified definition of forest should be made on the line of kyoto protocol definition which is currently being used for ISFR report.
• Consultative Approach: By taking mutual consent with all stockholders after analyzing all pros & cons of the project
• Preservation with Indigenous Rights: A comprehensive demarcation of boundaries & transition area should be made by recognizing rights of indigenous communities based on Forest Rights Acts 2006 & Forest Conservation Act
• Environment & Social Impact Assessment: Element of Environment & social cost of Project should be in line with forest conservation.

Conclusion

The amendments to the forest conservation Act pushed the ground for diverting more forest land for non-forest activities. It endangers not only forests and wildlife, but also the well-being and livelihoods of forest-dwelling communities. Therefore Current ruling of the Supreme Court on the definition of Forest & Permission for Zoo & Safari Creation is a welcome step.

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This article is based on the news “Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah says in order to build a disaster resilient India, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has introduced a multi-dimensional Disaster Management Plan” which was published in the PIB Recently, the Prime Minister has introduced a multi-dimensional Disaster Management Plan.

Multi-Dimensional Disaster Management Plan: Key Highlights

• Effective Early Warning System: It was recognized that prompt response forces and vigilant early warning systems lead to saving millions of lives.
• Zero Casualty Approach: The “Zero Casualty Approach” adopted by India has made the disaster response teams operate as fully professional forces driven by the goal of securing every life.
• Youth Training in Disaster Management: The Government has trained millions of youth in disaster management, which has boosted the morale of the forces and made the communities capable of fighting disasters.

India’s Disaster Vulnerability 

• Disaster Prone: 

  • India is the 10th most disaster-prone country in the world.

• Geographical Vulnerabilities:

  • 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes.
  • 40 million hectares are prone to floods, and 
  • 68% of the area is susceptible to drought. 

• Coastal Vulnerabilities: 

  • Close to 5,700 km, out of the 7,516 km long coastline is prone to cyclones and tsunamis.

• Man-Made Disaster: 

  • India is also vulnerable to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies and other man-made disasters such as Rail and Road disasters (Orissa train collision), stampedes (at temples and festivals) etc.

• Economic Impact: 

• • According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Natural disasters, such as cyclones, floods and droughts, have cost India around $87 billion in 2020.

Existing Disaster Response Framework in India

• Disaster Management Act 2005: 

  • The National Disaster Management Act was enacted in 2005, which brought a paradigm shift in India’s approach to disaster management. 
  • The approach shifted to preparedness, prevention and planning from earlier response and relief centric approach.

  • The Act provides for establishment of:

    • National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
    • State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)
    • District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)

  • The Act also provides for:

    • Constitution of Disaster Response Fund and Disaster Mitigation Fund at National, State and District levels 
    • Establishment of National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

• National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM) 2009:

  • Holistic Approach: The NPDM fosters a holistic, proactive strategy for disaster resilience, integrating prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response, and spans across all aspects of disaster management including institutional, legal, and financial frameworks.
  • Inclusivity and Equity: It ensures the inclusion of all societal segments, particularly focusing on differently-abled persons, women, children, and disadvantaged groups, emphasising equity in relief and rehabilitation efforts.
  • Transparency and Community Involvement: Aims for transparency and accountability in disaster management processes by actively involving communities, local bodies, civil society, and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

• National Disaster Management Plan 2016:

• • It is the first ever national plan prepared in the country for disaster management and has been aligned broadly with the goals of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
  • The NDMP provides a framework and direction to the government agencies for all phases of the disaster management cycle.
  • Key Activities: The plan identifies major activities such as early warning, information dissemination, medical care, fuel, transportation, search and rescue, evacuation, etc. to serve as a checklist for agencies responding to a disaster. 
  • Integration: NDMP also provides for horizontal and vertical integration among all the agencies and departments of the Government.

Multi-Dimensional Disaster Management Plan

• It is a holistic and Integrated approach to disaster management that has been brought in India. It is based on a relief-focused and reactionary outlook. 
• Various components of a multidimensional disaster management plan are: 
  • Early Warning System: Mechanism to forecast and communicate potential disaster risks
  • Mitigation: Strategies to reduce the severity and impact of a disaster occurring.
  • Active Prevention: Proactive measures taken to avert the occurrence of a disaster or to minimise its impact on society.
  • Preparedness: The state of readiness of individuals, and communities to respond effectively to disasters.
  • Disaster Risk Reduction: An approach to identify, assess, and reduce the risks of disaster and lessen the vulnerability of people and assets to ensure sustainable development.

Need For Multi-Dimensional Disaster Management Plan

• Persistent Challenges: The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is combined with issues like war between Ukraine and Russia causing global food insecurity. 
  • Increasing encroachment by humans is giving rise to more zoonotic diseases, posing a risk of perpetual fight against diseases. 
• Climate Change: The impact of climate change is leading to frequent and intense extreme weather events. This requires a multi-dimensional and holistic approach to deal with dynamic disaster situations. 
  • Urban floods in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore; Glacial lake outbursts in Uttarakhand and draughts in the flood plains of Bihar are the result of climate change.
• Gaps in Preparedness for Catastrophic Disasters: India faces significant preparedness gaps, especially for catastrophic events like major earthquakes and floods. 
  • Recent events such as the mudslides in Leh, the Sikkim earthquake, and the Uttarakhand floods have exposed inadequacies in preparedness, leading to high mortality and displacement rates.
• Need for Enhanced Early Warning Systems: Effective disaster management hinges on the accuracy and timeliness of early warning systems. Erraticity of tropical cyclones and difficulty in tracking their movement.
  • Cyclone Taukte claimed over 100 lives, most of them in Gujarat, and caused destruction in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra as it brushed India’s west coast. Similarly Cyclone Amphan caused destruction in West Bengal and Bangladesh.
• Execution of Disaster Management cycle in Silos: Various phases of disaster management cycle such as forecasting disasters and planning for mitigation etc. are done in silos.
  • Assessment of levels and duration of flooding,soil types and then identifying crops that would thrive in post-flood conditions needs to be done for integrated disaster management.
• Lack of Integration of Technological Advances: Use of modern technology, such as artificial intelligence and big data, to manage routine procedures and enhance disaster preparedness is still missing.
  • The Emergency Alert System, which is being implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority, has still not been functional.
• Poor Community Involvement: Community involvement and engagement in disaster management requires proper training and frequent drills for better response. However, there is a major lack of training of citizens to deal with disasters at the local level. 

Multi-Dimensional Approach To Disaster Management in India

• Enhanced Early Warning and Response Systems

  • Successes in Disaster Mitigation: Implementation of early warning systems has significantly reduced the loss of lives and property due to cyclones by approximately 98%, along with a considerable decrease in heatwave-related mortality.
  • Protection of critical Asset: Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the disaster management system effectively protected critical assets like oxygen-generating units in cyclone-affected zones.

• Strengthening Disaster Response Capabilities

  • National Disaster Response Reserve (NDRR): Establishment of a ₹250 crore revolving fund to maintain ready-to-deploy inventory for immediate relief.
  • Expansion of NDRF: Introduction of additional corps and operational vessels by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to ensure pre-deployment in states and regional response centers across 28 cities.
  • State Disaster Response Force (SDRF): Formation in all states, except Telangana, taking over specific disaster response tasks.

• Financial and Technological Support for Disaster Management in India

  • Scientific Fund Allocation: Formation of the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) in 2021 with allocations totalling ₹45,724 crore under NDMF and State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF).
  • Innovation and Training: Launch of the NDRF Academy, Disaster Mitra Scheme to train over 1 lakh volunteers.
  • Schemes for Disaster Management: Three key schemes worth over ₹8000 crore aim to modernise fire services, mitigate urban flooding in major metros, and launch a National Landslide Risk Mitigation Project for widespread impact.

• Communication and Information Systems

  • Common Alerting Protocol (CAP): A ₹154 crore project to deliver geographically targeted emergency alerts through mobile phones, integrating various governmental and meteorological centres.
  • National Disaster Management Information System (NIDMS) Portal: An online platform for collecting disaster loss data and monitoring Sendai Framework indicators.
  • Mobile Application: Development of mobile applications like ‘Weather’ for daily weather information, ‘Meghdoot‘ for agricultural management by farmers, and ‘Damini’ for lightning warnings.

• Emergency Response Systems

• • ‘DIAL 112’ Emergency Response Support System (ERSS): A ₹41 crore initiative for disaster emergencies, complemented by the institution of the Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award to recognize contributions in the field.

Concerns Are Related To Disaster Management in India

• Lack of Financial Risk Management: Inadequacy in managing financial risks and insurance mechanisms exacerbates disaster-related losses, demanding improved financial strategies.
• Urban Planning and Land Use: Inadequate planning and lack of comprehensive land use policies contribute to vulnerability to landslides. Furthermore,  paucity of basic data (e.grainfall) in mountainous areas, especially the North Eastern region exacerbates the challenge.
• Construction Laws and Tourism: Lax enforcement of construction laws and excessive tourism exacerbate risks in hill regions. Deforestation, road cutting and terracing leads to imbalance in the structural integrity of the region.
• Investment in Resilience: There are gaps in investments towards development-oriented approach for disaster resilience, urging for a transparent, national action framework.

Way Forward To Disaster Management In India

• Leveraging Remote Sensing & GIS in Disaster Management In India: Remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) facilitates rapid response and effective relief through mapping affected areas. 
  • GIS data post-Hurricane Katrina in 2005 played a vital role in identifying inundated regions and directing aid effectively
• Utilising Big Data & AI’s Potential in Disaster Response: AI and Machine learning assist in predicting extreme events, creating hazard maps, real-time event detection, offering situational awareness, and aiding decision-making.
• Drones and Robotics: They help swiftly survey vast areas and reach challenging terrains and hazardous environments.
• Integrated Approach to Climate Change: Recognize the linkage between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
• Community-based Disaster Management: Empower local communities with the knowledge and tools to manage disasters effectively. This includes training in basic response measures, establishment of local response teams, and regular disaster preparedness drills.

Conclusion

The changing environmental landscape coupled with anthropogenic impacts will make the disasters more dynamic in nature. This will require a multi-dimensional approach integrated with technological advancements to predict, mitigate and rehabilitate the vulnerable communities. 

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