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Recently, India elected as Vice-Chair of IPEF’s Supply Chain Council, enhancing regional cooperation for supply chain resilience

In line with the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Supply Chain Agreement, India and 13 other IPEF partners have established three supply chain bodies. These include:

Bodies:

• Supply Chain Council: Focuses on targeted, action-oriented efforts to strengthen supply chains for sectors and goods critical to national security, public health, and more.
• Crisis Response Network: Provides a forum for collective emergency responses to urgent or imminent disruptions.
• Labor Rights Advisory Board: Brings together workers, employers, and governments to strengthen labour rights and workforce development across regional supply chains.

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Supply Chain Resilience (SCR)

• About: SCR is the ability of a supply chain network to endure disruptions and minimise their impact on revenues, costs, and customers.
  • The interconnected journey of raw materials or products from assembly to final sale.

Threats to SCR:

• Geo-political: e.g., energy supply disruptions due to conflicts like Russia-Ukraine.
• Economic: e.g., demand and supply shocks induced by COVID-19.

Measures Taken by India for SCR:

• Global Initiatives: Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (with Australia and Japan), Quad Supply Chain Initiative.
• Domestic Initiatives: PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, National Logistics Policy, PLI Scheme for various sectors.

Current Appointments

• Supply Chain Council: USA (Chair) and India (Vice Chair)
• Crisis Response Network: Republic of Korea (Chair) and Japan (Vice Chair)
• Labor Rights Advisory Board: USA (Chair) and Fiji (Vice Chair)

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Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

• About: The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) was launched in May 2022 in Tokyo, Japan, comprising 14 countries. It aims to enhance economic engagement and cooperation among partner countries to foster growth, economic stability, and regional prosperity.
• Members (14): Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and USA.

IPEF Pillars:

• Fair and Resilient Trade: Promotes regional economic growth, peace, and prosperity.
• Supply Chain Resilience: Strengthens and integrates supply chains.
• Clean Economy: Focuses on renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions.
• Fair Economy: Implements effective anti-corruption and tax policies.
• India participates in Pillars II to IV and holds observer status in Pillar I.

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The Disaster Management Amendment Bill 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Home seeking to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

• The Bill aims to strengthen the working of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the State Disaster Management Authorities
• Legal Provision: The Bill was introduced under Entry 23 in the Concurrent List (Social Security and insurance, employment and unemployment)  and followed a report by a task force in 2013.
• The Statement of Objects and Reasons: To mainstream Disaster Management in the development plans, aligning with the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, there is a need to amend the Disaster Management Act 2005.
• Need: The Amendment is necessary,
  • To incorporate and institutionalise the learnings from past disasters, and experience gained in the implementation of the Disaster Management Act 2005 which is reviewed in consultation with all stakeholders including State governments.
  • To bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of authorities and committees working in the field of disaster management.

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Key Provisions of The Disaster Management Amendment Bill 2024

• A Disaster Management Authority for Urban Areas: The Disaster Management Amendment Bill 2024 aims to create an Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capitals and large cities having Municipal Corporations except the union territories of Delhi and Chandigarh.
• Disaster Database: The bill seeks to create a disaster database at the national and state level.
  • The Database will include Disaster assessment, fund allocation detail, expenditure, preparedness and mitigation plan, risk register as per risk assessment of its type and severity, etc  as may be determined by the Central government.
• Decentralised Disaster plans: The Bill empowers the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA) to prepare the disaster plan at national level and State level respectively
  • Earlier the plans were made by the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committees.
• Stock-take of Disaster Risk: NDMA will be empowered to take stock of the entire range of disaster risks in the country periodically, including emerging disaster risks, including risks of those disasters which may occur in future due to extreme climate events and other factors.
• Statutory Status: The Bill also provides statutory status to certain pre-Act organisations like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High-Level Committee.
• State Response Force: It also has provisions for the constitution of the State Disaster Response Force by the state government.
• Section 60A: The section empower the Central and State governments to direct any person to take any action or refrain from taking any action for reducing the impact of a disaster and to impose a penalty not exceeding ₹10,000.
• Clarity and Convergence:  The NDMA may also appoint experts and consultants as necessary to perform its functions, also the roles of Authorities and Committees are sought to be defined to strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities.
• Immunity: The Bill seeks to provide immunity to officials involved in the disaster management from any legal proceedings while discharging functions.
• Jurisdiction: The Bill has limited the jurisdiction to the Supreme Court and High Courts  to entertain any suits in respect of anything done in relation to its functions by this Act.

Concerns and Challenges

• Test of Constitutionality: The Bill is brought under Entry 23 of the Concurrent List of Seventh Schedule which deals with “social security and social insurance, employment and unemployment” and not Disaster Management, which does not find mention in the Seventh Sechedule.
  • The Administrative Reforms Commission’s 3rd Report titled ‘Crisis Management: from Despair to Hope’ has recommended a new entry, “Management of Disasters and Emergencies, natural or manmade” be included in List III (Concurrent List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
• Multiplicity of Authorities: The Bill creates more authorities, and  multiplicity of authority will give rise to confusion, the bureaucratic muddle should not hamper rescue and relief work.
  • Example: Due to multiplicity of authority there is a conflict between the Kerala Chief Minister and the Home Minister regarding early warning in the context of Wayanad tragedy.
• Encroaching upon State Jurisdiction: The Bill overlapped with the legislative powers reserved for the States by granting  excessive rulemaking power to the Central government through delegated legislation to make rules on specific matters, encroach upon the domain of State legislatures.

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The Disaster Management Act 2005

• The Disaster Management Act, 2005 lays down institutional, legal, financial and coordination mechanisms at the National, State, District and Local levels to manage Disasters in India.
• The Act contains 11 chapters and 79 sections
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs overseeing the nation’s comprehensive disaster management.
• Objectives: 
  • To establish an efficient and decentralised disaster management system for the country at all levels (National, State, Districts) with corresponding Roles and Responsibilities. 
  • The Act deals with Disaster holistically from The Mitigation aspect (capacity building) to Risk Assessment and the Crisis Management aspect covering  relief, rehabilitation, and response measures.
• National level Institutions: 

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The newly constituted European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the European Union, elected Ursula von der Leyen, the EC’s first female President, for a second term. 

Background: Selection Process of the European Commission President

The selection of the European Commission (EC) President involves a two-stage process aligned with the results of the parliamentary elections:

• Proposal and Election by the European Council:
  • The European Council, consisting of leaders from the EU’s 27 member countries, proposes and elects a candidate for the EC President.
  • This decision typically reflects the dominance of the top three political groups: the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the centre-left Socialists & Democrats (S&D), and the liberal Renew group.
• Approval by the European Parliament:
  • The proposed candidate is then subjected to a secret ballot in the European Parliament.
• Controversy Over Ms. Von der Leyen’s Candidature: The decision regarding Ms. von der Leyen’s candidature was not unanimous, with Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her party, Brothers of Italy, opposing it. 
  • The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), briefly the third-largest group in the legislature, also objected. 
  • Ultimately, 25 of the 27 EU leaders backed the Council’s nominee despite opposition, resulting in Ms. von der Leyen’s re-election.

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European Union (EU): A Unified Bloc for Peace and Prosperity

• About: The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 countries located primarily in Europe. 
• Founding Treaty: The EU was established by the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on November 1, 1993. 
• Currency of Euro: The EU has its own currency, the Euro. 19 of these countries use the euro as their official currency.
• Eurozone: The Eurozone is a monetary union composed of 19 European Union member countries that have adopted the Euro as their official currency.
  • The remaining nine countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) do not use the euro.
• Origin Purpose: The EU was established to form a unified European political entity to prevent the conflicts that led to World War II and devastated much of the continent.
  • The main goal of the EU is to promote cooperation and integration among its member states in order to enhance economic and political stability in Europe.
• Single Market: The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states in areas where they have agreed to act collectively.
• Nobel Peace Prize: In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts in promoting peace, reconciliation, democracy, and human rights in Europe.
• Brexit: Brexit refers to the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union, which was decided by a 2016 referendum. 
  • The United Kingdom (UK) officially exited the EU on January 31, 2020.

European Union (EU) Governance

There are 4 main decision-making institutions which lead the EU’s administration. These institutions collectively provide the EU with policy direction and play different roles in the law-making process: 

• The European Commission (Brussels/Luxembourg/Representations across the EU) 
• The European Parliament (Brussels/Strasbourg/Luxembourg)
• The European Council (Brussels)
• The Council of the European Union (Brussels/Luxembourg)

Their work is complemented by other institutions and bodies, which include:

• The Court of Justice of the European Union (Luxembourg)
• The European Central Bank (Frankfurt)
• The European Court of Auditors (Luxembourg)

European Commission (EC)

• About: It is an executive body of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
  • It is  responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implements the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
• Appointment of President: For appointing the President of the European Commission, the candidate is put forward by national leaders in the European Council, taking account of the results of the European Parliament elections. 
  • He or she needs the support of a majority of members of the European Parliament in order to be elected.

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European Parliament

• About: It is the only parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU) that is directly elected by EU citizens aged 18 years or older.
• Functions: Together with the Council of the European Union(also known as the ‘Council’), it exercises the legislative function of the European Union (EU).
• Powers: The EP also approves the EU budget and votes on international agreements and enlargements of the bloc. 
  • It also has the power to approve or reject the appointment of the European Commission president 
  • Unlike national parliaments, the EP does not have the right to propose laws but can only negotiate those proposed by the executive European Commission.

European Council

• About: It is a collective body that defines the European Union’s overall political direction and priorities.
• Composition: It comprises the heads of state or government of the European Union (EU) member states, along with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.
• Founding Treaty: Established as an informal summit in 1975, the European Council was formalised as an institution in 2009 upon the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.
  • Treaty of Lisbon: The Treaty of Lisbon, signed in 2007 and effective from 2009, reformed the institutional structure of the European Union to enhance efficiency and democratic legitimacy. 
    • It introduced changes such as a more powerful European Parliament, a long-term President of the European Council, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
• Consensus Based Decisions: The decisions of its summits are adopted by consensus.

Council of the European Union

• About: The Council of the European Union, part of the essentially bicameral EU legislature alongside the European Parliament, represents the executive governments of the EU member states.
  • In the Council, government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend, and adopt laws, and coordinate policies. 
  • These ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed upon in the meetings.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (Luxembourg)

• About: The Court ensures that EU law is followed, and that the Treaties are correctly interpreted and applied.
• Functions: It reviews the legality of the acts of the EU institutions, ensures that EU countries comply with their obligations under the Treaties, and interprets EU law at the request of national courts.

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The European Central Bank (ECB)

• About: It is the central bank for the euro and administers monetary policy within the Eurozone, which comprises 19 member states of the European Union.
• Aim: One of the main tasks is to maintain price stability.

European Court of Auditors (ECA)

• About: The European Court of Auditors is tasked with evaluating the economy, efficiency, and legality of EU actions to ensure proper financial management. 
  • Through independent audits, it aims to improve accountability and transparency within the EU, thereby strengthening citizens’ trust and addressing both current and future challenges.
  • It investigates the proper management of finances within both the EU entities and EU funding provided to its member states.
  • It can refer unresolved issues to the European Court of Justice to arbitrate on any alleged irregularities.

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Recently, Following the death of three UPSC aspirants at a coaching centre in Delhi , police arrested seven people

Charges

• Sections 105: Booked under charges including Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

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Murder vs Culpable Homicide

All ‘Murders’ are ‘Culpable homicides’ but all ‘Culpable homicides’ are not Murders:

Negligence

• It refers to the failure to exercise the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in a similar situation. It involves careless or reckless behavior that results in harm or injury.
• Key Aspect:
  • Intent: There is no intention to cause harm or death. The focus is on the failure to exercise due care.
  • Knowledge: The individual may or may not be aware of the potential consequences of their actions, but they fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent harm.
  • Nature: The act is usually an omission or a failure to act with the required level of care. It is characterized by carelessness or recklessness.
  • Examples: A doctor failing to diagnose a treatable condition, a driver not observing traffic signals, or a manufacturer producing a defective product.

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The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) reviewed and approved amendments to the deal for 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from General Atomics of the US. 

• The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) were also accorded to the procurement of Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS) for Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) of the Indian Army.

Significance of the MQ-9B UAV Procurement

• Procurement Plan: India plans to procure 31 MQ-9B UAVs, including 15 Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians (eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force).
  • The total estimated cost is $3.99 billion.
  • These drones will help monitor movements along the borders and play a crucial role in the national security of our country.
• Global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Facility:
  • As part of the deal, General Atomics will establish a Global MRO facility in India.
  • This facility will contribute towards meeting offset obligations.

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Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS) for Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs)

The DAC has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of ALNS for AFVs of the Army.

• Compatibility: The ALNS Mk-II is compatible with the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS, NavIC), Global Positioning System (GPS), and Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS).

• Security: The system is spoof-proof with high levels of encryption.
• Accuracy: Offers compatibility with defence series maps, providing very high accuracy in navigational applications for AFVs.
• Procurement Source: This equipment will be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited, Chennai under the Buy [Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM)] category.
  • The Buy (Indian-IDDM) category refers to the procurement of products from an Indian vendor that have been indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured with a minimum of 50% Indigenous Content (IC) based on the total contract value.
  • This category holds the highest procurement preference and aims to promote indigenous defence equipment design and development.
• Significance:  Its integration with Defence Series Maps allows for exceptionally accurate navigation, which is crucial for military operations.

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The Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment recently evaluated the metrics used in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

They found the current methods for assessing city performance to be inadequate.

About National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

• Nodal Ministry : The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Launch: It was launched in January 2019. 
• It is the first national effort to create a framework for air quality management.
• Objective: Aims to reduce the levels of coarse particles (PM10) and fine particles (PM2.5) by at least 20% within five years, using 2017 as the base year.
• Target Cities:
  • The programme focuses on 131 cities, Includes 123 non-attainment cities (NACs) and additional million-plus cities (MPCs).
  • Non-Attainment Cities (NACs): These are the cities Identified for not meeting national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for five consecutive years.
  • Million-Plus Cities (MPCs): Identified by the 15th Finance Commission (XV-FC) for receiving performance-based grants for air quality improvement.
  • Overlap: 34 out of 42 MPCs are also covered under NCAP.

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• Significance:
  • Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring:
    • It develops a comprehensive and reliable network for monitoring ambient air quality nationwide.
      • Ensure a robust database for accurate data collection.
  • Efficient Data and Public Outreach:
    • Implement effective data dissemination strategies.
    • Foster public participation in planning and implementing government policies on air pollution.
    • Promote timely measures for the prevention and mitigation of air pollution.
  • Air Pollution Management: Create and implement practical plans for preventing, controlling, and reducing air pollution.
• Effectiveness of the NCAP: NCAP has  been very effective at some places but failed at other places. Therefore, it shows mixed results
  • PM10 levels: Under this program, 82 cities were given an annual target of 3-15% reduction in PM10 levels.
    • City performance:
      • Worst performers: Durgapur and several cities in Maharashtra have seen rise in PM10 Levels. For example, Mumbai experienced a 37% rise in PM10 levels from 2019 to 2023. 
      • Best performers: Varanasi has shown notable improvements with a decrease in PM10 Levels by 63%.
        • Talcher and Agra have also shown notable decreases in PM10 levels. 
  • Deterioration: The study conducted by  Climate Trends and Respirer Living Sciences showed that PM10 levels have deteriorated in 22 cities out of 46 cities tracked over five years. 
    • Only 8 cities achieved the initial target of 20- 30%. 
  • High Pollution Levels: Most cities are so polluted that they crossed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the World Health Organization’s guidelines.

The Need for a New Performance Assessment Framework

To accurately evaluate the performance of the 131 cities under NCAP, XV-FC, and SVS assessments, there is a need for new, robust metrics.

• Current Limitations in Evaluation

  • Narrow Focus: Current evaluations mainly use PM10 levels and overall air quality data, often ignoring specific sector initiatives.
  • Unfair Labeling: Cities may be unfairly marked as non-performers if PM10 levels haven’t improved, despite significant efforts in other areas.

  • Issues with Current Weightage

    • Swachh Vayu Survekshan (SVS): Assigns only 2.5% weight to improving PM10 levels, underrepresenting its importance.
    • Assessment Discrepancies: The second assessment focused fully on PM10, but the low weight in SVS undermines the core goals of NCAP.

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• Need for a Comprehensive Framework: A comprehensive framework should be established that includes:

  • Sector-Specific Actions: Acknowledging and evaluating specific initiatives taken in various sectors.
  • Multi-Pollutant Approach: Use data for  both PM10 and PM2.5 data to provide a more holistic assessment.

• Shift in Focus for Public Health

  • From a public health perspective, the focus should shift towards the more harmful PM2.5 particles. 
  • Establishing PM2.5 as the benchmark for performance-linked funding would ensure a more accurate and fair assessment of cities’ efforts and progress in improving air quality. 
    • This shift would align the evaluation with the actual impact on public health and ensure a more comprehensive understanding of air quality improvements.

Challenges in Evaluating 131 NCAP Cities

• Initial Phase Disparities

  • In the first year of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), the evaluation process faced challenges due to incomplete preparations. By September 2021:
    • City Action Plans: Out of 131 cities, 125 received approval for their action plans.
    • Micro Action Plans: Only 58 cities submitted their micro action plans.
    • Source Apportionment Studies: Only 12 cities completed these studies, while 72 were ongoing, and 42 were still in the tendering stage.
  • These discrepancies highlighted significant differences among the cities, with many lagging in crucial preparatory steps, such as developing comprehensive action plans and detailed source apportionment studies.
• Flaws in Assessment Methodology: During the second evaluation phase, the method used for assessing XV-FC cities had some limitations:
  • Exclusion of Extreme Data: The evaluation removed 2% of the most extreme PM10 concentration data (seven to eight days out of 365), which normalized the data.
    • This approach moderated the situation and failed to fully reflect the actual reduction in PM10 levels and the increase in good air quality days.
      • Data Manipulation: Excluding extreme pollution levels (outliers) skewed the true picture of air quality and its impact on health.
      • Limited Focus: Emphasis on average annual PM10 levels ignored short-term pollution spikes, which are harmful to health.
• Exclusion of Unhealthy Exposures: By excluding these extreme situations, the evaluation did not account for the impact of unhealthy exposures on human health.
  • Insufficient Weighting: The low importance assigned to PM10 reduction undervalued efforts to improve air quality.
  • Oversimplified Comparison: Ranking cities based only on population, without considering other factors, led to unfair comparisons.

• Disconnected Assessment Results

  • Inconsistent Rankings: Different methods produced varying rankings for the same cities, making it hard to identify effective strategies.
  • Lack of Correlation: No clear link was found between a city’s pollution reduction actions and actual improvements in air quality.q

Key Legislative Acts for Air Quality Management in India

• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: India’s first major law to tackle air pollution.
  • Key Provisions: Establishes Central and State Pollution Control Boards to monitor air quality and implement pollution control measures.
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: It was created to address environmental issues following the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
  • Key Provisions: Allows the central government to regulate all forms of pollution and set standards for emissions and waste discharges.
• The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Aims to control vehicle emissions, a major source of air pollution in cities.
  • Key Provisions: Requires vehicles to use pollution control devices and undergo regular emission tests.
• The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: Established a specialized tribunal for handling environmental cases.
  • Key Provisions: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) deals with cases related to air quality, environmental protection, and conservation.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021
  • Purpose: Formed to address air quality issues in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby areas.
  • Key Provisions: The commission can implement measures to reduce pollution from industries, vehicles, and construction activities.

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Various Indian cities are experiencing severe flooding, highlighting systemic issues in urban planning and drainage infrastructure.

• Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘red alert’ for Delhi, warning of continued heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.

Recent Concerning Cases of India

For more than 15 years now, Indian cities are struggling to manage monsoon rains. Maximum casualties are caused by overflowing nullahs, incidents of wall or building collapse and electrocution.

• Delhi: This year, several parts of Delhi have been submerged for more than one day.
  • Recently, a 26-year-old civil services aspirant was electrocuted in an inundated street in the national capital, and the National Human Rights Commission has asked for a detailed report on the incident.
• Assam: Guwahati, Assam has faced a crippling flood.
• Maharashtra: Torrential rains brought lives to a standstill in several parts of Maharashtra, including Pune and Mumbai. 
  • In Pune, three people lost their lives after receiving an electric shock in a waterlogged part of the city.
• Similarity in All Cases: All these cities have distinct geographical features. However, there are at least three things that are common to their flood-related woes: 
  • Outdated Drainage Systems: It cannot take the stress of more than normal rainfall
  • Poor Planning: Planning that does not account for local hydrology 
  • Limited Civic Response: The role of civic agencies seems limited to organising relief and rescue

About Urban Flooding

The flooding of land or property in a built environment, especially in densely populated cities where rainfall exceeds drainage systems’ capacity, is known as urban flooding.

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• Refers: Urban Flooding can be defined as ‘the submergence of usually dry areas by a large amount of water that comes from sudden excessive rainfall, an overflowing river or lake, melting snow or an exceptionally high tide’. 
• Concerning Data: As per the data from the government, over 17,000 people died due to floods and heavy rains in India between 2012 and 2021. 
• Constitutional Provision: As per 12th Schedule of the Constitution, urban planning including town planning, regulation of land use and construction of buildings is the function of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ Urban Development Authorities. 
  • The mitigation measures for flood control and preparation of drainage plan comes under the purview of the State Government and Urban Local Bodies/Urban Development Authorities at city level. 
  • The Government of India supplements the efforts of the States through schematic interventions/ advisories. It provides financial and technical support to the States.

Reasons behind Urban Flooding in India

Following factors are responsible for urban flooding in India:

• Climate Change: Global Climate Change is resulting in changed weather patterns and increased  intensity rainfall events occurring in shorter periods.
  • Example: Urban flooding is significantly different from rural flooding as urbanization leads to developed catchments, which increases the flood peaks from 1.8 to 8 times and flood volumes by up to 6 times.
• Urban Heat Island Effect: According to the NDMA, the urban heat island effect has increased rainfall over urban areas.
  • The hot air pushes the clouds carrying rain higher as they cross the urban heat island.
    • Heat islands are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas.
• Encroachment in Low Lying Areas: The original built-up area of Indian cities has expanded and new developments are taking place in low-lying areas of Indian cities and towns due to rising land prices and less availability of land in the cities.
  • Most of the time, these developments take place on encroachments over lakes, wetlands, and riverbeds. 
  • These encroachments have occurred without widening the natural drains. Thus, flooding occurs as the capacity of the natural drains is decreased.
• Sea Level Rise: Cities and towns that are near rivers, the ocean, interior cities, dams, and steep terrain are severely impacted due to sea level rise. 
  • For Example: Satellite observations have revealed that the rate of sea level rise is increasing and it rose by 0.11 inches from 2021 to 2022.
• Faulty Drainage System: The urban areas lack adequate drainage infrastructure capable of handling heavy rainfall events.
  • Poor planning and impermeable surfaces, such as buildings and highways, do not let water penetrate the ground and overburden the inadequate drainage systems. 
  • The issue is exacerbated by concretizing the drains and preventing the water from seeping to the ground. 
• Urbanisation: Rapid urbanisation, both planned and unplanned, is responsible for flooding. 
  • Grey infrastructure which includes the flyovers, widening of roads, urban settlements, contribute towards urban flooding in  waterlogged areas.
  • The recent floods in Gurugram and Bengaluru are examples of such planning failures. 
• Loss of Water Bodies and Green Spaces: A study by the National Institute of Urban Affairs revealed that major Indian cities have lost 70-80% of their water bodies over the last 40 years. 
  • This has led to reduced natural water storage capacity, increased surface runoff, and disruption of the natural water cycle.
• Lack of Effective Urban Governance: Despite the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, key areas such as urban planning, land use and economic development have not fully transferred to city governments as required. This leads to poor urban governance and mismanagement.
• Improper Waste Disposal Practices Also Contribute To Flooding: Illegal development and encroachment on water bodies, urban green spaces, and small woods have been observed in many cities. 
  • This lowers the amount of water that can be stored and messes with the river’s natural flow, which increases floods after heavy rains. 
  • Velachery Lake in Tamil Nadu has disappeared due to sewage discharge.
• Illegal Mining: Illegal mining of river sand and quartzite causes soil erosion and reduces the water retention capacity of the waterbody increasing the speed and scale of water flow.
  • Example: Jaisamand Lake-Jodhpur, Cauvery river-Tamil Nadu, etc.

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Action taken to Combat with Urban Flooding in India

Various actions taken by the Indian Government to tackle the issue of urban flooding in India are as follows:

• Institutional Framework and Arrangement:
  • National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): The Disaster Management Act 2005 has mandated the constitution of the NDRF for the purpose of specialized response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster.
  • The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC): It  comprises high-level officials of the GoI, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, will also deal with specified major crises.
  • Central Water Commission (CWC): Flood forecasts are issued by the CWC in India. It provides a near real time five-day advisory flood forecast on its web portal.
  • National Disaster Management Authority: NDMA is the apex body in India for disaster management.
    • Pre-Monsoon Phase:
      • Preparedness: Planning for Disaster Reduction: Focus on plans to respond to a threat or occurrence of urban flooding.
        • National Hydro-meteorological Network
        • National Meteorological Network
        • Local Networks for Real time Rainfall data
        • Doppler Weather radars
    • During Monsoon Phase:
      • Early Warning:  Measures to provide timely, qualitative and quantitative warnings to urban flooding based on the intensity of rainfall.
      • Effective Response and Management: Focuses primarily on emergency relief measures.
    • Post-Monsoon Phase:
      • Restoration and Rehabilitation: Necessary measures to stabilize the vulnerable situation and restore the utilities. 
• Various Government Initiatives to Curtail Urban Flooding:
  • Jal Shakti Abhiyan: It is implemented with special emphasis being given for rainwater harvesting/groundwater recharge. 
  • Amrit Sarovar Mission: It has been launched with an aim of developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav for rainwater harvesting/recharge.
  • Atal Bhujal Yojana: The focus is on demand side management of ground water and accordingly water saving interventions such as use of micro irrigation (drip/sprinkler system), shifting of cropping pattern from high water intensive crops to low water intensive crops, mulching etc. are being encouraged and incentivised.
  • Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0: Provisions have been made for harvesting the rainwater through storm water drains into the water body (which is not receiving sewage/effluent) & creation/ strengthening of storm water drains around the water body.
  • Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL): The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has formulated Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL), 2016 for the States/UTs. As per MBBL, all buildings having a plot size of 100 sq.m. or more shall mandatorily include the complete proposal of rainwater harvesting. 
    • 35 States/ UTs have adopted the features of the Bye Laws.
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Urban Flooding by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The SOP identifies relevant public agencies concerned with dealing with situations arising from urban flooding, enumerates their broad responsibilities in the different phases defined, and lays down the sequence of actions to be taken by these agencies in coordination with other involved agencies and as per the Emergency Support Functions (ESFs).

Impact of Urban Flooding

Various issues are faced by Indian cities and its citizens due to urban flooding:

• Tangible Losses: The losses that can be measured physically and can be assigned an economic value. These losses can be direct or indirect.
  • Direct: Structural damage to buildings, property damage, damage to infrastructure, etc.
  • Indirect: Economic losses, Traffic disruption, and emergency costs.
• Intangible Losses: Intangible losses include loss of life, secondary health effects, and infections or damages to the environment which are difficult to assess in monetary terms since they are not traded.
  • Direct: Casualties, Health effects, ecological losses, etc.
  • Indirect: Post-flood recovery process, mental damage to the people, etc.

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Way Forward

To tackle the challenge of rising urban flood in India, following measures are suggested:

• Adopt Early Alert System: Flood-related damage can be reduced if early alert systems are in place. Flood prone Buenos Aires has installed sensors in over 30,000 stormwater drains to issue flood warnings much in advance. 
• A Hybrid Solution: Indian cities need to have their own mix of natural and technological solutions. Stormwater drain improvement projects in most Indian cities, including Mumbai and Pune, have progressed in fits and starts. The country’s latest monsoon woes are a signal that such projects cannot be put off.
• A Collaborative Approach: The time has come to focus on institutional mechanisms to make Indian cities climate resilient. Mumbai’s Climate Action Plan does mention the need for a collaborative mechanism involving the industry, academia and civil society organisations. 
  • However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the plan’s nodal agency, is yet to get its act going. 
• Evaluation and Focus on Sustainable Growth: India must closely examine the over-densification of its cities and articulate a national policy that disincentivises demographic density beyond an accepted limit based on economic, environmental, and social sustainability. 
  • At the same time, a sizeable programme will need to be initiated to invest (provide insurance too) and develop smaller cities to ease the migration and resultant burdens on the large cities. This would encourage the growth of other cities in a sustainable manner. 
• Awareness: Efforts must also be made to inculcate disaster risk reduction behaviour among citizens. Men, women, and children across the country must be supported in espousing and integrating risk reduction concerns into their daily lives, livelihoods, and occupational patterns. 
  • This will require the state to undertake a massive education programme for disaster risk mitigation and management.
• Adopt Sponge Cities Model: It is a model based on the monsoon climate and 2,000-5,000 years of experience and knowledge of adaptation.
• Develop Climate Atlas: Every town and city must prepare its climate plan of action and a climate atlas with active participation of the people before a development plan.
  • The vulnerable points must be identified, water contouring must be done, and the damaging of water bodies or water channels must be checked. 
  • Capacity building must be done to adapt to flooding and other climate disasters. Sustainable Urban Planning: Cities need to embrace sustainable planning practices that consider the natural topography and hydrology of the region.
  • Green spaces that can absorb excess water must be integrated into the plan. 
  • Flood resilient infrastructure must be built that includes minimum engagement with the water contours. 
• Improved Drainage Systems: Improved water management methods by enhancing waste collection and segregation must be practised. 
  • A protocol of clearing the drains during summer months must be followed. 
• Utilising Geospatial Technology: Satellite data can help to digitise informal settlements and identify levels of vulnerability for flood protection strategies.geospatial technology should be used for flood vulnerability mapping. 
  • Rainwater Harvesting: This should be included in all infrastructure constructions to ensure better water management. 
  • Construction of Bioswales: Along the sides of roads, bioswales should be constructed so that rainwater can percolate into the ground and flow toward them.
    • Bioswales are landscape features that collect polluted stormwater runoff, soak it into the ground, and filter out pollution. 
    • Bioswales are similar to rain gardens but are designed to capture much more runoff coming from larger areas of impervious surfaces like streets and parking lots.
• Development of Blue-Green Infrastructure:  The term “Blue-Green Infrastructure” refers to a network that uses infrastructure, ecological restoration, and urban design to connect people with nature to solve urban and climate problems. 
  • Blue denotes tanks and water bodies, while green denotes parks, gardens, and trees.
• Seek Nature-Based Solutions: Implement nature-based solutions such as restoration of natural wetlands, creation of urban forests, and revitalization of water bodies that can enhance natural water absorption and reduce waterlogging.
• Learn from best Practices around the World:
  • Australia Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD): An approach to planning and designing urban areas to make use of this valuable resource and reduce the harm it causes to our rivers and creeks.
  • Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) in the United Kingdom: Aim to reduce surface water flooding, improve water quality and enhance the amenity and biodiversity value of the environment.

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