UPSC Mains PYQs on Disaster Management (GS Paper 3)
Every UPSC Mains question on Disaster Management between 2013 and 2025 is listed below, newest year first, with the marks it carried. Filter by microtheme to see one idea across all the years.
By Team MaargX UPSC · UPSC Mains 2013-2025
Short answer: UPSC has asked 16 questions on Disaster Management (syllabus item 18 of GS Paper 3) between 2013 and 2025, worth 205 marks in all, about 1.3 questions a year. The most-asked microthemes are Disaster Preparedness and Resilience (4), Urban floods (2), Cloudburst (2), Earthquake (2). The busiest year was 2024 (2 questions, 30 marks).
UPSC syllabus, GS Paper 3, item 18: Disaster and Disaster Management
Find Questions by GS Paper, Syllabus Topic and Microtheme
Step 1 paper → Step 2 syllabus topic → Step 3 subject → Step 4 microtheme. Each step opens after the one before it.
Disaster Management: questions year-wise with marks
2024 2 questions · 30 marks
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What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030).
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Flooding in urban areas is an emerging climate-induced disaster. Discuss the causes of this disaster. Mention the features of two such major floods in the last two decades in India. Describe the policies and frameworks in India that aim at tackling such floods.
2023 1 question · 10 marks
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Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures.
2022 1 question · 10 marks
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Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudburst in the context of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples.
2021 2 questions · 25 marks
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Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades.
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Describe the various causes and effects of landslides. Mention the important components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy.
2020 1 question · 15 marks
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Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach.
2019 2 questions · 25 marks
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Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help in disaster mitigation in the case of landslides.
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Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters.
2018 1 question · 15 marks
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Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing 'Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)'. How is this framework different from 'Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005?
2017 1 question · 15 marks
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On December 2004, tsumani brought havoc on 14 countries including India. Discuss the factors responsible for occurrence of Tsunami and its effects on life and economy. In the light of guidelines of NDMA (2010) describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.
2016 2 questions · 25 marks
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With reference to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand.
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The frequency of urban floods due to high intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods. highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.
2015 1 question · 12.5 marks
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The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India's preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.
2014 1 question · 12.5 marks
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Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National disaster management authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India.
2013 1 question · 10 marks
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How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management. As an administrator, what are key areas that you would focus in a disaster management
No question matches these choices. Try another year or microtheme, or reset.
Disaster Management at a Glance
| Syllabus item | GS Paper 3, item 18 (Disaster Management) |
|---|---|
| Questions asked | 16 (2013-2025), about 1.3 a year |
| Total marks | 205 marks |
| Last five years | 6 questions, 75 marks (2021-2025) |
| Usual weight | 15 marks (7 questions) |
| Directive words | Discuss (9), Analyse (1), Explain (1), Highlight (1) |
| Busiest year | 2024 (2 questions, 30 marks) |
Year-Wise Summary
| Year | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 30 marks |
| 2023 | 1 | 10 marks |
| 2022 | 1 | 10 marks |
| 2021 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2020 | 1 | 15 marks |
| 2019 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2018 | 1 | 15 marks |
| 2017 | 1 | 15 marks |
| 2016 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2015 | 1 | 12.5 marks |
| 2014 | 1 | 12.5 marks |
| 2013 | 1 | 10 marks |
| Total | 16 | 205 marks |
Microthemes in Disaster Management
These are the ideas inside this topic, most asked first. Select one to see all its questions year-wise with marks.
- Disaster Preparedness and Resilience 4 · 60 marks
- Urban floods 2 · 27.5 marks
- Cloudburst 2 · 22.5 marks
- Earthquake 2 · 22.5 marks
- Vulnerability and Risk Assessment 2 · 20 marks
- Landslide 1 · 15 marks
- Tsunami 1 · 15 marks
- Drought 1 · 12.5 marks
- Dam failures 1 · 10 marks
Other Topics in GS Paper 3
- 01. Indian Economy: Growth and Development 22 · 272.5 marks
- 02. Inclusive Growth 12 · 145 marks
- 03. Government Budgeting 8 · 97.5 marks
- 04. Major Crops and Cropping Patterns 12 · 157.5 marks
- 05. Irrigation 6 · 72.5 marks
- 06. Agricultural Storage, Transport and Marketing 5 · 57.5 marks
- 07. E-Technology for Farmers 4 · 50 marks
- 08. Farm Subsidies, MSP and PDS 12 · 150 marks
- 09. Animal Rearing 1 · 12.5 marks
- 10. Food Processing Industries 7 · 82.5 marks
- 11. Land Reforms 7 · 77.5 marks
- 12. Liberalisation and Industrial Policy 14 · 160 marks
- 13. Infrastructure and Investment Models 15 · 177.5 marks
- 14. Science and Technology in Everyday Life 14 · 147.5 marks
- 15. Indian Achievements and Indigenisation in S&T 5 · 57.5 marks
- 16. IT, Space, Robotics, Nano and Biotechnology, IPR 23 · 282.5 marks
- 17. Conservation, Pollution and EIA 32 · 395 marks
- 19. Development and Extremism 8 · 97.5 marks
- 20. External State and Non-State Actors 5 · 62.5 marks
- 21. Cyber Security, Media and Money-Laundering 16 · 190 marks
- 22. Border Areas and Organised Crime 20 · 242.5 marks
- 23. Security Forces and Agencies 4 · 57.5 marks
How to Use Mains PYQs Topic Wise
- Start with the microthemes. Open a topic and read its microtheme list. The ones with the most questions are the ideas UPSC returns to.
- Read the demand words. Note how questions begin: discuss, examine, critically analyse, comment. Each asks for a different answer structure.
- Write by marks. A 10-mark question needs a tight answer of about 150 words, and a 15-mark question about 250 words.
- Cover all years of a microtheme. Write the oldest and the latest question on the same microtheme, and see how the angle changed.
- Revise and rewrite. Revise the topic from the notes, and write the same question again after a week.
For the method in full, read the Mains answer writing strategy. The official papers are on our UPSC PYQs page.
Questions are shown as printed in the UPSC Civil Services (Main) General Studies papers of 2013-2025. The grouping into topics and microthemes is by Team MaargX UPSC. Check any wording against the official paper on upsc.gov.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Mains questions have been asked on Disaster Management?
16 questions on Disaster Management appeared in UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 between 2013 and 2025, worth 205 marks in all. That is about 1.3 questions a year. Every one of them is listed on this page, year-wise with its marks.
Which Disaster Management microthemes does UPSC ask most often?
The most-asked microthemes in Disaster Management are Disaster Preparedness and Resilience (4), Urban floods (2), Cloudburst (2), Earthquake (2). The number in brackets is how many questions each has had since 2013. Use the microtheme filter to see all of them together, year by year, with marks.
In which year was Disaster Management asked the most in UPSC Mains?
The busiest year for Disaster Management was 2024 (2 questions, 30 marks). The lightest was 2023 (1 questions, 10 marks). Treat these swings as noise: UPSC does not repeat a fixed pattern, so cover the whole topic.
How many marks do Disaster Management questions carry?
Of the 16 questions on Disaster Management, 7 of 15 marks, 4 of 12.5 marks, 5 of 10 marks. Plan your word limit by marks: 10-marker answers run to about 150 words and 15-marker answers to about 250 words.
What kind of questions does UPSC ask on Disaster Management?
The directive words in the 16 questions on Disaster Management are Discuss (9), Analyse (1), Explain (1), Highlight (1). Match your answer to the word: discuss and examine want both sides with a conclusion, while comment and critically analyse want a reasoned stand.
Is Disaster Management important for UPSC Mains?
In the last five years (2021-2025) UPSC asked 6 questions on Disaster Management, worth 75 marks. In the first five years (2013-2017) it asked 6, worth 75 marks.
Which GS paper does Disaster Management belong to?
Disaster Management belongs to UPSC Mains GS Paper 3, titled Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management. The questions on this page are all from that paper.
How should I use these Disaster Management PYQs?
Read the microtheme list first, then pick one and write two or three answers in the time limit. Compare each with what the question demands (discuss, examine, critically analyse). Revise the topic from the Maarg Manthan notes and write the same question again after a week.
Official Sources
These are the primary sources behind this page. Rules, dates and papers can change, so confirm them on the official pages.
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers (Archives)
- UPSC: Revised Syllabus and Scheme
- UPSC: Civil Services Examination Rules