Due to its unique geography, India faces various natural hazards. Here we study the causes, mitigation strategies, and impact of earthquakes, floods, droughts, and tropical cyclones.
Given below are two statements. One is labelled as Assertion and other as Reason:
Assertion (A): The frequency of landslides has increased in the Himalayas.
Reason (R): There has been large scale mining in the Himalayas in recent years.
In the context of the above which one of the following is correct:
Code:
(A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of
(A)
Correct Answer:
(A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of
Ques: 2
Cyclones are more frequent in the coastal areas of Bay of Bengal, because -
Correct Answer:
(A) High temperatures in the Bay of Bengal.
A cyclone is a large-scale air mass that rotates around a strong centre of low pressure. They are usually characterized by inward spiralling winds that rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
The cyclones affect the Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea. More cyclones get formed in the Bay of Bengal due to low pressure, generated by high temperature. These cyclones move in anticlockwise direction. There are two definite seasons of tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean. One is from May to June and the other from mid-September to mid-December. May, June, October, and November are known for severe storms. The entire east coast from Odisha to Tamil Nadu is vulnerable to cyclones with varying frequency and intensity. Hence, Statement (a) is correct.
Ques: 3
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): East coast is most prone to cyclones than western coast.
Reason (R): Easter coast of India lies in the zone of north-east trade winds.
In the context of above statements, which of the following is correct?
Code:
(A) and (R) both are true, and (R) is correct explanation of
(A).
Correct Answer:
(B) .
Ques: 4
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The Koyna region of Maharashtra is likely to become more earthquake-prone in near future.
Reason (R): The Koyna dam is located on an old fault-plane which may get activated more frequently with changes in water-level in Koyna reservoir.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Code:
(A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of
(A).
Correct Answer:
(A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a correct explanation of
According to Geologists, the Koyna dam is located on an old fault plain which may get activated more frequently with changes in the water level in Koyna reservoir. Koyna region of Maharashtra may thus become more earthquake
prone in the near future.
Ques: 5
Which among the following states faces a maximum natural disaster?
Correct Answer:
(B) Odisha
Since Odisha is located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, it faces flood and drought more due to cyclones and anti-cyclones. Thus, Odisha is affected by cyclones, flood, and drought. Therefore, it faces more natural disasters than other States.
Ques: 6
The first Disaster Management Training Institution of the country is established at:
Correct Answer:
(C) Latur (Maharashtra)
The first Disaster Management Training Institute of the country has been established in Latur, Maharashtra by the CRPF.
Notably, India's first disaster management training institute was set up on 29 April, 1957 in Nagpur. Since Nagpur is not given in the options, the question is based on the institute set up by CRPF.
Ques: 7
Which one of the following areas of India does not come under the zone of high seismic intensity?
Correct Answer:
(B) Karnataka Plateau
On the basis of data provided by Indian Meteorological Department and other agencies, Bureau of Indian Standards has published the latest version of seismic zoning map of India. The earthquake resistant design code of India assigns four levels of seismicity zone factors for India. India is divided into four seismic zones on the basis of earthquake intensity- namely zone 2, zone 3, zone 4 and zone 5. The Intensity of earthquakes in different zones:
Seismic Zone Intensity on Modified Mercalli scale
Zone II (Low-intensity zone) VI (or less) low damage
Zone III (Moderate intensity zone) VII damage to buildings
Zone IV (Severe intensity zone) VIII destruction of buildings
Zone V (Very severe intensity zone) IX (and above) very high damage
Zone V: Zone V covers 10.9% area of the country with the highest risks zone that suffers earthquakes of intensity MSK IX or greater. The IS code assigns zone factor of 0.36 for Zone V. Structural designers use this factor for earthquake resistant design of structures in Zone V. The zone factor of 0.36 is indicative of effective (zero period) level earthquake in this Zone. It is referred to as the very high damage risk zone. The region of J & K (UT), Ladakh (UT), Western and Central Himalayas, North and Middle Bihar, North-East Indian region and the Rann of Kutch fall in this zone.
Zone IV: This Zone is called the High Damage Risk Zone and covers the area liable to MSK VIII. The IS code assigns zone factor of 0.24 for Zone IV. The Indo-Gangetic basin and the capital of the country (Delhi), rest of Himalayas is included in Zone IV. In Maharashtra, the Patan area (Koyananagar) is also in Zone no-4. This, Zone covers remaining parts of Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Northern parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, parts of Gujarat and small portions of Maharashtra near the West coast and Rajasthan. It comprises 17.3% areas of the country.
Zone III: The IS code assigns zone factor of 0.18 for Zone-III.
It covers the Lakshadweep islands. This Zone is classified as Moderate Damage Risk Zone. It includes 30.4% areas of the country.
Zone II: The IS code assigns Zone factor of 0.10 (maximum horizontal acceleration that can be experienced by a structure in this Zone is 10% of gravitational acceleration) for Zone-II.
It comprises 41.4 % areas of the country.
Major parts of the peninsular region and Karnataka Plateau fall in this Zone. Thus, it does not come under the Zone of high seismic intensity.
Ques: 8
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The highest concentration of Seismic zones lies in the Himalayan region in India.
Reason (R): There are many longitudinal thrust zones in the Himalayas.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Code:
(A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of
(A).
Correct Answer:
(A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of
Ques: 9
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The frequency of flood in North Indian plains has increased during the last couple of decades.
Reason (R): There has been a reduction in the depth of river valleys due to deposition of silt.
Code:
(A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of
(A)
Correct Answer:
(A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of
The frequency of floods in north Indian plains has increased during the last couple of decades. Its main reason is shallowness of rivers due to deposition of silts. There has been a reduction in the depth of river valleys due to deposition of silts which causes flood in normal rain.
Ques: 10
The most flood-prone state of India is:
Correct Answer:
(C) Bihar
The most flood - prone State of India is Bihar. The most flood - prone State of India is Bihar.