UPSC GS Paper IV: Ethics Applied Case Studies, Natural Disasters, Policy Dilemmas

Must?Know

• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) established under Disaster Management Act, 2005; chaired by Prime Minister; responsible for approving national disaster plans and policies.
• Disaster Management Act, 2005 enacted post-Tsunami 2004; provides statutory basis for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response mechanisms.
• State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers; coordinate state-level disaster response under guidance of NDMA.
• District Disaster Management Plans (DDMPs) mandatory under Section 28 of DM Act, 2005; implemented by District Magistrate as Chairperson of District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
• 2001 Gujarat Earthquake (7.7 magnitude) led to 20,000 deaths; prompted institutional reforms culminating in DM Act, 2005.
• 2013 Uttarakhand floods caused by cloudburst and glacial lake overflow; classified as a "climate disaster" by IMD; over 5,000 deaths reported.
• Supreme Court in Nargis Dutt v. Union of India (2010) held that right to life under Article 21 includes right to timely disaster relief.
• National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), 2009 emphasizes shift from relief-centric to prevention, mitigation, and preparedness approach.
• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) adopted at Third UN World Conference; India ratified it; focuses on reducing mortality, affected people, and economic loss.
• Cyclone Phailin (2013) in Odisha: successful evacuation of 1.1 million people due to early warning systems and coordination between IMD, NDMA, and state machinery.
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) raised under Section 46 of DM Act, 2005; 12 battalions deployed across India; trained in CBRN, flood, and structural collapse rescue.
• 2018 Kerala floods: triggered by heavy monsoon rains and mismanagement of dam releases; over 480 deaths; response involved Indian Army, NDRF, and civilian volunteers.
• Principle of subsidiarity in disaster ethics: decisions should be made at the lowest effective administrative level; ensures faster, context-specific response.
• Ethical principle of distributive justice in disaster relief: equitable allocation of resources based on vulnerability, not political influence or media visibility.
• 2020 Cyclone Amphan: first super cyclone in Bay of Bengal since 1999; caused $13 billion damage; highlighted urban infrastructure vulnerability in Kolkata and Dhaka.
• National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) maintained under Public Accounts of India; funds released by Ministry of Finance on recommendations of NDMA.
• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) contribution shared 75:25 between Centre and States (90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan states); calamity of severe nature must be declared by President.
• 2019 Cyclone Fani in Odisha: IMD issued 5-day advance warning; evacuation of 1.2 million people; mortality reduced to under 64 despite cyclone intensity.
• Ethical dilemma in triage during disasters: prioritization of medical care based on likelihood of survival, not first-come-first-served; guided by utilitarian ethics.
• 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: killed over 10,000 in India, mostly in Tamil Nadu and Andaman & Nicobar Islands; led to establishment of Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) in 2007.
• Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) located in Hyderabad; operates under Ministry of Earth Sciences; provides 24x7 monitoring of seismic and sea-level data.
• Moral hazard in disaster relief: excessive reliance on government aid may reduce individual and community-level preparedness; noted in CAG reports on SDRF utilization.
• Principle of non-maleficence in disaster policy: avoid causing further harm through poorly planned evacuations or relief distribution (e.g., 2020 migrant crisis during lockdown).
• 2021 Chamoli disaster: glacial burst in Rishiganga; 200+ deaths; linked to ecological fragility of Himalayas and hydropower projects; raised ethical questions on development vs. environment.
• National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) chaired by Cabinet Secretary; coordinates inter-ministerial response during major disasters.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate – requires integration of legal, administrative, and ethical frameworks with real-case applications; UPSC frequently combines disaster management with ethics in case studies.

Common UPSC Traps

Trap: NDMA was created before the 2004 Tsunami – Fact: NDMA established in 2005 after the Tsunami; prior institutional mechanisms were ad hoc (e.g., Crisis Management Group).
Trap: SDRF funds are part of Consolidated Fund of India – Fact: SDRF is in Public Account; funds are non-lapsable but require annual release by Centre based on recommendations.
Trap: NDRF is a military force under MHA – Fact: NDRF is a civilian force under MHA; battalions are constituted from CAPFs like BSF, CRPF, CISF.
Trap: Sendai Framework replaces Hyogo Framework – Fact: Sendai (2015–2030) succeeds Hyogo (2005–2015); both are UNDRR frameworks; Sendai includes 7 global targets.
Trap: Right to disaster relief is explicitly mentioned in Constitution – Fact: It is derived from Article 21 (Right to Life) through judicial interpretation (e.g., Nargis Dutt case).

Practice MCQs

Question: Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, who is the Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)?
A) Chief Minister of the State
B) District Collector or District Magistrate
C) Superintendent of Police
D) Chief Medical Officer
Answer: B
Explanation: Section 20 of DM Act, 2005 mandates that DDMA be chaired by the District Magistrate/Collector.
Why others fail: A is incorrect because CM chairs SDMA, not DDMA.

Question: The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) is operational under which ministry?
A) Ministry of Home Affairs
B) Ministry of Earth Sciences
C) Ministry of Science and Technology
D) Ministry of Defence
Answer: B
Explanation: ITEWC was established in 2007 under Ministry of Earth Sciences, headquartered in Hyderabad.
Why others fail: A is tempting due to NDMA’s MHA linkage, but ITEWC is scientific and technical, under MoES.

Question: Which of the following correctly describes the funding pattern for SDRF?
A) 50% from Centre, 50% from States
B) 75% from Centre, 25% from States (90:10 for NE and hill states)
C) Fully funded by Centre
D) Fully funded by States
Answer: B
Explanation: As per 15th Finance Commission recommendations, Centre:State share is 75:25 (90:10 for NE and hilly states).
Why others fail: C is incorrect because SDRF is a shared responsibility; Centre releases funds only after state contribution.

Question: The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) was adopted at which location?
A) Kyoto, Japan
B) Sendai, Japan
C) Bali, Indonesia
D) Incheon, South Korea
Answer: B
Explanation: Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan, March 2015.
Why others fail: D is tempting due to Incheon Declaration on Education, but Sendai is correct for DRR.

Question: Which ethical principle justifies prioritizing relief to the most vulnerable populations during disasters?
A) Utilitarianism
B) Distributive Justice
C) Deontology
D) Moral Absolutism
Answer: B
Explanation: Distributive justice emphasizes fair allocation of resources based on need and vulnerability.
Why others fail: A (Utilitarianism) focuses on greatest good for greatest number, which may overlook marginalized groups.

Question: Which case expanded the scope of Article 21 to include the right to timely disaster relief?
A) Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation
B) Nargis Dutt v. Union of India
C) Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan
D) MC Mehta v. Union of India
Answer: B
Explanation: Supreme Court in Nargis Dutt (2010) held that delay in relief violates right to life under Article 21.
Why others fail: D is associated with environmental jurisprudence, but not directly with disaster relief rights.

Question: The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) is chaired by:
A) Prime Minister
B) Home Minister
C) Cabinet Secretary
D) Principal Secretary to PM
Answer: C
Explanation: NCMC, constituted under DM Act, is chaired by Cabinet Secretary for inter-ministerial coordination during crises.
Why others fail: A is incorrect because PM chairs NDMA, not NCMC; NCMC is executive-level coordination.

Last?Minute Revision

• Disaster Management Act enacted in 2005.
• NDMA established under DM Act, 2005; chaired by PM.
• SDRF contribution: 75:25 (Centre:State); 90:10 for NE and hill states.
• DDMA chaired by District Magistrate (Section 20, DM Act).
• NDRF has 12 battalions; raised under Section 46, DM Act.
• Sendai Framework adopted in 2015 in Japan; replaces Hyogo Framework.
• Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) – Hyderabad, under MoES.
• 2004 Tsunami-ITEWC established in 2007.
• 2001 Gujarat Earthquake-catalyst for DM Act.
• 2013 Uttarakhand floods – cloudburst + glacial melt; >5,000 deaths.
• 2018 Kerala floods – dam mismanagement, civilian volunteer role.
• 2021 Chamoli disaster – glacial burst in Rishiganga, hydropower project impact.
• Cyclone Phailin (2013) – 1.1 million evacuated; model response.
• Cyclone Fani (2019) – 1.2 million evacuated; low mortality due to preparedness.
• Nargis Dutt v. Union of India (2010) – Article 21 includes timely disaster relief.
• Principle of subsidiarity – decisions at lowest effective level.
• Distributive justice – equitable relief based on vulnerability.
• Triage in disasters – utilitarian ethics: save maximum lives.
• Moral hazard – over-reliance on state aid reduces self-preparedness.
• Non-maleficence – avoid harm via poor evacuation (e.g., 2020 migrant crisis).
• NPDM 2009 – shift from relief to mitigation.
• CAG reports highlight SDRF fund lapses and utilization gaps.
• National Crisis Management Committee – chaired by Cabinet Secretary.
• Right to disaster relief not explicit in Constitution; derived from Article 21.
• NDRF is civilian, not military; drawn from CAPFs.