Discuss how the contradiction between ‘rapid infrastructure development’ and ‘disaster-risk reduction’ in ecologically-sensitive areas of India can be managed, with suitable examples.
Approach · directive: “discuss”
What it asks · Explain why fast infrastructure building in fragile regions (Himalaya, Western Ghats, coasts) can raise disaster risk, and show with examples how both goals can be reconciled.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Discuss the contradiction: why rapid infrastructure in eco-sensitive areas raises disaster risk, and why the infrastructure is still needed
- Discuss how the two can be reconciled, with suitable examples
Open with · Joshimath's land subsidence and the Silkyara tunnel collapse, both in 2023, show how projects in fragile terrain can create or magnify hazards.
Cover
- The need: roads, tunnels, hydropower and tourism infrastructure bring connectivity, defence preparedness and livelihoods to remote regions.
- The risk: slope cutting, blasting, muck dumping and construction on floodplains destabilise terrain — Kedarnath (2013), Chamoli (2021), Wayanad (2024).
- Plan: hazard mapping and carrying-capacity studies before projects; cumulative and strategic impact assessment rather than piecemeal clearances.
- Build right: risk-informed design, slope stabilisation, drainage, escape tunnels, avoiding fault zones and river channels; bio-engineering of slopes.
- Govern: respect eco-sensitive zones and expert advice (Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports on the Western Ghats), independent monitoring, local participation.
- Warn and prepare: early warning for landslides and glacial lake outbursts (South Lhonak, 2023), Sendai Framework's 'build back better', CDRI's resilient infrastructure agenda.
Close with · In fragile regions, development must be risk-informed by design — resilience costs far less than reconstruction.
Add value (verified)
- The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure was established in 2019 under India's leadership with UNDRR support, as a global partnership to make infrastructure resilient to climate and disaster risk. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs — SDG partnership entry: Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) ↗“The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) – established in 2019 under the leadership of the Government of India and with the support UNDRR is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks, the private sector, and academic institutions.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2026, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 205 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
Joshimath's land subsidence and the Silkyara tunnel collapse, both in 2023, showed how projects in fragile terrain can create or magnify the very hazards they must withstand.
The contradiction
- The need: roads, tunnels, hydropower and tourism facilities bring connectivity, defence preparedness and livelihoods to remote Himalayan, Western Ghats and coastal regions.
- The risk: slope cutting, blasting, muck dumping and building on floodplains destabilise terrain; Kedarnath (2013), Chamoli (2021) and Wayanad (2024) showed how fragile slopes and rivers punish such intrusions.
Managing it: plan, build, govern, prepare
- Plan on risk: hazard mapping and carrying-capacity studies before projects; cumulative and strategic impact assessment for a whole valley instead of piecemeal clearances.
- Build right: risk-informed design with slope stabilisation, drainage and escape tunnels; avoid fault zones and river channels; bio-engineer slopes.
- Govern: respect eco-sensitive zones and expert advice such as the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports on the Western Ghats; independent monitoring; participation of local communities.
- Warn and prepare: early warning for landslides and glacial lake outbursts (South Lhonak, 2023); 'build back better' under the Sendai Framework; the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, launched by India in 2019, to mainstream resilience in infrastructure.
In fragile regions development must be risk-informed by design, because resilience costs far less than reconstruction.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.