Contents:

1. Forecasting better in India, come rain or shine.
2. A perilous highway to salvation in the Himalayas
3. Fate of nations

Forecasting better in India, come rain or shine.

Context: Monsoons are becoming more unpredictable, resulting in more climatic hazards, and the 2024 monsoon is one of the most devastating. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the country experienced 525 heavy rainfall events (precipitation between 115.6 mm and 204.5 mm), the highest in the last five years.

Relevance : GS1 (Geography ), GS2 (Disaster Management )

Practice question:Explain the significance of early warning systems in disaster preparedness. Highlight Mission Mausam in this context, and suggest some measures to make it more efficient. (250 words)

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), 1,492 people died in India due to extreme weather events during the 2024 monsoon season alone.

CEEW Observation :

According to a 2021 study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), around 40% of districts in India face alternating climatic hazards. This means flood-prone areas are now experiencing droughts during dry seasons, and drought-prone regions are facing floods during the rainy season. Over the past decade, there’s been a 64% increase in heavy rainfall days during monsoons.

Early warning system scenario :

Only 1/3rd of flood-prone areas are covered by an early warning system, compared to the full coverage in cyclone-prone areas.

Mission Mausam :

Focuses on weather observation and weather modification techniques. It is primarily implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). 

Gaps in radar coverage :

• India has 39 Doppler weather radars (DWRs) with many covering a radius of 250 km. The Western Ghats has only five of these despite increased cyclones in the Arabian Sea.
• Key cities like Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, which are frequently facing urban floods, don’t have one.

The way forward for mission Mausam:

• The mission should prioritise the installation of weather radars and observational platforms in areas that are more prone to climate risks.
• Should invest more in the forecasting and observation infrastructure. For instance, the United States, in comparison to India, has 160 Doppler weather radars.
• More Openness and transparency in data: The European Union has made its data openly available to the public through a cloud system. While IMD shares its data through the portal, there remain restrictions on the volume of data provided.
• More involvement of researchers and the public domain to provide suggestions for improvements.

Conclusion :

Mission Mausam is a significant step towards making India weather-ready and climate-smart. Expanding forecasting abilities and giving priority to climate risk-prone areas are key pathways to ‘mission Mausam’.

A perilous highway to salvation in the Himalayas

Context: The 900-kilometre Char Dham highway project intended to boost religious tourism across Uttarakhand has sparked debates about its repercussions on mountain ecology. The 12,000 crore, all-weather road project is facing stiff opposition from experts and environmentalists.

Background:The Char Dham Pariyojana is a road development initiative by the Government of India designed to enhance connectivity to the four major Hindu pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. This project aims to make travel to these sacred sites safer and more convenient for pilgrims.

Relevance: GS 1 ( Geography ), GS3 (Disaster management ).

Practice question: analyse the pros and cons of the Char-Dham Highway project, giving special focus to environmental impacts, and suggest some key measures for minimising the negative impacts of the project. (250 words)

Pros and Cons of Char Dham Yatra:

Pros :

Religious and Cultural Significance:

• The Char Dham Yatra is a sacred pilgrimage for Hindus, visiting four holy sites: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

• For example:In 2023, 56 lakh pilgrims visited the Char Dham.

• Promotes the preservation of local traditions, rituals, and culture associated with the pilgrimage.

Boosts Local Economy and Job Creation:

• Tourism and pilgrimage promote the local economy, simultaneously encouraging job creation.

• Promoting Year-Round Visitor Attraction due to all-weather roads.

Infrastructure Development:

• Improved Connectivity: Char Dham Highway improves access to remote areas, benefiting tourists, and residents by enhancing transportation and communication.

• Access to Services: Better roads facilitate access to healthcare, education, and essential services for local communities.

Cons :

Landslides:

• A recent scientific study led by Jürgen Mey from the University of Potsdam identified a disturbing rise in road-blocking landslides along the Rishikesh-Joshimath corridor.

• The findings revealed 309 landslides over a 247 km stretch i,e. 1.25 landslides per kilometre, pointing directly to road-widening activities as a major contributor.

Geological Instability:

• Ground subsidence is referred to as a “silent disaster” in towns like Joshimath due to anthropogenic activities.

• Damage to sacred sites like the Tungnath Temple from subsidence and water leakage.

Socioeconomic Impact:

• Depopulation: Over 1,000 villages in Uttarakhand are now uninhabited.

• Agriculture is being abandoned in favour of tourism, leading to the loss of traditional livelihoods.

Loss of lives :

• Year-wise statistics show a rise in the loss of human lives. In the last four years, 160 people have lost their lives in landslide incidents in Uttarakhand, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

Way Forward for the Char Dham Yatra project

• Conduct Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)

• Implement Sustainable Practices in Construction

• Limiting Road Widening Carefully

• Enhance Community Participation in planning and development

• Develop Disaster Risk Management Strategies to address geological instabilities and landslides.

Conclusion :

To ensure the Char Dham Yatra benefits both pilgrims and the environment, focusing on sustainability, involving the community, and enforcing strict regulations are key. These steps can help address the negative impacts while enriching the pilgrimage experience for everyone.

Fate of Nations

Context:The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to Daron Acemoğlu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson for their research on the importance of inclusive institutions in shaping the economic futures of nations. Their work highlights how the quality of a country’s institutions deeply influenced by historical contexts like colonialism can determine its prosperity or poverty.

Relevance: GS1 (Indian Society), GS2 (Governance), GS3 (Economy).

Practice question: Examine the long-term effects of colonial legacies on the social and economic institutions in India. How do these legacies impact current efforts toward social justice and equity? (250 words )

Key Themes :

Institutions :

• These are established rules and mechanisms that govern social order and intra-community behaviour.
• Formal institutions: Laws, Government, etc
• Informal institutions: Social norms, Traditions, etc

Institutions and Economic Success:

• Strong institutions that uphold the rule of law and property rights are essential for economic growth. These institutions encourage individual initiative, savings, and investment.

• In contrast, countries with extractive institutions that concentrate power and limit freedoms often face economic stagnation or decline.

Colonial Legacy and Institutional Quality:

• Colonial histories have left lasting impacts on institutional frameworks. Nations that inherited extractive institutions during colonial times continue to struggle economically, whereas those that developed inclusive institutions have a better chance of prosperity.

The Case of China and India:

• The economic growth of China and India post-liberalization is cited as an example of how improving institutional frameworks can drive significant development.

Threats to Institutions:

• Populist movements often push for short-term gains that can ignore inclusive democracy and economic growth.

• Even democracies can exhibit extractive traits if they prioritise the interests of a few over the many, especially under populist pressures.

The Role of Democracy:

• Acemoğlu and his colleagues see democracy as a crucial inclusive institution for long-term growth. However, the rise of illiberal democracies, which might adopt protectionist policies, poses risks to liberal institutions.

Critiques :

• The authors have not sufficiently highlighted the brutal impacts of colonialism.
• Authors have expressed over-optimism about Western institutions
• Complex socio-economic realities of different countries have been ignored.