India is taking significant strides in bolstering global disaster preparedness by spearheading the development of early warning systems in partner nations. Recognizing the imperative of timely intervention in mitigating natural disasters, India has embarked on a mission to share its expertise and technological prowess with countries vulnerable to various calamities. Leveraging its own experience in managing diverse environmental challenges, India is extending a helping hand to foster resilience and safeguard lives and livelihoods worldwide. Through collaborative efforts and knowledge exchange, these early warning systems promise to be invaluable tools in averting catastrophes and fostering sustainable development across borders.
Tags: GS Paper – 3- Disaster Management, GS Paper – 2- India and its Neighbourhood    Â
Context:
- India is proactively supporting neighbouring countries and small island nations by helping them develop early warning systems to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events.
- This effort is geared towards minimising casualties and property damage, in line with the United Nations’ ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative.
How India Plans to Assist Partner Countries:
Background:
- Recognizing that many countries lack the resources to establish early warning systems, especially those that are economically disadvantaged or geographically vulnerable like Maldives and Seychelles.
Objectives:
- India intends to play a pivotal role in supporting nations such as Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Mauritius.
India’s Involvement in Early Warning System (EWS) Development:
- India is extending technical know-how and financial aid to five partner countries, leveraging public-private partnerships for financial backing and receiving technical support from India and other contributing nations.Â
- India will aid in establishing meteorological observatories in partner countries.Â
- Partner nations will gain access to India’s numerical models to strengthen their forecasting capabilities.Â
- India will assist in developing decision support systems to enable prompt responses to extreme weather events.Â
- The communication ministries of respective nations will collaborate to establish data exchange and warning dissemination systems.Â
Trends in Extreme Weather Events:
- Global Perspective: According to a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report, natural disasters have increased over fivefold from 1970 to 2019, with water-related disasters emerging as the most prevalent globally.
- Impact on Asia: Asia has been profoundly affected, witnessing over 146,000 fatalities and more than 911 million people directly impacted by disasters from 2013 to 2022. In 2022 alone, economic losses surpassed USD 36 billion, primarily due to flooding and storms.
- Human and Economic Toll: Between 1970 and 2021, approximately 12,000 weather, climate, or water-related disasters occurred, resulting in over two million fatalities and economic losses exceeding USD 4.3 trillion.
- The Role of Climate Change: Climate change exacerbates the frequency and intensity of disasters, heightening their likelihood and complexity in effective management.
- Future Projections: By 2030, it is projected that the world could experience 560 medium- to large-scale disasters annually.
- India’s Role: India’s efforts to strengthen early warning systems highlight the importance of international collaboration in addressing the escalating threat posed by natural disasters and climate change.
India Meteorological Department (IMD):
- Established in 1875, IMD operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, serving as the primary agency for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology.
Early Warnings for All Initiative:
- Co-led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the Early Warnings for All initiative involves various partners. It focuses on four key pillars:
- Disaster risk knowledge and management
- Detection, observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting
- Warning dissemination and communication
- Preparedness and response capabilities
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)Â
Prelims:
Q:1 The 2004 Tsunami made people realise that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge? (2011)
- The mangrove swamps separate the human settlements from the sea by a wide zone in which people neither live nor venture outÂ
- The mangroves provide both food and medicines which people are in need of after any natural disasterÂ
- The mangrove trees are tall with dense canopies and serve as an excellent shelter during a cyclone or tsunamiÂ
- The mangrove trees do not get uprooted by storms and tides because of their extensive rootsÂ
Ans:(d)
Mains:
Q:1 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. (2021)
FAQs
Q: Why is India assisting other nations in developing early warning systems?
India recognizes the importance of early warning systems in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, and floods. By assisting partner nations in developing these systems, India aims to strengthen regional resilience and cooperation, foster goodwill, and contribute to global efforts in disaster risk reduction. Additionally, it aligns with India’s vision of being a responsible global actor and promoting South-South cooperation.
Q: What types of early warning systems is India supporting in partner nations?
India is supporting a range of early warning systems tailored to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of partner nations. These systems may include seismic networks for earthquake detection, tsunami warning systems equipped with buoys and sensors, meteorological monitoring for cyclone forecasting, river gauge stations for flood prediction, and technology-driven platforms for disseminating alerts to at-risk communities. The assistance provided by India often involves technology transfer, capacity building, and institutional collaboration to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of these systems.
Q: How does India benefit from assisting other nations in developing early warning systems?
India benefits from its assistance in multiple ways. Firstly, it enhances India’s diplomatic and strategic relations with partner nations, fostering trust and goodwill. Secondly, it contributes to regional stability and security by reducing the vulnerability of neighboring countries to natural disasters, which can have spillover effects. Thirdly, it strengthens India’s role as a leader in disaster management and enhances its soft power globally. Moreover, by fostering resilience in partner nations, India indirectly protects its own interests by mitigating the transboundary impacts of disasters and fostering regional cooperation in disaster response and recovery efforts.
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