21 July 2025: PIB Summary For UPSC
1. Union Home Minister Directs Formation of Multi-Sectoral Central Team for Himachal Pradesh Amidst Rising Natural Disasters
Source – Press Information Bureau (PIB) – Ministry of Jal Shakti (20 July 2025)
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Topic: GS3: Disaster Management |
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Context |
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Introduction:
Rising Frequency of Disasters in Himachal Pradesh
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Himachal Pradesh has witnessed multiple natural disasters, including cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, and torrential rainfall.
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These events have resulted in widespread human casualties, infrastructure destruction, and detrimental impacts on livelihoods and the environment.
Central Government’s Response
Formation of Multi-Sectoral Central Team
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has ordered the creation of a multi-sectoral Central Team.
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The team includes experts from:
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National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
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Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee
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Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
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Geologists
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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore
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Proactive Assessment and Relief
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In anticipation of the 2025 Southwest monsoon and associated disasters, the Central Government deployed an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) in advance, without waiting for the state’s formal memorandum.
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IMCT is conducting on-the-spot assessments from July 18-21, 2025.
Financial Support and Resource Mobilization
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A high-level committee led by the Home Minister approved ₹2,006.40 crore for recovery and reconstruction related to floods, landslides, and cloudbursts in 2023.
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The first tranche of ₹451.44 crore was released on July 7, 2025.
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The first installment of ₹198.80 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) was released on June 18, 2025, for immediate relief activities.
On-Ground Disaster Relief
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Deployment of 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams in Himachal Pradesh.
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Additional support from the Indian Army and Air Force for rescue and relief operations.
Analytical Insights (For UPSC)
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Proactive Governance: The early deployment of central teams showcases a shift from reactive to proactive disaster response and assessment.
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Multi-Sectoral Collaboration: Inclusion of experts from diverse research and scientific institutions highlights a multi-disciplinary approach, merging engineering, meteorology, and geology.
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Financial Commitment: Sustained financial allocation for both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction reflects comprehensive disaster management.
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Disaster Management Challenges: Difficult terrain, climate change-induced variability, and increasing intensity of extreme weather events make Himachal Pradesh especially vulnerable, necessitating robust institutional and community preparedness.
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Way Forward: End-to-end risk assessment, permanent infrastructure upgrading, resilient building codes, early warning systems, and local capacity-building are critical for reducing disaster vulnerability in mountainous regions.
Conclusion
The Central Government’s swift and coordinated response underlines the importance of robust disaster management systems, financial support, and expert interventions for disaster-prone regions like Himachal Pradesh. Such a framework aims not just at immediate relief but also sustainable regional resilience.
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Practice Question: “The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh necessitate a shift from reactive to proactive disaster management. Critically discuss the measures taken by the Central Government in this context and suggest additional steps to enhance disaster resilience in hilly states.” |
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