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Anganwadi Supervisor Paper-1 Top-ups · Chapter 3

Disaster Management, NDMA, Remote Sensing and GIS

What to remember

  • A disaster is a sudden event that causes great loss of life, property or livelihood and is beyond the ability of the affected community to cope. India's main law is the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which created the NDMA, SDMAs and DDMAs.
  • Disaster management has four phases: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The Sendai Framework (2015-2030) now guides the world.
  • Remote sensing collects information about the Earth from a distance, using satellites, aircraft or drones. GIS stores, maps and analyses that data. Together they support early warning, damage assessment and planning.

Key terms

  • Hazard: a dangerous event or phenomenon, such as a cyclone or earthquake.
  • Vulnerability: how likely people or property are to be harmed.
  • Capacity: strengths and resources that help to cope.
  • Risk grows with hazard and vulnerability, and falls with capacity.
  • Disaster = hazard + vulnerable people. A cyclone over an empty sea is a hazard, not a disaster.
  • Mitigation: steps that reduce the effects before a disaster, such as building codes and embankments.
  • Preparedness: plans, drills, stocks and early warning.
  • Relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction: short-term help, long-term resettlement and rebuilding.

Types of disasters

GroupExamples
Natural: geologicalEarthquake, landslide, tsunami, volcano
Natural: water and climateFlood, cyclone, drought, heat wave, cold wave, lightning
Man-madeIndustrial gas leak, fire, stampede, building collapse, road and rail accidents
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclearHazardous material leak, epidemics

Examples worth knowing: the 1984 Bhopal gas leak, the 1993 Latur and 2001 Bhuj earthquakes, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (26 December), Cyclone Hudhud (2014) that struck near Visakhapatnam, and the 2009 Kurnool floods. India's seismic map has four zones (II to V). Zone V is the most dangerous.

Disaster management cycle

  • 1. Prevention and mitigation
  • 2. Preparedness
  • 3. Response (rescue, shelter, food, water, health care)
  • 4. Recovery (rehabilitation and reconstruction, "build back better")

Early warning needs four parts: knowing the risk, monitoring and warning, passing the message, and community response.

Institutions in India

LevelBodyHead
NationalNational Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)Prime Minister
StateState Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)Chief Minister
DistrictDistrict Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)District Collector (with an elected representative as co-chair)

Other key bodies:

  • National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): a specialist force created under the 2005 Act and set up in 2006. It has battalions from the central police forces.
  • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM): training and research.
  • State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National and State Disaster Response Funds give money for relief. A mitigation fund also exists.
  • India Meteorological Department (IMD): weather and cyclone warnings.
  • INCOIS, Hyderabad: the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services runs the tsunami early warning system, created after the 2004 tsunami.
  • Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA): state-level body for planning, warning (including lightning alerts) and response.
  • Plans: the first National Disaster Management Plan was issued in 2016, in line with the Sendai Framework.
  • Before 2005, the subject was handled mainly as relief by the agriculture ministry (moved to the Home Ministry in 2002). The new approach is proactive and focuses on prevention.

International frameworks:

YearFramework
1994Yokohama Strategy
2005Hyogo Framework (2005-2015)
2015Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030)

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is 13 October.

Common hazards in brief

HazardCauseMain safety steps
CycloneIntense low pressure over warm sea; strong winds, rain and storm surgeEarly warning, cyclone shelters, moving people from the coast, safe boats and houses
FloodHeavy rain, river overflow, dam release, blocked drainsEmbankments, flood forecasts, raised platforms, safe drinking water
EarthquakeSudden release of energy along faults in the crustEarthquake-resistant buildings, drop-cover-hold drills, no lifts during shaking
DroughtLong shortage of rainWater conservation, watershed work, crop planning, fodder and food support
Heat waveVery high temperature for several daysDrink water, stay indoors at noon, shade, early school hours
LightningElectrical discharge in storm cloudsStay indoors, avoid tall trees and open fields, use alert messages
TsunamiUndersea earthquake or landslideWarning sirens, move to high ground at once

An earthquake is measured by a seismograph. The Richter scale (and the moment magnitude scale) gives the size at the source, and a different scale gives the intensity of shaking at a place. The point inside the Earth where it starts is the focus. The point directly above on the surface is the epicentre. A storm surge is a rise of sea water pushed ashore by a cyclone and is often the deadliest part of it. IMD names cyclones in the north Indian Ocean from an agreed list of names given by member countries.

Role of Anganwadis and women in disaster work

Children, pregnant women and nursing mothers are most vulnerable. Anganwadi centres can pass warnings, keep safe stocks of food, protect records, run child-friendly spaces, check for malnutrition after a disaster, and help mothers continue breastfeeding. Women's groups can help with warning and relief. Drills, clear evacuation routes and first aid training are part of preparedness.

Remote sensing

Remote sensing means gathering information about an object or area without touching it. A sensor records the energy reflected or emitted from the surface.

  • Platforms: satellites, aircraft, balloons and drones.
  • Sensors: passive sensors record sunlight reflected from the Earth. Active sensors, such as radar, send their own signal. Radar can see through clouds and at night.
  • Electromagnetic spectrum: visible light, infrared, thermal infrared and microwave bands. Different surfaces reflect differently, so water, crops and soil can be told apart.
  • Four types of resolution: spatial (detail on the ground), spectral (number of bands), radiometric (sensitivity) and temporal (how often the same place is seen again).
  • Orbits: geostationary satellites stay over one spot at about 36,000 km above the equator. Sun-synchronous polar satellites pass over a place at the same local time and give good Earth images.

Indian space programme:

ItemPoint
ISROFormed in 1969
AryabhataFirst Indian satellite (1975)
IRS seriesIndian Remote Sensing satellites, started 1988
INSATGeostationary communication and weather satellites
Cartosat, Resourcesat, RISATMapping, land and crop monitoring, radar imaging
NavICIndia's regional navigation system
NRSC, HyderabadNational Remote Sensing Centre, collects and supplies data
BhuvanISRO's online map portal
APSACAndhra Pradesh Space Applications Centre, uses satellite data for state needs

Uses: flood and cyclone tracking, drought assessment, forest cover, crop area and health, groundwater prospects, land use and urban growth, and damage assessment after a disaster.

GIS and satellite navigation

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system to collect, store, analyse and show data linked to places.

  • Components: hardware, software, data, people and methods.
  • Layers: roads, rivers, villages and health centres are kept as separate map layers that can be stacked.
  • Data types:
TypeMeaningExample
VectorPoints, lines, polygonsAnganwadi centre (point), road (line), village boundary (polygon)
RasterGrid of cells with valuesSatellite image
  • Analysis tools: overlay (combine layers), buffer (zone around a feature) and query.
  • GPS is the US satellite navigation system. Others: GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (Europe), BeiDou (China) and NavIC (India). GPS needs signals from at least four satellites for a position fix.
  • Uses for the child development service: map Anganwadi centres, find areas with high malnutrition, plan new centres, and track floods or cyclones that threaten them.

Exam traps

  • NDMA is headed by the Prime Minister. SDMA by the Chief Minister. DDMA by the District Collector.
  • NDRF is a force. NDMA is an authority. The word "NDRF" can also mean a fund. Read the question.
  • Hyogo is 2005-2015. Sendai is 2015-2030.
  • A hazard becomes a disaster only when vulnerable people are hit.
  • Geostationary satellites stay fixed over one spot. Polar satellites circle the Earth from pole to pole.
  • Passive sensors need sunlight. Active sensors, like radar, send their own signal.
  • Vector means points, lines and polygons. Raster means grid cells.
  • IMD gives weather warnings. INCOIS gives tsunami and ocean warnings.

One-liners

  • 1. The Disaster Management Act was passed in 2005.
  • 2. NDMA is chaired by the Prime Minister.
  • 3. NDRF was set up in 2006.
  • 4. NIDM trains and researches on disasters.
  • 5. Sendai Framework runs from 2015 to 2030.
  • 6. INCOIS in Hyderabad issues tsunami warnings.
  • 7. Zone V is the highest seismic risk zone.
  • 8. ISRO was formed in 1969.
  • 9. Aryabhata was launched in 1975.
  • 10. NavIC is India's regional navigation system.
  • 11. GIS keeps data in layers.
  • 12. Radar remote sensing can work through clouds.

Practice questions

  1. The Disaster Management Act was passed in

    1. 1984
    2. 2005
    3. 2013
    4. 1994
    Answer

    B. 2005

    The DM Act, 2005 created NDMA, SDMAs and DDMAs.

  2. The National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the

    1. Prime Minister
    2. President
    3. Chief Justice of India
    4. Home Minister
    Answer

    A. Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister is the chairperson of NDMA.

  3. The State Disaster Management Authority is headed by the

    1. Governor
    2. Chief Secretary
    3. Home Secretary
    4. Chief Minister
    Answer

    D. Chief Minister

    The Chief Minister is the chairperson of SDMA.

  4. The District Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the

    1. Chief Medical Officer
    2. Superintendent of Police
    3. Tahsildar
    4. District Collector
    Answer

    D. District Collector

    The District Collector is the chairperson, with an elected representative as co-chair.

  5. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction covers

    1. 2015 to 2030
    2. 2005 to 2015
    3. 2000 to 2020
    4. 1994 to 2004
    Answer

    A. 2015 to 2030

    It followed the Hyogo Framework.

  6. The Hyogo Framework for Action covered

    1. 1994 to 2005
    2. 2005 to 2015
    3. 2015 to 2030
    4. 2010 to 2025
    Answer

    B. 2005 to 2015

    Hyogo was adopted in 2005 at Kobe, Japan.

  7. The tsunami early warning centre of India is located at

    1. Hyderabad
    2. Mumbai
    3. Chennai
    4. Kolkata
    Answer

    A. Hyderabad

    INCOIS in Hyderabad runs the system, created after the 2004 tsunami.

  8. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami occurred on

    1. 26 January
    2. 15 August
    3. 2 October
    4. 26 December
    Answer

    D. 26 December

    The undersea earthquake triggered the tsunami.

  9. Cyclone Hudhud of 2014 struck near

    1. Tirupati
    2. Visakhapatnam
    3. Kakinada
    4. Nellore
    Answer

    B. Visakhapatnam

    It caused heavy damage in the Visakhapatnam region.

  10. The National Disaster Response Force was formed in

    1. 2006
    2. 2013
    3. 1999
    4. 1984
    Answer

    A. 2006

    It was formed under the DM Act, 2005.

  11. Which institute in India does training and research on disaster management?

    1. NABARD
    2. NITI Aayog
    3. NCERT
    4. NIDM
    Answer

    D. NIDM

    The National Institute of Disaster Management is the main training body.

  12. The highest seismic zone in India is

    1. Zone III
    2. Zone V
    3. Zone II
    4. Zone I
    Answer

    B. Zone V

    Zone V has the highest risk of earthquakes.

  13. The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction falls on

    1. 5 June
    2. 21 March
    3. 1 December
    4. 13 October
    Answer

    D. 13 October

    It is observed each year by the UN.

  14. The sensor type that sends its own signal and can see through clouds is

    1. Visible light
    2. Radar (active)
    3. Photographic film
    4. Optical passive
    Answer

    B. Radar (active)

    Radar uses microwaves and works day and night.

  15. Remote sensing means collecting data about the Earth

    1. Only on the ground
    2. Only by drilling
    3. Only by radio calls
    4. Without direct contact
    Answer

    D. Without direct contact

    Sensors record energy from a distance.

  16. ISRO was formed in

    1. 1969
    2. 1975
    3. 1984
    4. 1947
    Answer

    A. 1969

    The Indian Space Research Organisation was formed in 1969.

  17. India's first satellite was

    1. Rohini
    2. Bhaskara
    3. Aryabhata
    4. INSAT-1A
    Answer

    C. Aryabhata

    Aryabhata was launched in 1975.

  18. NavIC is India's

    1. Regional navigation satellite system
    2. Weather radar network
    3. Rain gauge network
    4. Telephone cable
    Answer

    A. Regional navigation satellite system

    NavIC covers India and nearby region.

  19. The National Remote Sensing Centre is located at

    1. Ahmedabad
    2. Hyderabad
    3. Bengaluru
    4. Dehradun
    Answer

    B. Hyderabad

    NRSC, a centre of ISRO, is in Hyderabad.

  20. Geostationary satellites stay about 36,000 km above the

    1. North Pole
    2. Tropic of Cancer
    3. Prime Meridian only
    4. Equator
    Answer

    D. Equator

    They orbit with the Earth's spin, so appear fixed over one point.

  21. In GIS, a road is usually stored as a

    1. Point only
    2. Line (vector)
    3. Polygon
    4. Raster cell
    Answer

    B. Line (vector)

    Roads are vector lines.

  22. A satellite image stored as a grid of cells is an example of

    1. Vector data
    2. Attribute table only
    3. Raster data
    4. Contour line
    Answer

    C. Raster data

    Raster data is a grid of values.

  23. In GIS, 'buffer' means

    1. A zone drawn at a set distance around a feature
    2. Deleting a layer
    3. Printing a map
    4. Changing a map colour
    Answer

    A. A zone drawn at a set distance around a feature

    Buffers help find, for example, villages within 5 km of a hospital.

  24. A cyclone hits an empty sea with no people. In disaster terms this is a

    1. Rehabilitation
    2. Disaster
    3. Hazard
    4. Relief
    Answer

    C. Hazard

    It becomes a disaster only if vulnerable people are affected.

  25. Building a cyclone shelter before the season is

    1. Rehabilitation
    2. Mitigation
    3. Response
    4. Relief
    Answer

    B. Mitigation

    Mitigation is done before an event to reduce impact.

  26. Providing food, water and temporary shelter immediately after a flood is part of

    1. Mitigation
    2. Prevention
    3. Planning only
    4. Response
    Answer

    D. Response

    Response covers rescue and short-term help.

  27. An Anganwadi worker keeps ORS, safe food stock and a list of pregnant women ready before the cyclone season. This is

    1. Preparedness
    2. Rehabilitation
    3. Recovery
    4. Reconstruction
    Answer

    A. Preparedness

    Preparedness is ready action before a hazard.

  28. A planner wants to map all Anganwadi centres within a flood zone. The best tool is

    1. Seismograph
    2. GIS
    3. Spirometer
    4. Barometer
    Answer

    B. GIS

    GIS overlays centres and flood-zone layers.

  29. Which agency gives weather and cyclone warnings in India?

    1. NDRF
    2. INCOIS
    3. IMD
    4. NIDM
    Answer

    C. IMD

    The India Meteorological Department issues weather warnings.

  30. The authority in Andhra Pradesh for state-level disaster planning is

    1. APSDMA
    2. APIIC
    3. APSRTC
    4. APPSC
    Answer

    A. APSDMA

    It is the State Disaster Management Authority of Andhra Pradesh.

  31. The Bhopal gas leak occurred in

    1. 2001
    2. 1993
    3. 1974
    4. 1984
    Answer

    D. 1984

    It was a man-made industrial disaster.

  32. Consider the statements: 1. NDMA is headed by the Prime Minister. 2. SDMA is headed by the Chief Secretary. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    SDMA is headed by the Chief Minister.

  33. Consider the statements: 1. Passive sensors depend on reflected sunlight. 2. Radar is an active sensor. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  34. Consider the statements: 1. Vector data uses points, lines and polygons. 2. Raster data uses a grid of cells. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both describe the two data types.

  35. Consider the statements: 1. IMD issues tsunami warnings. 2. INCOIS issues weather warnings for the land. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    INCOIS issues ocean and tsunami warnings; IMD issues weather warnings. Both statements swap them.

  36. Consider the statements: 1. Sendai Framework is for 2015-2030. 2. Hyogo Framework is for 2005-2015. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both periods are correct.

  37. Consider the statements: 1. Geostationary satellites are placed over the poles. 2. Sun-synchronous satellites follow a polar orbit. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Geostationary satellites are over the equator.

  38. Consider the statements: 1. Children and nursing mothers are especially vulnerable in disasters. 2. Anganwadi centres can help in warning and relief. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  39. Match: A. NDMA 1. Policy and plans at national level B. NDRF 2. Specialist response force C. NIDM 3. Training and research Which is the correct order (A-B-C)?

    1. 2-1-3
    2. 1-2-3
    3. 1-3-2
    4. 3-2-1
    Answer

    B. 1-2-3

    Each body is matched with its role.

  40. Match: A. INCOIS 1. Ocean warnings B. NRSC 2. Satellite data supply C. IMD 3. Weather forecast Which is the correct order (A-B-C)?

    1. 1-2-3
    2. 2-1-3
    3. 3-2-1
    4. 1-3-2
    Answer

    A. 1-2-3

    INCOIS gives ocean warnings, NRSC supplies satellite data, IMD forecasts weather.

  41. Match the satellite system with its type: A. INSAT 1. Geostationary B. IRS 2. Remote sensing C. NavIC 3. Navigation Which is the correct order (A-B-C)?

    1. 2-1-3
    2. 3-1-2
    3. 1-3-2
    4. 1-2-3
    Answer

    D. 1-2-3

    INSAT is geostationary; IRS is remote sensing; NavIC is for navigation.

  42. Consider the statements: 1. Risk increases with vulnerability. 2. Greater capacity reduces risk. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

  43. Consider the statements: 1. GPS needs signals from at least four satellites for a position fix. 2. GPS is the satellite navigation system of the United States. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  44. Consider the statements: 1. The first National Disaster Management Plan was issued in 2016. 2. It is in line with the Sendai Framework. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

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