The 2025 Monsoon: A Story of Bountiful Rains and Governance Failures
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Geography (Indian Monsoon - mechanism, spatial and temporal distribution, onset); Indian Agriculture (Kharif crops); Disaster Management (Floods, Landslides, Role of India Meteorological Department - IMD).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Geography): Important Geophysical phenomena such as floods, drought, and their causes and effects.
General Studies Paper 3 (Economy, Disaster Management): Major crops cropping patterns; Disaster and disaster management. The critique of disaster preparedness in the face of accurate forecasting is a core GS3 topic.
Key Highlights from the News
This article addresses the paradox of the Indian Monsoon: it is simultaneously life-giving and destructive. It critically analyzes the administrative culture of disaster management in India. The article argues that the country fails to translate improved scientific capabilities (forecasting) into effective actions.
The Governance Failure: Viewing Excess Rain as a Blessing, Not a Hazard & The Way Forward
The Governance Failure:
The Problem: Against the historical backdrop of India's agrarian economy, drought is considered the biggest threat. Excess rains are still seen as a "blessing" by policymakers.
The New Reality: Due to climate change, the intensity of rainfall is increasing. Therefore, "excess rain" now causes disasters like floods and landslides.
The Governance Gap: While the administration responds to drought warnings on a war footing, it does not view flood warnings with the same seriousness.
Improving Forecasting vs. Improving Preparedness:
The Mismatch: India's weather forecasting capability (of IMD) has significantly improved over the last decade.
However, state and local administrations often fail to translate these improved forecasts into effective disaster management actions.
Way Forward:
Treat Flood Warnings with the Same Urgency as Drought Warnings: Take flood warnings seriously and prepare in advance.
Translate Forecasts into Actionable Plans: Convert IMD's forecasts into simple action plans that can be implemented at the local level (district, panchayat).
Invest in Flood Mitigation Infrastructure: Improve drainage systems in cities and villages, remove encroachments in river basins, and protect wetlands.
Public Awareness: Educate the public accurately about risks without misusing technical terms like "cloudburst."
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