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MCQs on Natural Hazards and Disasters for UPSC and State PSC exams

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MCQs on Natural Hazards and Disasters

1. Natural hazard differs from disaster because:

 
 
 
 

2. India is vulnerable to natural disasters due to:

 
 
 
 

3. Earthquakes in India are mainly due to:

 
 
 
 

4. Himalayan region falls in seismic zones:

 
 
 
 

5. Most destructive Indian earthquake recent:

 
 
 
 

6. Latur earthquake 1993 was unusual because:

 
 
 
 

7. Tsunami is caused by:

 
 
 
 

8. 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami was triggered by:

 
 
 
 

9. Tsunami warning system in India is operated by:

 
 
 
 

10. Cyclones in India mainly originate in:

 
 
 
 

11. Cyclone season in India:

 
 
 
 

12. Cyclone Fani 2019 affected:

 
 
 
 

13. Cyclone Tauktae 2021 affected:

 
 
 
 

14. Storm surge is:

 
 
 
 

15. Floods in India are mainly due to:

 
 
 
 

16. Kosi is called Sorrow of Bihar because:

 
 
 
 

17. Assam floods worsen due to:

 
 
 
 

18. Urban floods like Mumbai 2005, Chennai 2015 due to:

 
 
 
 

19. Landslides are common in:

 
 
 
 

20. Landslide prone states:

 
 
 
 

21. Avalanches occur in:

 
 
 
 

22. Drought in India is defined by IMD as:

 
 
 
 

23. Types of drought:

 
 
 
 

24. Drought prone areas in India:

 
 
 
 

25. Desertification in India affects:

 
 
 
 

26. Heat waves in India occur in:

 
 
 
 

27. Cold waves occur in:

 
 
 
 

28. Lightning kills most people in:

 
 
 
 

29. Forest fires in India occur mainly in:

 
 
 
 

30. Cloudburst is:

 
 
 
 

31. Uttarakhand 2013 disaster was due to:

 
 
 
 

32. Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is:

 
 
 
 

33. Coastal erosion in India affects:

 
 
 
 

34. Sea level rise threatens:

 
 
 
 

35. Biological hazards include:

 
 
 
 

36. Man-made hazards include:

 
 
 
 

37. NDMA was established under:

 
 
 
 

38. NDRF was formed in:

 
 
 
 

39. Sendai Framework 2015-2030 aims to:

 
 
 
 

40. Early warning systems in India include:

 
 
 
 

41. Community based disaster management emphasizes:

 
 
 
 

42. Earthquake resistant buildings use:

 
 
 
 

43. Flood management includes:

 
 
 
 

44. Drought management includes:

 
 
 
 

45. Cyclone shelters are built in:

 
 
 
 

46. Mangroves reduce:

 
 
 
 

47. Disaster risk =

 
 
 
 

48. Vulnerability factors in India:

 
 
 
 

49. Climate change increases:

 
 
 
 

50. Disaster preparedness at school level includes:

 
 
 
 


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mcqs on natural hazards and disaster

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UNESCO & Sikkim Partner to Document Ru-Soam: India’s Ancient Cane Bridge Heritage | UPSC Current Affairs 2026

Leave a Comment / National Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs /

UNESCO has joined hands with the Sikkim state government to document the traditional Ru-Soam bridges — indigenous cane suspension footbridges built by the Lepcha community — located within the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR). This initiative aims to preserve and recognize this extraordinary example of indigenous engineering knowledge before it is lost to modernization.

📌 UPSC Relevance: GS Paper I – Art & Culture | GS Paper III – Environment & Ecology | Prelims – Static GK & Current Affairs

What are Ru-Soam Bridges?

Ru-Soam are traditional bamboo and cane suspension footbridges crafted by the Lepcha community of Sikkim. These structures are a testimony to centuries of accumulated indigenous knowledge in natural material engineering.

  • Built entirely without nails or metal fasteners
  • Materials used: wild cane, bamboo, and wood
  • Represent centuries-old indigenous engineering knowledge
  • Located within the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim
  • Recognized as a remarkable example of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

Why is UNESCO Documenting Ru-Soam?

UNESCO’s documentation effort is part of a broader mission to safeguard intangible cultural heritage worldwide. The specific objectives include:

  1. Preserving intangible cultural heritage and indigenous technical knowledge
  2. Recognizing the Lepcha community’s ecological and engineering contributions
  3. Integrating indigenous knowledge systems into sustainable development frameworks
  4. Safeguarding this knowledge from being lost as modernization advances

About the Lepcha Community

The Lepcha are one of the indigenous communities of Sikkim, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in India. They have coexisted with the Khangchendzonga ecosystem for centuries, developing unique knowledge systems for construction, agriculture, and ecological management. Their Ru-Soam bridges are not just infrastructure — they are a living cultural tradition.

🏔️ UPSC Connect: Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR)

The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve is a critical interconnected topic for UPSC aspirants. Here are the key facts:

FeatureDetails
LocationSikkim, India
UNESCO World Heritage SiteDesignated in 2016
Heritage TypeIndia’s first and only “mixed” heritage site (natural + cultural)
UNESCO Biosphere ReservePart of UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2018
Key FeatureHome to Mt. Khangchendzonga — the world’s 3rd highest peak (8,586 m)
Tribal CommunitiesLepcha, Bhutia, Limbu — all with deep cultural ties to the landscape
💡 Prelims Tip: KBR is India’s FIRST and ONLY “mixed” UNESCO World Heritage Site — recognised for both its outstanding natural values AND cultural heritage. Designated in 2016. Do not confuse this with the Biosphere Reserve status (2018).

Key Facts for Quick Revision

  • Ru-Soam = Traditional cane/bamboo suspension bridges of Sikkim
  • Built by: Lepcha community (indigenous PVTG tribe of Sikkim)
  • Location: Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim
  • Initiative: UNESCO + Sikkim Government documentation project
  • No metal used: Built entirely from wild cane, bamboo, and wood
  • KBR UNESCO WHS Year: 2016 (mixed heritage site — first in India)
  • KBR Biosphere Reserve Network Year: 2018
  • Mt. Khangchendzonga: World’s 3rd highest peak (8,586 m)

UNESCO & Sikkim Partner to Document Ru-Soam: India’s Ancient Cane Bridge Heritage | UPSC Current Affairs 2026 Read More »

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