Population, wildlife & sanctuaries, disaster management and climate change (India) MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

The given statement points to demographic potential, but not to an automatic demographic dividend. A large working-age population becomes an economic strength only when people are healthy, educated, skilled and employable. Otherwise, the same population pressure can become a burden. This is an application-based way to test the concept without relying on uncertain current demographic figures.

Adaptation means adjusting life, farming, cities and coasts to climate impacts that are already happening or expected. The note gives examples such as climate-resilient crops, better irrigation, rainwater harvesting, heat action plans, coastal protection, urban drainage, insurance and early warning. Mitigation means reducing the causes of climate change through renewable energy, energy efficiency, public transport, afforestation, waste management and cleaner industry. CET questions often test this direct contrast.

The assertion is wrong because a hazard does not by itself explain disaster risk. The note defines a hazard as a potentially damaging event, but risk is the expected loss when that hazard interacts with vulnerability and exposure. A cyclone is a hazard; weak coastal housing, lack of warning, poverty or poor preparedness can increase vulnerability and therefore risk. This is why disaster management focuses not only on the physical event but also on safer housing, warning, evacuation, shelters and community coordination.

The incorrect match confuses recovery with response. Response covers immediate action during and just after a disaster: rescue, relief camps, medical help, food, drinking water, temporary shelter and restoration of essential services. Recovery is the longer rebuilding phase after the event, including homes, livelihoods, schools, roads, health systems and community confidence. The usual order is mitigation and preparedness before the event, response during and immediately after it, and recovery later.

Mitigation means reducing the causes of climate change, such as using renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, public transport, afforestation, waste management and cleaner industry. Rebuilding houses, roads and schools after a disaster belongs to disaster recovery, not climate mitigation. The confusion is common because both ideas involve reducing damage, but adaptation means adjusting to impacts, while mitigation reduces emissions or increases carbon sinks.