RAS question
By 2070, what economic damages could Indian cities face from climate risks?
Correct answer: (A) $30 billion.
Indian cities could face more than $30 billion in annual pluvial flood-related losses by 2070 if urban climate risks are not addressed in time.
Explanation
The answer is $30 billion because the cited World Bank press release, summarising its report on resilient Indian cities, warns that urban climate risks are already linked to extreme weather, intense heat and reduced storm-water absorption as built-up areas expand. The report studied 24 Indian cities and says timely adaptation can avert large annual losses from future weather-related shocks. Its clearest figure is for pluvial flood-related losses: these can amount to $5 billion by 2030 and $30 billion by 2070. So the MCQ is testing the 2070 damage estimate, not the wider financing requirement for resilient urban infrastructure or the number of cities studied.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) $10 billion is wrong because the cited report's 2070 figure for annual pluvial flood-related losses is $30 billion, not a lower intermediate estimate.
- (C) $20 billion is wrong because the World Bank source gives $5 billion by 2030 and $30 billion by 2070 for these annual flood-related losses, with no $20 billion figure in the explanation.
- (D) $50 billion is wrong because the cited 2070 damage estimate is $30 billion; $50 billion overstates the figure asked in the question.
Concept
This tests urban climate resilience within Indian geography: how climate risks such as flooding and heat translate into economic vulnerability for cities. It recurs in RAS because urbanisation, disaster risk and climate adaptation are increasingly linked in planning and geography questions.