Extreme Weather Events — Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs Connections
India's Heatwave Action Plans Gain Urgency Amidst Record Temperatures in 2024
May-June 2024Several regions across India, particularly in the North and East, experienced prolonged and intense heatwaves during the pre-monsoon and early monsoon periods of 2024, breaking previous temperature records. This led to a surge in heat-related illnesses and fatalities, significant stress on power grids, and impacts on agricultural productivity. The events highlighted the critical importance of robust heatwave action plans, including early warning dissemination, provision of cooling centers, public health advisories, and measures to protect vulnerable populations and outdoor workers. From a UPSC perspective, this event underscores the need to analyze the effectiveness of existing disaster management protocols for heatwaves, the challenges in their implementation, and the role of climate change adaptation strategies. It also brings into focus the socio-economic implications of such events on public health, labor productivity, and urban planning.
UPSC Angle: Mains GS-I (Geography - climate phenomena), GS-II (Governance - public health, disaster management policy), GS-III (Environment - climate change impacts, adaptation; Economy - impact on labor, agriculture). Prelims: IMD classifications of heatwaves, specific state initiatives, health impacts.
Cyclone Remal Makes Landfall in Bangladesh and West Bengal, Highlighting Coastal Vulnerability
May 2024Cyclone Remal, a severe cyclonic storm, made landfall near the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal in May 2024, causing significant rainfall, storm surges, and widespread damage to infrastructure and livelihoods in coastal areas. While early warnings and evacuation efforts helped minimize loss of life, the event reiterated the increasing frequency and intensity of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, a trend linked to warmer sea surface temperatures due to climate change. This incident provides a crucial case study for examining India's coastal disaster preparedness, the effectiveness of its multi-hazard early warning systems, and the challenges of managing displacement and rehabilitation in densely populated coastal regions. It also highlights the transboundary nature of such disasters and the need for regional cooperation.
UPSC Angle: Mains GS-I (Geography - cyclones, coastal vulnerability), GS-III (Disaster Management - cyclone preparedness, early warning systems, rehabilitation; Environment - climate change impacts). Prelims: Cyclone naming conventions, IMD's cyclone intensity classifications, coastal states' preparedness measures, Sundarbans vulnerability.