NCERT-aligned Class 11 Geography topic. Every item is anchored to a real location on India's map — built for boards (CBSE, ICSE, state) and UPSC aspirants.
Definition of "disaster"?
An undesirable occurrence resulting from forces largely outside human control, striking quickly with little/no warning, causing serious disruption of life and property + death/injury to many — requiring mobilisation of efforts in excess of normal statutory emergency services.
How are "natural hazards" defined?
Elements/circumstances in the natural environment with potential to cause harm — may be permanent (steep Himalayan slopes, ocean currents) or swift (extreme climate).
How does a hazard differ from a disaster?
A natural disaster is relatively SUDDEN and causes large-scale, widespread death, property loss and disruption — over which people have little/no control. Hazards are conditions; disasters are realised events.
Are natural disasters value-neutral?
From nature's perspective they're value-neutral; from human perspective they're value-loaded (earthquakes, floods are "bad"; seasonal change is "good").
Examples of human-caused disasters?
Bhopal Gas tragedy, Chernobyl, wars, CFC release, greenhouse-gas increase, environmental pollution (noise, air, water, soil).
Examples of human activities INDIRECTLY accelerating natural disasters?
Landslides + floods due to deforestation, unscientific land use, construction in fragile areas.
What was the 1994 YOKOHAMA STRATEGY for disaster reduction?
The YOKOHAMA STRATEGY was a global framework for natural-disaster reduction adopted at the WORLD CONFERENCE on Natural Disaster Reduction held in Yokohama, Japan, 23-27 May 1994 — at the midpoint of the UN's INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION (IDNDR, 1990-99). The Strategy set out 10 principles + a plan of action emphasising PREVENTION + PREPAREDNESS over post-event response, the importance of LOCAL community involvement, the need for HAZARD ASSESSMENT + early-warning systems, and INTERNATIONAL cooperation. It was the FOUNDATION document for later frameworks: the Hyogo Framework (2005-15) + the Sendai Framework (2015-30).
What did Yokohama acknowledge?
Impact of natural disasters has risen; society has become more vulnerable; disasters disproportionately affect poor and disadvantaged groups, particularly in developing countries.
What did the YOKOHAMA STRATEGY establish about national responsibility?
A foundational principle of the 1994 Yokohama Strategy: PROTECTING CITIZENS FROM NATURAL DISASTERS IS THE SOVEREIGN RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH STATE. National governments — not international agencies — bear the primary duty to assess hazards in their territory, build early-warning + preparedness systems, train local responders, develop legal + financial mechanisms for disaster relief, + integrate disaster reduction into national development planning. International cooperation supplements but does not replace national responsibility.
Yokohama key resolution 2?
Priority attention to developing countries, especially least-developed, land-locked, and small-island developing states.
Yokohama key resolution 3?
Develop + strengthen national capacities, capabilities and legislation; mobilise NGOs and local communities.
What did the Yokohama Strategy say about international + regional cooperation?
A foundational Yokohama principle: countries must cooperate at MULTIPLE LEVELS to reduce disaster risk — SUB-REGIONAL groupings (e.g., neighbouring states sharing a river basin), full REGIONAL bodies (e.g., SAARC, ASEAN), + GLOBAL institutions (UN, WHO, World Bank). Cooperation should cover capacity-building (training disaster responders), TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (early-warning systems, satellite data), + JOINT RESOURCE MOBILISATION (financing for vulnerable countries). This principle was later operationalised through the Hyogo + Sendai frameworks.
This topic is part of the NCERT Class 11 Geography syllabus, drawn from the chapter Ch 7: Natural Hazards and Disasters. Content is cross-referenced against the latest NCERT textbook editions + standard reference works.
Use the interactive India map to learn natural hazards & disasters the way memory works best — by spatial location. Each pin opens a flashcard. Mark "Knew it" or "Didn't know" to track your mastery over time.
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