Daily Mains Question – GS 1 – 18th July 2025
- TPP
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 18
Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — crafted to explore the intersection of physical geography, climate variability, and disaster vulnerability, as tested in GS Paper 1. Today’s question examines how accelerating Himalayan glacier retreat and erratic monsoon behaviour are reshaping the hydrology and human geography of the region’s vital river systems.
With the frequency of extreme events like the 2023 Himachal Pradesh flash floods and the increasing incidence of cloudbursts in Uttarakhand and Sikkim, this topic is highly relevant for GS Paper 1 (Geography: Climatic Regions, Natural Hazards, Environmental Geography). It also offers critical insights for disaster risk reduction, river basin planning, and sustainable mountain development — themes that resonate across GS Papers 1, 3, and the Essay paper.
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QUESTION
How do accelerating glacier retreat and shifting monsoon patterns impact the hydrology and socio-economic stability of the Himalayan River systems? Discuss with reference to recent extreme weather events.
Answer: The recurring floods in Himachal Pradesh, particularly during early monsoon seasons, underscore the catastrophic consequences of climate change on the Himalayan ecosystem. Cloudbursts in districts like Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba have triggered devastating landslides and flash floods, causing over ₹700 crore in economic losses. These events illustrate the compounding threats posed by rapid glacier retreat and increasingly erratic monsoon patterns, both of which significantly endanger the integrity of Himalayan River systems.
1. Glacier Melt and Its Impacts:
The Himalayas, often termed the “Third Pole,” hold the largest reserve of freshwater outside the polar regions, feeding major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Beas, Sutlej, and Brahmaputra.
According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Himalayan glaciers are retreating at a rate of 10–30 metres annually.
A study in Nature Communications (2021) highlighted that the region has lost over 25% of its ice mass since 2000.
Melting glaciers increase river discharge during summer months, heightening flood risks during monsoon convergence.
Formation of glacial lakes (e.g., Lake Imja in Nepal) and risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) pose further threats downstream.
2. Erratic Monsoon Patterns:
Indian Monsoon dynamics are shifting due to rising global temperatures and altered jet stream patterns.
The monsoon season now exhibits increased variability:
Sudden cloudbursts dumping over 100 mm of rain within a few hours.
Extended dry spells followed by torrential rainfall leading to soil erosion, sedimentation, and crop damage.
IMD data shows a 15–20% increase in extreme rainfall events over northern India in the last two decades.
Changes in monsoon onset and withdrawal timings affect river recharge cycles and cause both floods and droughts in the same season.
3. Impact on Himalayan River Systems:
Combined glacial melt and erratic rainfall contribute to seasonal flow imbalances—high discharge in summers and reduced base flows in winters.
Rivers like Beas, Yamuna, and Ganga witness more frequent floods due to sudden increases in water volume.
Increased sediment load from landslides alters river morphology, affecting navigation, irrigation, and hydroelectric infrastructure.
4. Socio-economic and Environmental Consequences:
Damage to infrastructure (roads, bridges, power lines) isolates remote communities.
Frequent displacement disrupts education, healthcare, and local economies, particularly agrarian and tourism sectors.
Agricultural losses, due to either inundation or unpredictability in water supply, threaten food security and livelihoods.
Forest degradation and loss of biodiversity from repeated flooding events further undermine ecological stability.
The Himalayan region's fragile topography, coupled with climate-induced glacier melt and monsoon irregularities, significantly increases the vulnerability of its river systems. Effective management requires:
Climate-resilient infrastructure (e.g., slope-stabilised roads, flood-proof bridges).
Early warning systems and remote sensing to monitor glacial and weather changes.
Sustainable land use practices such as afforestation and watershed management.
Community-based disaster preparedness to empower vulnerable populations.
Long-term hydro-meteorological data integration in river basin planning.
Only through an integrated approach combining scientific insight, local knowledge, and sustainable development practices can we mitigate the twin threats to Himalayan River systems and ensure the safety and prosperity of millions dependent on them.
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