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GeographyEasyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2021, GK

National Disaster Management Authority is headed by

  1. A.the Prime Minister.
  2. B.the Home Minister.
  3. C.the President.
  4. D.the Health Minister.

Correct answer

A. the Prime Minister.

Explanation

The correct answer is A, the Prime Minister. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Prime Minister is the ex officio chairperson of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The NDMA is the apex body for disaster management in India. It lays down policies, plans and guidelines, approves the national plan and coordinates their enforcement. The Act allows up to nine other members, and one of them may be named vice-chairperson. In the same three-tier structure, a State Disaster Management Authority is headed by the Chief Minister, and a District Disaster Management Authority by the District Collector or Magistrate. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was also created under this Act.

B is wrong because the Home Ministry is the nodal ministry for disaster management, but the Home Minister does not chair the NDMA. C is wrong because the President has no role in heading this statutory body. D is wrong because the Health Minister has no special place in the NDMA.

Exam tip: NDMA is chaired by the Prime Minister, SDMA by the Chief Minister, DDMA by the Collector, all under the Act of 2005.

Practice Questions

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Q3.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2026, GKMedium

Consider the following statements with reference to earthquakes:

1. Collapse earthquakes are most common.

2. Tsunamis are waves generated by the tremors and not an earthquake in itself.

3. High magnitude earthquakes i.e. 8+ are quite rare whereas 'tiny' types occur almost every minute.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 2 and 3 only

Statement 1 is false because tectonic earthquakes, not collapse earthquakes, are the most common type. Earthquakes are grouped by cause: tectonic (sliding of rocks along a fault), volcanic, collapse (the roofs of underground mines or caverns falling in), explosion (from nuclear or chemical blasts) and reservoir-induced.

Q4.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2016, GKMedium

With reference to earthquakes, which of the following statements are correct?

1. Earthquakes largely occur along the converging plate boundaries.

2. Point of origin of earthquake in lithosphere is known as focus/hypocentre.

3. Intensity of earthquake decreases with distance from the epicentre.

4. Epicentre of earthquake always remains over continents only.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.1, 2 and 3
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1 and 4
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 1, 2 and 3

The first three statements are true, while statement 4 is false because many earthquakes have their epicentre under the sea.

Q5.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2026, GKMedium

Which of the following statements related to the stages of evolution of the present atmosphere are correct?

1. The first stage is marked by the loss of primordial atmosphere.

2. In the second stage, the hot interior of the earth contributed to the evolution of the atmosphere.

3. Finally, the composition of the atmosphere was modified by the living world through the process of photosynthesis.

Select the answer using the code given below:

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

All three statements describe, in the right order, the three stages through which the present atmosphere of the Earth evolved.