UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Performance of early warning systems

Q1. Consider the following statements comparing the two principal warning agencies of the Ministry of Earth Sciences: 1. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) is hosted by INCOIS, whereas the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the nodal agency for cyclone warnings. 2. Unlike the IMD, INCOIS functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. 3. Like ITEWC, the IMD too has been designated a Regional Tsunami Service Provider by UNESCO-IOC for the Indian Ocean. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) is hosted by INCOIS, whereas the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the nodal agency for cyclone warnings.
  2. Unlike the IMD, INCOIS functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  3. Like ITEWC, the IMD too has been designated a Regional Tsunami Service Provider by UNESCO-IOC for the Indian Ocean.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. With reference to the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), consider the following identifications: 1. Parent Ministry — Ministry of Earth Sciences 2. Host institution — INCOIS, Hyderabad 3. Overall coordinating intergovernmental body — World Meteorological Organization 4. Regional warning framework — Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. Parent Ministry — Ministry of Earth Sciences
  2. Host institution — INCOIS, Hyderabad
  3. Overall coordinating intergovernmental body — World Meteorological Organization
  4. Regional warning framework — Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS)
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q3. How many years after the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami did the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre become operational at INCOIS?

  • A. About 2 years
  • B. About 3 years
  • C. About 5 years
  • D. About 7 years

Q4. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre, made operational in 2007 in the aftermath of the 2004 disaster, functions under which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q5. With reference to ITEWC's performance as reported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in 2026, consider the following statements: 1. Over the last five years, ITEWC monitored 145 tsunamigenic earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 and above, of which eight occurred in the Indian Ocean region. 2. The Ministry stated that ITEWC has consistently met all the prescribed UNESCO-IOC KPIs since its inception. 3. For every one of these monitored events, ITEWC confirmed a tsunami threat to the Indian coast and issued evacuation orders. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Over the last five years, ITEWC monitored 145 tsunamigenic earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 and above, of which eight occurred in the Indian Ocean region.
  2. The Ministry stated that ITEWC has consistently met all the prescribed UNESCO-IOC KPIs since its inception.
  3. For every one of these monitored events, ITEWC confirmed a tsunami threat to the Indian coast and issued evacuation orders.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. As a Tsunami Service Provider under the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS), to how many Indian Ocean countries does India's ITEWC provide tsunami warning services?

  • A. 15
  • B. 25
  • C. 30
  • D. 38

Q7. In which year was ITEWC accredited by UNESCO-IOC as a Regional Tsunami Service Provider for the Indian Ocean Rim, becoming one of the first three such providers along with Australia and Indonesia?

  • A. 2004
  • B. 2007
  • C. 2011
  • D. 2015

Q8. India's Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MHEW-DSS), in operation since 2023 and integrating cyclone, heatwave and rainfall alerts, has been developed indigenously by which one of the following agencies?

  • A. India Meteorological Department
  • B. INCOIS
  • C. National Disaster Management Authority
  • D. National Remote Sensing Centre

Q9. The UN 'Early Warnings for All' (EW4All) initiative, which targets protection of everyone by the end of 2027, is co-led by UNDRR together with which one of the following as the lead UN agency for the meteorological/hazard-forecasting pillar?

  • A. World Meteorological Organization
  • B. UN Environment Programme
  • C. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
  • D. UN Development Programme

Q10. According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' 2026 reply on the performance of early warning systems, which agency actually generates and issues tsunami advisories for India (whose KPI performance was reported)?

  • A. INCOIS
  • B. India Meteorological Department
  • C. National Disaster Management Authority
  • D. National Disaster Response Force

Q11. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and INCOIS both now function under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Approximately how many years separate the founding of the IMD from the establishment of INCOIS?

  • A. 104 years
  • B. 114 years
  • C. 124 years
  • D. 150 years