Question 12 from UPSC CSE 2025 - Environme nt & Ecology

Question

The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wetâbulb temperatures routinely exceed 35Â°C. Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the aboveâsaid report? I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones, and droughts. II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

A

I only

B

II only

C

Both I and II

D

Neither I nor II

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Both I and II

Strategy: Focus on the direct link between wet-bulb temperature and survivability: difficulty in shedding heat through perspiration seriously affects animals and humans. Statement II is therefore obviously correct. For Statement I, consider the climate consequences highlighted in reports: more intense wet-bulb temperatures can intensify hydro-meteorological extremes, including flooding, cyclones, and droughts in Peninsular India. Both statements align with scenario projections for India under extreme heat stress, meaning both should be selected.

Key Info: Wet-bulb temperature is a combined measure of heat and humidity; once it crosses 35°C, even healthy humans cannot survive more than a few hours outdoors due to ineffective sweating and inability to cool the body. The World Bank (2022) and the IPCC have warned that South Asia, especially India, faces rising wet-bulb temperatures because of climate change. At this threshold, exposure is fatal even with access to shade and water.

Direct impacts include a severe threat to human and animal survival, as high humidity prevents sweat evaporation, undermining the primary natural cooling mechanism. Extended exposure increases the risk of heatstroke, organ failure, and mass deaths among vulnerable populations.

Additionally, climate models project more frequent and severe hydro-meteorological events for Peninsular India: increased rainfall leading to flooding, higher frequency of tropical cyclones (especially in the Bay of Bengal), and erratic weather patterns contributing to both flood and drought conditions. These risks threaten agriculture, water resources, infrastructure, and population health. International agencies (World Bank, IPCC, WMO) have highlighted the combination of lethal heat and amplified disaster risks for India in this century.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: I only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: II only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Neither I nor II