Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard?
Coastal erosion is the gradual wearing away of land along the coast, mainly caused by waves, currents, and strong winds. With India’s long 7,516 km coastline, it poses a serious threat to land, communities, and ecosystems.
What causes it?
Natural factors include powerful waves during monsoons and cyclones, rising sea levels due to global warming, and land subsidence caused by tectonic activity.
Human activities make things worse. Ports, harbours, and jetties disrupt the natural flow of sand along the shore. Removing natural barriers like mangroves and coral reefs eliminates buffers that protect against waves. Excessive sand mining and dams that trap river sediments further starve beaches of sand, making them more vulnerable.
What are the impacts?
Coastal erosion can destroy homes, roads, and farmland, forcing communities—especially fishing families—to relocate. It also leads to saltwater contaminating groundwater and soil, damaging crops and drinking water sources.
How can it be managed?
There are two main approaches:
Hard structures like seawalls, revetments, and groynes physically block or redirect wave energy.
Soft, eco-friendly solutions work with nature. These include beach nourishment (adding sand to eroded beaches), restoring mangroves and coral reefs, and planting vegetation on dunes to hold the sand together.
The best way forward is often a mix of these methods, with a stronger focus on nature-based solutions. They not only reduce erosion but also preserve ecosystems, making coastal communities safer and more resilient in the long run.
Answered By:
Harsh Raj
Harsh Raj is a successful government exam expert, having cleared multiple stages of SSC CGL, IBPS PO, CDS, RRB NTPC, and Delhi Police SI exams himself and mentored more than 5000 students through direct mentorship. His expertise is in creating well researched content, especially MCQs, which have been directly asked by relevant commissions in multiple exams.
Similar Questions
Examine the pattern and trend of public expenditure on social services in the post-reforms period in India. To what extent this has been in consonance with achieving the objective of inclusive growth?
What are the causes of persistent high food inflation in India? Comment on the effectiveness of the monetary policy of the RBI to control this type of inflation.
Explain the role of millets for ensuring health and nutritional security in India.
What is the present world scenario of intellectual property rights with respect to life materials? Although, India is second in the world to file patents, still only a few have been commercialized. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization.
What were the factors responsible for the successful implementation of land reforms in some parts of the country? Elaborate.
What is the technology being employed for electronic toll collection on highways? What are its advantages and limitations? What are the proposed changes that will make this process seamless? Would this transition carry any potential hazards?
Industrial pollution of river water is a significant environmental issue in India. Discuss the various mitigation measures to deal with this problem and also the government's initiatives in this regard.
Explain how narco-terrorism has emerged as a serious threat across the country. Suggest suitable measures to counter narco-terrorism.
What role do environmental NGOs and activists play in influencing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) outcomes for major projects in India? Cite four examples with all important details.
What is the need for expanding the regional air connectivity in India? In this context, discuss the government's UDAN Scheme and its achievements.
Important Questions from GS3
Examine the pattern and trend of public expenditure on social services in the post-reforms period in India. To what extent this has been in consonance with achieving the objective of inclusive growth?
What are the causes of persistent high food inflation in India? Comment on the effectiveness of the monetary policy of the RBI to control this type of inflation.
Explain the role of millets for ensuring health and nutritional security in India.
What is the present world scenario of intellectual property rights with respect to life materials? Although, India is second in the world to file patents, still only a few have been commercialized. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization.
What were the factors responsible for the successful implementation of land reforms in some parts of the country? Elaborate.
