Himalayan Ecology

Why it matters

• Acts as the 'Third Pole' by storing vast freshwater reserves in glaciers that sustain major river systems in South Asia.
• Serves as a critical biodiversity hotspot hosting endemic flora and fauna sensitive to environmental shifts.
• Provides essential ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, and micro-climate regulation for the surrounding plains.
• Influences the intensity and distribution of the monsoon patterns across the Indian subcontinent.

How it is asked

Focus on the environmental vulnerability of the region, the impact of infrastructure development on fragile slopes, disaster management strategies for landslides and glacial lake outburst floods, and the intersection of climate change with transboundary water security.