Disaster risk components – UGC NET Question

Standard disaster risk frameworks express risk as a combination of hazard,exposure and vulnerability. Vulnerability captures the susceptibility of elements at risk to damage, given a hazard of certain intensity. The stem refers to this tripartite conceptualisation,so vulnerability correctly completes the expression.

Option A:
Vulnerability encompasses physical, social, economic and environmental factors that increase the likelihood of harm. Even with the same hazard and exposure, communities with lower vulnerability experience less disaster impact. This fits exactly with the role described in the question.

Option B:
Relief is the immediate assistance provided after a disaster and is part of response,not a component of risk. While important, it does not define the likelihood of loss before an event occurs.

Option C:
Reconstruction involves rebuilding infrastructure and livelihoods in the long term recovery phase. It takes place after a disaster has happened and is not part of the risk formula.

Option D:
Mitigation denotes measures taken to reduce disaster risk by lowering vulnerability or modifying hazards. It is an action applied to components of risk rather than one of those components itself.