India’s Direction for Disaster Resilience

General Studies Paper-1

Context

• India is moving beyond reactive relief efforts to a proactive, multi-layered strategy that integrates prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and recovery, reflecting a growing recognition of the complex risks posed by climate change, urbanization, and natural hazards.

India’s Disaster Preparedness

• India’s approach to disaster preparedness has evolved into a robust, multi-tiered framework led by the Union Home Ministry (MHA), with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at its core.
• India’s strategy emphasizes prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response—ensuring that resilience is not just reactive but deeply embedded in national development, anchored in the Disaster Management Act of 2005.

NDMA and the Disaster Management Act, 2005

• The NDMA, established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, operates through five key divisions: Policy & Plans, Mitigation, Operations & Communications, Information & Technology, and Finance & Administration.
• Its vision is to build a safer and disaster-resilient India through:
• A technology-driven, multi-hazard, and multi-sectoral strategy;
• Empowerment of stakeholders at all levels—central, state, district, and community;
• Integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) into development planning;

Shift in Policy: From Relief to Resilience

• Financial Architecture for Resilience: The 15th Finance Commission’s allocation of ₹2.28 lakh crore ($30 billion) over five years marks a pivotal moment in aligning public finance with DRR.
• Rather than focusing solely on post-disaster relief, the Finance Commission divided funding across:
  • Preparedness and Capacity Building (10%);
  • Mitigation (20%);
  • Response (40%);
  • Reconstruction (30%);
• It ensures that resilience is embedded into every stage of disaster management—from early warning systems to rebuilding efforts.
• Building the Budget-to-Project Pipeline: The Commission identified five priority areas to ensure efficiency and accountability in DRR financing:
• Prioritising multi-hazard challenges across India’s diverse regions.
• Integrating scientific mitigation concepts into fiscal planning.
• Avoiding duplication with existing central or state schemes.
• Strengthening inter-ministerial and Centre-State coordination.
• Establishing light-touch regulatory mechanisms for timely project implementation.
• By 2025, inter-ministerial and Centre-State appraisal committees were operational for all region- or hazard-specific projects, ensuring a transparent and science-driven approach.

Progress in Reconstruction and Mitigation

• Reconstruction Initiatives: Over the past two years, the MHA approved ₹5,000 crore in reconstruction packages for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, and Kerala.
• These projects focus on rebuilding climate-resilient infrastructure and assessing damages caused by extreme precipitation events.
• Nature-Based Mitigation Programmes: Under the 20% mitigation fund, projects worth ₹10,000 crore ($1.2 billion) have been approved to promote nature-based and sustainable solutions.
• These efforts built upon the National Cyclone Mitigation Programme (2011–22), which successfully reduced coastal vulnerability through cyclone shelters, embankments, and early warning systems.
• Initiatives include:
  • Revitalising water bodies and green spaces to mitigate urban flooding.
  • Monitoring glacial lakes using remote sensing and automated weather stations.
  • Applying bioengineering techniques for slope stabilization in landslide-prone areas.
  • Rejuvenating beels (wetlands) along the Brahmaputra River.
  • Preventing forest fires through fuel evacuation and water body restoration.

Strengthening Preparedness and Capacity Building

• Institutional and Community Training: Preparedness and capacity-building funds (₹5,000 crore) have focused on:
• Modernising fire safety infrastructure.
• Training 2.5 lakh volunteers under the Apda Mitra and Yuva Apda Mitra programmes.
• Expanding research and training through the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).
  • NIDM now offers a standardized curriculum across 36 streams of disaster management, with the goal of mainstreaming DRR education down to the panchayat level.
• Expanding the Knowledge Network: The 327-member university network, along with the NDRF Academy and National Fire Service College, plays a crucial role in training public servants, conducting mock exercises, and promoting hazard-specific awareness and school safety programmes.

Coastal Resilience and Vulnerable Communities

• At the ICDRI 2025 summit, India spotlighted the vulnerability of coastal regions and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• With nearly 90% of global trade moving by sea and coastal GDP projected to double by 2030, the stakes are high.
• India is supporting SIDS with resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and water security measures, while advocating for a global digital repository of best practices.

Enhancing Early Warning and Communication Systems

• Technological innovation has dramatically improved India’s early warning capabilities, reducing casualties and improving community preparedness.
• The multi-media Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) delivers timely alerts in regional languages, ensuring last-mile communication even in remote areas.

International Cooperation and Global Leadership

• India’s commitment to the UN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is evident in its international advocacy.
• Leadership in G-20, SCO, BIMSTEC, and IORA initiatives.
• During the G-20 presidency, India spearheaded the creation of the first Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, focusing on:
  • Early warning systems;
  • Disaster-resilient infrastructure;
  • Financing for DRR;
  • Resilient recovery;
  • Nature-based solutions;
• These platforms help India exchange best practices and develop global frameworks for climate resilience and sustainable risk management.

Conclusion

• India’s approach to disaster risk reduction represents a paradigm shift — from reactive disaster response to proactive resilience-building. Through robust financial planning, scientific integration, and international cooperation, India is constructing a future-ready DRR ecosystem.
• By emphasizing community participation, nature-based solutions, and technological innovation, the nation is progressively de-risking its complex hazard landscape and positioning itself as a global leader in climate resilience.