National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): UPSC Current Affairs

Description

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Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS

Context

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) playing a critical role in the rescue operations following Flash floods and landslides in Uttrakhand.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

What is National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)?

It is a specialized force for responding to natural and man-made disasters in India.

Established in 2006 under Section 44 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, it operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Legal Framework For Disaster Management in India

Disaster Management Act, 2005

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), chaired by the Prime Minister, responsible for policies and guidelines.
National Executive Committee (NEC) assists the NDMA and prepares the national plan.
At the state and district levels, there are State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) for guidance and implementation.

Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025

Provided statutory status to certain pre-Act organizations like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High Level Committee.
Empowered National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare the disaster plan at national level and State level instead of the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee.
Creation of disaster data base at national and State level.
Constitution of “Urban Disaster Management Authority” for State Capital and large cities having Municipal Corporation.

Structure of NDRF

The NDRF includes personnel deputed from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

The Director General, an IPS/IAS, leads the NDRF.

All 16 battalions train and equip to respond to natural and man-made disasters, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.

NDRF battalions are located across 16 different regions of the country based on vulnerability profiles.

What type of Disaster threats India is facing?

Extreme Weather Events: Increasing climate-induced disasters like cyclones, floods, and heatwaves, driven by rising global temperatures and erratic monsoon patterns.

Earthquakes: India is situated on multiple seismic zones, making northern and northeastern states earthquake-prone. Poor enforcement of building codes and outdated infrastructure amplify disaster impacts.

Rising Sea Levels: India's 7,500 km coastline is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and saline water intrusion, worsened by sand mining, port expansion, and mangrove destruction.

Biological Disasters: Pandemics, zoonotic diseases, and antimicrobial resistance pose long-term disaster risks, COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in healthcare infrastructure and disease surveillance.

Droughts: Irregular monsoons, rising temperatures, and groundwater depletion make droughts more frequent and severe, risking food security due to heavy reliance on monsoon-dependent farming.

Glacial Melting: Accelerated glacier retreat in the Himalayas, due to rising global temperatures, increases the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and landslides. Infrastructure projects in these fragile regions exacerbate the situation.

Urban Flooding: Unplanned urbanization, clogged drainage systems, and disappearing wetlands transform seasonal rains into urban floods.

Industrial Disasters: Industrial expansion without strict safety compliance leads to risk of chemical disasters and gas leaks, compounded by poor regulatory oversight and outdated technology.

Functions of NDRF

Pre-Disaster Phase: Proactive Preparedness & Mitigation

Develop policies and guidelines for disaster management.
Provide training to State Response Forces (like State Disaster Response Forces, police, civil defense, and home guards).
Coordinates with various national and international agencies to enhance capabilities.

During-Disaster Phase: Rapid Response & Rescue

Provides timely and effective response to disasters and emergencies.
Locating and rescuing individuals. For example, During Cyclone Fani (2019), the NDRF assisted the state authorities in the mass evacuation of more than 14.7 lakh people to safer places.
Provide medical assistance and emergency medical care to injured or affected individuals.
Participated in international operations, such as during the Fukushima triple disaster in Japan in 2011, Nepal earthquake in 2015, Türkiye Earthquake (2023) and the Myanmar Earthquake of 2025.

Post-Disaster Phase: Relief & Initial Rehabilitation

Provides humanitarian assistance, including the distribution of relief supplies such as food packets, drinking water, and medicines.

Undertakes relief and rehabilitation measures in coordination with other agencies.

Challenges Faced by NDRF

Resource Scarcity: NDRF personnel lack adequate equipment, facilities, and technology required for effective disaster prevention and mitigation.

Institutional Inactivity: Many established disaster management institutions remain inactive for, operational only during crises.

A 2015 CAG report on Uttarakhand found the State Disaster Management Authority was virtually non-functional.

Overlapping Functions: Authorities at national, state, and district levels share overlapping functions, which complicates cooperation and coordination.

Local Familiarity: NDRF members are posted across the country, may not always familiar with local dialects, hinder their ability to provide effective assistance.

Allegations of Corruption: In March 2025, CAG report uncovered irregularities and corruption in the distribution of flood relief funds in Madhya Pradesh; Rs 23.8 cr were made to ineligible individuals.

Several past disasters highlight these challenges

Uttarakhand Flash Floods (2025): Despite the Meteorological Department forecasting the floods in advance, the NDMA failed to prepare actionable plans to deal with the disaster. This questions the proactive planning aspect.

Bihar Floods (2007): District Disaster Management Plans existed, they were "not put into use," exposing inefficiency in implementing plans during a disaster.

Chennai Floods (2015): Despite warnings, local authorities failed to adequately prepare for the scale of the flooding.

Kerala Floods (2018): Simultaneous opening of dam shutters during heavy rainfall worsened the floods. Officials failed to provide timely evacuation warnings, indicating lack of cooperation among different agencies

Highlighted the NDRF dependency on local volunteers, particularly fishermen, whose knowledge of the terrain and water was invaluable in rescuing people.

Cyclone Amphan (2020): CAG has raised red flags over irregularities in distribution of Rs 2,000 crore in house building grants by West Bengal between for the affected population.

Way Forward to strengthen Disaster Response

Institutional Reforms: Amend Disaster Management Act to clearly define terms like 'hazards,' 'prevention,' and 'mitigation'.

Provide NDMA financial and administrative powers, elevate it to a separate department or ministry to boost effectiveness.
Enhance coordination between agencies like the IMD, ISRO, NDMA, and NDRF through a unified National Emergency Coordination Hub (NECH).
For biological disasters, replace the outdated Epidemic Diseases Act (1897) with modern legislation covering public health emergencies, biological warfare (BW) attacks, cross-border issues, and international disease spread.

Capacity Building and Awareness: Develop a comprehensive training and capacity-building program for all stakeholders, from central government officials to local communities.

Community members are the first responders, so they need to be educated, skilled, and assigned specific roles in disaster management.
Ensure that vulnerable groups—women, the elderly, and disabled people—are included in preparedness plans.

Infrastructure and Technology: Integrate disaster resilience into all new constructions and retrofit existing infrastructure to resist future disasters.

Upgrade Doppler radar networks, satellite imaging, and AI-based predictive analytics for more localized and accurate forecasting.
Expand the use of AI, blockchain, and GIS-based decision support systems for real-time disaster risk assessment, and strengthen drone-based disaster mapping and emergency supply delivery.

Early Warning Systems: India can learn from Japan's early warning systems for earthquakes and tsunamis, which leverage extensive sensor networks, rapid data analysis, and multi-platform dissemination (TV, radio, mobile alerts).

Ensure Adequate Funding: Expand state-level disaster risk insurance schemes to cover crop loss, property damage, and livelihood disruptions.

Encourage Private sector and CSR funds for disaster risk reduction projects.

Adopt Holistic Approach: Implement large-scale afforestation and wetland conservation projects to enhance natural flood control and climate resilience.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) framework adopted by UN member states, including India, to guide global efforts in reducing disaster risks and losses.

Source: INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Critically Analyze the challenges faced by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and suggest measures to enhance its effectiveness in disaster management. (250 words)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Prime Minister of India serves as the Chairperson of the NDMA.

Constituted by the Central Government, the NEC assists the NDMA, prepares the National Plan, monitors policy implementation, and coordinates disaster management activities.

Multi-hazard disasters occur when one event triggers a series of others, leading to catastrophic consequences, such as heavy rainfall causing glacial lake outbursts, landslides, and flash floods.