Disaster Management in India: From Relief to Resilience

Context

India is shifting from a relief-centric approach to a risk-reduction and preparedness model, aligning with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-30).

The 15th Finance Commission earmarked ₹2.28 lakh crore for disaster management, reflecting the seriousness of embedding resilience into development planning. Alongside this, community participation (Apda Mitras, Aapda Sakhis), nature-based solutions (NbS), and technology-enabled forecasting systems are creating a more robust disaster governance architecture.

The challenge: institutionalising risk-proofing across governance, finance, and urbanisation to secure a climate-vulnerable India.

Major Advancements in Disaster Management

1. Cyclone Mortality Reduction

• From thousands of deaths (1999 Odisha cyclone) to near-zero casualties today.
• Example: Cyclone Biparjoy (2023, Gujarat) → over 1 lakh people evacuated; zero human casualties.
• Enabled by Impact-Based Forecasting (IBF) and Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).

2. Professionalisation of NDRF and Global HADR Role

• NDRF has evolved into a multi-skilled, rapid deployment force.
• Operation Dost (2023, Türkiye-Syria) → showcased India’s strength in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

3. Resilient Infrastructure through CDRI

• India-led Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) with 40+ member nations.
• Integration of risk assessment in the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).
• Example: Risk assessment for 0.77 million telecom towers with DoT.

4. Technology-Enabled Early Warning Systems

• Seismic observatories increased from 80 (2014) to 168 (2025).
• Citizen-focused apps: FloodWatch, Mausam, Meghdoot, Damini, Kisan.
• Forecasting has moved from general weather alerts to impact-based, sector-specific advisories.

5. Financial Preparedness

• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) allocation: ₹1.24 lakh crore (2014-24) vs. ~₹38,000 crore in the prior decade.
• National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) created for long-term mitigation projects.

6. Urban Legislative Reforms

• Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 → Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMAs) in metros.
• Empowers municipal commissioners and mandates city-level disaster management plans.

Key Challenges Hindering Resilience

1. Cascading Climate Disasters

• Himalayas: one trigger (cloudburst) → landslides, floods, dam failures.
• South Lhonak GLOF (2023, Sikkim) highlighted fragile ecosystems.

2. Urban Flooding and Governance Failure

• Encroached floodplains and blocked stormwater drains.
• Bengaluru (2023): floods caused billions in restoration costs.

3. Over-Centralisation

• Slow disbursal of NDRF/SDRF funds.
• Weak autonomy and staffing at DDMA/local level.

4. Early Warning Gaps

• 72% of districts flood-prone; only 25% have flood forecasting stations.

5. Deep Socio-Economic Vulnerability

• Informal settlements and workers most affected.
• ILO (2024): India lost ~$100 billion in heat-induced productivity.

6. Weak Techno-Legal Enforcement

• 59% of landmass earthquake-prone.
• Retrofitting of schools, hospitals, old buildings remains poor.

7. Relief Bias

• 2023 disasters caused ~$12 billion losses.
• Focus still more on compensation than structural mitigation.

Comparing Disaster Risk Reduction Frameworks

Aspect	Hyogo Framework (2005-15)	Sendai Framework (2015-30)
Focus	Response and capacity-building	Risk understanding, governance, investment, building back better
India’s policy transition	Mirrors Hyogo principles	Mirrors Sendai principles

Way Forward: Strengthening India’s Disaster Readiness

1. Grassroots Empowerment

• Strengthen DDMAs with funds and technical staff.
• Legally mandate ward/village-level contingency plans.

2. National Resilience Audits

• Independent audits of highways, schools, hospitals, and power grids.
• Link infrastructure funding to audit compliance.

3. Climate-Risk Budgeting and NbS

• Floodplain zoning and mangrove restoration.
• Risk-tagging of state and city budgets.

4. Hyper-Local Multi-Hazard Early Warning (MHEWS)

• IoT sensors for river levels, slope stability.
• Geo-tagged CAP alerts on mobile phones.

5. Private-Community Surge Capacity

• Private firms to provide logistics and equipment under legal mandate.
• Train 1 million women SHG members as certified responders.

6. Health and Psycho-Social Preparedness

• Disaster Health Management System integrating NDMA + NHM.
• Tele-medicine, trauma care centres, and Psychological First Aid training.

7. Techno-Legal Enforcement

• Mandatory retrofitting of all pre-2005 critical buildings.
• National Disaster Safety Inspectorate with stop-work powers.

Integration with Development and SDGs

• SDG 11: Sustainable, resilient cities.
• SDG 13: Climate action.
• DRR is essential for ensuring sustainable urbanisation and economic growth.

Future Challenges

• Use of AI and big data for hazard prediction.
• HADR diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific (Quad, ASEAN).
• Insurance reforms for farmers and informal workers.
• Risk concentration in expanding mega-cities.

Conclusion

GLOBAL COMPARISONS

• BANGLADESH: Cyclone shelters + community mobilization → mortality down by 90%
• NETHERLANDS: $5 billion annually on Delta Works flood management
• JAPAN: Earthquake drills and tsunami shelters → preparedness culture

India’s progress in DRR—from cyclone risk management to global leadership in infrastructure resilience—is notable. Yet urban floods, heatwaves, Himalayan cascades, and weak local enforcement continue to undermine resilience.

The way forward is risk-informed planning, decentralised empowerment, climate-risk budgeting, hyper-local warning systems, and ethics-driven governance. Aligning fully with the Sendai Framework priorities will make India’s development truly climate-secure and disaster-resilient.

UPSC Civil Services Examination – Previous Year Questions (Mains)

1. Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (2020)
2. Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters. (2019)
3. Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-30)’. How is this framework different from ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005’? (2018)

Mains Practice Question

1. India’s disaster management architecture has reduced cyclone mortality and enhanced HADR capabilities, yet floods, heatwaves, and cascading mountain hazards continue to escalate losses. Critically evaluate India’s transition from relief to risk reduction with reference to financing, urban governance, early warning, and community-centric approaches. Suggest a roadmap aligned with the Sendai Framework.