Context

• India, one of the most hazard-prone countries in the world, faces a growing spectrum of climate-related threats, from heatwaves and extreme rainfall to cyclones, floods, and landslides.
• Over the past decade, India has significantly expanded its disaster risk reduction (DRR) framework, guided by the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction (2016) and operationalised through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
• This evolution reflects a strategic shift from a reactive, post-disaster focus toward a holistic system encompassing prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and resilience building.

A Paradigm Shift in Financing Disaster Risk Reduction

• A landmark development in India’s DRR framework came with the 15th Finance Commission’s 2021–26 recommendations, which integrated financial planning with technological and institutional innovations.
• The Commission allocated ₹2.28 lakh crore ($30 billion) over five years, marking a decisive shift from post-disaster relief toward a balanced approach covering the entire disaster management cycle.
• The allocation model was carefully structured: 30% for preparedness and mitigation, divided into 10% for capacity building and 20% for mitigation measures, and 70% for post-disaster response and reconstruction.
• This represented a significant institutional recognition that long-term resilience requires investment not just in recovery, but in risk prevention and systemic strengthening.

Building a Process Chain for Nature-Based DRR

• To implement this framework effectively, the government established a budget-to-project process chain with five priority areas:
  • Evaluating and prioritising India’s multi-hazard challenges;
  • Integrating scientific mitigation and reconstruction concepts into public finance;
  • Avoiding duplication with existing programmes;
  • Strengthening inter-ministerial and Centre-State coordination; and
  • Developing light-touch regulatory mechanisms for efficiency.
• By the final year of the Commission’s award period, clear procedures, standards, and appraisal systems were in place.

Strengthening Preparedness and Capacity Building

• At the heart of the pre-disaster phase lies India’s investment in preparedness and capacity development.
• A major portion of this funding, ₹5,000 crore, has been devoted to modernising fire safety systems.
• Meanwhile, two massive volunteer groups, Apda Mitra and Yuva Apda Mitra, comprising 2.5 lakh trained individuals, have been established to enhance community-level response capacity.
• The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has also expanded its role, introducing geo-spatial training labs, faculty-led research, and a standardised 36-stream course on disaster management.
• These initiatives aim to mainstream disaster education down to the panchayat level, ensuring that preparedness becomes an integral part of local governance.

Mitigation through Nature-Based and Technological Innovations

• India’s mitigation strategy now increasingly relies on nature-based solutions (NbS) and scientific interventions to address the long-term effects of climate change.
• Projects worth ₹10,000 crore ($1.2 billion) are being implemented across states, following the successful National Cyclone Mitigation Programme (2011–2022), which reduced coastal vulnerability through cyclone shelters, embankments, and early warning systems.
• The NDMA’s ongoing mitigation agenda emphasises:
  • Revitalising water bodies and green spaces to reduce urban flooding;
  • Using remote sensing and automated weather stations for glacial lake monitoring;
  • Applying bio-engineering solutions for slope stabilisation in landslide-prone regions;
  • Rejuvenating “beels” (natural water bodies) along the Brahmaputra; and
  • Creating fire breaks and reviving water systems to prevent forest fires.
• These measures collectively signal a move toward ecosystem-based disaster risk management, which strengthens both environmental sustainability and community resilience.

Enhancing Early Warning and Community Awareness

• India’s advancements in early warning systems have significantly reduced disaster-related casualties.
• The Common Alerting Protocol, which issues regionally tailored multimedia alerts, exemplifies the country’s progress in inclusive communication.
• Furthermore, educational initiatives, mock drills, school safety programmes, and public servant training through institutions like the NDRF Academy, National Fire Service College, and NIDM, ensure that awareness and preparedness penetrate all levels of society.

International Leadership and Cooperation

• India’s DRR strategy also extends to the global stage.
• As the founder of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and an active leader in platforms such as the G20, SCO, BIMSTEC, and IORA, India not only learns from international best practices but also contributes its own innovations.
• These collaborations demonstrate India’s ambition to be a knowledge hub for climate resilience, leveraging both public and private expertise to de-risk its complex hazard landscape.

Conclusion

• India’s evolving approach to disaster management represents a transition from reactive relief to proactive resilience.
• By aligning fiscal policy with science, community engagement, and ecosystem restoration, the nation is building a sustainable, locally grounded, and globally connected DRR framework.
• As climate change intensifies, India’s comprehensive model, combining policy, technology, and nature-based innovation, offers not only protection for its citizens but also a template for other developing nations facing similar challenges.