National Disaster Management Force

Subject: Disaster Management

Context: The Parliamentary standing committee on water resources has started reviewing disaster management of flood post-Uttarakhand flood.

Concept:

The Disaster Management Act has statutory provisions for constitution of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters.
The practice of “proactive availability” of this Force to the States and that of “pre-positioning”, in a threatening disaster situation have immensely helped minimise damage, caused due to natural calamities in the country.
Besides the professionalism shown during rescue operations in floods and cyclones and collapsed structure search and rescue (CSSR) operations, NDRF has also acquired considerable expertise in facing CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological& Nuclear) challenges.
It is unique force across the country functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, within the overall command, control and leadership of the Director General, NDRF.
At present, National Disaster Response Force consist of 12 battalions, three each from the BSF and CRPF and two each from CISF, ITBP and SSB.