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- Recently, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in partnership with the Southern Command of the Indian Army, hosted a two-day national symposium titled ‘Exercise AIKYA’ on disaster management in Chennai.
- The term "Aikya," meaning "Oneness" in Tamil, signifies the exercise's goal of unifying India's disaster management community. It gathered key stakeholders from across Peninsular India to improve disaster preparedness and response capabilities. Participants included representatives from six southern states and union territories: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry.
- Key Organizations Involved:
- The event saw contributions from various important organizations, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Central Water Commission (CWC), Forest Survey of India (FSI), Geographical Survey of India (GSI), and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
- The symposium simulated emergency scenarios to test roles and responsibilities, facilitated discussions on technologies and trends in disaster relief, and reviewed lessons learned from recent operations. It focused on various issues, including tsunamis, landslides, floods, cyclones, industrial accidents, and forest fires, particularly reflecting on recent events in Tamil Nadu, Wayanad, and Andhra Pradesh.
- NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund):
- Established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, by the Government of India.
- A dedicated fund aimed at providing immediate relief and rehabilitation assistance in the event of natural or man-made disasters.
- Managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.
- Funded through budgetary allocations made by the central government.
- Used to supplement the efforts of state governments in responding to disasters that exceed their coping capacity.
- Utilized for various purposes including search and rescue operations, provision of temporary shelter, medical assistance, and restoration of infrastructure.
- NDRF guidelines specify the criteria for the release of funds and the procedures for their utilization.
- The central government may also make additional contributions to the NDRF from time to time as required.
- National Relief Funds:
- Refers to funds established at the national level to provide relief assistance during emergencies.
- Includes funds like the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) at the state level.
- PMNRF is managed by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and is used to provide financial assistance to individuals affected by natural calamities, major accidents, and other emergencies.
- CMRFs are managed by the respective state governments and serve a similar purpose at the state level.
- These funds rely on voluntary contributions from individuals, organizations, and corporate entities.
- Contributions made to these funds are eligible for tax benefits under relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act.
- The funds are utilized to provide immediate relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction assistance to affected individuals and communities.
- They play a crucial role in supplementing government efforts in responding to disasters and emergencies.
- The Disaster Management Act, 2005 is a legislation enacted in India to address the challenges posed by natural and man-made disasters.
- It aims to establish institutional mechanisms for disaster management at the national, state, and district levels.
- The Act created the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at the national level, headed by the Prime Minister, to formulate policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster management.
- State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) were also established under this Act to coordinate and implement disaster management activities at the state level.
- District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) were formed at the district level to carry out disaster response and relief operations.
- The Act provides for the formulation of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to undertake specialized response tasks during disasters.
- It outlines the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations, in disaster management.
- The Act emphasizes a proactive approach to disaster management, focusing on prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
- It empowers authorities to take necessary measures for disaster risk reduction, capacity building, and public awareness campaigns.
- The Disaster Management Act, 2005 plays a crucial role in enhancing the country's resilience to disasters and ensuring effective coordination and response mechanisms.
- In response to the recent helicopter crash involving Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in East Azerbaijan province, the European Union has mobilized its Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) rapid response mapping service at the request of Iran, as part of a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies.
- The Copernicus EMS programme, named after the eminent 15th-century scientist Nicolaus Copernicus, stands as a cornerstone of the European Union's space initiative, tracing its origins back to its launch in 1998 under the title Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Programme (GMES). Leveraging a combination of satellite data, ground-based sensors, airborne platforms, and marine measurement systems, Copernicus furnishes vital environmental intelligence to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, encompassing researchers, policymakers, public authorities, international organizations, and commercial entities. Its scope encompasses diverse domains, including climate change, disaster management, and agricultural monitoring.
- Overview of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030:
- The Sendai Framework represents a pivotal agreement in the post-2015 development landscape, offering member states actionable measures to safeguard developmental progress against disaster risks. It was formally adopted by UN member states at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015. This framework succeeds the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015.
- The key objectives of the Sendai Framework include:
- Aiming for a significant reduction in disaster risk and losses related to lives, livelihoods, health, and the economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of individuals, businesses, communities, and nations.
- Emphasizing that while the primary responsibility for reducing disaster risk lies with the state, this duty should also involve local governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
- Four Core Priorities:
- Understanding disaster risk
- Strengthening disaster risk governance
- Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience
- Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and promoting "Building Back Better" in recovery and reconstruction
- Key Targets:
- Achieve a substantial decrease in global disaster mortality.
- Significantly lower the number of individuals affected by disasters worldwide.
- Minimize direct economic losses from disasters relative to global GDP.
- Reduce damage to critical infrastructure and interruptions of essential services.
- Increase the number of countries with effective national and local disaster risk reduction strategies.
- Strengthen international cooperation for developing countries in disaster risk reduction.
- Improve access to multi-hazard early warning systems and comprehensive disaster risk information for communities.
- The Sendai Framework expands its scope to include technological hazards alongside natural disasters, marking an important shift from the Hyogo Framework for Action. This includes addressing chemical, industrial, radiological, nuclear, biological, and other hazards.
- It aligns with other key 2030 Agenda initiatives, such as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, and the New Urban Agenda, all of which contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is responsible for facilitating the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Sendai Framework.
- The Supreme Court has recently instructed a supervisory committee, led by the head of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), to address the concerns raised by Tamil Nadu regarding Kerala's handling of the maintenance of the 125-year-old Mullaperiyar dam.
- About the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA):
- The NDSA is a statutory body established by the Central Government under Section 8(1) of the National Dam Safety Act, 2021.
- Functions:
- The NDSA is responsible for regulating, overseeing, and inspecting dams across India.
- It plays a pivotal role in developing policies and guidelines for the construction, upkeep, and operation of dams throughout the country.
- A significant responsibility of the NDSA is to resolve disputes between State Dam Safety Organizations or between a State organization and a dam owner within the state.
- The NDSA also runs national awareness campaigns to educate the public on dam safety.
- In the event of natural disasters or emergencies, the authority ensures that emergency response plans are in place.
- The NDSA is headed by a chairman and supported by five members who lead its various wings: policy and research, technical, regulation, disaster resilience, and administration and finance.
- Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
- Why in News?
- At ICDRI 2025, India spotlighted five global priorities: embedding disaster resilience in education, launching a global digital disaster data platform, enabling innovative finance for developing countries, recognizing SIDS as Large Ocean Nations, and boosting early warning capabilities.
- Key Provisions:-
- A major highlight was the “Call to Action for Coastal Resilience in SIDS,” proposing ten strategic initiatives such as SIDS Global Data Hub 2.0, universal multi-hazard early warning by 2030, and establishing finance ministry-based resilience units.
- The conference—held for the first time in Europe, in Nice—emphasized unified investment strategies and policy coherence to ensure scalable climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Hosted under CDRI, a global coalition initiated by India, the forum is a key platform to drive climate adaptation and resilience in infrastructure.
- With an ambitious goal to catalyze US$10 trillion in resilient infrastructure investments by 2050, CDRI plays a vital role in supporting vulnerable coastal communities worldwide.
- Why in News?
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead a comprehensive investigation into the recent Air India aircraft crash at Ahmedabad airport. The incident has triggered a formal probe to determine its cause and ensure accountability.
- Key Provisions:-
- Established in 2012, the AAIB functions as an attached office under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Its formation aligns with India’s commitment to Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944), which outlines international standards for aircraft accident investigations.
- The bureau's primary role is to oversee investigations and support legal processes under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. It specifically investigates all accidents and serious incidents involving aircraft with an All-up Weight (AUW) over 2,250 kg or turbojet aircraft.
- By ensuring independent and objective inquiries, the AAIB plays a key role in improving aviation safety standards and preventing the recurrence of similar incidents.
- Why in News?
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead a comprehensive investigation into the recent Air India aircraft crash at Ahmedabad airport. The incident has triggered a formal probe to determine its cause and ensure accountability.
- Key Provisions:-
- Established in 2012, the AAIB functions as an attached office under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Its formation aligns with India’s commitment to Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944), which outlines international standards for aircraft accident investigations.
- The bureau's primary role is to oversee investigations and support legal processes under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. It specifically investigates all accidents and serious incidents involving aircraft with an All-up Weight (AUW) over 2,250 kg or turbojet aircraft.
- By ensuring independent and objective inquiries, the AAIB plays a key role in improving aviation safety standards and preventing the recurrence of similar incidents.
- Why in News?
- The Union Minister of Jal Shakti has inaugurated C-FLOOD, a new integrated flood forecasting platform designed to support disaster management efforts.
- Key Provisions:-
- This web-based system delivers village-level flood inundation forecasts two days in advance, using advanced 2-D hydrodynamic modelling. C-FLOOD brings together flood data from various national and regional agencies, offering unified predictions and real-time hazard mapping.
- Approximately 40 million hectares—12% of India's land area—are flood-prone. C-FLOOD addresses this challenge by offering timely flood maps and water level forecasts to aid authorities in preparedness and response.
- C-FLOOD was jointly developed by C-DAC Pune, the Central Water Commission, the Department of Water Resources, and the National Remote Sensing Centre. It is executed under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), a joint initiative by MeitY and DST launched in 2015.
- Currently covering the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi river basins, the system will soon expand nationwide and integrate with the National Disaster Management Emergency Response Portal (NDEM).