The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has updated the NDMP in 2019 and introduced the IDRN portal to improve disaster preparedness.
Key Developments
- Original NDMP framed in 2016 and revised in 2019 after consulting all stakeholders.
- The revised plan aligns with the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the NPDM 2009.
- It incorporates global commitments such as the Sendai Framework, SDGs and the Paris Agreement.
- It reflects the Prime Minister’s Ten‑Point Agenda for DRR, emphasizing social inclusion and mainstreaming disaster risk reduction.
- The IDRN portal (https://idrn.nidm.gov.in) now lists equipment, human resources and critical supplies from districts, states and central agencies.
Important Facts
The IDRN database enables decision‑makers to quickly verify the availability and location of resources needed during emergencies. It also helps assess preparedness levels for specific hazards, allowing states and Union Territories to request assets promptly.
The revision was communicated by Shri Nityanand Rai, Minister of State (MHA), in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the NDMP is essential for GS 2 (Polity) as it illustrates inter‑governmental coordination in disaster management. The link to international frameworks like the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement connects disaster risk reduction with environmental governance (GS 3). The IDRN exemplifies use of technology for governance, a recurring theme in GS 2 and GS 3 answer writing.
Way Forward
Future steps should focus on:
- Regular updating of the IDRN inventory to reflect new assets and retire obsolete ones.
- Capacity building at district level for effective use of the portal.
- Integrating climate‑risk data to align with the Paris Agreement targets.
- Strengthening community participation to ensure the social‑inclusion principle of the NDMP is operationalised on the ground.