- Why in news
- On 22 July 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply about the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) and the India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN).
- What it is
- The NDMP is India's national plan for disaster risk reduction under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It sets out the roles of Central, State and district bodies across sectors. The IDRN is a web-based inventory of equipment, skilled people and critical supplies for emergency response.
- Legal base
- The NDMP rests on the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the National Policy on Disaster Management 2009.
- Global alignment
- The plan aligns with the Sendai Framework, the SDGs and the Paris Agreement (COP21).
- National priorities
- The plan draws on the Prime Minister's Ten Point Agenda for DRR and treats social inclusion as a cross-cutting principle.
- IDRN
- IDRN is a nation-wide web-based electronic inventory of equipment, skilled human resources and critical supplies.
Don’t confuse with NDMP vs NPDM: The NDMP is the 2016 plan, revised in 2019. The National Policy on Disaster Management is the 2009 policy the plan follows.
Don’t confuse with NDMA vs NDRF: The NDMA is the apex policy and planning body. The NDRF is the specialised response force.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- It fixes roles for Central, State and district bodies, reducing overlap in disaster work.
- It links national action to the Sendai Framework and climate commitments.
Problems
- Local bodies often lack the capacity and funds to carry out the plan.
- Resource databases such as IDRN need regular updating to stay reliable.
Way forward
- Strengthen district and local capacity and keep the IDRN data current.
- Fund mitigation and mainstream risk reduction in development planning.
Put in your answer
Disaster Management Act, 2005: The Act is the legal base for the NDMP and sets up national, state and district authorities.
Sendai Framework: The NDMP is aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, a global commitment of India.
- 2018Mains GS3 · Q18India's DRR measures pre and post Sendai; Sendai versus Hyogo.
- 2020Mains GS3 · Q18Recent Indian disaster management measures shifting from reactive to proactive approach.
- 2013Mains GS3 · Q18Vulnerability and risk assessment importance; administrator's key disaster management focus areas.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Standing plan framed in 2016 and revised in 2019; background topic with some testable facts, but not fresh news.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.