National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Raising Day is annually observed across India on January 19 to commemorate the establishment of the NDRF, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- 19th January 2023 marks the observance of the 18th NDRF Raising Day.
- The 1st ever NDRF Raising Day was observed on 19th January 2006.
NDRF Role:
- The NDRF is a specialist force that is prepared to respond to various disasters, including man-made disasters (chemical spills and terrorist attacks) and natural disasters (floods, cyclones, and earthquakes).
Establishment of NDRF:
i. India witnessed natural disasters from 1990 to 2004, when the Indian Armed Forces were sent on rescue and recovery missions. During those disasters, there was a need for a dedicated rescue operation-focused response force.
ii. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was formed under the Disaster Management Act of 2005 to provide a specialised rescue force in the event of any kind of disaster.
iii. NDRF was formed to formulate plans, policies, and guidelines for disaster management
iv. In 2006, the NDRF was constituted with 8 battalions.
Organisation:
i. Currently, the NDRF consists of 15 battalions from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Assam Rifles.
- The total strength of each battalion is 1,149.
ii. There are 18 self-contained specialist search and rescue teams of 45 personnel in each battalion, including engineers, technicians, electricians, dog squads, and medical and paramedic personnel.
Achievements:
i. The NDRF has saved more than 1.48 lakh valuable human lives and evacuated more than 7 lakh trapped people from domestic and overseas crises in a very short period.
ii. Its quick and efficient response to the Japan Triple Disaster 2011 and Nepal Earthquake 2015 received praise from all across the world.
Events 2023:
i. The NDRF celebrates the 18th Raising day of the National Disaster Response Force on 19th January 2023 at the Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. The academic session on “Disaster Response in Mountains” is organised by NDRF at the event.
iii. The NDRF’s Director General (DG), Atul Karwal, announced that 3 of the force’s teams will start training on February 6 and that the force “will play an active role” in this disaster combat discipline.
About the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):
Director General- Atul Karwal
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Motto- Sustained Disaster Response Service
