NDMA pushes Ministries to embed disaster resilience into planning under vision 2047

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has begun an effort to require Central government ministries to develop comprehensive disaster management plans and hazard-specific response frameworks as part of a broader push to build a “Resilient India 2047” aligned with the government’s Viksit Bharat vision.

At an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday (June 9, 2026), the NDMA discussed the preparation of hazard-specific plans under Section 35 of the Disaster Management Act and Ministry Disaster Management Plans under Section 37. The exercise aims to strengthen institutional preparedness and ensure disaster risk reduction is integrated into government policies, programmes and projects.

Member, NDMA, Dinesh Kumar Aswal, said disaster management could no longer be treated primarily as a relief and response activity. Instead, resilience must become a core element of national development. “Resilience is not an option; it is the foundation of a developed and prosperous India,” he told officials.

The planning framework seeks to address a longstanding challenge in disaster governance: coordinating action across multiple ministries while ensuring individual sectors are prepared for a range of risks. Under the proposed approach, hazard-specific plans will bring together several ministries to tackle a single threat such as floods, while Ministry-level disaster management plans will require each ministry to assess and prepare for multiple hazards relevant to its functions.

Complementary instruments

The NDMA’s presentation described these as complementary instruments providing “horizontal” and “vertical” integration across government. The objective is to create national and sectoral capabilities that can withstand increasingly complex and cascading disasters.

Officials also discussed risk assessment methodologies, allocation of responsibilities, preparedness mechanisms and coordination between the Centre, States, districts and local bodies. According to the NDMA, stronger institutional arrangements and a whole-of-government approach will be essential for building resilient infrastructure, protecting development gains and achieving the goal of a disaster-resilient India by 2047.