National Institute of Disaster Management
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, established in October 2003 to foster capacity building in disaster risk mitigation and management through specialized training, research, documentation, and policy advocacy.[1] Originating from the National Centre for Disaster Management formed in 1995 and upgraded to institute status before receiving formal statutory notification in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, NIDM aims to cultivate a culture of prevention and resilience against disasters in India.[2][1] Headquartered in New Delhi with a southern campus in Vijayawada established in 2016, the institute operates under a governing structure chaired by the Union Home Minister and provides human resource development support to national, state, and local agencies via face-to-face, online, and blended training programs.[1] It functions as the secretariat for the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and collaborates with international entities such as the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank on research into areas like urban flooding, drought, and climate resilience.[3][1] NIDM has contributed to elevating disaster risk reduction within India's national policy framework by developing guidelines, modules, and trainer pools that emphasize proactive mitigation over reactive response.[2]History
Establishment in 2003
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) was formed on October 16, 2003, by upgrading the National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM), an entity previously hosted at the Indian Institute of Public Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation.[4][1] This upgrade coincided with the transfer of disaster management responsibilities from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, reflecting a centralized governmental push to enhance institutional capacity amid rising vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters.[4][5] The establishment positioned NIDM as a dedicated apex body for training, research, and policy formulation in disaster risk management, carving out its functions from the NCDM's foundational work initiated during the United Nations' International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990–1999).[1] Initially governed by a Management Committee chaired by the Union Home Secretary, NIDM's core activities from inception emphasized human resource development, documentation, and advisory support to state and national authorities.[1] This structural elevation addressed gaps in coordinated disaster response, particularly highlighted by events like the 1999 Odisha super cyclone and 2001 Gujarat earthquake, which underscored the need for specialized expertise beyond ad hoc measures.[5] The institute's physical inauguration occurred on August 11, 2004, by the then Union Home Minister, formalizing its operational launch with a focus on building a resilient framework through education and knowledge dissemination.[4] By this point, NIDM had begun developing curricula and programs tailored to policymakers, administrators, and frontline responders, laying the groundwork for its role as a national hub prior to the enactment of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.[1]Integration with National Disaster Management Framework
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) achieved formal integration into India's national disaster management framework through the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which was enacted by Parliament on December 23, 2005, and received presidential assent thereafter. Section 42 of the Act explicitly constituted NIDM as a statutory body, designating it the premier institution for post-disaster training, research, documentation, and policy development to support effective disaster management across the country.[1] This legal embedding shifted NIDM from its initial autonomous society status—established on October 16, 2003—into a coordinated component of the hierarchical structure led by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), ensuring alignment with apex-level policies.[4] Under this framework, NIDM functions as the dedicated capacity-building arm of the NDMA, tasked with disseminating knowledge and skills to government officials, disaster management professionals, and community stakeholders in line with NDMA's directives.[6] The National Policy on Disaster Management, approved by the Union Cabinet on October 22, 2009, reinforces this integration by stipulating that NIDM operates within the broad policies and guidelines issued by NDMA, focusing on proactive risk reduction, response enhancement, and recovery strategies. Notification of NIDM's statutory status occurred in 2006, enabling it to execute mandatory training programs and advisory roles that bridge national directives with state and district-level implementation.[1] This integration facilitates a unified approach to disaster risk management, with NIDM contributing to the development of national guidelines on specialized areas such as mental health support in disasters and comprehensive risk reduction, all calibrated to NDMA's overarching plans.[7] By embedding NIDM within the Act's institutional architecture—which includes NDMA at the apex, National Executive Committee for coordination, and state/district authorities for execution—the framework promotes evidence-based capacity enhancement, drawing on empirical data from past events like cyclones and floods to inform training curricula.[8] Such alignment has enabled NIDM to conduct over targeted programs annually, fostering interoperability across agencies while adhering to the Act's emphasis on prevention and mitigation over reactive measures.[9]Organizational Structure
Governance and Leadership
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, with its governance framework established through the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which assigns it nodal responsibilities for human resource development, capacity building, training, research, and policy advocacy in disaster management.[2] The institute's highest oversight body is the General Body, comprising 42 members presided over by the Union Home Minister as President and including secretaries from various nodal ministries and departments.[1] This body provides strategic direction and ensures alignment with national disaster management policies. The day-to-day governance is managed by the Governing Body, consisting of 14 members chaired by the Vice-Chairperson of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), with the Union Home Secretary serving as Vice-Chairman.[10] The Governing Body oversees policy formulation, resource allocation, and operational approvals, drawing on expertise from government, academic, and technical representatives to guide NIDM's activities in disaster risk reduction and resilience building.[1] Leadership at NIDM is headed by the Executive Director, Shri Madhup Vyas, IAS (2000 batch, AGMUT cadre), who assumed office on September 18, 2025.[11] Vyas, with prior experience in health, urban development, and electoral administration across union territories like Mizoram and Delhi, directs capacity-building initiatives, research, and partnerships for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.[11] Supporting roles include senior positions such as Professor (e.g., Prof. Surya Parkash) for academic oversight and Joint Directors (e.g., Col. P. S. Reddy for the South Campus in Vijayawada) for regional operations, ensuring a multi-disciplinary approach to training and policy implementation.[12]Administrative and Operational Setup
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, with its operations aligned to policies set by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).[12] [13] Day-to-day administration is overseen by the Executive Director, currently Shri Madhup Vyas, IAS, who was appointed on September 13, 2025, and leads efforts in capacity building and disaster risk reduction.[11] [14] Governance is provided through two primary bodies: the Institute Body, consisting of 42 members chaired by the Union Home Minister and including secretaries from nodal ministries/departments, representatives from state governments, scientists, and disaster risk reduction practitioners; and the Governing Body, comprising 14 members chaired by the Home Secretary (serving as acting Chairperson due to the vacancy in the NDMA Vice-Chairperson position).[10] These bodies ensure strategic oversight, policy alignment, and coordination with national disaster management frameworks established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.[10] [13] Operationally, NIDM is structured around six academic divisions—Governance & Inclusive DRR, Disaster Response & Recovery, Geo-Meteorological Risk Management, Resilient Infrastructure, CBRN & Cyber Risk Management, and Environmental Disaster Risk Management—supported by 21 specialized centres and 7 functional coordination cells for targeted research, training, and advisory functions.[10] The institute maintains dual campuses, with a Joint Director overseeing operations at the Delhi headquarters and another managing the South Campus, alongside academic staff including 2 associate professors and 2 assistant professors.[12] Administrative support includes dedicated sections for IT, finance, and human resources, facilitating programs in human resource development, documentation, and policy formulation as mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005.[12] [15] As of June 9, 2025, this setup emphasizes building disaster-resilient capabilities through structured capacity enhancement and inter-agency collaboration.[10]Mandate and Objectives
Core Statutory Functions
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) derives its core statutory functions from Section 42(9) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which mandates it as the nodal agency for human resource development and capacity building in disaster management across India.[4] These functions emphasize training, research, policy support, and awareness to enhance national resilience against disasters.[1] Primarily, NIDM is tasked with developing training modules, undertaking research, and maintaining documentation on disaster management practices, while organizing specialized training programs for stakeholders including government officials, first responders, and community leaders.[4] It formulates and implements comprehensive human resource development plans to build a skilled workforce capable of addressing multi-hazard risks, coordinating with national and state-level authorities to align capacity-building efforts.[1] Additionally, the institute assists in the formulation of policies at national and state levels, providing technical expertise for disaster risk reduction strategies and supporting the integration of disaster management into development planning.[4] It promotes awareness through educational materials, study courses, seminars, and conferences, fostering collaboration with international bodies and publishing journals, books, and guidelines to disseminate best practices.[1] NIDM may also undertake any other functions assigned by the Central Government to further disaster preparedness and response efficacy.[4]Strategic Priorities and Vision
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) articulates its vision as becoming "a premier Institute of Excellence for training and research on disaster risk mitigation and management in India and to be recognized as one of the leading Institutions at the International level," while striving "relentlessly towards making a disaster free India by developing and promoting a culture of prevention and preparedness at all levels."[16][1] This vision, formalized following the institute's establishment under the Disaster Management Act of 2005, emphasizes proactive risk reduction over reactive response, aligning with broader national goals for resilience against natural and human-induced hazards.[16] NIDM's mission supports this vision by positioning the institute as a think tank for disaster management policy formulation and by focusing on minimizing impacts through capacity building, research, system development, and awareness initiatives involving stakeholders at all levels.[16] Key strategic priorities include establishing NIDM as a national hub for knowledge sharing and learning to foster a critical mass of trained professionals and institutions; conducting high-quality research on disaster risks; and serving as a central resource for central, state, and local governments in policy and operational support.[16] Additional priorities encompass professionalizing disaster risk reduction practices, promoting formal training programs, and forging partnerships with government bodies, non-governmental organizations, and international entities to enhance global standards in emergency management.[16] To operationalize these priorities, NIDM has pursued structural enhancements, such as reorganizing faculty into specialized divisions covering natural risks, environmental mitigation, socio-cultural issues, and human-made disasters, alongside plans for extramural centers focused on coastal vulnerabilities, hill area hazards, and technological risks.[17] Long-term strategies involve expanding infrastructure, including dedicated training academies, IT capabilities, and research cells on emerging threats like climate change integration in disaster planning, with phased implementation targeted through 2018 and ongoing reviews by its governing body.[17] These efforts underscore a commitment to human resource development as mandated under Section 42(9) of the Disaster Management Act, prioritizing trainer-of-trainers programs and interdisciplinary approaches to build national resilience.[1]Training and Capacity Building Programs
Domestic Training Initiatives
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) implements domestic training initiatives primarily through e-learning platforms and in-person programs to enhance disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacities among Indian government officials, state-level administrators, civil society organizations, and public sector professionals. These initiatives emphasize practical skills in areas such as risk assessment, response planning, and recovery strategies, with training provided free of charge to state government officials, including boarding and lodging for in-house sessions.[18][19] NIDM's online training offerings, hosted on a MOODLE-based virtual platform, include one basic course on disaster management fundamentals and nine thematic courses covering topics like Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework, Community-Based Disaster Risk Management, Earthquake Risk Reduction, Climate Change and Disaster Risk, Damage and Reconstruction Needs Assessment, Gender Aspects of Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction, Risk Sensitive Land Use Planning, Risk Identification Assessment and Analysis, Safe Cities, and Financial Strategies for Managing Economic Impacts of Disasters. These self-study programs target DRR stakeholders seeking to build analytical and operational competencies, with access available to professionals across India to promote widespread awareness and preparedness.[20][21] In-person domestic programs feature comprehensive workshops, orientation sessions, and training-of-trainers courses tailored for multi-state participation. For instance, a December 2024 training-of-trainers program on urban resilience engaged 42 senior officials from 20 Indian states, focusing on integrating DRR into local governance. Similarly, a February 2025 collaboration with the National Fire Service College trained 40 senior fire service officials from 19 states and union territories on fire safety and city resilience. An April 2025 national-level program on Sendai Framework implementation involved 55 participants from 22 states and union territories, representing key departments and municipal bodies. Upcoming sessions, such as the October 24, 2025, orientation workshop on two-stage assessments under the National Disaster Response Fund for Inter-Ministerial Central Teams and Multi-Sectoral Teams, continue to target specialized response capabilities. These efforts, often conducted at NIDM's Delhi campus or off-site, prioritize participatory methodologies to equip participants for effective disaster management at district and state levels.[22][23][12]International and Collaborative Efforts
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) extends its training and capacity building initiatives internationally through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, under the Ministry of External Affairs, targeting officials from partner developing countries.[24] For instance, NIDM has conducted multiple editions of a two-week Comprehensive Training Course on Disaster Risk Management, including the first session from March 17 to 28, 2025, and the fourth in September 2025, focusing on practical skills in risk assessment, response planning, and resilience building for participants from ITEC nations.[25] These programs emphasize hands-on simulations and policy frameworks, aiming to foster South-South cooperation in disaster preparedness.[26] In partnership with the World Bank Institute and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), NIDM offers 10 specialized online courses on Disaster Risk Management, accessible to practitioners beyond India to disseminate tools for risk analysis and mitigation.[27] This collaboration supports virtual learning modules on themes such as vulnerability assessment and recovery strategies, enhancing global capacity without geographical constraints.[27] NIDM also contributes to international capacity building by developing training resources adapted from global standards, such as the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) tool, funded by the World Bank under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project and aligned with UN Development Group methodologies from 2008.[28] This includes professional development modules and user manuals for assessing direct and indirect losses, which have been customized for Indian contexts but draw on UN and World Bank expertise to inform training for multi-stakeholder teams.[28] Through these efforts, NIDM promotes bilateral and multilateral exchanges with agencies worldwide, though specific outcomes remain tied to project-based implementations rather than ongoing institutional frameworks.[2]Research, Policy, and Advisory Roles
Key Research Outputs
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) produces research outputs encompassing case studies of specific disasters, thematic policy analyses, and annual reporting on national disaster trends, aimed at informing risk reduction strategies and resilience building.[29] Central to these efforts is the India Disaster Report series, initiated to document major disasters, their socioeconomic impacts, governmental responses, and lessons for future preparedness; volumes have covered events from 2011 onward, with examples including the India Disaster Report 2012 (published 2013), India Disaster Report 2013 (2014), and the consolidated India Disaster Report 2014-17 (2021), which aggregates data on floods, cyclones, and other hazards across states.[29][30] NIDM's case studies provide detailed post-event analyses, often emphasizing causal factors, response efficacy, and recovery pathways; recent examples include Cyclone Biparjoy: Triumph of Zero Casualty in Gujarat (2024), which examines early warning systems and evacuation protocols that minimized fatalities during the June 2023 cyclone, and Kashmir Floods 2014: Recovery to Resilience (2023), assessing long-term rehabilitation in Jammu and Kashmir following the September 2014 deluge that affected over 5.8 million people and caused damages exceeding ₹5,400 crore.[29] Other notable studies cover Cyclone Yaas (2021 perspective, 2022), Kerala Floods 2018 (2021), Uttarakhand Disaster 2013 (2015, in three parts), and archival compilations such as Archival Records of Some Socio-economically Significant Floods in India (2000-2021) (2025), which catalogs over 20 major flood events with economic loss estimates and vulnerability patterns.[29] Thematic research addresses cross-cutting issues like climate adaptation and sectoral integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR); key outputs include Fires in India: Learning Lessons for Urban Safety (2020), analyzing urban fire incidents and proposing regulatory reforms based on data from multiple states, and Climate Risk Management (CRM) Framework for India (2019, with GIZ), outlining vulnerability assessments for agriculture, water, and health sectors amid rising climate variability.[29] Earlier works, such as Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Health (2014, with UNDP), integrate DRR into public health planning using epidemiological data from past epidemics and disasters.[29] NIDM disseminates findings through the bi-annual Disaster & Development Journal (UGC CARE-listed since 2022), which publishes peer-reviewed papers on empirical studies, including landslide hazard zonation in the Garhwal Himalaya and frameworks for public health emergencies.[31] These outputs collectively support evidence-based policy, with over 50 documented case studies and reports since 2009 emphasizing data-driven causal analysis of disaster triggers like extreme weather and infrastructure failures.[29]Policy Development and Support
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) functions as a think tank for the Government of India, offering specialized assistance in the formulation of disaster management policies aimed at mitigating disaster impacts through proactive strategies.[16] Established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, NIDM holds nodal responsibilities for policy advocacy, emphasizing the integration of risk reduction into national and sub-national planning frameworks.[2] This role extends to promoting a "culture of prevention" by influencing policy discourse to involve stakeholders, communities, and multi-disciplinary approaches in disaster resilience building.[2] NIDM supports policy development by providing technical expertise to central ministries, state governments, and training institutes in crafting state-level policies, strategies, and operational guidelines for disaster management.[32] At the national level, it contributes policy assistance as outlined in Section 42(9)(c) of relevant frameworks, focusing on evidence-based inputs derived from research and capacity-building outputs.[1] For instance, NIDM has actively supported public policy and planning for ministries and states, including alignment with broader initiatives like the Prime Minister's Ten Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction to foster a disaster-resilient India.[33][2] A concrete example of NIDM's policy support is its leadership in the "Development of National Highways Climate Adaptation Policy and Guidelines" (HighCAP) project, initiated to integrate climate resilience into infrastructure policy, addressing vulnerabilities in national highways through adaptive strategies and guidelines.[34] Additionally, NIDM facilitates policy advocacy by serving as a national resource center, disseminating best practices and knowledge management tools to inform guideline formulation under acts like the Disaster Management Act, 2005.[16] These efforts prioritize holistic, technology-driven approaches, though implementation relies on coordination with bodies like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for broader policy approval and execution.[35]Achievements and Impact
Capacity Enhancement Metrics
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) tracks capacity enhancement primarily through quantitative indicators such as the number of training programs delivered, participants trained, and supporting resources developed. As of the latest available data from its official training portal, NIDM has conducted 1,314 training programs, reaching 82,154 participants overall, with 55,609 e-certificates issued to support certification and knowledge dissemination. These figures encompass both face-to-face and online initiatives focused on disaster risk reduction, response, and management skills for government officials, stakeholders, and community representatives.[36] In fiscal year 2019-20, NIDM executed 100 face-to-face training programs, training 5,646 participants, including 1,503 women (26.63% female participation), marking a near doubling of programs from 52 in 2018-19. Six online courses supplemented these efforts, training an additional 208 participants in basic and thematic disaster management topics. Workshops, seminars, and conferences added further reach, such as the National Workshop on Disaster Risk Financing with 186 attendees and the 1st International Conference on Landslides with 200 participants. By 2020-21, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, NIDM shifted toward digital delivery, conducting webinars and programs that covered all 36 States and Union Territories for the first time, enhancing nationwide penetration.[37][38] NIDM has also developed 51 specialized training modules on topics including multi-hazard risk assessment and public health emergencies, enabling scalable capacity building across institutions. In 2022-23, individual programs demonstrated continued activity, such as an online training on industrial safety and disaster risk management that reached 621 participants. These metrics reflect NIDM's statutory mandate under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to bolster human resource development, though independent evaluations of post-training application remain limited in public records.[36][39]Contributions to Disaster Response
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) supports disaster response in India primarily through capacity enhancement for response agencies, development of operational tools, and post-event analysis to refine future interventions, rather than direct operational deployment, which is led by entities like the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).[40] Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, NIDM serves as the nodal institute for training and research, delivering programs such as the Incident Response System (IRS) modules, which equip state and national responders with standardized coordination protocols for multi-agency operations during crises.[41] These efforts have trained thousands of personnel from NDRF battalions, state disaster response forces, and civil defense units, fostering skills in search-and-rescue, evacuation, and on-site command. NIDM collaborates with NDRF for hands-on simulations and comprehensive courses integrating academic modules with practical drills, such as those conducted in 2025 for mid-to-senior-level professionals, emphasizing real-time response tactics like canine handling and rapid deployment.[42] For instance, joint sessions have included exposure visits to NDRF facilities, bridging theoretical disaster risk reduction with operational readiness.[43] Additionally, NIDM's online DRR courses, including basic and intermediate levels accessible via elearning.nidm.gov.in since at least 2025, cover response fundamentals for a broad audience of first responders and administrators.[20] In post-response phases, NIDM contributes via customized tools like the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) framework, developed under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project and applied in events such as the 2018 Kerala floods, where it facilitated damage quantification and recovery planning between June and August 2018.[28][44] This tool aligns with National Disaster Response Fund norms, enabling rapid resource allocation for rehabilitation.[28] NIDM also produces field-based reports, such as lessons learned from Cyclone Fani in 2019 (published 2021 with Odisha State Disaster Management Authority) and Kerala floods documentation (2021), analyzing response gaps like coordination delays and communication breakdowns to inform protocol updates.[45][46] These outputs have influenced subsequent state-level adaptations, enhancing resilience in flood- and cyclone-prone regions.[45]| Key Contribution Area | Specific Example | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Training for Responders | IRS modules and NDRF collaborations (e.g., 2025 courses) | Standardized multi-agency response, training for 10+ modules including simulations[41] |
| Assessment Tools | PDNA customized for India (NCRMP) | Used in Kerala 2018 floods for needs evaluation and fund norms alignment[28] |
| Post-Event Analysis | Reports on Fani 2019 and Kerala 2018 | Identified gaps in evacuation and coordination for policy refinement[45][46] |