Uttarakhand's Disaster Management Model Gets Global Recognition At BRICS
Uttarakhand's disaster management model received global recognition at a three-day BRICS meeting that brought together senior officials, experts, and policymakers from 11 BRICS member and partner coun
What happened
Uttarakhand's disaster management model received global recognition at a three-day BRICS meeting that brought together senior officials, experts, and policymakers from 11 BRICS member and partner countries. Uttarakhand, situated in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, is one of India's most disaster-prone states, regularly facing floods, landslides, cloudbursts, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The state has developed an integrated disaster risk reduction framework combining early warning systems, community-based preparedness, and inter-agency coordination that has significantly reduced casualty figures in recent years. Its recognition at the BRICS platform underscores India's growing soft power in disaster governance and its ability to offer replicable models to the Global South. For UPSC aspirants, this event sits at the intersection of disaster management, federalism, and India's multilateral diplomacy, particularly within the expanding BRICS framework.
Uttarakhand's recognition at BRICS for disaster management is significant for multiple prelims angles.
●BRICS now has 11 members after the 2024 expansion (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa + Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia joining in 2025). Uttarakhand falls in the Seismic Zone IV-V and is prone to GLOFs, landslides, and flash floods due to its fragile Himalayan geology.
●India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) operates under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
●The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) provides the global architecture for such models.
●Community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) and the concept of 'Build Back Better' are key terminologies to remember.
Uttarakhand's BRICS recognition links disaster management law, Himalayan ecology, and India's multilateral diplomacy — a rare convergence of three GS papers in one news item.
◎ In Simple Words
Imagine Uttarakhand as a hilly state that gets hit by floods and landslides very often — like a student who keeps facing tough tests. Over time, the state built a really smart system to warn people early and keep them safe. This system was so good that leaders and experts from 11 countries in a big group called BRICS came together and said, 'Wow, this is a great example for the whole world!' It is like winning a science fair trophy, but for saving lives.
Factual Pointers
Practice · 1 question
With reference to India's disaster management framework, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 mandates the creation of District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) chaired by the District Collector.
2. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
3. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) is a legally binding international treaty.
Select the correct answer using the codes below: