10 March 2026·PIB

INTEGRATION OF AI IN NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT

In this note

1. At a Glance

Convergence of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning with India's statutory disaster management architecture (NDMA, IMD, CWC, DRDO, C-DOT) for forecasting, alerts, risk-mapping and urban resilience [1][2].
Comes alongside the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, which inserts Section 41A enabling Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMAs) for city-specific risks like urban flooding and heatwaves [1][3].
Relevant for GS-III (Disaster Management, S&T) and GS-II (Statutory bodies, Cooperative federalism).

10 March 2026 — PIB/MHA release on "Integration of AI in National Disaster Management" detailing UDMAs and AI-based tools [1].
2 May 2026 — Pan-India trial of indigenous Cell Broadcast (CB) alerting system launched by HM Amit Shah & Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia (C-DOT + DoT + NDMA); upgrades the SACHET platform across 36 States/UTs [2].
Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 notified w.e.f. 9 April 2025 (Presidential assent 29 March 2025) [3].

Disaster Management Act, 2005 — set up NDMA (PM-chaired), SDMAs, DDMAs, NDRF, NIDM [3].
NDMA founded 2005 under MHA; NDRF raised 2006 [2].
SACHET common alerting platform launched by C-DOT + NDMA for SMS-based geo-targeted alerts; upgraded in 2026 to Cell Broadcast [2].
2024 Bill → 2025 Act: introduces UDMAs, statutory backing to NCMC/HLC, mandates disaster databases [3].

Parent Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management Division) [1].
Apex body: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), chaired by the Prime Minister [1].
Enabling law: Disaster Management Act, 2005 + Amendment Act, 2025 (Section 41A inserted) [1][3].
UDMA scope: State capitals + all cities with Municipal Corporations, excluding NCT Delhi & UT Chandigarh [1].
First UDMA constituted: Karnataka for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) [3].
AI tools deployed:
NDMA Dynamic Composite Risk Atlas & Decision Support System (used in cyclones Biparjoy & Michaung) [2].
IMD AI/ML-based 7-day forecasting for floods & cyclones [2].
CWC AI-based short-range flood forecasting, 7-day advisory for major basins [2].
DRDO autonomous avalanche forecasting in Indian Himalayan Region [2].
C-DOT Cell Broadcast alerting (upgrade of SACHET) [2].

Scientific/Technological

AI/ML enables predictive modelling of cyclone tracks, urban floods, heatwaves and avalanches beyond classical NWP horizons [2].
Cell Broadcast delivers location-based push alerts to all phones in a cell without app/SIM dependency [2].

Legal/Constitutional

Disaster Management is governed under Concurrent List via the DM Act 2005; UDMAs add a third tier below SDMA/DDMA [1][3].
Section 41A is an enabling (not mandatory) provision — states may constitute UDMAs [1].

Administrative/Federalism

City-specific authority addresses cross-district urban agglomeration risks [1].
Exclusion of Delhi/Chandigarh reflects existing UT-specific governance arrangements [1].

Social/Environmental

Urban Plans must specifically tackle flooding and heatwaves — climate-adaptation mainstreamed into city planning [1].
AI-based early warning narrows the gender/poverty gap in disaster mortality by enabling last-mile alerts [2].

Ethical/Governance

AI in alerts raises concerns over data privacy, algorithmic bias in risk prioritisation, and accountability for false negatives.

Section 41A of DM Act enables UDMAs [1].
UDMAs exclude NCT Delhi and UT Chandigarh [1].
Karnataka (BBMP) = first UDMA constituted [3].
DM (Amendment) Act 2025 effective from 9 April 2025 [3].
NDMA's Dynamic Composite Risk Atlas used in cyclones Biparjoy and Michaung [2].
Cell Broadcast alerting developed by C-DOT + DoT + NDMA, upgrades SACHET [2].
CWC issues 7-day AI-based flood advisories [2].
DRDO runs autonomous avalanche forecasting in Himalayas [2].
NDMA is under MHA, chaired by PM [1].
Urban Plans under UDMA must address urban flooding & heatwaves [1].
IMD uses AI/ML 7-day forecasting for cyclones and floods [2].
Disaster Management is in the Concurrent List (interpretive — via Entry 23 List III "social security/welfare" jurisprudence; the DM Act 2005 was passed under Entry 23 of the Concurrent List).

GS-III: Disaster & Disaster Management; Science & Tech (AI applications).
GS-II: Statutory bodies; Centre-State relations; Urban governance.
Possible stems: 1. "AI is rapidly becoming the backbone of India's disaster early-warning ecosystem. Examine, with examples, its potential and limitations." (GS-III) 2. "Critically analyse the institutional innovation of Urban Disaster Management Authorities under the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025." (GS-II/III) 3. "Discuss how technology-led platforms like SACHET and Cell Broadcast are transforming last-mile disaster communication in India." (GS-III)

NDMA, NDRF, NIDM — institutional architecture under DM Act 2005.
Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-30 — international benchmark India is aligned with.
IMD's "Mission Mausam" — AI-driven weather modernisation.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) — India-led multilateral.
National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) — World Bank-aided.
India AI Mission (MeitY) — overarching national AI strategy.
Smart Cities Mission — urban data layers feed into UDMA planning.
Urban Flooding (NDMA Guidelines, 2010) — predecessor framework.