The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) completed 20 years on January 19, 2026, marking two decades since its establishment under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The NDRF was formally constituted on January 19, 2006, as a specialised force dedicated to disaster response operations across India.
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 — enacted in the wake of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami — created a statutory framework for disaster management in India and established NDRF under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The force is currently composed of 16 battalions drawn from paramilitary forces (CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles). Each battalion has 1149 personnel and is stationed strategically across India to ensure rapid deployment within 4–6 hours anywhere in the country.
Over 20 years, NDRF has responded to floods (Uttarakhand 2013, Kerala 2018, Assam 2022), earthquakes (Nepal 2015), cyclones (Amphan 2020, Biparjoy 2023), building collapses, industrial accidents, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The force has also conducted international humanitarian operations and is renowned for its specialised expertise in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), swift water rescue, and hazardous material (HAZMAT) response.
For RAS aspirants, NDRF is a core Paper II governance topic. Key facts to remember: established January 19, 2006; under Disaster Management Act 2005; 16 battalions; MHA oversight; headquarters at New Delhi; deploys under NDMA coordination. Rajasthan has experienced NDRF deployment during floods in Barmer, Jalore, and Kota divisions as well as during desert storm and heatwave emergencies.