In a major step to enhance India’s disaster resilience, the Central government has constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The panel, formed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, aims to strengthen national preparedness and ensure coordinated response during emergencies such as floods, earthquakes, pandemics, and industrial accidents.
The newly formed committee includes Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery as its members. According to a notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the panel has been constituted by exercising powers under sub-section (2) of Section 8B of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
This high-level committee is expected to play a vital role in shaping national policy, reviewing state-level readiness, and supervising long-term risk reduction efforts. By involving key leaders from sectors such as finance, agriculture, and national planning, the committee ensures a multi-sectoral approach to disaster management a need amplified by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and emergencies.
The panel will also focus on ensuring timely resource allocation and strategic planning to enhance the effectiveness of India’s national disaster response system. Officials say it will provide critical oversight and coordination to make India better prepared for future disasters.