Now Reading: Centre issues SDRF norms, preference for Agniveers and 15% women quota
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Centre issues SDRF norms, preference for Agniveers and 15% women quota
The Centre has issued detailed guidelines for states to raise state disaster response forces (SDRFs) within five years, with preference for Agniveers and NCC certificate holders in direct recruitment and 15% of…
The Centre has issued detailed guidelines for states to raise state disaster response forces (SDRFs) within five years, with preference for Agniveers and NCC certificate holders in direct recruitment and 15% of seats reserved for women. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) released the framework in June, making it public this week, under the amended Disaster Management Act 2025 that mandates every state and union territory to have a specialised SDRF.
The SDRFs will be modelled on the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), with each battalion having 600 to 1,200 personnel headed by a director general of police-rank officer. They will handle natural and man-made disasters, conduct safety audits at tourist and religious sites, and avoid armed enforcement duties. Officials said the units will coordinate with the NDRF and neighbouring state forces for large-scale events.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The guidelines address a long-standing gap: many states have SDRFs only on paper, leaving the NDRF overstretched even for minor hazards. By mandating battalion structures, age caps and multi-disciplinary teams, the NDMA aims to build genuine local capacity within five years. The preference for Agniveers taps into a pool of trained ex-service personnel created by the Agnipath scheme, while the 15% women quota aligns with broader defence and police reservation policies. The real test will be funding: states must bear the cost of raising and equipping these forces, and compliance will depend on budget allocations. The next date to watch is the states' progress reports, which the NDMA is expected to review within the five-year timeline.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
