National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is an agency whose primary purpose is to co-ordinate response to natural or man-made disasters and for capacity-building in disaster resiliency and crisis response. The agency is in charge of framing policies, laying down guidelines when in the need of emergency. It also coordinates with the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) to ensure a holistic and distributed approach to disaster management.

Foundation of National Disaster Management Authority
National Disaster Management Authority was established by the Government of India on 23rd December 2005 through the Disaster Management Act. The Prime Minister of India is the ex-officio chairperson of the National Disaster Management Authority.

Managing Body of National Disaster Management Authority
Under the Ministry of Home Affairs, it is headed by a nine member board which is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. The rest of the board consists of members nominated on the basis of their expertise in areas such as Planning, Infrastructure Management, Communications, Meteorology and Natural Sciences. The day-to-day management of the agency is overseen by the office of the Vice Chair.

Departments of National Disaster Management Authority
National Disaster Management Authority is operationally organized into the following departments:


•Policy and Planning
•Mitigation
•Operations and Communications
•Administration
•Capacity Building

Guidance by National Disaster Management Authority
National Disaster Management Authority equips and trains other Government officials, institutions and the community for proper response during a crisis situation or a disaster. It operates the National Institute of Disaster Management which provides practices and delivers hands-on training for disaster management. It also equips and trains disaster management cells at all the state and local levels.

National Disaster Management Authority also collaborates with the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy to impart training to the administration and police officers. It monitors and develops guidelines for the local Fire-fighting Services across the country. For developing emergency health and ambulance services, it collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Functions and Responsibilities of National Disaster Management Authority
National Disaster Management Authority, as the apex body, is consent to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management to ensure timely and effective response to disasters. The following are the functions and responsibilities of National Disaster Management Authority:


•Lay down policies on disaster management;

•Approves the National Plan

•Approve plans prepared by the Ministries or Departments of the Government of India in accordance with the National Plan

•Lay down guidelines to be followed by the State Authorities in drawing up the State Plan

•Lay down guidelines to be followed by the different Ministries or Departments of the Government of India for the purpose of incorporating the measures for prevention of disaster or the mitigation of its effects

•Coordinate the enforcement and implementation of the policy and plans for disaster management

•Recommend provision of funds for the purpose of improvement

•Provide support to other countries as well when affected by major disasters as may be determined by the Central Government

•Take other measures for the prevention of disaster and capacity building for dealing with threatening disaster situations

•Lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of the National Institute of Disaster Management.

Programs of National Disaster Management Authority
National Disaster Management Authority runs various programs for alleviation and responsiveness for specific situations. These include; National Cyclone Risk Management Project, School Safety Project, Decision Support System and others. On 9 November 2017, the National Disaster Management Authority and social networking site "Facebook" jointly organised India Disaster Response Summit. India has become the first country to partner with Facebook on response to disasters.