Preparedness & Response — Set 2

Correct Answer: B. International Search and Rescue Advisory Group

INSARAG stands for International Search and Rescue Advisory Group — a UN-led network of countries and organisations dedicated to urban search and rescue (USAR) and humanitarian coordination. INSARAG sets international standards for USAR team classification, methodology, and coordination through its INSARAG External Classification (IEC) system. India's NDRF teams are classified under INSARAG standards and have participated in international USAR operations including the Nepal earthquake (2015) and Turkey earthquake (2023).

Correct Answer: B. Mass casualty management

START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) is a first-responder triage system used in mass casualty incidents (MCIs) to quickly sort patients by the severity of their injury and prioritise treatment. START uses four colour categories: Black (deceased/expectant), Red (immediate — life-threatening, can be saved), Yellow (delayed — serious but stable), and Green (minor — walking wounded). SALT (Sort, Assess, Life-saving interventions, Treatment/Transport) is a newer triage system also used in mass casualty management.

Correct Answer: B. Providing immediate psychological support to disaster survivors

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed approach designed to reduce initial distress and foster short and long-term adaptive functioning in survivors, witnesses, and responders following disaster or traumatic events. PFA does not involve psychiatric diagnosis or treatment but provides practical support: ensuring safety, providing comfort, connecting people to services, and offering social support. NDMA's guidelines for post-disaster psychosocial support include PFA as a core component for community workers and first responders.

Correct Answer: B. Training community volunteers in disaster response

Aapda Mitra (meaning 'Disaster Friend') is an NDMA community volunteer training scheme that has trained over 1 lakh (100,000) community-level disaster response volunteers across India's most disaster-prone districts. Volunteers receive training in first aid, search and rescue, evacuation, and relief distribution to enable communities to initiate response before professional responders arrive. The scheme recognises that community-based response is often the first and most critical line of defence in the immediate aftermath of disaster.

Correct Answer: C. 1 lakh (100,000)

Over 1 lakh (100,000) community volunteers have been trained under the Aapda Mitra scheme, coordinated by NDMA in partnership with state disaster management authorities across flood-prone and disaster-prone districts. These trained volunteers serve as the first line of community-level disaster response in their localities. The scheme is part of India's broader Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) strategy aligned with the Sendai Framework target of building disaster-resilient communities.

Correct Answer: A. Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction

CBDRR stands for Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction — an approach that places communities at the centre of disaster risk identification, assessment, and reduction rather than relying solely on government-led top-down interventions. CBDRR programmes engage local communities in hazard mapping, vulnerability assessment, early warning dissemination, and local preparedness planning. India's Aapda Mitra scheme and the village-level disaster management committees under the DM Act 2005 are key instruments of CBDRR.

Correct Answer: B. Build disaster-resilient school infrastructure and train students and teachers in disaster preparedness

The National School Safety Programme (NSSP), led by NDMA, aims to build disaster-resilient school infrastructure, integrate disaster risk reduction education into school curricula, and train students and teachers in preparedness and response. Safe schools are critical because children spend 6–8 hours daily in school buildings that may be vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, or cyclones. The programme aligns with the global Safe Schools Declaration and the SFDRR target on education sector resilience.

Correct Answer: B. Hospital Emergency Incident Command System

HEICS — Hospital Emergency Incident Command System — is an adaptation of the ICS specifically designed for hospital settings during mass casualty incidents and disasters. HEICS provides a clear chain of command for hospital administration, medical staff, nursing, and support services to coordinate patient surge, resource management, and communications during emergencies. India's NDMA guidelines on hospital preparedness mandate HEICS training for all district and government hospitals.

Correct Answer: B. Evaluate the full extent of disaster impacts and identify recovery needs

A Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is a government-led exercise that evaluates the full human, physical, economic, and social impacts of a disaster and identifies the recovery and reconstruction needs. PDNAs are jointly conducted by governments with technical support from the World Bank, UN, and EU, providing the evidence base for recovery planning and international aid mobilisation. India conducts PDNAs following major disasters to guide the allocation of NDRF/SDRF funds and develop state-level recovery plans.

Correct Answer: B. Enhancing the capacity to respond effectively when disaster strikes

The primary goal of disaster preparedness is to enhance the capacity of governments, communities, and individuals to respond effectively and efficiently when a disaster occurs, reducing loss of life and livelihoods. Preparedness is not about eliminating risk (that is mitigation) or recovery but about ensuring rapid and organised response capability. Key preparedness measures include emergency planning, early warning systems, training, stockpiling supplies, and establishing coordination mechanisms.