Preparedness & Response — Set 5

Correct Answer: B. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

India's National Emergency Response Centre (NERC) operates under the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), functioning 24×7 to monitor disasters and emergencies across the country and coordinate response resources. NERC serves as the nerve centre for multi-agency disaster response coordination, maintaining communication links with State EOCs, NDRF, armed forces, and central ministries. During major disasters, the NERC activates the National Crisis Management Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.

Correct Answer: B. Overall command and management of all incident operations

The Incident Commander (IC) in ICS has overall responsibility for managing all tactical operations at a disaster incident, ensuring the safety of responders and civilians, achieving response objectives, and managing all ICS functional areas. The IC is responsible for incident action planning, resource management, and communicating with agency administrators and policy makers. A single Incident Commander or a Unified Command (when multiple agencies share command) leads all ICS operations at the disaster site.

Correct Answer: B. Rescue of people trapped in collapsed buildings and urban environments

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) is a specialised form of emergency response that involves the location, rescue, and initial medical stabilisation of people trapped in collapsed structures such as buildings, bridges, and tunnels. USAR teams use specialised tools including hydraulic spreaders, concrete cutters, search dogs, and acoustic listening devices to locate and extract trapped survivors. India's NDRF battalions are trained to INSARAG USAR standards and have been internationally classified as Heavy USAR teams.

Correct Answer: B. Reconstruction, rehabilitation, livelihood restoration, and build back better

Recovery is the most complex and long-term phase of disaster management, encompassing reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, rehabilitation of affected communities, restoration of livelihoods and public services, psychological support, and implementation of Build Back Better principles. Recovery requires coordination across multiple sectors — housing, health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure — and may continue for years after a disaster. India's National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) provides guidelines for structured recovery planning.

Correct Answer: C. National Disaster Management Authority

NDMA stands for National Disaster Management Authority — India's apex body for disaster management established under the Disaster Management Act 2005, chaired by the Prime Minister. NDMA is responsible for laying down policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster management across India, and for coordinating the national response to disasters. NDMA works through State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) to implement disaster risk reduction at all levels.

Correct Answer: B. Paying out a pre-agreed sum when a defined hazard parameter is triggered, regardless of actual damage

Parametric (or index-based) insurance pays a pre-agreed fixed sum when a defined parameter — such as wind speed exceeding a threshold or earthquake magnitude above a set level — is triggered, without requiring assessment of actual damage. This eliminates the lengthy claims assessment process of traditional insurance and provides rapid post-disaster liquidity to governments and communities. India's National Agricultural Insurance Scheme uses weather-index based parametric insurance to compensate farmers for crop losses due to rainfall deficit.

Correct Answer: B. Military, paramilitary, NDRF, SDRF, civil administration, and NGOs

India's Integrated Emergency Response System coordinates response across military, paramilitary, NDRF, SDRF, civil administration, police, fire services, medical services, and NGOs to ensure unified and efficient disaster response. Coordination is achieved through EOCs at national, state, and district levels under the ICS framework. The integration of military HADR capabilities — including the Indian Air Force, Navy, and Army — with civilian response is a distinctive feature of India's disaster management architecture.

Correct Answer: C. Permanent measures to reduce the vulnerability to hazards

Mitigation involves permanent or long-term structural and non-structural measures designed to reduce or eliminate the risk and vulnerability of communities to hazards. Structural mitigation includes earthquake-resistant buildings, cyclone shelters, flood embankments, and coastal protection works. Non-structural mitigation includes land use regulation, building codes enforcement, risk-sensitive urban planning, and community risk education. Investment in mitigation is widely proven to provide a 10:1 return — every dollar spent saves ten in response and recovery.

Correct Answer: B. Operation Maitri

India's response to the April 25, 2015 Nepal Gorkha earthquake (7.8 Mw) was conducted under Operation Maitri — India's largest international humanitarian relief operation at the time. India deployed over 16 NDRF teams comprising more than 1,800 personnel, along with military units, helicopters, and tonnes of relief material. Operation Maitri demonstrated India's growing capacity for large-scale international USAR and HADR operations in line with its 'Neighbourhood First' foreign policy.

Correct Answer: B. Providing immediate life-saving actions at the disaster site before specialised help arrives

First responders — including police, fire brigades, paramedics, and trained community volunteers — provide immediate life-saving actions at the disaster site during the critical window before specialised teams arrive. Their activities include initial search and rescue, first aid, evacuation, and securing the disaster site. The effectiveness of first responders significantly impacts survival rates, as the survival probability of earthquake-trapped survivors drops dramatically after the first 72 hours.