Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015–2030)’. How is this framework different from ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005’?
Approach · directive: “describe / how”
What it asks · List India's DRR measures before and after Sendai (2015), then contrast the Sendai Framework with the Hyogo Framework.
It asks 3 things — answer each
- Describe DRR measures taken in India before the Sendai Framework (2015)
- Describe DRR measures taken after signing the Sendai Framework, including the Ten-Point Agenda and mitigation financing
- How the Sendai Framework differs from the Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005
Open with · The 1999 Odisha super cyclone killed 9,658 people; Cyclone Fani in May 2019, under a 'zero casualty' policy, saw a record 1.2 million people evacuated; that distance was travelled across the Hyogo Framework (2005-2015) and the Sendai Framework (2015-2030).
Cover
- Before Sendai: the Disaster Management Act, 2005 created the National, State and District Disaster Management Authorities; the National Disaster Response Force followed in 2006, and the National Policy on Disaster Management in 2009.
- Also before: NDMA guidelines for cyclones, earthquakes and floods, cyclone shelters and forecasting, the tsunami early-warning system (INCOIS, 2007), building codes and mock drills.
- After Sendai: the National Disaster Management Plan, 2016, India's first national plan, aligned with Sendai; the Prime Minister's ten-point agenda (2016); India hosted the 2016 Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR.
- Sendai's design: four priorities (understanding risk, stronger risk governance, investing in resilience, better preparedness with 'build back better') and seven global targets, agreed at Sendai in March 2015.
- Difference: Hyogo had five priorities but no measurable global targets and centred on natural hazards and building resilience; Sendai adds targets and indicators and aims to prevent new risk and reduce existing risk.
- Further shifts: from managing disasters to managing risk, stronger governance and accountability, all-of-society partnership, and a wider hazard scope covering natural and man-made hazards, including biological ones.
- Gaps in India: uneven State capacity, weak urban planning and building-code enforcement, thin local funds, and mitigation and insurance lagging behind response.
Close with · Sendai's goal 'to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk' through 'all-of-society engagement' is India's own test: resilient infrastructure, mitigation money spent, and local capacity of the kind that saved Odisha.
Add value (verified)
- UNDRR summarises the Framework: adopted on 18 March 2015, its goal is to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk through all-of-society partnership, and it works towards seven targets.What is the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction?, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) ↗“The Sendai Framework was adopted on 18 March 2015. Its goal is to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk. This requires an all-of-society engagement and partnership. Everyone involved in the agreement is working towards 7 targets.”
- The Hyogo Framework's five priorities for action (2005-2015): make DRR a national and local priority; identify, assess and monitor risks and enhance early warning; use knowledge, innovation and education; reduce underlying risk factors; strengthen preparedness for effective response.UNISDR: Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (contents, Priorities for action) ↗“3. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels ...................................................... 18 4. Reduce the underlying risk factors .................................................. 19 5. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels”
- UNDRR: the Sendai Framework sets seven global targets and four priorities for 2015-2030, measured through 38 global indicators.UNDRR: What is the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction? ↗“The Sendai Framework outlines seven global targets and four priorities to be achieved between 2015 and 2030.”
- The Prime Minister's Ten-Point Agenda for DRR was set out at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, New Delhi, November 2016, and incorporated in the National Disaster Management Plan.Department of Science and Technology: Annexure II, details of the Ten-Point Agenda ↗“The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, enunciated a Ten-Point Agenda in his inaugural speech at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2016, held in New Delhi during November 2016 (AMCDRR), which has also been incorporated in the NDMP.”
- 15th Finance Commission award (2021-22 to 2025-26): Rs 1,28,122.40 crore in SDRF, Rs 32,030.60 crore in the State Disaster Mitigation Fund, Rs 54,770 crore in NDRF and Rs 13,693 crore in the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (MHA reply in Rajya Sabha, 2023).PIB: Increased allocation of funds under NDRF/SDRF (Ministry of Home Affairs, Rajya Sabha reply) ↗“an amount of Rs. 32,030.60 crore has been allocated under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) for the Award Period of 2021-22 to 2025-2026. Similarly, a total corpus of Rs. 54,770 crore has been allocated by the 15 th Finance Commission under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and Rs. 13,693 crore under National Disaster Miti”
- PreventionWeb (UNDRR): the 1999 Odisha cyclone killed 9,658 people; for Cyclone Fani (2019) the 'zero casualty' policy and accurate IMD warnings led to a record 1.2 million people being evacuated.PreventionWeb (UNDRR): India's Cyclone Fani recovery offers the world lessons in disaster preparedness ↗“The government’s “zero casualty” policy for natural disasters and the near accuracy of the India meteorological department’s early warning system have helped reduce the possibility of deaths from cyclone Fani. A record 1.2m people”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2018, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 348words · Minimalist IAS
The 1999 Odisha super cyclone killed 9,658 people; Cyclone Fani in May 2019, under a 'zero casualty' policy, saw a record 1.2 million people evacuated in advance. That distance was travelled across two global frameworks: the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015) and the Sendai Framework (2015-2030).
DRR measures before the Sendai Framework
- Law and institutions: the Disaster Management Act, 2005 created the National, State and District Disaster Management Authorities; the National Disaster Response Force followed in 2006 and the National Policy on Disaster Management in 2009.
- Hazard-specific action: NDMA guidelines for cyclones, earthquakes and floods, cyclone shelters and better forecasting, the tsunami early-warning system at INCOIS (2007), building codes and mock drills.
DRR measures after signing Sendai
- National plan: the National Disaster Management Plan, 2016, India's first, aligned to Sendai's priorities, with roles for every ministry.
- Prime Minister's Ten-Point Agenda (Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR, New Delhi, November 2016): risk coverage for all from poor households to nations, women's leadership, risk mapping, technology, a university network, social media and local capacity; it is built into the NDMP.
- Financing mitigation: the 15th Finance Commission (2021-26) created mitigation windows, Rs 32,030.60 crore for States and Rs 13,693 crore nationally, beside Rs 1,28,122.40 crore in State response funds.
- Results: Odisha's shelters, accurate IMD warnings and targeted evacuation held Fani's toll to a fraction of 1999's.
How Sendai differs from Hyogo
| Aspect | Hyogo (2005-15) | Sendai (2015-30) |
|---|---|---|
| Priorities | Five priorities for action | Four priorities |
| Targets | No measurable global targets | Seven targets, 38 indicators |
| Aim | Build resilience to natural hazards | Prevent new and reduce existing risk |
- From loss to risk: Hyogo's five priorities ran from making DRR a national priority to preparedness; Sendai, adopted on 18 March 2015, starts from understanding risk and strengthening risk governance, and adds 'build back better'.
- Scope and accountability: Sendai covers natural and man-made hazards, including biological ones, demands all-of-society engagement, and measures countries against its targets.
Sendai's goal 'to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk' through 'all-of-society engagement' is India's own test: resilient infrastructure, mitigation money actually spent, and local capacity of the kind that saved Odisha.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
