NDRF receives President’s Colour as Amit Shah sets zero casualty goal for India’s disaster management

GHAZIABAD, May 14, 2026 — Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the President’s Colour Award ceremony of the National Disaster Response Force in Ghaziabad, marking a significant milestone in the force’s 20-year history.

During the event, Shah highlighted that the Modi government has shifted India’s disaster management strategy from a relief-oriented reactive approach to a preventive and productive model. He stated that the ultimate objective is to move from minimizing casualties toward a goal of zero casualties, particularly during predictable events like cyclones and heatwaves.

The Home Minister lauded the NDRF for earning the trust of 140 crore citizens, noting that the force has saved over 1.5 lakh lives and evacuated more than 9 lakh people to safety since its inception. He emphasized that India has emerged as a global leader and first responder in disaster management, effectively putting the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam into action.

Shah also inaugurated projects worth over 116 crore designed to further strengthen the force’s capabilities and capacity-building initiatives, which include training thousands of volunteers and civil defense workers.In his address, Shah also touched upon environmental protection, noting that CAPF personnel have planted more than 7 crore trees across the country since 2021 to combat climate change.

He reiterated that Prime Minister Modi’s 10-point agenda has provided a new direction for disaster risk management, focusing on early warning systems and community participation.

The ceremony, attended by senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau and NDRF, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a disaster-resilient India through modern infrastructure and coordinated institutional efforts.