The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), and CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a collaborative framework for academic programs, policy research, and capacity building in Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (DMRR).
The partnership aims to integrate science, technology, and policy to build a disaster-resilient India through structured academic initiatives, interdisciplinary research, and active public engagement.
Under the MoU, a PhD programme in Disaster Management will be launched under AcSIR at CSIR–NIScPR with support from NDMA. The collaboration will also focus on joint research and policy studies, science communication, and capacity-building initiatives, while working to integrate scientific research into disaster policy and public awareness frameworks.
Dr. Dinesh Kumar Aswal, NDMA member, said the initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s Nine-Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction, highlighting the importance of science-driven societal preparedness, early warning systems, risk communication, and systematic post-disaster learning to strengthen national resilience.
Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar, Director of AcSIR, emphasized the opportunities this collaboration offers students and researchers to develop innovative, research-based solutions for disaster management challenges. He noted that the initiative would help nurture a new generation of experts dedicated to strengthening India’s disaster resilience framework in support of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Director of CSIR–NIScPR, underlined the institute’s unique role in policy research, science communication, and evidence-based public engagement. She highlighted that the partnership would provide a platform to translate scientific knowledge into actionable strategies for disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
Through this tripartite collaboration, NDMA will provide strategic guidance, AcSIR will anchor academic and research programs, and CSIR–NIScPR will host the programs and drive policy research and public engagement. The MoU marks a significant step toward embedding scientific research, communication, and evidence-based policymaking into India’s disaster management ecosystem.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
