Executive Summary:
This document outlines the Indian government's interagency protocols for realtime data sharing during natural disasters, retrofitting efforts in seismic zones, coastal protection measures, public awareness campaigns, and international collaborations. It details the roles of IMD, ISRO, NDMA, NCS, INCOIS, and State Governments in disaster management. The information was presented to Lok Sabha on August 20, 2025, in response to question No. 381.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Realtime Data Sharing:**
* IMD, INCOIS, NCS, NDMA, ISRO, and State Governments share realtime data through established communication channels.
* IMD and NCS provide realtime meteorological and earthquake data to ISRO, NDMA, and States 24/7.
* IMD disseminates disaster-related information (observations, forecasts, warnings) down to the district level via APIs, CAP, email, SMS, WhatsApp, and direct coordination.
* INCOIS issues multihazard early warnings for oceanic events and collaborates with IMD for cyclone bulletins, shared with NDMA and State Governments via multiple channels, including Mausam and Samudra App and NDMAs CAP-based SACHET system.
* NCS operates a national seismological network, shares earthquake parameters with disaster management authorities via the Unified Dissemination System (UDS), including through BHUKAMP APP.
* **Seismic Retrofitting:**
* NDMA and BIS have issued guidelines for seismic retrofitting.
* The National Program for Capacity Building in Earthquake Risk Mitigation emphasizes safety audits and retrofitting of critical facilities.
* Implementation is constrained by limited financial resources, gaps in technical expertise, lower prioritization, and inadequate awareness.
* **Coastal Protection:**
* INCOIS provides ocean information and multihazard early warning services via multiple communication channels (SMS, social media, email, website, SACHET, WhatsApp, Telegram, mobile apps).
* **Public Awareness:**
* Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Guidelines and the Prime Ministers 10-point Agenda on DRR 2016 focus on regular public education involving IMD, NCS, INCOIS, NCCR, NCPOR and ISRO.
* NDMA conducts nationwide drills and educational programs to reach grassroots communities.
* Disaster-related information is disseminated through websites, mobile apps, SMS alerts, and social media.
* NCS and INCOIS strengthen preparedness through workshops, training programs, and mock drills in coordination with NDMA, SDMAs, and NIDM.
* India leads the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready program, with Odisha recognized for 26 coastal villages.
* **International Collaboration:**
* INCOIS is a UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Service Provider, collaborating with other countries for marine hazard alerts.
* India engages in oceanographic data sharing and joint research through the MoES-NOAA partnership.
* MoES strengthens global seismic data cooperation, with NCS working with the Global Seismic Network, International Seismological Commission (ISC), Russia, Japan, Taiwan, and INCOIS.
* IMD disseminates data through multiple communication channels and partners with national and international agencies.
* INCOIS receives realtime data from national and international seismic stations for tsunami early warnings.
Impact Analysis:
* **IMD, ISRO, NCS, INCOIS:**
* Impact: These agencies are responsible for providing realtime data, early warnings, and technical expertise for disaster management.
* Action Required: Maintain and enhance data sharing protocols, improve forecasting accuracy, and participate in public awareness campaigns.
* **NDMA:**
* Impact: NDMA is responsible for coordinating disaster management efforts and implementing public awareness programs.
* Action Required: Ensure effective dissemination of early warnings, conduct nationwide drills, and promote seismic retrofitting of buildings.
* **State Governments:**
* Impact: State Governments are responsible for implementing disaster management plans at the local level.
* Action Required: Establish effective communication channels, participate in drills and training programs, and prioritize seismic retrofitting of critical facilities.
* **Citizens:**
* Impact: Citizens are the recipients of disaster warnings and public awareness campaigns.
* Action Required: Stay informed about potential hazards, participate in drills, and follow safety guidelines during disasters.
Key Entities Referenced
India Meteorological Department IMD: An agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology.
Indian Space Research Organization ISRO: The space agency of India responsible for space programs and research.
National Disaster Management Authority NDMA: The apex body for disaster management in India.
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services INCOIS: An autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences providing ocean information services and early warnings for oceanic disasters.
National Centre for Seismology NCS: The nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring earthquake activity in the country.
Seismic Zones IV and V: Areas in India classified as high-risk seismic zones, indicating a greater susceptibility to earthquakes.
Odisha: A state in India where 26 coastal villages achieved recognition for building coastal resilience under the UNESCO IOC Tsunami Ready programme.
UNESCOIOC: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, working to promote international cooperation in marine research, services, observation systems, hazard mitigation, and capacity development.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *381
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 20TH AUGUST, 2025
REAL-TIME DATA SHARING
*381. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:
Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:
(a) the details of inter-agency protocol to ensure real-time data sharing between IMD,
ISRO, NDMA and State Governments during natural disasters;
(b) whether it is a fact that there is lack of structural retrofitting in Government
buildings, schools and hospitals in seismic Zones IV and V despite budget
allocations and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to build coastal embankments or warning siren
infrastructure in fishing villages and tourist zones along the country's coastline;
(d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that disaster-related public awareness
campaigns reach grassroots populations; and
(e) whether the Government is actively collaborating with international seismic and
oceanographic agencies to improve disaster forecasting or limited to domestic
technical institutions and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) - (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *381 REGARDING 'REAL-TIME DATA SHARING'
FOR ANSWER ON 20TH AUGUST 2025
(a) Yes. The real-time communication channels that exist between India
Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information
Services (INCOIS), National Centre for Seismology (NCS), National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA), various scientific institutions such as Indian
Space Research Organization (ISRO) and State Governments for data sharing. It is
also important to mention that IMD and NCS –MoES share real-time
meteorological and Earthquake data respectively with ISRO, NDMA and States in
24/7 basis. Information provided by IMD related to disasters, covering
observations, forecasts and warnings down to the district level, disseminated
through APIs, CAP, email, SMS, WhatsApp and direct coordination. INCOIS
provides multi-hazard early warnings for oceanic events like tsunamis and
associated storm surges, high waves, etc. INCOIS in coordination with IMD also
exchange data and issue joint bulletins during cyclones. Warnings are shared with
NDMA and State Governments via multiple channels, Mausam and Samudra App,
including NDMA’s CAP-based SACHET system. NCS operates the national
seismological network round the clock, detecting earthquakes and estimating
earthquake parameters and sharing parameters with disaster management
authorities using Unified Dissemination system (UDS), including through
BHUKAMP APP to different stakeholders in real-time mode.
(b) NDMA and BIS have issued guidelines for Seismic Retrofitting of Deficient
Buildings and Structures. The National Program for Capacity Building in
Earthquake Risk Mitigation emphasizes safety audits and retrofitting of life-saving
buildings such as schools, hospitals and other critical facilities. While guidelines
and budget allocations are in place, the pace of implementation has been
constrained by factors such as limited financial resources, gaps in technical
expertise, lower prioritization at certain levels and inadequate public and
institutional awareness. Efforts are, however, underway to address these challenges
and the situation is expected to improve with enhanced capacity-building, better
coordination and sustained focus on the issue.
(c) INCOIS provides ocean information and multi-hazard early warning services,
including alerts for tsunamis, storm surges, high waves, swell surges and strong
ocean currents during extreme oceanic conditions and advisory services through
multiple communication channels, including SMS, social media, email, website,
SACHET platform, WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels and mobile
applications etc. to the stakeholders.(d) Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Guidelines (Prime Minister’s 10-
point Agenda on DRR-2016) focus on regular public education through hazard
mapping, regular drills and awareness campaigns by involving IMD, NCS,
INCOIS, NCCR, NCPOR and ISRO for technical and scientific feedbacks to public
of different age groups as the capacity building programs for disaster-related
preparedness for both Geophysical and Hydro-meteorological and Cryospheric
(GLOF) disaster events in the country. NDMA conducts nationwide drills
involving all age groups, complemented by educational programs on TV and radio
to reach grassroots communities. Disaster-related information including
earthquakes, tsunamis and weather alerts is disseminated through institutional
websites, mobile apps, SMS alerts, and social media platforms such as X,
Instagram and WhatsApp. NCS & INCOIS strengthens Earthquake and tsunami
preparedness through workshops, training programs and annual mock drills in
coordination with NDMA, Schools, SDMAs and NIDM as well as with coastal
State Disaster Management Agencies to reach to the first responder or at grass root
level. It also leads the UNESCO-IOC “Tsunami Ready” programme in India, with
Odisha achieving recognition for 26 coastal villages, marking a significant
milestone in building coastal resilience.
(e) Yes. INCOIS is recognized as a Tsunami Service Provider by UNESCO-IOC’s
Tsunami Warning Network, serving the Indian Ocean region and collaborating with
other countries for marine hazard alerts and capacity building. Through the MoES–
NOAA partnership, India engages in oceanographic data sharing and joint research,
while MoES also strengthens global seismic data cooperation. NCS works with the
Global Seismic Network, International Seismological Commission (ISC), Russia
and other agencies of Japan and Taiwan and INCOIS for data sharing. Similarly,
IMD disseminates data through multiple communication channels, including
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), the Common Alert Protocol (CAP),
email, FAX, SMS, WhatsApp groups and attending telephonic discussions/virtual
meetings and coordination. Similarly, IMD partners with national and international
agencies to enhance disaster forecasting. INCOIS receives real-time data from 17
dedicated broadband seismic stations of NCS, 25 other national stations and about
400 international stations, enabling accurate detection of tsunamigenic earthquakes
and the timely issuance of tsunami early warnings.
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