Parliament Question: Use of AI in Disaster Management

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5100 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24TH MARCH, 2026/ CHAITRA 3, 1948 (SAKA) USE OF AI IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT 5100. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY: Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any steps to incorporate emerging technologies such as Artificial intelligence (AI) into disaster mitigation and management in the country during the last five years; (b) if so, the details regarding the list of schemes/initiatives for disaster management/mitigation that use AI at present; (c) the details regarding the total amount of funding allocated/released and utilised for increasing the use of AI in disaster management/mitigation practices across India, State-wise and to Andhra Pradesh during the last five years; and (d) whether the Government has undertaken any awareness/training programs for officers and volunteers across India, especially in disaster prone areas, to help them use AI for disaster mitigation, management and response, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI) (a) to (d): The Central Government has adopted a holistic approach to disaster risk reduction to address whole range of issues in the entire disaster management cycle, ranging from preparedness, response, capacity building, recovery & reconstruction and mitigation by use of innovative methods,-2- L.S.US.Q.NO. 5100 FOR 24.03.2026 technology and international cooperation. During the last decade, India has made significant progress in disaster risk reduction. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, mandates the creation of a National Disaster Database, which includes risk assessments, mitigation plans, and real-time data on disasters. Alert agencies such as India Meteorological Department (IMD) have integrated Artificial Intelligence (Al)/ Machine Learning (ML) models into weather forecasting systems for seven- day advance predictions. This includes Al driven simulations for flood forecasting (up to seven days ahead) and cyclone tracking, as part of Mission Mausam. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has developed a web- based Dynamic Composite Risk Atlas and Decision Support System (Web- DCRA & DSS tool) for cyclone risk mitigation and response planning. The tool has been successfully used in recent cyclones, such as Biparjoy and Michaung. Flood Hazard Atlas have been developed by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) for flood prone states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Assam and Uttar Pradesh and for comparatively less flood affected states such as Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.-3- L.S.US.Q.NO. 5100 FOR 24.03.2026 Central Water Commission (CWC) has taken initiatives on Al based flood forecasting in the year 2025 on pilot basis, as an in-house endeavour towards development of Al/ML based Short-Range level flood forecasting models for Level Flood Forecasting Stations of CWC, on rivers across the country. CWC has delved into usage of Al/ML techniques in flood forecasting as a replacement for existing conventional techniques used by CWC for short range forecasting. Further CWC is currently providing seven-day advisory flood forecast on its web portal https://aff.india-water.gov.in/ through pan India rainfall-based mathematical modelling for major river basins of the country, including Himalayan States. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working in the development of technologies for avalanche hazard forecasting, control structures and geo-intelligence to provide safe mobility to armed forces in Indian Himalayan region. DRDO is using Al/ML techniques in the field of Avalanche Forecasting and Monitoring & detection of avalanches using Remote Sensing data. Further, DRDO is also conducting a pilot study under DRDO project for development of Al based Autonomous Avalanche Forecasting System.-4- L.S.US.Q.NO. 5100 FOR 24.03.2026 The information regarding the total amount of funding allocated/released and utilized for increasing the use of AI in disaster management/mitigation practices across India, state-wise, is not maintained centrally by this Ministry. The details of awareness/training programs for officers and volunteers across India, especially in disaster prone areas, to help them use AI for disaster mitigation, management and response is at Annexure. ******ANNEXURE L.S.US.Q.NO. 5100 FOR 24.03.2026 Details of Awareness/Training programs S. No. Name of program Organizer Duration No. of Participants 1. Program on "Artificial National Water 11.06.2024 to 21 Intelligence, Machine Academy 13.06.2024 Learning, Deep (NWA) Pune Learning and Data Driven Decision Making" 2. Program on "Artificial National Water 30.06.2025 to 28 Intelligence and Academy 04.07.2025 Machine Learning" (NWA) Pune 3. Webinar on “Roll of National 05.08.2021 to 211 artificial Intelligence Institute of 05.08.2021 for Disaster Risk Disaster Reduction” Management (NIDM) 4. Program on NIDM in 28.03.2022 to 413 “Technologies in collaboration 30.03.2022 Disaster Risk with SRM Reduction” University, Chennai 5. Program on ”Advanced NIDM 19.05.2023 to 197 Technologies for 19.05.2023 Effective Emergency Management” ---------