New SDRF rules announced: Agniveers, NCC holders preferred, women get 15% quota

The Centre has issued detailed guidelines for states and Union Territories to establish, equip and train State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs) over the next five years, with preference for Agniveers and NCC certificate holders in direct recruitment. The guidelines also provide for 15 per cent reservation for women.

The forces will be modelled on the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and will be tasked with responding to natural and man-made disasters.

SDRFs to strengthen local disaster response

The amended Disaster Management Act, 2025, cleared by Parliament last year, requires every state and Union Territory to have a specialised SDRF.

The latest guidelines, issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in June and made public earlier this week, seek to establish a uniform framework for building disaster response capabilities across states.

The SDRFs will coordinate with the NDRF and neighbouring state forces when a disaster requires a larger response. While several states already have SDRFs, officials said their capabilities and training standards vary.

The guidelines noted that “over-reliance on NDRF even for minor hazards weakens national specialised capacity and can delay state-level response due to connectivity and competing demands during widespread events”.

Battalion structure and recruitment rules

The guidelines state that SDRFs “shall be organised on the battalion model: 600 to 1200 personnel in each battalion, broadly aligned with NDRF”. Each battalion will be headed by an officer of DGP rank.

A battalion can have 9 to 10 multi-disciplinary teams, with each team comprising “45-50 responders with all integral rescue, medical, communications and logistics elements”.

The NDMA has called for “young” and “fit” responders, with the age limit set at 50. For direct recruitment, “Agniveers and NCC certificate holders would be given preference”.

The recruitment pool can include state armed police, state police, central armed police forces, armed forces, ex-servicemen and former NDRF personnel.

Each SDRF “should include engineers, technicians, medical staff, communications experts, dog handlers, divers and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) specialists”.

Focus on preventive safety audits

SDRF deployment will depend on local terrain and disaster risks. Teams may be positioned seasonally in areas vulnerable to monsoon, winter or increased pilgrimage activity.

The forces will also conduct safety audits and mock exercises at crowded recreational, tourist and religious locations, particularly those near rivers, reservoirs, waterfalls, dams, beaches and other water bodies.

However, the NDMA guidelines specify that SDRFs should not be deployed “in situations requiring the use of armed force or enforcement of law and order”.