Disaster Management Now Part of Curriculum in Indian Colleges, UGC Issues Directive

In a major step toward building a disaster-resilient nation, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all Indian universities to introduce disaster management as part of their undergraduate curriculum. The move follows recommendations from the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), under the Government of India.

The directive aims to equip students with essential skills to respond effectively during emergencies such as natural disasters, plane crashes, fires, and other crises. Students completing the course will earn two academic credit points.

According to the circular, universities can offer the course as a value-added skill program, an elective, or a compulsory subject, depending on their institutional capacity and available resources.

In addition to classroom learning, the UGC has mandated the creation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Clubs in all colleges. These clubs will provide hands-on training in emergency preparedness, including fire safety drills, mock evacuation exercises, crowd management, emergency communication, first aid, and CPR.

Students will also be trained in earthquake preparedness, local disaster planning, and risk assessment. The initiative includes forming student-led emergency response teams to assist during real-life crises.

The move is being hailed as a timely and practical intervention, especially as the country faces an increasing number of climate-related disasters and large-scale emergencies.