The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), launched by India in 2019, is an essential initiative focusing on disaster management and infrastructure resilience, a crucial topic for the UPSC syllabus. Recently, CDRI collaborated with India’s Department of Telecommunications and the National Disaster Management Authority to assess risks to the telecommunications sector. This initiative, which promotes the resilience of infrastructure against climate change and disasters, underscores India’s leadership in global disaster management efforts.

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• CDRI, launched in 2019, aims to make infrastructure systems resilient to climate and disaster risks.
• It involves national governments, UN agencies, multilateral banks, private sectors, and knowledge institutions.
• CDRI facilitates sharing global experiences to protect critical infrastructure, such as power stations, communication lines, and housing.
• It focuses on identifying best practices, building capacity, and standardizing infrastructure design and management.
• CDRI estimates that investing $1 in resilient infrastructure could save $4 in disaster-related losses.
• The initiative aligns with India’s leadership in climate resilience, evident in the launch of IRIS and the IRAF for Small Island States at COP26 and COP27.
• The CDRI’s Disaster Risk and Resilience Assessment Framework (DRRAF) aims to assess risks in sectors like telecommunications.
• PM Modi’s quote emphasizes that infrastructure should provide high-quality, dependable, and equitable services to people.
• CDRI’s initiatives support sustainable development and long-term disaster risk reduction in vulnerable regions.
• The recent passage of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aligns with CDRI’s goals, enhancing disaster management capabilities in India.