Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday attended the President’s Colour Award Ceremony of the National Disaster Response Force in Ghaziabad and praised the force for earning the trust and confidence of 140 crore Indians through its dedicated disaster response and humanitarian service over the past two decades.
During the ceremony, HM Shah reviewed the ceremonial parade and took the salute from NDRF personnel, acknowledging the force’s role in rescue operations, disaster relief, and emergency response across the country.
Addressing the gathering, the Home Minister said the President’s Colour Award, also known as the ‘Nishaan’, was among the highest honours bestowed upon a military or paramilitary force and symbolised exceptional service, courage, dedication, and achievement.
“Today, the National Disaster Response Force has been honoured with the President’s Colour, which is a matter of pride and prestige for all of us. This honour represents the collective service, courage, valour, and dedication of all personnel of the force,” HM Shah said.
He added that the honour recognised not only the contribution of the NDRF but also the collective efforts of State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs), Panchayats, state machinery, NCC, NSS, and thousands of ‘Aapada Mitras’ involved in disaster relief work across India.
Praising the force’s humanitarian work, HM Shah said the NDRF had become a symbol of hope during disasters.
“Wherever a disaster occurs and NDRF personnel arrive in uniform, people breathe a sigh of relief. In just 20 years, the force has earned the trust of 140 crore people of the country,” he said.
The Home Minister highlighted that the National Disaster Management Authority and the NDRF had together placed India on the global map in the field of disaster management and relief operations.
“In 20 years, the NDMA and NDRF have put India on the global map in the field of disaster relief. This is a matter of pride for all of us,” he said.
HM Shah also stressed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government had focused not only on disaster response but also on preparedness and risk reduction since 2014.
“Today, we have reached a stage where we can move towards a goal of zero casualties,” he said.
During the event, the Home Minister laid the foundation stones for six new Regional Response Centres (RRCs) of the NDRF and virtually inaugurated one such centre in Dehradun.
He also praised the environmental initiatives undertaken by security forces and highlighted large-scale plantation drives by CAPF personnel.
“I have never seen such a lush green campus anywhere else. Before this rainy season, CAPF personnel have planted more than seven crore trees since 2019,” HM Shah said.
NDRF Director General Piyush Anand said the force had participated in more than 12,000 rescue operations since its inception and saved over 1.5 lakh lives.
“In 2025 alone, NDRF participated in more than 1,400 operations,” he said.
He also noted that over 5,500 SDRF personnel had been trained free of cost by the NDRF under the guidance of the Union Home Minister.
The NDRF, functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has played a crucial role in rescue and relief operations during floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, industrial accidents, and other emergencies across India.
(With agency inputs)
