NIDM's new network of 260 universities, including premier national institutes, to offer courses designed to help India achieve its SDG goals and mitigate disaster and climate change risks
In a ground-breaking move aimed at bolstering India's resilience to climate change and disaster risk, the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), a think-tank under the Home Ministry, has unveiled an extensive network of 260 universities and colleges.
This initiative is set to pave the way for offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD courses centred around critical topics related to climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR).
As a pivotal part of this ambitious venture, NIDM has announced the launch of a pilot project, wherein five fully funded PhD projects will be granted this year. Additionally, five research grants, each amounting to Rs 10 lakh, will be disbursed to support small-scale research endeavours in the realm of climate change and DRR. Santosh Kumar, the head of the NIDM-led network of universities, confirmed this ground-breaking development.
Among the distinguished institutes chosen to spearhead these courses are the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Kanpur, Delhi, Roorkee, Dhanbad, and Varanasi.
This illustrious list also includes the esteemed Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), National Law University (NLU), North-Eastern Hill University, Bennett University, and Symbiosis.
The meticulously curated courses within this initiative are specifically designed to align with and contribute to India's pursuit of the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With climate change and disaster risk looming as pressing global challenges, this initiative promises to equip the nation's youth with the knowledge and expertise needed to create a more resilient and sustainable future.
This visionary undertaking by NIDM and its partner institutions marks a significant step forward in India's commitment to addressing climate change and disaster risk head-on, fostering a new generation of leaders and experts prepared to tackle the complex challenges of our time. Stay tuned for further updates as this transformative educational network takes shape, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable future for India and the world.