Community Based Disaster Management (CBDM) is an approach that places local communities at the centre of disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience-building. It recognizes that communities are the first to experience the impacts of disasters and are also the first responders before external assistance reaches affected areas. In a country like India, which is highly vulnerable to floods, cyclones, earthquakes, droughts, landslides, heat waves, and other natural as well as human-induced disasters, CBDM has become an essential component of disaster management. It combines local knowledge, community participation, scientific information, and institutional support to reduce disaster risks and enhance adaptive capacity. The need for CBDM in India arises from the country's diverse physical geography, dense population, socio-economic inequalities, rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and climate change. Many disaster-prone areas are remote, making immediate government intervention difficult. Communities possess indigenous knowledge regarding weather patterns, traditional housing techniques, water conservation, and local resource management, which can significantly reduce disaster impacts. Community participation also ensures that disaster management plans reflect local realities, vulnerabilities, and available resources. The importance of CBDM lies in its emphasis on preparedness rather than merely responding after disasters occur. It encourages hazard mapping, vulnerability assessment, capacity building, public awareness, mock drills, and preparation of village and urban disaster management plans. Such measures minimize loss of life and property by enabling communities