New Delhi — The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the conversion of two additional battalions of the Sashastra Seema Bal (armed border forces) for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and for strengthening existing NDRF battalions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting.

The objective of the conversion of these two additional battalions is to provide response to the area of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh during any natural and man made disaster and to enhance the capability of the existing NDRF battalions.

The placement of two NDRF Battalions at Varanasi and Arunachal Pradesh will fill up the vast gap of deployment of the NDRF.