Nationwide Emergency Response System (NERS-112)

Nationwide Emergency Response System (NERS-112)
Why in News?
•    The Supreme Court of India has directed all States and Union Territories to complete the technical and operational integration of all emergency helpline numbers into the 112 Nationwide Emergency Response System (NERS) within three months.
•    Court submissions revealed that, despite the nationwide launch of NERS in 2019, only five States/UTs have fully integrated all major emergency helplines into the common 112 number.
What is NERS-112?
•    Nationwide Emergency Response System (NERS-112) is India's single emergency helpline, launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 19 February 2019.
•    It was introduced to provide a one-stop emergency response mechanism, similar to 911 in the United States and 112 used across Europe.
•    The objective is to eliminate confusion caused by multiple emergency numbers and ensure faster, coordinated emergency response through a single national helpline.
Emergency Numbers Intended to be Integrated into 112
•    The 112 emergency response system is designed to integrate multiple emergency helpline services under a single nationwide number, replacing separate numbers such as 100 (Police), 101 (Fire Services), 102 (Emergency Medical Services), 108 (Ambulance Services), 1033 (National Highway Emergency Assistance), 181 (Women Helpline), 1091 (Women in Distress), and 1098 (Child Helpline), thereby providing citizens with a one-stop emergency response mechanism.
Current Status of Implementation
•    According to submissions before the Supreme Court, only five States/UTs—Delhi, Kerala, Gujarat, Haryana, and Lakshadweep—have fully integrated all emergency helplines into the NERS-112 system. 
•    Uttar Pradesh has integrated all services except 102 (Emergency Medical Services), while sixteen States have only partially completed integration and ten States are yet to do so. Responses from three States were not available.
Why Was 112 Chosen as the Emergency Number?
•    The number was originally recommended by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) in 1976.
•    The choice was based on practical considerations:
o    On rotary telephones, 112 could be dialled very quickly.
o    Even if the telephone dial was locked, 112 could still be dialled.
o    Different digits (instead of repeated numbers such as 111 or 999) reduced accidental calls.
o    Even on modern smartphones, 112 remains simple and easy to remember and dial.
Why Did India Introduce a Single Emergency Number?
•    The decision emerged from the recommendations of the Justice J. S. Verma Committee, constituted after the 2012 Delhi gangrape case.
•    The Committee recommended establishing a unified public emergency response system capable of dispatching emergency services quickly through a single contact point.
•    Following these recommendations, the Department of Telecommunications allotted 112 as India's common emergency number.
•    The Ministry of Home Affairs launched NERS-112 in 2019 using funding from the Nirbhaya Fund.
How Does the 112 System Work?
•    Instead of contacting different departments separately, citizens dial 112 for any emergency.
•    The system automatically routes the request to the appropriate emergency service.
•    A centralized command centre creates an electronic incident ticket and dispatches the nearest available response unit based on the type and location of the emergency.
•    The platform also enables better monitoring, coordination, and allocation of emergency resources across districts and states.
Experience of Uttar Pradesh 112
•    Uttar Pradesh established its UP-112 system in 2017.
•    The State operates a centralized command centre in Lucknow.
•    Key features include:
o    More than 6,278 police response vehicles deployed across identified hotspots.
o    Handling over 30,000 emergency calls every day.
o    Integration with 25 public services, including Safe City Lucknow, Lucknow Smart City, UPSRTC mobile app, Childline, and PM-Rahat