- Why in news
- On 13 March 2026, a High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved Rs 1,912.99 crore of additional central assistance from the NDRF for five States and J&K hit by 2025 disasters.
- What it is
- The Disaster Management Act, 2005 is the law that sets up India's disaster management system: the NDMA at the national level, State Disaster Management Authorities and District Authorities. It also provides for response and mitigation funds at the national and State levels. The 2025 Amendment updates this framework.
- Who approved
- A High-Level Committee under the Union Home Minister approved the additional assistance.
- Source of funds and adjustment
- The aid comes from the NDRF, after adjusting 50% of the opening balance in the State's SDRF.
- Releases in 2025-26
- The Centre released Rs 20,735.20 crore under SDRF to 28 States and Rs 3,628.18 crore under NDRF to 21 States.
- Mitigation funds
- Mitigation money was also released: Rs 5,373.20 crore from the SDMF to 23 States and Rs 1,189.56 crore from the NDMF to 21 States.
- Legal basis of the funds
- The 2005 Act provides for response and mitigation funds at national, State and district levels. The NDMA is headed by the Prime Minister.
- Section 41A
- The amendment enables State Governments to constitute Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMA) in State capitals and cities with a Municipal Corporation, excluding NCT of Delhi and Chandigarh.
- UDMA role
- UDMAs prepare an Urban Plan covering urban vulnerabilities such as flooding and heat waves, and coordinate its implementation.
- National Disaster Database
- The 2025 Act mandates a National Disaster Database with risk assessments, mitigation plans and real-time disaster data.
- High-Level Committee
- The HLC approves central assistance to States from NDRF and NDMF. It existed earlier and got statutory status through the 2025 amendment.
- NDRF approvals
- The HLC approved Rs 4576.7 crore from NDRF to States in 2025-26.
- NDMA head
- Under the 2005 Act, the National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Don’t confuse with SDRF vs NDRF: SDRF is the State's own response fund, to which the Centre contributes. NDRF is the central fund that gives additional aid for severe disasters.
Don’t confuse with Response vs mitigation funds: NDRF and SDRF pay for relief and response. NDMF and SDMF pay for mitigation projects.
Don’t confuse with NDRF vs NDMF: NDRF funds response and relief; NDMF funds mitigation projects.
Don’t confuse with NDMA vs UDMA: NDMA is the national apex body chaired by the PM; UDMA is a city-level body set up by States.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Central top-up from the NDRF gives States with severe disasters money beyond their SDRF.
- Gives cities a dedicated body for urban floods and heat waves.
- Statutory HLC and a national database improve transparency and evidence-based fund allocation.
Problems
- Aid arrives after the disaster, and the amount depends on assessment and HLC approval, which can delay relief.
- Section 41A is only enabling, so States may delay creating UDMAs.
- Municipal bodies often lack funds, staff and technical capacity.
Way forward
- Shift spending towards mitigation and early warning so that less relief is needed.
- Give UDMAs dedicated funds and trained staff, and link urban plans to city master plans.
- Keep the disaster database updated and use AI forecasting for early warning.
Put in your answer
Fund flows 2025-26: Use the SDRF, NDRF, SDMF and NDMF figures to show the scale of central support for disaster management.
Cost-sharing rule: Use the 50% adjustment of the SDRF opening balance as an example of the rules for NDRF aid.
NDRF approvals 2025-26: HLC approved Rs 4576.7 crore from NDRF to States in 2025-26.
AI in forecasting: IMD uses AI/ML for seven-day forecasts and flood and cyclone simulations under Mission Mausam.
- 2018Mains GS3 · Q18Describe India's pre- and post-Sendai Disaster Risk Reduction measures and framework differences
- 2020Mains GS3 · Q18Recent Indian disaster management measures moving from reactive to proactive approach
- 2016Mains GS3 · Q16NDMA guidelines to mitigate Uttarakhand cloudburst impacts
- 2020Mains GS2 · Q11Centralising tendencies in Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other laws
- 2024Mains GS3 · Q18Discuss causes of urban floods, and policies and frameworks tackling them in India
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statement I and II
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following two statements about the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025:
- Statement-I: Section 41A enables State Governments to constitute Urban Disaster Management Authorities in State capitals and in cities having a Municipal Corporation, excluding NCT of Delhi and Chandigarh.
- Statement-II: The High-Level Committee, which approves central financial assistance to States from the NDRF and the NDMF, was created for the first time by the 2025 Amendment.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Urban Disaster Management Authorities must be set up by the Union Government in all cities.
False. State Governments set up UDMAs, in State capitals and Municipal Corporation cities, with Delhi and Chandigarh excluded.
2.The provision for UDMAs applies to NCT of Delhi and Chandigarh as well.
False. NCT of Delhi and Chandigarh are excluded.
3.The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 mandates a National Disaster Database containing risk assessments, mitigation plans and real-time data.
True. The database is mandated by the 2025 Act.
4.The High-Level Committee was created for the first time by the 2025 Amendment.
False. The HLC existed earlier; the amendment gave it statutory status.
5.The High-Level Committee approves assistance from both the NDRF and the National Disaster Mitigation Fund.
True. HLC approves assistance from NDRF and NDMF.
6.Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the Union Home Minister.
False. The Prime Minister chairs the NDMA.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
15 marks · 250 words
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 provides for Urban Disaster Management Authorities, a National Disaster Database and statutory status for the High-Level Committee. Examine the key provisions of the amendment and discuss the challenges in making India's urban disaster governance effective.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.