Explain the structural and operational limitations of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. How far does the 2025 Amendment address these deficiencies through a shift towards anticipatory and technology-driven disaster governance?

Structural & operational limitation

1. Planning at top level → rigidity (NDMA + CCS)

2. Top down approach in guideline framing (NDMA guidelines) and implemention

3. NDRF and funds given at discretion to states → not fair in some cases (eg Karnataka drought)

4. Classification of disasters had lacunas (eg left heatwaves, drought is not under DM Act)

5. Federal issues → due to overriding powers

eg Nation wide lockdown in Covid-19 unilaterally

2025 Amendment role in addressing deficiencies

1. Planning is decentralized, given to DDMA, SDMA

2. Bottom up approach: Suits local needs & anticipatory

3. Disaster database → enable data driven decision

4. Use of AI models, Big data, sat-com, Geospatial technology makes it pro-active.

5. UDMA → Urban disaster management is addressed while earlier there was role confusion.