Lok Sabha Question No. 1384 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Gaps in Disaster Management System
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rahul Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1384

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH  DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 18, 1947 (SAKA)

GAPS IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

1384.    SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has a long term action plan to address gaps and improve the existing disaster management system, if so, the details thereof, including key gaps in the existing system;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  identified  any  lapses  in  the  disaster response in the aftermath of the natural disasters in Punjab,  Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, if so, the details thereof, including action taken to fix accountability;
- (c) whether the Government has taken measures to improve coordination between  Centre,  States  and  other  entities  to  improve  the  collective response to natural disasters, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  announce  a  special  relief package  for  Punjab,  Himachal  Pradesh  and  Uttarakhand  to  strengthen rebuilding efforts, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a): The Government has framed a National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM) in the year 2009 to build a safe and disaster-resilient India  by  developing  a  holistic,  practical,  multi-disaster  oriented  and technology  driven  strategy  through  a culture  of prevention,  mitigation,

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1384 FOR 09.12.2025

preparedness and response. This is a pan-India policy to strengthen the disaster management system in the country.

The  NPDM  covers  all  elements  of  disaster  management  including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery. To achieve the aforesaid objectives, a legal and  institutional  framework  have  already  been  created  at  the  Central, State and District levels through the Disaster Management Act, 2005, as amended in March 2025.

Also, Hon'ble Prime Minister launched the country's first National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) in June 2016. The plan had been revised and updated in the year 2019 in consultation with all stakeholders. The revised NDMP  brings  together  all  sectors,  ministries  and  departments  at  the Central and State level as well as district level functionaries and defines their respective roles and responsibilities in disaster risk reduction.

Further, During Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR)  hosted  by  India  in  New  Delhi  in  2016,    the  Hon'ble  Prime Minister  announced  10-point  agenda  on  disaster  risk  reduction  (DRR). Each  of  10  points  has  both  national  and  institutional  dimensions.  It provides  practical  guidance  and  added  impetus  to  implementation  of

disaster  management  programme in  the  country  through  systematic  & sustained efforts. 10-point agenda is available at https://ndma.gov.in/Governance/PM-10-Agenda

However, based on the experience gained during the course of the Act's implementation, a need was felt to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and accordingly, it was amended in the year 2025. The amendments strengthened  the  institutional  framework,  financial  mechanisms,  urban disaster  management  and  accountability  structures  which,  inter-alia, includes:

a) Strengthened roles of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),  State  Disaster  Management  Authorities  (SDMAs)  and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) in risk assessment, technical assistance, minimum relief standards, disaster databases, and multi-hazard planning.

b) Statutory status to High-Level Committee (HLC) and National Crisis  Management  Committee  (NCMC)  for  high-impact  disaster response and financial assistance.

c) Improved functioning of National Executive Committee (NEC), State Executive Committee (SEC) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) as planning and execution arms.

- d) Made provision for constitution of Urban Disaster Management Authority  (UDMA)  in  the  States  for  State's  Capitals  and  all  cities having Municipal Corporation.

The  measures  taken  by  the  Central  and  State  Governments  have significantly improved the disaster management practices, preparedness, prevention and response mechanism, resulting in significant reduction in casualties during the natural calamities in the country. Further, strengthening of the disaster management is a continuing and evolving process of governance.

(b)  to  (d):  As  per  the  NPDM,  the  primary  responsibility  for  disaster management including the disbursal of relief to the affected people and taking  mitigation  measures  at  the  ground  level,  rests  with  the  State Governments concerned. However, the Central Government supplements the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments  during  disaster  response  for undertaking  rescue, relief and  rehabilitation  measures in the event of a disaster by providing logistic and financial support in case of calamities of severe nature.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1384 FOR 09.12.2025

The  logistic  support  includes  deployment  of  aircrafts,  boats,  NDRF, special  teams  of  Armed  Forces,  and  Central  Armed  Police  Forces, arrangements  for  relief  materials  and  essential  commodities  including medical  stores,  restoration  of  critical  infrastructure  facilities  including communication network and such other assistance as may be required by the affected States/UTs to meet the situation effectively.

In  order  to  improve  coordination  between  Centre,  States  and  other agencies to improve the collective response and bring synergy in their preparedness  efforts,  the  Central  Government  organizes  an  Annual Conference  of  Relief  Commissioners/Secretaries  to  the  Department  of Disaster  Management  of  States/UTs  before  the  onset  of  south  west monsoon to review the status of preparedness for ensuing Monsoon and to discuss other Disaster Management related issues.

Regarding  the  financial  assistance,  it  is  mentioned  that  the  State Governments provide financial relief to the affected people in the wake of notified disasters, from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal.  However, in the event of disaster of a severe nature,  additional  financial  assistance  is  extended  from  the  National Disaster  Response  Fund (NDRF)  as per the laid down  procedure, which

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1384 FOR 09.12.2025

includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team  (IMCT).  Financial  assistance  under  SDRF/  NDRF  in  the  wake  of natural  disasters  is  by  way  of  relief  of  immediate  nature  and  not  for compensation of loss as suffered/claimed.

Further, as per the scheme of SDRF/ NDRF, the State Executive Committee constituted  under  Section  20  of  the  Disaster  management  Act,  2005, headed by Chief Secretary of the State is responsible for proper utilization of the funds and to ensure that the money drawn from the SDRF account is actually utilized for the purposes for which it has been set up, only on items of expenditure and as per norms approved by the Government of India. State Accountant General is required to monitor the expenditure as per  the  items  and  norms  of  assistance.  The  Comptroller  and  Auditor General of India causes audit of SDRF every year in terms of the scheme of the SDRF.

The Central Government has released funds under SDRF to the States of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand for undertaking relief measures for the disasters occurred during 2025-26, as per details given here under:

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1384 FOR 09.12.2025

(Rs. In Crore)

(As on 04.12.2025)

| Sl. No.   | Name of the State   | Allocation of SDRF   | Allocation of SDRF   | Allocation of SDRF   | Central Share Releases from SDRF   | Central Share Releases from SDRF   |
|-----------|---------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|           |                     | Central Share        | State Share          | Total                | 1st Instalment                     | 2nd Instalment                     |
| 1         | 2                   | 3                    | 4                    | 5                    | 6                                  | 7                                  |
| 1.        | Himachal Pradesh    | 397.60               | 44.00                | 441.60               | 198.80                             | 198.80                             |
| 2.        | Punjab              | 481.60               | 160.80               | 642.40               | 240.80                             | 240.80                             |
| 3.        | Uttarakhand         | 911.20               | 100.80               | 1012.00              | 455.60                             | 455.60                             |

Further, the Government has constituted/deputed Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to the States of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand for assessing the damage  caused  by flood/landslide/ cloudburst  in  these  States  during  2025-26.  Based  on  the  IMCT  report, further  action  is  taken  for  release  of  funds  from  NDRF  as  per  the established procedure.

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