**Executive Summary**
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, amends the 2005 Act to improve urban disaster risk management and strengthen India's overall disaster response framework. Key provisions include the creation of Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMAs), a National Disaster Database, and statutory status to the High-Level Committee (HLC). The Act aims to enhance coordination, preparedness, and response capabilities at national and regional levels, and was posted February 11, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Urban Disaster Management:**
* Section 41A added, empowering State Governments to constitute UDMAs in State Capitals and cities with Municipal Corporations (excluding NCT of Delhi and Chandigarh).
* UDMAs are responsible for preparing Urban Plans addressing urban vulnerabilities (flooding, heatwaves) and coordinating implementation.
* **National Disaster Database:**
* Mandates the creation of a National Disaster Database with risk assessments, mitigation plans, and real-time data.
* **Technological Advancement:**
* India Meteorological Department (IMD) has integrated AI/ML models for seven-day advance weather predictions, including flood and cyclone tracking.
* Mission Mausam launched in 2025, aiming for high-resolution AI forecasts by 2030.
* **High-Level Committee (HLC):**
* Statutory status granted to the HLC, responsible for approving financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).
* **Inter-Ministerial Coordination:**
* Ministry of Home Affairs facilitates the timely constitution and deputation of Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) for rapid damage assessment.
* **Financial Approvals (2025-26):**
* HLC approved Rs 4576.7 crore from NDRF to various States for floods/flash floods/cyclone/modernization of fire services.
* Approved funds from NDMF:
* Urban Fund Risk Management Programme (Phase-II): Rs. 2444.42 Cr.
* Restoration and rejuvenation of Assam Wet Land: Rs. 692.05 Cr.
* National Project for Strengthening Community based Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives in Panchayat Raj Institution: Rs. 507.37 Cr.
* **Global Leadership:**
* Highlights India's global leadership in disaster management through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and humanitarian aid efforts like Operation Dost and Operation Brahma.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Empowered and mandated to establish UDMAs in specific urban areas.
* **Action Required:** Set up UDMAs in State Capitals and cities with Municipal Corporations (excluding NCT of Delhi and Chandigarh) and prepare Urban Plans.
**Municipal Corporations**
* **Impact:** Subject to the jurisdiction of UDMAs in their respective cities (excluding Delhi and Chandigarh).
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with newly formed UDMAs to implement Urban Plans and disaster management strategies.
**India Meteorological Department (IMD)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing enhanced weather forecasts and integrating AI/ML models.
* **Action Required:** Continue development and integration of advanced weather forecasting technologies and models.
**High-Level Committee (HLC)**
* **Impact:** Granted statutory status, solidifying its role in financial assistance approval.
* **Action Required:** Continue to approve financial assistance from NDRF and NDMF.
**Ministry of Home Affairs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for facilitating the deployment of Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT).
* **Action Required:** Ensure timely constitution and deployment of IMCTs in response to severe disasters.
**Disaster-Affected States**
* **Impact:** Eligible to receive financial assistance from NDRF and NDMF for disaster recovery and mitigation.
* **Action Required:** Submit proposals for financial assistance to the HLC for disaster recovery and mitigation projects.
**Citizenry**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of strengthened disaster management capabilities, including urban-specific planning and more accurate early warnings.
* **Action Required:** Follow guidelines and safety protocols set by relevant authorities and participate in community-based disaster risk reduction initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025: The primary subject of the document, amending the existing Disaster Management Act to address urban disaster risk and establish a National Disaster Database.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The ministry facilitating the constitution and deputation of Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) and to provide immediate first-hand assessment of the damages caused.
Urban Disaster Management Authority (UDMA): An authority empowered by the amendment of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to be constituted by State Governments in State Capitals and cities with Municipal Corporations for dealing with city-specific disasters.
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): A fund from which the High-Level Committee approves financial assistance to the States.
High-Level Committee (HLC): The committee responsible for approving financial assistance to the States from the National Disaster Response Fund and National Disaster Mitigation Fund; granted statutory status through the amendment to the DM Act.
Ministry of Home Affairs
DISASTER MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) ACT,
2025
Posted On: 11 FEB 2026 4:34PM by PIB Delhi
Rapid urbanisation is posing new and unique challenges in urban areas of large urban agglomerations that
span even more than one district in many areas. Therefore, to address the issue of urban disaster risk
management and have a focused approach towards urban issues, an enabling provision ‘41A’ has been
made through amendment in the Disaster Management Act, 2005, empowering the State Governments to
constitute Urban Disaster Management Authority (UDMA) in State Capitals and all cities having
Municipal Corporation (excluding NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh) for dealing with city
specific disasters more effectively. The UDMAs are responsible for preparation of Urban Plan addressing
urban specific vulnerabilities including flooding and heatwaves and for coordinating the implementation
of the same. Therefore, it is the mandate of the State Governments to set up UDMA. As per information
available, only one state namely, Karnataka has constituted UDMA for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara
Palike.
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, mandates the creation of a National Disaster
Database, which includes risk assessments, mitigation plans, and real-time data on disasters. Alert
agencies such as India Meteorological Department (IMD) have integrated AI/ML models into weather
forecasting systems for seven-day advance predictions. This includes AI-driven simulations for flood
forecasting (up to seven days ahead) and cyclone tracking, as part of Mission Mausam (launched in 2025,
aiming for high-resolution AI forecasts by 2030).
High-Level Committee (HLC), approves financial assistance to the States from the National Disaster
Response Fund (NDRF) and National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF). The HLC existed prior to
enactment of Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025. As it was performing important role in
disaster management, statutory status was granted to HLC through amendment in DM Act in 2025.
Further, Ministry of Home Affairs facilitates timely constitution and deputation of Inter-Ministerial
Central Team (IMCT) in the wake of a severe disaster, for immediate first-hand assessment of the
damages caused.
HLC has approved an amount of Rs 4576.7 crore from NDRF to various States during 2025-26 for
floods/flash floods/cyclone/modernization of fire services/recovery and reconstruction needs etc. HLC
has also approved the following amount from NDMF, under various schemes during this financial year:
1. Urban Fund Risk Management Programme (Phase-II):-Rs. 2444.42 Cr.
2. Restoration and rejuvenation of Assam Wet Land: Rs. 692.05 Cr.
3. National Project for Strengthening Community based Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives in
Panchayat Raj Institution: Rs. 507.37 Crore (including Rs. 203.62 Crore by Ministry of
Panchayti Raj).The Disaster Management Act has significantly strengthened India’s position as a Global leader in
disaster management by establishing a robust legal and institutional framework that enhances
coordination, preparedness and response capabilities. Through the implementation of the Act, India has
demonstrated its commitment to pro-active disaster risk reduction and effective management at both
national and regional level. India has emerged as a global leader in the field of disaster management
through the following steps:
i. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) was launched by the Prime
Minister at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York on September 23, 2019.
So far, 53 countries and 12 international organizations have joined as its members.
ii. The Government is providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief assistance to disaster
affected countries. In the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', Operation Dost in Turkiye and
Syria, Operation Brahma in Myanmar, etc. were initiated by Government of India to provide
immediate Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the victims of disaster.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written
reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
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