**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1538 in the Lok Sabha, answered on December 9, 2025, regarding delays in the release of disaster relief funds. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs addresses questions about the allocation and release of funds under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) over the past five years, specifically concerning delays in Karnataka. The document emphasizes the State Governments' primary responsibility for disaster management.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Disaster Management Responsibility:**
* State Governments are primarily responsible for disaster management and disbursal of relief assistance at the ground level, according to the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM).
* State Governments undertake relief measures using the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
* **Central Government's Role:**
* The Central Government supplements the State Governments' efforts by providing logistics and financial support.
* Additional financial assistance is provided from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) based on established procedures, including assessments by an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) in cases of severe disasters.
* Financial assistance from SDRF and NDRF is for relief, not compensation for losses.
* **Expedited Assessment and Release:**
* The Government of India decided on August 19, 2019, to deploy IMCT immediately after a severe natural calamity, without waiting for a memorandum from the State Government, to expedite assessment and release of financial assistance.
* **Fund Details:**
* Details of funds allocated and released under SDRF/NDRF to the States are available on the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) website (ndmindia.mha.gov.in).
* State-wise details of funds allocated and released under SDRF/NDRF from 2021-22 to 2024-25, including for Karnataka, are at Annexure.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** State Governments are responsible for disaster management and relief measures, using the SDRF for initial response.
* **Action Required:** State Governments must utilize the SDRF and follow established procedures to request additional assistance from the Central Government (NDRF) when needed.
**Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)**
* **Impact:** MHA provides financial support and logistics as needed.
* **Action Required:** MHA must ensure timely assessments via IMCT and the release of additional financial assistance to states.
**Citizens Affected by Disasters**
* **Impact:** Affected citizens are to receive timely relief assistance through funds from the SDRF and NDRF
* **Action Required:** Citizens will be expected to follow protocol as laid out by State Governments to receive relief as required.
Key Entities Referenced
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): A fund managed by the Central Government to address disaster situations. State Governments receive supplemental funding from this resource in case of severe natural disasters.
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF): A fund managed by State Governments for providing relief measures in the wake of natural calamities. State Governments draw funds from this pool for relief assistance.
National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM): A policy document which dictates the primary responsibility for disaster management, including disbursal of relief assistance, which rests with the State Governments concerned.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for disaster management. It allocates and releases funds from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and publishes details of funds allocated and released under SDRF/NDRF to the States.
Karnataka: An Indian state that is the specific focus of the parliamentary question regarding delays in disaster relief fund release.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1538
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9TH DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 18, 1947
(SAKA)
DELAY IN RELEASE OF DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS
1538. SHRI RADHAKRISHNA:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of funds allocated and released by the Government under
the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response
Fund (SDRF) during the last five years, State/UT-wise;
(b) whether there have been any delays in the release of the Central share
of disaster relief funds to Karnataka during this period;
(c) if so, the reasons for such delays; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure timely release of disaster
management funds to States/UTs in future?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (b) : As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the
primary responsibility for disaster management, including disbursal of
relief assistance on ground level, rests with the State Governments
concerned. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the
wake of natural calamities, from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)
already placed at their disposal, in accordance with Government of India
approved items and norms. The Central Government supplements the-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1538 FOR 09.12.2025
efforts of the State Governments and provides requisite logistics and
financial support. Additional financial assistance is provided from
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in
case of disaster of ‘severe nature’, which includes an assessment based
on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT). The financial
assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is by way of relief and not for
compensation of loss suffered/claimed. The details of the funds allocated
and released under SDRF/NDRF to the States are available on Disaster
Management, MHA’s website i.e. ndmindia.mha.gov.in. The State-wise
details of funds allocated and released under SDRF/NDRF during the years
from 2021-22 to 2024-25 to all states including Karnataka are at
Annexure.
(c) to (d) : In order to expedite the assessment and release of additional
financial assistance to States, Government of India took a significant
decision on 19.08.2019 to depute IMCT immediately in the aftermath of
any natural calamity of severe nature, and without waiting for the
memorandum from the State Government. Based on the report received
from the team, further action is taken according to the established
procedure.
*****-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1538 FOR 09.12.2025
ANNEXURE
Statement showing State-wise details of allocation and releases of funds under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster
Response Fund (NDRF) during the years 2020-21 TO 2024-25
(Rs. in crore)
Sl State Allocation under SDRF including Centre and Centre’s Share of SDRF Released Release from NDRF (For all calamities)
State share
No.
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
1. Andhra Pradesh 1192.80 1192.80 1252.80 1315.20 1380.80 895.20 895.20 940.00 987.20 1036.00 657.01 351.43 -- -- 56.90
2. Arunachal Pradesh 222.40 222.40 233.60 245.60 256.80 200.00 200.00 210.40 220.80 115.60 59.34 -- -- -- --
3. Assam 686.40 686.40 720.80 756.80 795.20 617.60 617.60 648.80 680.80 716.00 44.37 -- 250.00 -- 29.02
4. Bihar 1510.40 1510.40 1586.40 1664.80 1748.00 1132.80 1132.80 1189.60 1248.80 1311.20 1255.27 1038.96 -- -- --
5. Chhattisgarh 460.80 460.80 484.00 508.00 533.60 345.60 345.60 181.60 181.60# 380.80# -- -- -- -- 33.24
6. Goa 12.00 12.00 12.80 12.80 13.60 9.60 9.60 9.60 9.60 10.40 -- -- -- -- 31.50
7. Gujarat 1412.00 1412.00 1482.40 1556.80 1635.20 1059.20 1059.20 556.00 1140.00# 600.00# -- 1000.00 -- -- --
8. Haryana 524.00 524.00 550.40 577.60 606.40 392.80 392.80 412.80 433.60 455.20 -- -- -- -- --
9. Himachal Pradesh 363.20 363.20 380.80 400.80 420.00 327.20 327.20 342.40 360.80 378.40 2.90 -- 214.26 787.25 84.56
10. Jharkhand 605.60 605.60 635.20 667.20 701.60 454.40 454.40 -- 476.80# 1027.20# -- 200.00 -- -- --
11. Karnataka 843.20 843.20 885.60 929.60 976.00 632.80 632.80 664.00 697.60 732.00 689.27 1623.30 939.83 -- 3528.45
12. Kerala 335.20 335.20 352.00 369.60 388.00 251.20 251.20 264.00 277.60 291.20 -- -- -- -- --
13. Madhya Pradesh 1941.60 1941.60 2038.40 2140.80 2248.00 1456.00 1456.00 1528.80 1605.60 1686.40 1891.79 600.50 -- -- --
14. Maharashtra 3436.80 3436.80 3608.80 3788.80 3978.40 2577.60 2577.60 2706.40 2841.60 2984.00 420.12 1056.39 -- -- --
15. Manipur 37.60 37.60 39.20 41.60 44.00 33.60 33.60 35.20 18.80 50.00 26.53 -- -- -- 12.15
16. Meghalaya 58.40 58.40 60.80 64.80 67.20 52.80 52.80 27.20 27.20# 59.60 16.52 -- -- -- 11.98-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1538 FOR 09.12.2025
ANNEXURE
17. Mizoram 41.60 41.60 43.20 46.40 48.00 37.60 37.60 39.20 41.60 43.20 -- -- -- -- 18.36
18. Nagaland 36.80 36.80 38.40 40.80 42.40 32.80 32.80 34.40 36.80 38.40 1.34 -- 107.31 -- 181.81
19. Odisha 1711.20 1711.20 1796.80 1886.40 1980.80 1283.20 1283.20 1348.00 1415.20 1485.60 500.00 500.00 -- -- 45.09
20. Punjab 528.00 528.00 554.40 582.40 611.20 474.43 396.00 416.00 436.80 458.40 -- -- -- -- 29.60
21. Rajasthan 1580.00 1580.00 1659.20 1742.40 1828.80 1184.80 1184.80 1244.80 1307.20 1372.00 68.65 -- 13.46 -- --
22. Sikkim 44.80 44.80 47.20 49.60 52.00 40.00 40.00 42.40 44.80 47.20 73.86 55.23 -- 81.89 229.82
23. Tamil Nadu 1088.00 1088.00 1142.40 1200.00 1260.00 816.00 816.00 856.80 900.00 944.80 286.91 566.36 -- -- 360.09
24. Telangana 479.20 479.20 503.20 528.00 555.20 359.20 359.20 188.80 584.80# 416.80 -- -- -- -- 42.78
25. Tripura 60.80 60.80 63.20 67.20 70.40 54.40 54.40 56.80 60.80 71.60 12.93 -- -- -- 186.40
26. Uttar Pradesh 2062.40 2062.40 2165.60 2273.60 2388.00 1546.40 1546.40 812.00 1664.80# 1748.40# -- -- -- -- 172.95
27. Uttarakhand 832.80 832.80 874.40 918.40 964.00 749.60 749.60 787.20 826.40 434.00 -- -- -- -- 21.30
28. West Bengal 1078.40 1078.40 1132.80 1189.60 1248.00 808.80 808.80 849.60 892.00 936.00 2250.28 350.13 -- -- 84.77
Total 23186.40 23186.40 24344.80 25565.60 26841.60 17825.63 17747.20 16392.80 19419.60 19830.40 8257.09 7342.30 1524.86 869.14 5160.77
#Including arrears of SDRF for the previous year.
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