Executive Summary:
The Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025, passed by Parliament and assented to by the President on March 29, 2025, came into force on April 9, 2025. The Act aims to increase transparency, accountability, efficiency, and cooperation in disaster management. It also addresses coordination between the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs).
Key Points / Main Content:
Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025 Provisions:
* Clarifies and converges the roles of authorities and committees.
* Provides statutory status to pre-Act organizations, including the National Crisis Management Committee and the High Level Committee.
* Strengthens the functioning of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs).
* Empowers the NDMA and SDMAs to prepare disaster management plans at the national and state levels, respectively.
* Provides for the creation of a disaster database at the national and state levels.
* Allows for the constitution of Urban Disaster Management Authorities for state capitals and large cities with Municipal Corporations.
* Enables state governments to constitute State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs).
NDRF Strength:
* The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has 16 operational battalions.
* The total sanctioned strength of the NDRF is 18,581.
Coordination Between NDRF and SDRFs:
* The primary responsibility for disaster rescue, relief, and rehabilitation rests with State Governments.
* The Central Government supplements state efforts with logistics and financial support for severe disasters exceeding state capacity.
* NDRF organizes annual conferences with SDRFs to share best practices.
* NDRF conducts mock drills and exercises involving SDRFs.
* NDRF engages in community capacity building and public awareness programs.
* NDRF assists in capacity building for SDRFs.
* The NDRF Academy at Nagpur provides training to NDRF personnel and other stakeholders, including SDRFs.
* NDRF Battalions provide training to SDRF personnel in disaster management courses.
* NDRF officials participate in coordination meetings organized by State Governments/local administrations.
* NDRF organized a National Capacity Building competition for SDRFs in handling collapsed structure emergencies in April 2025.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
Impact: They hold the primary responsibility for rescue, relief, and rehabilitation during disasters. The Act enables them to create SDRFs and Urban Disaster Management Authorities. They benefit from central support during severe disasters.
Action Required: States should consider establishing SDRFs, participate in NDRF conferences and drills, and coordinate with the NDRF during disaster events.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs):
Impact: The Act strengthens their functioning and empowers them to prepare disaster management plans.
Action Required: The NDMA and SDMAs should prepare disaster plans at the national and state levels and implement the Act's provisions to enhance disaster management.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):
Impact: The NDRF plays a key role in disaster response and coordination with SDRFs.
Action Required: The NDRF should continue to conduct conferences, drills, and training programs with SDRFs, assist with capacity building, and coordinate with state governments during disasters.
Citizens:
Impact: Benefit from improved disaster management through increased transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
Action Required: Participate in community capacity building and public awareness programs organized by the NDRF and local authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Disaster Management Amendment Bill, 2024: A proposed legislative bill focused on amending existing disaster management policies.
Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025: The enacted version of the Disaster Management Amendment Bill, 2024, which received presidential assent and came into force in April 2025.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): A specialized force responsible for responding to disasters at the national level.
State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs): State-level forces responsible for disaster response within their respective states.
National Crisis Management Committee: A pre-existing organization that has been given statutory status by the Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025.
High Level Committee: A pre-existing committee that has been given statutory status by the Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025.
National Disaster Management Authority: A national-level authority responsible for disaster management planning and policy.
NDRF Academy at Nagpur, Maharashtra: A training institute established by the Government of India to train NDRF personnel and other stakeholders, including SDRF.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 284
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025/ ASHADHA 31, 1947 (SAKA)
DISASTER MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024
284. SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to
increase transparency, accountability, efficiency and cooperation in
disaster management;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the total strength of the active National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF);
(d) whether the Government has taken steps to streamline cooperation
and coordination between the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
and the State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs); and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) & (b): The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 has been
passed by the Parliament and got assent of the President on 29.03.2025.
The provisions of the Act came into force w.e.f. 09.04.2025. The Act, inter-
alia, aims to:--2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 284 FOR 22.07.2025
(i) bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of Authorities and
Committees working in the field of disaster management;
(ii) provide statutory status to certain pre-Act organizations like the
National Crisis Management Committee and the High Level
Committee;
(iii) strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster
Management Authority and the State Disaster Management
Authorities;
(iv) empower the National Disaster Management Authority and the
State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare the disaster
plan at national level and State level instead of the National
Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee.
(v) provide for creation of disaster data base at national and State
level;
(vi) make provision for constitution of “Urban Disaster Management
Authority” for State Capital and large cities having Municipal
Corporation; and-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 284 FOR 22.07.2025
(vii) make enabling provision for constitution of “State Disaster
Response Force” by the State Government.
The above measures are aimed to increase transparency,
accountability, efficiency and cooperation in the disaster management.
(c): There are 16 operational battalions in the National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF) and their total sanctioned strength is 18,581.
(d) & (e): The primary responsibility of undertaking rescue, relief and
rehabilitation measures in the event of a natural disaster rests with the
State Governments concerned. The Central Government, wherever
required, supplements the efforts of the State Governments by providing
logistics and financial support in cases of natural disasters of severe
nature and beyond coping capacity of the State resources.
For better coordination and synergy between National Disaster Response
Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs) and to provide
multiplier effects towards relief and rehabilitation during natural
disasters, major steps taken by the Government are as under:
i. NDRF organizes annual conference of SDRF including other
stakeholders concerned. The conference provides an opportunity to-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 284 FOR 22.07.2025
share best practices to improve the response capabilities through
mutual cooperation/ coordination in case of any disaster. Since last
two years, this Conference is being conducted jointly with Relief
Commissioners’ Conference by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in
collaboration with NDRF to review the status of preparedness to deal
with disaster or impending disaster situation before South-West
Monsoon.
ii. NDRF regularly conducts mock drills/ exercises involving SDRF and
other stakeholders. These mock drills/ exercises provide platform for
effective coordination between NDRF and SDRF.
iii. NDRF is relentlessly engaged in community capacity building and
public awareness and preparedness programmes.
iv. NDRF renders necessary assistance for capacity building of the SDRF.
v. The Government of India has also established a premium institute i.e.
NDRF Academy at Nagpur to impart training to NDRF personnel and
other stakeholders, including SDRF. Besides, NDRF Battalions are
also imparting training to SDRF personnel in various disaster
management courses.-5-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 284 FOR 22.07.2025
vi. In the wake of disaster/ impending disaster situation, NDRF officials
also participate in the coordination meetings organized by the State
Governments/local administration.
vii. NDRF organized a National Capacity Building competition for SDRFs
to enhance their preparedness and efficiency in handling collapsed
structure emergencies wherein total 30 teams of 29 States/UTs
participated. Final of the competition was conducted from 21st to 24th
April, 2025 at 08th BN NDRF, Ghaziabad, UP.
******