Parliament Passes Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024

• 26 Mar 2025

On 25th March 2025, the Parliament passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024, with the Rajya Sabha approving it. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill in December 2024.

• The bill amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to enhance the efficiency of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA).

Key Points

• Strengthened Planning: The NDMA and SDMA will now be responsible for preparing disaster plans at national and state levels instead of the National Executive Committee and State Executive Committee.
• Urban Disaster Management: State governments can now establish a separate Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capitals and cities with municipal corporations.
• Disaster Database Creation: The bill mandates the development of disaster databases at national and state levels.
• Decentralization Assurance: Addressing concerns about centralization, Shah stated that the bill grants significant powers to District Disaster Management Authorities.
• Financial Allocations: The central government has allocated ₹6,194 crore for State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) battalions in 19 states as of June 2023.