The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act 2024 reshapes India’s federal disaster architecture. Examine the changes, the role of the Urban Disaster Management Authority, and the residual gaps in financing.

Introduction:

The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act 2024 received Presidential assent on 1 March 2025, two decades after the original DM Act 2005 of 26 December 2005 was passed in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; the 15th Finance Commission has allocated ₹1,28,122.40 crore for State and National Disaster Response and Mitigation Funds (2021-26).

Key changes:

The NDMA is now empowered to prepare disaster plans directly (earlier only mandated to coordinate). The NDMA Chairperson is appointed by the Prime Minister. The National Crisis Management Committee and High-Level Committee receive statutory backing. State Disaster Mitigation Funds and a National Disaster Mitigation Fund have been created. The Cabinet Secretary's role in NCMC is formalised.

Urban Disaster Management Authority:

The amendment creates a new Urban Disaster Management Authority for state-capital cities and million-plus cities — addressing dense urban risk (Wayanad landslides July 2024, Chennai flooding, Joshimath subsidence January 2023, Sikkim GLOF October 2023, Cyclone Biparjoy June 2023).

Residual gaps:

States flag federal encroachment on List II subjects such as public health and sanitation. Heatwave remains outside the 12 SDRF-notified disasters, despite IMD's record 536 heatwave days in 2024. Climate-induced compound disasters are unevenly mapped. SDMF and NDMF allocations are yet to be ring-fenced from competing demands.

Way forward / Conclusion:

Notify UDMA rules, ring-fence SDMF/NDMF allocations, include heatwave under SDRF, and align India's disaster financing with the Sendai Framework 2015-2030 and CDRI targets by 2027 under NDMA.