India Strengthens Disaster Management Framework with Amendment Act 2025
The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, to enhance urban disaster management and national preparedness. This amendment empowers state governments to form Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMA) in major cities, excluding certain territories, to specifically handle urban vulnerabilities like flooding and heatwaves. Karnataka has been proactive in establishing UDMA for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike. The Amendment also mandates the creation of a National Disaster Database and promotes AI integration for disaster predictions. Financial aids from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) have been approved to various states, with a substantial Rs 4576.7 crore allocated for 2025-26. This move strengthens India's leadership in global disaster resilience, demonstrated by initiatives like the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and humanitarian operations such as Operation Dost. Initiatives under the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' have further showcased India's commitment to disaster response.
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