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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on December 14, 2024

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Disaster Management Bill, 2024

For Preliminary Examination: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), National Policy on Disaster Management (2009)

For Mains Examination: General Studies Paper II (Governance and Policy)

Context:

The Lok Sabha passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 Thursday through a voice vote, which seeks to amend the existing Disaster Management Act, 2005

Read about:

National Disaster Management Act (NDMA)

National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)

Key takeaways:

• The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 1, 2024, as an amendment to the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

  • The original Act established the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to oversee disaster management at the national, state, and district levels, respectively.

• Under the Act, National Executive Committee and State Executive Committee were constituted to assist NDMA and SDMA.

  • These committees are tasked with drafting national and state disaster management plans, which are then approved and implemented by NDMA and SDMA.
  • However, the amendment mandates that NDMA and SDMA will now prepare these plans directly.

• The Bill authorizes state governments to set up an Urban Disaster Management Authority specifically for state capitals and cities with municipal corporations.

  • This authority will be chaired by the Municipal Commissioner, with the District Collector serving as vice-chairperson, and other members designated by the state government.

• The Act establishes the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for specialized disaster response.

  • The Bill allows states to constitute a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), whose functions and terms of service will be determined by the state government.

• The Bill grants statutory recognition to existing bodies like the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High-Level Committee (HLC).

  • The NCMC will act as the primary body for managing large-scale disasters with national implications, while the HLC will oversee financial aid to state governments during disasters.

• The Act also stipulates that the central government will provide NDMA with the necessary personnel, consultants, and staff as required