Parliament passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 on 25 March 2025 when the Rajya Sabha approved the measure, following its earlier passage in the Lok Sabha on 12 December 2024. The Bill subsequently received Presidential assent on 29 March 2025 and was enacted as the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, with its provisions coming into force on 9 April 2025. The Act amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to strengthen national and state-level disaster response mechanisms.
Background
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 established the institutional framework for disaster management in India, creating the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs). The Act was enacted in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2001 Gujarat earthquake.
Over two decades of implementation revealed structural gaps in the original legislation, particularly regarding urban disaster preparedness, the roles of various authorities in disaster planning, and the establishment of dedicated state-level response forces. The amendment was introduced to address these institutional and operational shortcomings.
Key Provisions
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 introduces the following changes:
Disaster planning authority: The NDMA and SDMAs are now directly empowered to prepare disaster management plans at the national and state levels, respectively. This function was previously assigned to the National Executive Committee and State Executive Committees.
Urban Disaster Management Authorities: State governments are empowered to constitute separate Urban Disaster Management Authorities for state capitals and cities that have municipal corporations. This recognises the distinct vulnerability profile and governance requirements of urban centres.
State Disaster Response Forces: States are authorised to establish dedicated State Disaster Response Forces on the model of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), providing states with their own trained and equipped response capability.
Database and information management: The Act introduces provisions for a national disaster database and information management system to support evidence-based disaster planning and response coordination.
Convergence and clarity: The amendment seeks to bring greater clarity and convergence in the roles of different organisations working in disaster management, reducing overlapping mandates and command confusion during disaster response.
Implications for Practitioners
Practitioners in administrative law, urban governance, and municipal law should note the creation of Urban Disaster Management Authorities as a new institutional layer in city governance. Municipal corporations and urban local bodies will need to coordinate with these new authorities, potentially affecting land use planning, building regulation enforcement, and infrastructure development approvals.
Lawyers advising state governments should anticipate the framing of rules under the amended Act, particularly for the establishment of State Disaster Response Forces and Urban Disaster Management Authorities. The rule-making process will determine the operational specifics, including command structures, funding mechanisms, and coordination protocols.
Insurance and construction industry practitioners should track how the enhanced disaster management framework may influence building codes, insurance risk assessments, and liability frameworks for disaster-related losses in urban areas.