Context:
Heatwave events have reopened discussions on inclusion of heatwave as notified disasters under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005
Notified Disasters:
- Defined under – Disaster Management Act, 2005
- It defines a disaster as a “catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence” arising from natural or man-made causes that results in substantial loss of life, destruction of property, or damage to the environment.
- Includes 12 Notified Disasters – Cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack, frost & cold wave.
- In 2020, government treated Covid-19 as notified disaster as a special one-time dispensation
- Funding – From the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
- Money in these funds can be utilized only for response and management of notified disasters.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
- Apex body for Disaster Management in India
- Headed by – Prime Minister
- Mandated by – Disaster Management Act, 2005
- Functions – To lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management.
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC):
1. TRAFFIC is a bureau under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. The mission of TRAFFIC is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct:
TRAFFIC is a joint program of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and IUCN – the International Union for Conservation of Nature and not a bureau under UNEP.
