Context:
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 introduced in the Lok Sabha
Key Features:
- Provides for creation of Disaster database at national and state levels.
- It empowers National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) to prepare the disaster plan at national level and state level instead of National Executive Committee and State Executive Committee.
- National plan should be reviewed every 3 years and updated at least once in every 5 years.
- The Bill proposes Urban Disaster Management Authority for State capitals and large cities having Municipal Corporations.
- It calls for statutory recognition to existing bodies like National Crisis Management Committee
- The bill enables state government to constitute State Disaster Response Force to strengthen the disaster response capability of states.
Disaster Management Act, 2005:
- Objective – To manage disasters, including preparation of mitigation strategies, capacity-building and more.
- The act defines disaster as a “catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man-made causes”.
- Nodal Agency – Ministry of Home Affairs
Institutional Structure under the Act:
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) – Laying down disaster management policies and ensuring timely and effective response mechanisms.
- Headed by Prime Minister
- National Executive Committee (NEC) – Responsible for the preparation of the National Disaster Management Plan for the whole country
- Chaired by Union Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
- State Executive Committee is chaired by respective Chief Secretaries
- National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) – An institute for training and capacity development programs for managing natural calamities.
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) – Trained professional units that are called upon for specialized response to disasters
- State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)- Responsible for drawing plans for implementation of national plans and preparing local plans.
- SDMAs are headed by respective Chief Ministers.
- DDMAs are headed by District Collector or District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner
Source: The Hindu
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.
