Overview
The Ministry of Home Affairs released data on disaster‑related losses and the financial support extended to states for the fiscal years 2023‑24 to 2025‑26. The focus is on Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state prone to landslides, glacial‑lake outburst floods (GLOFs), forest fires and earthquakes. The Centre supplements state efforts through the NPDM, the SDRF and the NDRF.
Key Developments (2023‑26)
- Approval of the NLRMP for Himachal Pradesh with a central share of ₹125 crore and a state share of ₹14 crore.
- Launch of the NGRMP covering Himachal, Arunachal, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.
- Forest‑fire risk mitigation scheme approved with a central share of ₹7.34 crore and a state share of ₹0.82 crore for Himachal Pradesh.
- Community‑based disaster‑risk reduction project for Panchayati Raj Institutions funded at ₹14.84 crore for Himachal Pradesh.
- Operationalisation of the integrated warning system SACHET, linking multiple meteorological and geological agencies.
- Capacity‑building initiatives such as Aapda Mitra and Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme to train volunteers for disaster response.
Important Facts – Losses & Funding (2023‑26)
According to Annexure‑I, Himachal Pradesh recorded:
- 2023‑24: 556 lives lost, 21,506 cattle lost, 15,792 houses/huts damaged, 0.76 lakh ha of cropped area affected.
- 2024‑25: 408 lives lost, 7,116 cattle lost, 1,089 houses/huts damaged, 0.32 lakh ha of cropped area affected.
- 2025‑26: 195 lives lost, 4,120 cattle lost, 10,525 houses/huts damaged, 0.32 lakh ha of cropped area affected.
Funding under SDRF and NDRF for Himachal Pradesh (Annexure‑II) shows:
- SDRF allocation rose from ₹400.80 crore (2023‑24) to ₹441.60 crore (2025‑26).
- Centre’s share of SDRF released increased from ₹360.80 crore to ₹397.60 crore over the three years.
- NDRF releases for Himachal Pradesh totalled ₹1,890.09 crore across the period, reflecting central assistance for severe events.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the disaster‑management architecture is essential for GS2 (Polity) and GS3 (Economy). Aspirants should note:
- The division of responsibilities between the Centre and states under the NPDM.
- The role of the IMCT in sanctioning NDRF funds.
- How specialised projects like NLRMP and NGRMP address region‑specific hazards.
- The importance of early‑warning systems (SACHET) for reducing loss of life, a frequent question in disaster‑management case studies.
Way Forward
For effective disaster risk reduction, the following steps are recommended:
- Strengthen data collection at the state level to create a unified national disaster database.
- Expand community‑based schemes like Aapda Mitra to cover remote Himalayan villages.
- Increase the central share in SDRF for high‑vulnerability states to ensure rapid relief.
- Integrate climate‑change projections into the planning of NLRMP and NGRMP.
- Regularly test and upgrade the SACHET platform to incorporate new sensor data and improve alert accuracy.
These measures will enhance resilience, reduce economic loss, and align with India’s commitment to sustainable development and disaster‑risk reduction.