Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s High‑Level Committee Approves ₹1,913 crore Disaster Relief to Six States and J&K (2025) — UPSC Current Affairs | March 13, 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s High‑Level Committee Approves ₹1,913 crore Disaster Relief to Six States and J&K (2025)
A High‑Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister <strong>Amit Shah</strong> approved an additional ₹1,912.99 crore from the <span class="key-term" data-definition="National Disaster Response Fund — a central government fund used to provide immediate assistance to states for disaster relief and response (GS3: Governance/Disaster Management)">NDRF</span> for flood‑related disasters in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Jammu & Kashmir for the year 2025. The assistance is over and above the regular allocations under the <span class="key-term" data-definition="State Disaster Response Fund — a fund allocated by the central government to states for disaster preparedness and mitigation (GS3: Governance/Disaster Management)">SDRF</span>, reflecting the Centre’s commitment to disaster management and fiscal federalism.
Overview The HLC , led by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah , sanctioned an extra ₹1,912.99 crore from the NDRF for flood, flash‑flood, cloudburst, landslide and Cyclone Montha impacts in 2025. The funds are earmarked for Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Key Developments Andhra Pradesh – ₹341.48 crore Chhattisgarh – ₹15.70 crore Gujarat – ₹778.67 crore Himachal Pradesh – ₹288.39 crore Nagaland – ₹158.41 crore Jammu & Kashmir (UT) – ₹330.34 crore Important Facts Assistance is drawn from the NDRF and requires a 50% adjustment against the opening balance in each state's SDRF . During FY 2025‑26, the Centre released ₹20,735.20 crore to 28 states under the SDRF and ₹3,628.18 crore to 21 states under the NDRF . Additional allocations include ₹5,373.20 crore from the SDMF to 23 states and ₹1,189.56 crore from the NDMF to 21 states. UPSC Relevance Disaster management is a recurring theme in GS III (Disaster Management, Environment) and GS II (Centre‑State Relations, Fiscal Federalism). The approval illustrates the Centre’s use of dedicated disaster funds, the fiscal coordination between Union and State governments, and the role of the Union Home Minister in steering relief operations. Understanding the structure of NDRF , SDRF , and related mitigation funds is essential for answering questions on disaster financing and inter‑governmental mechanisms. Way Forward To strengthen resilience, the Centre should: Ensure timely release and transparent utilization of the approved funds. Integrate disaster‑risk reduction measures into state development plans, leveraging the SDMF and NDMF . Strengthen early warning systems for events like Cyclone Montha to reduce loss of life and property. Promote capacity building in state disaster management agencies for efficient fund deployment. These steps will enhance the overall disaster response architecture and align with India’s commitment to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
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Overview
Centre’s ₹1,913 crore disaster aid underscores fiscal federalism and Home Minister’s role in disaster management
Key Facts
High‑Level Committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved ₹1,912.99 crore from the NDRF for flood, flash‑flood, cloudburst, landslide and Cyclone Montha relief (2025).
Funds are drawn from the NDRF and require a 50% adjustment against each state’s opening balance in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
In FY 2025‑26 the Centre released ₹20,735.20 crore to 28 states under SDRF and ₹3,628.18 crore to 21 states under NDRF.
Additional mitigation allocations: ₹5,373.20 crore under State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) to 23 states; ₹1,189.56 crore under National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) to 21 states.
The HLC mechanism is a key inter‑governmental coordination tool under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, for rapid disaster financing.
Cyclone Montha (2025) caused multi‑state floods, flash‑floods, cloudbursts and landslides, prompting the emergency fund release.
Background & Context
Disaster financing falls under GS III (Disaster Management) and GS II (Centre‑State Relations, Fiscal Federalism). The NDRF/SDRF architecture reflects the Centre’s constitutional responsibility to assist states during calamities, while the High‑Level Committee chaired by the Home Minister operationalises this assistance, illustrating fiscal devolution and cooperative federalism.
UPSC Syllabus Connections
GS3•Disaster and disaster managementGS2•Functions and responsibilities of Union and StatesGS1•Important Geophysical Phenomena
Mains Answer Angle
GS II – Discuss the role of fiscal federalism in disaster management, citing recent high‑level committee approvals and the interplay of NDRF, SDRF, SDMF and NDMF. GS III – Evaluate the effectiveness of India's disaster financing mechanisms.