National Calamity

A National Calamity refers to a catastrophic natural or man-made disaster that causes extensive damage to life, property, infrastructure, and the economy, and whose magnitude overwhelms the coping capacity of the state or local administration, thereby necessitating intervention and assistance from the Central Government.
In the Indian context, the term “National Calamity” is primarily used for large-scale disasters of national importance, such as severe earthquakes, floods, cyclones, droughts, tsunamis, or other major emergencies that have a profound impact across multiple states or regions.
While there is no formal legal definition of “national calamity” in any central statute, the term is used administratively to describe exceptional disasters requiring nationwide response and central financial assistance.

Historical and Legal Background

Disaster management in India has evolved from a relief-centric to a comprehensive risk management approach. Earlier, disasters were handled primarily under the Relief Commissioner’s Office through ad hoc arrangements.
Following several devastating disasters — such as the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone, the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake, and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami — India adopted a structured disaster management framework.
The current legal and institutional structure is governed by the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which established a multi-tiered system for managing disasters at the national, state, and district levels.

Constitutional and Legal Basis

1. Constitutional Provisions:
   • Disaster management is a subject included under the “Residuary Powers” of the Union (Entry 97, Union List, Seventh Schedule).
   • However, “Relief of the distressed and victims of calamities” is included in the State List (Entry 12).
   • Hence, disaster management is a shared responsibility between the Centre and the States.
2. Disaster Management Act, 2005:
   • Provides the statutory framework for disaster management in India.
   • Defines “disaster” as:

     “A catastrophe, mishap, calamity, or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man-made causes, resulting in substantial loss of life or human suffering, or damage to property, environment, or disruption of normal life.”

   • However, it does not classify disasters as “national” or “state-level.”
3. National Disaster Management Policy, 2009:
   • Recognises the need for a coordinated national response mechanism for catastrophic events of national significance.

Classification of Disasters in India

Although the term “National Calamity” is used in media and administrative practice, India’s disaster management system classifies disasters based on severity and required level of response, not on a legal category called “national calamity.”

Administrative Classifications:

Criteria for Declaring a National Calamity

There is no fixed or statutory criteria for declaring an event a “national calamity.” The declaration is based on scale, severity, and impact, assessed jointly by central and state agencies.

Typical considerations include:

• Large-scale loss of human life.
• Destruction of critical infrastructure (roads, power, communication).
• Severe impact on multiple states or regions.
• Long-term economic disruption (agriculture, industry, trade).
• Inability of the affected state(s) to manage the crisis with their own resources.

In practice, the Government of India may declare a disaster as a “calamity of severe nature” or “national calamity” to enable enhanced financial assistance, mobilisation of national resources, and international aid (if required).

Institutional Mechanism for National Calamities

The Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides for a coordinated institutional structure to handle national-level disasters:

1. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):

• Established under Section 3 of the DM Act, 2005.
• Headed by the Prime Minister of India.
• Responsible for policy formulation, coordination, and approval of national disaster management plans.

2. National Executive Committee (NEC):

• Chaired by the Union Home Secretary.
• Implements policies and coordinates between ministries and states during disasters.

3. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):

• A dedicated, specialised force under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for search, rescue, and relief operations.

4. State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs):

• Headed by Chief Ministers; manage state-level planning and implementation.

5. District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs):

• Headed by District Collectors/Magistrates; execute disaster management at local levels.

Funding Mechanism for Calamities

The financial assistance for disaster relief and rehabilitation in India operates through a well-defined funding structure jointly managed by the Centre and the States.

1. National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF):

• Constituted under Section 46 of the DM Act, 2005.
• Used for meeting expenditure on emergency response, relief, and rehabilitation during “severe calamities of national importance.”
• Funded by the Central Government (through budgetary allocations and cess collections).

2. State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF):

• Established under Section 48 of the DM Act, 2005.
• The primary fund for disaster response at the state level.
• Financed jointly by the Central and State Governments (currently in a 75:25 ratio for general states, and 90:10 for north-eastern and Himalayan states).

3. National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF):

• Created for projects that focus on prevention and mitigation (long-term risk reduction).

4. National Calamity Contingency Duty (NCCD):

• A special duty imposed on certain goods under the Finance Act, 2001, to fund disaster management and rehabilitation activities.
• Collected on items such as tobacco, crude oil, and certain imported goods.

Examples of Disasters Declared as National Calamities

Although formal “national calamity” declarations are rare, certain catastrophic events have been treated as such due to their severity:

Role of the Central Government During a National Calamity

1. Assessment and Coordination:
   • The Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) assesses damage and recommends assistance.
2. Relief Operations:
   • NDRF, Armed Forces, and paramilitary units are deployed for rescue and relief.
3. Financial Support:
   • Immediate release of funds from NDRF and SDRF.
4. Infrastructure Restoration:
   • Quick reconstruction of essential services—roads, electricity, healthcare.
5. Policy and Planning:
   • NDMA formulates long-term measures for rehabilitation and risk reduction.

Key Challenges in Managing National Calamities

• Coordination Gaps among central, state, and local agencies.
• Delayed fund release or underutilisation of relief resources.
• Inadequate early warning systems in rural and coastal areas.
• Insufficient insurance coverage for vulnerable populations.
• Climate change impacts increasing the frequency and intensity of disasters.
• Post-disaster recovery delays due to bureaucratic hurdles.

Recent Developments and Policy Innovations

1. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030):India aligns its disaster management strategy with this UN framework.
2. National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP, 2016, revised 2019):India’s first comprehensive national plan outlining prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies.
3. Use of Technology:
   • Development of satellite-based monitoring, real-time weather forecasting, and mobile-based early warning systems (IMD, ISRO, NDMA).
4. Public Awareness and Training:
   • Nationwide campaigns such as “Aapda Mitra” for community-level disaster preparedness.
5. Integration with Climate Change Policies:
   • Coordination between NDMA and the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) for risk reduction.