The National Plan, and the Guidelines for Minimum Standards of Relief

In one line

The National Plan must be reviewed every three years and updated every five, and the two sections that used to promise relief standards and loan relief were repealed in 2025.

In the wording a student can write in an examination: section 11 of the Disaster Management Act 2005 requires a plan for disaster management for the whole of the country, to be called the National Plan; the National Authority coordinates its preparation and approval, in consultation with the Central Government, the State Governments and other stakeholders, having regard to the National Policy; the Plan must include measures for prevention and mitigation, for the integration of mitigation measures in the development plans, and for preparedness and capacity building, together with the roles and responsibilities of the different Ministries and Departments; and the Authority must review it once in every three years and update it at least once in every five.

Section 11, the National Plan

Sub-section (1). There shall be drawn up a plan for disaster management for the whole of the country, to be called the National Plan.

Sub-section (2), as substituted in 2025. The National Authority shall coordinate, in consultation with the Central Government and the State Governments and other stakeholders in the field of disaster management, for the preparation and approval of the National Plan, having regard to the National Policy.

Two changes are packed into that substitution. Before 2025 the Plan was prepared by the National Executive Committee and approved by the National Authority. Now the Authority coordinates preparation and approval, and it must consult the States and other stakeholders. And the Plan must have regard to the National Policy, which section 2(la) defines as a statement of guiding principles and broad courses of action for reducing disaster risk and loss, improving preparedness and ensuring resilient recovery.

Sub-section (3), the four contents.

• (a) measures to be taken for the prevention of disasters or the mitigation of their effects;
• (b) measures to be taken for the integration of mitigation measures in the development plans;
• (c) measures to be taken for preparedness and capacity building to respond effectively to any threatening disaster situation or disaster;
• (d) the roles and responsibilities of the different Ministries and Departments of the Government of India in respect of the measures in clauses (a), (b) and (c).

Clause (b) is the one to notice and to carry into any answer about whether Indian law prevents disasters or only responds to them. A development plan is where a road is aligned, a township is sited and a dam is approved. Requiring mitigation to be integrated there is the difference between a disaster law and a relief law.

Sub-section (4), as substituted in 2025. The National Authority shall review the National Plan once in every three years and update it at least once in every five years.