Sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005

Sections 6, 7 and 8 form part of Chapter II of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. They deal respectively with the powers and functions of the National Disaster Management Authority, constitution of its advisory committee, and constitution of the National Executive Committee.

Section 6 - Powers and functions of National Authority

Section 6(1): Subject to the Act, the National Authority is responsible for laying down policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management to ensure timely and effective response to disaster.

Section 6(2) specifies, without limiting the general responsibility in sub-section (1), that the National Authority may:

1. lay down policies on disaster management;
2. coordinate the preparation and approval of the National Plan;
3. approve plans prepared by Ministries or Departments of the Government of India in accordance with the National Plan;
4. lay down guidelines to be followed by State Authorities in drawing up the State Plan;
5. lay down guidelines for Ministries or Departments of the Government of India to integrate disaster prevention and mitigation measures into development plans and projects;
6. coordinate enforcement and implementation of disaster management policy and plan;
7. recommend provision of funds for mitigation;
8. provide support to other countries affected by major disasters, as determined by the Central Government;
9. take other necessary measures, including providing technical guidance to State Governments and State Authorities, for prevention, mitigation, preparedness and capacity building;
10. lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of the National Institute of Disaster Management;
11. coordinate and monitor implementation of the National Policy;
12. lay down guidelines for preparation of disaster management plans by Ministries or Departments of the Central Government and State Authorities;
13. provide technical guidance to State Governments and State Authorities for preparation of disaster management plans in accordance with its guidelines;
14. provide advice and technical guidance to Central Ministries or Departments and agencies, and State Governments, regarding mitigation, preparedness, recovery and reconstruction;
15. periodically take stock of the entire range of disaster risks in the country, including emerging disaster risks, and issue updated guidance for mitigation;
16. plan and coordinate specialised disaster management training programmes for different levels of officers, employees and voluntary rescue workers;
17. provide technical guidance or advice to State Authorities, District Authorities and Urban Authorities for carrying out their functions under the Act;
18. promote general education and awareness relating to disaster management;
19. monitor implementation of guidelines for integrating disaster prevention and mitigation measures into development plans and projects of Central Ministries or Departments;
20. periodically undertake disaster preparedness assessment of each State in line with the National Plan and applicable guidelines;
21. after a severe disaster in a State, undertake a post-disaster audit of preparedness and response activities of the State;
22. create a national disaster database in accordance with policy determined by the Central Government; and
23. recommend guidelines for minimum standards of relief for disaster-affected persons, including relief-camp requirements, special provision for widows and orphans, ex gratia assistance for loss of life, assistance for damaged houses and restoration of livelihood, and other relief considered appropriate by the National Authority.

Emerging disaster risks: For Section 6(2)(o), this expression covers risks of disasters that may not yet have occurred but may occur in future because of extreme climate events and other factors determined by the National Authority.

Section 6(3): In an emergency, the Chairperson of the National Authority may exercise all or any powers of the National Authority, subject to ex post facto ratification by the National Authority.

What Section 6 means

Section 6 makes the NDMA the central policy and guidance authority under the Act. After the 2025 amendment, its statutory role extends beyond policy approval and response planning to risk assessment, technical guidance, public awareness, State preparedness assessment, post-disaster audit, the national disaster database and minimum relief standards.

Section 7 - Constitution of advisory committee by National Authority

Section 7(1): The National Authority may constitute an advisory committee of experts in disaster management who have practical experience at the national, State or district level. Its purpose is to make recommendations on different aspects of disaster management.

Section 7(2): Members of the advisory committee are entitled to such allowances as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the National Authority.

Purpose of Section 7

The provision enables the NDMA to draw on specialist and field experience. The committee is advisory: its statutory function is to make recommendations, while policy and decision-making powers remain with the competent authorities under the Act.

Section 8 - Constitution of National Executive Committee

Section 8(1): The Central Government is required, after the notification under Section 3(1), to constitute the National Executive Committee to assist the National Authority in performing its functions under the Act.

Section 8(2): The National Executive Committee consists of:

1. the Secretary to the Government of India in charge of the Ministry or Department having administrative control of disaster management, as Chairperson ex officio; and
2. the Secretaries to the Government of India in the Ministries or Departments having administrative control of agriculture, atomic energy, defence, drinking water supply, environment and forests, finance (expenditure), health, power, rural development, science and technology, space, telecommunication, urban development and water resources, together with the Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, ex officio.

Section 8(3): The Chairperson of the National Executive Committee may invite an officer of the Central Government or a State Government to participate in a meeting. The Chairperson exercises such powers and performs such functions as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the National Authority.

Section 8(4): The procedure followed by the National Executive Committee in exercising its powers and discharging its functions is prescribed by the Central Government.

Role of the National Executive Committee

Section 8 establishes the NEC as the executive and coordinating committee that assists the NDMA. Its substantive powers and functions are principally set out in Section 10, which was also substantially amended in 2025.

Important 2025 update after Section 8

The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 inserted Section 8A and Section 8B immediately after Section 8.

Section 8A - National Crisis Management Committee: The pre-existing National Crisis Management Committee is given statutory recognition and acts as the nodal body for major disasters having serious or national ramifications. It is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, with other members notified by the Central Government.

Section 8B - High Level Committee: The pre-existing High Level Committee is given statutory recognition for financial assistance contemplated by Section 46 and approval of financial assistance for mitigation needs under Section 47. It is chaired by the Minister in charge of the Central Ministry or Department having administrative control over disaster management, with other members notified by the Central Government.

Official legal sources

For authoritative verification and subsequent amendments, refer to the consolidated Disaster Management Act, 2005 on India Code, the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, and the Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Home Affairs.

This page is an informational legal reference. In case of any inconsistency, the text published in the Gazette of India and the officially updated statute prevails.