Why In News?

The Ministry of Home Affairs told Parliament that heatwaves and lightning have been formally added to the list of notified natural calamities.

What are Notified Natural Calamities?

Statutory weather or geological hazards formally recognised by the government as eligible for systematic central and state financial assistance, relief, and long-term mitigation support.

The list is maintained under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which governs the administration of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force).

The Ministry of Home Affairs issues and updates the operational guidelines that define which hazards qualify as notified natural calamities, based on Finance Commission recommendations.

With this latest addition, the list has expanded from 12 to 14 categories: cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloudburst, pest attack, frost/cold wave, heatwave, and lightning.

What is a Heatwave?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declares a heatwave when the maximum temperature reaches ≥40°C in the plains or ≥30°C in hilly regions, accompanied by a departure of ≥4.5°C from normal temperature.

Heatwaves cause heatstroke, dehydration, and cardiovascular stress, disproportionately affecting the elderly, outdoor workers, and those without cooling access.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 7,192 suspected cases of heatstroke between March 1 and June 24 this year.

Urban Heat Island effect: Cities experience amplified heat stress due to concrete infrastructure, reduced green cover, and vehicular/industrial heat emissions, making urban heatwave management a distinct policy challenge.

What is Lightning?

A sudden atmospheric electrical discharge, among India's leading causes of weather-related fatalities.

Formation of lightning: Occurs due to charge separation within cumulonimbus clouds during thunderstorm activity, discharging as a visible flash and audible thunder.

Lightning-related deaths and injuries: Lightning causes approximately 2,000-2,500 deaths annually in India, accounting for more than 35% of all natural-disaster deaths in the country.

Rural and agricultural vulnerability: Its impact is particularly severe in rural India, with agricultural workers and tribal communities especially vulnerable, as many victims are exposed while working in open fields during the monsoon. 

What Changes with the New Recognition?

Greater access to relief funds: States can now use the primary 80% SDRF allocation for heatwave/lightning relief, bypassing the earlier 10% cap reserved for locally severe, unlisted disasters. 

Faster state-level response: Formal notification enables quicker fund disbursement, since relief no longer depends on discretionary, case-by-case justification.

Better disaster preparedness: Heat Wave Mitigation Projects are now explicitly eligible under the Disaster Mitigation Funds, per the MHA's statement to Parliament.

Improved risk reduction: Access to mitigation funds (not just response funds) allows investment in early warning systems, cooling infrastructure, and lightning protection, not just post-disaster relief.

Greater institutional accountability: Formal notification integrates heat and lightning risk into standardised, auditable disaster governance, rather than ad hoc state-level measures.

Source: NEWINDIANEXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the recent inclusion of heatwaves and lightning as notified natural calamities:

  1. The recommendation was made by the 16th Finance Commission for the award period 2026-31.

  2. With this inclusion, the list of notified natural calamities has expanded from 12 to 14 categories.

  3. States can now access only the National Disaster Response Fund, and not the State Disaster Response Fund, for heatwave and lightning relief.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 and 2 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1, 2 and 3 

(d) 1 only

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The recommendation to include heatwaves and lightning as notified natural calamities was made by the 16th Finance Commission for the award period 2026-31.

Statement 2 is correct: With the addition of these two events, the list of notified natural calamities under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, has expanded from 12 to 14 categories. The previous list included cyclone, drought, earthquake, flood, tsunami, avalanche, cloudburst, landslide, hailstorm, fire, frost/cold wave, and pest attack.

Statement 3 is incorrect: States can now utilize the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to provide relief and assistance. The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) is available as a supplementary source if the calamity is of a severe nature and state funds are inadequate, but access is not restricted to only the NDRF.