The concept of Natural Hazards is a core component of India’s disaster governance framework, which is primarily institutionalized by the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (Act No. 53 of 2005). A hazard is a potential threat to life, property, or the environment, such as an earthquake, cyclone, or flood, while a disaster is the actual event that causes substantial loss and is beyond the coping capacity of the affected community. The 2005 Act defines a "disaster" in Section 2(d) as a grave occurrence arising from natural or man-made causes.
The Act was enacted on December 23, 2005, following devastating events like the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which exposed the limitations of India's previous reactive, relief-centric approach. The legislation shifted the focus to a proactive, holistic regime, with disaster management, as defined in Section 2(e), encompassing a continuous process of risk prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response.
The mechanism works through a three-tiered institutional architecture: the apex National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) (under Section 3), the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), and the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The NDMA, chaired by the Prime Minister, is responsible for laying down policies and approving the National Plan.
The framework was recently updated by the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025), which introduced a specific definition for "hazard" and other terms like "disaster risk" and "resilience". Crucially, the amendment strengthened the NDMA and SDMA by empowering them to prepare the disaster plan at the national and state levels, a function previously held by the National Executive Committee (NEC). The amendment also mandated the creation of Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMAs) in major cities and a centralized National Disaster Database. This concept connects to international frameworks like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.