Inter-Ministerial Teams Assess 2025 Flood Impact

Several Indian States faced unprecedented rainfall, floods, cloudbursts and landslides. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) responded swiftly by constituting Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to evaluate the damage and relief efforts. These teams are crucial for timely assessment and coordination of disaster management.

Formation and Purpose of IMCTs

IMCTs are formed immediately after severe disasters. Each team is led by a senior officer, usually at the Joint Secretary level in MHA or NDMA. The teams include officials from key ministries such as Expenditure, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jal Shakti, Power, Road Transport and Highways, and Rural Development. Their primary role is on-the-spot damage assessment and review of relief measures by State governments.

States and Regions Covered

Recently, IMCTs were constituted for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir (Union Territory). These areas experienced heavy rainfall, flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides causing damage. Early visits by IMCTs and Multi-Sectoral Teams helped in rapid evaluation and planning of relief operations.

Coordination with State Governments

The MHA maintains close contact with senior officers of affected States. It supports rescue and relief through deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army personnel and Air Force helicopters. This multi-agency coordination ensures swift restoration of essential services and effective disaster response.

Financial Assistance and Disaster Funds

Based on IMCT reports, the Centre provides additional financial aid from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). In 2025-26, ₹10,498.80 crore was released to 24 States for disaster relief. This includes ₹1,988.91 crore from NDRF, ₹3,274.90 crore from State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF), and ₹372.09 crore from National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF). These funds support immediate relief and long-term mitigation.

Policy Framework and Historical Context

The practice of constituting IMCTs was formalised in August 2019 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The policy mandates quick deployment of teams for damage assessment without waiting for State government requests. This proactive approach has improved disaster response efficiency and fund allocation.

Role of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

NDMA plays a key role in disaster preparedness and response. It leads coordination between central ministries and States. NDMA officials often head IMCTs and ensure that relief measures align with national disaster management plans and policies.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite improved coordination, challenges remain in managing large-scale disasters. Timely data collection, infrastructure resilience and community awareness need strengthening. Continuous evaluation of IMCT effectiveness and disaster funds utilisation is vital for better preparedness.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Critically discuss the role of Inter-Ministerial Central Teams in India’s disaster management framework and their impact on relief operations.
2. Examine the significance of National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) in managing natural disasters in India.
3. Analyse the challenges faced by multi-agency coordination during disaster response. How can these challenges be overcome?
4. Point out the key features of the National Disaster Management Authority’s policy framework. Estimate its effectiveness in recent disaster scenarios.

Answer Hints:

1. Critically discuss the role of Inter-Ministerial Central Teams in India’s disaster management framework and their impact on relief operations.

1. IMCTs are constituted immediately after severe disasters for on-the-spot damage assessment without waiting for State requests.
2. Each team is led by senior officers (Joint Secretary level) and includes officials from multiple key ministries ensuring multi-sectoral evaluation.
3. IMCTs assess relief measures by State governments and recommend additional Central assistance from NDRF.
4. They enable rapid, coordinated response and help in prioritizing resource allocation for rescue and restoration.
5. IMCTs improve transparency and accountability in disaster response through detailed field reports.
6. Their deployment has enhanced efficiency and timeliness of relief operations in recent floods and disasters.

2. Examine the significance of National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) in managing natural disasters in India.

1. NDRF provides immediate financial aid for disaster relief upon IMCT assessment, ensuring quick resource availability.
2. SDMF is a State-level fund aimed at disaster mitigation and preparedness, complementing NDRF’s relief focus.
3. Both funds enable a structured financial mechanism to support rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and mitigation activities.
4. In 2025-26, ₹1,988.91 crore from NDRF and ₹3,274.90 crore from SDMF were released, showing substantial fiscal support.
5. These funds reduce dependency on ad hoc allocations and improve planning and implementation of disaster management.
6. They encourage States to invest in disaster resilience and infrastructure strengthening.

3. Analyse the challenges faced by multi-agency coordination during disaster response. How can these challenges be overcome?

1. Diverse agencies have varying priorities, protocols, and communication systems, causing coordination gaps.
2. Timely data sharing and unified command structures are often lacking, delaying decision-making.
3. Logistical challenges arise in deployment of NDRF, Army, Air Force and State forces simultaneously.
4. Overlapping jurisdiction and unclear leadership roles may cause confusion on ground.
5. To overcome, establish integrated command centers and standardized communication protocols.
6. Regular joint training, drills, and real-time information systems improve inter-agency synergy and response speed.

4. Point out the key features of the National Disaster Management Authority’s policy framework. Estimate its effectiveness in recent disaster scenarios.

1. NDMA leads national disaster preparedness, response coordination, and policy formulation across ministries and States.
2. It ensures alignment of relief measures with national disaster management plans and guidelines.
3. NDMA officials often head IMCTs, facilitating centralized assessment and resource allocation.
4. Policy mandates proactive IMCT deployment without waiting for State requests, speeding up response.
5. Recent floods show improved coordination, faster fund disbursal, and multi-sectoral assessment driven by NDMA framework.
6. However, challenges remain in infrastructure resilience and community awareness, indicating scope for further strengthening.