← 15 September 2026's Current Affairs · Polity GS-3 Prelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★★★★
Karnataka seeks revision of NDRF drought-relief norms from the Centre
Why in News?
Karnataka says drought relief funds fall short: the NDRF-SDRF split every GS3 aspirant must know
Karnataka has urged the Centre to revise NDRF norms for drought relief assessment under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 framework.
Why it matters: GS-3 core
What you need to know
2 min read
Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister has urged the Centre to respond to the state's drought situation and revise the norms used by the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for assessing relief.
Disaster relief in India operates through the National Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Response Fund, both constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
States frequently seek revision of the eligibility and assessment criteria used to release central assistance during drought and other disasters.
Sources: Oneindia Kannada · Topper IAS editorial
Key facts
Remember these
- NDRF is the National Disaster Response Fund; SDRF is the State Disaster Response Fund
- Both NDRF and SDRF are constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005
- Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister urged the Centre to revise NDRF norms for assessing drought relief
- States can seek revision of the eligibility and assessment criteria used to release central disaster assistance
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- The NDRF and the SDRF are both constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- States can request the Union Government to revise the criteria used to assess eligibility for central disaster relief.
- Drought is one of the notified calamities for which States can seek NDRF/SDRF assistance.
Mains
GS Paper 3 - Disaster Management: the issue is that States find existing NDRF assessment norms too rigid to capture the actual severity of drought, which is provided for through the NDRF-SDRF framework under the Disaster Management Act, 2005; this can delay or understate central assistance to affected farmers, so the way forward lies in periodically revising assessment criteria in consultation with States, reflecting cooperative federalism in disaster management.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
With reference to disaster relief funding in India, consider the following statements:
- The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), invoked in relief measures such as those sought for Karnataka's drought, are constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- The Central government's contribution to a State's SDRF is provided entirely as an interest-bearing loan that the State must repay.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: A — The NDRF and SDRF are constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, making statement 1 correct. The Centre's contribution to a State's SDRF is a grant, not an interest-bearing loan, making statement 2 incorrect.
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