Heatwaves as Notified Natural Calamities

Context

1. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Lok Sabha that heatwaves and lightning have been added to India’s list of notified natural calamities, taking the total to 14.
2. The decision follows the recommendations of the Sixteenth Finance Commission (FC-XVI) and operational guidelines issued on 30 June.

Disaster Finance Framework

1. Under Article 280, the Finance Commission recommends the financial arrangements for disaster management.
2. For 2026–27 to 2030–31, FC-XVI recommended ₹2.04 lakh crore for State disaster funds, nearly 28% higher than the previous allocation.
3. The allocation includes:
   • State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF): ₹1.6 lakh crore for immediate response and relief.
   • State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF): ₹44,000 crore for long-term risk reduction.
4. FC-XVI also recommended ₹79,406 crore for national disaster funds to support States when disaster requirements exceed their available resources.
5. State-wise distribution considers disaster risk, exposure, vulnerability and past expenditure.

Policy Shift for Heatwaves

1. Earlier, States could treat heatwaves as local disasters, with SDRF assistance subject to a 10% annual allocation ceiling.
2. Separate State norms were also required for assistance related to heat-related deaths and crop losses.
3. Their inclusion in the notified list provides a broader basis for accessing applicable response and mitigation financing, subject to prescribed norms.

India’s Heat Risk

1. More than 57% of Indian districts, covering nearly three-fourths of the population, face high to very-high heat risk.
2. Increasing hot days, warmer nights and high humidity are intensifying exposure.
3. High humidity reduces the body’s ability to lose heat, increasing the risk of heat-related illness.

Heat Action Plans

1. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has directed States, districts and cities to prepare Heat Action Plans (HAPs).
2. HAPs assess local vulnerability and provide measures for early warning, preparedness, health protection and risk reduction.
3. Around 300 cities and districts across 23 heatwave-prone States have HAPs.
4. A 2023 review found that 79% of HAPs relied on government departments to arrange their own funding, highlighting gaps in dedicated financing.

Key Challenges

1. About 4,800 urban local bodies and 800 districts reportedly remain without HAPs.
2. Many local authorities lack the technical capacity to turn heat-risk assessments into fundable projects.
3. Health surveillance may not capture the full burden of heat-aggravated cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney conditions.
4. Effective use of mitigation funds requires stronger project preparation, data systems and institutional capacity.

Way Forward

1. Expand HAP coverage across high-risk districts and urban areas.
2. Strengthen local capacity for project design and implementation.
3. Improve monitoring of heat-related illness, mortality and economic losses.
4. Invest in cooling shelters, early-warning systems and other preventive measures.
5. Integrate heat-resilience measures with existing government schemes.
6. Explore parametric insurance, under which a predetermined payout is triggered when a specified temperature threshold is crossed.

Conclusion

Recognising heatwaves as notified natural calamities strengthens India’s capacity to address extreme heat through a more structured disaster-management framework. The priority now is to ensure timely, targeted and locally driven action to reduce heat-related risks and protect vulnerable populations.

FAQs

Q1. What is the significance of notifying heatwaves as natural calamities?

It brings heatwaves within the notified disaster framework, providing States a broader basis to access applicable funds for eligible response and mitigation measures.

Q2. How were heatwaves treated earlier?

States could classify them as local disasters, but SDRF assistance through this route was subject to a 10% annual allocation ceiling.

Q3. What did FC-XVI recommend for State disaster funds?

FC-XVI recommended ₹2.04 lakh crore for 2026–27 to 2030–31, including ₹1.6 lakh crore for SDRF and ₹44,000 crore for SDMF.

Q4. What is a Heat Action Plan?

A HAP is a preparedness framework covering heat-risk assessment, early warning, health protection and response measures.

Q5. Which institution guides Heat Action Plans?

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has directed States, districts and cities to prepare HAPs for managing heat-related risks.

Q6. What is parametric insurance?

It is a risk-financing mechanism in which a predetermined payout is triggered when an agreed condition, such as a specified temperature threshold, is reached.

Q7. What are the key priorities for managing heatwaves?

The focus should be on wider HAP coverage, stronger local capacity, better health surveillance, targeted mitigation and innovative risk-financing mechanisms.