SDRF and NDRF Norms: Ex Gratia, Notified Disasters and Disaster Funds
What the national norms pay the family of a person killed or injured in a natural disaster, which disasters qualify, how much money the State and National Disaster Response Funds hold, and what the Centre has released to States.
What the national norms pay a victim's family
| For | Amount |
|---|---|
| Death (ex gratia to the family), including people killed in relief work | Rs 4 lakh |
| Loss of a limb or eyes, disability of 40 to 60 per cent | Rs 74,000 |
| Loss of a limb or eyes, disability above 60 per cent | Rs 2.5 lakh |
| Grievous injury, in hospital for more than a week | Rs 16,000 |
| Grievous injury, in hospital for less than a week | Rs 5,400 |
Items and norms of assistance from the State and National Disaster Response Funds, Ministry of Home Affairs letter 33-03/2020-NDM-I of 10 October 2022, as modified on 11 July 2023. Disability must be certified by a government doctor. This money is immediate relief, not compensation for every loss; many States add their own top-up from the Chief Minister's relief fund.
Sources: Revised SDRF/NDRF norms (Goa State Disaster Management Authority) · Revised SDRF norms and assistance (Kokrajhar district, Assam)
Disasters that qualify for these funds (14)
- Cyclone
- Drought
- Earthquake
- Fire
- Flood
- Tsunami
- Hailstorm
- Landslide
- Avalanche
- Cloudburst
- Pest attack
- Frost and cold wave
- Heatwave
- Lightning
The Ministry of Home Affairs list of notified disasters, now 14 with heatwave and lightning added. Help from the National Disaster Response Fund is for disasters of a severe nature, when a State's own response fund is not enough.
Sources: Disaster funding arrangements in India (Indian Economic Service, Arthapedia) · Explainer: SDRF and NDRF (Factly) · Heatwave and lightning notified (GetMarks)
15th Finance Commission disaster funds, 2021-22 to 2025-26
The Union pays 75 per cent of a State's fund and the State 25 per cent; for North-Eastern and Himalayan States the split is 90:10.
| Fund | Five-year size | How it is split |
|---|---|---|
| State Disaster Risk Management Funds (all States) | Rs 1,60,153 crore | Union share Rs 1,22,601 crore; States' share Rs 37,552 crore. |
| National Disaster Risk Management Fund | Rs 68,463 crore | 80 per cent for the National Disaster Response Fund and 20 per cent for the National Disaster Mitigation Fund. |
Sources: 15th Finance Commission, Action Taken Report, Annex III · India's disaster risk financing (Drishti IAS)
Central releases to States for disasters
| Date | Release | Fund | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Mar 2026 | Additional central assistance for disasters of 2025 Approved by the High-Level Committee for floods, flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides and cyclone Montha in 2025, subject to adjusting 50 per cent of each State's opening balance in its own fund. | National Disaster Response Fund | Rs 1,912.99 crore |
| 13 Mar 2026 | Releases in 2025-26 up to 13 March 2026 Rs 20,735.20 crore to 28 States from the State Disaster Response Fund and Rs 3,628.18 crore to 21 States from the National Disaster Response Fund; also Rs 5,373.20 crore to 23 States for mitigation (SDMF) and Rs 1,189.56 crore to 21 States from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund. | State and National Disaster Response Funds | See note |
| 9 Sep 2025 | Central assistance for the Punjab floods Announced by the Prime Minister after an aerial survey, in addition to Rs 12,000 crore already with the State. | Central assistance | Rs 1,600.00 crore |
| 22 Jul 2025 | Central share of State funds released in 2025-26 so far Released to 22 States by 22 July 2025, as the Government told Parliament; part of the full-year figure above. | State Disaster Response Fund | Rs 9,578.40 crore |
| 10 Jul 2025 | Additional central assistance to six flood-hit States For States hit by floods and landslides during the 2025 monsoon. | National Disaster Response Fund | Rs 1,066.80 crore |
| 19 Feb 2025 | Additional central assistance to five States For States hit by floods, flash floods, landslides and cyclones in 2024. | National Disaster Response Fund | Rs 1,554.00 crore |
Sources: PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 13 March 2026 (Release ID 2239402) · PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 13 March 2026 (Release ID 2239402) · The Tribune, 9 September 2025 · The Week (PTI), 22 July 2025 · AIR News, 10 July 2025 · AIR News, 19 February 2025
Common questions
How much ex gratia is paid for a death in a natural disaster?
Under the national SDRF and NDRF norms, Rs 4 lakh to the family of each person who died. Many States add more from the Chief Minister's relief fund.
Which disasters are notified for SDRF and NDRF relief?
Cyclone, Drought, Earthquake, Fire, Flood, Tsunami, Hailstorm, Landslide, Avalanche, Cloudburst, Pest attack, Frost and cold wave, Heatwave, Lightning.
How is the State Disaster Response Fund shared between the Centre and States?
The Union pays 75 per cent of a State's fund and the State 25 per cent; for North-Eastern and Himalayan States the split is 90:10.