Government Schemes and Policy · 6 August 2026

Heatwaves and Lightning Added to NDRF Protocol

Exam-focused facts from the 6 August 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

  • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) included heatwaves and lightning in the list of notified natural calamities under the operational guidelines for the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
  • The inclusion is based on the 16th Finance Commission's recommendations for the award period 2026-31, citing increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change.
  • States can now use the SDRF fund for providing relief and assistance to people affected by heatwaves and lightning.
  • The previous list of notified disasters had 12 entries, including cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslides, avalanches, cloudburst, pest attack, and frost and cold waves.

View this story in the full daily briefing

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