The Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) is a concept and mechanism within India's disaster management framework, constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It is a multi-departmental group of senior officials deputed to states affected by severe disasters like floods, cyclones, or landslides. The IMCT is typically led by a senior officer at the level of Joint Secretary from the MHA or the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The team's primary function is to make an on-the-spot assessment of the damage and review the relief measures undertaken by the State Government. Based on the IMCT's report, the Central Government provides additional financial assistance to the affected State from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). The IMCT includes officials from various Central Ministries/Departments, such as Expenditure, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jal Shakti, Power, Road Transport and Highways, and Rural Development, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation.
A significant change in the mechanism occurred in August 2019, based on a decision by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This decision mandated that IMCTs be constituted immediately after a severe disaster for on-the-spot assessment, without waiting for a formal memorandum from the State Government, which was the previous procedure. This change was implemented to expedite the assessment and release of central assistance. The IMCT's authority and function are connected to the broader legal framework of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, under which the Central Government can exercise powers, citing sections like Section 35(1), 35(2)(a), 35(2)(e), and 35(2)(i), as seen during its deployment for monitoring COVID-19 lockdown compliance. The IMCT's work is distinct from the immediate relief provided by the State Government using the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).