• The National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) is a dedicated fund maintained by the Government of India for supplementing the disaster relief efforts of various state governments and is operated under the broad framework laid down by the 11th Finance Commission.
• It has a core corpus of Rs. 500 crore and is replenished through the National Calamity Contingent Duty imposed on cigarettes, pan masala, beedis, other tobacco products and cellular phones.
• NCCF targets immediate relief measures and excludes measures for mitigation or post-calamity reconstruction.
• NCCF exist for supplementing the calamity relief funds (CRFs) operated by the States when the amount in the latter is insufficient to meet the disaster relief measures.
• NCCF has been merged with National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) with effect from 1 April 2010 and has ceased to exist.

Features of NCCF

• It is maintained in the public account of the Government of India
• It is administered by a high level committee, comprising of the Agriculture Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister, and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
• The claim on the NCCF is made through a memorandum submitted by the State Government, which is assessed by a central team deputed for the purpose.
• The report of the team is assessed by an inter-ministerial group, which makes recommendations to the high level committee for release.
• The assistance from the NCCF is only for immediate relief and rehabilitation and not for any reconstruction of assets or restoration of damaged infrastructure.