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Subject: Environment

  • Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) Initiative

    Why in the News?

    The SAIME Initiative, developed by the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) in the Sundarbans of West Bengal, has been conferred Global Technical Recognition by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

    What is SAIME Initiative?

    • Concept: A multi-stakeholder partnership model integrating shrimp aquaculture with mangrove restoration in the Sundarbans.
    • Implementing Agencies: Developed by the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) with support from the Global Nature Fund (Germany), Naturland, and Bangladesh Environment & Development Society (BEDS).
    • Purpose: Promotes climate-adaptive, conservation-linked livelihoods balancing ecological health with local economic growth.
    • Implementation: Covers 29.84 hectares with 42 fish farmers, achieving 100% rise in net profits through low-input, eco-friendly methods.
    • Target Group: Focuses on climate-vulnerable coastal communities, encouraging chemical-free shrimp farming to build coastal resilience.

    Core Features and Approach:

    • Ecosystem Integration: Maintains 5–30% mangrove cover within aquaculture ponds, directly linking productivity with ecosystem restoration.
    • Community Participation: Adopts a bottom-up co-management model, involving local farmers in planning, monitoring, and benefit-sharing.
    • Sustainable Practices: Utilises mangrove litter as shrimp feed, cutting chemical dependence and improving natural nutrient cycles.
    • Climate Resilience: Mitigates cyclones, salinity intrusion, and erosion, functioning as a nature-based adaptation system.
    • Economic Efficiency: Promotes low-input, high-yield aquaculture, enhancing smallholder profitability and resource efficiency.
    • Environmental Benefits: Supports carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and blue carbon economy objectives.
    • Global Alignment: Advances SDG-13 (Climate Action), SDG-14 (Life Below Water), and SDG-15 (Life on Land) through integrated coastal sustainability.

    About the Sundarbans:

    Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) Initiative

    • Location: Situated in the South and North 24-Parganas districts of West Bengal, at the southern tip of the Gangetic Delta, where the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers meet the Bay of Bengal.
    • Area: Currently spans 2,585.89 sq km, with an expansion proposal to 3,629.57 sq km, making it the largest mangrove forest in the world.
    • Status: Designated as a Tiger Reserve, National Park, Biosphere Reserve, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1987).
    • Topography: Characterised by a dense network of tidal creeks, estuaries, and 105 mangrove-covered islands, influenced by daily tidal inundation.
    • Flora and Fauna:
      • Flora: Dominated by Avicennia, Rhizophora, Sonneratia, and Heritiera species.
      • Fauna: Includes Royal Bengal Tiger, Fishing Cat, Estuarine Crocodile, Irrawaddy Dolphin, King Cobra, and several endangered bird species.
    • Boundaries:
      • East: Bangladesh border (Raimangal & Harinbhanga rivers)
      • South: Bay of Bengal
      • North/West: Matla, Bidya, and Gomdi rivers
    • Ecological Importance: Acts as a natural shield against cyclones and tsunamis, a carbon-rich ecosystem, and a vital nursery ground for fisheries — forming the ecological heart of India’s blue economy and coastal resilience framework.

     

    [UPSC 2023] Which one of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present-day extensive marshland?

    Options: (a) Bhitarkanika Mangroves

    (b) Marakkanam Salt Pans

    (c) Naupada Swamp

    (d) Rann of Kutch*

     

  • IUCN Redlist Update of Indian Species

    Why in the News?

    In the latest State of India’s Birds (SoIB) 2025 report and IUCN assessment, four bird species dependent on these ecosystems have been uplisted, reflecting alarming habitat loss and population decline.

    Bird Species Uplisted by IUCN:

    1. Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus):
      • Endemic to the Indian Subcontinent.
      • Uplisted from Least Concern → Near Threatened due to loss of grasslands and fallow land.
    2. Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis): Uplisted to Near Threatened; impacted by habitat conversion and electrocution from power lines.
    3. Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura): Uplisted to Near Threatened; declining due to intensive agriculture and land-use change.
    4. Long-billed Grasshopper-Warbler (Locustella major): Uplisted to Endangered; severely impacted by loss of reedbeds and open scrub habitat.

    About State of India’s Birds (SoIB) Assessment:

    • Overview: SoIB is conducted by the State of India’s Birds Partnership, a consortium of 13 government and non-government institutions, including BNHS, WII, ZSI, SACON, WTI, WWF-India, ATREE, NCF, FES, Wetlands International – South Asia, NCBS, and NBA.
    • Coverage: Of 1,360 bird species assessed globally, 12 species were from India.
    • Findings:
      • 8 species downlisted (showing improved conservation trends).
      • 4 species uplisted, highlighting heightened risk of extinction.
    • The report underscores the fragility of India’s open-country habitats, which support a unique but shrinking avifaunal diversity.

  • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

    Why in the News?

    The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the Delhi–NCR as air quality slipped into the ‘poor’ category (AQI 211) after more than three months.

    What is Air Quality Index (AQI)?

    • Purpose: Quantifies pollution levels and health impact using major pollutants — PM₂․₅, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, Pb.
    • Scale:
      1. 0–50 = Good
      2. 51–100 = Satisfactory
      3. 101–200 = Moderate
      4. 201–300 = Poor
      5. 301–400 = Very Poor
      6. 401–450 = Severe
    • >450 = Severe Plus
    • Interpretation: Higher AQI ⇒ greater exposure risk, particularly for children, elderly, and respiratory patients.

    About Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):

    • Objective: To ensure anticipatory, graded, and region-wide responses that reduce PM₂․₅ and PM₁₀ concentrations, controlling emissions from vehicles, dust, and industries.
    • Coverage: Applies across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and other NCR districts, ensuring uniform regional implementation.
    • Legal Mandate: Issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, binding on all NCR states and agencies.
    • Genesis: Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 (M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India) and notified in Jan 2017 by MoEFCC under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
    • Implementation: Initially enforced by EPCA (till 2020); now implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) established via ordinance in Oct 2020.
    • Functioning: CAQM works with CPCB, IMD, and IITM Pune, which provide forecast-based modelling for pre-emptive action.
    • Key Stages of Action:
      1. Stage I (Poor: 201–300): Road sweeping, water sprinkling, dust control at sites, solid-waste removal, old-vehicle enforcement.
      2. Stage II (Very Poor: 301–400): Hotspot regulation, DG set restrictions, enhanced public transport.
      3. Stage III (Severe: 401–450): Ban on BS-III petrol & BS-IV diesel cars, construction halt, school closures.
      4. Stage IV (Severe+ >450): Complete construction ban, truck entry restriction (essentials exempted), curbs on non-essential vehicles.
    [UPSC 2024] According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions?

    Options: (a) Locomotives using fossil fuels

    (b) Ships using fossil fuels

    (c) Extraction of metals from ores

    (d) Power plants using fossil fuels*

     

  • What are Climate Tipping Points?

    Why in the News?

    The Global Tipping Points Report (2025), authored by 160 scientists from 23 countries, warns that warm-water coral reefs have already crossed their thermal tipping point, triggering irreversible dieback.

    About Tipping Points:

    • Overview: Tipping Points are critical thresholds in Earth’s natural and climate systems beyond which self-reinforcing and often irreversible changes occur.
    • Mechanism: Once crossed, feedback loops accelerate transformation — e.g., melting permafrost releases methane, which increases warming and causes more melting.
    • Irreversibility: Even if greenhouse gas emissions are later reduced, many systems cannot revert to their original stable state.
    • Significance: Tipping Points determine long-term planetary stability, climate predictability, and biosphere resilience.

    Important Definitions:

    • Climate Tipping Point (IPCC): A critical threshold at which small changes in temperature or forcing cause a large, often irreversible shift in a climate subsystem.
    • Feedback Loop: A process where an initial change triggers further effects that amplify the original disturbance (positive feedback).
    • Hysteresis: The property of a system where reversing to its prior state requires conditions much different from those that caused the initial change.
    • Cascade Effect: A phenomenon where crossing one tipping point triggers others in connected Earth systems, leading to compounded impacts.
    • Thermal Tipping Point (for Coral Reefs): The temperature threshold (~1.2°C above pre-industrial) beyond which coral survival and recovery become impossible.

    Key Global Tipping Points Identified:

    • Ice Sheets: Collapse of Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, committing the planet to multi-metre sea-level rise.
    • Coral Reefs: Permanent dieback of warm-water reefs due to ocean warming and acidification, destroying marine biodiversity.
    • Amazon Rainforest: Shift toward a savannah ecosystem, reducing carbon storage and regional rainfall.
    • Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC): Potential shutdown below 2°C, disrupting global heat distribution and monsoon patterns.
    • Permafrost Thaw: Release of methane and CO₂, reinforcing global warming.
    • Boreal Forests & Mountain Glaciers: Increased risk of widespread dieback and loss of freshwater reserves.
    • Sub-Polar Gyre (SPG): Destabilization in North Atlantic circulation, altering marine ecosystems and heat flow.

    Highlights from the Latest Reports (Global Tipping Points 2025):

    • Study Scale: Conducted by 160 scientists from 23 countries, assessing multiple Earth-system thresholds.
    • Coral Crisis: Since January 2023, 84.4% of coral reefs across 82 nations have suffered bleaching — marking the fourth global mass event, the worst on record.
    • Temperature Thresholds: Exceeding 1.5°C global warming risks triggering multiple tipping points; 1.2°C already breached for warm-water reefs.
    • AMOC Collapse Risk: Could occur below 2°C, potentially plunging northwest Europe into severe winters and disrupting global food and water systems.
    • Amazon Dieback: Widespread collapse possible below 2°C, directly affecting 100+ million people dependent on its ecosystem.
    • Interconnected Risk: Earth’s systems form a tipping network — crossing one threshold may accelerate others, creating a domino-like cascade.
    • Policy Warning: Current Paris Agreement pledges and net-zero targets are inadequate to limit warming below 2°C.
    [UPSC 2024] One of the following regions has the world’s largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years’ worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels, and the possible destruction of which can exert a detrimental effect on the global climate.

    Which one of the following denotes that region?

    Options: (a) Amazon Basin (b) Congo Basin* (c) Kikori basin (d) Rio De La Plata Basin

     

  • Snow Leopards are the world’s least genetically diverse Big Cat

    Why in the News?

    A new Stanford University-led study has revealed that the Snow Leopard has the lowest genetic diversity among all big cats, even lower than the Cheetah.

    Snow Leopards are the world’s least genetically diverse Big Cat

    About Snow Leopard:

    • Overview: Also called the “ghost of the mountains”; Belongs to the genus Panthera but genetically distinct from tigers and leopards, with unique adaptations for alpine life.
    • Physical Features: Thick pale-gray fur with rosettes, powerful hind limbs, and a long, muscular tail that aids balance and warmth.
    • Habitat: Found at altitudes between 3,000–5,500 metres, thriving in rugged, snow-covered mountain ranges and alpine meadows.
    • Geographical Distribution:
      • In India: Present in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Jammu & Kashmir.
      • Globally: Distributed across Central and South Asian mountain systems, including the Himalayas, Pamirs, and Tien Shan.
    • Population Status:
      • Global estimate: 4,500–7,500 individuals.
      • India: Approximately 718 individuals, representing 10–15% of the global total.
    • Conservation Status:
      • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
      • CITES: Appendix I
      • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (India): Schedule I
    • National Conservation Measures:
      • Project Snow Leopard (2009): Integrates community participation in Himalayan conservation.
      • SECURE Himalaya Project (GEF–UNDP): Focuses on sustainable ecosystem management.
      • Himalaya Sanrakshak (2020): Enlists local guardians for high-altitude habitats.
      • National Protocol on Population Assessment (2019):  Ensures standardized monitoring.

    Ecological Significance:

    • Apex Predator Role: Serves as the top carnivore in the Himalayan and Central Asian alpine ecosystems, maintaining the balance between herbivores like blue sheep, ibex, and argali.
    • Indicator of Ecosystem Health: Its presence reflects ecosystem integrity, as it thrives only in undisturbed, well-connected, prey-rich habitats.
    • Climate Regulation: Snow leopard landscapes, glaciers, permafrost zones, and alpine grasslands, act as major carbon sinks and regulate water flows to nearly two billion people across Asia.
    • Biodiversity Link: By controlling herbivore populations, it prevents overgrazing, thus preserving alpine vegetation and soil stability.
    • Cultural and Economic Value: Revered in Himalayan folklore and central to eco-tourism-based livelihoods, symbolizing coexistence between humans and nature.
    • Transboundary Importance: Its habitat spans across 12 range countries, making it a flagship species for international cooperation under the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP).
    [UPSC 2012] Consider the following:

    1. Black-necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying squirrel 4. Snow leopard

    Which of the above are naturally found in India? Options: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only* (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

     

  • Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025

    Why in the News?

    The Centre has notified the first legally binding Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025 for four high-emission sectors:  aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and pulp & paper.

    This marks a critical step in operationalising the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023.

    Back2Basics: Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI)

    • Overview: GEI is the amount of GHGs emitted per unit of product output or economic activity;  for example, the emissions released in producing one tonne of cement, aluminium, or steel.
    • Unit of Measurement: Expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) per unit of product.
    • Composition:
      • Primary gases: Carbon dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄), Nitrous oxide (N₂O).
      • Synthetic gases: Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆).
    • Purpose: GEI helps measure the efficiency of industrial production in terms of emissions.
    • Policy Significance: Reducing GEI aligns industrial operations with national and global climate commitments, particularly under the Paris Agreement (2015), where India has pledged to cut its emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).

    About Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025:

    • Notification: Issued by the MoEFCC on October 8, 2025, these are India’s first legally binding emission intensity targets for industries.
    • Objective: To limit greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product output in high-emission sectors, thereby promoting low-carbon industrial growth and aligning with India’s Paris Agreement commitment to reduce emission intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).
    • Coverage: Applies to 282 industrial units across four sectors– cement (186 units), aluminium (13), chlor-alkali (30), and pulp & paper (53).
    • Compliance Period: 2025–26 and 2026–27; emission limits expressed in tCO₂e (tonnes of CO₂ equivalent) per unit of product.
    • Mechanism:
      • Units achieving targets earn carbon credits (certified by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency).
      • Non-compliant units must buy credits or face environmental compensation under CPCB oversight.
    • Purpose: To operationalise India’s domestic carbon market, encourage technology upgrades, and institutionalise market-based climate compliance.
    • Outcome: Marks transition from voluntary energy-efficiency drives (PAT Scheme) to a legally enforceable carbon-intensity regime, integrating emission monitoring, trading, and compliance.

    What is the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023?

    • Launched by: Ministry of Power in 2023 to establish a domestic carbon trading market under India’s Energy Conservation Act framework.
    • Objective: To create a structured mechanism for generating, certifying, and trading carbon credits earned through verified emission reductions.
    • Administered by: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), which issues Carbon Credit Certificates (CCC) to compliant industries.
    • Framework:
      • Industries meeting or exceeding GEI targets receive tradable credits.
      • Entities failing to meet targets must purchase credits to offset excess emissions.
      • Credits are traded on the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) platform.
    • Purpose: To make emission reduction economically incentivised, transforming carbon from a cost burden into a market asset.
    • Global Parallel: Similar to the EU Emissions Trading System (2005) and China’s National Carbon Market (2021).
    • Significance: Integrates energy efficiency, emission control, and fiscal instruments to drive India’s net-zero transition through a market-based, transparent, and measurable approach.
    [UPSC 2025] Consider the following statements:

    I. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in India are less than 0.5 t CO₂/capita.

    II. In terms of CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific region.

    III. Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO₂ emissions in India.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options:

    (a) I and III only (b) II only (c) II and III only * (d) I, II and III

     

  • India unveiled ‘National Red List Roadmap’ Survey to Assess Extinction Risks of Species

    Why in the News?

    India unveiled its National Red List Roadmap and Vision 2025–2030 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

    Global Context:

    • IUCN Red List: Globally, 1,69,420 species have been assessed; about 28% are classified as threatened.
    • Biodiversity Decline: The Living Planet Report 2024 documented a 73% decline in vertebrate populations (1970–2020), with freshwater species down by 85%.
    • Extinction Rate: Current extinction rates are 1,000–10,000 times higher than natural background levels due to human pressures such as habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate change.
    • Global Need: Strengthening regional red lists like India’s provides granular, science-based data to guide conservation financing and global biodiversity monitoring.

    About National Red List Roadmap and Vision (2025–2030):

    • Purpose: Marks India’s first coordinated national effort to scientifically assess the extinction risk of ~11,000 species of plants and animals by 2030 using IUCN Red List methodology, the global benchmark for species assessment.
    • Aim: To establish a science-based, nationally coordinated red-listing system that strengthens biodiversity planning, conservation policy, and threat mitigation.
    • Strategic Alignment: Supports India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), reaffirming India’s leadership in global biodiversity governance.
    • Outcome Goal: To publish National Red Data Books on flora and fauna by 2030, serving as authoritative reference guides for ecological protection and management.

    Key Features of the Initiative:

    • Scientific Alignment: Adopts IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, ensuring uniformity and comparability with international conservation assessments.
    • Scope and Coverage: Envisions evaluation of 11,000 terrestrial and marine species, encompassing major ecological regions across India.
    • Core Outputs:
      • Peer-reviewed species assessments with global visibility.
      • Publication of National Red Data Books and creation of a digital public database for species data and risk analysis.
    • Institutional Framework:
      • Implemented jointly by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
      • Partner agencies include IUCN India, Centre for Species Survival: India – Wildlife Trust of India (CSS: India–WTI), and the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC).
    • Funding and Resources: Total outlay of ₹95 crore, comprising ₹80 crore from BSI and ZSI budgets and ₹15 crore mobilised for training and international collaboration.
    • Capacity Building: Creation of a cadre of 300 trained species assessors and development of national training modules on biodiversity evaluation.
    • Policy Integration: The data generated will inform India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, legislative updates, and species recovery prioritisation through 2030.

    Need for such a profile:

    • India’s Biodiversity Profile: Recognised as one of the 17 megadiverse nations, India hosts four biodiversity hotspots, the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands).
    • Ecological Richness: Despite covering only 2.4% of global land area, India shelters 8% of global flora and 7.5% of fauna, with 28% of plants and 30% of animals being endemic.
    [UPSC 2011] The “Red Data Books’’ published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of:

    (a) Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots.

    (b) Threatened plant and animal species. *

    (c) Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries.

    (d) None of the above.

     

  • Nesolynx banabitanae new wasp discovered in West Bengal

    Why in the News?

    A new species of wasp, Nesolynx banabitanae, has been discovered in Central Park (Banabitan), Salt Lake, Kolkata.

    Nesolynx banabitanae new wasp discovered in West Bengal

    About ‘Nesolynx banabitanae’:

    • Taxonomic Family: Belongs to the Eulophidae family — known for parasitic and hyperparasitic wasps.
    • Type of Species: It is a hyperparasitoid, meaning it parasitises other parasitoid wasps rather than directly preying on host insects.
    • Host Interaction: Parasitises the ichneumonid parasitoid Charops aditya, which itself attacks caterpillars of the Common Palmfly (Elymnias hypermnestra) and Common Castor (Ariadne merione) butterflies.
    • Significance: Only the seventh known wasp species discovered in India, adding to the country’s limited record of Nesolynx genus.
    • Etymology: Named banabitanae after “Banabitan”, the local Bengali name for Central Park, where it was first identified.

    Significance:

    • Ecological Role: Contributes to multitrophic ecological interactions by adding a fourth trophic level influencing population dynamics of butterflies and their parasitoids.
    • Scientific Relevance: Enhances understanding of hyperparasitoid behaviour, urban insect ecology, and biodiversity conservation in anthropogenic landscapes.
    • Analytical Importance: The SEM-based structural mapping provides baseline data for future phylogenetic and taxonomic comparisons within Nesolynx.
    [UPSC 2024] Regarding Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula), consider the following statements:

    I. It is an omnivorous crustacean. II. Its natural habitat in India is only limited to some forest areas. III. In its natural habitat, it is an arboreal species.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) I only (b) I and III (c) II only (d) II and III *

     

  • News specie “Chlorophytum vanapushpam” found

    Why in the News?

    Researchers have discovered a new species of perennial herb Chlorophytum vanapushpam from the Vagamon hills of Idukki district, Kerala.

    Chlorophytum vanapushpam

    About Chlorophytum vanapushpam:

    • Discovery & Location: Newly discovered perennial herb of the Asparagaceae family, identified in Vagamon and Neymakkad hills (Idukki, Kerala) within the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
    • Name & Meaning: “Vanam” (forest) + “Pushpam” (flower) = forest flower.
    • Publication & Context: Reported in Phytotaxa, reaffirming the Western Ghats as the centre of origin for the Chlorophytum genus (18 Indian species).
    • Related Species: Closely allied to C. borivilianum (safed musli) but differs in form and lacks underground tubers.

    Key Features:

    • Growth Form: Herb up to 90 cm tall, clinging to rocky hill slopes.
    • Habitat & Range: Found between 700 m – 2,124 m elevation in moist, rocky terrains.
    • Leaves & Flowers: Slender, grass-like leaves; white clustered blossoms.
    • Reproduction: Seeds 4–5 mm; flowering and fruiting Sep–Dec.
    [UPSC 2016] Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp.

    In which part of India has it been discovered?

    Options: (a) Andaman Islands * (b) Anaimalai Forests (c) Maikala Hills (d) Tropical rain forests of northeast

     

  • India’s direction for disaster resilience

    Introduction

    India’s approach to disaster management has entered a new phase, one that focuses not only on response and recovery but equally on risk reduction, preparedness, and resilience. With climate change intensifying heat waves, floods, and landslides, the country’s policy architecture, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has embraced a multi-hazard, multi-stakeholder, and science-backed model. The guiding compass remains the Prime Minister’s Ten-Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction (2016), now reinforced by major financial and institutional reforms.

    Why in the News

    For the first time, India’s disaster management strategy has been fully integrated into public finance planning, through the 15th Finance Commission’s ₹2.28 lakh crore allocation for disaster risk reduction over five years. This is a paradigm shift: from ad hoc post-disaster relief to structured, science-driven, and nature-based risk mitigation. With new funding for fire safety, glacial risk monitoring, and bioengineering-led landslide prevention, the government’s efforts represent a bold move towards building a climate-resilient India. The initiative is also significant because it establishes clear budget-to-project chains, accountability mechanisms, and cross-institutional linkages, something missing in previous regimes.

    India’s Evolving Disaster Management Framework

    1. Multi-hazard nation: India faces diverse risks, floods, droughts, landslides, heat waves, cyclones, necessitating a multi-faceted approach.
    2. Shift in focus: Earlier systems were relief-centric; now, they integrate prevention, mitigation, capacity building, and sustainable reconstruction.
    3. Institutional leadership: The MHA and NDMA lead both pre- and post-disaster phases, ensuring coordination across States and institutions.
    4. Guiding vision: The Prime Minister’s Ten-Point Agenda (2016) promotes risk-informed investments, community participation, and technology integration.

    How the 15th Finance Commission Redefined Disaster Financing

    • Historic allocation: ₹2.28 lakh crore ($30 billion) allocated over five years, a landmark in linking public finance with disaster resilience.
    • Segmented approach:
      • Preparedness and Capacity Building – 10%
      • Mitigation – 20%
      • Response – 40%
      • Reconstruction – 30%
    • End of debt dependency: Earlier, post-disaster reconstruction relied on multilateral loans; now, domestic fiscal mechanisms fill that gap.
    • Five priority reforms:
      1. Evaluate multi-hazard risks and prioritize them.
      2. Integrate scientific mitigation models into fiscal systems.
      3. Avoid duplication with other schemes.
      4. Enhance Centre-State and institutional synergy.
      5. Ensure light-touch regulation for flexibility and speed.

    Investing in Pre-Disaster Preparedness and Capacity Building

    1. Fire safety modernization: ₹5,000 crore earmarked for upgrading urban and rural fire infrastructure.
    2. Community-based volunteers: Apda Mitra and Yuva Apda Mitra programs train 2.5 lakh volunteers to act as first responders.
    3. Strengthening institutions:
      1. National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) given a central role with geo-spatial training labs and action-based research.
      2. 36 streams of disaster management courses were introduced to mainstream DRR down to the panchayat level.
    4. Outcome: Shift from theoretical to practical, localised risk management.

    Nature-Based Solutions and Climate Adaptation

    1. ₹10,000 crore mitigation projects across States emphasize nature-based, long-term solutions.
    2. Bioengineering for landslides: Stabilizing slopes in Himalayan regions using vegetation and soil binding.
    3. Urban flood control: Revitalizing water bodies and green spaces to restore natural drainage.
    4. Glacial lake monitoring: Remote sensing and automated stations for real-time surveillance.
    5. Forest fire prevention: Creating break lines, rejuvenating water bodies, and fuel evacuation corridors.
    6. Brahmaputra beels rejuvenation: Ecological restoration to mitigate monsoon flooding.
    7. Precursor success: National Cyclone Mitigation Programme (2011–22): ₹5,000 crore initiative, drastically reduced coastal vulnerability through shelters, embankments, and early warnings.

    Building Technological and Institutional Resilience

    1. Advanced early warning systems: Multi-hazard platforms with seven-day lead time for cyclones.
    2. Common Alerting Protocol: Delivers region-specific alerts in local languages via multi-media.
    3. Human resource development:
      • Training at NIDM, NDRF Academy, and National Fire Service College for hundreds of officers annually.
      • Mock drills, school safety programmes, and local awareness drives improve community response.
      • Network of 327 universities: Build research and innovation pipelines for disaster science and policy.

    India’s Global Leadership in Disaster Resilience

    1. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): India-led global initiative for climate-resilient infrastructure systems.
    2. Active participation: G-20, SCO, BIMSTEC, and IORA platforms for sharing best practices.
    3. Knowledge exchange: India’s experience in nature-based DRR and community-driven risk management now shaping global policy dialogues.

    Conclusion

    India’s journey from disaster relief to disaster resilience marks a tectonic policy evolution. With fiscal integration, scientific innovation, and community participation, the nation is shifting from reactive recovery to proactive risk management. The emerging focus on nature-based, sustainable, and locally-driven mitigation reflects India’s understanding that resilience is not built after a disaster, it is cultivated every day, across every sector.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2024] What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030).

    Linkage: This PYQ is directly linked as the article highlights India’s evolving resilience framework under NDMA and the 15th Finance Commission, reflecting Sendai-aligned efforts to mainstream disaster risk reduction into national policy and finance.