**Summary:**
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is implementing the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) and the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC) from its internal budget. Since July 2018, Rs. 111.63 Crores has been sanctioned under NMSHE to implement various activities across multiple states and union territories.
**Budget Allocation (in Crores):**
* **2018-19:** 14.58
* **2019-20:** 38.59
* **2020-21:** 34.49
* **2021-22:** 3.83
* **2022-23:** 11.50
* **2023-24:** 7.09
* **2024-25:** 1.55
**State/UT-wise Budget Allocation (in Crores):**
* Arunachal Pradesh: 13.60
* Assam: 12.08
* Delhi: 10.04
* Haryana: 1.55
* Himachal Pradesh: 6.64
* Jammu and Kashmir: 13.20
* Karnataka: 0.41
* Ladakh: 5.39
* Manipur: 3.32
* Meghalaya: 3.42
* Mizoram: 10.49
* Nagaland: 2.51
* Sikkim: 8.29
* Tripura: 1.49
* Uttarakhand: 20.49
* West Bengal: 2.51
Key activities under NMSHE include vulnerability assessments for Himalayan states, expanded to a pan-India study covering 698 districts. These assessments identify flood and drought risks, with Surat identified as a high-risk district for flooding (ranking 97th). DST has established/strengthened State Climate Change Cells (SCCCs) in 13 Himalayan States/UTs to conduct district-level vulnerability and risk assessments and assist state governments in implementing their State Action Plans.
A National Expert Committee (NEC), comprising climate scientists and representatives from relevant ministries, reviews and assesses the implementation of NMSHE research programs. DST also facilitates expert field visits and conducts workshops to disseminate scientific outcomes.
To address climate-induced natural disasters, DST has established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at IIT Roorkee, focusing on disaster risk reduction, sustainability, and adaptation strategies. The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun, an autonomous institute of DST, conducts research related to geohazards, including earthquakes, landslides, and glaciology.
DST supports a National Network Programme on urban climate and has announced a special call on Urban Climate Research and Extreme Events to understand urban climate in a changing scenario.
The Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified Ecotourism guidelines in and around protected areas in 2021. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has formulated a National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, focusing on environmental sustainability, biodiversity protection, and economic and sociocultural sustainability.
This information was provided by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: A National Mission implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) focused on the Himalayan ecosystem.
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change: A National Mission implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) related to climate change knowledge.
Himalayan States: Refers to the states within the Himalayan region of India where vulnerability assessments were conducted.
State Climate Change Cells: Units established/strengthened in 13 Himalayan States/UTs under NMSHE to conduct vulnerability and risk assessments.
National Expert Committee: A committee constituted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to review the implementation of research programmes under NMSHE.
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee: Location of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) established by DST to study and mitigate climate-induced natural disasters.
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun: Autonomous Institute of DST undertaking scientific research related to geohazards in the Himalayan region.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NATIONAL MISSION
FOR SUSTAINING THE HIMALAYAN ECOSYSTEM
Posted On: 20 AUG 2025 4:19PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is implementing two National Missions on Climate
Changeviz. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) and National Mission on
Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC) from its internal budget allocation. There is no separate
allocation for the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE); however, a total
amount of Rs. 111.63 Crores has been sanctioned under NMSHE since July 2018 to implement various
activities. The year and state-wise budget sanctioned under NMSHE is given below:
T o t a l
Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount
S l . Amount
States/UTs in Crores in Crores in Crores in Crores in Crores in Crores in Crores
No. in Crores
2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
A r u n a c h a l
1 3.60 2.46 - - 2.57 1.17 - 9.80
Pradesh
2 Assam 3.04 9.04 - - - - - 12.08
3 Delhi 0.52 - 9.52 - - - - 10.04
4 Haryana - - - - 1.55 - - 1.55
H i m a c h a l
5 1.91 0.80 2.81 1.12 - - - 6.64
Pradesh
Jammu and
6 1.88 7.85 - - 2.74 0.73 - 13.20
Kashmir
7 Karnataka 0.41 - - - - - - 0.41
8 Ladakh - - 2.71 2.68 5.39
9 Manipur 1.18 - 2.14 - - - - 3.32
10 Meghalaya 1.29 - - 2.13 - 3.42
11 Mizoram 8.09 2.40 - - - - 10.49
12 Nagaland - - - - - 2.51 - 2.51
13 Sikkim 6.80 1.49 - - - - 8.29
14 Tripura 1.49 - - - - 1.49
15 Uttarakhand 0.75 2.06 16.13 - - - 1.55 20.49
16 West Bengal - - - - 2.51 - - 2.51
Total 14.58 38.59 34.49 3.83 11.50 7.09 1.55 111.63
Under NMSHE, vulnerability assessment was conducted for the Himalayan States, which was further
expanded to a pan-India study for the assessment of vulnerability and risk at the district level to assess floodand drought risk covering 698 districts, including the Surat region. The results indicate that Surat is at high
th
risk for flooding, ranking 97 among all the districts. Further, DST has also established/strengthened State
Climate Change Cells (SCCCs) in 13 Himalayan States/UTs under NMSHE, which are mandated to conduct
vulnerability and risk assessment at the district level and assist State Governments in the implementation of
their State Action Plans.
Considering the ecological significance of the Himalayan Ecosystem, the Department has constituted a
‘National Expert Committee (NEC)’, comprising a cross-section of key stakeholders, which includes reputed
climate scientists from academia and research organizations and representatives of relevant ministries. The
NEC meets at regular intervals to review and assess the implementation of various research programmes
supported under NMSHE. Additionally, the Department also facilitates visits of experts for field-level review
of projects. DST also conducts workshops for the dissemination of scientific outcomes of supported projects
to relevant stakeholders.
To study and mitigate the impact of climate-induced natural disasters, such as landslides and soil erosion, the
Department has recently established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the Indian Institute of Technology,
Roorkee, which focuses in the area of disaster risk reduction, sustainability, and adaptation strategies. In
addition, DST has a dedicated Autonomous Institute, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG),
Dehradun, which undertakes scientific research and activities related to geohazards (earthquakes, landslides),
glaciology, georesources, etc.
With a view to address emerging challenges such as urbanization, DST has supported a National Network
Programme on urban climate and recently announced a special call on ‘Urban Climate Research and Extreme
Events’ to scientifically understand different aspects of urban climate in changing scenario. The Ministry of
Forest, Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified “Ecotourism guidelines in and around
protected areas” in 2021. Further, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has also formulated a ‘National Strategy for
Sustainable Tourism’, which focuses on environmental sustainability, protecting biodiversity, and promoting
economic and socio-cultural sustainability.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science
and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of
Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
***
NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2158378)