**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Science and Technology addresses questions regarding the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE). It details budget allocations since July 2018, research programs, implementation mechanisms, disaster mitigation efforts, and plans to address urbanization and tourism challenges. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) implements NMSHE and National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC) from its internal budget.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Budget Allocation:**
* A total of Rs. 111.63 Crores has been sanctioned under NMSHE since July 2018.
* State-wise budget allocations for NMSHE from 2018-2024 are provided in a table.
* **Research Programs:**
* Vulnerability assessment was conducted for Himalayan States and expanded to a pan-India study, identifying Surat as a high-risk area for flooding.
* State Climate Change Cells (SCCCs) have been established/strengthened in 13 Himalayan States/UTs to conduct vulnerability assessments and assist in implementing State Action Plans.
* **Implementation Mechanisms:**
* A National Expert Committee (NEC) reviews and assesses the implementation of research programs under NMSHE.
* The DST facilitates expert visits for field-level project reviews and conducts workshops to disseminate scientific outcomes.
* **Disaster Mitigation:**
* A Centre of Excellence (CoE) has been established at IIT Roorkee focusing on disaster risk reduction and adaptation strategies.
* Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun, conducts research related to geohazards.
* **Addressing Emerging Challenges:**
* DST supports a National Network Programme on urban climate and has announced a special call on Urban Climate Research and Extreme Events.
* The Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified Ecotourism guidelines, and the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has formulated a National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Department of Science and Technology (DST):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing NMSHE and NMSKCC within existing budget allocations, overseeing research programs, and facilitating expert reviews.
* *Action Required:* Continue to manage and monitor NMSHE projects, support the NEC, and disseminate research outcomes.
* **Himalayan States/UTs:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from vulnerability assessments, SCCCs, and research programs focused on climate change impacts.
* *Action Required:* Utilize SCCCs to develop and implement State Action Plans, and collaborate with DST on research and mitigation efforts.
* **Research Institutions (e.g., IIT Roorkee, WIHG):**
* *Impact:* Involved in conducting research and developing solutions for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
* *Action Required:* Undertake research activities, contribute to knowledge dissemination, and support the implementation of mitigation strategies.
* **Ministries (MoEFCC, MoT):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for incorporating environmental sustainability into tourism and conservation efforts.
* *Action Required:* Implement Ecotourism guidelines and the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, focusing on environmental and socio-cultural sustainability.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: A National Mission (NMSHE) implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to study and protect the Himalayan ecosystem.
Department of Science and Technology: A government department (DST) responsible for implementing National Missions on Climate Change, including NMSHE and NMSKCC.
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change: A National Mission (NMSKCC) implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Himalayan States/UTs: Refers to the states and union territories in the Himalayan region where State Climate Change Cells are established under NMSHE.
Surat region: A region in India, found to be at high risk for flooding according to the vulnerability assessment conducted under NMSHE.
National Expert Committee: A committee (NEC) constituted by the Department of Science and Technology to review the implementation of research programmes under NMSHE.
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee: An educational institution where a Centre of Excellence (CoE) has been established to focus on disaster risk reduction, sustainability, and adaptation strategies.
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun: An autonomous institute (WIHG) of DST undertaking scientific research related to geohazards in the Himalayan region.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4383
ANSWERED ON 20/08/2025
NATIONAL MISSION FOR SUSTAINING THE HIMALAYAN ECOSYSTEM
4383. SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the total budget allocation for National Mission for Sustaining
the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) since July 2018, year and State-wise;
(b) the details of the research programmes initiated under NMSHE since its
inception to study the Himalayan ecosystem of the Surat region and its
vulnerabilities to climate change and the progress achieved through these
research programmes so far;
(c) the mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of NMSHE
considering its ecological significance and challenges;
(d) the details of the specific steps being taken to study and mitigate the
impact of climate-induced natural disasters, such as landslides and soil erosion;
and
(e) whether the Government has any plans to expand the scope of NMSHE to
address emerging challenges such as urbanization and tourism pressure, if so,
the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पथ्ृ िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय के राज्य मंत्री (स्ितंत्र प्रभार)
(डॉ. जितेंद्र स हं )
(a) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is implementing two
National Missions on Climate Change viz. 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
Page 1 of 3separate 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:
Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount Total
in in in in in in in Amount
Sl.
States/UTs Crores Crores Crores Crores Crores Crores Crores in
No.
2018- 2019- 2020- 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024- Crores
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Arunachal 3.60 2.46 - - 2.57 1.17 - 9.80
1
Pradesh
2 Assam 3.04 9.04 - - - - - 12.08
3 Delhi 0.52 - 9.52 - - - - 10.04
4 Haryana - - - - 1.55 - - 1.55
Himachal 1.91 0.80 2.81 1.12 - - - 6.64
5
Pradesh
Jammu and 1.88 7.85 - - 2.74 0.73 - 13.20
6
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
(b) 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 flood and drought risk covering
698 districts, including the Surat region. The results indicate that Surat is at high
risk for flooding, ranking 97th 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.
Page 2 of 3(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
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