Parliament Question: Projects under NMSHE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1560 ANSWERED ON 12/02/2026 PROJECTS UNDER NMSHE 1560 DR. SANDEEP KUMAR PATHAK: Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) the details of projects being implemented or supported under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) across various States; (b) whether State Climate Change Centres (SCCCs) are being strengthened under NMSHE; and (c) if so, the specific measures being taken to enhance the skills and capacity of these SCCCs regarding Disaster Risk Resilience? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is supporting various R&D programmes under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE). The Department has established State Climate Change Centres (SCCCs) in 13 States/UTs of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) and also established 03 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar; Sikkim University, Gangtok and Tezpur University, Tezpur. In addition to this, 10 projects under Major R&D Programme (Annexure-I), 06 Thematic Task Forces, 06 State Network Programmes and a National Network Programme are also being supported, which are engaged in carrying out research activities to address challenges related to the Himalayan ecosystem, climate change and holistic adaptation strategies in a coordinated manner. (b) to (c): DST has strengthened State Climate Change Centres (SCCCs) in all the 13 States/UTs of IHR under NMSHE to assist the States in undertaking vulnerability and risk assessments, public awareness and capacity-building programmes. These SCCCs have been networked with various experts and agencies to build capacities in different areas, which include disaster risk reduction, Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk assessment, Himalayan ecosystem dynamics, hydrology and water resource management, climate-resilience, etc. Page 1 of 2Annexure-I Sl. No. Title of Projects Host Institute 1. Assessment of Impact of Climate Change on North Eastern Regional Institute of Natural Resources and Livelihood of Science and Technology (NERIST), Arunachal Pradesh Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh 2. Study of Glacial Dynamic and Sustainable Indian Institute of Technology Hydrological resources in Arunachal Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam Himalaya 3. Assessment of socio-ecological vulnerability Assam University, Silchar, Assam to climate change among agroforestry managers along an altitude gradient in the Eastern Himalayas 4. Net ecosystem production and carbon Mizoram University, Aizawl, dynamics of forest ecosystems in North East Mizoram India in relation to altitude and latitude gradient: Implications for carbon sink management 5. Climate Change and Sustainability of Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam Agricultural Practices and Livelihoods in Eastern Himalayas: Case Studies in Northeastern Region, India 6. Climate change impact assessment of Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam threatened taxa in the Eastern Himalaya: Regeneration and conservation strategies 7. Long-term ecological monitoring of forest Mizoram University, Aizawl, plots in Mizoram, Northeast India Mizoram 8. Reconstructing the Late Quaternary climate University of Ladakh, Leh, Ladakh change records from the Lakes in Trans- Himalayan Ladakh 9. Development of climate resilient and National Dairy Research Institute, sustainable agri-based systems for better Karnal, Haryana food, feed, nutritional and livelihood security options to farming community of Cold arid region-Ladakh 10. Integrated Cryospheric Observations and Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal Associated Hazards to Changing Climate, University (HNBGU), Srinagar, Central Himalaya Uttarakhand ***** Page 2 of 2