Miscellaneous Schemes under MoEFCC

Environmental Information, Awareness Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP)

• This scheme builds upon the earlier ENVIS (Environmental Information System) Scheme.
• It focuses on raising awareness, building capacity, and promoting sustainable actions at both individual and community levels.
• Works in alignment with Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

• Purpose: To improve air quality in 131 cities (non-attainment cities + million-plus cities) across 24 States/UTs.
• Target: Reduce PM10 concentration by up to 40% by 2024–25 over the 2017–18 baseline, or bring it down to the national standard of 60 µg/m³ by 2025–26.
• Implementation: By Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Monitoring: Through PRANA portal (Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment Cities).

Climate Resilience Building among Farmers through Crop Residue Management

• Aim: To help farmers adapt to climate change, while also countering stubble burning, which causes severe air pollution.
• Launched under: National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).
• Coverage: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan.
• Focus: Offers alternatives to stubble burning, thereby reducing emissions and enhancing adaptive capacity.

Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP)

• Aim: To train green-skilled workers—individuals equipped with technical knowledge and sustainable practices.
• Implemented by: MoEF&CC in consultation with National Skill Development Agency (NSDA).
• Features:
  • All courses are NSQF-compliant (National Skills Qualifications Framework).
  • Training provided through ENVIS hubs and resource partners.
  • A mobile app exists to connect youth with opportunities, boosting employability and entrepreneurship in sustainable development.

India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP)

• Aim: To provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort while also securing environmental and socio-economic benefits.
• Vision: Covers cooling across multiple sectors with a 20-year horizon (up to 2037–38).
• Focus Areas:
  • Reduce cooling demand by 20–25%.
  • Reduce refrigerant demand by 25–30%.
  • Improve energy efficiency of cooling by 25–40%.
  • Train 100,000 service sector technicians by 2022–23.
• Significance: Addresses both direct and indirect emissions from cooling.

PARIVESH

(Pro-Active and Responsive facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous and Environmental Single-window Hub)

• An online single-window hub for clearances related to Environment, Forest, Wildlife, and CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone).
• Objective: To automate the process of applying, tracking, and monitoring proposals for faster environmental clearances.
• Significance: Improves transparency and efficiency in environmental governance.

Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)

• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
• Purpose: To conserve and develop wildlife habitats, protect keystone species, and promote ecological balance.
• Financial Assistance: Given to States/UTs for protecting wildlife inside and outside Protected Areas (PAs), and for recovery of critically endangered species.
• Tenure: Current cycle – 15th Finance Commission (2021–26).
• Components:
  1. Support to Protected Areas – National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, etc.
  2. Protection of Wildlife outside PAs – Including mitigation of human-wildlife conflict.
  3. Recovery programmes – For saving critically endangered species and habitats.

National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS)

• Type: Central Sector Scheme
• Aim: Conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
• Focus: Enhancing local livelihoods in line with the National Environment Policy, 2006.
• Implementing Agency: Himalayan Knowledge Network (HKN).
• Thematic Areas:
  • Skill development and capacity building
  • Handling hazardous substances
  • Physical connectivity & infrastructure
  • Livelihood & entrepreneurship development
  • Water resource management
  • Biodiversity conservation and management

Environment Education Awareness and Training (EEAT)

• Type: Central Sector Scheme
• Aim: To promote environmental awareness and encourage student participation.
• Major Programmes under EEAT:
  • National Green Corps (NGC): Over 1 lakh Eco-clubs in schools/colleges for spreading awareness.
  • National Nature Camping Programme (NNCP): Field visits and camps in Protected Areas, Tiger Reserves, Nature Parks, etc.

LeadIT (Leadership Group for Industry Transition)

• Launched at: UN Climate Action Summit, 2019.
• Aim: To guide the world’s hard-to-decarbonize industries (like steel, cement) towards a low-carbon economy.
• Initiators: India and Sweden, along with other countries.
• Supported by: World Economic Forum.
• Key Idea: LeadIT countries and companies commit to action for achieving the Paris Agreement goals.
• Focuses on shifting energy-intensive industries to low-carbon pathways and eventually net-zero emissions.

Colombo Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management

• Adopted in: 2019, proposed by Sri Lanka and endorsed by UN member states.
• Objective: To reduce nitrogen waste by 50% by 2030.
• Support: Technical assistance from the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS), a joint activity of UNEP and the International Nitrogen Initiative, with funding from GEF.
• Significance: Addresses excessive nitrogen use in fertilizers, which harms both environment and human health.

Nagar Van Yojana (NVY)

• Launched on: World Environment Day (5th June) 2020.
• Objective: To create 400 Nagar Vans (city forests) and 200 Nagar Vatikas (small green spaces) by 2025.
• Goal:
  • Enhance tree cover and green areas in urban landscapes.
  • Improve biodiversity and provide ecological benefits to city dwellers.
  • Improve quality of life in urban areas.
• Implementation:
  • Forests to be developed on existing forest land or vacant land of urban local bodies.
  • State Government will maintain the forests.
• Funding: 100% from CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016).