15-Dec-2022: National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC)
The Government of India stands committed to combat the global challenge of climate change. India has updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in August 2022. India has also prepared and submitted a separate framework document titled ‘India’s Long-term Low Carbon Development Strategy’ to the secretariat of the UNFCCC in November 2022 with the vision to reach net-zero by 2070. The Government is implementing many schemes and programs including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which comprises of missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, sustainable agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, green India, health and strategic knowledge for climate change.
The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC), implemented by the Department of Science and Technology, under the NAPCC promotes research, knowledge generation and capacity building relating to climate science. The mission has been revised to align its objectives and priorities with the commitments of the country.
There are focused research and development (R&D) programmes in climate change science and adaptation which are carried out through twelve Centres of Excellence (CoE), twenty three major R & D programmes; seven Network Programmes and seven capacity building programmes. Thirteen Climate Change centers/ cells have been set up in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana to carry activities that connect their state action plans on climate change with NMSKCC priorities of action.
15-Dec-2022: Creation of Carbon Markets
The Energy Conservation Amendment Bill has been passed by the Parliament. The Bill includes provisions for putting in place a carbon market. As per the framework laid down by COP; if any carbon credit is sold outside the country; it cannot be used for meeting the NDCs of the originating country. Carbon credit will on priority be used within the country to meet our NDCs. In specific cases; where carbon credits are created by high technology expensive assets, these may be permitted to be externally marketed by the National Designated Authority created by Government which shall exercise and perform functions that inter-alia include to receive projects for evaluation and approval of host party.
The Generation Expansion Planning studies carried out by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for 2029-30 reveals that the share of non-fossil fuel based generation capacity in the total installed capacity of the Country is likely to increase from around 42% as on Oct, 2022 to more than 64% by 2029-30. This would reduce the dependence on fossil fuel in electricity generation.
The fossil fuel-based power plants are mandated to comply with the emission norms prescribed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) from time to time.
13-Dec-2022: Initiatives to Develop Blue Economy of Indian Ocean
The Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM). The Deep Ocean Mission is a multi-ministerial, multi-disciplinary programme with emphasis on development of deep-sea technology that includes development of manned Submersible rated for 6000 metre water depth along with technologies for deep sea mining, exploration of deep-sea mineral resources and marine biodiversity, acquisition of a research vessel for ocean exploration, development of ocean climate change advisory services, deep sea observations, and capacity building in Marine Biology. The activities of Deep Ocean Mission will help to develop the potential of the blue economy of the Indian Ocean.
The work for development of Energy Efficient River Survey Drifter Drone (Autonomous Survey Craft) was awarded by Inland Waterways Authority at total cost of Rs. 21.94 Lakhs to Indian Maritime University (IMU). An amount of Rs. 14.47 Lakhs has been released till date to Indian Maritime University (IMU).
22-Mar-2022: Blue Economy
The Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between India and other countries namely, Norway, Bangladesh, Iceland, Indonesia, Morocco and Vietnam to promote bilateral cooperation in the field of Fisheries. Besides, India is also party to various multilateral agreements and arrangements including Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi- Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Bay of Bengal Programme Inter- Governmental Organization (BoBP-IGO), etc. to strengthen Blue economy by way of trade and export promotion, socio-economic developments and technical cooperation in various sectors including sustainable exploitation of marine wealth.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)- A scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India with highest ever investment of Rs.20,050 Crores in the fisheries sector, for implementation over a period of five years from financial year 2020-21 to financial year 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories. The PMMSY inter-alia provides financial support for acquisition technologically advanced fishing vessels, deep sea fishing vessels for traditional fishermen, fishing boats and nets for traditional fishermen, providing safety kits for fishermen of traditional and motorized fishing vessels, communication and/or tracking devices for traditional and motorized vessels and infrastructure facilities for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance, etc. The Government of India, in 2018-19, has also extended the facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to help them and to meet their working capital needs. The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) has been created at a total outlay of Rs. 7522 Crores to provide concessional finance to Eligible Entities (EEs). Besides, the concerned coastal State Governments/UTs are also providing tax rebate for fuel and other subsidies to Indian fishermen.
In the ongoing negotiations on fisheries subsidies in World Trade Organization (WTO), the member countries including India are participating as per the mandate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG) target 14.6 and the WTO Ministerial Conference Decision of 2017(MC-11). The scope of ongoing negotiations is limited to marine capture fisheries. Aquaculture and inland fisheries are excluded from the scope of WTO Regulation on Fisheries subsidies. For securing livelihood of our traditional and small-scale fishermen, India is advocating for appropriate and effective special and differential treatment (S&DT) for the developing countries including least developed countries (LDCs) and has sought policy space to develop and modernize its fisheries sector.
3-Feb-2022: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, Blue Economy is the sixth dimension of Government of India’s Vision of New India by 2030
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the Government of India’s Vision of New India by 2030 enunciated in February 2019 highlighted the Blue Economy as the sixth dimension of its vision. He said, Rs. 150 Cr has been provisioned during 2021-22 under Deep Ocean Mission.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Dr Jitendra Singh said, a Draft Policy document on Blue Economy has been prepared by MoES taking into consideration the reports of the expert working groups which emphasizes holistic development and growth of India’s Blue Economy. The following seven thematic areas or pillars are identified:
- National accounting framework for the blue economy and ocean governance.
- Coastal Marine Spatial Planning and Tourism.
- Marine fisheries, aquaculture, and fish processing.
- Manufacturing, Emerging industries, trade, technology, services, and skill development.
- Logistics, infrastructure and shipping, including trans-shipments.
- Coastal and deep-sea mining and offshore energy.
- Security, strategic dimensions, and international engagement
12-Jul-2021: India Aims to Target over 100 Billion “Blue Economy” Through Deep Ocean Mission and Ocean Resources – Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that in the years to come, India aims to target over 100 billion “Blue Economy” through its Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) and ocean resources.
Addressing the scientists in the Ministry of Earth Sciences here today, the Minister reiterated the importance of exploring the ocean to give further fillip to the growth of country's economy. He said, this could be a new avenue to supplement the country’s economy to the tune of an estimated Rs. 110 billion. “Deep Ocean Mission'' planned by the Ministry of Earth Sciences will be carried out in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) and it will be a major step in the direction of integrating and bringing together the efforts of the different streams of science operating under different Ministries in the government, he said.
In addition, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the “Deep Ocean Mission” will also have far-reaching benefits for the common man. For example, it could help in providing clean drinking water and explore the avenues of desalination of water as well as extracting minerals from the ocean belt.
The Minister directed the officials of India Meteorological Department (IMD) to use social media platforms more effectively, so that accurate information can be disseminated quickly. Achievements of the Ministry, especially those benefiting the common man need to be highlighted through the Media, he said. He urged the officials to cut down on wasteful expenditure and explore the feasibility of merging autonomous bodies under the Ministry.
Director Generals, senior scientists and officials of the administrative wings of the Ministry attended the review meeting.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences has ten Institutes including five autonomous bodies under its ambit. The Ministry carries out its research & development and operational activities under five major umbrella schemes.