Namami Gange Mission

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation arm of the Namami Gange Programme, launched in 2014 to rejuvenate and conserve the Ganga River. It operates under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and follows a river basin approach to ensure pollution control, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable river management.

📌 UPSC Prelims Key Points

✔ Objective → Holistic conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga Basin. 

✔ Implementing Agency → National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under National Ganga Council. 

✔ Legislative Frameworks →

• Environment Protection Act, 1986 → Regulates industrial waste discharge.
  
• Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 → Ensures river water quality protection. 

✔ Financial Model → Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) – A PPP-based funding approach for long-term sustainability. 

✔ Afforestation & Biodiversity → Focuses on Gangetic dolphin conservation, riparian afforestation, and wetland restoration. 

✔ Monitoring & Compliance → Industries along the Ganga must install real-time effluent monitoring systems.

📝 UPSC Mains Perspective

1️⃣ Pollution Control & Infrastructure Development

📍 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) → Over 200 STPs sanctioned, 116 completed, reducing untreated waste discharge. 

📍 Riverfront Development → Renovation of ghats & crematoria to maintain cultural heritage. 

📍 Industrial Waste Regulation → Strict compliance monitoring using real-time surveillance systems.

2️⃣ Ecological Restoration & Community Engagement

📍 Ganga Praharis (Volunteers) → Engaging local communities in conservation awareness. 

📍 Ganga Darpan Centre → A biodiversity hub in Varanasi, showcasing 3D aquatic life models. 

📍 Wetland Preservation → Protection of floodplain ecosystems and riverine biodiversity.

3️⃣ Challenges & Way Forward

📍 Human-Wildlife Conflict → Conservation efforts must balance ecological needs with livelihood concerns. 

📍 Inter-State Coordination → Harmonizing efforts across Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal. 

📍 Climate Resilience & Future Adaptation → Integrating green infrastructure to combat extreme climate impacts.

📜 Previous Year Questions (PYQs) & UPSC Relevance

📍 GS Paper II (Governance & Policy Implementation) → Questions on river basin management & environmental governance. 

📍 GS Paper III (Environment & Ecology) → Role of Namami Gange in biodiversity conservation. 

📍 Essay Topics → “River Rejuvenation & Sustainable Development”, “Water Crisis & Policy Interventions”.

✅ Important Topics for UPSC Notes

📍 Environmental Policies → Water pollution control, Ganga Action Plan vs. Namami Gange comparison. 

📍 River Basin Management → Role of NMCG & inter-state water governance. 

📍 Geography & Ecology → Riparian zones, Gangetic dolphin conservation, afforestation strategies. 

📍 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) → Contribution to SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).