10 Feb 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Natural Resource Management System
2. Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0
3. Swadesh Darshan Scheme

1. National Natural Resource Management System

Syllabus: GS III, Conservation, Environmental impact assessment

Prelims: About National Natural Resource Management System

Mains: Natural Resource Management in India

Context: The National Natural Resource Management System scheme has been discussed in the Parliament

About the Scheme:

• It is a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that acts as a national level interagency system for the integrated management of natural resources.
• In 1983, the Department of Space acknowledged the need to introduce remote sensing technology in the information system that was regularly used by the resource managers and planners. 
• To infuse technology into the management of resources, the National Natural Resource Management System was launched under the aegis of the then Planning Commission with the National Resource Management Information System (NRIS) as the feeder information system of the government that involves socio-economic information and models. 

Objective of the scheme:

• The major objective of the scheme is to promote the usage of remote sensing technology for inventions, assessments and monitoring of the country’s natural resources. 

Achievements of the scheme:

• Knowledge-based decision tool to examine the impact of climate change on vegetation has been developed in the Western Himalayan Eco-Region.
• The snow and glaciers of the Himalayan region are monitored in a regular manner.
• Mapping of India is performed to check the desertification status.
• Remote sensing and geographic information technologies are employed to check the soil and water qualities in salt-affected areas of Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu. 
• Upgraded technologies have been used to explore energy plantation opportunities, for integrated land use, water and energy management. 
• Natural resources assessment of selected eco-tourism sites of Gujarat and its surrounding environment has been conducted using remote sensing and GIS. 
• In the last five years, there has been considerable fund allocated for the continuation of research studies and assessment projects. 

  Working of NRIS:

Image Source: isprs.org

2. Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0

Syllabus: GS III, Economy, transport and marketing of agricultural produce 

Prelims: Features of Krishi Udan Scheme

Mains: Active measures taken by the government to promote the marketing of agricultural products

Context: The progress under the Krishi Udan 2.0 scheme has been discussed in the ongoing session of the Parliament.

Aim of the scheme: The Krishi Udan scheme aims to increase the share of air carriage of agricultural products involving horticulture, fishery livestock and processed products.

About the scheme:

• The Krishi Udan Scheme was announced in October 2021 in order to enhance the existing provisions focusing on transporting perishable food products from the hilly areas of the northeastern states and tribal areas. 
• This scheme is a collaboration between eight ministries/departments that include the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Development of North eastern Region (DONER).
• Under this scheme, logistic support for the transportation of agri-produce has been extended to benefit the farmers.
• All the airports in the North-Eastern states including Assam are covered under the scheme with cost-effective, time-bound air transportation of the agricultural products.

Read more about the Krishi Udan scheme 2.0 in the linked article.

3. Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Syllabus: GS I, Indian Heritage and Culture 

Prelims: Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Mains: Progress made in the tourism sector

Context: In order to encourage eco-tourism, the Ministry of Tourism has identified eco-circuit as one of the fifteen thematic circuits under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. With regards to this, the ministry has sanctioned 6 projects under the eco theme. 

Details of the Matter:

• The Ministry of Tourism has signed an MoU with the United Nations Environment Programme and the Responsible Tourism Society of India to promote sustainability in tourism by working with cooperation. 
• This will enable sustainable eco-tourism in forest and wildlife areas as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued guidelines on the same. 
• The guidelines will ensure strict monitoring of the ecotourism sites by the respective authorities. 

Read more about Swadesh Darshan Scheme by following the link.

Read previous PIB here.

February 10th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here