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The Karnataka Department of Health and Family Welfare has conducted 2,567 testsVto check the prevalence of KFD disease. 

About Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)

• It is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever. 
• Origin: KFD was first identified in 1956 in the Kysanur Forest area of Sorab Taluk in Shivamogga district, Karnataka.
  • The disease is named after this region.
• Symptoms: High fever, Severe muscle pain, Bleeding problems, Low blood pressure
• Hosts
  • Porcupines, rats, squirrels, mice, and shrews are considered reservoir hosts for KFDV.
• Transmission: Disease transmission primarily occurs through the forest tick Haemaphysalis spinigera.
  • It may occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal (a sick or recently dead monkey).

Measures to Avoid Kyasanur Forest Disease Infection

• Distribution of Tick Repellent: The forest department is offering free “DEPA oil” – a tick repellent – to families entering forested areas. 
• Free Treatment: The state government offers free medical treatment to diagnosed Kyasanur Forest Disease patients.

News Source: TheHindu

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Recently, India has joined the Global Alliance for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE).

About GACERE

• Aim: It is an alliance of governments at the global level willing to work together on and advocate for a global just circular economy transition and more sustainable management of natural resources.
• Established by : The European Commission on behalf of the European Union (EU), and by UNEP, in coordination with the UNIDO.
• Total Members: 17 including Canada, Japan, Switzerland, India & EU. 
  • Observer Countries : Mexico & Singapore
• Launched in: February 2021.

GACERE Working Areas

• Advocacy for Global Just Transition: 
  • For a fairer distribution of resources for sustainable consumption and production, in line with Paris Agreement goals. 
  • ItsSeeks reverse biodiversity loss, and reduce pollution, and waste. 
• Mapping of Policy Frameworks: 
  • It involves mapping domestic policies, fiscal measures, and regulatory frameworks related to sustainable resource management, circular economy transition, and industrial symbiosis.
• Identification of Transition Barriers, knowledge gaps, and governance issues 
  • Focuses on obstacles to decoupling economic growth from resource use, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions, 
  • Exploring opportunities to enhance environmental sustainability. 
• Identifies Research Needs and Governance Improvements:
  • Facilitates collaboration among governments and stakeholders, addressing resource challenges. 
• Support for Sectoral Partnerships, Bilateral, and Regional Partnerships: 
  • To disseminate best practices, ensuring coordination and avoiding duplication for a circular economy. 
• Facilitation of Global Conversations: 
  • On natural resource governance and options for adopting resource-efficient, circular approaches to address global challenges.

News Source: PIB

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Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur has tested India’s first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility.

India’s First Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility

• Funded by: Fund for Improvement in S&T Infrastructure (FIST) of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) with a sum of Rs 4.5 Crores in 2018.

• Developed by:  Aeronautical Research and Development Board (ARDB), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and  Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL) of IIT-Kanpur.

Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility

• About: The facility named S2 or ‘Jigarthanda’, is a 24-meter-long facility located at IIT-Kanpur’s Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL) within the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
• An expansion tunnel is an aerodynamic testing facility capable of generating high-energy test conditions with negligible or no ionisation for achieving the goal of high speeds for an aircraft.
• Function: The Facility can  generate flight speeds between 3-10 km/s, simulating the hypersonic condition usually  encountered during atmospheric entry of vehicles, asteroid entry, scramjet flights, and ballistic missiles.
  • The lower limit of the flight speed generated by the facility is three kilometers per second.

• Significance of Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility

• • Help Existing Missions: S2 will help ISRO with its Gaganyaan mission and  to test the  Reusable Launch Vehicle and DRDO with its development of  hypersonic cruise missiles.
  • Boost the research ecosystem: It will enable more aerospace engineers and researchers to pursue hypersonic research.
  • Future missions: The research activities and data generated in the facility will serve as an input for optimization of existing vehicles as well as futuristic defense and Space Missions.
  • It will empower India’s space and Defence organizations with domestic hypersonic testing capabilities for critical projects and missions

News source: PIB

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A recent report published in Nature Communication highlights the exacerbation of water scarcity worldwide due to declining water quality, particularly attributed to nitrogen pollution in rivers.

Study On Nitrogen Pollution: Key Findings

• Introduction of “Clean Water Scarcity”: The study introduces the term “clean-water scarcity” and provides a comprehensive assessment considering both water quantity and quality. 
  • This assessment, based on global nitrogen pollution and incorporating various climatic and socio-economic scenarios.
• Impact of Nitrogen Pollution: Sub-basins (smaller working units within a larger river basin or catchment area) with water scarcity triples due to future nitrogen pollution worldwide.
• Expansion of Affected Areas: Water Pollution aggravates water scarcity in >2000 sub-basins worldwide out of more than 10,000 assessed sub-basin.
  • Projected Water scarcity in 2050: 33% of global river sub-basins could face water scarcity.
• Impact on India: Nitrogen pollution is predominantly attributed to agricultural activities in the initial two climate scenarios. 
  • However, sewage is forecasted to become the primary source, surpassing agriculture, in the most severe scenario.
• Projected water scarcity hotspots: Nitrogen pollution could render many sub-basins in South China, Central Europe, North America, and Africa.

About Nitrogen Pollution

• It refers to the excessive presence of nitrogen compounds in the environment, often resulting from human activities such as agriculture, industrial processes, and transportation. 
• This surplus of nitrogen can lead to various environmental problems, including water contamination, air pollution, and disruption of ecosystems.

Sources of Nitrogen Pollution

• Agricultural Fertilizers: Overuse of nitrogen fertilizers can result in the emission of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. 
• Sewage: 
  • Food Waste: Significant amounts of nitrogen-rich waste are produced during the food production and supply chain, originating from both human and animal sources.
  • Wastewater Treatment: Facilities lacking specific nitrogen removal processes can contribute to elevated nitrogen levels in surface and groundwater. 
  • Stormwater Runoff: Urban areas contribute to nitrogen pollution through stormwater runoff, which carries pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus from hard surfaces like roads and rooftops into nearby water bodies. 
• Fossil Fuel Usage (Vehicular Pollution): Diesel-powered vehicles, including trucks and cars, contribute to nitrogen pollution despite advancements in cleaner fuel and pollution control technology.

Impact of Nitrogen Pollution 

• Disruption of Ecosystems: 
  • In aquatic ecosystems: It leads to toxic algal blooms and coastal dead zones, posing a significant threat to biodiversity worldwide. 
  • Groundwater Pollution
  • Deterioration of soil health
• Contribution to Climate Change: Fertilisers and agricultural emissions contribute to climate change through the release of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, and ammonia emissions, which lead to the formation of nitrous oxide and fine particulate matter pollution. 
• Health Risks:  Elevated nitrate levels in water sources increase the risk of methemoglobinemia in infants and cancer in adults.
  • Ammonia emissions exacerbate air pollution, impacting human health adversely. 
• Economic Impact: Ranging from US$340 billion to US$3.4 trillion annually, considering its effects on human health and ecosystems.

Steps Taken to Control Nitrogen Pollution 

Conclusion

Addressing nitrogen pollution through sustainable management is crucial for achieving global sustainable development goals and improving economic efficiency.

News Source : DTE

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To formalize and support the Indian Fishery Sector, recently the Union Cabinet approved the PM MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana).

• Further, the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) extension for another 3 years up to 2025-26 was approved.

PM MKSSY Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana

• PM MKSSY is a Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
• Tenure: FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 in all States/Union Territories.
• Budgetary Outlay: Rs.6,000 crore consisting of 50% public finance including the World Bank and the AFD external financing, and rest 50% being the anticipated investment from the beneficiaries/private sector leverage.
• Intended Beneficiaries of PM MKSSY: Aquaculture Farmers, Fish workers, Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs).

Objectives Of PM MKSSY Scheme

• Gradual Formalization of the Unorganized Fisheries Sector.
• Facilitating Access to institutional financing fisheries sector micro and small enterprises.
• Providing a One-time Incentive to Beneficiaries For purchasing aquaculture insurance.
• Incentivizing through Performance Grants:
  • Fisheries and Aquaculture Micro-Enterprises: For improving fisheries sector value-chain efficiencies including the creation and maintenance of jobs.
  • Micro and Small Enterprises: For adoption and expansion of fish and fishery product safety and quality assurance systems, including creating and maintaining jobs.

Major Components Of PM MKSSY Scheme

• Formalization and facilitating Access for Working Capital Financing: For this purpose, a National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) will be created and all the stakeholders will be mobilized to register on it. It will serve multiple functions including disbursement of financial incentives. 
• Facilitating Adoption of Aquaculture Insurance: The maximum incentive payable to a single farmer will be Rs. 1,00,000 and maximum farm size eligible for incentive is 4 hectares of water spread area. 
  • For more intensive forms of aquaculture other than farms such as cage culture, Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS), biofloc, raceways, etc. the incentive payable is 40% of premium. 
  • Maximum incentive payable is 1 lakh and maximum unit size eligible will be of 1800m3. 
    • SC, ST and Women beneficiaries would be provided an additional incentive @ 10% of the incentive payable for General Categories.
• Supporting Microenterprises to Improve Fisheries Sector Value Chain Efficiencies: Through a system of performance grants with associated analytics and awareness campaigns. 
  • The Scale of Performance Grant and the Criteria for Providing Performance Grants:
    • For a Microenterprise shall not exceed 25% of the total investment or Rs. 35 lakhs, whichever is lower, for General Category and 35% of total investment or Rs. 45 lakhs, whichever is lower, for SC, ST and Women owned microenterprises.
    • Performance Grant for Village Level Organizations and Federations of SHGs, FFPOs and Cooperatives shall not exceed 35% of total investment or Rs. 200 lakhs, whichever is lower.
    • The total investment shall consist of expenditure incurred on capital investments made on new plant and machinery, technology, salary bills for additional jobs created, etc.
• Adoption and Expansion of Fish and Fishery Product Safety and Quality Assurance Systems: To expand the market for fish and to create and maintain jobs especially for women. 
• The Scale of Performance Grant: 
  • For a Microenterprise shall not exceed 25% of the total investment or, Rs.35 lakhs, whichever is lower, for General Category and 35% of total investment or, Rs.45 lakhs, whichever is lower, for SC, ST and Women owned microenterprises.
  • For a Small enterprise shall not exceed 25% of total investment or Rs.75 lakhs, whichever is lower, for General Category and 35% of total investment or Rs. 100 lakhs, whichever is lower, for SC, ST and Women owned small enterprises.
  • For Village Level Organizations and Federations of SHGs, FFPOs and Cooperatives shall not exceed 35% of total investment or Rs.200 lakhs, whichever is lower.
  • Total investment shall consist of the expenditure incurred on:
    • capital investments made on new plant and machinery
    • equipment including technical civil/electrical works & associated infrastructure
    • transport and distribution infrastructure
    • collection and treatment facility for wastes
    • disease management, best management practices and such other investments leading to production and supply of safe fish
    • salary bills for additional jobs created
• Performance Grant Disbursement Criteria: For each job created and maintained for a woman an amount of Rs.15,000 per year will be paid, similarly, for man, an amount of Rs.10,000 per year will be paid, subject to the limit of 50% of total eligible grant.
  • Performance grant for such investments made will be disbursed after completion of the investment subject to the limit of 50% of the eligible grant.
• Project Management, Monitoring and Reporting: It is proposed to set up Project Management Units (PMUs) to manage, implement, monitor and evaluate project activities.

Significance Of PM MKSSY Scheme

• Working Identity: To create a National Fisheries Digital Platform to provide 40 lakh small and micro-enterprises work-based identities.
• Formalization & Access to Credit: It would gradually formalize the fisheries sector and enhance access to institutional credit. 
• Performance-based Incentives: Gradual shift from conventional subsidies to performance-based incentives.
• Efficiency & Safety: It focuses on improving value chain efficiency and ensuring safe, quality fish by supporting 55,000 targeted micro and small enterprises.
• Environment Sustainability: Promotion of Environment and Sustainability Initiatives.
• Growth & Development: Income Enhancer due to enhanced profit margins due to value chain efficiencies.
• Insurance Coverage: Address issues of aquaculture crop losses due to disease through insurance coverage for aquaculture to strengthen production and productivity.

News Source: PIB

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Casgevy and Lyfgenia, the first CRISPR-based gene therapies have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia treatment.

Casgevy and Lyfgenia: CRISPR-Based Gene Therapies

• Casgevy™ made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, and Lyfgenia™, by Bluebird Bio—is for people 12 and older.
  • These two therapies work in different ways however both therapies  utilise the Nobel-winning CRISPR/Cas 9 genome editing technology.

• What Is Casgevy Therapy?

  • The therapy uses the patient’s blood stem cells, which are precisely edited using Crispr-Cas9. 
  • The therapy targets a gene called BCL11A, which is crucial for switching from fetal to adult haemoglobin.
  • The therapy uses the body’s mechanisms to produce more foetal haemoglobin, alleviating the symptoms of the two conditions

• What is Lyfgenia Therapy?

• • It uses a viral envelope to deliver a healthy hemoglobin-producing gene.
  • Lyfgenia works by taking a piece of a virus (a lentivirus, which belongs to the HIV family) and using it to deliver a functional version of a haemoglobin-producing gene.

About CRISPR

• CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
• It’s found in bacteria and archaea, which are simple organisms.
  • These sequences come from pieces of viruses that have attacked the organisms before.
• CRISPR helps the organisms recognise and fight off similar viruses in the future.
• CRISPR acts like an immune system. CRISPR helps the organisms recognise and fight off similar viruses in the future.

CRISPR Technology

• This technology helps modify living organisms’ genomes.
• It is based on the antiviral defence system. 
  • Why is it useful? Researchers use CRISPR to edit DNA precisely. it is used for various purposes
    • Treating genetic diseases 
    • Creating drought-resistant plants 
    • Modifying food crops
    • De-extinction projects. 

Regulatory Framework For CRISPR Research in India

• New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules (2019): CRISPR research in India is governed by strict regulations, with Gene Therapy Products (GTPs) classified as new drugs under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules (2019).
• Central Drugs Standard Control: This organisation approves CRISPR.
• Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM)/Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC): Besides existing regulations, additional rules might be set based on national GTP guidelines and reviewed by relevant committees.
  • Further requirements depend on national Gene Therapy Product guidelines and committee oversight.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): All biomedical research in India requires ethical approval following ICMR guidelines (2017).
  • India mandates ethical conduct for all biomedical research involving human participants (ICMR, 2017).

News Source: The Hindu

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Recently, the Himachal Pradesh government started a pilot program to connect Fair Price Shops to the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.

About Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC)

• Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an interoperable network based on the BeckN protocol that anyone can piggyback on. 
• The ONDC entity, a not-for-profit company incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013, manages and operates the ONDC Network.
• It is responsible for building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure (common registries and protocols) and defining the rules of engagement and code of conduct for the Network Participants through the ONDC Network Policy and the ONDC Network Participant Agreement.
• Seamless operations: It seeks to break down silos in digital commerce by enabling platforms of varying configurations (big or small) to connect and operate seamlessly on it.
• Network Participants: It comprises different entities called Network Participants, including Buyer Applications, Seller Applications, and Gateways that perform the search and discovery function
• Open ­network model: The government wants to change the fundamental structure of the e-­commerce market from the current platform­-centric model to an open ­network model.

Benefits Of Open Network Digital Commerce

• Small businesses: Easier discoverability, wider platform reach, platform-independent operations.
• Consumers: Wider choice, access to local sellers, price comparison across platforms.
• Government: Promotes competition, fair play, and innovation in e-commerce.
• Inclusion: Enables participation of small businesses beyond dominant platforms.
• Efficiency: Standardized operations streamline logistics and transactions.
• Value creation: Enhanced competition benefits consumers with better prices and choices.

Difference Between Open Network Digital Commerce And Existing E-commerce Platforms

News Source: PIB

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The Union Agriculture Minister has recently unveiled  new inititives under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

Launch of KRPH, LMS and SARTHI Portal under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna

• Newly launched initiatives include the Learning Management System (LMS), Krishi Rakshak Portal (KRP), Helpline for KRP– 14447, and SARTHI Portal.
• Objective of the Initiatives: Empower farmers, streamline grievance redressal processes and enhance agricultural training for sustainable growth in the farming community.

Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline (KRPH) 14447

• Centralized Platform: Launched to provide a central platform for farmers’ assistance and grievance redressal.
• Significance:
  • Multilingual Support: Provides communication in multiple languages for enhanced accessibility.
  • Real-time Grievance Resolution: Facilitates quick resolution of compensation delays and insurance queries.
  • Technical and Digital Empowerment: Offers the opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to empowering farmers technically and digitally.

About Learning Management System (LMS)

• Collaboration with NeGD: Developed in partnership with the National E-Governance Division.
• Target Audience: It is aimed at stakeholders such as farmers, insurance companies, Government officials, and PMFBY participants.
• Goal: Provide essential skills and knowledge for efficient crop insurance and agricultural credit.
• Features:
  • Interactive Modules: Facilitates engaging learning experiences.
  • Personalized Training Programs: Tailored to individual needs.
  • Accessible Resources: Ensures easy access to educational materials.

About SARTHI Portal

• About: Sarthi Portal is an agri-insurance sandbox framework platform, introduced to enhance the efficiency of the PMFBY through innovative insurance frameworks.
• Collaboration with UNDP India: Developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Extends insurance coverage beyond crop losses to include health, life, home, and other areas.
• Access: Accessible through the AIDE app on the Android App Store.
• Advancements Beyond Traditional Crop Insurance: Offers a variety of insurance products tailored to farmers’ needs and includes vital assets like tractor machinery for comprehensive risk mitigation.

News Source: PIB

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The protection of sacred groves is a part of the Community Reserve done by state governments.

Kadalundi–Vallikkunnu Community Reserve

• The government of Kerala, to protect its Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu community reserve during the last three years, has sought funds from the centrally sponsored scheme of “Development of Wildlife Habitat.”

What Are Sacred Groves? 

• Sacred Groves are small patches of trees traditionally protected by the local community for religious and cultural significance.
• They are also important for protecting local biodiversity. They also serve as sanctuaries for both nature and spirituality.

Sacred Groves In India

• Sacred groves are scattered all over India. Still, they are found primarily within forested areas such as the Western Ghats, the Himalayas, and the northeastern and central hill tracts.
• Shelters: These refugia shelter numerous species of trees, lianas, medicinal plants, animals, birds, lizards, snakes, frogs, and other creatures that have become rare elsewhere in the landscape.

Significance of Sacred Groves

• Protection of Nature: It plays a crucial role in soil conservation and preventing soil erosion, which maintains soil fertility.

• Mitigating Natural Disasters: Sacred groves act as natural windbreaks, shielding nearby settlements and agricultural lands from strong winds and reducing damage, hurricanes, or storms.
• Biodiversity Conservation: They contain a high level of biodiversity because they are protected from human interference. This makes them important for rare and endangered species seeking habitats.
• Religious Significance: They are dedicated to a particular deity or spirit. They are seen as the dwelling place of such beings, and also as a place where humans can connect with the divine.
• Cultural Significance: Integral to local traditions and beliefs, sacred groves enrich cultural heritage through rituals, stories, and connections to ancestral wisdom, fostering community identity and pride.

Conclusion

Sacred groves in India are being gradually altered due to ever-expanding human populations, pollution and removal of biomass; effective conservation is the need of the hour to maintain their functional values.

News Source: Scientific American and PIB

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This article is based on the news “Kaladan project of India ‘almost dead’ after Paletwa fell to Arakan Army: senior Myanmar Opposition leader” which was published in the Hindu. The Arakan Army, a rebel group in Myanmar, captured Paletwa (an important site in the Kaladan project) near the Mizoram border in January 2024, making the Kaladan project almost dead.

Present Political & Economic Turmoil in Kaladan Project

• Cost and viability: The Kaladan multimodal project has faced cost overruns, and its long-term economic viability remains a question, especially with competition from other regional initiatives.
• Political Instability: The conflict of interest in the population of Rakhine State divided among Buddhist Arakanese, Rohingyas, and non-Rohingyas Muslims, Christians, and other communities created political turmoil and human rights concerns leading to instability in Myanmar.

About Kaladan Project

• Kaladan project is a Multi-Modal transit transport project between India and Myanmar.
• Aim: To create a multi-modal route connecting the eastern seaport of Kolkata with Mizoram, through Myanmar.

• Background and Current Status Of Kaladan Project

  • In 1991, the project was launched under “Act East Policy”.
  • Both countries signed the Koladan multimodal project agreement in 2008 and its construction started in 2010 with a deadline of 2014, which got extended till 2024.
  • Issues such as constructing hydroelectric projects on the Kaladan River, Rohingyas, Covid outbreak led to delays in the project.

• Component Of Kaladan Project

• • Sea Route: From Kolkatta to Sittwe port in Myanmar (539 km).
  • Inland waterway: From Sittwe port to Paletwa in Myanmar via the Kaladan River (158 km)
  • Road: From Paletwa to the India-Myanmar border and then to Mizoram (110 km).

Kaladan Project Map

Significance Of Kaladan Project

• Reduced Distance: The Kaladan project will significantly reduce the distance between Kolkatta and Mizoram compared to the existing land route through Bangladesh. 
  • This will lead to faster and cheaper transportation of goods.
• Strategic Importance: The project also has strategic importance for India as it provides an alternative route to its northeastern states, bypassing the narrow Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken’s Neck”.
• Economic Development: The project is expected to boost the economic development of India’s northeastern states by providing them with better access to international trade.

News Source: The Hindu

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This article is based on the news “Need to launch next phase of Smart Cities Mission: Parliamentary Committee” which was published in the Hindu. The Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs recently presented a report in the Lok Sabha on “Smart Cities Mission: An Evaluation”.  

Smart Cities Mission (SCM): Current Progress

• Progress Evaluation of Smart Cities Mission:  As of December 2023
  • Total Projects and Investments: 7,970 projects worth ₹1,70,400 crore.
  • Completed Projects: 6,419 projects worth ₹1,25,105 crore.
  • Projects at Work Order Stage: 1,551 projects worth ₹45,295 crore.
• City-wise Progress Report: As of December 2023:
  • Completion Status Of Smart Cities Mission
    • Madurai: Completed 100% of projects.
    • 56 Cities: Completed more than 80% of work.
    • Cities Lagging Behind: Progress was 50% or below in 14 cities.
  • Lagging Cities: Primarily from the northeast, Union Territories, and hilly areas. For example, Gangtok, Atal Nagar, Shillong, Silvassa, Itanagar, Puducherry, Saharanpur, and Port Blair’s completion percentages ranged from 16% to 39%.
• Next Phase of Smart Cities Mission (SCM): Report emphasised the necessity to launch the next phase of Smart Cities Mission, focusing on tier-2 cities within 100 km of state capitals.

About Smart Cities Mission

• Launch: Launched in June 2015 to promote cities that offer core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environments, and a decent quality of life through smart solutions.
• City Selection: 100 cities were selected through a competitive process between January 2016 and June 2018.
• Time Frame: Cities are given a five-year period from the selection date to complete proposed projects.
• Financial Support Allocation: The union government allocated ₹48,000 crore over five years to the 100 smart cities. State governments and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) matched the amount provided by the Union government.
  • Exceptions: 13 Himalayan and northeastern states received 90% funding from the Union government, with the remaining 10% from state and ULBs.
  • Convergence Funds: Additional resources raised through convergence, from ULBs’ own funds, grants under the Finance Commission, innovative finance mechanisms such as Municipal Bonds, other government programs and borrowings. 

Achievements of Smart Cities Mission

• Digital Transformation: Implementation of smart technologies for efficient governance and service delivery. For instance, Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) with smart features for monitoring and managing cities have been operationalised in all the 100 Smart Cities.

• Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): More than 70% of projects align with United Nations’ SDGs related to cities, clean water, clean energy, and economic growth. SCM projects have played a significant role in advancing 15 out of the 17 SDGs.
  • SDG11: Nearly 44% of projects contribute to making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
  • Other: 13.3% projects contribute to SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation), 8.6% to SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy), and 6.4% to SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth).
• Infrastructure Development: Development of core infrastructure such as roads, water supply, sewage, and solid waste management systems.
• • Improvement of urban mobility by constructing metro lines, bus rapid transit systems (BRTS), and pedestrian-friendly pathways.

Challenges Associated With Smart Cities Mission

• Mission Deadline Extension: The Smart Cities Mission supposed to conclude by June 2023 but it was extended till June 2024 to finish pending projects.
• Funding Challenges: Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Puducherry, and Port Blair received less than 50% of pledged central funds. In the case of State/ULB contribution, only 28 cities received 100% of their share from states/ULBs with funds released below 60% in 14 cities by states/ULBs.
• Failure in Fundraising Mechanisms:
  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Only 6% of Smart Cities Mission projects are funded through PPPs instead of the recommended 21%. About 50 cities couldn’t generate any funding through PPPs.
  • Loans: Proposed 5% funding through loans not met, except in six cities viz. Bhopal, Hubbali-Dharwad, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh, and Srinagar. Out of the proposed ₹9,844 crore, cities managed ₹5,298 crore (54%) through loans.
• Execution Challenges: The report highlighted that there was a lack of a robust mechanism to ensure coordination and smooth and harmonized monitoring.
  • For example, the committee noted that the frequent transfer of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and the lack of clear guidelines and directions for dedicated CEOs with fixed tenure by the ministry is one of the reasons for projects facing delays.
• Ineffective Advisory Forum Meetings: The committee noted that the state-level advisory forum meetings which include MP, MLA, Mayor, District Collector, and CEOs of the smart cities are not held regularly.
  • On average, 1-8 meetings have taken place in the first five years of the scheme. Further, in Amravati and Imphal, no meeting took place. 
• Absence of Master Plans: Master plans are essential for determining land and infrastructure requirements for urban use. According to a report by NITI Ayog titled “Reforms in Urban Planning Capability in India”, master plans are absent in 65 per cent of the 7,933 recognised urban entities.

Way Forward to Smart Cities Mission

• Need for Phase 2: Report stresses the necessity of initiating the next phase of SCM focusing on tier-2 cities within 100 km of state capitals. 
  • The experience and expertise gained by Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in urban development initiatives must be leveraged for the purpose.
• Expand Role of ICCCs: The committee recommended that the role of ICCCs in cities should be expanded by enabling them to provide a variety of services in the fields of health, internal security, waste management, traffic management, disaster management, e-governance etc.

• Ensuring Long-lasting Impact: Report urged the Ministry to address issues like failure to raise funds through PPP, inter-city project implementation disparities, and governance structure deficiencies.
  •  The committee asked the government to analyse why the drive failed to raise funds and introduce remedial measures noting that government funding alone cannot meet the cost of increased infrastructure in cities.
• Separate Plan for Smaller Cities Mission: Since, even the increase in central funding to 90% from the original 50% did not yield any result, the committee observed that a separate plan be made to ensure that smaller cities like those in the northeast can reap the benefit of the scheme. 
• Need for IT Strategy and Privacy Safeguards: Various applications of ICCCs like CCTV surveillance systems, early warning and disaster response systems and other functions will generate and use large volumes of data from these varied digital sources. 
  • The Committee recommends that a robust system should be put in place to protect digital platforms from cyberattacks and to ensure that sensitive public and private data is adequately protected and safeguarded.
  • It also highlighted a need for a comprehensive framework and operation and maintenance strategies to ensure increased lifetime utility, value of infrastructure/assets and their timely upgradation.
• Governance Structure Enhancement: The committee recommended the appointment of dedicated CEOs with minimum fixed tenures for clear accountability. The inclusion of city administration, local self-government, urban development experts, and stakeholders for transparency and decision-making will further strengthen governance structure.
• International Collaboration: Smart Cities Mission’s emphasis on sustainable development offers lessons for the Global South. India is positioned to support and guide development projects in other countries, such as the Gelephu Smart City Project in Bhutan.

News Source: The Hindu

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