Context: Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment launched the National Transit Pass System (NTPS) One Nation One Pass to facilitate the seamless transit of timber, bamboo, and other forest produce across the country.

One Nation One Pass for Smooth Transit of Forest Produce

• The NTPS is envisioned as a “One Nation One Pass” regime, enabling seamless transit across the country. 
• This initiative will streamline the issuance of timber transit permits by providing a unified, online mode for tree growers and farmers involved in agroforestry nationwide, contributing to the ease of doing business.

What is the One Nation One Pass or National Transit Pass System?

• The One Nation One Pass System provides seamless issuance of transit passes. This system helps monitor and keep records of transit permits for inter-state and intra-state transportation of timber and bamboo from private lands/government/private depots and other minor forest produce.

Key features of the One Nation One Pass System

• One Nation One Pass System is a role-based and workflow-based application available as a desktop-based web portal and a mobile application.
• Online registration and submission of the applications for Transit Permit (TP) or No Objection Certificate (NOC) through web portal and mobile app.
• Online applications for Species grown on private land are exempted from the transit pass regime. 
  • Online application submissions for Species grown on private land are not exempted from the transit pass regime.
• Online generation of Transit Permit or NOC based on species category.
• The QR-coded transit permits generated under NTPS will allow check gates across various states to verify the validity of the permits and allow seamless transit.
• E-payment system: Payment can be made online through the mobile app/web portal before downloading T.P.

Key Benefits of the One Nation One Pass System

• Streamlining Permit Processes: Expedite issuance of transit permits for timber, bamboo and other minor forest produce without physically going to forest offices.
• Pan-India Transit Facilitation: One permit for the whole of India for transit of timber, bamboo and other minor forest produce for ease of business.
• Seamless Cross-Border Mobility: Seamless movement across state borders from origin to destination through the help of a Mobile App.
• Ease for Producers and Transporters: Prevent hardships of timber and bamboo producers, farmers and transporters in obtaining permits and at forest check posts.
• Time and Cost Efficiency:Saving transportation costs and time will benefit farmers and traders and help increase farmers’ income.
• Holistic Impact on the Value Chain: Impact extends beyond merely encouraging agroforestry and tree farming; it also promises to incentivize the entire value chain and enhance the ease of doing business in this sector.

Present System

• Currently, transit permits are issued for transporting timber and forest produce based on state-specific transit rules. 
• Each state had its own transit regulations, which meant that to transport timber or forest produce across states, one was required to get a separate transit pass issued in each state. 

Other Recent Initiatives

• The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme, and
• The Trees Outside Forest Initiative.