Government Schemes, Policies and Institutions for Mountain Development in India
India’s mountainous regions, spanning the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and North-Eastern hill tracts, cover roughly 18% of the country’s land area. These fragile ecosystems face severe environmental vulnerabilities from climate change, soil erosion, and unsustainable infrastructure growth. To address these unique geographical challenges, the Central Government executes targeted administrative policies, dedicated development programs, and specialized research institutions focused on sustainable mountain development, disaster risk reduction, and socio-economic empowerment of hill communities.
Policy Frameworks and National Initiatives
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) along with NITI Aayog establishes guidelines to balance economic growth and ecological conservation in mountain regions.
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)
Launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), NMSHE focuses on assessing the health of the Himalayan ecosystem. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) acts as the nodal agency for this mission. It monitors glacial health, protects biodiversity, and establishes scientific capacity across 12 Himalayan states and Union Territories.
NITI Aayog Action Agenda for Sustainable Development in Indian Himalayan Region
NITI Aayog constituted thematic working groups to tackle key issues in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). The initiative focuses on five primary pillars:
- Inventory of Springs (Springshed Management): Rejuvenating drying mountain springs to ensure water security.
- Sustainable Tourism: Regulating carrying capacity and promoting eco-tourism to minimize environmental strain.
- Transforming Agriculture: Shifting towards organic farming, agroforestry, and indigenous crop preservation.
- Skill Development and Employment: Creating non-farm livelihood opportunities for mountain youth to prevent distress migration.
- Data and Analytics: Establishing a centralized digital database for mountain resources and spatial planning.
Secure Himalaya Project
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this project focuses on high-altitude biodiversity conservation. It targets snow leopard landscapes across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Jammu & Kashmir to secure local livelihoods and halt illegal wildlife trade.
Area Development Programs and Livelihood Schemes
Targeted development schemes address infrastructure deficits, border security, and regional economic imbalances across mountain districts.
Border Area Development Programme (BADP)
Administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, BADP targets the comprehensive development of remote border villages located near international land borders, including the Himalayan frontier. It funds community infrastructure, health facilities, rural roads, and water supply projects.
Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP)
Launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to develop select border villages in northern mountain states (Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh). VVP provides funds for infrastructure, green energy, mobile connectivity, and eco-tourism, aiming to reverse out-migration from border areas.
Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) and Western Ghats Development Programme (WGDP)
Historically initiated during the Fifth Five-Year Plan, HADP and WGDP provided targeted central assistance to designated hill districts in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal (Darjeeling). These programs focused on eco-restoration, soil conservation, and watershed development.
Institutional Framework for Mountain Governance and Research
Specialized autonomous bodies, national centers, and research institutes conduct field scientific studies and assist in policy formulation for hill regions.
| Institution Name | Headquarters / Location | Primary Mandate / Field of Work |
| G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE) | Almora, Uttarakhand | Conducts interdisciplinary research on natural resource management and conservation in the Indian Himalayan Region. |
| Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) | Dehradun, Uttarakhand | Studies structural geology, glaciology, seismology, and natural hazards in the Himalayan terrain. |
| National Institute of Mountain Health and Disaster Management | Tehri, Uttarakhand | Focuses on high-altitude medical research, disaster medicine, and relief coordination. |
| Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) & ISRO Remote Sensing Units | Dehradun / Shillong | Deploys GIS and satellite imagery for landslide hazard zonation and terrain mapping. |
| North Eastern Council (NEC) | Shillong, Meghalaya | Functions as the statutory regional planning body for the eight North-Eastern states, prioritizing mountain infrastructure. |
| National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) | Vasco da Gama, Goa | Monitors high-altitude Himalayan glaciers through its HIMANSH research station in Lahaul-Spiti. |
Disaster Risk Reduction and Infrastructure Guidelines
Due to high vulnerability to landslides, flash floods, and seismic events, mountain states operate under specialized engineering and environmental safety norms.
Landslide Risk Mitigation
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) acts as the nodal agency for landslide hazard assessment. GSI maintains the National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) database, which covers over 0.42 million square kilometers of landslide-prone mountain areas in India.
Carrying Capacity Guidelines
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued directives to all 13 mountain states and UTs to carry out scientific assessments of the carrying capacity of their hill stations, towns, and eco-sensitive zones. These studies limit construction activities based on soil stability, slope angle, and available water supply.
Disaster Management Regulations
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issues specific guidelines for managing Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), earthquakes, and landslides in mountainous regions. Early Warning Systems (EWS) are deployed in vulnerable high-altitude lakes, such as South Lhonak Lake in Sikkim.
Important Facts for Quick Reference
- The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) spans 13 states and Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling district), Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam (Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts).
- Department of Science and Technology (DST) coordinates the implementation of the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).
- HIMANSH is India’s high-altitude research station located in the Lahaul-Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh at an elevation of over 13,000 feet.
- The G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment was established in 1988 during the birth centenary year of Bharat Ratna Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant.
- Geological Survey of India (GSI) serves as the nodal agency for landslide inventory, mapping, and early warning monitoring across India’s hilly terrains.
- The Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) covers 46 border blocks across 19 districts in the northern mountain border regions.
- The Western Ghats are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and represent one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity.
- Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, develops light-weight, earthquake-resistant architectural designs suited for fragile mountain topographies.
- The Sikkim Springshed Management Initiative (Dhara Vikas) served as the national blueprint for NITI Aayog’s spring rejuvenation framework across the Himalayas.
- The National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) functions as a dedicated financial grant mechanism under MoEFCC to support field-level conservation projects in mountain states.
