UPSC Prelims 2016 Question:

Which of the following best describes/ describe the aim of the ‘Green India Mission’ of the Government of India?

1. Incorporating environmental benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the ‘green accounting’ 
2. Launching the second green revolution to enhance agricultural output so as to ensure food security to one and all in the future 
3. Restoring and enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures
   
   

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Explanation: 

• National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). It was launched in 2014 with the objective to safeguard the biological resources of our nation and associated livelihoods.
  
  

• It aims at convergence with complementary schemes and programmes for better coordination in developing forests and their fringe areas in a holistic and sustainable way. However, this mission is not related to ‘green accounting’. So, statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• GIM focusses on multiple ecosystem services such as biodiversity, water, biomass, preserving mangroves, wetlands, critical habitats etc. along with carbon sequestration.
   
• The Mission's emphasis on the landscape approach i.e. landscapes as large contiguous areas of forest/ non forest land, at different scale/levels provide better opportunity to meet targets for both National and State Forest policy. Yet, this initiative is not directly related to the Agricultural targets (Green Revolution). So, statement 2 is not correct.
  
  
• GIM aims at protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s diminishing forest cover and responding to climate change through adaptation and mitigation measures. So, statement 3 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Environment | Environmental Acts and Policies