Maarg Manthan · Topic 19.10

National Bamboo Mission

Environment & Ecology › Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India · Topic 19.10

The National Bamboo Mission (NBM) is a centrally sponsored scheme to promote holistic growth of the bamboo sector in India by an area-based, regionally differentiated strategy and by linking growers with industry. It was first launched in 2006-07 under the Ministry of Agriculture, and was restructured and relaunched in 2018-19 as a sub-scheme of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, with the aim of increasing the area under bamboo on non-forest government and private land, improving productivity, promoting value addition, marketing, skill development and entrepreneurship, and creating rural jobs and income. India has among the largest area of bamboo in the world, around 15 million hectares, with over a hundred species, concentrated in the North East, which has more than half of India's bamboo, and also in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. In 2017 the Indian Forest Act, 1927 was amended to remove bamboo grown on non-forest land from the definition of trees, so that farmers no longer need felling or transit permits, because bamboo is botanically a grass; bamboo cut from forest areas still follows forest rules. Bamboo is a fast-growing, carbon-storing and soil-binding resource used for housing, furniture, handicrafts, paper, textiles, charcoal and bioenergy. The scheme supports nurseries, plantations, treatment and storage units, markets, and the Bamboo Technical Support Group. Import duty on some bamboo products was raised to protect domestic growers.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India

At a Glance

First launched 2006-07
Restructured 2018-19
Ministry Agriculture
Legal change Forest Act amendment, 2017
Top region North East
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows JFM and social forestry and presents a scheme that promotes bamboo as a farm and forest-linked crop, one of the green livelihood schemes. Previous topic: Joint Forest Management and Social Forestry. Next topic: National Solar Mission.

What Is the National Bamboo Mission?

Aspect	Details
Nature	Centrally sponsored scheme to promote the bamboo sector
First phase	Launched in 2006-07 under the Ministry of Agriculture
Restructured NBM	Approved in 2018-19 as a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana; implemented by state bamboo missions
Objectives	More bamboo area on non-forest land, better productivity, value addition, marketing, skills and jobs
Approach	Cluster-based; linking growers, processors and markets
Components	Nurseries, plantations, treatment and preservation, storage, pre- and post-harvest work, markets
Technical support	Bamboo Technical Support Group, such as at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun

What Is Special About Bamboo and the Legal Change?

Bamboo is a grass: botanically a member of the grass family, but earlier treated as a tree in law
Indian Forest Act amendment, 2017: bamboo grown on non-forest land is no longer a tree; no felling or transit permit needed
Forest bamboo: bamboo in forest areas continues under the Forest Act rules
Area and species: around 15 million hectares and over 100 species; North East holds more than half of bamboo area
Fast growth: many species mature in 3 to 5 years
Climate and soil: stores carbon and prevents erosion
Uses: construction, furniture, paper, textiles, agarbatti sticks, food, bioenergy
Trade: import duty on incense stick and other products was raised to support local growers

What Else Should You Remember?

Early mission: NBM of 2006-07 coordinated with the Ministry of Environment
Revised NBM: focuses on the whole chain from plantation to market
Funding pattern: cost shared by Centre and states
Bamboo clusters: groups of growers and processors in areas such as the North East
Bamboo Technical Support Group: provides technical advice
Bamboo Development Agency: state-level bodies
National Bamboo Mission portal: shows data on cluster and plantation
Bamboo species: include Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Melocanna and others
Melocanna baccifera: mautam bamboo flowers once in about 48 years in the North East
Bamboo flowering: mass flowering causes rat population surges and famine, as in Mizoram
Mautam: famine linked to bamboo flowering in Mizoram
Handicrafts: Assam, Tripura and Manipur are known for bamboo crafts
Housing: bamboo houses are earthquake resistant
Bamboo mats: used in construction
Charcoal and bioenergy: bamboo can supply fuel
Bamboo textile: fibre for clothing
Bamboo bottles: used in Tripura and Assam
Import duty: raised on bamboo products in 2019 and 2020 to boost domestic production
Bamboo Mission Skill: training of artisans and entrepreneurs
Link to forests: bamboo planted on farms reduces pressure on natural forests
Link to previous: see Joint Forest Management and Social Forestry
Link to next: see National Solar Mission
Link to agroforestry: see Sustainable Agriculture Techniques
Caution: area and species numbers vary by source, so check the Forest Survey of India reports
Exam hint: remember the 2006 and 2018 stages, the 2017 amendment and that bamboo is a grass
Bamboo plantations: the Mission funds new plantations on private and community land with subsidy for planting material and maintenance
Primary processing: bamboo treatment and storage units reduce losses and raise quality
Women and artisans: bamboo craft is a major livelihood for women in the North East and Odisha
Constraints: poor planting material, weak processing and limited markets hold back the sector
Climate role: bamboo can substitute for steel, plastic and timber with a lower carbon footprint
Bamboo industry: bamboo is used for pulp in paper mills, flooring, ethanol and charcoal
Bamboo census: the Forest Survey of India reports bamboo area and growing stock in the India State of Forest Report
Policy link: bamboo is promoted in the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture and the Green India Mission as well

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Launch: 2006-07
Revamp: 2018-19
Law change: 2017
Current affairs link: Bamboo clusters
Common errors: treating bamboo as a tree in law after 2017

As an analytical point, freeing bamboo from felling permits on private land and linking farmers with industry can raise rural incomes. Good seedlings, markets and processing capacity matter as much as planting.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Law Free on private land
Chain Grow to market
Gain Income, carbon

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the National Solar Mission. Next topic: National Solar Mission.

Key People and Terms

NBM National Bamboo Mission
RKVY Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
Mautam Bamboo flowering famine
BTSG Bamboo Technical Support Group
Cluster Group of growers and users
Transit pass Movement permit

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

NBM first launched 2006-07.
Restructured 2018-19.
Forest Act amended 2017.
Bamboo is a grass.
North East has over half the area.

Do Not Confuse With

Bamboo and tree Grass in botany versus tree in old law
NBM and RKVY Mission versus parent scheme
Forest and non-forest bamboo Rules apply to forest bamboo only

Memory Hook

Oh-six begins, eighteen revives; seventeen frees the grass from the tree.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for launch years and the legal change. These points help.

Aim Income, supply chain
Law 2017
Gaps Markets

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the objectives of the National Bamboo Mission and the significance of the 2017 amendment on bamboo.”

How to Answer

Aim Bamboo sector.
Mission 2006, 2018.
Law 2017.
Gaps Markets.

GS Relevance

Prelims: launch, ministry, legal change. GS Paper 3: bamboo economy and agroforestry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Bamboo Mission?

The National Bamboo Mission is a centrally sponsored scheme to promote the growth of the bamboo sector in India, first launched in 2006-07 and restructured in 2018-19 under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. It supports bamboo plantations on non-forest land, value addition, marketing and skills to raise rural incomes and jobs.

What was the 2017 amendment to the Indian Forest Act about?

In 2017 the Indian Forest Act, 1927 was amended to remove bamboo grown on non-forest land from the definition of trees, since bamboo is a grass. As a result, farmers can fell and transport bamboo grown on private land without permits, which encourages cultivation, although bamboo from forest areas remains regulated.

Which region has the most bamboo in India?

The North East has the largest share of bamboo, with more than half of India's bamboo area, in states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland. Other major areas are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. India has around 15 million hectares of bamboo and over 100 species.

Why is bamboo called a green resource?

Bamboo grows quickly, often reaching maturity in a few years, stores carbon, binds soil and can be harvested without killing the plant. It substitutes for timber, plastics and steel in many uses, from housing and furniture to paper and textiles, and supports rural livelihoods, which makes it valuable for climate and development goals.

What is mautam?

Mautam is the mass flowering of the Melocanna baccifera bamboo in Mizoram and neighbouring areas about every 48 years. The flowering produces large quantities of fruit, causing a surge in rat numbers that then devastate crops, leading to famine, as happened in 1959 and 2007 to 2008, and affecting the local economy.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Bamboo is botanically a grass.

True

Though earlier legally a tree.

2 The Forest Act amendment on bamboo was made in 2006.

False

It was made in 2017.

3 The North East has more than half of India's bamboo area.