Maarg Manthan · Topic 19.13

National Mission for Clean Ganga and Ganga Task Force

Environment & Ecology › Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India · Topic 19.13

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementing body for the Ganga rejuvenation effort. It began as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act on 12 August 2011, set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests as the implementation arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), which had been created in 2009 under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and chaired by the Prime Minister. In October 2016 the NGRBA was dissolved, and the Government notified the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga, called the National Ganga Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, together with an Empowered Task Force chaired by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, NMCG as the authority with powers under the Environment (Protection) Act, State Ganga Committees and District Ganga Committees. NMCG has a Governing Council and an Executive Committee, headed by a Director General, and is under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It plans and funds Namami Gange projects, provides technical help, and runs the Clean Ganga Fund, set up in 2014 to take donations. The Ganga Task Force refers to Eco Task Force battalions of the Territorial Army deployed along the Ganga for afforestation, protection of the banks and monitoring, with Ganga Praharis as volunteers. The River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 gave legal form to these bodies.

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

At a Glance

NMCG registered 12 August 2011
NGRBA Set up 2009, dissolved 2016
Apex body National Ganga Council, PM chairs
Fund Clean Ganga Fund, 2014
Task Force Territorial Army Eco battalions
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows Namami Gange and describes its institutional structure, ahead of the National River Conservation Plan and other river schemes. Previous topic: Namami Gange Programme and Ganga Rejuvenation Plan. Next topic: Eco-Mark Scheme.

What Is the Institutional Structure for the Ganga?

Body	Role
National Ganga River Basin Authority	Created 2009 under the EPA 1986; chaired by the Prime Minister; dissolved October 2016
National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga	Also called National Ganga Council; chaired by the Prime Minister; set up 2016; apex body
Empowered Task Force	Chaired by the Jal Shakti Minister; oversees implementation
NMCG	Registered society of 2011; implementing agency and authority with powers under the EPA; headed by a Director General
State Ganga Committees	Set up in each Ganga basin state, chaired by the Chief Minister
District Ganga Committees	At district level for local monitoring
Clean Ganga Fund	Set up in 2014 to take contributions for Ganga work, including from NRIs and corporates

What Is the Ganga Task Force and What Are Praharis?

Eco Task Force: Territorial Army (Ecological) battalions deployed for afforestation and river bank protection
Ganga Task Force: a name used for the deployment of ecological battalions along the river
Ganga Praharis: trained local volunteers who watch the river and report pollution
Ganga Vahini: boat patrols in certain stretches
Ganga Mitras: volunteers for awareness
Role: plant trees, clear waste, detect pollution and support local bodies
Monitoring: real-time water quality stations
Training: volunteers trained in monitoring and conservation

What Else Should You Remember?

Rejuvenation Order 2016: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 Replaced 2009 NGRBA order Apex body National Ganga Council,…">River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016
Legal basis: issued under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act
NMCG powers: to issue directions to industries and local bodies, including closure
Department: Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
Ministry: Jal Shakti, formed in 2019 by merging two ministries
Director General: heads NMCG
Governing Council: chaired by the Jal Shakti Minister
Executive Committee: approves projects
Project approval: NMCG funds projects through state missions
State Programme Management Groups: implement in states
Ganga Knowledge Centre: a research and data centre
Ganga Quest: online quiz for awareness
Namami Gange portal: shows data on projects
CGF donors: individuals and companies contribute under CSR
Territorial Army: part of the Indian Army
Eco battalions: units that restore degraded land
Afforestation: Forest Research Institute prepared a plan for the Ganga basin
Wetlands: Ganga Basin wetland conservation
River Basin Management: Ganga River Basin Management Plan prepared by IITs
Seven IITs: a consortium prepared the Ganga River Basin Management Plan
Link to previous: see Namami Gange Programme and Ganga Rejuvenation Plan
Link to next: see Eco-Mark Scheme
Link to Ganga orders: see River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016
Caution: structure and names of committees change, so check the NMCG website
Exam hint: remember NGRBA 2009, NMCG 2011, National Ganga Council 2016 and the PM as chair
Powers to give directions: NMCG may issue orders to industries and local bodies, including closure and stopping of water and power supply
Cooperation with states: state missions and urban local bodies implement the projects
Public funding: central funds are given to NMCG, which sends them to states and agencies
Technical support: institutions such as IITs, the National Institute of Hydrology and the Wildlife Institute of India provide data and advice
Awareness: Ganga Quest, Ganga Utsav and Ganga Praharis programmes create public engagement
Reporting: NMCG reports progress to the National Ganga Council and Parliament
Basin states: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal are the main stem states
Monitoring: water quality data from CPCB and state boards help track progress

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

NGRBA: 2009
NMCG: 2011
Council: 2016, PM
Current affairs link: Clean Ganga Fund
Common errors: saying NGRBA is still functioning

As an analytical point, the Ganga’s governance was simplified by replacing the NGRBA with a council chaired by the Prime Minister and a stronger NMCG. Real change needs state and city bodies to act and industries to comply.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Apex Council
Arm NMCG
Money CGF

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Eco-Mark Scheme. Next topic: Eco-Mark Scheme.

Key People and Terms

NMCG National Mission for Clean Ganga
NGRBA National Ganga River Basin Authority
NGC National Ganga Council
CGF Clean Ganga Fund
TA Territorial Army
Prahari Guardian volunteer

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

NGRBA: 2009, dissolved 2016.
NMCG registered 2011.
Council chaired by PM.
Clean Ganga Fund: 2014.
Ministry: Jal Shakti.

Do Not Confuse With

NGRBA and National Ganga Council Old authority versus new council
NMCG and CPCB Ganga mission versus national pollution board
Ganga Task Force and Ganga Praharis Army ecological units versus volunteers

Memory Hook

Nine NGRBA, eleven NMCG, sixteen Council with the PM, fund from fourteen.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for bodies, years and chairs. These points help.

Structure Council, NMCG
Fund CGF
People Praharis, TA

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Describe the institutional framework created for the Ganga’s rejuvenation and its changes since 2009.”

How to Answer

NGRBA 2009.
NMCG 2011.
Council 2016.
People Praharis.

GS Relevance

Prelims: bodies, years, chair. GS Paper 3: river governance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Mission for Clean Ganga?

The National Mission for Clean Ganga is the implementing agency for Ganga rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Registered as a society in 2011, it became the authority with powers under the Environment (Protection) Act in 2016, plans and funds Namami Gange projects and is led by a Director General.

What replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority?

In October 2016, the NGRBA, set up in 2009 and chaired by the Prime Minister, was dissolved and replaced by the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga, called the National Ganga Council, again chaired by the Prime Minister, with an Empowered Task Force, NMCG, and state and district Ganga committees.

What is the Clean Ganga Fund?

The Clean Ganga Fund was set up in 2014 to receive voluntary contributions from individuals, NRIs, companies and institutions for the cleaning of the Ganga, such as building sewage treatment, ghats and awareness. Contributions qualify for tax benefits and CSR credit, and it is managed by a trust under the Ministry.

What is the Ganga Task Force?

The Ganga Task Force refers to ecological battalions of the Territorial Army deployed along the river to plant trees, protect the banks, remove waste and support monitoring. They work with Ganga Praharis, who are trained local volunteers, and the Forest Research Institute's afforestation plan for the Ganga basin.

What is the River Ganga Authorities Order, 2016?

The River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 was issued under the Environment (Protection) Act to set up the National Ganga Council, the Empowered Task Force, the NMCG and state and district committees, and to give NMCG powers to issue directions to polluters and local bodies to protect the river.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The NGRBA was set up in 2009.

True

And dissolved in 2016.

2 The National Ganga Council is chaired by the Environment Minister.

False

By the Prime Minister.

3 NMCG was registered as a society in 2011.