A clean and sustainable environment is the objective of which of the following Programme?
Swachh Bharat Mission
Identifying the Programme for a Clean and Sustainable Environment
The question asks to identify the programme among the given options whose objective is a clean and sustainable environment. Let's examine each option to understand its primary focus.
Analysis of Given Programmes
- Ganga Action Plan: This programme was launched with the main objective of cleaning the River Ganga and improving its water quality. While cleaning a major river contributes to the environment, its scope is limited specifically to the Ganga basin.
- Clean India, Green India mission: This phrase is often associated with the broader goals of cleanliness and afforestation across India. While 'Green India' explicitly targets sustainability through increasing green cover, 'Clean India' strongly aligns with the cleanliness aspect. It is closely related to or sometimes used in conjunction with the 'Swachh Bharat Mission'.
- Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission): This is a nationwide campaign launched by the Government of India to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management. Its objectives include promoting cleanliness, sanitation, and hygiene across the country. By addressing sanitation and waste, it directly aims at creating a cleaner environment, which is a crucial component of a sustainable environment. The mission focuses on changing behaviors regarding sanitation practices.
- Smart Cities Mission: This initiative aims to develop cities across the country, making them citizen-friendly and sustainable. While smart cities often incorporate elements like efficient waste management, smart grids, and sustainable transport, its primary objective is holistic urban development using technology and innovation, rather than being solely focused on nationwide environmental cleanliness and sustainability.
Why Swachh Bharat Mission Targets a Clean Environment
The Swachh Bharat Mission's core goals are centred around improving sanitation and waste management, particularly in rural and urban areas. The elimination of open defecation, construction of toilets, and emphasis on scientific waste processing and disposal directly contribute to reducing pollution, improving public health, and creating a cleaner living environment. A clean environment is fundamental to a sustainable environment, as it prevents degradation of natural resources and ecosystems caused by pollution and improper waste disposal.
While 'Clean India, Green India' captures both aspects, 'Swachh Bharat Mission' is the official, large-scale government programme explicitly tackling the 'Clean India' part, which is essential for a sustainable environment. The 'Green India' aspect is often addressed by separate initiatives focused on forests and biodiversity.
Considering the options, the Swachh Bharat Mission is the most direct and prominent government programme whose primary objective is to achieve widespread cleanliness and improve sanitation infrastructure, laying the foundation for a clean and, consequently, more sustainable environment nationwide.
| Programme | Primary Objective | Relevance to Clean & Sustainable Environment |
|---|---|---|
| Ganga Action Plan | Cleaning River Ganga | Specific regional environmental improvement |
| Clean India, Green India mission | Cleanliness and afforestation (broad concept) | Directly aims at both aspects |
| Swachh Bharat Mission | Nationwide sanitation, cleanliness, waste management | Directly aims at creating a clean environment basis for sustainability |
| Smart Cities Mission | Holistic urban development using technology | Includes environmental elements but broader focus |
Conclusion
Based on the primary objectives of each programme, the Swachh Bharat Mission is most directly aligned with achieving a clean environment across India, which is a critical step towards a sustainable environment.
Revision Table: Environmental Programmes in India
| Programme Name | Launch Year (Approx) | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Ganga Action Plan | 1985 | River cleaning, pollution abatement in Ganga |
| Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) | 2014 | Sanitation, open defecation free India, solid waste management |
| National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) | 2011 (as authority), builds on GAP | Rejuvenation, conservation, and management of River Ganga |
| National Green India Mission | 2014 | Increasing forest cover and improving forest quality |
| Smart Cities Mission | 2015 | Urban development, using technology for citizen services including waste/water management |
Additional Information on Sustainable Environment Goals
A clean and sustainable environment is a fundamental aspect of global development goals, such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 6 focuses on Clean Water and Sanitation, and SDG 15 focuses on Life on Land, which includes protecting biodiversity and ecosystems. SDG 11 aims for Sustainable Cities and Communities, which involves waste management and pollution reduction.
The Swachh Bharat Mission directly contributes to SDG 6 by improving sanitation facilities and practices. Effective waste management under the mission also supports goals related to reducing pollution and protecting ecosystems. Achieving cleanliness nationwide is a vital step in ensuring that development is sustainable and does not harm the environment for future generations.
Important Questions from Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems
Identify from the following the statement which is not correct about the Rhine waterways.
Identify from the following, the correct statements with reference to the metropolis. (A) It is often the chief centre or seat of some form of activity. (B) It could be administrative, commercial or industrial centre. (C) It generally serves a small hinterland. (D) It is a very large city or agglomeration of population. Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Wheat is primarily a crop of which of the following zone?
Which of the following is not the Cause of Population?
Direction (Q46. to Q50.) Read the given passage carefully and answer following five questions:
India has 640,867 villages according to the Census 2011 out of which 597,608 (93.2 per cent) are inhabited villages. However, the distribution of rural population is not uniform throughout the country. You might have noted that the states, like Bihar and Sikkim have very high percentage of rural population. The states of Goa and Maharashtra have only little over half of their total population residing in villages. The Union Territories, on the other hand, have smaller proportion of rural population, except Dadra and Nagar Haveli (53.38 per cent).
The size of villages also varies considerably. It is less than 200 persons in the hill states of north-eastern India, Western Rajasthan and Rann of Kachchh and as high as 17 thousand persons in the states of Kerala and in parts of Maharashtra. A thorough examination of the pattern of distribution of rural population of India reveals that both at intra-State and inter-State levels, the relative degree of urbanization and extent of rural-urban migration regulate the concentration of rural population.
You have noted that contrary to rural population, the proportion of urban population (31.16 per cent) in India is quite low but it is showing a much faster rate of growth over the decades. The growth rate of urban population has accelerated due to enhanced economic development and improvement in health and hygienic conditions. The distribution of urban population too, as in the case of total population, has a wide variation throughout the country.
Which one of the following is not a reason to accelerate the urbanization?
