New Delhi (ABC Live): India’s Strategic Climate Knowledge Mission : Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is here and accelerating. India’s response, under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), includes eight missions. Among these, the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC) serves as the knowledge backbone.

But how effective has this mission been since its inception in 2010? Let’s explore its objectives, achievements, data frameworks, audit gaps, and how it compares to global climate knowledge systems.

---

What is the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change?

The NMSKCC was launched in 2010 by the Department of Science & Technology (DST). It aims to build a strong scientific foundation to inform India’s climate action. The mission is expected to:

• Support strategic climate research

• Develop institutional capacity

• Create data-sharing systems

• Provide regional vulnerability assessments

• Link research to policy

This mission supports other NAPCC missions like those on solar energy, energy efficiency, agriculture, and water.

---

Objectives and Key Features of NMSKCC

Core Objectives

• Integrate climate science, economics, and policy

• Establish Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for domain-specific research

• Develop risk maps, models, and policy frameworks

• Train professionals and build State Climate Change Cells (SCCCs)

• Foster global technology watch groups

Key Features

• Multidisciplinary and collaborative

• Anchored in knowledge generation rather than infrastructure

• Focused on both national scale and state-level customisation

---

Progress and Achievements: 2010–2025

Institutional Footprint

• 18 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in premier institutions

• 28 major R&D programs and 7 network projects

• 17 SCCCs across states like Punjab, Kerala, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu

• 7 capacity-building initiatives with over 650 trained researchers

Thematic Research Outputs

• District-level flood and drought risk maps (698 districts)

• Urban heat stress assessments

• Climate-health vulnerability studies

• Publications and CoE-supported reports on agriculture, aerosols, and glaciers

(See official summary: DST Climate Change Programme)

---

Data-Driven Insights and Institutional Gaps

While institutional expansion is evident, several critical data and monitoring gaps remain:

• No centralised data portal for public access

• Absence of dashboards, real-time data tools, or KPI reporting

• Limited stakeholder engagement beyond academia

• Mission Coordination Cell envisioned—but never activated

The mission has succeeded in knowledge creation, but not in knowledge application.

---

Budget and Performance Audit Overview

Planned Budget

• ?150 crore in the 11th Plan

• ?2,500 crore projected in the 12th Plan

• Additional funding through DST’s umbrella R&D schemes

Performance Audit Status

• No standalone CAG audit of NMSKCC

• Parliamentary replies confirm activity counts but lack financial disclosures

• 2015 evaluation (IFMR LEAD) cited coordination failure, weak monitoring, and inactive oversight bodies

Key Observations

---

Comparative Analysis: India vs USA, EU, and Singapore

?? USGCRP – GlobalChange.gov

• Mandated by law (1990)

• Public-facing tools like the Climate Resilience Toolkit

• 15 Interagency Working Groups

• Regular National Climate Assessments

? https://www.globalchange.gov

?? EU – Copernicus C3S

• Open access portal with APIs, visual tools, and downloads

• Managed by ECMWF, with regional support from member states

• Offers sectoral indicators and scenario planning tools

? https://climate.copernicus.eu

?? Singapore – NCCS

• Directly under Prime Minister’s Office

• Policy innovation and public consultation mechanisms

• Integrated into national economic and urban resilience strategies

Comparison Summary

---

Proposed Climate Data Dashboard for India

To bridge current gaps, India could launch a National Climate Knowledge Portal, integrating:

• Risk maps and district climate dashboards

• Interactive visualization tools

• CoE project data & publications

• SCCC performance metrics

• Role-based data access (public, research, govt)

View the prototype dashboard layout developed for this report.

---

Recommendations for Reform and Global Alignment

1. Activate Coordination Mechanisms

Implement the original plan: a DST-led Coordination Cell, annual reviews, and PMO-level oversight.

2. Launch a Central Climate Knowledge Portal

Follow the models of Copernicus (EU) or GlobalChange.gov (US). Ensure open access to:

• Visualized datasets

• Scenario simulations

• Adaptation tools

• State-wise comparisons

3. Publish Annual Performance Reports

Track and publish:

• KPIs: trained personnel, policy uptake, tools developed

• Budget utilization by CoEs/SCCCs

• Outcome-based evaluations

4. Commission an Independent Performance Audit

Involve the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) or an external climate research board.

---

Conclusion

The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change(India’s Strategic Climate Knowledge Mission)  was envisioned as India’s answer to climate science, policy integration, and strategic knowledge. While the mission has built a robust institutional network, it now needs to transform data into action through better governance, open access, and measurable outcomes.

India must embrace the next phase of NMSKCC—with the same strategic clarity that shaped its inception.

Also, Read

Green Steel Explained: Global Rules and India’s Role