NCM 2.0 Guidelines Launched to Strengthen Coastal Resilience and Blue Economy

On 30 September 2026, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, officially launched the Guidelines for National Coastal Mission (NCM) 2.0 in New Delhi. This scheme aims to enhance the resilience and sustainable development of India's coastal regions while promoting the blue economy.

Overview of National Coastal Mission (NCM) 2.0

NCM 2.0 is the second phase of the National Coastal Mission, designed as a Central Sector Scheme with an approved budget of ₹767 crore. The mission will be implemented until the financial year 2030-31 across nine coastal states and four Union Territories. It builds upon the initial phase (2021-22 to 2025-26) and covers India’s entire coastal belt, including mainland shores and island areas.

Key Objectives and Components

The mission focuses on two primary goals:

• Strengthening coastal resilience and sustainability: This includes vulnerability assessments to identify and manage coastal risks, ecosystem restoration to protect natural buffers like mangroves and wetlands, and pollution management to reduce marine and coastal pollution.
• Supporting the blue economy: Encouraging sustainable economic activity related to ocean and coastal resources, including fisheries, transport, tourism, and other marine-based sectors.

Additional key components include biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism development, spatial coastal planning, research initiatives, and capacity building across stakeholders.

Implementation Framework and Governance

The NCM 2.0 guidelines outline a clear implementation framework promoting a whole-of-government approach. Coordination between the Union government and the coastal states and Union Territories is emphasized through defined institutional responsibilities and streamlined procedures. The mission also integrates monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure timely and transparent progress.

Exam-Relevant Facts and Context

• India has a coastline of approximately 7,516.6 kilometers, including island territories.
• Central Sector Schemes like NCM 2.0 are fully funded by the Central government.
• The blue economy refers to sustainable ocean-based economic activities important to India's growth and environmental balance.
• NCM contributes to environmental regulation, disaster risk reduction, fisheries management, tourism planning, and marine biodiversity protection in coastal governance.

By promoting resilience against climate change impacts and enabling sustainable economic activities, NCM 2.0 aligns with the government’s vision to develop India’s coastal zones effectively and sustainably through to 2030-31.