Daily News Analysis

Turning a Deaf ear to Himalayas

stylish_lining

Tourism in Himalayas:

As per the NITI Aayog report, the growth of tourism in Indian Himalayan Region is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 7.9% from 2013 to 2023.

 

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR):

  1. The Himalayan landscapes spans across three regions – Western Himalayas, Sikkim and Western Arunachal Pradesh.
  2. IHR extends from the Indus River in the west to the Brahmaputra River in the east.

 

Advantages of Tourism in IHR:

  1. Valuable economic and business opportunities and jobs
  2. State governments and private entrepreneurs it brings revenues and profits.
  3. Economic development and employment generation, particularly in remote and backward areas
  4. Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP):
    1. Contributes up to 10% of GDP to states such as Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya.
    2. Arunachal Pradesh (3-4%), Sikkim (2-3%) and Nagaland (3-4%)
  5. Gives fresh stimulus to multi-sectoral investments in the NER (North Eastern Regions)

 

Challenges:

  1. Illegal mining
  2. Construction of ill-planned Infrastructures such as roads and railways to facilitate connectivity to tourist destinations.
    • inadequate solid waste management
  3. Deforestation
    • The state of Uttarakhand has Tourism in the highest contribution to its state GDP but on contrary, the state lost 268 sq.km of forest in a span of two years.
    • Afforestation efforts are linked mostly to monocultures while natural forest cover and dense canopy forest having higher value has been decreasing.
  4. Land degradation and overexploitation
  5. Natural disasters like floods, cloudbursts, landslides, etc.,
  6. Inadequate solid waste management
  7. Loss of natural resources, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem services
  8. Growing impacts of climate change
  9. Loss of indigenous culture

 

Sustainable tourism in the Himalayas:

 

Steps taken so far:

  1. Helping locals in Ladakh to set up homestays, eco-cafes and Community-based Tourism (CBT) in the Eastern Himalayas.
  2. Bhutan Climate Summit, 2011: shared vision for conservation and sustainable development in the Eastern Himalayas between the countries of Bhutan, India and Nepal.
  3. Waste Warriors" in Dharamsala Town

 

Way Forward:

  1. Elaborate and inclusive policy and plan documents have to be formulated for the entire IHR, as currently only western Himalayan states have such a policy.
  2. Forest policies have to be made holistic rather than sector-centric policies.
  3. Optimal use of environmental resources foe ensuring a balance between tourism development and maintaining essential ecological processes

An integrated approach for biodiversity conservation, livelihood enhancement, and addressing the impacts of climate change for conservation of Himalayan landscapes

 

Source URL: Turning a Deaf ear to Himalayas

Israel-US-Iran Conflict

Recently, tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically as Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion”, a significant military strike aimed at Iranian nuclear infrastructure and balli
Share It

Philippines President’s Visit to India (2025)

In 2025, during the Philippines President's state visit to India, both nations elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership. The visit reaffirmed the 1952 Treaty of Friends
Share It

India's Participation in the 51st G7 Summit

India participated as an Outreach Country in the 51st G7 Summit held in Kananaskis, Canada in 2025. Key Outcomes of the 51st G7 Summit (2025): Kananaskis Wildfire Charter:
Share It

Quit India Movement (QIM)

India commemorates 8th August every year as Quit India Movement Day (also known as August Kranti Diwas) to honor the historic movement that demanded the immediate end of British colonial rule in I
Share It

Union Cabinet Approves National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025, aiming to address long-standing challenges and transform India into a global sportin
Share It

CIMMYT’s Financial Crisis

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), a pivotal institution in the development of agricultural research for maize, wheat, and related crops, is facing significant financia
Share It

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

India's refusal to sign the joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China has been a significant diplomatic development.
Share It

China-Pakistan-Bangladesh Trilateral Meeting

China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh held their first-ever trilateral meeting during the 6th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum.China took the lead in facilitating the dialogue, aiming to boost regiona
Share It

US Imposing Tariffs on India

The US's decision to raise tariffs on India, particularly targeting the continued purchase of Russian oil, has had significant implications for the bilateral trade relationship between the two
Share It

Offshore Wind Energy

As India expands its wind energy capacity, reaching an estimated 51.3 GW by mid-2025, concerns are growing over the environmental impact, particularly on bird populations and marine biodiversity.
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS