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Uttarakhand Releases STI Policy and GEP Reports for Ecology

Source:facebook ↗

Why It Matters

Extremely significant for UKPSC Prelims and Mains as Uttarakhand is a pioneering state in implementing Gross Environment Product (GEP) and science-tech policies tailored to fragile Himalayan ecosystems.

Summary

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released the state's Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy and Gross Environment Product (GEP) reports, highlighting the state's focus on integrating ecological accounting with technological growth and environmental preservation.

Key Points

  • Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy and Gross Environment Product (GEP) reports.
  • The initiative stresses balancing environmental conservation with sustainable technological and economic development in the Himalayan state.
  • Gross Environment Product (GEP) serves as a metric to measure ecological progress alongside traditional Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Important Terms

Gross Environment Product GEP Uttarakhand

A framework launched to assess and assign monetary value to a state's natural resources and ecological services, including forests, water, and soil conservation, complementing traditional GDP metrics.

UPSC context

Important for UKPSC Mains (Paper V / Uttarakhand Special - Environment, Ecology, and Sustainable Development). Tests understanding of green accounting and ecological economics.

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STI Policy Uttarakhand

A policy aimed at fostering a knowledge-driven, research-oriented economy by integrating science and technology into governance, disaster management, and sustainable development sectors.

UPSC context

Crucial for UKPSC exam (Paper V - State Policies, Governance, and Technology Integration). Tests knowledge of state-level innovation frameworks and administrative priorities.

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Static Concepts Connected

Environment and State Governance - Uttarakhand

What are the core components and significance of Gross Environment Product (GEP)?

  • Pioneering State: Uttarakhand is India's first state to implement GEP as a metric to measure ecological progress alongside traditional GDP.
  • Core Sectors: Calculates the monetary value of forests, water resources, soil conservation, biodiversity, and carbon absorption capacity.
  • Policy Objective: Aims to institutionalize ecological accounting to balance developmental pressures with fragile Himalayan conservation needs.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Gross Environment Product & National Carbon Markets

    Uttarakhand's pioneering GEP framework directly connects state-level green accounting models with national climate goals under India's net-zero commitments and carbon credit market developments.

  • Himalayan Ecology vs. Technology Integration

    Integrating STI Policy-2026 with fragile Himalayan ecology illustrates the ongoing policy tightrope between infrastructure development (e.g., Char Dham) and eco-fragile zone management.

Expect statements on Uttarakhand being the pioneer in GEP measurement, covering forests, water, soil, and carbon absorption capacity.

Linked PYQs · 2

Linked PYQs · 2

  • 2025UKPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    According to Uttarakhand Economic Survey 2024-25, what was the projected growth rate of the Gross State Domestic Product (at constant prices) of Uttarakhand in 2024-25?

  • 2025UKPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the options given below : Statement 1 : Uttarakhand is highly vulnerable to climate change. Statement 2 : Climate change is causing water stress and depleting biodiversity in Uttarakhand.