Jal Shakti Minister Shri C.R. Paatil Inaugurates Landmark Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives under Namami Gange Mission

• Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C.R. Paatil launched a suite of aquatic biodiversity projects under Namami Gange Mission at Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun on 14 January 2026, including India's first Dolphin Rescue Ambulance and an Aqua Life Conservation Monitoring Centre.
• Marks a shift in Ganga rejuvenation focus from pollution abatement / sewage treatment to river-as-ecosystem approach where aquatic biodiversity is the indicator of river health.
• Relevant for UPSC under environment (river ecology, endangered species), governance (NMCG, MoJS), and S&T (biodiversity monitoring).