Assess the role of Central Sector Schemes in environmental governance in a federal setup, with reference to coastal management.

Environmental problems such as coastal erosion cross State borders, but States control the land and administration. Central Sector Schemes (CSS) are fully funded and designed by the Centre, and they try to bridge this gap. The National Coastal Mission (NCM) 2.0 is a MoEFCC Central Sector Scheme with ₹767 crore up to 2030-31, covering 9 coastal States and 4 UTs [1]. It shows both what such schemes can do and where they fall short.

Role and strengths

• Removes the fiscal barrier: the earlier mangrove-coral component was shared 60:40 between Centre and States [2]. NCM 2.0 is 100% Centre-funded [1], so coastal States with weak finances can still take part.
• National scale for a national problem: about 33.6% of the mainland coastline is eroding (NCCR, MoES) [3]. One scheme can apply a single standard for vulnerability assessment and spatial planning across all States [1].
• Convergence: a whole-of-government approach under NAPCC links coastal resilience with the Blue Economy [1].
• Accountability: the 2026 Guidelines clarify who is responsible for what and strengthen monitoring [1].

Limitations in a federal setup

• Centre pays, States act: coastal State/UT governments are the implementing agencies. Funds flow only after the Ministry reviews their proposals [4], so States may feel little ownership and releases can be delayed.
• Little money on the ground: only ₹8.58 crore reached seven States in 2021–23 [2]. The 2026-27 Budget Estimate is just ₹10 crore [5], far below the roughly ₹128 crore a year that the ₹767 crore outlay implies.
• Funds spread thin: the money has been divided across 38 mangrove and 4 coral-reef sites [2].
• Split between ministries: the erosion data sits with MoES [3], while the scheme is run by MoEFCC [1].

Way forward

• Use NCCR erosion maps to send money to the stretches that are actually eroding [3].
• Measure outcomes (hectares restored), not just crores released.
• Set up joint Centre–State planning so that State proposals are ready before funds arrive.

Overall, Central Sector Schemes like NCM 2.0 are useful for setting national standards and paying for coastal protection. They work only when the Centre and States act as partners in cooperative federalism. With enough money released, spending targeted by data, and State ownership, NCM 2.0 can fulfil Article 48A and advance SDG 13 and 14 on climate action and life below water.