LANDSLIDE RISK MITIGATION SCHEME

1. At a Glance

• LRMS is a centrally funded disaster-mitigation scheme launched in July 2019 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through NDMA, providing site-specific mitigation support to landslide-prone states [S1][S2].
• Pilot coverage limited to four states: Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, with a total outlay of ₹43.91 crore [S1][S2].
• Sits under the broader umbrella of "Improving Disaster Risk Governance" of SDMAs/DDMAs — examinable for GS-III (Disaster Management) [S1].

2. Why in the News

• PIB release dated 4 February 2026 by MHA provided Parliament-style state-wise utilisation data on LRMS, reiterating the ₹43.91 cr outlay and four-state scope [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

• 2005: Disaster Management Act enacted → constituted NDMA (chair: PM) [S3].
• 2009: National Policy on Disaster Management; landslides flagged among 5 priority hazards.
• 2019 (July): LRMS conceptualised and launched by NDMA under MHA [S1][S2].
• 2022: Government announced approval of a larger ₹1000 crore National Landslide Risk Mitigation Project (NLRMP) for landslide-prone states (distinct from LRMS pilot) [S2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) [S1].
• Implementing Bodies: NDMA at the centre; SDMAs and DDMAs at state/district level [S2].
• Launch Date: July 2019 [S1][S2].
• Total Outlay: ₹43.91 crore [S1].
• States Covered (4): Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Uttarakhand [S1].
• State-wise (partial): Nagaland ≈ ₹10.92 cr under LRMS [S4].
• Statutory backing: Disaster Management Act, 2005 (NDMA powers) [S3].
• Key Components: engineering treatments (retaining walls, rock anchoring/netting, drainage/culverts), real-time monitoring, awareness, capacity building & training (trainings with IITs, IISc, NITs) [S2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Administrative - Classical cooperative-federalism design: MHA funds, NDMA technically supervises, SDMA/DDMA implements [S2]. - Pilot-mode restriction to 4 states reflects capacity-building first approach before scale-up [S1].

Scientific / Technological - Mandates Early Warning Systems (EWS) and real-time slope monitoring; partnerships with IITs/IISc/NITs for training [S2]. - Complements GSI's National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) under DST/Ministry of Mines.

Environmental - Targets Himalayan + NE fragile ecology — zones with high seismicity, monsoon intensification, and slope instability worsened by climate change.

Economic - Small outlay (₹43.91 cr) relative to annual landslide losses; scale-up envisaged via the ₹1000 cr NLRMP [S2].

Governance - Tests SDMA/DDMA absorptive capacity — examinable as a case of disaster risk governance under the Sendai Framework 2015–30 priorities.

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 4 Feb 2026: MHA via PIB published implementation/financial-assistance status of LRMS for the 4 states [S1].
• Continuing rollout of the larger ₹1000 cr NLRMP (approved earlier) covering more landslide-prone states [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• LRMS launched in July 2019 [S1].
• Nodal Ministry: MHA, not MoEFCC, not Ministry of Earth Sciences [S1].
• Total outlay: ₹43.91 crore [S1].
• Covers exactly four states: Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Uttarakhand [S1].
• Implementing body at apex: NDMA [S2].
• Statutory parent: Disaster Management Act, 2005 [S3].
• Larger follow-on project announced: National Landslide Risk Mitigation Project, ₹1000 crore [S2].
• LRMS sits under the programme "Improving Disaster Risk Governance of SDMAs/DDMAs" [S1].
• Nagaland received ≈ ₹10.92 crore under LRMS [S4].
• Components include retaining walls, rock anchoring, drainage, EWS, training [S2].
• Training partners: IITs, IISc, NITs [S2].
• NDMA is chaired ex-officio by the Prime Minister [S3].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Disaster and Disaster Management → "Mitigation strategies for landslides in Himalayan & NE region".
• GS-I — Geography → "Geophysical phenomena: landslides".
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss the institutional architecture for landslide risk mitigation in India. How effective has the LRMS (2019) been in addressing vulnerabilities of Himalayan and NE states?" 2. "Landslide losses in India are increasingly anthropogenic. Examine in light of recent mitigation schemes." 3. "Compare LRMS with the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project — what lessons for scaling up to a national landslide programme?"

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• NDMA & DM Act, 2005 — parent framework.
• National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) by GSI — hazard mapping side.
• National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) — comparable hazard-specific scheme.
• Sendai Framework for DRR (2015–30) — global alignment.
• National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) & SDRMF — financing architecture.
• Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology / Bhoosanket app — EWS R&D.
• Joshimath subsidence (2023) — case study of Himalayan slope instability.
• PM-DevINE & NE Region disaster vulnerability — regional planning hook.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong ministry: LRMS is under MHA/NDMA, NOT MoEFCC or Ministry of Earth Sciences [S1].
• Confusion with NLRMP: LRMS (₹43.91 cr, 4 states, 2019) ≠ National Landslide Risk Mitigation Project (₹1000 cr) [S1][S2].
• State list: only Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Uttarakhand — Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Kerala, Arunachal are NOT in the pilot, though equally vulnerable [S1].
• Launch year: 2019 (not 2018 or 2020) [S1].
• LRMS is distinct from GSI's landslide susceptibility mapping (which is under Ministry of Mines).

11. Sources

• [S1] Landslide Risk Mitigation Scheme — PIB, MHA, 04 Feb 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223098 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] Landslide Risk Mitigation Scheme — PIB Press Release — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2099537 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Mitigation Division — NDMA — https://ndma.gov.in/about-us/division/Mitigation — (tier: 1)
• [S4] Action Plan for Landslide Risk Mitigation / NDM India — MHA — https://ndmindia.mha.gov.in/ndmi/images/pdf/mail-fro.pdf — (tier: 1)