C M Sharma
Life-style for Environment (LiFE) is one of the top agendas of our country. The concept has been introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 1st November 2021. At the Conference, he called upon the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.
During the past couple of decades, we have seen a comparatively increasing frequency of cyclones, floods, cloud bursts, forest fires, etc. The recent series of cloud bursts, heavy rains and flash floods in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand, causing immense loss of life, infrastructure, crops and property is a definite indication that any further degeneration of our environment will have irreversibly deleterious consequences on all life systems. As per UN data, Climatic changes have already caused over 15O,OOO deaths annually world over.
Taking cue from the concept of LiFE, the Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi (PSG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of the Government of India, launched the National Students Paryavaran Competition (NSPC) in the year 2023. The annual Competition has been designed to propagate knowledge on the job skills, competency & attitude to confront the environmental challenges and to foster understanding among young individuals and the general public regarding the intricate complexities of the imminent threats posed by unchecked environmental destruction. The Competition aims to appraise the participants about the measures that may prevent, retard or mitigate the process and impact of climate change and also help the humanity to adapt to the phenomenon.
The 3rd National Students Paryavaran Competition 2025 (NSPC 25) was held this year from 01st July to 27th August. The results were announced on August 30, 2025 during a live-streamed ceremony attended by Chief Guest Shri Sukanta Majumdar, Union Minister of State for Education & Development of the Northeastern Region and the Guests of Honour Shri Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Smt. Pankaja Munde, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Government of Maharashtra. They praised NSPC 2025 as a historic combination of policy vision and grassroots participation, setting a global example for youth engagement in sustainability.
As compared to the previous two Competitions, the scope of NSPC 25 was enlarged to include not only the students, but also the non-students. This on-line mass awareness event is being organised in a multiple choice quiz format on the digital platform EcoMitram App that has a global outreach. During the period of competition, and also prior to that, the volunteers of PSG campaigned from institution to institution and individual to individual, as far as possible, and also utilized the relevant social media platforms etc. to create awareness about the Competition and its aims, objectives and procedure for participation. Contacts were established with educational institutions (Shikshan Sansthan), religious institutions (Dharmik Sansthan), youth activists and women activists (Yuva Shakti and Nari Shakti) besides NGOs and no wonder, the programme took the shape of a campaign amongst the students, their teachers, principals and also the non-students who included friends, acquaintances, formal and informal groups, etc.
An analysis of the National Student Paryavaran Competition (NSPC 2025) reveals that it has emerged as the world’s largest volunteer-led environmental campaign for students. This competition has united lakhs of volunteers, teachers, and eco-clubs, involving participation of 15,47,901 students and non-students from thousands of schools and institutions spread over about 96 countries. 118 countries were seen visiting the on-line programme. Statistics show that female participation (8,07,374) surpassed male participation (7,49,422) by 52:48 percent respectively, emphasizing the leadership role women are playing in the environmental movement.
Almost all the states and union territories of the country participated in the programme with the states of Telangana (2,97,621), Uttar Pradesh (2,95,984), Madhya Pradesh (1,35,206), Maharashtra (1,18,378), Delhi (75,427), Punjab (65,665), Chhattisgarh (55,108), Kerala (48,325), Haryana (45,872) and West Bengal (42,789) being the top ten in terms of the number of participants, as given in the parenthesis.
Jammu and Kashmir union territory secured 20th place by recording a participation of 15,288 individuals, which is more than double of the last year’s 7,290. Participation from Jammu division was 13,847 whereas Kashmir too made a significant presence with about 1,441 participants.
PSG has uploaded on its website, a list of 348 participants of Jammu and Kashmir who have topped the ranks with 100 students each in the Category of 1st to 5th Classes and UG/PG Classes, 77 in 9th to 12th Classes and 9 only in the 6th to 8th Classes, whereas 62 have topped in Not a Student Category. Interested readers can have State-wise, District-wise and Institution-wise details from the link ‘https://ecomitram.app/nspc/results’.
Some of the schools and institutions of Jammu division that put up an outstanding performance in NSPC 25 include Army Public School Rakh- Muthi, Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School, Stephens International Public School, MIER College of Education of Jammu district, Govt. Higher Secondary School Garhi, Holy Angels Public High School in Udhampur district, Shishu Model High School, Govt. High School Parli-wand of Kathua district, AIIMS and Central University in Samba district, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Kishtwar district, Suraj International School, Govt. Degree College in Reasi district, Bharatiya Vidya Mandir schools in Udhampur, Kathua, Doda, Ramban, Reasi districts, PM Sri Kendriya Vidyalayas in Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri districts and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University through its various colleges in different districts of both, Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
In Kashmir division, students of GGHS Schools Kothi Bagh and Rajbagh, Govt. College for Women MA Road in Srinagar district, Govt. Degree College Dooru in Anantnag, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Khanpora in Budgam district, Central University of Kashmir, SKUAST Kashmir and many other schools and colleges have made their presence felt in NSPC 25.
Diversity in Participation
Age Diversity: With separate quiz for students of all age groups, school children to university youth and seniors participated, making this an intergenerational movement.
Language Diversity: Entries came in multiple Indian and international languages, ensuring inclusivity and broad cultural reach.
Volunteer-Powered Movement
What truly set NSPC 2025 apart, was the volunteer force behind it. Across cities, towns, and villages, citizens came together to spread awareness, mobilize institutions, and support students. Teachers and eco-clubs played a central role, showing that when communities unite, even the biggest challenges can be overcome.
Expectations
With the PSG network and its appeal growing, it is hoped that environmental awareness and action on ground will increase, beside a multiplication in the number of participants in the year 2026 when NSPC 26 takes place.
– Author is a Retd. Dy. Director of Agriculture, J&K Govt and a PSG volunteer
