- Why in news
- On 23 July 2026, the Environment Ministry told Rajya Sabha in a written reply about the progress of Mission LiFE, citing participation figures and India's global resolutions.
- What it is
- Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is a mass movement launched in October 2022. It urges individuals and communities to adopt environment-friendly habits through behavioural nudges. It works on seven themes, from saving energy and water to sustainable food systems.
- Seven themes
- Save Energy, Save Water, Reduce Waste, Reduce E-Waste, Say No to Single Use Plastic, Adopt Healthy Lifestyles, Adopt Sustainable Food Systems.
- Two portals
- The Mission LiFE Portal is a knowledge repository. The Meri LiFE Portal is for reporting and monitoring of LiFE events.
- NDC link
- LiFE is one of the qualitative goals in India's NDCs under the Paris Agreement.
- UNEA-6 resolution
- India's resolution on Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles was adopted unanimously at UNEA-6 in Nairobi on 1 March 2024, co-sponsored by Sri Lanka and Bolivia.
- 10YFP role
- India is on the Board of the 10YFP on Sustainable Consumption and Production and currently serves as Co-Chair.
- Net-zero target
- India's net-zero target year is 2070.
Don’t confuse with Mission LiFE vs Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: Mission LiFE is the broad behaviour-change movement; Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam is a tree-planting initiative run under it.
Don’t confuse with UNEA vs Ramsar COP: UNEA is the UN Environment Programme's governing body; Ramsar COP governs the wetlands convention. India moved LiFE resolutions in both.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Behaviour change complements technology and finance in meeting climate goals.
- Gives India a global agenda-setting role on sustainable consumption.
Problems
- Voluntary participation is hard to convert into lasting behaviour change.
- Participation counts measure activity, not environmental outcomes.
Way forward
- Set measurable outcome indicators, such as energy, water and waste saved.
- Link LiFE themes to school curricula, local bodies and incentives.
Put in your answer
Emissions intensity: India's emissions intensity of GDP fell 37.38% in 2022 from the 2005 level, per BTR-1.
Non-fossil capacity: Over 50% of installed power capacity is from non-fossil sources, five years ahead of the 2030 target.
Participation: Over 7.3 crore people have taken part in more than 40 lakh LiFE events.
- 2024Mains GS4 · Q2How to end human greed-driven harm and balance society with environment
- 2016Mains GS4 · Q4How social influence and persuasion can help Swachh Bharat Abhiyan succeed
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and India's related global initiatives, which one of the following statements is correct?
Select the correct answer.
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.Mission LiFE was launched in October 2022.
True. The release gives October 2022 as the launch date.
2.Mission LiFE is included as a qualitative goal in India's Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.
True. LiFE is a qualitative NDC goal.
3.The Meri LiFE Portal serves as the knowledge repository for Mission LiFE.
False. The Mission LiFE Portal is the knowledge repository; Meri LiFE is for reporting and monitoring.
4.India's resolution on Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles was adopted at the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2024.
True. It was adopted unanimously at UNEA-6 in Nairobi on 1 March 2024.
5.The UNEA-6 resolution on sustainable lifestyles was co-sponsored by Bangladesh and Nepal.
False. It was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka and Bolivia.
6.India's resolution on sustainable lifestyles for the wise use of wetlands was adopted at COP15 of the Ramsar Convention held in Zimbabwe.
True. Adopted at Ramsar COP15 in Zimbabwe on 30 July 2025.
7.India currently serves as a Board member but not Co-Chair of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production.
False. India is on the Board and currently serves as Co-Chair.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 23 Jul, 16:22 IST · Release 291756
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.