Q What is the context ? Month after setting sail on the Ganga from Patna, a vessel carrying 200 metric tonnes of food grains for the Food Corporation of India (FCI), docked at Guwahati’s Pandu port on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra. The occasion is believed to have taken inland water transport, on two of India’s largest river systems,
Read moreDecarbonising Indian agriculture Editorial FinancialExpress Emissions from agriculture and livestock are high: As per India’s third Biennial Update Report , in 2016, agriculture and livestock emitted 407,821 Gg of CO2e. This amounts to around 14% of total emissions. GHG emissions are typically discussed in terms of mass of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). Gg of CO2e measures emissions in Giga grams
Read moreModel Answer Dryland farming is farming in the regions with less than 75 cm annual rainfall. It is characterized by- Low rainfall with high variability. Lack of assured irrigation and dependence on monsoon. Subsistence farming mainly. Significance of region: Around 60% of total arable land is rainfed and out of it one-fourth is dry land. The region contributes to majority
Read moreModel Answer Climate change refers to long-term shifts in average temperatures and weather patterns and their impacts on the planet. Human activities like the burning of fossil fuels have been the main driver of climate change.India is more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its diverse terrain, rapid use of natural resources, industrial development and urbanization. According to
Read moreModel Answer Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’s atmosphere graduallydue to the accumulation of greenhouse gases that disturb the Earth’s heat budget. It has been increasing steadily since the industrial revolution according to ‘Nature’.The reasons behind this are human activities that include fossil-fuel burning and agriculture primarily. The world is now about 1.2C warmer than it was in
Read moreModel Answer Ecological succession is the steady and gradual change in a species of a given area with respect to the changing environment. The succession moves towards achieving an equilibrium in the environment. In some environments, succession reaches a climax, which produces a stable community dominated by a small number of prominent species. This state of equilibrium, called the “climax community”. Ecologists have
Read moreModel Answer Biodiversity is a term that refers to the number of genes, species, individual organisms within a given species, and biological communities within a defined geographic area. Thus, loss of biodiversity is a decrease in biodiversity within a species, an ecosystem in a given geographic area, or Earth as a whole. As per WWF report, our planet has lost 68% of biodiversity in last five decades. Of every 10 biodiversity species population,
Read moreAbout: National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory body constituted in 2003, under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. It serves as an apex body to review all wildlife-related matters. The board is advisory in nature and advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country. Functions: The primary function of the Board is
Read moreHeadline : Vet institute, ambulances mooted in lion conservation plan Details : The News In a bid to step up conservation and protection efforts of critically endangered ‘Asiatic Lions, the Centre and the Gujarat government have announced a 3-year dedicated ‘Asiatic Lion Conservation Project’. Background About Asiatic Lions Asiatic Lions are critically endangered species, listed in the Schedule 1 of Wildlife (Protection) Act
Read moreHeadline : What impact will the thundershowers, hailstorm have on rabi crop? Details : The topic Recently, there was heavy rainfall and hailstorms in the many areas of northern India. This articles assesses the impact of heavy rainfall and hailstorms on rabi crops. Background In early February, the National Capital Region, Punjab, Haryana, parts of Uttar Pradesh and northern Madhya Pradesh witnessed
Read moreHeadline : Supreme Court clears 900km Char Dham highway project Details : In News The Supreme Court has cleared the Chardham highway project, by modifying an NGT order. It has also ordered to constitute a fresh committee to look into environmental concerns related to the project. It ordered the Ministry of Environment and Forests to form the high-powered committee (HPC). Background
Read moreHeadline : Food supply is at dire risk: UN Details : In News IPCC has released a new report on Climate Change and Land. It is the second in the series of three special reports that the IPCC is preparing during the current Sixth Assessment Report cycle. This is the first IPCC report in which a majority of the authors (53%)
Read moreHeadline : Tiger no. up 33% in 4 years, India has 75% of global population Details : In News The 4th Tiger census report, Status of Tigers Co-predators & Prey in India, 2018, has been recently released by PM Modi. According to the report, India has recorded its highest ever rise, at 33%, in the numbers of tigers i.e. from 2,226
Read moreNews Summary Chenchus believe that beginning the day by seeing the face of the fox is a fortune and thus they have domesticated foxes. However, the conservation of fox falls under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, according to which hunting or domesticating it is an offence and attracts punishment. About Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 The act provides protection to
Read moreHeadline : Poisoned cattle carcass kills 37 vultures Details : The news Around 37 vultures belonging to three endangered species died after feeding on pesticide-laced cattle carcass in eastern Assam’s Sivasagar district. Background Vultures are scavenger birds which feed on the carcasses of large animals. Vultures in the country have reduced from 40 million (in 1990) to less than 60
Read moreHeadline : Prelims Program: National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) Details : Climate change: Problems faced in India Climate Change, caused by the increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, has emerged as the most prominent global environmental problem. Most of the countries including India are facing the problems of rising temperature, melting of glaciers, rising of sea-level leading
Read moreHeadline : India’s carbon dioxide emissions up 5% Details : Topic in News Global Energy and CO2 Status Report of International Energy Agency News Summary According to Global Energy and CO2 Status Report released by IEA, the global energy demand increased by 2.3% in 2018. As a result the energy-related CO2 emissions rose by 1.7% to 33 gigatonnes in 2018. In focus: Global Energy and
Read moreWhile the frequency of forest fire appears to have increased in the country, India’s approach towards forest fire management has significant gaps. Elucidate. (10 marks) Approach: Introduce with increased frequency of forest fires in India Bring out the various gaps in forest fire management (NIDM report identified the gaps) Conclude appropriately Model Answer : India, which saw a 46% increase
Read moreDefine Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR). What are the various types of temperature inversion? (200 words) Approach: Define ELR Define Temperature inversion Discuss various types of temperature inversions (mention the areas where they are prominent if possible) Conclude appropriately Model Answer : Environmental lapse rate (ELR) is the rate at which the air temperature changes with height in the atmosphere surrounding a cloud
Read moreHeadline : A climate vulnerability index for India Details : News Summary India will soon have a climate-vulnerability index which will be developed by Department of Science and Technology(DST). It is being modeled on the basis of a similar climate-vulnerability assessment done on 12 Himalayan states in 2018. Climate Vulnerability Index The Climate Vulnerability Index will be developed on the
Read moreHeadline : Do forest surveys separately Details : The news • A highpower committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recommended the government to separate the forest surveys for estimating trees grown in forest and outside forest. About India State of Forest Report • Forest Survey of India (FSI) an organization under the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change Government of India has been assessing the forest and tree resources of
Read moreHeadline : Prelims Program: National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) Details : About National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) has been formulated for enhancing agricultural productivity especially in rainfed areas focusing on integrated farming, water use efficiency, soil health management and synergizing resource conservation. Objectives To make agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative and climate resilient by
Read moreHeadline : Why a dam in Karnataka bothers Tamil Nadu Details : Why in news? Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to stop the process of a feasibility study for the Mekedatu dam project in Karnataka. About Mekedatu dam project Being set up by the Karnataka government, the project is near Mekedatu,
Read moreThe Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a premier research institution under the Ministry has completed 100 years of services to the Nation, undertaking survey, exploration and research leading to the advancement of our knowledge on the exceptionally rich faunal diversity of the country since its inception in 1916. Over the successive plan periods functions of ZSI have also expanded gradually
Read moreBotanical Survey of India (BSI) is the apex research organization under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India for carrying out taxonomic and floristic studies on wild plant resources of the country. It was established in 1890 with the basic objective to explore the plant resources of country and to identify the plants species with economic
Read moreWildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established under the Ministry, to combat organized wildlife crime in the country. The Bureau has its headquarters in New Delhi and five regional offices at Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Jabalpur; three sub-regional offices at Guwahati, Amritsar and Cochin; and five border units at Ramanathapuram, Gorakhpur, Motihari, Nathula and Moreh.
Read moreFly ash is a fine powder which is a byproduct from burning pulverized coal in electric generation power plants. Fly ash is a pozzolan, a substance containing aluminous and siliceous material that forms cement in the presence of water. When mixed with lime and water it forms a compound similar to Portland cement. The fly ash produced by coal-fired power
Read moreConsider the following statements about Kishenganga River 1. It is a tributary of river Satluj 2. It is called Neelum in Pakistan Select the correct statements a Only 1 b Only 2 c Both 1 and 2 d Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation: Solution (b) The Jhelum has its source in a spring at Verinag in
Read moreConsider the following statements 1. Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology. 2. Conventional fortification differs from Biofortification in that conventional fortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth rather than through manual means during processing of the crops. Which of
Read moreOnestopupsc Fourth all India Tiger estimation has began in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Appliances and apps being used Android phones and a new app are being used by forest officials to collect field data for digital enumeration.The app, Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (M-StrIPES) is being used for the first time to avoid human error
Read moreOnestop IAS A huge plume of fire was spotted emanating seemingly spontaneously from the severely-polluted Bellandur Lake in mid January. The Lake has witnessed occasional fires on its surface in the past as well. Apart from fire, the lake also witness the issues like froth formation, loss of biodiversity due to encroachment etc. The Bellandur Lake Bellandur Lake, spread over
Read moreFeature of Sunderbans It is classified as a moist tropical forest. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. Recognised under Ramsar wetland site Dominated by “ Sundri tree” Largest single block of halophytic mangrove forest in the world. It has common features of the both estuarine and mangrove ecosystem. Agent of carbon Sequestration It
Read moreAbout Steel sector • In 2016-17, India’s total ‘Finished Steel Production’ for sale was around 100 MT with an apparent consumption of about 85 MT. Thus production of finished steel was sufficient to meet its present demand in the country and also for exports. • The domestic steel sector contributes around 2% of the country’s GDP and employs over 6 lakh
Read moreGreat White Pelican • It is a bird in the pelican family. • It is also known as the eastern white pelican, rosy pelican or white pelican. Telegram: https://t.me/SimplifiedIAS Geographic distribution • It is mainly found in southeastern Europe, Asia and Africa. Behaviour • Northern populations of this species are fully migratory and travel via important stop-over sites. Other populations
Read moreKolleru Lake • It is the largest freshwater lake and is located in Andhra Pradesh. • It is located between Krishna and Godavari delta and covers an area of 308 km². • The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers. • The lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams and
Read moreBuxa Tiger Reserve: It is located in Alipurduar district of West Bengal. It was notified as a tiger reserve in 1983. The tiger reserve has an area of about 758 sq km. Out of this, 390 sq km lies in the core area and 367 sq km in the buffer zone. Some parts of the reserve share a border with Bhutan.
Read moreTropic of Cancer passes through below countries N America – Mexico Bahamas Africa – Western Sahara Mauritania Mali Algeria Niger Libya Egypt Middle East – Saudi Arabia UAE Oman Asia – India Bangladesh Myanmar China Taiwan
Read morePrime Meridian passes through below countries Europe UK France Spain Africa Algeria Mali Burkina Faso Tongo Ghana
Read moreEquator: passes through below Countries S America Ecuador Colombia Brazil Africa – Sao Tome & Principe Gabon Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Uganda Kenya Somalia Maldives Asia – Indonesia Kiribati
Read moreEquatorial Zone Equatorial rainforest – around equator Amazon rainforest, Congo basin, and east indies Uniform weather through out the year Rains in the afternoons Double rainfall peaks coinciding with the equinoxes Canopy structure – layered trees Epiphytes Unfertile soil Abundance of species Difficult to penetrate the jungle Cloud Forests – relates to Selvas Hardwood trees – mahogany, rosewood, rubber, ebony
Read moreAsian Nature Conservation Foundation: It was established in 1997 as a charitable trust. It has its headquarters at the Innovation Centre office of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. It is a small group of conservation scientists, planners, information managers and administrators working together to support the conservation of biological diversity in India. It is actively involved in the conservation
Read moreOIL SPILL: An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon or naturally extracted oil into the environment, especially marine areas, due to human activity and is a form of pollution. Remedies: 1.Dispersant: Dispersants are chemicals that when applied to oil floating on the surface greatly increases the rate of dispersal and breakdown of the oil. Dispersants assist
Read moreBharat Standard Norms Introduced in the year 2000, the Bharat norms are emission control standards put in place by the government to keep a check on air pollution. Based on the European regulations (Euro norms), these standards set specifications/limits for the release of air pollutants from equipment using internal combustion engines, including vehicles. Typically, the higher the stage, the more
Read moreFine Particles, Particulate Matter 2.5: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant that is a concern for people’s health when levels in air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated. Outdoor PM2.5 levels are most likely to be elevated on days with little
Read moreHazardous Substance Management To promote safe management and use of hazardous substance in order to avoid damage to the health and env. International conventions Basel convention – control the transboundary mvmt of hazardous waste Non binding agreement Reduce the movement of hazardous waste between nations Prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed country USA, UK dumping e-waste in India,
Read moreNature Conservation Under Biodiversity conservation scheme, there are two main subcomponents Bio Diversity Bio Safety Bio Diversity Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Legally binding Aichi target India enacted the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to give effect to the provisions of CBD. National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was created to implement the provisions of BDA, 2002. Located at Chennai Autonomous body Statutory body Regulatory body
Read moreCITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats
Read moreCORAL BLEACHING: Bleaching occurs when abnormal environmental conditions, such as warmer sea temperatures, cause corals to expel tiny photosynthetic algae, draining them of their colour. When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching. Algae are vital to the coral. Corals use
Read moreMajor Air Pollutants Particulate matter (PM): PM affects more people than any other pollutant. The major components of PM are sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water. It consists of a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles of organic and inorganic substances suspended in the air. The most health-damaging particles are those with a diameter
Read moreCauses of air pollution: Diesel vehicles are more polluting than petrol They are high in PM, Nitrogen oxide not good for health Ban 10 year old diesel truck entering city Vehicular emissions Dust emissions from construction work, thermal power plants etc.. Burning of wastes etc.. Major pollutants: Benzene – byproduct of burning diesel. It is carcinogen (cancer causing tissue).. Short
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Dolphins are one of the oldest creatures in the world along with some species of turtles, crocodiles and sharks. Platanista gangetica , the biological name of the Gangetic river dolphin, also called the “blind” river dolphin or the “side-swimming dolphin” is unique to India and an endangered species. Ganges river dolphins once lived in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India,
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Amur falcons are the longest travelling raptors in the world. They weigh just 150 grams Males are mostly grey in colour and the females have dark-streaked cream or orange underparts. The species flies non-stop from Mongolia to northeast India covering 5,600 km in five days and nights, a small part of its 22,000 km circular migratory journey. The birds halt briefly
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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN has evolved into the world’s largest and most diverse environmental
Read moreBiodiversity hotspots? Biodiversity hotspots are a method to identify those regions of the world where attention is needed to address biodiversity loss and to guide investments in conservation. The idea was first developed by Norman Myers in 1988 to identify tropical forest ‘hotspots’ characterized both by exceptional levels of plant endemism and serious habitat loss, which he then expanded to
Read moreWhat is Green Climate Fund? The Fund is a unique global platform to respond to climate change by investing in low-emission and climate-resilient development. GCF was established by 194 governments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in developing countries, and to help vulnerable societies adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Given the urgency and seriousness of
Read moreNational Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). It is a registered society originally formed by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC) on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Now both NGRBA and NMCG are allocated to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation(MoWR,RD
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In order to get more attention and protection to Kashmir’s Red stag, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has decided to put Red Stag on the critically endangered species list. It is listed under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978 and has also been listed among the top 15 species
Read moreRamsar Convention on Wetlands India is a signatory to Ramsar convention Intergovernmental treaty Conservation and wise use of wetlands and its resources Adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar Transboundary Ramsar Sites Changwon declaration – ensuring human well being Montreax Records Loktak Lake, Manipur (largest fresh water lake in NE) – Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast
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Also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, Olive turtles are a medium-sized species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are best known for their behavior of synchronized nesting in mass numbers. Known as aribada The olive ridley is classified as Vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation
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Critically endangered species Smallest of all rhinos and the only Asian variety with two horns They are born covered in shaggy, reddish brown fur Its nick name is Hairy rhino They once roamed the vast, dense forests of Sumatra, Borneo and Malaysia but land-clearing and poaching have devastated their numbers. In Sumatra, there are also small clusters in the west and
Read moreNative to west Africa Sucks water leading to ground water depletion Invasive species No other species of plant can co exist along with it Used for fuel wood Scientific name : prosopis julifora
Read moreAn invasive species is a non native organism that causes ecological harm after being introduced to a new environment. Humans are responsible for the spread of a majority of earth’s invasive species, often carrying them to different parts of the world on ships. Once they enter a new ecosystem, invasive species can outcompete native organisms for resources like food, especially if they
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