12hrs Marathon Session UPSC Prelims 2022 Notes Part 01

Current Affairs
12hrs Marathon Session

UPSC Prelims 2022
Part I
Document Prepared under Direct Guidance of

- Dr. Sudarshan Lodha (Air 571)
Enrol: https://targetupsc.in/courses Contact: 8830115524

12hrs Video Target 140+ Current Affairs: https://bit.ly/3LbGMCM
Table of Contents
Radio over Internet Protocol (ROIP) Advanced Air Pollution Warning
.......................................................... 8 System ............................................ 20
SITMEX ........................................... 10 SAMEER APP .................................. 21
Shangri-La Dialogue ....................... 10 National Air Quality Index (AQI) ... 21
Raisina Dialogue ............................ 10 Earth System Science Organisation
Sydney Dialogue ............................ 11 (ESSO) ............................................. 22
National Interlinking of Rivers ACROSS Scheme............................. 22

Authority (NIRA) ............................ 11 Deep Ocean Mission ...................... 23
Central Ground Water Authority National Monsoon Mission ........... 23
(CGWA) ........................................... 12 INCOIS- Indian National Centre for
Central Ground Water Board Ocean Information Services .......... 24
(CGWB) ........................................... 12 Digital Ocean.................................. 24
Kuno National Park ........................ 12 Punjab to Begin Census of Indus
National Parks ................................ 14 River Dolphin ................................. 24
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) ............... 14 Beas River ...................................... 25
Dehing National Park ..................... 14 Mugger Crocodile .......................... 26
Raimona National Park.................. 15 Gharial ............................................ 26
IUCN Status of Different Animals . 15 Seawater/ Estuarine/ Saltwater
New Sites: ...................................... 16 Crocodile ........................................ 26
Project Lion .................................... 16 Sutlej River ..................................... 26
Asiatic Lions ................................... 16 Ravi River ....................................... 27
Yamuna River Forth Formation ..... 17 Chenab River .................................. 28
Yamuna River & High Ammonia Jhelum River .................................. 29

Levels .............................................. 18 Indus River ..................................... 29
Eutrophication ............................... 19 Indus Water Treaty ........................ 29
Yamuna .......................................... 19 Permanent Indus Commission ...... 30
SAFAR ............................................. 19 Leaded Petrol Eradicated Globally 31
ENFUSER (ENvironmental Knocling of Engines........................ 31
information FUsion SERvice) ......... 20 Octane Number ............................. 32
UNICEF- United Nations Children’s Funds .............................................. 48
Fund................................................ 32 Revenue ......................................... 49
Heavy Metal Diseases.................... 33 Capital ............................................ 49
WWF-UNEP report on Human- Various Types of Govt Deficits ...... 50
wildlife coexistence ....................... 35
FRBM Act........................................ 51
AFSPA- Armed Forces (Special
Features of the FRBM Act ............... 51
Powers) Act, 1958 .......................... 35
Macro- Economic Framework
Coal Stocking Norms ...................... 37
Statement ...................................... 52
Central Electricity Authority .......... 37
The Medium-Term Fiscal Policy .... 52
Reasons for Coal Shortage ............ 38
Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement ... 52
Coal Sector in India ........................ 38
DEBT ............................................... 53
Distribution of Coalfields in India . 38
Central Govt’s Total Debts &
Classification of Coals .................... 40 Liabilities = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 ................. 53
Flue Gas Desulphurization ............ 40 Internal and external Debt
Green Energy Corridor ................... 41 examples- ....................................... 54
Green Corridor ............................... 41 N K Singh Committee report on
National Organ & Tissue Transplant FRBM .............................................. 54
Organisation (NOTTO) ................... 41 Foreign Exchange Reserve-Import
Difference between Tissues & Converge ........................................ 55
Organs ............................................ 42 National Asset Reconstruction
Green Day Ahead Market (GTAM) 43 Company ........................................ 55
Renewable Purchase Obligation India Debt Resolution Company Ltd.

(RPO) .............................................. 43 ........................................................ 55
Renewable Energy Certificates ..... 44 Development Finance Institutions 56
Central Electricity Regulatory National Bank for Financing

Commission (CERC) ........................ 44 Infrastructure & Development
(NBFID) ........................................... 57
Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) ........ 45
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ........... 58
Basics of Budget ............................. 45
Minimum Support Price ................ 60
V-Shaped Recovery ........................ 47
MSP Calculation ............................. 60
Procedure of Budget ...................... 47
Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP)
Appropriation Bill vs Finance Bill .. 47
for Sugarcane ................................. 61
Department-Related Standing
Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) .. 61
Committees (DRSCS)...................... 48

Domestic Support .......................... 62 Earth Summit / Rio summit, 1992 73
Types of Millets.............................. 62 The Forest Principles ..................... 73
Jowar .............................................. 63 Carbon Stock .................................. 73
Bajra ............................................... 63 Mangroves ..................................... 74
Ragi ................................................. 63 Mangroves for the Future Initiative
Difference Between Cereals and ........................................................ 76
Millets ............................................ 64 Flagship species ............................. 77
Ken-Betwa Inter-Linking Project ... 64 Pioneer species .............................. 77
National Perspective Plan ............. 65 Climax species ................................ 77
Five river linking projects .............. 65 Indicator Species............................ 77
Udyam initiative ............................ 66 Forest Fires..................................... 78
e-Shram Portal ............................... 66 Strengthening Forest Fire
ASEEM Portal ................................. 66 Management in India .................... 79
National Skill Development Great Green Wall Initiative ........... 79

Corporation .................................... 67 Great Green Wall of Aravalli ......... 79
Raising and Accelerating Micro, National Afforestation Programme
Small and Medium Enterprise ........................................................ 80
(MSME) Performance (RAMP Forest Advisory Committee (FAC). 80
Program) ........................................ 67
Green Credit Scheme ..................... 81
Emergency Credit Line Guarantee
Bonn Challenge .............................. 81
Scheme ........................................... 67
Compensatory Afforestation Fund
National Credit Guarantee Trustee
(CAMPA) ......................................... 81
Company Ltd .................................. 68
Global Forest Watch ...................... 82
State of forest report ..................... 68
The Global Forest Goals Report 2021
Census ............................................ 69
........................................................ 83
National Forest Policy, 1988 ......... 69
United Nations Strategic Plan for
Functions of FSI (Forest Survey of Forests 2017–2030......................... 83
India) .............................................. 71
Van Vigyan Kendra or Forest Science
Global forest assessment report Centres (FSC) .................................. 83
2020 ................................................ 71
Food and Agriculture Organisation
State of world forest report .......... 71 (FAO) .............................................. 84
Recorded forests ............................ 72 Bamboo .......................................... 84
National forest inventory .............. 72 United Nations Forum on Forests . 85

Deepor Beel: EcoSensitive Zone ... 86 United Nations Environment
Eco-Sensitive Zone ......................... 86 Programme (UNEP) ..................... 101
Eco Sensitive Zone ......................... 86 Champions of Earth Award ......... 101
Western Ghats ............................... 87 World Wildlife Day ...................... 102
Eastern Ghat .................................. 90 Convention on International Trade

in Endangered Species of Wild
Biodiversity hotspots in India ....... 91
Fauna and Flora (CITES) ............... 102
High Bio- Diversity Wilderness Area
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
........................................................ 91
(WCCB) ......................................... 103
Mega Diverse Countries ................ 92
Money Laundering and the Illegal
The Blue Carbon Initiative ............. 93 Wildlife Trade .............................. 104
Climate Vulnerability Index ........... 93 Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
National Climate Vulnerability ...................................................... 104
Assessment Report ........................ 94 Global Methane Pledge ............... 105
Climate Hazards and Vulnerability International Methane Emissions
Atlas of India .................................. 94 Observatory (IMEO) .................... 105
Climate Research and Services ..... 95 Climate and Clean Air Coalition .. 105
Wasteland Atlas ............................. 95 Clean Air Initiative ....................... 106
Wastelands .................................... 96 Global methane Emission ........... 106
National Wetland Decadal Change Carbon Global Project ................. 106
Atlas ............................................... 96
Renewables Integration in India
Desertification and Land 2021 .............................................. 106
Degradation Atlas of India ............ 96
India’s Demand for Energy .......... 107
State of the Climate Report 2021 . 97
Renewable Energy Penetration in
India Meteorological Department 97 India ............................................. 107
Frontiers Report............................. 97 International Energy Agency (IEA)
United Nations Environment ...................................................... 107
Assembly ........................................ 98 Status of Coral Reefs of the World
Resolution to end Plastic Pollution ...................................................... 109
........................................................ 99 Ocean Acidification ..................... 109
World Environment Day (WED) .... 99 Coral reefs .................................... 110
Brundtland Commission ................ 99 Indian National Centre for Ocean
Brundtland Report ....................... 100 Information Services (INCOIS): ... 111
Production Gap Report................ 100 The coral triangle ......................... 112

First Dugong Conservation Reserve Indian Desert Cat ......................... 128
...................................................... 112 Fishing Cat .................................... 129
Seagrass ....................................... 113 15th Summit of Convention on
Seaweed ....................................... 114 Biological Diversity (CBD) ............ 129
Clydebank Declaration ................ 115 Kunming Declaration on
High Ambition Coalition for Nature Biodiversity .................................. 130
and People ................................... 115 30 by 30 Target ............................ 131
World Heritage forests ................ 116 Kunming Biodiversity Fund ......... 131
Various Rules of basic Environment Nagoya Protocol .......................... 131
...................................................... 116 Cartagena Protocol ...................... 131
First geo park at Lamheta village 117 Aichi Biodiversity Targets ............ 132
GeoParks ...................................... 117 Protected Planet Report 2020 .... 132
Global Geoparks Network (GGN) 118 Global Biodiversity Outlook ........ 133
Lonar Lake .................................... 119 Global Assessment Report on
Earth Overshoot Day ................... 119 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Global Footprint Network ........... 119 ...................................................... 133
Rhino ............................................ 120 New Global Biodiversity Framework

...................................................... 134
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary ........ 121
The National Biodiversity Authority
4th Asia Ministerial Conference on
...................................................... 135
Tiger conservation ....................... 122
State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) . 136
Global Tiger forum ....................... 122
Biodiversity Management
Global Tiger Initiative .................. 123
Committees (BMCs) ..................... 137
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (TN)
Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) 139
...................................................... 123
Key Biodiversity Area .................. 139
CA|TS- Conservation Assured Tiger
Standard ....................................... 124 Critical Wildlife Habitats ............. 139
53rd Tiger reserve ......................... 125 Ecomark or Eco mark ................... 140
Guru Ghasidas National Park ...... 125 Himalayan Yak ............................. 140
52nd Tiger reserve ........................ 126 National Gene Bank ..................... 141
51st Tiger Reserve ........................ 127 National Bureau of Plant Genetic

Resources (NBPGR) ...................... 141
Panna Tiger Reserve .................... 127

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Current Affairs Marathon Session Part 1 (12hrs)
Radio over Internet Protocol (ROIP)

1. In view of a much-needed solution for providing effective long range Marine
communication, the Radio over Internet Protocol (ROIP) System at Syama
Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (which is a major port), was inaugurated.
2. ROIP system is being introduced as a marine communication mode to improve
the communication during bad weather.
3. Radio over Internet Protocol (RoIP) is a technology for transmitting radio
communication signals using the Internet Protocol (IP) standard.
4. RoIP provides the same performance as well-enhanced radio communication
but uses a digital IP network to enable communication and connection
between 2 or more analog radio devices or networks.
5. Radio over Internet Protocol, or RoIP, is similar to Voice over IP (VoIP), but
augments two-way radio communications rather than telephone calls.
6. At its core, RoIP is the integration of VoIP technology in two-way radio. Rather
than transmitting voice data through traditional means, RoIP uses internet to
send data from one user to another.
7. Besides radio communication features, RoIP enables the connection of 2 or
more radio sites together using digital-to-analog converting receivers at both
ends, which are directly connected to an Internet backbone.
8. RoIP works in a half-duplex mode where only one radio device can
communicate at a time.
9. The user must push the push-to-talk (P2T) each time before communicating.
10. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allowing you to make
voice calls over a broadband Internet connection instead of an analog
(regular) phone line. Voice is converted into packets & sent through internet.

11. Radio waves have frequency of 300 Ghz to 3Ghz
12. Amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) are used to
transmit data using the method of modifying a carrier signal.
13. AM is a modulation technique where the amplitude of a carrier varies
depending on the information signal. AM radio broadcast signals use lower
carrier frequencies, this helps them to travel long distances. Sometimes AM
signals can be able to bounce off the ionosphere. The distance travelled by the
AM is much larger than the FM.
14. In FM, the frequency of the carrier wave is modified according to the signal
that carries information. The radio signals have large bandwidth than AM
radio signals, which helps to offer much better sound quality. Frequency
modulation also enables to transmit stereo signals.
Amplitude Modulation (AM) Frequency Modulation (FM)
The first successful audio transmission Developed in 1930 by Edwin Armstrong,

was carried out in the mid-1870s in the United States
The radio wave is called a carrier wave The radio wave is called a carrier wave,
and the frequency and phase remain the but the amplitude and phase remain the
same same
Has poor sound quality, but can Has higher bandwidth with better sound
transmit longer distance quality
The frequency range of AM radio varies The frequency range of FM is 88 to 108

from 535 to 1705 kHz MHz in the higher spectrum
More susceptible to noise Less susceptible to noise

SITMEX
1. It is a trilateral naval exercise between Singapore, India, Thailand hence called
as Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX)
2. It is conducted annually and was announced by India at Shangri-La Dialogue in
June 2018.
3. It aims to strengthen mutual confidence and develop common understanding
and procedures towards enhancing the overall maritime security in the Indo-
Pacific region.
Shangri-La Dialogue
1. The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) is an intergovernmental security forum held
annually by an independent think tank, the International Institute for Strategic
Studies in Singapore.
2. The Shangri-La Dialogue has evolved into a key strategic gathering of the Asia-
Pacific region.
3. It is attended by defence ministers, permanent heads of ministries and
military chiefs of Asia-Pacific states.
Raisina Dialogue
1. It is a multilateral conference committed to addressing the most challenging
issues facing the global community. Every year, global leaders in policy,
business, media and civil society are hosted in New Delhi to discuss
cooperation on a wide range of pertinent international policy matters.
2. The Dialogue is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion,
involving heads of state, cabinet ministers and local government officials, as
well as major private sector executives, members of the media and
academics.

3. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in
collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
Sydney Dialogue
1. It is an initiative of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
2. It is an annual summit of cyber and critical technologies to discuss the fallout
of the digital domain on the law-and-order situation in the world.
3. It focuses on new technologies & how they can be leveraged for country.
National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA)

1. NIRA will function as an umbrella body for all river linking projects
2. It will be headed by a Government of India Secretary-rank officer.
3. It will replace the existing National Water Development Agency (NWDA)
4. It is an independent autonomous body for planning, investigation, financing
and the implementation of river interlinking projects in the country.
5. Functions of NIRA:
a. Coordinate with neighbouring countries and concerned states and
departments and will also have powers on issues related to the
environment, wildlife and forest clearances under river linking projects and
their legal aspects.
b. It will have the power to raise funds and act as a repository of borrowed
funds or money received on deposit or loan given on interest.
c. It will also have the power to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for
individual link projects.

Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)
1. Central Ground Water Authority has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of
the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control development
and management of ground water resources in the country.
2. Its functions:
a. Exercise of powers under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986 for issuing directions and taking such measures in respect of all the
matters referred to in sub-section (2) of section 3 of the said Act.
b. To regulate and control, management and development of ground water
in the country and to issue necessary regulatory directions for the purpose.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)

1. It is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Water Resources and is the
National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of providing
scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment,
augmentation and regulation of groundwater resources of the country.
2. It functions to develop & disseminate technologies & monitor, implement
national policies for scientific & sustainable development & management of
ground water resources.
3. It was established in 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube wells
Organization under the Ministry of Agriculture and later on merged with the
Groundwater Wing of the Geological Survey of India during 1972.
Kuno National Park

1. Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh is set to get 13 cheetahs in 2022.
2. The Kuno National Park was originally developed as the second home for
Asiatic lions in India, apart from Gir National Park. However, that project did
not take off.

3. But now the park is expecting to get 13 African cheetahs, which is being
described as the largest intercontinental animal translocation in the world.
4. Of all, 13 cheetahs have been carefully selected. 10 are from South Africa
while 3 are from Namibia.
5. Asiatic Cheetah:
a. They are found only in Iran
b. IUCN- Critically Endangered.
c. CITES - Appendix-I
d. They are Smaller and paler than the
African cheetah. Has more fur, a smaller
head and a longer neck. Usually have red eyes and they have a more cat-
like appearance.
6. African Cheetah
a. African cheetahs present in the wild in
Africa
b. IUCN- Vulnerable
e. CITES- Appendix-I
c. They are Bigger in size as compared to
Asiatic Cheetah.
7. Kuno National Park
a. KunoPalpur is a wildlife sanctuary in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
b. Sahara tribes live in this area.
c. Kuno River, one of the major tributaries of Chambal River flows through
the entire length bisecting the National Park division.
d. Kuno park is known for the Nilgai, Chital, Sambar, leopard, Jackal,
Chinkara.
e. It has tropical dry deciduous forest & thorny type of vegetation.

National Parks
1. They are the areas that are set by the government to conserve the natural
environment.
2. The main objective of a national park is to protect the natural environment of
the area and biodiversity conservation.
3. Here, no human activity is allowed.
4. Boundaries can only be changed by the permission of National Board for
wildlife which is headed by Prime minister.
5. National parks can be declared both by the Central Government and State
governments. No alteration of the boundaries of a national park shall be made
except on a resolution passed by the State Legislature.
6. They cannot be downgraded to the status of a ‘sanctuary’.
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS)

1. A wildlife sanctuary is an area of nature owned by the government or a
private agency for the protection of particular species of flora or fauna during
a part of the year or in its entirety.
2. No boundaries are defined.
3. They are declared by both central & state governments.
4. They can be upgraded to the status of National Park but a national park
cannot be downgraded to WLS.
Dehing National Park

1. Assam government notified Dehing Patkai WLS as the 7th National Park of the
state.
2. It is located within the larger Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve, which spreads
across the coal- and oil-rich districts of Upper Assam (Dibrugarh and Tinsukia
districts).

3. It is the only sanctuary in India which is home to seven different species of
wild cats - tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, leopard cat, golden cat, jungle cat
and marbled cat.
4. Note: other national parks of ASSAM are:
a. Raimona
b. Kaziranga
c. Manas
d. Nameri
e. Orang
f. Dibru-Saikhowa.
Raimona National Park

1. The area of the park includes the northern part of the notified Ripu Reserve
Forest, which forms the western-most buffer to the Manas National Park that
straddles the India-Bhutan border.
2. It is famous for Golden Langur, an endemic species
3. It also has Asian elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, Clouded leopard, Indian gaur,
Wild water buffalo, Spotted deer, Hornbill, various species of butterflies,
birds, plants and orchids.
IUCN Status of Different Animals

1. Chital= Least concerned. It is the sate animal of Telengana.
2. Barasingha= Vulnerable. It is found in MP & UP
3. Sambhar = Vulnerable. It is a state animal of Odisha
4. Hogdeer= Endangered. Isi is found in the grasslands of Terai.
5. Hungul = critically endangered. It is found in Dachigam National Park of J&K
6. Sangai/ Brown antlered deer = Endangered. It is the state animal of Manipur &
is found in Keibul Lamjao National park.

New Sites:
1. Six new sites apart from the Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary were identified
under Project Lion that was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
August 15, 2020.
2. The six new sites include:
a. Madhav National Park. Madhya Pradesh,
b. Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan.
c. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan.
d. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh
e. Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan.
f. Jessore-Balaram Ambaji WLS and adjoining landscape, Gujarat
Project Lion
1. The programme has been launched for the conservation of the Asiatic Lion.
2. Project Lion was announced by Prime Minister in 2020.
3. The project will involve habitat development by engaging modern
technologies in management as well as in addressing the issue of diseases in
lion.
4. Landscape management with associated species will be done through
veterinary care and advanced world-class research.
5. The project will also be addressing the Human-Wildlife conflict which will
involve local communities living in the vicinity.
6. The Wildlife Institute of India, along with the Gujarat Forest Department will
implement this project.
Asiatic Lions
1. Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lions.

2. At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the
Asiatic lion.
3. National parks which come under Gir protected area are:
a. Gir national park
b. Gir sanctuary
c. Pania sanctuary
d. Mithiyala sanctuary
4. Protection Status of Asiatic lions:
a. IUCN Red List: Endangered
b. CITES: Appendix I
c. Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I
5. Canine distemper virus is affecting tigers & lions
6. WII is conducting lion census since 2020
7. There is increase in their population from 523 to 674
Yamuna River Forth Formation

1. Recently, froth formation was seen floating over parts of the Yamuna River
2. The presence of phosphates and surfactants in untreated sewage from Delhi,
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh is a major reason behind frothing.
3. This is a phenomenon that takes place on many lakes and streams.
4. Foam bubbles are produced when organic matter decomposes. Foam creates
turbulence in the water
5. Polluted water from paper & sugar industries is also a major reason behind it.
6. These foam-producing molecules have one end that repels water and another
that attracts water and they work to reduce the surface tension on the surface
of the water.

Yamuna River & High Ammonia Levels
1. Recently, ammonia levels shot up to 7.3 parts per million (ppm) at some
places.
2. As per the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the acceptable maximum limit of
ammonia in drinking water is 0.5 ppm.
3. Causes for high ammonia:
a. Farming
b. Animal husbandry
c. Biomass burning
d. Industrial Pollution
4. High ammonia in water bodies leads to Eutrophication.

Eutrophication
1. Eutrophication is an enrichment of water by nutrient salts that causes
structural changes to the ecosystem such as increased production of algae and
aquatic plants, depletion of fish species, general deterioration of water
quality. and other effects that reduce and preclude use.
2. Reasons for eutrophication:
a. Increasing use of fertilizers
b. Discharge of wastewater
c. Industrial waste mix-up with water bodies.
Yamuna
1. Source: The fiver Yamuna, a major tributary of river Ganges, originates from
the Yamunotri glacier near Bandarpoonch peaks in the Mussoorie range of the
lower Himalayas in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
2. Basin: It meets the Ganges at the Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh after
flowing through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
3. Important Dam: Lakhwar-Vyasi Dam (Uttarakhand), Tajewala barrage Dam
(Haryana) etc.
4. Tributaries: Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, Ken, Tons, Hindon, Giri.
5. It is present across cities- Delhi, Noida, Mathura and Agra.
SAFAR
1. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)
2. Introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
3. Purpose: to measure the air quality of a metropolitan city, by measuring the
overall pollution level and the location-specific air quality of the city.
4. Developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and is
operationalized by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

5. Its objective is to forecast pollution & increase our mitigation efforts &
increase awareness
6. Pollutants monitored by SAFAR:
a. PM2.5, PM10
b. Ozone, Carbon Monoxide (CO)
c. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
d. Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, Mercury
7. According to SAFR, high pollution levels were observed during 2021 Diwali in
Delhi, Ahmedabad & Mumbai compared to 2020 Diwali
ENFUSER (ENvironmental information FUsion SERvice)

1. It is a very high-resolution city scale model launched recently for Delhi.
2. It has been operationalized recently by IMD to identify the air pollution
hotspots and pollution up to street level.
3. It has been developed in technical collaboration with Finnish Meteorological
Institute (FMI).
4. The speciality of the ENFUSER is the high utilization of measurement data such
as air quality observations, a detailed description of the road network,
buildings, land-use information, high resolution satellite images, ground
elevation and population data.
Advanced Air Pollution Warning System

1. The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has launched an advanced Air
Quality Early Warning System, which can predict places neighbouring Delhi
that are likely to burn crop residue on a given day.
2. Air quality early warning system (AQEWS):
a. The system has been developed by Indian Institute of Tropical
Meteorology, Pune, under MoES.

b. The AQEW system uses data of stubble burning incidents from the past
15 years to predict the date and place of the next burning.
c. It can also forecast the level of pollutants like particulate matter (PM)
2.5, PM10, and dust, coming from sources other than stubble burning.
d. Presently the system monitors and forecasts two types of pollutants –
PM2.5 and CO (Carbon Monoxide).
3. The early warning of pollution will provide the authorities data and time to
respond accordingly in a time bound manner.
SAMEER APP
1. It provides hourly updates on the National Air Quality Index (AQ1), for more
than 100 cities across the country.
2. Developed by the Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB) which provides
information on air quality
3. The app represents the listed cities in a color-coded format based on their AQI
levels.
4. It is based on the outline “one number- one colour- one description”
5. Also used to fill or track complaints related lo garbage dumping, road dust,
vehicular emissions or other pollution issues in a particular area
National Air Quality Index (AQI)

1. The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality
2. It focuses on health effects one might experience within a few hours or days
after breathing polluted air.
3. AQI is calculated for eight major air pollutants:
a. Ground-level ozone.
b. PM10
c. PM2.5

d. Carbon monoxide
e. Sulphur dioxide
f. Nitrogen dioxide
g. Ammonia
h. Lead
4. It has 6 categories of air quality: Good, Satisfactory, Moderate, Poor, Very
poor.
Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO)

1. The ESSO operates as an executive arm of the Ministry of Earth Sciences
(MoES) for its policies and programmes.
2. It aims to develop and improve capability to forecast, weather, climate and
hazard related phenomena for social, economic and environmental benefits
including addressing aspects relating to climate change science, and climate
services.
3. It is also responsible for the development of technology towards the
exploration and exploitation of marine resources.
4. Organizations under ESSO:
a. IMD- Delhi
b. INCOIS- Hyderabad
c. IITM- Pune
d. NCMRWF- Noida
ACROSS Scheme
1. Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services
(ACROSS)
2. It will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through its institutes
namely India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical

Meteorology (IITM), National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting
(NCMRWF), and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service
(INCOIS).
3. Each of these aspects is incorporated as eight sub-schemes under the
umbrella scheme "ACROSS".
4. The sub-schemes are Commissioning of Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars
(DWRs), Upgradation of Forecast System, Weather & Climate Services,
Atmospheric Observations Network, Numerical Modelling of Weather and
Climate, Monsoon Mission III, Monsoon Convection, Clouds and Climate
Change (MC4) and High-Performance Computing System (HPCS).
Deep Ocean Mission

1. It is implemented by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in 2018
2. It aims to conduct the exploration of the underwater world on similar lines as
ISRO does for space.
3. It focuses on exploration of deep ocean & deep ocean mining, ocean climate
change service.
4. 2 projects under this are:
a. Desalination plant by tidal energy
b. Submersible vehicle
National Monsoon Mission

1. It is an initiative of MoES.
2. It aims to improve the forecasting skills by setting up a state-of-the-art
dynamic prediction system for monsoon rainfall different time scales.
3. It is developed by IMD+ IITM+ National institute of medium range weather
forecasting.

INCOIS- Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
1. INCOIS is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
(MoES).
2. It is located in Hyderabad & was established in 1999. It is a unit of the Earth
System Science Organization (ESSO), New Delhi.
3. It is mandated to provide the best possible ocean information and advisory
services to society, industry, government agencies and the scientific
community through sustained ocean observations and constant improvement
through systematic and focused research.
4. Initiatives of INCOIS:
a. Indian tsunami early warning center
b. Coral bleaching alert
c. Digital ocean
Digital Ocean
1. It is implemented by Indian National Centre for Ocean information Services
(INCOIS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
2. Digital Ocean: Digital Ocean is a first of its kind digital platform for Ocean Data
Management.
3. It includes a set of applications developed to organize and present
heterogeneous oceanographic data by adopting rapid advancements in
geospatial technology.
4. It facilitates an online interactive web-based environment for data integration,
3D and 4D (3D in space with time animation) data visualization, data analysis
to assess the evolution of oceanographic features etc.
Punjab to Begin Census of Indus River Dolphin

1. It is a freshwater dolphin, found in river Beas & Indus.

2. Project will be implemented over five years. Under it, emphasis will be laid on
collecting data on spatial & temporal distribution pattern of species and
population status by means of an established and approved methodology.
3. In 2019, Indus River dolphin was declared as the State aquatic animal of
Punjab.
4. IUCN = Endangered
5. Confluence of Sutluj + Beas = Harike WLS (Punjab) which is a manmade
wetland.
Note:
1. Gangetic Dolphin – Endangered. It is found mainly in the Indian

subcontinent, particularly in Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and
Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems.it is also found in Vikramshila Gangetic
Dolphin santuray, Bihar.
2. Irrawaddy dolphins-Endangered. They are found in coastal areas in South

and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Irrawaddy (Myanmar), the
Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong (China).
Beas River
1. It originates at Beas Kund near Rohtang pass in Himachal Pradesh.
2. It meets River Sutluj at Harike WLS
3. Pong Dam constructed over it.
4. It flows completely in India
5. Gharials were released into the Beas River in 2017

Mugger Crocodile
1. It is also called as Indian crocodile/ Marsh crocodile, is found throughout the
Indian subcontinent.
2. IUCN status: Vulnerable
Gharial
1. It is fish eating crocodile & is native to Indian sub-continent
2. IUCN: Critically Endangered
3. They are mostly found in fresh waters of the Himalayan rivers, Chambal River
in the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains (Madhya Pradesh), Other
himalayan rivers like Ghagra, Gandak river, Girwa river, Ramganga river and
the Son River.
4. Small, released populations are present & increasing in National Chambal
sanctuary, Katarniaghat WLS, Son River sanctuary & the rainforest biome of
Mahanadi in Satkosia Gorge sanctuary, Orissa.
Seawater/ Estuarine/ Saltwater Crocodile

1. They are considered as the Earth’s largest living crocodile species, infamous
globally as a known maneater.
2. IUCN= Least Concern
3. They are found throughout the East coast of India
Sutlej River
1. It is the longest of the five tributaries of the Indus River.
2. It rises from beyond the Indian borders in the southern slopes of the Kailash
Mountain near Mansarover Lake from Rakas Lake.
3. It enters Himachal Pradesh at Shipki La and flows in the South-westerly
direction through Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Solan, Mandi, and Bilaspur districts.

4. It leaves HP to enter the plains of Punjab at Bhakra, where the world’s highest
gravity dam- Bhakra Nangal Dam, has been constructed on this river.
5. The waters of the Sutlej are allocated to India under the Indus Water Treaty
b/w India and Pakistan and is mainly used for power generation and irrigation
of many large canals draw water from it
6. Across the river, there are many hydroelectric and irrigation projects such as
the Kol Dam, Nathpa Jhakri project.
7. Another important project is Bhakra Nangal dam with Govind Sagar reservoir.
8. It forms India- Pakistan boundary from Firozpur to Fazila
9. It connects with Rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi.
Ravi River
1. It is the smallest river of the tributaries of River Indus.
2. The Ravi River originates Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas in the Chamba
district of HP. Ravi has its source in Kullu hills near the Rohtang Pass in
Himachal Pradesh.
3. It follows a north-westerly course and is a perennial river.

4. The major multipurpose projects built on the river are the Ranjit Sagar Dam,
Shahpurkandi Dam project
5. The right bank tributaries of the Ravi are the Budhil, Tundahan Beljedi, Saho
and Siul & and its left bank tributary is Chirchind Nala.
Chenab River
1. The Chenab originates from near the Bara Lacha Pass in the Lahul-Spiti part of
the Zaskar Range.
2. Chenab river is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at
Tandi located in the upper Himalayas in the Lahul and Spiti District of
Himachal Pradesh
3. In its upper reaches, it is also known as the Chandrabhaga
4. It flows through the Jammu region of J&K into the plains of Punjab in Pakistan
5. Projects on Chenab- Dhasti, Baghliar Dam, Salal, Ratle.
6. The river is crossed in J&K by the world’s highest railways bridge name Chenab
Bridge.
7. Tawi is an important tributary of it.
8. It is the largest tributary if India.

Jhelum River
1. It is a tributary of the Chenab River and has a total length of 813km
2. The river Jhelum rises from a spring at Verinag situated at the foot of the Pir
Panjal in the south-eastern part of the valley of Kashmir in India.
3. The Kishenganga (Neelum) River, the largest tributary of Jhelum, joins it.
4. Its tributaries- Poonch, Lidder, Kuhan, Kunhar.
5. Wular Lake is part of it.
6. It ends in a confluence with the Chenab in Pakistan.
Indus River
1. It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu in the Tibetan region in the
Kailash Mountain range near the Mansarovar Lake.
2. The principal right bank tributaries of the Indus are the Shyok, the Gilgit, the
Kabul, the Gomal, and the Kurram, Gomal, Zhola, Kunar.
3. Its left bank tributaries are the Chenab, the Jhelum, the Ravi, the Beas, and
the Sutlej.
4. At a place called Dungti, the river takes a sharp southwest turn and cuts
through the Ladakh range and then takes a north-western course and
continues to flow towards the Leh region of Ladakh along with the Ladakh
range.
5. After reaching Leh river countinues the northwestern course and reaches the
town of Batalik which is in the Kargil district.
Indus Water Treaty

1. It is brokered by World Bank.

2. Under the treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of
three rivers, namely Ravi, Sutlej and Beas (Eastern Rivers) were allocated to
India for exclusive use.
3. While the waters of Western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab were
allocated to Pakistan except for specified domestic, non-consumptive and
agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty.
4. India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of
the river (RoR) projects on the Western Rivers which, subject to specific
criteria for design and operation is unrestricted.
Permanent Indus Commission

1. It is a bilateral commission of officials from India and Pakistan, created to
implement and manage goals of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960.
2. The Commission, according to the treaty, shall meet regularly at least once a
year, alternately in India and Pakistan.
3. The functions of the PIC include:
a. To study and report to the two Governments on any problem relating to
the development on the waters of the rivers.
b. To implement Indus water treaty
c. To solve disputes arising over water sharing.
4. The 116th Meeting of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) between India and
Pakistan is conducted in New Delhi.
5. The meeting is being held after a gap of more than two-and-a-half years, a
period that witnessed. India did not attend two meetings due to:
a. Pulwama attack 2019, Balakot air strike, 2019
b. Abrogation of special provisions under Article 370 that gave special status
to J&K.
6. A discussion was held on Pakistan’s objections about two India Projects

7. India is building Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project on river Marusudar, a
tributary of the Chenab.
8. India is building second project – Lower Kalnai – is being developed on the
Chenab.
Leaded Petrol Eradicated Globally

1. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced that the use of
leaded petrol has been eradicated from the globe.
2. In July 2021, it was eradicated from Algeria - the last country using leaded
petrol.
3. Tetraethyl-lead (TEL) is a Petro-fuel additive, first being mixed with petrol has
Anti-knock & octane boosting properties.
4. Issues with leaded petrol:
a. Lead is toxic, affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to
young children.
b. It affects the brain, liver, kidneys, and bones. Lead is measured in the
blood to understand exposure.
c. Lead in bone is released into the blood during pregnancy and becomes a
source of exposure to the developing foetus.
d. More recent research has indicated that lead can damage the infant brain
even at blood levels as low as 5 microunits per decilitre (μ/dl).
5. Sources of Lead:
a. Pigments, paints, stained glass, lead crystal glassware, ceramic glass,
jewellery, Toys, cosmetics, traditional medicines, etc.
Knocling of Engines
1. Knock is the sharp metal pinging sound produced in the engine due to uneven
combustion.

2. Reason of knocking- because the air-fuel mixture inside the cylinder does not
properly initiate the combustion.
Octane Number
1. Octane number, also called Antiknock Rating, a measure of the ability of a fuel
to resist knocking when ignited in a mixture with air in the cylinder of an
internal-combustion engine.
2. Higher the number, better the fuel burns.
3. Lead increases the octane number of the fuel which lets the fuel withstand
compression without deterioration.
4. Around 1 in 3 children globally are poisoned by lead according to UNICEF.
5. WHO has joined with UNEP to form the Global alliance to eliminate Lead
paint.
6. Factors contributing to lead poisoning:
a. Informal and substandard recycling of lead-acid batteries.
b. Increase in vehicle ownership, combined with the lack of vehicle battery
recycling regulation and infrastructure.
c. Workers in dangerous and often illegal recycling operations break open
battery cases, spill acid and lead dust in the soil.
d. They also smelt the recovered lead in crude, open-air furnaces that emit
toxic fumes poisoning the surrounding community.
UNICEF- United Nations Children’s Fund

1. UNICEF is a special program of the United Nations (UN) devoted to aiding
national efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general
welfare of children.
2. UNICEF was created in 1946 as International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF)
by UN relief Rehabilitation Administration to help children affected by World
War II.
3. UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953
4. UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953
5. Headquarters: New York City
6. It was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 for promotion of
brotherhood among the nations.
7. Reports of UNICEF:
a. A Future for the World's Children Report by UNICEF+ Lancet
b. State of world children report
8. According to State of the World’s Children, at least 1 in 3 children under 5 is
undernourished or overweight. At least 1 in 2 children suffer from hidden
hunger & 1 out of 7 children between age 15-24 in India feel depressed &
46000 Indian adolescents die by suicide.
Heavy Metal Diseases

1. Cadmium: Itai Itai
2. Lead: Anemia, Neural Issues
3. Mercury: Minamata
4. Nitrates: Blue Baby Syndrome
5. Arsenic: Black Foot Disease
6. Asbestos: Asbestosis, Silicosis
7. Yokkaichi asthma: Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide
8. Fluorosis:
a. Dental fluorosis is caused by continuous exposure to high concentrations
of fluoride during tooth development.
b. Skeletal fluorosis is developed by the disturbance of calcium metabolism in
the formation of bones of the body.
c. It results in the softening and weakening of bones resulting in deformities
leading to crippling.

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)
1. The UNEP is a leading global environmental authority established on 5th June

1972 through Stockholm conference.
2. It sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the sustainable
development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative
advocate for global environment protection.
3. It has overall responsibility for environmental problems among United Nations
agencies.
4. It has overall responsibility for environmental problems among United Nations
agencies.
5. Major Reports of UNEP are:
a. Emission Gap Report
b. Adaptation Gap Report
c. Global Environment Outlook
d. Frontiers
e. Invest into Healthy Planet.
f. Global climate litigation report
g. Rise of environmental climate- UNEP+ Interpol
h. Food waste index report
i. Innovative wealth report
j. Indian ocean experiment (INDOEX)
k. Ocean de-oxygenation report
6. Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
7. Major Campaigns of UNEP:
a. Beat Pollution
b. UN75
c. World Environment Day
d. Wild for Life

WWF-UNEP report on Human-wildlife coexistence
1. Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
recently released its report titled “A future for all – the need for human-
wildlife coexistence”.
2. As per report, human-animal conflict is one of the main threats for long-term
survival of world’s most iconic species.
3. Conflict-related deaths affect more than 75 per cent of world’s wild cat
species.
4. It also affects polar bears, Mediterranean monk seals and large herbivores like
elephants.
5. Global wildlife populations have decreased by 68 per cent since 1970 because
of conflicts.
AFSPA- Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958

1. The ASFPA gives special powers to the armed forces and the Central armed
police forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in
contravention of law and arrest and search any premises without a warrant
and with protection from prosecution and legal suits.
2. It aims to bring public order in disturbed areas.
3. A disturbed area is one where the “use of armed forces in aid of civil power is
necessary”. Under section 3 of the AFSPA, any area can be declared disturbed
due to differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial,
language, or regional groups or castes or communities.
4. The power to declare any territory “disturbed” initially lay with the states, but
passed to the Centre in 1972. Central govt. or Governor of UT can declare the
whole or part of the state of UT as a disturbed area.

5. The Supreme Court in 1997, while upholding the constitutional validity of
AFSPA said that “Section 3 of AFSPA does not confer an arbitrary to declare an
area as a ‘disturbed area’ and that ‘a declaration under section 3 of AFSPA has
to be for a limited time period and there must be a periodic review of the
declaration every six months prior to its expiry’.
6. Security forces can “arrest a person without warrant”, who has committed or
even “about to commit a cognizable offence” even based on “reasonable
suspicion”.
7. It is applied in Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and parts of Arunachal Pradesh;
besides, Tripura and parts of Meghalaya were removed from the list.
8. AFSPA also protects security forces from legal proceedings unless cleared by
the centre.
9. The Act applies not only to the three-armed forces but also to paramilitary
forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security
Force.
10. In 2004, the Central government appointed a five-member committee headed
by Justice B P Jeevan Reddy to review the provisions of the act in the
northeastern states.
11. The committee recommended that AFSPA should be repealed, and
appropriate provisions should be inserted in the Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act, 1967 & that the Unlawful Activities Act should be modified
to specify the powers of the armed forces and paramilitary forces & it also
recommended that the Grievance cells should be set up in each district where
the armed forces are deployed.
12. The 5th report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC)
recommended that on public order has also recommended the repeal of the
AFSPA. However, these recommendations have not been implemented.

Coal Stocking Norms
1. Recently, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has revised Coal Stocking
Norms at thermal power generation plants with an aim to prevent a repeat of
the low coal stock situation at various plants.
2. CEA is an organization under the Electricity Act, 2003.
3. Coal Stocking Norms mandates the coal stock of 17 days at pit head stations
and 26 days at non-pit head stations to be maintained by power plants from
February to June every year.
4. The daily coal requirement at the power plant at any given day will be
calculated based on 85% Plant Load Factor (PLF). The previous norms
determined coal stock volumes according to the average consumption pattern
of the plant over the last seven days at a minimum 55% PLF.
5. PLF is the ratio between the actual energy generated by the plant to the
maximum possible energy that can be generated with the plant working at its
rated power and for a duration of an entire year.
6. The new methodology implies power plants which have lower utilisation rates
will need to stock more coal than they did earlier.
7. Power plants will have to strictly follow these parameters, failing which
penalties will be levied — an aspect that was not present in CEA regulations so
far.
Central Electricity Authority

1. CEA is an organization originally constituted under Section 3(1) of the
repealed Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, since substituted by Section 70 of the
Electricity Act, 2003.
2. One of its objectives is to formulate National Electricity Plan every five years
for optimum utilization of available resources for power generation.
3. It works under the Ministry of Power and is located in New Delhi.

Reasons for Coal Shortage
1. Excess rainfall in coal mining areas hit production and delivery and plants
failed to build up their stocks pre monsoon.
2. Increase in power demand as the economy is recovering from Covid-19
pandemic.
3. Sharp fall in imports due to high prices.
Coal Sector in India

1. India is the 3rd largest coal producer
2. Coal is the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India. It accounts for
55% of the country's energy needs.
3. Top 5 States in terms of total coal reserves in India are: Jharkhand > Odisha >
Chhattisgarh > West Bengal > Madhya Pradesh.
4. 215mmt coal was imported by India in 2020-21
5. 718mmt was produced domestically.
Note:
1. Buried sunshine= coal
2. Black gold= petroleum
3. Golden fibre = jute
4. Green gold = bamboo
5. Manchester of India = Ahmedabad
6. Manchester of Japan =Osaka
7. Silicon valley = California
8. Silicon plateau = Bangalore
Distribution of Coalfields in India

1. Gondwana type of coalfields- India’s 98% belong to Gondwana type – which
were formed 250 Mn years ago

2. Tertiary coalfields- India’s 2% belong to Tertiary type – which were formed 15-
60 Mn years ago
3. Tertiary coalfields constitute coalfields in Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal
Pradesh. Lignite type of coalfields which are present in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan,
Gujarat also belong to this type of coalfields.

Classification of Coals
1. Classification of Coal can be done on the basis of carbon content and time
period.
2. On the basis of carbon content, it can be classified into following 4 types:
a. Anthracite: It is the best quality of coal with highest calorific value and
carries 80 to 95% carbon content. It ignites slowly with a blue flame and
found in in Jammu and Kashmir only.
b. Bituminous & Semi- Bituminous: It has a low level of moisture content with
60 to 80% of carbon content (Semi- Bituminous has 60-40%) and has a high
calorific value. Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya
Pradesh have deposits of Bituminous.
c. Lignite carries 40 to 55% carbon content and is often brown in colour with
high moisture content thus, gives smoke when burnt. Rajasthan, Assam
and Tamil Nadu has deposits of Lignite.
d. Peat is the first stage of transformation from wood to coal with low
calorific value and less than 40% carbon content.
3. Jharkhand has many coalfields like Jharia, Bokaro, Girdih and Karanpura are
the major coal fields
4. Chhattisgarh – Korbha (is located in the valley of Hadso which is the tributary
of Mahanadi). Chirmiri, Johilla, Jhilmili, Sonhat.
5. Coalfields in Odisha- Talcher field, Rampur-Himgir coalfields, Ib river coalfield
6. Coalfields in Maharashtra- Kamptee, Wun field.
Flue Gas Desulphurization

1. Removal of Sulfur Dioxide is called as Flue-gas Desulphurization (FGD).
2. It seeks to remove gaseous pollutants viz. SO2 from exhaust flue gases
generated in furnaces, boilers, and other industrial processes due to thermal
processing, treatment, and combustion.
3. Common methods used are:
a. Wet scrubbing using a slurry of alkaline sorbent, usually limestone or lime,
or seawater to scrub gases;
b. Spray-dry scrubbing using similar sorbent slurries;
4. It is highly reliable & energy saving.
Green Energy Corridor

1. Government of India approved Green Energy Corridor Phase – II
2. It aims at synchronizing the electricity produced from renewable resources,
such as wind and solar, with the conventional power stations in the grid.
3. It aims to achieve the target of 450 GW installed RE capacity by 2030.
4. The Green Energy Corridor Phase II will be implemented between 2021-22 and
2025-26.
5. It will contribute to the long-term energy security of India and will promote
ecologically sustainable growth by reducing carbon footprint.
6. It is implemented in- UP, Karnataka, HP, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and
Kerala.
Green Corridor
1. A green corridor is a demarcated, cleared out special road route created for
an ambulance that enables retrieved organs meant for transplant to reach the
destined hospital.
2. The requisite regulatory procedures and coordination was carried out with
National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).
National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)

1. NOTTO is a National level organization set up under Directorate General of
Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, located in New Delhi.

2. It coordinates and establishes a network for procurement and distribution of
organs and tissues as per the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment)
Act 2011.
3. NOTTO in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) is
developing a national registry of organ and tissue donors.
4. This initiative will help in maintaining data and surveillance of all transplants
across the country and also plans to map post-transplant survival rate of
patients.
5. Sub units under NOTTO:
a. National Human Organs & tissue removal & storage network
b. National biometric center
6. Role of NOTTO:
a. To organise a system of deceased organ and tissue procurement &
distribution for transplantation.
b. To promote deceased organ and tissue donation
c. To create awareness about organ donation
d. To maintain registry of patents & donors
e. To lay down policy guidelines & protocol to monitor transplantation
activities
f. To protect vulnerable poor from organ trafficking.
Difference between Tissues & Organs

1. Organs- Organs are made up of tissues and are organized and perform specific
functions in plants and animals. They are parts of body which perform specific
functions. E.g., Lungs, heart, liver, kidneys are the different types of organs.
2. Tissues- Tissues are evenly distributed throughout the body and perform
similar functions. These are made up of same type of cells. Types of tissues in
animals usually include connective tissues, muscle tissues, epithelial tissues
and nervous tissues.

3. Cells -- Tissues – Organs – Body
Green Day Ahead Market (GTAM)

1. GTAM is an alternative new model introduced for selling off the power by the
renewable developers in the open market without getting into long term
PPAs.
2. This would promote RE merchant capacity addition and help in achieving RE
capacity addition targets of the country.
3. It would lessen the burden on the RE-rich States and incentivize them to
develop RE capacity beyond their own RPO.
4. It will benefit buyers of RE through competitive prices and transparent and
flexible procurement. It will also benefit RE sellers by providing access to the
pan- India market.
Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO)

1. The RPO is a mechanism by which the obligated entities are obliged to
purchase a certain percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources,
as a percentage of the total consumption of electricity.
2. Obligated entities include discoms, open access consumers & captive power
producers.
3. RPO was instituted in 2011, it is a mandate that requires large power
procurers to buy a predetermined fraction of their electricity from renewable
sources.
4. Under Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) bulk purchasers like discoms,
open access consumers and capacitive users are required to buy a certain
proportion of REC’s. They can buy RECs from renewable energy producers.
5. RPO’s are categorized as Solar & Non- Solar RPO.
6. They are provided under Electricity act, 2003 & National Tariff policy, 2006.

Renewable Energy Certificates
1. Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) is a market-based instrument to
promote renewable sources of energy and development of the market in
electricity.
2. One REC is created when one megawatt hour of electricity is generated from
an eligible renewable energy source.
3. REC acts as a tracking mechanism for solar, wind, and other green energies as
they flow into the power grid.
4. RECs go by many names, including Green tag, Tradable Renewable Certificates
(TRCs), Renewable Electricity Certificates, or Renewable Energy Credits.
5. In India, RECs are traded on two power exchanges — Indian Energy Exchange
(IEX) and Power Exchange of India (PXIL).
6. The price of RECs is determined by market demand and contained between
the ‘floor price’ (minimum price) and ‘forbearance price’ (maximum price)
specified by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)

1. CERC is a regulator of the power sector in India.
2. It intends to promote competition, efficiency and economy in bulk power
markets, improve the quality of supply, promote investments and advise the
government on the removal of institutional barriers to bridge the demand
supply gap.
3. It is a statutory body functioning with quasi-judicial status under the Electricity
Act 2003.

Indian Energy Exchange (IEX)
1. It is the first and largest energy exchange in India providing a nationwide,
automated trading platform for physical delivery of electricity, Renewable
Energy Certificates and Energy Saving Certificates.
2. The exchange platform enables efficient price discovery and increases the
accessibility and transparency of the power market in India while also
enhancing the speed and efficiency of trade execution.
3. It is a publicly listed company with National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay
Stock Exchange (BSE).
4. It is approved and regulated by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
(CERC) and has been operating since 2008.
Basics of Budget
1. Budget is an estimate of income and expenditure for a future period of time
2. It is prepared by the Budget Division, Department of Economic Affairs,
Ministry of Finance.
3. The Article 112 states that the President shall, in respect of every financial
year, cause to be laid before both the houses of the parliament, the Annual
Financial Statement of estimated receipts and expenditures of the
government in respect of every financial year.

4. Article 265 of the Constitution provides that no tax shall be levied or collected
except by authority of law.
5. Article 266 provided that no expenditure can be incurred except with the
authorization of the legislature.
Estimate of Revenue Ways and Means to

and Capital Receipt Rise Revenue
Budget
Economic and
Estimate Expenditure
Financial Policy

V-Shaped Recovery
1. A V-shaped recovery is characterized by a quick and sustained recovery in
measures of economic performance after a sharp economic decline.
2. Economy quickly recoups lost ground and gets back to the normal growth
trend-line.
3. Such recoveries are generally spurred by rapid readjustment of consumer
demand and business investment spending.
4. Because of the speed of economic adjustment and recovery in
macroeconomic performance, a V-shaped recovery is a best-case scenario
given the recession.
Procedure of Budget
1. Budget Presentation (1st FEB) → General Discussion → Houses Adjourned →
Voting on Demand for grants →Appropriation Bill (Article 114) intended to
give authority to the Govt. to incur expenditure and meet grants from and out
of the Consolidated Fund of India → Finance Bill (Article 110) (31st March) To
give effect to the Government's taxation proposals (In 75 Days Should passed)
Appropriation Bill vs Finance Bill

2. While the Finance Bill contains provisions on financing the expenditure of the
government, an Appropriation Bill specifies the quantum and purpose for
withdrawing money.
3. Both appropriation and finance bills are classified as money bills which do not
require the explicit consent of the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha only discusses
them and returns the bills.

Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCS)
1. There are 24 Department-related Standing Committees (DRSCs). Each of these
committees have 31 members – 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
2. The 17 Departmentally Related Standing Committees were formally
constituted with effect from April 1993.
3. After experiencing the working of the DRSC system for over a decade, the
system was restructured in July,2004 wherein the number of DRSCs was
increased from 17 to 24.
4. These members are to be nominated by the Speaker of Lok Sabha or the
Chairman of Rajya Sabha respectively. The term of office of these committees
does not exceed one year.
5. These committees are serviced either by Lok Sabha secretariat or the Rajya
Sabha secretariat depending on who has appointed the chairman of that
committee.
Funds
1. Consolidated fund of India: Art: 266(1) All revenues credited to the
government; all loans received; all payment received as repayment of loans
given; are credited to this fund. No money can be issued or withdrawn except
by law.
2. Contingency fund of India:Art 267(1) To meet unforeseen circumstances
parliament created this fund. It is at the disposal of the president. Money can
be issued pending authorization of parliament. However, the finance secretary
handles it; it is operated by executive action.
3. Public account of India: Art:266(2) Payment usually of the nature of banking
transactions are made from this account; It is operated by executive action so
parliaments authorization not needed. It includes National Small Savings
Schemes like Public Provident Fund, Kisan Vikas Patra etc

Revenue
1. Revenue Budget consist of the Revenue expenditure and Revenue Receipts.
2. Revenue Receipts are receipts which do not have a direct impact on the assets
and liabilities of the government. It consists of the money earned by the
government through tax (such as excise duty, income tax) and non-tax sources
(such as dividend income, profits, interest receipts).
3. Revenue Expenditure is the expenditure by the government which does not
impact its assets or liabilities. For example, this includes salaries, interest
payments, pension, and administrative expenses.
Capital
1. Capital Budget- It includes the Capital Receipts and Capital Expenditure.
2. Capital Receipts indicate the receipts which lead to a decrease in assets or an
increase in liabilities of the government. It consists of: (i) the money earned by
selling assets (or disinvestment) such as shares of public enterprises, and (ii)
the money received in the form of borrowings or repayment of loans by
states.

3. Capital expenditure is used to create assets or to reduce liabilities. It consists
of: (i) the long-term investments by the government on creating assets such as
roads and hospitals, and the money given by the government in the form of
loa states or repayment of its borrowings.
Various Types of Govt Deficits

1. Three ways through which government captures this deficit
2. Revenue Deficit = Revenue Expenditure - Revenue Receipts
3. Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure - Total Receipts except borrowing a. = (Rev

Exp. + Cap Exp.) - (Rev Rec. + Cap Rec) except borrowing b. = Total borrowing
4. Primary Deficit = Fiscal Deficit - Net interest liabilities
5. Net interest liabilities mean to pay interest on its previous accumulated debt
6. Effective Revenue Deficit = Revenue Deficit - Grants for creation for capital
assets. a. Sometimes, It happened that the money in the form of grants which
consider as revenue expenditure by centre can be used by state to create
capital asset so this should to minus to show true picture of deficit

FRBM Act
Why was the FRBM Act passed?
1. The primary objective was the elimination of revenue deficit and bringing
down the fiscal deficit
2. The other objectives included
a. Introduction of a transparent system of fiscal management within the
country
b. Ensuring equitable distribution of debt over the years
c. Ensuring fiscal stability in the long run
3. The act also intended to give the required flexibility to the Central Bank for
managing inflation in India.
Features of the FRBM Act

1. It was mandated by the act that the following must be placed along with the
Budget documents annually in the Parliament:

a. Macroeconomic Framework Statement
b. Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement and
c. Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement
Macro- Economic Framework Statement

2. Every year, a macro-economic framework statement is presented before
Parliament at the time of Union Budget presentation. This is under Section
3(5) of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003.
3. The FRBM Act instructs the government to make an assessment of growth
prospects for the economy with regards to specific underlying assumptions.
The statement contains an overview of the economy.
4. This includes an assessment regarding the GDP growth rate, fiscal balance of
the central government and the external sector balance of the economy.
The Medium-Term Fiscal Policy

1. The Medium-term Fiscal Policy Statement, presented to Parliament under
Section 3(2) of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act,
2003, sets out three-year rolling targets for four specific fiscal indicators in
relation to gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices-() Revenue Deficit,
(i) Fiscal Deficit, (ii) Tax to GDP ratio and (iv) Total outstanding Debt at the end
of the year
Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement

1. The Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement, presented to Parliament under Section
3(4) of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003,
outlines the strategic priorities of the government in the fiscal area for the
ensuing financial year relating to taxation, expenditure, lending and

investments, administered pricing. borrowings and guarantees. The statement
explains how the current policies are in conformity with sound fiscal
management principles and gives the rationale for any major deviation in key
fiscal measures.
DEBT
1. Fiscal Deficit: Fiscal deficit is the difference between the government's total
expenditure (Revenue and Capital) and its total receipts (Revenue and Capital)
except the borrowings.
a. Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure - Total Receipts except borrowing
b. It is for One year only.
2. Article 292 of the Constitution states that the government of India can borrow
amounts specified by the Parliament from time to time.
Central Govt’s Total Debts & Liabilities = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4

1. Internal Debt- It is basically what Govt. of India borrows by issuing Debt
Securities like Treasury Bills and Dated Securities in the domestic market. It is
also called Domestic Market Borrowings
2. External Debt- It is basically borrowing from other Governments (bilateral
debt) and Multilateral Agencies like World Bank, ADB etc.
3. Public Account Liability -It includes National Small Savings Schemes like Public
Provident Fund, Kisan Vikas Patra etc.
4. Off budget liabilities or Extra budget liabilities-Such financial liabilities of any
corporate or other entity owned/controlled by the Central Government,
which the Govt. has to repay or service from the Annual Financial Statement.
5. It is not calculated in Fiscal deficit.
6. Internal Debt and external debt combined together is also called Public Debt
(of Govt. of India).

7. Internal Debt is 93% and External Debt is 7% of total public debt.
8. In External debt 81.3% is long term debt and 18.7% is short term debt.
9. It is contracted on the security against the Consolidated Fund of India.
10. As on 31st March 2021, out of the total liability/debt of the Central
Government Around 62% of GDP) in which around 90% is Public Debt.
11. Total Debt to GDP (Centre and State combine) is 76% in 2014 and now around
85-90%.
Internal and external Debt examples-

Internal Debt External Debt
T-Bills Multilateral
Market Loans Bilateral
Gold Bonds ECB (External Commercial borrowing)
Securities against small savings IMF, WB
Securities borrowed by PSB NRI Deposits
N K Singh Committee report on FRBM

1. As per the N K Singh Committee report and further amendments in the FRBM
Act 2003, Central Government will bring down the Central Govt. Debt to GDP
ratio to 40% by 2024- 25. (The committee has recommended states to bring
down their debt to 20% of GDP). So, that the General Government (Centre +
States) Debt reduces to 60% of GDP by 2024-25

Foreign Exchange Reserve-Import Converge
1. Import Cover measures the number of
months of imports that can be
covered with foreign exchange
reserves available with the central
bank of the country.
2. Eight to ten months of import cover is
essential for the stability of a currency.
Reason for Falling-
1. Stagnant forex reserves
2. Weakening value of the rupee
3. US Fed rates
4. Lowering of (Foreign Institutional Investment) FII inflows
National Asset Reconstruction Company

What is National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL)? and Who has
set it up?
1. Incorporated under the Companies Act
2. Set up by banks to aggregate and consolidate stressed assets for their
subsequent resolution
3. PSBs will maintain51% ownership in NARCL.
4. It will acquire asset through 15% cash and 85% Equity.
India Debt Resolution Company Ltd.

What is India Debt Resolution Company Ltd. (IDRCL)? Who has set it up?
1. IDRCL is a service company/operational entity which will manage the stressed
assets.
2. Public Sector Banks and Public FIs hold a max of 49% stake & rest will be with
private sector lenders.
How will NARCL and IDRCL work?

1. NARCL will acquire assets by making an offer to the lead bank. Once offer is
accepted, then, IDRCL will be engaged for management and value addition.

Why is NARCL-IDRCL type structure needed when there are 28 existing ARCs?
2. Existing is helpful for smaller value of stressed assets
3. However, considering the large stock of legacy NPAs, additional
options/alternatives are needed so NARCL-IDRCL formed.
Why is a Government Guarantee needed?

1. Backlog of NPAs require a backstop from Government
2. GoI Guarantee of up to Rs 30,600 crore will back Security Receipts (SRs) issued
by NARCL
3. Guarantee will be valid for 5 years.
Development Finance Institutions

1. These are organizations owned by the government or charitable institution to
provide funds for low-capital projects or where their borrowers are unable to
get it from commercial lenders.
2. Development finance institutions (DFIs) occupy an intermediary space
between public aid and private investment, facilitating international capital
flows.
Types of Finance provided are

1. Medium (1 – 5 years)
2. Long term (>5 years)
Objectives of Development Finance Institutions

1. The prime objective of DFI is the economic development of the country
2. These banks provide financial as well as the technical support to various
sectors
3. DFIs do not accept deposits from people
4. They raise funds by borrowing funds from governments and by selling their
bonds to the general public
5. It also provides a guarantee to banks on behalf of companies and
subscriptions to shares, debentures, etc.

6. Underwriting enables firms to raise funds from the public. Underwriting a
financial institution guarantees to purchase a certain percentage of shares of a
company that is issuing IPO if it is not subscribed by the Public.
Some Important DFIs-

1. IFCI – 1st DFI in India. Industrial Corporation of India was established in 1948.
2. ICICI – Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India Limited
established in 1955 by an initiative of the World Bank.
a. It established its subsidiary company ICICI Bank limited in 1994.
b. In 2002, ICICI limited was merged into ICICI Bank Limited making it the
first universal bank of the country. (Narsimha Committee)
c. Universal Bank – Any Financial institution performing the function of
Commercial Bank + DFI.
d. It was established in the private sector and is still the Only DFI in the
private sector.
3. IDBI – Industrial Development Bank of India was set up in 1964 under RBI and
was granted autonomy in 1976
a. It is responsible for ensuring adequate flow of credit to various sectors
b. It was converted into a Universal Bank in 2003
4. SIDBI – Small Industries development bank of India was established in 1989.
a. It was established as a subsidiary of IDBI
b. It was granted autonomy in 1998
National Bank for Financing Infrastructure & Development (NBFID)

1. As the principal development financial institution (DFIs) for infrastructure
financing. (Bill passed in parliament for same)
2. Set up as a corporate body with authorised share capital of one lakh crore
rupees.
3. Initially, the central government will own 100% shares of the institution which
may subsequently be reduced up to 26%.
NBFID may be held by:

1. central government,
2. multilateral institutions,
3. sovereign wealth funds,
4. pension funds,
5. insurers
6. financial institutions,
7. banks
8. any other institution prescribed by the central government.
Functions of NBFID:
1. Financial objectives-Directly or indirectly lend, invest, or attract investments
for infrastructure projects located entirely or partly in India.
2. Developmental objectives- Facilitating the development of the market for
bonds, loans, and derivatives for infrastructure financing.
Source of funds:
1. Form of loans by the issue and sale of various financial instruments including
bonds and debentures.
NBFID may borrow money from:

1. central government,
2. Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
3. scheduled commercial banks,
4. mutual funds, and
5. multilateral institutions such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
Initial Public Offering (IPO)

1. An offer of shares by an unlisted company to the public for the first time.
2. An IPO is the process by which a privately held company, or a company owned
by the government such as LIC, raises funds by offering shares to the public
or to new investors.
3. Following the IPO, the company is listed on the stock exchange.
Follow-on Public Offering (IPO)

1. Further Public Offering, it’s an offer of shares by a listed Company

Institutional Placement Programme (IPP)
1. Only selected financial institutions are allowed to participate and the
company's stake is offered to only such institutions. e.g., mutual funds,
Institutional Investor etc.

Minimum Support Price
1. Before the sowing, during each Rabi and Kharif crop season, Government of
India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare announces the Minimum
Support Prices (MSP) for procurement based on the recommendation of the
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) under Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and upon approval of the Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) which is headed by PM
2. MSP does not have any legal backing till now and farmers can't demand it as
a legal right. It is just government policy and an administrative decision to
purchase some food grains at MSP. And govt can't even force private players
to procure at MSP.
3. CACP, which recommends MSP, is again not a statutory body and it is just an
office attached to Ministry of Agriculture. CACP just recommends MSP but
the decision on fixing and even not fixing, and its implementation lies with the
Govt
4. MSP is announced for 25 crops including sugarcane. (CACP declare for 23
Crops)
5. The mandated crops are 14 for kharif season – Like paddy, jowar, bajra,
maize, ragi, arhar, moong, urad, groundnut-in-shell, soyabean, sunflower,
sesamum, nigerseed and cotton
6. 6 rabi crops- wheat, barley, gram, masur (lentil), rapeseed/mustard and
safflower and two other commercial crops viz. jute and copra.
7. In addition, the MSPs of toria and de-husked coconut are fixed on the basis of
the MSPs of rapeseed/mustard and copra respectively
MSP Calculation
1. A2 costs basically cover all paid-out expenses, both in cash and in kind,
incurred by farmers on seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, hired labour, fuel,
irrigation, etc.
2. A2+FL cover actual paid-out costs plus an imputed value of unpaid family
labour.
3. C2 costs are more comprehensive, accounting for the rentals and interest
forgone on owned land and fixed capital assets respectively, on top of A2+FL.

4. Finance Minister, while presenting the budget of 2018-19 announced that, the
Government will be offering MSP of at least 50 percent over cost of
production (A2 + FL).
5. MSP is same all across India for a particular crop.
Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for Sugarcane

1. The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is the minimum price that sugar mills
have to pay to sugarcane Farmers
2. FRP is determined by the Central Government on the basis of the
recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
3. The 'FRP of sugarcane is determined under Sugarcane (Control) Orde and
announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
4. The final FRP is arrived at by taking into account various factors such as cost of
production, domestic and international prices, overall demand supply
situation, intercrop price parity among others.
5. In Addition to this SAP (State Administrative Price) is decided by each state
which is above FRP.
Agreement on Agriculture (AoA)

1. It is come under WTO.
2. The main objective of agreement is to discipline and reduce domestic support
(subsidies) given to agriculture while at the same time giving freedom to the
member countries in designing their domestic agricultural policies.
3. The nature of the domestic support (subsidy) given by a government can be
broadly divided into two categories:
a. Support with no or minimal distortive effect on trade (“Green Box”)
(exempted/ allowed under WTO)
b. Support that distorts trade (“Amber Box”) (restricted/not allowed
under WTO)
4. WTO classifies all the domestic support into three categories.

Domestic Support
1. Green Box (allowed under WTO)- R&D support, infra support like irrigation,
electricity, expenses related to accumulation & holding of public stocks for
food security, domestic food aid to the section of population in need and any
direct payment to producers which is not linked to production.
2. Other exemption: (allowed under WTO)
a. Investment related subsidies, agriculture input subsidies to low income
farmers.
b. Blue Box: payments made on fixed areas or number of livestock.
Agriculture production is required to receive the payment but actual
payment linked to Limited production.
c. De-minimis Support-That support by country which is well below cap
which is set by WTO.
d. This is 5% of Agriculture output for Developed countries and 10% for
Under Developed Countries (On 1986-88 Prices)
3. Amber Box (allowed under WTO) -Any support which does not fall in the 1st
or 2nd category is subject to reduction of commitments. The WTO members
should try to reduce this type of support.
Mechanism at WTO for dispute Resolution

1. Bilateral Consultation
2. Dispute Settlement panel
3. Above decision can be challenged At WTO appellate body (Upper most body)
a. This is not functioning since last couple of years as USA is blocking
appointments)
Types of Millets
1. As mentioned in Budget speech by FM that 2023 has been announced as
International year for millets.
2. Jowar, bajra and ragi are the important millets grown in India.
3. Though, these are known as coarse grains, they have very high nutritional
value.
4. For ex. ragi is very rich in iron, calcium, other micronutrients and roughage
5. Millets are short duration (3-4 months;) warm weather grasses.

6. They are grown in less fertile areas.
7. These are Climate Change resistant
8. It has Low Glycemic content so it is good for sugar patients
Jowar
1. Jowar is grown both as kharif as well as a rabi crop.
2. But it is a kharif crop in northern India and rabi seasons in southern states.
3. Clayey deep regur and alluvium are the best suited soils for jowar.
4. Production in 2017-18 (Ranking of states)
a. Maharashtra
b. Karnataka
c. Madhya Pradesh
Bajra
1. It is a rainfed kharif crop of dry and warm north-western and western parts of
the country.
2. Hardy crop which resists frequent dry spells and drought.
3. It can be grown on poor light sandy soils, black and red soils.
4. Production in 2017-18 (Ranking of states)
1. Rajasthan
2. Uttar Pradesh
3. Gujarat
Ragi
1. Ragi is mainly grown in drier parts of south India
2. It is a rainfed kharif crop
It has high iron content and antioxidant.
3. Karnataka is the largest producer (73.23 per cent).

Difference Between Cereals and Millets
1. Cereals are the grasses that belong to the ‘Graminaceae family. These plants
are generally cultivated for their edible grains. The most common and
important cereals are maize, rice and wheat. Cereals also include barley, oats,
rye, sorghum, etc. The cereals as whole grains are vital source of vitamin,
minerals, fats, oils, protein and carbohydrates. The cereals are composed of
endosperm, germ and bran.
o India is largest producer and exporter of cereals (Rice-95%)
2. Millets are small-seeded grasses and grow well in dry zones. Millets require
warm temperature for germination and also for the development. Millets
cannot grow in water-logged soils. Millets are also preferred by the farmers as
they have a short growing season. It nearly takes sixty-five days to mature.
Millets are known for their nutrition content. They are easy to digest and also
contain a high percentage of minerals like magnesium, phosphorous and
potassium. They are best grown by using farmyard manure, under purely eco-
friendly conditions.
Ken-Betwa Inter-Linking Project

1. The project envisages transferring water from the Ken River to the Betwa
river, both tributaries of the Yamuna
About:
2. First project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers
3. The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-km long tunnel.
Background:
1. Tripartite memorandum of understanding for preparation of a Detailed
Project Report (DPR) was signed among the Centre and governments of
Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
2. 2008, the Centre declared KBLP a National Project
Implementing Agency:
1. Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA)

2. The National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA) has the powers to set up
SPV for individual link projects.
Challenges:
1. Submergence of Panna Tiger Reserve
2. To mitigate this, three WildLife Sanctuaries (WLS), Nauradehi, Rani Durgawati
of MP and Ranipur WLS of UP are planned to be integrated with PTR.
Static-Ken and Betwa Rivers

1. Originate in MP and are the tributaries of Yamuna
2. Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur
district of UP
3. Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river
4. Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve
National Interlinking of Rivers Authority-

1. Independent autonomous body for interlinking
2. Umbrella body for all river linking projects and to be headed by a Government
of India Secretary-rank officer.
3. It will replace the existing National Water Development Agency (NWDA).
National Perspective Plan

1. The National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally known as the National
Perspective Plan, envisages the transfer of water from ‘surplus’
basins(Himalaya) to water ‘deficit’ basins(Penensular)
2. It was prepared in August 1980.
Five river linking projects

Context-
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her Budget speech that
draft Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of these river links have been finalized
and consensus among beneficiary states is awaited.

• River linking projects referred are Damanganga-Pinjal, Par-Tapi-Narmada,
Godavari-Krishna, Krishna-Pennar and Pennar-Cauveri.
Udyam initiative
1. This is initiative by Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
2. It is for registering an MSME company.
3. It is online, paperless and based on self-declaration. No documents or proof
are required to be uploaded
4. Registration Process is totally free. No Costs or Fees are to be paid.
5. It will Help in ease of doing Business.
e-Shram Portal
1. It is launched By- Ministry of Labour and Employment
2. Aim: To register 38 crore unorganised workers
3. Workers will be issued an e-Shram card containing a 12 digit unique number.
4. If registered worker meets with accident eligible for Rs 2.0 Lakh on death or
permanent disability and Rs 1.0 lakh on partial disability.
5. It is single window system.
6. Extra Information-According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS 2018-
19), 90% of workers were in the informal sector
ASEEM Portal
1. Aatamanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM)
2. It is developed and managed By: National Skill Development Corporation
(NSDC) in collaboration with Bengaluru-based company ‘Betterplace’
3. Aim: To help skilled people find sustainable livelihood opportunities
4. It provides real-time data analytics about the demand and supply of Skilled job

National Skill Development Corporation
1. NSDC is a not-for-profit public limited company incorporated in 2008 under
section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (corresponding to section 8 of the
Companies Act, 2013).
2. It was set up by the Ministry of Finance as a Public Private Partnership (PPP)
model.
3. The Government of India through the Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) holds 49% of the share capital of NSDC, while the
private sector has the balance 51% of the share capital.
4. It aims to promote skill development by catalyzing creation of large quality
and for non-profit vocational institutions.
Raising and Accelerating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME)

Performance (RAMP Program)
1. It is in line with the recommendations made by U K Sinha Committee, KV
Kamath Committee and Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
(PMEAC).
2. It is World Bank Supported program
3. It targets improvements in the performance of 5.5 lakh MSMEs.
4. It will provide better access to finance and working capital for MSMEs by
strengthening the financing markets.
Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme

1. It is launched as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package
2. Its aim is to mitigate the distress caused by coronavirus-induced lockdown, by
providing credit to different sectors, especially Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs).
3. In it banks provide additional loans to existing borrowers without asking for
extra collateral.
4. To encourage banks to give loans, these loans are fully guaranteed by the
government against credit losses.

National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd
1. It is a private limited company
2. It is established by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance,
as a wholly owned company of the-Government of India, to act as a common
trustee company for multiple credit guarantee funds.
3. This Credit guarantee programs are designed to share the lending risk of the
lenders and in turn, facilitate access to finance for the prospective borrowers.
State of forest report

1. Forest survey is carried out by forest Survey of India.
2. Forest Survey of India is headquartered in Dehradun it is established in 1981
3. The first forest survey was conducted in 1987.
4. It is carried every two years through Resourcesat- 2.
5. Currently India is conducting 17th Indian state of forest report in 2021.
6. According to 17th forest policy, 17 states & UT’s achieved 33% forest + tree
cover

Census
1. Govt. conducts:
a. Population census for every 10 years
b. Livestock census for every 50 years
c. Agriculture census for every 5 years
d. Tiger census for every 4 years.
e. Elephant census for every 5 year.
f. Rhino census for every 3 years.
g. Forest survey for every 2 years.
h. Gangetic dolphin census for every year with the help of UP govt. & WWF.
National Forest Policy, 1988

1. The National Forest Policy of 1988 was launched with the principal aim of
ensuring environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance,
including atmospheric equilibrium which is essential for the sustenance of all
life forms - plant, animal, and human.
2. About one-third of the total geographical area of the country to be brought
under forest cover. In hills and mountainous regions, about two-thirds of the
total area must be kept under forest cover to prevent soil erosion and land
degradation and to preserve the stability of the fragile ecosystems.
3. Our target is- forest cover + tree cover should be minimum 33%
4. Any area which is greater than 1 hectare & which has canopy density > 10%,
then it is called as forest cover (FC).
5. Any area which is less than 1 hectare & which has canopy density> 10%, then
it is called as Tree cover (TC).
6. Any area which is less than 1 hectare & which has canopy density< 10%, then
it is called as Shrubs.
7. Currently in India, TC + FC = 24.56%
8. From 2019, there is increase of 24.6 % of forest + tree cover in India.

9. According to forest survey report:
a. Very dense forest- canopy density > 70% - 3.02% in India.
b. Moderately dense forest- 40-70%- 9.38% in India.
c. Open forest- 10-40%- 9.26% in India.
d. Tree cover is maximum in Maharashtra.
e. According to administration point of view, forests are classified as:
i. Reserve – 53%
ii. Protected – 29%
iii. Unclassified – 38%
f. Area wise forest cover in India:
MP>Arunachal>Chhattisgarh>Orissa>Maharashtra.
g. % wise forest cover-: Mizoram > Arunachal > Manipur> Nagaland.
h. Area wide Tree cover: Maharashtra> Rajasthan> MP
i. % wise Tree cover: Chandigarh> Delhi > Kerala
j. According to the latest forest survey, forest cover reduced in Arunachal,
Manipur, and Mizoram.
k. Forest cover increased in Andhra Pradesh > Telengana> Odisha
l. Carbon stock is maximum in Arunachal.
m. Presence of carbon in organic form:
i. Above ground- trees, dead litter.
ii. Below the ground
iii. Soil organic carbon – according to economic survey, it helps in
water conservation, reduction in soil erosion, helps in
temperature moderation, increase in nutrient retention & disease
control.
n. Factors affecting soil organic compounds are:
i. Temperature
ii. Moisture
iii. Salinity

iv. Vegetation
o. State of world report – is by FAO + UNEP. According to it, 31% of global
land is forest land.
p. For the 1st time, 17th forest survey assessed the forest cover in Tiger
reserves & Lion conservation areas as well.
Functions of FSI (Forest Survey of India)

1. FSI is one of the major national survey organisations in India.
2. Preparing the State of Forest Report biennially (once every two years). The
report gives an assessment of the latest forest cover in India, and the changes
thereof.
3. Conducting inventory in forest and non-forest areas and developing a
database on forest tree resources.
4. Acting as a nodal agency for collecting, compiling, storing and disseminating
spatial database on forest resources.
5. Conducting training in the fields of technologies connected with forest survey
such as GIS, remote sensing, etc. for forestry personnel.
Global forest assessment report 2020

1. It is released by FAO.
2. It presents a comprehensive view of the world’s forests and the ways in
which the resource is changing.
3. India is ranked 10th which has only 2% global forest
4. Russia ranks 1st - 20% global forest
5. In Annual forest gain category, India ranks 3rd
State of world forest report

1. It is published by FAO + UNEP.

2. According to it, 31% of global land is forest land.
3. Note- Global assessment of forest diversity- It is an initiative of WWF
Recorded forests
1. These are geographical areas which are recorded as the forests in the govt.
records i.e. for administration.
2. According to administration point of view, forests are classified into 3 types:

a. Reserve forests- max 53%. Here all activities are prohibited
b. Protected forests- max 29%. Here all activities are allowed until prohibited
c. Unclassified forests- max 18%. No restrictions.
National forest inventory

1. It is released by FSI.
2. It maintains the record of growing stock in forests & the area outside forest,
bamboo resource & carbon stock.
3. It also assesses dependence of people living in forest fringe villages for fuel
wood, fodder, small timber & bamboo.
4. Growing stock is the volume of all the living trees in a given area of forest in a
solid cubic meter. It is important for calculating biomass & carbon stock.
5. Highest growing stock is present in Chhattisgarh.

Earth Summit / Rio summit, 1992
1. The Rio Summit 1992 is also called the Earth Summit. This summit led to the
development of the 3 binding & 3 non- binding documents:
2. 3 legally binding documents:
a. UNFCCC
b. UNCCD
c. CDB
3. 3 legally non-binding documents like Forest Principles
The Forest Principles

1. It is formally called Non-Legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles
for a Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable
Development of all Types of Forests.
2. It makes many recommendations for conservation and sustainable

development forestry and is non-binding.
Carbon Stock
1. State of Forest Report (SFR) 2019 has shown an increase in the carbon stock
trapped in Indian forests in the last two years.
2. Carbon stock means the presence of carbon in organic form like:
a. Above ground- 32.26%
b. Below ground- 9.98%
c. Soil organic carbon- 55.67%
d. Dead wood- 0.66%
e. Litter- 1.49%
3. Max. carbon stock is found in Arunachal Pradesh.

Mangroves
1. Mangroves are a special type of vegetation. And they are found in the
intertidal regions where freshwater and saltwater intermix, in the bays,
estuaries, creeks, and lagoons.
2. They are the salt-tolerant variety of plants, which can survive in harsh
conditions. And they are economically and ecologically significant.
3. Mangroves represent a characteristic littoral (near the seashore) forest
ecosystem.
4. Mangroves occur worldwide in the tropics and subtropics, mainly between
latitudes 25° N and 25° S.
5. These are mostly evergreen forests that grow in sheltered low-lying coasts,
estuaries, mudflats, tidal creeks backwaters (coastal waters held back on
land), marshes, and lagoons of tropical and subtropical regions.

6. Since mangroves are located between the land and sea, they represent the
best example of the ecotone.
7. Mangroves grow below the high-water level of spring tides.
8. Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems, and the trees may vary in height
from 8 to 20 m. They protect the shoreline from the effect of cyclones and
tsunamis.
9. Sometimes the number of species and the population density of some of the
species in the ecotone are much greater than either community. This is called
edge effect.
10. The organisms which occur primarily or most abundantly in this zone are
known as edge species.
11. Edge species are ecologically distinct & endangered species. These are
calculated on the basis of their endangered status, genetic distinctiveness.
E.g., elephant, Panda.
12. Ecocline is a zone of gradual but continuous change from one ecosystem to
another when there is no sharp boundary between the two in terms of species
composition. It is the gradation from one ecosystem to another where there is
no sharp demarcation.
13. Ecocline occurs across the environmental gradient (gradual change in abiotic
factors such as altitude, temperature (thermocline), salinity (halocline), depth,
etc.).
14. Mangroves have special roots for this purpose called breathing roots or
pneumatophores. These roots have numerous pores through which oxygen
enters the underground tissues.
15. With their roots submerged in water, mangrove trees thrive in hot, muddy,
salty conditions that would quickly kill most plants.
16. Viviparity- Their seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree. Once
germinated, the seedling grows into a propagule.

17. Succulent leaves: Mangroves, like desert plants, store fresh water in thick
succulent leaves.
18. They are called as the kidneys of the ecosystem.
19. They provide protection against cyclones, seawaters.
20. They promote livelihood, habitat.
21. Ecologically mangroves are important in maintaining and building the soil, as a
reservoir in the tertiary assimilation of waste.
22. Mangroves improve the water quality by absorbing nutrients from runoff that
might otherwise cause harmful algal blooms offshore.
23. Mangroves make up less than 2% of marine environments but account for 10-
15% of carbon burial.
24. The mangrove ecosystem also supports an incredible diversity of creatures
including some species unique to mangrove forests.
25. Mangrove classification:
a. Very dense- 29.66%
b. Moderate dense- 29.75%
c. Open- 40.65%
26. West Bengal (41.71% mangroves are in a district called South 24 prangans of
West Bengal) has the highest percentage of area under total Mangrove cover
followed by Gujarat and Andaman Nicobar Islands.
Mangroves for the Future Initiative

1. IUCN and UNDP developed a unique initiative to promote investment in
coastal ecosystem conservation called Mangroves for the Future (MFF)
2. The member nations include South-Asian countries like Bangladesh,
Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
3. It aims to promote an integrated approach for coastal management & to build
resilience of ecosystem dependent coastal communities

Flagship species
1. They are species that have the ability to capture the imagination of the public
and induce people to support conservation action and/or to donate funds.
2. These are popular, charismatic species that serve as symbols and rallying
points to stimulate conservation awareness and action.
Pioneer species
1. The first organisms to colonize the area are known as the pioneer species or
community and usually consist of organisms such as cyanophycean, algae and
lichens.
2. Pioneer species it is the first organism to colonize any newly available area
and begin the process of ecological succession.
Climax species
1. Climax species are a mature, stable community that is the final stage of
ecological succession. In an ecosystem with a climax community, the
conditions continue to be suitable for all the members of the community.
2. In between Pioneer to Climax stage, there is a stage called Seral
Indicator Species
1. An indicator species describes an organism that is very sensitive to
environmental changes in its ecosystem. Indicator species are almost

immediately affected by changes to the ecosystem and can give early warning
that a habitat is suffering.
2. E.g. Lichen, sparrows, coral reefs, dolphins.
Forest Fires
1. In India, forest fires are most reported during March and April, when the
ground has large quantities of dry wood, logs, dead leaves, stumps, dry grass
and weeds that can make forests easily go up in flames if there is a trigger.
2. Highest forest fires are seen in Odisha, MP, Chhattisgarh
3. Forest Fire Alert System (FAST) 3.0
a. The Forest Survey of India (FSI), a body under the Union Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which is responsible
for assessment and monitoring of India’s forest resources, launched the
beta-version of the Large Forest Fire Monitoring Programme
b. The programme is part of the Fire Alert System (FAST) Version 3.0, where
the FSI will monitor forest fire events using real time data from the SNPP-
VIIRS satellite.

Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India
1. The report, ‘Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India’, jointly prepared
by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the
World Bank has been released recently.
2. Further, the report seeks to understand how forest fires are deterring India's
efforts to meet its climate change goals.
3. Key findings:
a. At least 60 percent of districts in India are affected by forest fires each

year.
b. Forest fires peak during the dry months of March or April before the arrival
of the monsoon.
Great Green Wall Initiative

1. Launched in 2007 by the African Union, this initiative aims to restore Africa’s
degraded landscapes to combat increasing desertification.
2. The Great Green Wall is now being implemented across several countries in
Africa
3. Once complete, the Wall will be the largest living structure on the planet.
Great Green Wall of Aravalli

1. The overarching objective of India’s Green Wall will be to address the rising
rates of land degradation along Aravalli range from Gujarat to Delhi
2. It will be connected to Shivalik hill range
3. It will act as a buffer against pollution.

National Afforestation Programme
1. National Afforestation Programme (NAP) has been formulated by merger of
four 9th Plan centrally sponsored afforestation schemes of the Ministry of
Environment & Forests.
2. The Scheme will be operated by the National Afforestation and Eco-
Development Board (NFEDB), Ministry of Environment and Forests as a 100%
Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
3. The overall objective of the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme
is ecological restoration of degraded forests and to develop the forest
resources with peoples’ participation, with focus on improvement in
livelihoods of the forest-fringe communities, especially the poor.
4. NAP aims to support and accelerate the on-going process of devolving forest
conservation, protection, management and development functions to the
Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at the village level, which are
registered societies.
Note:
1. One Trillion tree Initiative- Is by WEF. It is to support UN decade on ecosystem
restoration through afforestation.
2. One Billion tree campaign is by UNEP.
Forest Advisory Committee (FAC)

1. It is a statutory body which was constituted by the Forest (Conservation) Act
1980.
2. It comes under the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change
(MoEFCC).
3. It is an advisory body.
4. It considers questions on the diversion of forest land for non-forest uses such
as mining, industrial projects, townships and advises the government on the
issue of granting forest clearances. However, its role is advisory.
Green Credit Scheme
1. This scheme allows agencies which could be private companies, village forest
communities to identify land and begin growing plantations.
2. After three years, they would be eligible to be considered as compensatory
forest land if they met the Forest Department’s criteria.
3. The participating agency will be free to trade its asset that is plantation, in
parcels with project proponents who need forest land.
Bonn Challenge
1. Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and
deforested land into restoration by 2020 and 350 million by 2030.
2. The Challenge was launched by the Government of Germany and the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA)

1. The CAF Act was passed by the centre in 2016 and the related rules were
notified in 2018.
2. The CAF Act was enacted to manage the funds collected for compensatory
afforestation which till then was managed by ad hoc Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
3. As per the rules, 90% of the CAF money is to be given to the states while 10%
is to be retained by the Centre.
4. The State Funds will receive 90% of the payments while the National Fund will
receive the remaining 10%.
5. All states except Nagaland have set up state CAMPAs following this
notification, as of November 2019.
6. The funds transferred are in addition to State Budget. The centre expects that
states will utilize the funds towards forestry activities to achieve the

objectives of the Nationally-Determined Contributions (NDCs) of increasing
forest & tree cover.
7. Monitoring of afforestation is done by E-German portal.
8. Activities under CAMPA:
a. Compensatory afforestation
b. Management of biological diversity
c. treatment of catchment areas
d. assisted natural generation
e. forest management
f. wildlife protection and management
g. relocation of villages from protected areas
h. managing human-wildlife conflicts
i. training and awareness generation
j. the supply of wood saving devices
k. Allied activities
l. Soil and moisture conservation in forests
Global Forest Watch

1. Global Forest Watch (GFW) is released by World Resources Institute (WRI)
2. GFW is an open-source web application to monitor global forests in near real

time.
3. The Global Forest Watch uses a dataset collated by the University of

Maryland, Google, US Geological Survey, and the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA)
4. It aims to double the forest fire alerts using IIRS

The Global Forest Goals Report 2021
1. The Report has been prepared by the Department of Economic and Social
Affairs of the United Nations.
2. It provides an initial overview of progress of Goals and targets contained

within the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030.
United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030

1. The United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 was created with a
mission to promote sustainable forest management and enhance the
contribution of forests and trees to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
2. The agreement on the first-ever UN Strategic Plan for Forests was forged at a
special session of the UN Forum on Forests held in January 2017 and provides
an ambitious vision for global forests in 2030.
3. Goals and Targets: It features a set of six Global Forest Goals and 26
associated targets to be reached by 2030, which are voluntary and universal.
4. It includes a target to increase forest area by 3% worldwide by 2030, signifying

an increase of 120 million hectares, an area over twice the size of France.
Van Vigyan Kendra or Forest Science Centres (FSC)

1. It has been established by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education
(ICFRE) of MoEFCC.
2. It intends to help disseminate various technologies developed by farmers,
forest-based industries and forest research institutes
3. Functions:
a. Van Vigyan Kendra caters to the needs of field research of silviculture, tree
improvement, soil & water conservation techniques, and afforestation

techniques for saline land, techniques for forestry extension, organic
farming and composting techniques, sustainable land-use systems and
introduction and evaluation of both timber and non-timber species.
b. There will be emphasis on developing superior planting material to
enhance the productivity of Seedlings, which will aid the people associated
with forestry and agriculture.
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

1. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is a specialized agency of the
United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
2. HQ= Rome, Italy
3. It was founded with a goal to provide food security for everyone and assure
that people will have access to high-quality food in sufficient quantities to
achieve a healthy lifestyle.
4. Publications of FAO:
a. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA).
b. The State of the World's Forests (SOFO).
c. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).
d. The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA).
e. The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO).
Bamboo
1. Bamboo grows well in a warm, humid environment and is sensitive to cold
temperatures. Anything less than 15 Degrees Celsius during summers is not
favourable and can kill the plant. The wet and tropical conditions in India are
best suited for Bamboo farming.

2. Bamboo plants require a slightly acidic pH soil for the best possible health and
growth. A pH of anywhere between 4.5 – 6.0 is good for the overall well-being
of Bamboo grass.
3. Although it can grow in a wide variety of soils, except of course rocky soils,
well-drained sandy-loam and clay-loam are the best-suited soils for bamboo
farming.
4. It is found more in MP, Arunachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
5. Its cultivation increases more in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh.
6. Bamboo can be used for:
a. Carbon sequestration
b. Construction
c. Irrigation
d. Paper industry
e. To reduce land degradation
7. It is found everywhere in India except in Kashmir
8. Bamboo often termed as green gold.
9. Project BOLD- Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched a
project named Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought (BOLD) in Rajasthan.
United Nations Forum on Forests

1. Established by: Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).
2. Objective: To promote the management, conservation, and sustainable

development of all types of forests. Further, it aims to strengthen long-term
political commitment to this end.
3. Membership: The Forum has universal membership and is composed of all

Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies.
4. Headquarters: New York, United States.

Deepor Beel: EcoSensitive Zone
1. Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam) notified as the Eco-sensitive zone by
MoEFCC
About Deepor Beel:

1. It is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Assam.
2. State’s only Ramsar site.
3. An Important Bird Area by Birdlife International.
4. It is located towards the southwest of Guwahati city, Assam and is the
erstwhile water channel of River Brahmaputra.
Eco-Sensitive Zone
1. Context: Karnataka Chief Minister has informed the Centre that the state is
opposed to the Kasturirangan Committee report on Western Ghat.
About-
2. Under pressure from various stakeholders, MoEF had set up the High-Level
Working Group (HLWG) under the Chairmanship of Dr K. Kasturirangan to
study recommendations of the Gadgil Committee.
3. The HLWG had diluted many recommendations of WGEEP to satisfy the
interests of the various mafia.
4. HLWG had suggested that 37% (60,000 hectares) of the Western Ghats
should be declared as ESA.
5. The remaining 63% human settlements, plantations & agricultural field
classified as Cultural Landscape.
Eco Sensitive Zone

1. It is created to act as a buffer for further protection in an area within 10
kms around Protected Areas (PAs) such as National Parks and Wildlife
sanctuaries.

2. In case of places with sensitive corridors, connectivity and ecologically
important patches, crucial for landscape linkage, even areas beyond 10 km
width can be included in the eco-sensitive zone.
3. Activities around such areas are regulated and managed so as to protect the
environment.
4. ESZ is notified under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by
the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.
5. ESZ Guidelines classify activities under three categories:
6. Prohibited: Commercial Mining, Setting of Saw Mill, Setting of industries
causing pollution, establishment of major hydroelectric projects, Tourism
activities like hot-air balloons over the National Park, discharge of effluents or
any solid waste or production of hazardous substances. etc.
7. Regulated: Felling of Trees, Establishment of hotels and resorts, erection of
electrical cables, drastic change of agricultural systems etc.
8. Permitted: Ongoing agriculture and horticulture practices by local
communities, rain water harvesting, organic farming, use of renewable energy
sources, adoption of green technology for all activities. etc.
9. Many states are opposed to ESZ because of presence of minerals and
resources side by side.
10. Local people in many areas are also opposed to ESZ for loss of livelihood due
to restriction placed by it on various activities
Western Ghats
1. The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Hills, are well known for their
rich and unique assemblage of flora and fauna.
2. The range is called Sahyadri in northern Maharashtra and Sahya Parvatham in
Kerala.
3. The northern portion of the narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats
and the Arabian Sea is known as the Konkan Coast.
4. The central portion is called Kanara and the southern portion is called Malabar
region or the Malabar Coast.
5. The foothill region east of the Ghats in Maharashtra is known as Desh, while
the eastern foothills of central Karnataka state is known as Malanadu. In the
south the range is known as the Nilgiri malai in Tamil Nadu.
6. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

7. It is one of the eight hotspots of biological diversity in the world due to its high
level of biological diversity and endemism.
Geographical Extent-
1. The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range in the north, go south past
Goa, through Karnataka and into Kerala and Tamil Nadu end at Kanyakumari
embracing Indian ocean.
2. A chain of mountains runs parallel to India’s western coast, approximately 30-
50 km inland. These mountains cover an area of around 140,000 km² in a
1,600 km long stretch.

Mountain Ranges-
1. The Niligiri ranges southeast of Mysore in Karnataka, meet the Shevaroys
(Servarayan range) and Tirumala range farther east, linking the Western Ghats
to the Eastern Ghats.
2. The peak of Anamudi in Kerala is the highest peak in the Western Ghats, as
well as the highest peak in India outside the Himalayas
Passes in WG-
1. Bhor Ghat-Mumbai to Pune
2. Pal Ghat-Coimbatore to Palakkad
3. Thal Ghat-Mumbai to Nashik
Rivers-
West flowing:
1. The rivers that originate in Western Ghats and flow towards west are Periyar,
Bharathappuzha, Netravati, Sharavathi, Mandovi etc. The west flowing rivers
of Western Ghats are fast-moving, owing to the short distance travelled and
steeper gradient. This makes Western Ghats more useful in terms of
production of hydroelectricity.
East flowing:
2. The rivers that originate in Western Ghats and flow towards east include three
major rivers viz. Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri, and many smaller/tributary
rivers such as Tunga, Bhadra, Bhima, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Hemavathi,
Kabini
3. These east flowing rivers are comparatively slower moving and eventually
merge into larger rivers such as the Kaveri and Krishna.
Wildlife:
1. The Nilgiri marten, brown palm civet, stripe-necked mongoose, Indian brown
mongoose, small Indian civet and leopard cat are the small carnivores living in
the forests of the Western Ghats. Many species are endemic, such as the
Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius) and the liontailed macaque (Macaca
silenus).

Protected Areas:
2. Western Ghats is home to India’s two biosphere reserves, 13 National parks,
several wildlife sanctuaries and many Reserve Forests.
3. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve forms the largest contiguous protected area in
the Western Ghats. It comprised the evergreen forests of Nagarahole,
deciduous forests of Bandipur National Park and Nugu in Karnataka and
adjoining regions of Wayanad and Mudumalai National Park in the states of
Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
4. The Silent Valley National Park in Kerala is among the last tracts of virgin
tropical evergreen forest in India.
Eastern Ghat
1. It is from Mahanadi to Vaigai
2. Jindhagada is highest peak (earlier it is Mahendragiri)
3. It is from Odisha to Tamil Nādu
4. It is not continuous range as western Ghat.
5. The Eastern Ghats are the source area for many small and medium rivers of
the east coastal plains of South India.
Rivers flowing through the Eastern Ghats include:

1. Brahmani
2. Godavari
3. Kaveri
4. Krishna
5. Mahanadi
6. Subarnarekha
7. Tungabhadra
Rivers originating on the Eastern Ghats include:

1. Baitarani River
2. Rushikulya River
3. Vamsadhara River

4. Sarada River
5. Sabari River
6. Vellar River
7. Penna River
Biodiversity hotspots in India

1. It is decided by Conservation International (CI)
2. It is coined by Norman mayer.
3. It must meet two strict criteria:
o It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the
world’s total) as endemics
o It has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat
4. Himalaya: Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region
5. Indo-Burma: Includes entire North-eastern India, except Assam and it include
Andaman group of Islands
6. Sundalands: Includes Nicobar group of Islands
7. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka: Includes entire Western Ghats of India
Cold spot:
1. In this area biodiversity is less, but more no of rare species.
Hope spot:
2. Special places identified as critical for Ocean Health
3. Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep-By IUCN and Mission Blue.
High Bio- Diversity Wilderness Area

1. The large intact ecosystems of the world that hold significant levels of global
biodiversity.
2. This approach developed by Conservation International.
3. HBWAs consist of 5 of the 24 major wilderness areas that hold globally
significant levels of biodiversity.
4. The 5 HBWAs are Amazonia, the Congo forest of Central Africa, New Guinea,
the Miombo-Mopane woodlands of Southern Africa (including the Okvango

delta), Northern American desert complex of northern Mexico and South
Western part of USA.
5. In the past, the HBWAs were mostly considered to have 'low vulnerability'
because of their low level of past habitat loss. However, recent analysis
suggests that the high cultivation potential of many HBWAs makes them a
target for future agri-expansion.
Mega Diverse Countries

1. Term used to refer to the world's top biodiversity-rich countries
2. Identified in 1988 by Conservation International, to promote the awareness
for biodiversity conservation among world nations
3. There are 17 of these nations, which are mostly located in the tropical and
subtropical region
Criteria
1. To qualify as a Megadiverse Country, a country must
o Have at least 5,000 of the world's plants as endemics
o Have marine ecosystem within its border
List of country-
1. USA, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia ,Ecuador, Peru, Democratic,
Republic of Congo ,South Africa ,Madagascar , India, China, Malaysia
Indonesia, Philippines Papua New Guinea , Australia

The Blue Carbon Initiative
1. The Blue Carbon Initiative is a global program working to mitigate climate
change through the restoration and sustainable use of coastal and marine
ecosystems.
2. The Initiative is coordinated by Conservation International (CI), the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO).
3. Blue carbon is the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems.
4. The Blue Carbon Initiative currently focuses on carbon in coastal ecosystems -
mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses, which are found on every continent
except Antarctica.
Climate Vulnerability Index

1. This report released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water
(CEEW)
2. The report has also launched the first-of-its-kind Climate Vulnerability Index.
3. The index has analysed 640 districts in India and found that 463 of these are
vulnerable to extreme floods, droughts and cyclones.
4. Affected States: 27 Indian states and Union territories are vulnerable to
extreme climate events which often disrupt the local economy and displace
weaker communities.
5. Low-level of Adaptability: More than 60% of Indian districts have medium to
low adaptive capacity in handling extreme weather events.
6. Role of Anthropogenic Activities: The anthropogenic activity has already
made vulnerable districts become even more vulnerable to impacts of natural
disasters.
7. Triggering Financial Crisis: Combating the rising frequency and scale of
extreme climate events is fiscally draining for developing countries such as
India.
8. There are 183 hotspot districts that are highly vulnerable to more than one
extreme climate event.
9. Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Bihar are most
vulnerable to extreme climate events such as floods, droughts and cyclones in
India. North-eastern states are more vulnerable to floods
10. South and Central Indian states are most vulnerable to extreme droughts.
11. “Unsustainable landscape and infrastructure changes’’ are the prime reasons
for vulnerability to climate risks.
National Climate Vulnerability Assessment Report

1. It is released by: Department of Science and Technology (DST)
2. Purpose: To identify the most vulnerable states and districts in India with
respect to current climate risk and key drivers of vulnerability.
3. The report has identified eight eastern states as highly vulnerable to climate
change: Jharkhand, Mizoram, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Bihar, Arunachal
Pradesh and West Bengal.
4. These states are mostly from the eastern part of the country, and they require
prioritization of adaptation interventions.
Climate Hazards and Vulnerability Atlas of India

1. The scientists of CRS have created a climate hazards and vulnerability atlas of
India.
2. CRS is Climate Research and Services, and it operates under India
Meteorological Department (IMD).
About the map

1. The scientists created the map based on 14 extreme weather events. »
Considered the risks and threats imposed by these 14 weather events on the
local population and their economy.
2. Launched on Foundation Day of IMD
3. Every year, the Indian Meteorological Department celebrates its foundation
day on January 14.
4. It was launched by the Union Minister of Earth Sciences
About IMD
1. The IMD was established in 1875.
2. It operates under Minister of Earth Science.

3. It is responsible for meteorological observations, seismology and weather
events.
4. It is one of the six regional meterological centres of the World Meteorological
Organization.
Features of the atlas

1. It provides information about heat waves, cold waves, extreme rainfall,
thunderstorm, lightning, and snowfall, cyclones, winds, and fog and hailstorm.
2. It provides vulnerability values and hazards values. These values were
calculated using the historical climate data of the meteorological department.
3. It provides month – wise hazard levels of each district.
4. The map provides Normalised Vulnerability Index for each district.
5. » Lightning causes highest casualties in India. It is followed by floods, cyclones
and fog. They also cause high economic and livelihood losses.
Climate Research and Services

1. The headquarters of CRS is located in Pune.
2. It provides weather forecast, AWS data, gridded data, radiation data, agro met
data, and meteorological data.
Significance
1. The atlas helps to take precautionary measures.
2. It uses disaster data, hourly autographic data, cyclone track data, daily rainfall
data, population density data, storm surge data, etc.
Wasteland Atlas
1. It is published by the Ministry of Rural Development,
2. It is prepared by the Department of Land Resources (Ministry of Rural
Development) in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre
(NRSC), Department of Space.
3. The total wasteland in the country is 5,57,665.51 sq km.

Wastelands
1. Wasteland is defined not as decertified land, but land that is not used for
agriculture, commercial use or as forest land
2. Barren and uncultivated land lying unproductive, or which is not being utilized
to its potential.
3. It includes degraded forests, overgrazed pastures, drought- struck pastures,
eroded valleys, hilly slopes, waterlogged marshy lands, barren land, etc.
National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas

1. Recently the National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas has been released. The
title of this atlas has been kept as “National Wetland Inventory and
Assessment -2008-07 and 2017-18”.
2. It has been developed by ISRO’s Space Applications Center (SAC). It depicts
changes in wetlands across the country over the past decade.
3. The original atlas was released by SAC in the year 2011. It has been widely
used by all the State Governments in their planning processes over the years.
Key findings:
1. The total area of all wetlands in the country at the national level is estimated
at 15.98 million hectares. It is about 4.86 percent of the total geographical
area of the country.
2. Among the different types of wetlands, more than a third of the total
wetlands are covered by rivers (35.2 percent). Another 43 per cent of the
wetland area is jointly covered by reservoirs (17.1 per cent).
3. Most of the increase in wetland area over the past decade has been recorded
in the inland man-made (81.5 percent), and coastal artificial (17.0 percent)
categories.
4. Coastal natural wetlands have declined. These have mostly been converted
into coastal man-made ranges.
5. There has also been an increase in the area of mangroves and coral reefs.
Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India

1. It has been published by Space Application Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad.

2. The Atlas provides state wise area of degraded lands for the time frame
2018-19.
3. It also provides the change analysis for the duration of 15 years, from 2003-05
to 2018-19.
4. This Atlas is not only useful as a ready reference, but, will also be helpful in
strengthening the envisaged National Action Plan for achieving land
restoration targets by providing important baseline and temporal data and
technical inputs
State of the Climate Report 2021

1. It is released by IMD
2. 2021 is Fifth Warmest Year.
3. However, it was much lower than 2016 (+0.71 degrees Celsius), which remains
the warmest ever year the country has recorded since 1901.
4. The past decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record.
India Meteorological Department

1. IMD was established in 1875.
2. It is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
3. It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather
forecasting and seismology.
Frontiers Report
1. It is released by: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
2. Title of report- Noise, Blaze and Mismatch
3. Purpose: The report works to identify and draw attention to emerging issues
of environmental concern.
4. The report has identified three issues:
o Urban noise pollution,
o wildfires and
o phenological shifts that need urgent attention to address the triple
planetary crisis (Climate Change, Pollution and Biodiversity loss)

• Note: Phenology is the study of periodic events in biological life cycles and
how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate, as
well as habitat factors (such as elevation).
United Nations Environment Assembly

1. Recently, the Fifth UN Environment Assembly concluded with 14 resolutions
to strengthen actions for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals.
2. The overall theme for UNEA-5 was “Strengthening Actions for Nature to
Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, which was hosted by the UN
Environment Programme
3. It is the governing body of the UN Environment Programme.
4. It is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
5. The Assembly is made up of the 193 UN Member States and convenes every
two years to advance global environmental governance.
6. It was created in June 2012, during the United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development, also referred to as RIO+20.

Resolution to end Plastic Pollution
1. The world's ministers for the environment agreed to establish an
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) with the mandate to forge
an international legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution.
2. INC will begin its work in 2022, with the ambition of completing a draft global
legally binding agreement by the end of 2024.
3. This development is considered the most important environmental deal since
the 2015 Paris Agreement.
4. Under the legally binding agreement, countries will be expected to develop,
implement and update national action plans reflecting country-driven
approaches to contribute to the objectives of the instrument.
5. They will be expected to promote national action plans to work towards the
prevention, reduction and elimination of plastic pollution and to support
regional and international cooperation.
World Environment Day (WED)

1. World Environment Day is observed every year on 05 June
2. World Environment Day (WED) observed annually on 5 June for encouraging
worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment.
3. It was established by United Nations General Assembly to mark opening of
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972.
4. Theme for 2021:'Ecosystem Restoration'
5. Theme for 2022-Only one earth
6. It will kick off the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) - a global
mission to revive billions of hectares, from forests to farmlands, from the top
of mountains to the depth of the sea.
7. The theme for this year’s in India is- ‘promotion of biofuels for a better
environment’
8. Pakistan will be the global host for 2021.
Brundtland Commission
1. It is formerly the World Commission on Environment and Development, was a
sub-organization of the United Nations (UN) that aimed to unite countries in
pursuit of sustainable development.

2. It was founded in 1983
Brundtland Report
1. Formally called: Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on
Environment and Development
2. Released in 1987
3. Gave concept of “sustainable development”
4. The Brundtland Commission’s characterization of ‘sustainable development’ is
development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
5. The prominence given to ‘needs’ reflects a concern to eradicate poverty and
meet basic human needs, broadly understood.
6. The concept of sustainable development focused attention on finding
strategies to promote economic and social development in ways that avoided
environmental degradation, over-exploitation or pollution, and side lined less
productive debates about whether to prioritize development or the
environment.
Production Gap Report

1. Production Gap Report was released by the leading research institutes and
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. The Production Gap Report, first launched in 2019, tracks the discrepancy
between governments planned fossil fuel production and global production
levels consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C or 2°C.
UNEP’s Major Reports:

1. Emission Gap Report
2. Adaptation Gap Report
3. Global Environment Outlook
4. Invest into Health planet
5. The rise of environmental crime (UNEP+ Interpol)
6. Making Peace with Nature.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
1. It is an UN agency
2. It coordinates UN’s environmental activities, assisting developing countries in
implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.
3. It was founded as a result of the UN Conference on the Human Environment
(Stockholm Conference) in 1972
4. HQ: Nairobi, Kenya
5. UNEP has also been active in funding and implementing environment related
development projects
6. UNEP has aided in the formulation of guidelines and treaties on issues such as
the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, transboundary air
pollution, and contamination of international waterways
7. UNEP is also one of several Implementing Agencies for the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation
of the Montreal Protocol
Champions of Earth Award

1. It is UN’s highest environmental recognition celebrating exceptional figures
from public and private sectors and from civil society, whose actions have had
transformative positive impact on the environment.
2. It was established in 2005 by United Nations Environment Programme (UN
Environment).
3. This award programme is successor to UNEP’s Global 500 Roll of Honour.
4. The award is presented in five categories
o Lifetime Achievement,
o Policy Leadership,
o Entrepreneurial Vision,
o Action and Inspiration and
o Science & Innovation.
5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with United Nation’s
Champions of the Earth Award 2018. PM Modi is third Indian to receive this
award after Tulsi Tanti, Chairman of the Suzlon Group, and Afroz Alam, a
lawyer who led clean-up at Mumbai’s Versova beach.

6. Cochin International Airport also received Champions of Earth Award 2018 for
‘Entrepreneurial Vision’ and for its leadership in the use of sustainable
energy. It is world’s first fully solar-powered airport.
World Wildlife Day

1. World Wildlife Day has been celebrated every year on the 3rd of March since
2013.
2. The date chosen coincides with the day of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which was
signed in 1973.
3. Theme of 2022: Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration.
4. This theme is chosen as a way to draw attention to the conservation status of
some of the most critically endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Fauna and Flora (CITES)
1. CITES was drafted after a resolution was adopted at a meeting of the
members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in
1963.
2. It entered into force in 1973.
3. It aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and
plants does not threaten their survival.
4. Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties - in other words they have to
implement the Convention - it does not take the place of national laws.
5. Species are categorised under three Appendixes under CITES and are given
varying degrees of protection as under:
6. Appendix I: It includes species threatened with extinction. Trade-in specimens
of these species are permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
7. Appendix II : Includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but
in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible
with their survival.
8. Appendix III: It contains species that are protected in at least one country,
which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
1. It is a statutory body.
2. It is a multi-disciplinary body under the Union Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to combat organized wildlife crime in
the country.
3. It was established in June 2007 by amending the Wildlife (Protection)
Act (WLPA), 1972, a special Act to protect the wildlife and fauna in the
country.
4. HQ: New Delhi
5. Regional offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Jabalpur; three sub-
regional offices at Amritsar, Guwahati, and Cochin; and five border.
Some operations led by WCCB are:

1. Operation Clean Art: to drag attention of enforcement agencies towards
illegal wildlife trade in Mongoose hairbrushes
2. Operation Save Kurma: Launched by WCCB to focus on the poaching,
transportation and illegal trade of live turtles and tortoises
3. Operation Turtshield-II: Operation Turtshield- I and Operation Turtshield-II
was taken up to tackle the illegal trade of live turtles + Phase II was
undertaken between December 2020 to February 2021
4. Operation Softgold: To tackle Shahtoosh Shawl (made from Chiru wool) illegal
trade and to spread awareness among the weavers and traders engaged in
this trade
5. Operation Birbil: To curb illegal trade in wild cat and wild bird species
6. Operation Wildnet: To draw the attention of the enforcement agencies within
the country to focus their attention on the ever-increasing illegal wildlife trade
over internet using social media platforms
7. Operation Freefly: on illegal trade of live birds
8. Operation Wetmark: To ensure prohibition of sale of meat of wild animals in
wet markets across the country
Operation thunderstorm-
1. By Interpol

2. For dealing with illegal wildlife trade network.
Money Laundering and the Illegal Wildlife Trade

1. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has released the first global report on
the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) namely, “Money Laundering and the Illegal
Wildlife Trade”.
2. The report comes amid increasing international concern that the crime could
lead to more zoonotic diseases in the future.
3. The report has also described IWT as a “global threat”, which also has links
with other organised crimes like modern slavery, drug trafficking and arms
trade.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF):

1. It is an inter‐governmental policy making body.
2. It aims to establish international standards for combating money laundering
and terrorist financing.
3. It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris (France) to combat
the growing problem of money laundering.
4. It comprises over 39 countries.
5. India is a member
6. FATF Secretariat is housed at the headquarters of the OECD in Paris.
7. Initially it was only dealing with developing policies to combat money
laundering. But in 2001 its purpose was expanded to act against terrorism
financing.
Objectives:
1. Set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and
operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing
and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
Listing by FATF:
Grey List:
1. Countries that are considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and
money laundering are put in the grey list.

2. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the
blacklist.
3. The grey listing carries no legal sanctions. But it attracts economic sanctions
and restricts a country’s access to international loans
Blacklist:
1. Countries known as non-Cooperative are put in the blacklist. These countries
support terror funding and money laundering activities.
Global Methane Pledge

1. The Global Methane Pledge was first announced in September 2021 by the US
and EU.
2. It is an agreement to reduce global methane emissions.
3. This pledge was announced with the aim of reducing methane emissions by
30 per cent by the year 2030, as compared to 2020 levels.
International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO)

1. It is started by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) With help
from EU
2. It will monitor the methane emission through satellite.
3. It will produce a global public dataset of empirically verified methane
emissions
Climate and Clean Air Coalition

1. It is Launched in 2019
2. It is a voluntary partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations,
3. businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations committed to
protecting the climate and improving air quality through actions to reduce
short- lived climate pollutants.
4. India is a member of the coalition.
Report-

1. Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane
Emissions suggested that the world needs to dramatically cut methane
emissions to avoid the worst of climate change.
2. The report was released by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Clean Air Initiative

1. The “Clean Air Initiative” calls on national and subnational governments to
commit to achieving air quality that is safe for citizens, and to align climate
change and air pollution policies by 2030.
2. It is Launched UN, the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
Global methane Emission

1. Source of Methane-
o Agriculture waste
o Fossil Fuels
o Animal husbandry
o Land fields
o wastewater treatment
2. It has 28 times more potential than carbon
3. This rise in emission is noted by Carbon Global Project
Carbon Global Project

1. It is by Future earth and world climate research program.
2. It Aims to establish common knowledge for policy formation and support
action to slow down GHG emission.
Renewables Integration in India 2021

1. The International Energy Agency (IEA) in association with NITI Aayog has
released a report titled “Renewables Integration in India 2021”.
About Renewables Integration in India 2021 Report:

India’s Demand for Energy
2. India is the third largest energy-consuming country in the world.
3. Also, India has made significant progress towards its universal electrification
target for residential users. 100 million people gained electricity access in
2018 alone.
4. Per capita electricity consumption across the 28 Indian states and eight union
territories is still around a third of the world average and is expected to
continue increasing.
Renewable Energy Penetration in India

1. Renewable energy penetration is highly variable by the state in India.
2. The share of solar and wind in India’s ten renewables-rich states (Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya
Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, and Kerala) is significantly higher than the
national average of 8.2%.
3. Solar and wind account for around 29% of annual electricity generation in
Karnataka, 20% in Rajasthan, 18% in Tamil Nadu, and 14% in Gujarat.
Future Prospects of Renewable Energy:

1. The report highlights that India’s power system can efficiently integrate
renewables (175 GW by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030).
2. But this would require identification of resources, proper planning, policy and
institutional support, energy storage, and advanced technology initiatives.
International Energy Agency (IEA)

1. It is located in Paris
2. It is autonomous intergovernmental organization under OECD framework.
3. It was established in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.
4. The IEA was initially dedicated to responding to physical disruptions in the
supply of oil, as well as serving as an information source on statistics about
the international oil market and other energy sectors.
5. The IEA acts as a policy adviser to its member states, but also works with non-
member countries, especially China, India, and Russia
6. Presently it has 30 member countries.

7. India has become an associate member of IEA.
8. Only OECD members can become its members.
9. The Agency’s mandate has broadened to focus on the “3Es” of effectual
energy policy:
o energy security,
o economic development, and
o environmental protection
10. The IEA has a broad role in promoting alternate energy sources (including
renewable energy), rational energy policies, and multinational energy
technology co-operation
Reports By IEA-
1. Global Energy & CO2 Status Report.
2. World Energy Outlook.
3. World Energy Statistics.
4. World Energy Balances.
5. Energy Technology Perspectives
6. Net Zero by 2050
7. India energy outlook
8. World Energy Investment

Status of Coral Reefs of the World
1. Recently, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network has released its flagship
report titled, ‘Status of Coral Reefs of the World’ to pay special attention on
frequent mass global coral bleaching events.
Key points
1. The report is funded by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. The report has highlighted that in less than a decade, climate breakdown has
led to vanishing of 14 per cent of coral reefs.
Reason-
1. Coral bleaching
2. Algal Bloom
3. Climate okay
4. Ocean Acidification
5. Tourism
6. Overfishing
Ocean Acidification
1. Ocean acidification has been called the “evil twin of global warming” and “the
other CO2 problem”.
2. Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans,
caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
3. An estimated 30–40% of the carbon dioxide from human activity released into
the atmosphere dissolves into oceans, rivers, and lakes.
4. To achieve chemical equilibrium, some of it reacts with the water to form
carbonic acid.
5. Some of these extra carbonic acid molecules react with a water molecule to
give a bicarbonate ion and a hydronium ion (H+), thus increasing ocean acidity
(H+ ion concentration).
6. Checking CO and CO2 emissions and controlling pollution are the only means
to reduce ocean acidification

Coral reefs
1. Coral reefs are the colonies of tiny living creatures that are found in oceans.
2. They are the underwater structures that are formed of coral polyps that are
held together by calcium carbonate.
3. Coral reefs are also regarded as the tropical rainforest of the sea and occupy
just 0.1% of the ocean’s surface but are home to 25% of marine species.
4. They are usually found in shallow areas at a depth less than 150 feet.
However, some coral reefs extend even deeper, up to about 450 feet.
Factors affecting Coral Reefs

1. Extreme climate conditions: High temperature of water leads to the
declination of these corals as they cannot survive in high temperature. As
estimated by scientists, most of the coral reefs of the world will soon decline
with the increasing rates of ocean warming.
2. Overfishing: It is another major concern as it is leading to an ecological
imbalance of the coral reefs.
3. Coastal development: Development of coastal infrastructure and tourist
resorts on or close by these coral reefs causes significant damages.
4. Pollution: The toxic pollutants which are dumped directly into the ocean can
lead to the poisoning of the coral reefs as it increases the nitrogen level of the
seawater leading to an overgrowth of algae.
5. Sedimentation: Construction along the coasts and islands lead to soil erosion
increasing the sediments in the river. As a result, it can smother corals by
depriving them of the light needed to survive.
Growth conditions for Coral Reefs

1. The temperature of the water should not be below 20°C. The most favourable
temperature for the growth of the coral reefs is between 23°C to 25°C. The
temperature should not exceed 35°C.
2. Corals can survive only under saline conditions with an average salinity
between 27% to 40%.
3. Coral reefs grow better in shallow water having a depth less than 50 m. The
depth of the water should not exceed 200m.
Types of Coral Reefs

1. Fringing Reef: The coral reefs that are found very close to the land and forms
a shallow lagoon known as Boat Channel are called Fringing Coral Reefs. The
Fringing Reefs develop along the islands and the continental margins. They
grow from the deep bottom of the sea and have their seaward side sloping
steeply into the deep sea. Fringing Reefs are the most commonly found coral
reefs among the three. For example, Sakau Island in New Hebrides, South
Florida Reef.
2. Barrier Reef: Barrier Reefs are considered as the largest, highest and widest
reefs among the three coral reefs. They develop off the coast and parallel to
the shore as a broken and irregular ring. Being the largest reef among all, they
run for 100kms and is several kilometres wide. One example of Barrier Reef is
the Great Barrier Reef of Australia which is 1200 mile long.
3. Atolls: An atoll can be defined as a reef that is roughly circular and surrounds
a large central lagoon. This lagoon is mostly deep having a depth of 80-150
metres. The atolls are situated away from the deep sea platforms and are
found around an island or on a submarine platform in an elliptical form. For
example, Fiji Atolls, Suvadivo in Maldives and Funafoothis Atoll of Ellice.
Related News-
1. Indian Coral Reef Monitory Network by MoEFCC
2. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network- The main activities of the Global Coral
Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) are the preparation of regional periodic
assessments which draw on monitoring, research and other data, and the
establishment of regional GCRMN committees which, where possible draw on
existing nodes and are linked to existing Regional Seas mechanisms. These
activities provide a foundation for other activities and outputs
3. Coral bleaching alert System-By INCOIS on Satellite based sea surface
temperature
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS):

1. INCOIS is an autonomous organization of the Union Government.
2. It comes under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
3. It was established in 1999
4. HQ: Hyderabad
5. Its mandated is to provide the best possible ocean information and advisory
services to government agencies, society, industry and the scientific

community through sustained ocean observations and constant
improvements through systematic and focussed research.
6. INCOIS is a permanent member of the Indian delegation to IOC of UNESCO
and a founding member of the Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System
(IOGOOS) and the Partnership for Observing the Oceans (POGO).
The coral triangle

1. It spreads across the 6 countries (CT6) of – Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New
Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.
2. It occupies only 1.5% of the world’s total ocean area but represents 30% of
the world’s coral reefs. 76% of the world’s coral species are found here. It is
home to 56% of the Indo-Pacific coral reef fishes.
3. It is the world’s epic centre of marine biodiversity.
4. It is one of the 3 mega ecological complexes on our planet together with the
Congo basin and the Amazon rainforest.
5. Coral triangle day is celebrated on June 9 by the Coral Triangle Initiative, a
multilateral partnership of the CT6 countries
International Coral Reef Initiative:

1. It is intergovernmental body
2. India is part of it aims at sharing best practices protecting global coral reefs.
First Dugong Conservation Reserve

1. It is set-up by Tamil Nadu Gov. in the Palk Bay on the southeast coast.
2. With the help of community participation, Government will also construct a
Dugong Marine Conservation Reserve

About
1. It is also known as sea cow
2. State animal of A & N Islands.
3. Habitat: Found in Gulf of Mannar and at Palk Bay in Tamil Nadu, Andaman and
Nicobar Islands and the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat.
4. It is not found along the entire coast of India (Not in Lakshadweep)
5. Dugongs graze on seagrass
6. World's only vegetarian marine mammal
7. IUCN status: Vulnerable
8. Threats: Facing extinction because of habitat loss, sea pollution,and loss of
seagrass.
Seagrass
1. These are flowering marine plants that have adapted to survive in marine
conditions.
2. These are vascular plant with roots, stem and leaves.
3. It is found on all continents except Antarctica.
4. It is also known as ecosystem Engineers
Benefits-
1. These are called “Lungs of the sea” because one square meter of seagrass can
generate 10 liters of oxygen every day through photosynthesis.
2. It traps sediments to absorb nutrients and give us clear waters.
3. They are a source of food, shelter and nursery areas for many organisms
4. These are important carbon sinks capable of trapping carbon from the
atmosphere
Threats-
1. Climate change
2. Global warming
3. Erosion and Sediment discharge
4. Overfishing

5. Pollution among others.
Seaweed
1. These are marine macroalgae, or seaweed, are plant-like organisms that
generally live attached to rock or other hard substrata in coastal areas.
2. They are the primitive, marine non-flowering marine algae without root, stem
and leaves
3. Seaweed can be as small as the one-celled phytoplankton or as large as giant
kelp.
4. Even though seaweeds are not categorised as plants, it also requires light
(Photosynthesis), water and nutrition for the growth and sustenance
5. Location: Seaweeds, found mostly in the intertidal region, in shallow and deep
waters of the sea and also in estuaries and backwaters.
o Southern Gulf of Munnar’s rocky intertidal and lower intertidal regions
• China is major producer of See weed.
Positive Impact of See weed:

1. These are Carbon removal, reduced agricultural emissions, Protecting
shorelines from erosion, Reducing the effects of ocean acidification
2. Seaweed aquaculture also provides sustainable, healthy seafood for local
communities.
3. It is Bioindicator
4. Iron Sequestrator: These are relied on iron for photosynthesis
5. Oxygen and Nutrient Supplier
Uses:
1. It is rich in vitamins and minerals and are consumed as food
2. It is used as fertilizers and to increase aquaculture production
3. It is buried in beach dunes to combat beach erosion.
4. It is used as an ingredient in preparing toothpaste, cosmetics and paints
5. It contains anti-inflammatory & anti-microbial agents.

Clydebank Declaration
1. It is coalition of 22 countries have agreed to create zero emissions shipping
trade routes (GREEN SHIPPING CORRIDORS) between ports to speed up the
decarbonisation of the global maritime industry.
2. It is launched at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow
3. Countries are agreed to support the establishment of at least 6 green
corridors by 2025.
4. A green corridor is defined as a shipping route between two major port hubs
on which the technological, economic and regulatory feasibility of zero-
emissions ships.
5. India has not signed the declaration.
High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People

1. Recently, India joined the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and
People.
2. India is the first of the BRICS to join the HAC.
3. It is an intergovernmental group championing a global deal for nature and
people that can halt the accelerating loss of species and protect vital
ecosystems that are the source of our economic security.
4. It was launched in 2019 by Costa Rica, France and Britain.
5. It is co-chaired by Costa Rica and France and the Ocean co-chair belongs to
the United Kingdom.
Aim:
1. To promote an international agreement to protect at least 30% of the world's
land and ocean by 2030 (Global 30×30 target).
2. To manage the planet sustainably with no net loss of natural habitats,
supported by a circular economy, and strives for the sustainable and equitable
sharing of benefits from nature.
Members:
1. It has more than 70 countries which are a mix of countries in the global north
and south, European, Latin American, Africa and Asia countries are among the
members.

World Heritage forests
1. As per UNESCO’s assessment on World Heritage forests, India’s Sundarbans
National Park is among five sites that have the highest blue carbon stocks
globally.
2. Assessment involved the researchers from UNESCO, World Resources
Institute (WRI) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN).
3. It is the first ever scientific assessment of the amounts of greenhouse gases
emitted from and absorbed by forests in UNESCO World Heritage sites during
2001 and 2020.
4. Over the past 20 years, World Heritage sites lost 3.5 million hectares of forest
(an area larger than Belgium) and forests in 10 World Heritage sites emitted
more carbon than they absorbed.
5. As a whole, UNESCO World Heritage forests in 257 separate sites, absorbed
the equivalent of approximately 190 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere
each year.
Various Rules of basic Environment

Allen Rule:
1. In Colder environment animals have shorter ears, legs and tail.
2. While in warmer areas animals have big ears, taller legs and tail.
Bergman Rule:
1. Bergmann’s rule is an ecogeographical rule which states that the organisms
with larger size are found in colder altitudes while those with smaller size are
found in warmer regions.
Gause's Hypothesis/ Exclusion Principle:

2. It states that if two species have almost completely overlapped niches they
cannot continue to coexist. One of the two species will outcompete the other
and persist. The other will go locally extinct.

Gloger’s rule:
3. In warm, humid climates animals bear dark pigmentation than those found in
cool & dry climates.
Lindeman's Law of Trophic Efficiency:

4. While transferring organic food from one trophic level to the next about 10%
of the organic matter is stored as flesh, the remaining is lost during transfer or
broken down in respiration.
First geo park at Lamheta village

1. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has approved the setting up of
the country's first geo park at Lamheta village on the banks of the Narmada
River in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh.
2. This First geopark approval was given by the Geological Survey of India, under
the ministry of mining.
3. The geological park will be built in Lamheta, because this place is among
significant places in the world, from a geological point of view.
4. In 1928, William Henry Sleeman had discovered Dinosaur fossils from this
area.
5. UNESCO has also recognised Lamheta as a geo heritage site.
GeoParks
1. Geopark is a unified area, which advances the protection and use of geological
heritage in a sustainable manner.
2. It also promotes the economic well-being of the people living there.
Geological Survey of India (GSI)

1. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is a scientific agency of India.
2. The GSI is a government organisation in India, attached to the Ministry of
Mines for conducting geological surveys and studies.
3. The GSI was established in 1851 and is one of the oldest of such organisations
in the world and the second oldest survey institution in the country.

4. It is the prime provider of basic earth science information to the government,
industry and the general public, as well as the official participant in steel, coal,
metals, cement, power industries and international geoscientific forums.
5. Its main function is related to creation and update of national geoscientific
information and mineral resource assessment.
6. It is headquartered in Kolkata.
Global Geoparks Network (GGN)

1. The Global Geoparks Network (GGN) is a legally constituted not-for-profit
organisation.
2. It was founded in 2004
3. Its membership is obligatory for UNESCO Global Geoparks
4. It is a dynamic network where members exchange ideas of best practise to
raise the quality standards of a UNESCO Global Geopark.
5. GGN as a whole comes together every two years

Lonar Lake
1. Lonar Lake, also known as Lonar crater, is a notified National Geo-heritage
Monument, saline, soda lake, located at Lonar in Buldhana district,
Maharashtra.
2. Geo-heritage refers to the geological features which are inherently or
culturally significant offering insight to earth’s evolution or history to earth
science or that can be utilized for education.
3. Geological Survey of India (GSI) is the parent body which is making efforts
towards identification and protection of geo-heritage sites.
4. It is situated inside the Deccan Plateau—a massive plain of volcanic basalt
rock created by eruptions.
5. It is believed to have been created over 52,000 years ago when a meteorite
hit the Earth.
6. It is formed in basaltic rock with a diameter of 1.85 km and depth of 500 feet.
Earth Overshoot Day

1. In 2021, Earth Overshoot Day lands on July 29.
2. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has exhausted nature’s
budget for the year.
3. Humanity currently uses 74 per cent more than what the planet’s ecosystems
can regenerate — or 1.7 Earths.
4. From Earth Overshoot Day until the end of the year, humanity operates on
ecological deficit spending.
5. It is announced annually by the Global Footprint Network
Global Footprint Network

1. It was founded in 2003 as an independent think tank
2. It develops and promotes tools for advancing sustainability, including the
ecological footprint and biocapacity
3. Headquartered in Oakland, California.
4. Every year, it produced a new edition of its National Footprint and Biocapacity
Accounts which calculate Ecological Footprint and biocapacity of more than
200 countries and territories.

Rhino
1. Recently, 22 September is celebrated as World Rhino day.
2. There are five species of rhino – white and black rhinos in Africa, and
the greater one-horned, Javan and Sumatran rhino species Asia.
IUCN Red List Status:

1. Black Rhino: Critically endangered. Smaller of the two African species.
2. White Rhino: Near Threatened. Researchers have created an embryo of the
northern white rhino by using In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process.
3. One-Horned Rhino: Vulnerable
4. Javan: Critically Endangered
5. Sumatran Rhino: Critically Endangered. It has gone extinct in Malaysia.
About India-
1. Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is found in India.
2. Also known as Indian rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species.
3. It is identified by a single black horn and a grey-brown hide with skin folds.
4. They primarily graze, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well
as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit, and aquatic plants.
Habitat:
1. The species is restricted to small habitats in Indo-Nepal terai and northern
West Bengal and Assam.
2. In India, rhinos are mainly found in Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
3. Pabitora Wildlife Reserve, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga
National Park, and Manas National Park.
Protection Status:
1. IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
2. CITES: Appendix I
3. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.

Conservation Efforts:
1. The five rhino range nations (India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia)
have signed a declaration ‘The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019’
for the conservation and protection of the species.
2. Recently, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
has begun a project to create DNA profiles of all rhinos in the country.
3. National Rhino Conservation Strategy: It was launched in 2019 to conserve
the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
4. Indian Rhino Vision 2020: Launched in 2005, it was an ambitious effort to
attain a wild population of at least 3,000 greater one-horned rhinos spread
over seven protected areas in the Indian state of Assam by the year 2020.
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

1. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest density of one-horned rhinos in
the world and second highest concentration in Assam after Kaziranga National
Park.
2. It is often called ‘Mini Kaziranga’ due to similar landscape and vegetation.
3. It is on Southern bank on Brahmaputra.
4. It is home to endangered one-horned rhinoceros and the other mammals such
as Leopard, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Jungle cat, Feral Buffalo, Wild pigs,
Chinese pangolins, etc.
5. About 72% of Pobitora Sanctuary consists of wet savannah of Arundo donax
and Saccharum. The remaining area is covered by water bodies.
6. Water hyacinth (an invasive aquatic plant) is a major problem to the area
especially to waterfowl, as it forms thick mats on the water surface.
There are 5 national parks in Assam

1. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park,
2. Kaziranga National Park,
3. Manas National Park,
4. Nameri National Park,
5. Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.
Additional Information-
1. Bishkek Declaration- Snow Leopard

2. St. Petersburg Declaration -For Doubling Tigers by 2022
a. First Global Tiger Summit-2010- It was decided here that by 2022 tiger
population should be double.
b. Second Global Tiger Summit-2022- Vladivostok Russia
c. India had achieved this target in 2018 itself.
d. TX2- By WWF for Doubling Tiger population.
e. Global Tiger Recovery Program- By 13 Tiger Range Countries (TRC) and
GTI
4th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger conservation

1. It was organized by Malaysia and Global Tiger Forum (GTF).
2. India will facilitate Tiger Range Countries towards finalisation of New Delhi
declaration for the Global Tiger Summit to be held in Russia later this year
(2022).
3. A “Pre-Tiger Summit” meeting was held at New Delhi in 2010, wherein the
draft declaration on tiger conservation for Global Tiger Summit was finalised.
Global Tiger forum

1. Global Tiger forum is the only intergovernmental platform of tiger range
countries which has been consolidating Tiger Action Plans of the range
countries.
2. The forum was formed in 1993 on recommendations of an international
symposium on Tiger Conservation.
3. It meets every Three year.
4. It is headquartered in New Delhi, India.
5. The 13 Tiger Range Countries (TRC) consist of Malaysia, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand,
and Vietnam.
6. It envisages utilise cooperative polices, common approach, Tech Expertise and
Scientific module for protection.

Global Tiger Initiative
1. The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) was launched in 2008 as a global alliance of
governments, international organizations, civil society, the conservation and
scientific communities and the private sector, with the aim of working
together to save wild tigers from extinction.
2. In 2013, the scope was broadened to include Snow Leopards.
3. The GTI’s founding partners included the World Bank, the Global
Environment Facility (GEF), the Smithsonian Institution, Save the Tiger Fund,
and International Tiger Coalition (representing more than 40 non-
government organizations).
4. The initiative is led by the 13 tiger range countries (TRCs).
5. In November 2010, leaders of the tiger range countries (TRCs) assembled at an
International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia to adopt the St. Petersburg
Declaration on Tiger Conservation and endorsed its implementation
mechanism, called the Global Tiger Recovery Program. Their overarching goal
was to double the number of wild tigers across their geographical area from
about 3,200 to more than 7,000 by 2022.
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (TN)

1. It has been given the prestigious TX2 award after its tiger numbers doubled
to 80 since 2010.
2. Apart from the STR, the Bardia National Park in Nepal has won this year’s TX2
award for doubling the population of wild tigers.
3. Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 2013 and
the reserve that spread across 1,411.60 sq km
4. It is an important link between the Nilgiris and Eastern Ghats landscape. The
Nilgiri biosphere landscape that this reserve is part of is currently the home to
the largest tiger population in the world.
5. It is connected to other well-established tiger habitats like Mudumalai Tiger
Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve and BR Hills Tiger Reserve.
About the TX2 award:

1. The awards are presented by the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards
(CA|TS), Fauna and Flora International (FFI), Global Tiger Forum (GTF), IUCN’s

Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP), Panthera, UNDP,
The Lion’s Share, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and WWF.
TX2 Program-
2. It is launched by World Wildlife Foundation at 2010 St.Petersburg Tiger
summit held in Russia.
CA|TS- Conservation Assured Tiger Standard

1. CA| TS is agreed by the global coalition of Tiger Range countries, and as an
accreditation tool, it has been developed by protected area experts.
2. India is one out of the 13 tiger range countries.
3. CA|TS lists criteria that allow tiger sites to assess if their management will
promote tiger conservation.
4. It was launched in 2013 and was implemented by the Global Tiger Forum, an
international forum working towards preserving tigers.
5. The 14 tiger reserves which have been accredited by CA|TS are Manas,
Kaziranga, and Orang in Assam, Satpura, Kanha and Panna in Madhya Pradesh,
Pench in Maharashtra, Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, Dudhwa in Uttar
Pradesh, Sunderbans in West Bengal, Parambikulam in Kerala, Bandipur Tiger
Reserve of Karnataka and Mudumalai and Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil
Nadu.
Pillars of CA|TS
The 7 pillars of CA|TS include:
1. importance and status
2. Management
3. Community
4. Tourism
5. Protection
6. habitat management
7. tiger populations.

53rd Tiger reserve
1. NTCA has approved the Chhattisgarh government’s proposal to declare the
combined areas of the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife
Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve.
2. This will be the fourth Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh, after the Udanti-
Sitanadi, Achanakmar, and Indravati Reserves.
Guru Ghasidas National Park

1. It is named after the Satnami reformist hero of the place, Guru Ghasidas, is
the result of the carving of Chhattisgarh from Madhya Pradesh in the year of
2000. It is located in the Koriya district of Chhattisgarh.
2. Flora: The vegetation consists mainly of mixed deciduous forest with teak, sal
and bamboo trees.
3. Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Chital, Nilgai, Chinkara, Jackal, Sambar, Four- horned
Antelope etc.
4. Please note that the Guru Ghasidas National Park was the last known habitat
of the Asiatic cheetah in the country.
1. Conservation Reserves, Community Reserves and Wildlife sanctuaries as well
as National Parks can be declared by the state government as well as Centre
Government.
2. Tiger Reserves are declared by National Tiger Conservation Authority via
Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 under centrally sponsored scheme
called Project Tiger.
3. To declare an area as Tiger Reserve, the state governments can forward their
proposals in this regard to NTCA.
4. Central Government via NTCA may also advise the state governments to
forward a proposal for creation of Tiger Reserves.
5. Tiger Reserves are managed by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
6. No alternation of boundary can be done without the recommendation of
National Board for Wildlife and without the advice of the Tiger Conservation
Authority.

52nd Tiger reserve
1. Recently, the Ramgarh Vishdhari wildlife sanctuary received a nod from the
National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) technical committee to
become the 4th Tiger reserve of Rajasthan.
2. Location: This Sanctuary is located at District Bundi, Rajasthan.
Area of Tiger Reserve:

1. The total area of 1,017 sq. km has been identified as the reserve area
comprising two forest blocks of Bhilwara, territorial forest block of Bundi and
Indargarh, which falls under the buffer zone of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
(RTR).
Biodiversity:
1. Its flora consists of Dhok, Khair, Salar, Khirni trees with some Mango and Ber
trees.
2. The Fauna consists of birds and animals like Leopard, Sambhar, Wild boar,
Chinkara, Sloth bear, Indian Wolf, Hyena, Jackal, Fox, deer and Crocodile.
Other Three Tiger Reserves:

Rajasthan has three tiger reserves with over 90 big cats at
1. Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) in Sawai Madhopur,
2. Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) in Alwar, and
3. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) in Kota.
Other Protected Areas in Rajasthan:

1. Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
2. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur
3. Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary, Udaipur
4. National Chambal Sanctuary (on tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
and Uttar Pradesh).

51st Tiger Reserve
1. Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve becomes fifth tiger reserve in Tamil
Nadu
2. It is the 51st tiger reserve of india.
Tiger Reserves in TN.

1. Anamalai tiger reserve
2. Kalakkad - Mundanthurai tiger reserve
3. Mudumalai tiger reserve
4. Sathyamangalam tiger reserve
• Two places in Madhya Pradesh got in principle approval for Tiger reserve.
1. Madhav
2. Ratpani
Panna Tiger Reserve

1. It is established in 1981 and is situated in the Vindhya Mountain range in the
northern part of Madhya Pradesh.
2. Ken river (a tributary of the Yamuna River) flows through the reserve.
3. Region is also famous for Panna diamond mining.
4. Flora: Characterized by forests and marshy vegetation.It has an abundance of
rare medicinal plants as well as other non-timber forestry products such as
Kattha, gum, and resins.
5. Fauna: Endangered animals like Tiger, Leopard and Chinkara. It is also home to
the Siyah Gosh (Felis caracal) and Jungle cat (Felis chaus). Other exotic animals
like Chital, Nilgai, Sloth Bear, Sambhar.
Other Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh:

1. Sanjay-Dubri,
2. Satpura,
3. Bandhavgarh,
4. Madhav National Park,

5. Pench Tiger Reserves.
Indian Desert Cat

1. Recently, an Indian Desert Cat has been spotted for the first time in Madhya
Pradesh’s Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR)
2. Indian Desert Cat is also known as the Asian steppe wildcat and Asiatic
Wildcat.
3. The cat is considered as a subspecies of African Wildcat.
4. It is mostly found in Kazakhstan, western India, China and Mongolia.
5. The cat is found in deserts and can survive without water.
6. The toes of the species have cushion-like hair which helps them to balance the
fluctuating desert temperatures.
7. In India, the Asiatic wildcat inhabits the Thar Desert and is associated with the
scrub desert.
8. The cat has also been recorded in Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya
Pradesh and Mirzapur forests.
Protection Status:
1. IUCN Red List: Least Concern
2. CITES: Appendix-II
3. Wildlife protection Act’s: Schedule-I.

Fishing Cat
1. These are Wild cat species that is bigger than a domestic cat.
2. They are nocturnal.
3. As they have webbing between their toes that helps to catch fish efficiently,
their diet is dominated by fish.
4. They found in estuarine floodplains, tidal mangrove forests and also inland
freshwater habitats.
5. They are scattered along the Eastern Ghats.
6. Also found in the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra
River valleys and In the Western Ghats.
7. They inhabit the Sundarbans (West Bengal), Chilika lagoon and the
surrounding wetlands (Odisha), Coringa and Krishna mangroves (AP).
8. It is state animal of West Bengal
Protection Status:
1. IUCN Red List: Endangered.
2. CITES: Appendix II.
3. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
15th Summit of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

1. 15th CBD summit is held in two parts
2. 1st part in 2021 which was host virtually
3. 2nd part in 2022 will be held in Kunming, China.
4. This 15th CBD is also 10th meeting of Cartagena protocol and 4th meeting of
Nagoya Protocol.
5. Theme- Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth
6. 14th Summit was held in 2018 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
7. 11th Summit was held in Hyderabad in India.
About CBD
1. CBD is a step towards conserving biological diversity or biodiversity with the
involvement of the entire world.

2. The Convention on Biological Diversity (a multilateral treaty) was opened for
signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and entered into
effect in 1993.
3. The convention called upon all nations to take appropriate measures for the
conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilization of its benefits.
4. legally binding treaty
5. Nearly all countries have ratified it (notably, the US has signed but not
ratified).
6. The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada and it operates under the
United Nations Environment Programme.
7. Its summit is held in every two years.
The convention has three main goals:

1. conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity);
2. sustainable use of its components, and
3. fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
Kunming Declaration on Biodiversity

1. Recently, the Kunming Declaration was adopted by over 100 countries at the
ongoing 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on
Biological Diversity in china.
2. The adoption of the declaration will create momentum for a new global
biodiversity pact.
3. In a previous agreement, Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, signed in
Aichi, Japan, in 2010, governments agreed on 20 targets to try to slow
biodiversity loss and protect habitats by 2020.
About Declaration
1. It Calls for urgent and integrated action to reflect biodiversity considerations
in all sectors of the global economy
2. It is not a binding international agreement.
3. The theme of the declaration is Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared
Future for All Life on Earth.

30 by 30 Target
1. The declaration made a reference to the '30 by 30' target which is a key
proposal being debated at the COP15, that would afford 30% of the Earth’s
land and oceans protected status by 2030.
2. 30 by 30 means designate 30% of Earth's land and ocean area as protected
areas by 2030
3. Apart from this, the goal to halve the use of chemicals in agriculture and stop
creating plastic waste is also being debated.
Kunming Biodiversity Fund

1. China has also pledged to inject USD 233 million into a new fund to protect
biodiversity in developing countries. The fund is being referred to by China as
Kunming Biodiversity Fund.
Nagoya Protocol
1. The Nagoya Protocol is about “Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and
Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization”, one of the three
objectives of the CBD.
2. It is the second Protocol to the CBD; the first is the 2000 Cartagena Protocol
on Biosafety.
3. It entered into force in 2014.
Cartagena Protocol
1. CBD covers the field of biotechnology through its Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety.
2. It addresses technology development and transfer, benefit-sharing and
biosafety issues.
3. The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential
risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern
biotechnology.
4. Cartagena Protocol (signed in Cartagena, Colombia) was adopted in 2000 as a
supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and
entered into force in 2003.

Advance Information Agreement
1. It provides information necessary to make informed decision before agreeing
to import LMOs
Biosafety Clearing House

2. It facilitates exchange of information on LMOs and assist counties in
implementation of Cartagena protocol.
Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol to Cartagena protocol

3. It fixes the liability related to damage caused by LMOs and Redress to the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Aichi Biodiversity Targets

1. At Convention on Biological Diversity COP 12 (2014), parties discussed the
implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi
Biodiversity Target.
2. Aichi Biodiversity Targets were to be achieved before 2020.
a. Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by
mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society.
b. Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and
promote sustainable use.
c. Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding
ecosystems, species and genetic diversity.
d. Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and
ecosystem services.
e. Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory
planning, knowledge management and capacity building.
Protected Planet Report 2020

1. Released by: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
2. Purpose:
a. The report takes stock of measures taken to fulfil the aims of Aichi
Target 11.
b. Aichi Target 11 called for protecting 17% of Earth’s land and 10% of its
marine environments by 2020.
3. Further, the report also lays the groundwork for a new framework aimed at
protecting nature. It will be decided upon at the UN Biodiversity Conference,
scheduled for October 2021 in Kunming, China.
4. Report is the first to include data on other effective area-based conservation
measures (OECM) taken outside protected areas. OECM conservation
designation is given to the areas for achieving effective in-situ biodiversity
conservation outside protected areas.
Global Biodiversity Outlook

1. The GBO is the flagship publication of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD).
2. It is a periodic report that summarizes the latest data on the status and trends
of biodiversity and draws conclusions relevant to the further implementation
of the Convention.
3. It summarizes progress made towards achieving the objectives of the
Convention, such as the Aichi Targets and identifies key actions to achieve
these
Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

1. It is published by Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Key findings:
1. Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history
2. One million animal and plant species are under extinction
3. Human-induced loss in ecosystems
IPBES
1. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Services (IPBES) is an independent intergovernmental body, established by
member States in 2012.

2. The objective of IPBES is to strengthen the science-policy interface for
biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use
of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.
3. HQ- Bonn, Germany
4. Similar to IPCC of Climate.
New Global Biodiversity Framework

Framework-
1. It is a new framework that will guide actions worldwide through 2030, to
preserve and protect nature and its essential services to people.
2. Aim: To spur urgent and transformative action by Governments and all of
society to contribute to the objectives of the Convention on Biological
Diversity, its Protocols, and other biodiversity related multilateral agreements,
processes and instruments.
3. The framework is built around a theory of change which recognizes that
urgent policy action globally, regionally and nationally is required to transform
economic, social and financial models.
4. The trends that have exacerbated biodiversity loss will stabilize in the next 10
years (by 2030) and allow for the recovery of natural ecosystems in the
following 20 years, with net improvements by 2050 to achieve the
Convention’s vision of “living in harmony with nature by 2050”.
Four goals of the new framework (to be achieved by 2050):

1. To halt the extinction and decline of biodiversity.
2. The rate of extinctions should reduce at least tenfold
3. The risk of species extinctions across all taxonomic and functional groups
should reduce by half
4. Genetic diversity of wild and domesticated species should be maintained by
at least 90%
5. To enhance and retain nature’s services to humans by conservation.
6. To ensure fair and equitable benefits to all from use of genetic resources.
7. To close the gap between available financial and other means of
implementation

Key targets:
1. The framework has 21 action-oriented targets for urgent action over the
decade to 2030, which includes:
a. Ensure at least 30% of land and sea areas globally are conserved
through systems of protected areas.
b. Prevent or reduce the rate of introduction and establishment
of invasive alien species by 50%.
c. Reduce nutrients lost to the environment by at least half, pesticides by
at least two thirds, and eliminate discharge of plastic waste.
d. Use ecosystem-based approaches to contribute to mitigation and
adaptation to climate change
e. Redirect, repurpose, reform or eliminate incentives harmful for
biodiversity in a just and equitable way, reducing them by at least $500
billion per year.
f. Increase international financial flows to developing countries by at
least $10 billion per year
The National Biodiversity Authority

1. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established in 2003 by the
Central Government to implement India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002).
2. It is a Statutory body that performs facilitative, regulatory and advisory
functions for the Government of India on the issue of Conservation and
sustainable use of biological resources.
3. The NBA has its Headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Structure of the NBA

1. The National Biodiversity Authority consists of the following members to be
appointed by the central government, namely:
a. A Chairperson.
b. Three ex officio members, one representing the Ministry dealing with
Tribal Affairs and two representing the Ministry dealing with
Environment and Forests.
c. Seven ex-officio members to represent respectively the Ministries of
the Central Government dealing with:

- Agricultural Research and Education
- Biotechnology
- Ocean Development
- Agriculture and Cooperation
- Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy
- Science and Technology
- Scientific and Industrial Research.
o Five non-official members to be appointed from amongst specialists
and scientists having special knowledge and experience in the required
matters.
Functions of the NBA

1. Creating an enabling environment, as appropriate, to promote conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity.
2. Advising the central government, regulating activities and issuing
guidelines for access to biological resources and for fair and equitable benefit
sharing in accordance with the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
3. Taking necessary measures to oppose the grant of intellectual property
rights in any country outside India on any biological resource obtained from
India or knowledge associated with such biological resources derived from
India illegally.
4. Advising the State Governments in the selection of areas of biodiversity
importance to be notified as heritage sites and suggest measures for their
management.
State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)

1. The SBBs are established by the State Governments in accordance
with Section 22 of the Act.
2. Structure: The State Biodiversity Board consists of the following members:
a. A Chairperson
b. Not more than five ex officio members to represent the concerned
Departments of the State Government
c. Not more than five members from amongst experts in matters relating
to conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biological

resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of
biological resources.
d. All the members of the SBB are appointed by the respective State
Governments.
Functions of SBBs:
1. Advise the State Government, subject to any guidelines issued by the Central
Government, on matters relating to the conservation, sustainable use or
sharing equitable benefits.
2. Regulate by granting approvals or otherwise requests for commercial
utilisation or bio-survey and bio-utilisation of any biological resource by
people.
Note:
1. There are no State Biodiversity Boards constituted for Union territories.
2. The National Biodiversity Authority exercises the powers and performs the
functions of a State Biodiversity Board for the UTs.
Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)

1. According to Section 41 of the Act, every local body shall constitute the BMC
within its area for the purpose of promoting conservation, sustainable use and
documentation of biological diversity including:
a. Preservation of habitats
b. Conservation of Landraces
c. Folk varieties and cultivars
d. Domesticated stocks and breeds of animals
e. Microorganisms And Chronicling Of Knowledge Relating To Biological
Diversity
Structure
1. It shall consist of a chairperson and not more than six persons nominated by
the local body.

2. Out of total members of a BMC, not less than one third should be
women and not less than 18% should belong to the Scheduled Castes/
Scheduled Tribes.
3. The Chairperson of the Biodiversity Management Committee shall be elected
from amongst the members of the committee in a meeting to be chaired by
the Chairperson of the local body.
4. The chairperson of the local body shall have the casting votes in case of a tie.
Functions
1. The main function of the BMC is to prepare People’s Biodiversity Register in
consultation with the local people.
2. The register shall contain comprehensive information on availability and
knowledge of local biological resources, their medicinal or any other use or
any other.

Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)
1. Under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 the State Government in
consultation with local bodies may notify the areas of biodiversity
importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
2. The Biodiversity Heritage Sites are the well-defined areas that are unique,
ecologically fragile ecosystems - terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and,
marine having rich biodiversity comprising of any one or more of the
following components:
a. richness of wild as well as domesticated species or intra-specific
categories
b. high endemism
c. presence of rare and threatened species
d. keystone species
e. species of evolutionary significance
f. wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their varieties
g. past preeminence of biological components represented by fossil beds
h. having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values; important for the
maintenance of cultural diversity (with or without a long history of
human association with them)
Key Biodiversity Area

1. Sites which are contributing significantly to the global persistence of
biodiversity
2. This criterion is given by IUCN.
Critical Wildlife Habitats

1. It has been envisaged in Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
2. This act defines the Critical Wildlife Habitats (CWH) as the “areas of national
parks and sanctuaries where it has been specifically and clearly established,
case by case, on the basis of scientific and objective criteria, that such areas
are required to be kept as inviolate for the purposes of wildlife
conservation…”.

How CWHs are designated?
1. The power to notify the rules to designate a CWH rests with Ministry of
Environment and Forests.
2. The State Government are needed to initiate the process for notification of
a critical wildlife habitat by submitting an application on a case-by-case basis,
to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which is the nodal agency under
the said Act.
3. Critical Wildlife Habitats are thus, declared by Central Government ONLY.
Ecomark or Eco mark

1. A certification mark issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards
2. To products conforming to a set of standards aimed at the least impact on the
ecosystem
3. Scheme was started in 1991
4. Purposes of the mark is increasing awareness among the consumers towards
reducing environmental impact.
5. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is
implementing an eco-labeling Scheme for environment-friendly products.
6. The Government of India has notified the final criteria for the 17 product
categories
a. like Soaps and Detergents, Paper, Food Items, lubricating oils,
Packaging materials/Package, Architectural Paints and Powder
Coatings, Batteries, Electrical and electronic goods, Food Additives,
Wood Substitutes, Cosmetics, Aerosols and Propellants, Plastic
Products, Textiles, Fire-extinguisher, Leather, and Coir & Coir Products.
Himalayan Yak
1. Himalayan Yak is long-haired domesticated cattle found throughout the
Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent, Tibetan Plateau, Myanmar and
as far north as Mongolia and Siberia.
2. It is found above 14000 Feet.
3. It is bovine animal.
4. They are accustomed to very cold temperatures and can survive up to -40
degrees but find it difficult when the temperature crosses 13 degrees.

5. The Highest Yak Population is in Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and
Kashmir. It is followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and
West Bengal and Uttarakhand.
6. IUCN Status: Vulnerable
7. Recently National Research Centre on Yak was setup in Dirang, Arunachal
Pradesh.
National Gene Bank

1. It is established in 1996.
2. It aims to preserve the seeds of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for future
generations in the form of seeds, genomic resources, pollen etc.
3. Hosted By: National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi.
4. NGB has four kinds of facilities to cater to long-term as well as medium-term
conservation namely: Seed Gene bank (-18°C), Cryo gene bank (- l 70°C to -
196°C)., In-vitro Gene bank (25°C) and Field Gene bank.
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR)

1. It was established in 1977 by renaming the National Bureau of Plant
Introduction as NBPGR.
2. It is one of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutes.
3. Mandate: To act as the nodal institute at the national level for acquisition,
management and genomics-based profiling of indigenous and exotic plant
genetic resources (PGR).
4. Headquarters: New Delhi.
India’s seed vault:

1. There is a storage facility with over 5,000 seed accessions at Chang La in the
Himalayas, at a height of 17,300 feet
2. The vault is a joint venture of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
(which comes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research) and the
Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (under Defence Research and
Development Organisation)
Svalbard Global Seed Vault:

1. It is referred to as the earth’s ‘doomsday vault’
2. It is a facility located on a remote island in the Arctic Ocean
3. The vault — in the island of Spitsbergen, midway between Norway and the
North Pole
4. It houses the world’s largest collection of seeds


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12hrs Marathon Session UPSC Prelims 2022 Notes Part 01

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12hrs Marathon Session

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National Interlinking of Rivers ACROSS Scheme............................. 22

Project Lion .................................... 16 Sutlej River ..................................... 26

Asiatic Lions ................................... 16 Ravi River ....................................... 27

Yamuna River Forth Formation ..... 17 Chenab River .................................. 28

Yamuna River & High Ammonia Jhelum River .................................. 29

Renewable Purchase Obligation India Debt Resolution Company Ltd.

Renewable Energy Certificates ..... 44 Development Finance Institutions 56

Central Electricity Regulatory National Bank for Financing

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National Skill Development Great Green Wall Initiative ........... 79

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Eco Sensitive Zone ......................... 86 Champions of Earth Award ......... 101

Western Ghats ............................... 87 World Wildlife Day ...................... 102

Eastern Ghat .................................. 90 Convention on International Trade

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Rhino ............................................ 120 New Global Biodiversity Framework

51st Tiger Reserve ........................ 127 National Bureau of Plant Genetic

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Radio over Internet Protocol (ROIP)

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Amplitude Modulation (AM) Frequency Modulation (FM)

The first successful audio transmission Developed in 1930 by Edwin Armstrong,

The frequency range of AM radio varies The frequency range of FM is 88 to 108

More susceptible to noise Less susceptible to noise

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National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA)

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Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)

Kuno National Park

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Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS)

Dehing National Park

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Raimona National Park

IUCN Status of Different Animals

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Yamuna River Forth Formation

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ENFUSER (ENvironmental information FUsion SERvice)

Advanced Air Pollution Warning System

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National Air Quality Index (AQI)

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Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO)

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Deep Ocean Mission

National Monsoon Mission

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Punjab to Begin Census of Indus River Dolphin

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1. Gangetic Dolphin – Endangered. It is found mainly in the Indian

2. Irrawaddy dolphins-Endangered. They are found in coastal areas in South

2. It meets River Sutluj at Harike WLS

3. Pong Dam constructed over it.