CURRENT AFFAIRS: UPSC CSE 2021

OCTOBER 2020: PART-1

1. TABLE OF CONTENTS
2. General Studies Paper-3 ................................................................................................................. 1
1) Agriculture: Cropping Pattern: Cotton ...................................................................................................... 1
2) S&T: Gene Editing ..................................................................................................................................... 2
3) Disaster Management: LandSlides ............................................................................................................ 4
4) Disaster Management: Glacial Lake Outburst FLood ................................................................................. 6
5) Nitrogen Pollution .................................................................................................................................... 9
3. Pre Only Facts ............................................................................................................................... 13
1) Geography: Places in News: Kamchatka Peninsula .................................................................................. 13
2) Geography: Tunnels: Atal Tunnel (earlier called Rohtang Tunnel) ........................................................... 13
A) About Rohtang Pass .................................................................................................................................................... 14
3) Rural Development: SVAMITVA Scheme ................................................................................................. 14
4) Infrastructure: Airport: Jewar AIrport ..................................................................................................... 15
5) Disaster Management: IFLOWS Mumbai (June 2020) .............................................................................. 15
6) Biodiversity: Warblers ............................................................................................................................ 15
7) Biodiversity: Madhuca Diplostemon ....................................................................................................... 16

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658

2. GENERAL STUDIES PAPER-3

1) AGRICULTURE: CROPPING PATTERN: COTTON

- Why in news?
» Ministry of Textile launched the 1st ever Brand & Logo for Indian Cotton on 2nd World Cotton
Day on 7th October 2020.

- Example Questions
» What are the key climatic requirements for cotton cultivation? How is cotton cultivation
geographically and temporally distributed in India [10 marks, 150 words]

- Cotton is one of the principal commercial crops of India and it provides livelihood to about 6.0 million
cotton farmers. India is the 2nd largest producer and largest consumer of Cotton. It is an indigenous
crop which is sown as Kharif crop in semi-arid region of the country. It takes 6-8 months to mature.

- Suitable Climate Condition for Cotton

» Cotton is a crop of tropical and subtropical areas and requires uniformly high temperatures
between 21 degrees and 30 degrees C. The growth is negatively impacted if the temperature
falls below 20-degree C. Frost is harmful for the crop.
» The crop has modest water requirement (average annual rainfall of 50-100 cm) and can be
grown in areas with lower rainfall with the help of irrigation.
» Good sunshine is a must at the time of flowering and moist weather or heavy rainfall at the time
of ball opening and picking are detrimental to the crop.

- Other requirements
» Cheap and skilled labor force at the time of picking of cotton. Normally the picking season is
spread over a period of 3 month.

- Traditionally, it is cultivated on the lava plateau of Deccan and therefore the soil here is called the
Black Cotton soil.

- In Tamil Nadu, it can be grown both in Kharif and Rabi season as there is
no threat of frost which is dangerous for the cotton production.

- Total Production and Distribution of Cotton Cultivation in India:

§ India has the world's highest area under cotton cultivation which
accounts for around 6% of the net sown area. India produces 6
million tonnes of Cotton every year, which is about 23% of the
world cotton.
§ India also produces 51% of the total organic cotton production of
the world, which demonstrates India's effort towards sustainability
§ There are three major cotton producing regions in India:
i. South East Punjab, Western Haryana, and Northern
Rajasthan
ii. Gujarat, Maharashtra and neighboring Southern Rajasthan in Western India

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 1 | 17

 iii. North Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu

- Various types of cotton grown in India: Three broad types of cotton are generally recognized on the
basis of length, strength, and structure of the fiber.
a. Long Staple Cotton
§ Cotton with longest fiber (24 to 27 mm)
§ Fine and shining quality, used for superior quality of clothes.
§ About 50% of the cotton produced in the country is long stable type.
b. Medium Staple Cotton
§ Length of the fiber (20 to 24 mm)
c. Short staple cotton
§ Inferior cotton with less than 20 mm length. Used for making inferior cloth and fetches
less price.

- Conclusion
§ Cotton cultivation, together with cotton textile industry employs millions of people in India and
therefore can play a very important role in improving the employment situation in the country.
In order to increase the attractiveness of India's cotton and cotton products, Ministry of Textile
has recently released brand and logo for Indian Cotton - Kasturi - on the occasion of 2nd World
Cotton Day on 7th of October 2020.

2) S&T: GENE EDITING

- Why in news?
ú Emmanuelle Charpentier of France and Jennifer Doudna of the US won the Nobel Chemistry
Prize for the gene editing technique known as the CRISPR-Cas9 DNA snipping “scissors. (Oct
2020)
§ Other useful facts for Prelims: Prof. Charpentier, 51, and Prof. Doudna, 56, are just the
sixth and seventh women to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and this is the first
time a Nobel science prize went to a women-only team.

- Example Questions
ú “Though genetic Engineering has been simplified by the Crisper-CaS9 technique, it has brought
along with it a number of challenges” Elaborate [15 marks, 250 words]

- Introduction
ú Gene editing is the process of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted or replaced
in the genome of an organism using engineered nucleases, or "molecular scissors".
ú These nuclease or enzymes create site-specific double strand breaks (DSBs) at desired locations
ú The induced double strand breaks are repaired through end joining or recombination, resulting
in targeted mutation.

- What is (CRISPR/CAS9)
ú CRISPR-CAS9 is a new genome editing tool, which is simpler, faster, cheaper, more versatile
and more accurate than the previous techniques of editing DNA and has wide range of
potential applications

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 2 | 17

 ú In popular usage, “CRISPR” (pronounced “crisper”) is shorthand for “CRISPR-Cas9”.

- How CRISPR-CAS9 was developed?

ú While researching a common harmful bacterium, scientists had identified enzymes, known as
CRISPR-associated proteins (CAS), including one called Cas9. These were part of the bacteria’s
ancient immune system that disarms viruses by snipping off part of their DNA.
ú Prof Charpentier discovered another key component of the CRISPR system, an RNA molecule
that is involved in recognizing phage sequences, in the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes.
ú She published this work in 2011 and started working with Prof. Doudna. The duo isolated the
components of CRISPR-Cas9 system, reprogrammed the scissor to cut any molecule at a
predetermined site - paving the way for scientists to rewrite the code of life where the DNA is
snipped.

- How does CRISPR-CAS9 work? (Clustered Regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)
ú The CRISPRs are specialized stretches of DNA.
ú The CRISPR-CAS9 system consists of two key molecules that introduce a change into the DNA.
These are:
§ Enzyme called Cas9 (CRISPR associated Protein 9). This acts as pair of 'molecular scissors'
that can cut two strands of DNA at a specific location in the genome so that bits of DNA
can then be added or removed.
§ A piece of RNA called guide RNA (gRNA). This consist of a small piece of pre-designated
RNA sequence (20 bases long) located within the longer RNA scaffold. The scaffold part
binds to DNA and pre-designated sequence 'guides' Cas9 to the right part of the genome.
This makes sure that the Cas9 enzyme cuts at right point in genome.

- Applications of CRISPR-CAS9
ú The technology has had a revolutionary impact on life science.
ú Its applications include correcting genetic defects, treating and preventing the spread of
diseases like HIV, various cancers etc; and improving crops.
§ For e.g. – In Feb 2020, it was used to modify the gene of three cancer patients to
reprogram the immune system to fight off cancer cells, with no side effects so far.

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 3 | 17

 § It has been used to eliminate HIV from infected cells and is being used to reverse
congenital blindness.
§ It has also been used in plants to develop resistance against pests and droughts.
- Limitation
ú Safety Concerns: Rouge Practices of Genetic Engineering have raised concerns. CRISPR is very
simple to use and thus have made genetic editing very simple. For e.g. In Nov 2018, a scientist
in China, He Jiankui used CRISPR on twin Embryos in China for enhancement of the qualities of
baby. Scientific community considered this risky and unjustified and against the scientific and
regulatory protocol.
ú Further, we are not aware of knock-on effect of editing a gene would have.
§ For one thing, it is known that modifying CCR5 to resist HIV could increase susceptibility
to West Nile Virus.
ú Ethics of CRISPR – Should humans be allowed to modify how the nature works?

- Way Forward/ Conclusion

ú The debate around the issue of gene editing on humans will continue for sometimes. What is
important presently is that steps should be taken to enhance the regulation of the sector. If new
experiments are being done, it should be done in a regulated environment without harming the
safety of the participants.
ú It is vital that international community come together and formulate a framework as to what
is acceptable in the field of human genetic modification, as work like this has serious
implications in the spheres of global medical research, biomedical technology, and the human
gene pool itself.
ú Further, there should be a global consensus and strict regulation of preventing germline editing
till all the future implications are not properly understood.

3) DISASTER MANAGEMENT: LANDSLIDES

- Why in news?
» Kerala has witnessed severe cases of landslides continuously over the last few years
§ In 2018, various landslides in Idukki district saw 60 deaths.
§ 76 people were killed in Kavalppara land slide in Malappuram district and Puthumala
area of the Wayanad district in Aug 2019.
§ Idukki Land slide in Aug 2020 killed 65 people mostly plantation workers.

- Example Questions
» While the Himalayan region was always vulnerable to landslides, the recent years have seen the
peninsular hills also becoming increasingly prone to this natural disaster. Give reasons. What
are the NDMA guidelines for management of landslides? [15 marks, 250 words]

- Introduction
» Landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris or earth down a slope. This is a
type of mass wasting.
» The term "landslide" encompasses five modes of slope movement: Falls, topples, slides, spreads,
and flows.

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 4 | 17

 » There are two landslide hotspots that exist in India - along the southern edge of the Himalayan
arc and the Western Ghats region.

- Key causes of landslides:

» Himalayas are prone to landslides because of several morphological and geological factors like:
§ Tectonic movement
§ Glacial movements
§ Freeze and thaw effect
§ Unstable rock structure
§ Steep slopes: Most regions with more than 20 degrees are prone to landslides.
§ Types of rocks, weaknesses, zone of rupture etc.

- Destabilizing Geological Processes - Soil Piping, Land Subsidence, Lateral Spread etc.

- But in recent years, we have also seen the stable Peninsular Hills like in Western Ghats becoming
vulnerable because of the human made factors.

- Human Induced Causes

» Climate Change: Extreme Rainfall Events trigger slope failure where lateral spread and soil
piping have occurred.
§ For instance, unusually high rainfall in Kerala since Aug 2018 has destabilized the already
vulnerable hill slopes in the high ranges and has caused many landslides.

» Illegal Mining, deforestation etc have made the surface weak and vulnerable to landslides
§ For e.g. experts believe that the 2019 landslides in Kerala were a result of stone quarrying
(both legal and illegal)
§ Mining allows water to enter cracks in the ground.
§ WGEEP report had recommended immediate ban on these quarrying activities in the
eco-sensitive regions.

» Unscientific Farming and Construction Activities

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 5 | 17

 § UNDP's assessment after the 2018 Kerala flood says that changes in land cover, blocking
of natural drains, and poor agricultural practices such as monocropping have all
exacerbated the risk of landslides in Kerala.
§ Since 19th century, 50% of the land with tropical forests and grasslands has been
converted to monoculture plantations and agricultural fields.
» Illegal landgrab using fake deeds have contributed to unscientific land use and thus landslides.
» Inadequate Early Warning Systems makes the impact of the disaster worse.

- Government Efforts and Way Forward

» A landslide susceptibility map has been created by Geological Survey of India (GSI) under the
National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Project.
» Union Ministry of Earth Science has also initiated steps to establish a network of landslip
monitoring stations in the highlands.
• The units which will be based on acoustic emission technology will also have an early
warning mechanism to alert the local community.

» NDMA guidelines for management of Landslides

• Inventorization and regular update
• Landslide Susceptibility Map at macro and meso scales
• Awareness Generation and preparedness among various stakeholders through setting
up of institutional mechanisms.
• Capacity Building to deal with Landslides
§ Enhancing education and training of professionals involved in landslides
management.
§ Capacity development of organizations working in the field of landslides
• Create an Autonomous National Centre for landslide studies research and management.

» Other steps that can be taken

• Deploy Early Warning Systems based on rainfall thresholds in various vulnerable
regions.

» Note: In way forward also suggest things like increase afforestation, banning of mining in
sensitive areas, sustainable forms of agriculture etc.

4) DISASTER MANAGEMENT: GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD

- Why in news?
» 30 glaciers in Karakoram range in Ladakh, J&K have potential to burst: Scientists from
Dehradun's Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) (Oct 2020)
§ In the last few decades, 146 outburst floods have taken place in the range due to
obstruction of rivers passing through the valleys by these advancing glaciers.
» NDMA has released guidelines on Management of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) (Oct
2020)

- Example Question:
» Examine the problem of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in India. (10 marks, 150 words)

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 6 | 17

 - Introduction
» GLOFs are sudden fast flowing release of glacial lake water that move downslopes as a result of
dam failure. They are recognized in the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2019 of
India as a potential climatological disaster.
» Glacial lakes are either moraine dammed, ice margin dammed or Rock dammed.
§ Moraine Dam Glacial Lakes are formed due to
the retreating of glaciers, which leave behind
soil and rocks and lead to an increase in
capacity of lake, making it prone to bursting.

§ ICE Dam Lakes are created when ice from

upper parts of glaciers fall and block passing
rivers, giving rise to glacial lakes.

» Different types of lakes may have different hazard potential:

§ For e.g. Moraine-dammed lakes have high probability of breach and hazard potential,
whereas the rock dammed lake has little chance of breach and low hazard potential.

- Causes of increasing GLOF

» Increasing number of Glacial Lakes due to climate change and acceleration of glacier melt in
recent decades.
» Increased water pressure has been created because of more water being available due to Global
Warming.
» Ice or rock avalanches, Erosions or other natural disruptions
» Earthquakes - Himalayan region is especially prone to earthquakes
» Human Activities -> increased tourism, expansion of roads and hydropower projects,
deforestation etc have also increased the vulnerability of burst in these lacks.

- Adverse Impact
» These floods pose severe geomorphological hazards and risks
§ It can wreak havoc on all man-made structures located along the path and thus endanger
people, infrastructure, fields and livestock.
§ For e.g. Kedarnath flash flood in 2013 was caused by GLOF.
» Long term Climate Impact may be caused by large glacial lake as they would increase the
amount of water in ocean and reduce it in Himalayas.

- Steps taken so far:

» Geological Survey of India (GSI) carries out assessment of the GLOF threats and provide input
to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for developing risk mitigation
strategies.
» Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) is also working on creating an inventory of ice
dams and related glacial lake outburst floods.
» National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation (SDC) have prepared Guidelines on the Management of Glacial
Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) (Oct 2020)

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 7 | 17

 § The guidelines are aimed at
a. Improving administrative responses
b. Drawing on international best practices
c. Bringing together the relevant scientific capabilities of the nation to eliminate
potential losses from glacial hazards.

- Key Highlight of the NDMA Guidelines

1. Inventorization: Hazard and Risk Mapping
» Regular monitoring of glacial lakes using satellite observations. Cooperation with
neighbouring countries (Nepal, Bhutan and China) to identify transboundary threats and
manage it properly.
2. Reduction of Hazards
» Short term actions - lowering the lake level through siphoning
• For instance, high density PVC pipes were installed in South Lhonak lake in Sikkim,
to reduce the pressure on the lake
» Long Term Actions
• Artificial drainage channels to lower lake levels
• Reinforcement of dam
• Enhancement of river cross section/ protection from erosion
3. Reduction of Exposure
» Establishment of Early Warning System
» Evacuation based on EWS
» Involve local population closely from the beginning in the design, planning and
implementation of risk reduction and management strategies in a transparent
collaboration mechanism.
4. Awareness and Preparedness through posters, social media, apps etc.
5. Capacity Development -
» Training of professionals and practitioners;
» Strengthening Academic Education in relevant disciplines from natural and social
sciences.
6. Disaster Response
» Training of local communities as they are generally the first responders in remote
mountainous regions.
» Plan evacuation strategy with the help of CWC, ITBP, Local Police, Local Communities
etc.
7. Promote R&D in GLOF Management
» Promote development of Modelling tools to simulate the entire chain of mass
movement and outburst process
» Historical records should be effectively used to understand flood processes.
» Expand the use of local knowledge, experience of local people. Engaging the local
population in joint-knowledge production is considered indispensable for effective
community based disaster risk management.
8. Regulation and Enforcement
» A well drafted techno-legal regime is necessary to prevent future development of GLOF
and protect existing Glaciers.
» The regime should include a Himalaya GLOF mitigation Policy, no habitation and
construction zones; and provisions for strict implementation.

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 8 | 17

 - Other steps
» Fighting Climate Change
» Restricting Tourism in these areas or promoting only sustainable tourism

5) NITROGEN POLLUTION

- Why in news?
» Human Emission of Nitrous oxide (N2O) - a green house gas 300 times more potent than carbon
dioxide (CO2) increased by 30% between 1980 and 2016, according to a research paper
published in Nature October 7, 2020. (Down to Earth)
» UNEP's Colombo declaration calls for tackling global nitrogen challenge. (Oct 2019)

- Example Questions
» While carbon has been debated upon extensively by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate
Change and under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it is time for
us to look at N2O and nitrogen pollution in general in a big way. Discuss [15 marks, 250 words]

- Introduction
» While nitrogen is the dominant gas in the atmosphere, it is inert and doesn't react. However,
when it is released as part of compounds from agriculture, sewage and biological waste,
nitrogen is considered 'reactive' and may be polluting and causing greenhouse effect.
» The release of these reactive nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere have increased over the
years because of increased use of fertilizers for agriculture and increased industrial pollution.
NOx emissions grew at 52% from 1991 to 2001 and 69% from 2001-2011.
» In fact, a study in 2017 showed that we have breached the planetary boundary of N (Nitrogen).
This planetary boundary is set at 44 Tg (Tera-grams) per year globally. But, currently we use 150
Tg N per year, primarily through fertilizer usage.

- Key Forms of Nitrogen

- More Details about N2O: It is a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent that CO2. It has the third highest
concentration - after CO2 and methane - in our atmosphere among greenhouse gases. It can live in our
atmosphere for upto 125 years.

- 2020 Study about N2O published in Nature:

» The study was conducted through an international collaboration between the International
Nitrogen Initiative (INI) and the Global Carbon Project of Future Earth, a partner of the World
Climate Research Programme.
» This is the most comprehensive study of global nitrous oxide emissions ever published, as it
combines both natural and anthropogenic (man-made) sources.

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 9 | 17

 »

- Key Highlights
» Human emission of N2O increased 30% in 36 years.
» 43% of the total emissions came from human sources.
» The increase in emission means that climate burden from non-carbon sources is also increasing.
» Dichotomy between Climate Crisis and Food Security - Major proportion of the N2O emissions
in the last four decades came from the agricultural sector, mainly because of the use of nitrogen-
based fertilizers.
» Most of the emission have come from developing countries like China, India and Brazil.

- Key causes of Nitrogen Pollution

» Emission from chemical fertilizer - about 50% of the nitrogen used in global agri sector is
released in environment (atmosphere, water bodies etc.)
• This is the most important source of nitrogen pollution and is difficult to control as
environmental policies are difficult to impose on agricultural sector. Further, it is a
sensitive issue as India's food sufficiency depends on agriculture.
» Sewage and organic solid wastes
• This is the second largest source of N pollution in India. The poor systems of sewage and
solid waste management and poor recovery of nutrients has made it a key concern in
India.
» Burning of fossil fuels
• Vehicular pollution, mostly from road transport is another major NOx producer.
» Industries

- Key threats due to nitrogen pollution

» Air Pollution

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 10 | 17

 ▫ Emissions of Ammonia, nitrogen oxide and nitrous oxide contribute to particulate
matter and acid rain. These cause respiratory problems and cancers for people and
damage to forests and buildings.
» Water Pollution
▫ Nitrogen from fertilizer, effluent from livestock and human sewage boost the growth of
algae (Eutrophication) and cause water pollution. It not only affects surface water, but
has also been polluting ground water.
» Negatively hampers soil health
▫ N pollution also has an effect on soil health which in turn brings down the yield of crops,
becoming counterproductive to the very purpose of fertilizer usage.
» Climate Change
▫ Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a particularly potent greenhouse gas as it is over 300 times more
GHP than carbon dioxide. It is produced by mostly agriculture and vehicular pollution.
▫ Further, N2O contributes towards ozone layer depletion as well.
» Health, economy and livelihood
▫ Deteriorating soil quality impacts Agri output and livelihood. Further, particulate matter
and acid rains have adverse impact on health.

- UNEP's Colombo Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Oct 2019)

» Sri Lanka, with support from the UNEP, convened an event at which member states came
together to adopt what is called the "Colombo Declaration".
» Key Highlights
• Halve nitrogen waste by 2030.
• The member countries also endorsed UN's plan for a sustainable nitrogen management
called "Nitrogen for Life", which stems from the Sustainable Nitrogen Management
Resolution which was adopted during the fourth session of the UN environment
Assembly held from 11-15th March 2019, at the UNEP headquarter in Nairobi.
» Analysis
• This is the first time governments have agreed to work together on a major quantitative
global goal for improved nitrogen management.

- Way Forward - will be done for mains

» Optimize the use of nitrogen and minimize the losses
▫ Rationalize the unbalanced use of nitrogen fertilizers in irrigated areas that grow
multiple crops in a year and ensure need-based usage of nitrogen fertilizer in all areas.
▫ Move to low nitrogen footprint diet such as vegetables, chicken, sea food etc.
▫ Reduce food waste -> improve FCI storage facilities, optimal consumptions/utilization
by individual citizens.
▫ Well-established practices and technologies to mitigate nitrous oxide pollution do exist
and industrial and agricultural policies in Europe have reduced the emissions
considerably.
» Technology (e.g. moving to BS-VI norms)
▫ To modify industrial systems and vehicle engines -> reduced NOx emissions.
» Policy
▫ Government needs to focus on reducing subsidy on UREA and promoting balanced
fertilizers. Further, procurement policies have to be modified, infrastructure has to be
created to reduce the food wastage.

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 11 | 17

 » Consumer Action
▫ Citizens can also contribute immensely towards reducing nitrogen pollution. They can
put pressure on government, reduce food wastage and thus promote optimum
utilization.

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 12 | 17

3. PRE ONLY FACTS

1) GEOGRAPHY: PLACES IN NEWS: KAMCHATKA PENINSULA

- Why in news?
» An ecological disaster is unfolding on a black volcanic beach of the
Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. (Oct 2020)

- Details about Kamchatka Peninsula

» Kamchatka peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area
of about 2.7 lakh km2.
» The Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk make up the peninsula's
eastern and western coastlines, respectively.

- Disaster: Many dead sea creatures have washed up on beaches in Kamchatka, in Russia's far east, in
what is being treated as a major marine pollution incident.
» Many dead octopuses, seals, and other sea creatures had been washed up.
» Local residents who used the beaches also complained of vomiting, fever, rashes and swollen
eyelids.
» Initial analysis detected oil products and phenol in the water

2) GEOGRAPHY: TUNNELS: ATAL TUNNEL (EARLIER CALLED ROHTANG TUNNEL)

- Why in news?
» Atal Tunnel, the world's longest highway tunnel opened in Himachal Pradesh (Oct 2020)
- It is a road tunnel which cut through mighty Pir Panjal Range and connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti
Valley. It is a 9.02 km-long-tunnel, built by (BRO) and is the world's longest highway tunnel.
» It is a 10.5-meter-wide, single tube, a bi lane tunnel with a fireproof emergency built into main
tunnel itself.
» The 10.5-meter width also include a 1-meter foot path on both sides.
» The tunnel will have a maximum vehicle speed of 80 km/hr.
- The tunnel has cut down travel time between Manali and Lahaul by five hours and reduce distance by
46 km.

- Afcons in a joint venture with Strabag AG, has constructed the tunnel for the Border Road Organization
(BRO).
- Strategic Significance of the Manali-Leh link was realized by the Indian Government almost two decades
ago when Pakistan tried to cut off Srinagar Leh road during Kargil war.
» The tunnel will thus provide access beyond Rohtang pass even in peak winters.
» All winter connectivity to Ladakh is still far away as some more tunnels will have to be built to
tackle the high passes that fall beyond Rohtang.
» Another future tunnel requirement to connect Ladakh

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 13 | 17

 Passes Length of the tunnel required
Baralacha La (16,040 feet) 13.2 km
Lachung La Pass (16800 feet) 14.78 km
Tanglang La Pass (17,480 feet) 7.32 km

A) ABOUT ROHTANG PASS

» It is a high mountain pass in the Pir Panjal range
of The Himalayas. It is around 51 km from Manali.
» It connects Kullu Valley with the Lahaul Spiti
Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
» Highway:
§ The former National Highway 21 (NH21),
the road through the Kullu Valley,
terminates at Manali.
§ Note: The highway is now numbered NH-3.
§ The road northwards over the Rohtang Pass to Keylong, and Lahul and on to Leh and
Ladakh is not a national highway.
» The pass remains closed during winters (Nov - April)
» With the construction of Atal Tunnel, round the year connectivity will be provided between
Manali and Lahaul-Spiti.

3) RURAL DEVELOPMENT: SVAMITVA SCHEME

- Why in news?
» PM Modi launched physical distribution of property Cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme (Oct
2020)

- About SVAMITVA Scheme

» The scheme aims to provide rural people with the right to document their residential properties
so that they can use their property for economic purpose.
» It is a central sector scheme.
» Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
» Under this scheme the land parcels in rural inhabited areas are being surveyed using Drone
Technology.
» Beneficiaries will get property cards of their houses and thus will have a right, a legal document
of owning their houses.
» These cards have been given to one lakh beneficiaries from Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, UP and UK.
» PM has promised such property cards to every household in the next 3-4 years in every village
of the country

- Significance
» A record of property gives people a sense of confidence and new avenues of investment.
» Loans will be easily available from the banks.

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 14 | 17

 » This will also clear the way to buy or sell property without any dispute in villages.
» It will also improve the management of villages through creation of accurate land records and
strengthen the Panchayati Raj System.

4) INFRASTRUCTURE: AIRPORT: JEWAR AIRPORT

- Why in news?
» UP government inks agreement with Swiss firm for Jewar airport (Oct 2020)

- About the airport

» The Noida International Airport at Jewar is a new proposed airport in Gautam Buddha Nagar
district, located 70 kms from Delhi and 40 kms from Noida and 130 kms from Agra.
» The airport will be developed on 1,334 hectares of land and the U.P. government has reserved
an additional 5,000 hectares for airport expansion.

- Details of the Agreement

» The UP government (Noida International Airport Limited) have signed a concession agreement
with representatives of Zurich Airport International for designing, building and operating the
Noida International Airport at Jewar for a period of 40 years.
§ Zurich Airport International AG (ZAIA) won the contract to build and operate the airport
for a period of 40 years last November. They recently received security clearance from
Ministry of Home Affairs.
» The airport will be developed on PPP basis and is scheduled to open in 2024.

5) DISASTER MANAGEMENT: IFLOWS MUMBAI (JUNE 2020)

- Why in news?
» IFLOWS-Mumbai, a state of art flood warning system developed for Mumbai was unveiled by
Uddhav Thackeray (June 2020)

- Details
» The Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) have developed the system with in-house expertise and
coordination with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
» The system will help estimate level on inundation 3 days in advance.

6) BIODIVERSITY: WARBLERS

- Why in news?
» The Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) have begun to arrive.
(Oct 2020)
- About Lesser whitethroat
» It is a migratory bird which comes from Europe to India around
October-November every year.
» It hunts insects while flitting from branch to branch. It’s feeding
behavior is slightly different from other Warblers: it also forages
on the ground for insects and grubs.

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 15 | 17

 » This bird is part of old-world warbler family Silviidae and breeds in Europe. In travels long
distance in winters to temperature regions.
» In Delhi NCR, the bird is common throughout the city, especially in birding hotspots (Sultanpur
Sanctuary outskirts, Okhla Bird Sanctuary) and areas with old dense forests.

7) BIODIVERSITY: MADHUCA DIPLOSTEMON

- Why in news?
» Madhuca Diplostemon, a tree species, long believed to be extinct, has been discovered in
Western Ghats after a gap of more than 180 years. (Oct 2020)

- Details
» This species was last spotted in 1835, when its specimen was first
collected. Since its original collection, specimens of Madhuca
Diplostemon was never collected again, neither from its locality nor
elsewhere, and botanical exploration both in Western and Eastern
Ghats failed to locate the species.
» Recently, it was again discovered from a sacred grove in Kollam
district in Western Ghats.
§ This sacred grove is Koonayil Ayiravilli Siva Temple at
Paravur, Kollam.
» Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI)
at Palode have identified this species.
» Only 1 mature species has been found so far, meaning that this rediscovery was extremely
valuable from a scientific, environmental and conservation point of view.
» The species should also be eligible to be categorized as Critically endangered.

Shop No 6, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi 110060| www.levelupias.com|+91-9142102930, +91-8826486658 P a g e 16 | 17