mgp cc - envi Flashcards
Q6,What is the concept of blue economy?
(1) Leveraging economic potential of the oceans in a sustainable way → includes green economy in it (2) According to World Bank, Tri-components → a) economic growth b) improved livelihoods and jobs c) ocean health ecosystem. (3) First given by Gunter Pauli in 2010 in his book ‘The blue economy, 10 years, 100 innovations, 100 million jobs’”
Q7,What potential exists in the global blue economy?
(1) Multi-dimensional uses → a) Renewable energy, b) Fisheries c) minerals d) tourism e) climate (2) World wide ocean economy → $1.5trillion/year (3) Share of global trade by volume through oceans → 80% (4) 350 million jobs → fisheries.”
Q8,Why so much stress on blue economy in recent years?
(1) 1st global conference on sustainable blue economy → Nairobi 2018 (2) Equity + Public participation in marine and coastal decision making is rising. (3) United Nation sustainable development goals (UN-SDG – 14) → Life below water. (4) Land as a source of economic sustainability → deteriorating.”
Q9,What are the challenges in harnessing its true potential?
(1) Mindset → focussing on ‘economy’ and ignoring the ‘blue’ component. (2) No concrete definition of blue economy. International rules and norms → still evolving. (3) Technological constraints; eg collecting polymetallic nodules, D2O etc. (4) Natural disasters → tsunamis, cyclones, earthquakes and submarine volcanic eruptions. (5) Maritime security → piracy, smuggling, drugs peddling, arms trade, human trafficking. (6) Climate change impacts on marine life, habitats and communities.”
Q10,What should India do to harness the potential and increase its stake in global blue economy?
(1) India’s geography → unprecedented opportunity of improving living standards, energy security and ecological resilience. (2) Develop ‘blue diplomacy cadre’ → SAGAR, IORA, BIMSTEC, SAARC and Indo-Pacific area. (3) Strengthen ‘blue infrastructure’ in terms of ports (sagarmala), ship building industry (make in India), multi logistics parks, naval bases etc. (4) Integrated coastal zone management + O-SMART strategy. (5) Increasing R&D → deep sea mining, underwater vehicles and robotics.”
Q11,What is environment impact assessment?
- Planning tool to integrate the environmental concerns into developmental process. 2. UNEP →a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making 3. Right at the initial stage of planning and suggest necessary mitigation measures. 4. Under section 3 of EPA 1986, central government can restrict the areas in which any industries, operations or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards”
Q12,What is the process that needs to be followed under EIA?
- Screening → whether the environmental + social impacts of proposed development project would be significant enough to develop an EIA. If not → environment management plan created. 2. Scoping → Establish the boundaries of the EIA + set the basis of the analyses that will be conducted at each stage + describe the project alternatives + consult the affected public. 3. Impact assessment and mitigation → Evaluate the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the planned project and its alternatives + identify the mitigation measures to reduce those impacts. 4. Impact management →Prepare the plans required for addressing mitigation measures and other project risks, such as technological failures and natural disasters 5. EIA report → Pull together all the research and work done during the previous steps into a comprehensive, structured document. 6. Review and licensing → Designated authorities review the EIA report to determine if the planned project will get a license or if it requires amendments. 7. Monitoring → ensure that the mitigation measures, priorities listed in the EMP, and contingency plans are properly implemented and effectively address the project’s impacts.”
Q13,What are the salient features of 2006 amendment to EIA notification?
- EIA in india started in 1976-77 → clearance was central administrative decision and lacked legislative support → later on given statutory backing under EPA 1986 + several amendments since then. 2. Decentralization of the environmental clearance projects →categorizing the developmental projects in two categories→ Category A (national level appraisal) and Category B (state level appraisal). 3. Category A projects →mandatory environmental clearance →no screening required + clearance by Impact Assessment Agency (IAA) + Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) 4. Category B → Screening → (B1 = mandatory EIA, B2 = no EIA)+ clearance by State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) + State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) 5. EIA cycle comprises of four stages → a)Screening, b)Scoping, c)Public hearing and d) Appraisal”
Q14,What are the salient features of Draft EIA rules 2020?
- Reduced time for public hearing from 30 to 20 days 2. List of exempted projects have grown → small and medium cement plants, onshore-offshore oil – gas- shale exploration etc 3. Time period of compliance reports increased from 6 months to 1 year 4. Reporting of violation by public excluded”
Q15,What are the issues involved?
- Many projects with significant environmental impact → exempted 2. Weakening of public and strengthening of corporations 3. Post facto project clearance →violators will be able to apply for clearance→All a violator will need are two plans for remediation and resource augmentation corresponding to 1.5-2 times ‘the ecological damage assessed and economic benefit derived due to violation’ 4. No remedy for political and bureaucratic strong hold 5. Restricting the information on ‘strategic’ subjects from public domain → chances of misuse 6. Conflict of interest → : Consultants who do assessment are paid by project managers, so they generally try to give a favourable report → no system of accreditation or assessment of consultants. 7. Other issues →a) Experts committees formed to conduct EIA lack expertise, b) Public comments are not considered at an early stage → conflict at later stage, c) fraudulent EIA studies →e.g Mithivirdi nuclear project, d)Lack of administrative capacity to ensure compliance, e) periodic amendments exempting one category of industries or the other from scrutiny.”
Q16,What should be done in order to make the EIA process more effective?
- Independent EIA authority + independent consultants 2. Centralised baseline data bank 3. Dissemination of information to local communities 4. Expert committee → include all stakeholders + specialists. 5. Provision of automatic with drawl of clearance if conditions are violated 6. Capacity building of NGOs + civil society”
Q17,What is meant by Green India Mission?
1) Green India Mission→Afforestation activities→ Protect; Restore; Recover→Forest cover→Adaptation & Mitigation measures. 2) Goals: (i) Improve→Quality of forest cover & ecosystem services→All forest types; Grasslands & Wetlands; (ii) Improve→Forest & tree cover→Urban/Peri-urban lands; (iii)Thruster→Marginal agri-lands & Fallow; (iv) Diversification→ Livelihoods→Dwellers of Forest zone. 3) Objectives: (i) Reverse→India’s diminishing forest cover; (ii) Rapid response→Climate change→Adaptation & Mitigation measures; (iii) Increase→Forest based livelihood income; (iv) Carbon sequestration→60 million tonnes→By 2020.”
Q18,What are the achievements of Green India Mission?
1) Achievements: (i) Increase in forest cover→21.67% of geographical area; (ii) Estimated carbon stock→7124 million tonnes; (iii) Motivate→ Urban Forest & Green shelter belts; (iv) Improved Awareness→Rural people→Importance of afforestation→Mitigating climate change.”
Q19,What are the challenges of Green India Mission?
1) Challenges: (i) Sluggish plantation measures→Till 2020, 0.14Mn hectare; (ii) Parliamentary report→Scheme is underfunded; (iii) Afforestation→Didn’t consider the local conditions; (iv)Eucalyptus plantation → 785 liters/Kg of total biomass→Boost the local aridity; (v) Non native species plantation→Disturbing the biodiversity.”
Q20,What is meant by National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture?
1) Target→Enhancing agricultural productivity→Tools: (i)Integrated farming; (ii)Water use efficiency; (iii)Soil health management; (iv)Resource conservation. 2) Objectives: (i) Agriculture→Increase productivity & sustainability; (ii)Adoption→ (a) Soil Health Management; (b) Soil fertility maps; (c) Soil testing→Micro & Macro nutrients; (iii) Water management→Water use efficiency→’More crop per drop’; (iv) Capacity development→Stakeholders; (v) Productivity enhancement→Rain-fed farming. 3) Mission Strategy: (i) Create→Data base on soil resources; (ii) Promote the Livelihood→ Integrated farming; (iii) Agronomic practices→Soil treatment; Water holding capacity; (iv) Resource conservation strategies etc.”
Q21,What are the achievements & challenges of NMSA?
1) Achievements: (i) Horticultural farming→North eastern states→Attained special focus; (ii) Expansion watershed development→Convergence of schemes; (iii) Reclamation of soil→Increased cropping area; (iv) CCSAMMN→Information dissemination & Informed decision making. 2) Challenges: (i) Substandard production quality→CODEX/BRC; (ii) Organic farming→Low productivity [Case study: Sri Lanka]; (iii) Changing consumer preferences; (iv) Reliant on Primitive technologies.”
Q22,What is meant by National Water Mission?
1) Principle: Integrated water resource development & management 2) Salient features: (i) Review→National Water Policy; (ii) Research & Study→Impact of climate change→Water resources; (iii) Fast track implementation→Multi-purpose projects; (iv)Ramp up→Traditional water conservation; (v)Intensive program→Ground water recharge; (vii) Intensive capacity building; 3) Goals: (i) All-inclusive→Water database &Assessment; (ii) Encourage→State & Citizen centric action plan→Water conservation & Augmentation; (iii) Concrete road map→Vulnerable & over exploited area; (iv) Water use efficiency→Optimize by 20%.”
Q23,What are the achievements of National Water Mission?
1) Achievements: (i) Water use efficiency→Increased in Urban area; (ii)Live Water storage capacity→Stands at 257BCM; (iii)Fostered→ Rain water harvesting →Rural areas too; (iv)Corporate giants→CSR funding → Social responsibility; (v)Vulnerable area mapping→Better forecasting→Water famine.”
Q24,What are the challenges involved in National Water Mission?
1) Challenges: (i) Global climate change→Drought situation in many areas; (ii) Heavy metal contaminants→Reducing the availability→Drinking water; (iii)Pandemic situation→Cash crunch in government coffers→ In completed Big projects; (iv)Agricultural purposes→Exploited aquifers.”
Q25,What is meant by National Mission On Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem?
1) Target area: 11 states & 2 union territories→Himalayan belt region. 2) Objective: (i) Mapping the Vulnerability→Himalayan ecosystem; (ii) Tailoring the policies→Protecting Fragile terrain; (iii) Participation of Himalayan states→Conservation measures; (iv)Forecast and research→Future impacts; (vi) Construction of Knowledge network→To study mountain chain ecosystem; (vii) Devise the strategies→Sustainable development;(viii) Awareness Campaign.”
Q26,What are the achievements & challenges of National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem?
1) Achievements: (i) Developmental expansion → Scientific guidelines; (ii) Remedial measures→ Retreating glaciers; (iii) Climate resilient agriculture→Livelihood security for dwellers; (iv) Conservation mechanism → Endemic species → Blyth’s tragopan; Himalayan Vulture; Snow leopard etc. 2) Challenges: (i) Frequency of Cloud burst→High; (ii) International racket→Poaching & Hunting; (iii) Seismically active→Young fold mountain chain; (iv) Absence→Indigenous people participation; (v) Undulating terrain→Affects the supply chain→Sustainable development.”
Q27,What is meant by NAPCC?
1) NAPCC→Umbrella program→Government of India→Mitigation & Adaptation→Impact of climate change→Objective→Reducing emission intensity; Contributions from developed countries→Prime focus→curtail the CO2 emission. 2) Ministries under NAPCC: (i) MOEFCC;(ii) MOWR; (iii) MOAFW (iv) MOP; (v) MNRE”
Q28,What is meant by National Solar Mission?
1) Major initiative→Promote ecologically sustainable growth→Ensuring Security challenge. 2) Previous target→20,000 MW→By 2022; Revised target→1,00,000 MW→By 2022. 3) Segmentation of targets: (i)Rooftop solar energy→40 GW; (ii)Grid connected energy (Large & Medium)→60GW;(iii) Solar lighting system→20 million by 2022; (iv)Solar thermal area→20 million square meter→By 2022. 4) Other initiatives: (i) Conducive conditions→Indigenous Solar manufacturing; (ii)Market leadership; (iii) Off grid applications→2000MW by 2022.”
Q29,What are the Achievements and Challenges of National Solar Mission?
1) Achievements: (i) Expansion of solar capacity [12.5 GW in 2017 to 48.5GW in 2021]; (ii) Cost factor/KWHR→ Plummeted [Rs.17 in 2010 to Rs.2.5 in 2021]; (iii) Fostering→Emission reduction to GDP; (iv) Attracted the Foreign investment→1billion USD in renewable; (v) Livelihood guarantee → Vulnerable farmers→Land degraded area. 2) Challenges: (i) Indigenous production → Solar panels → Abysmal; (ii) Changing weather pattern→Climate change; (iii) Land crunch→ Competition for establishment→Shoot up the Real estate price; (iv) Affects→Cropping area→Ever expanding solar plants.”
Q30,What is meant by National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency?
1) Objective: (i) Reinforcement of market component→Energy efficiency; (ii) Acting as a catalyst→Innovative business model; 2) Initiatives: (i) Perform Achieve Trade→Large energy intensive industries; (ii) Market transformation for energy efficiency→Shift to energy efficient appliances; (iii)Energy Efficiency Financing Platform→Investment by financial institutions; (iv) Framework for Energy Efficient Economic Development→Fiscal instruments→Energy efficiency→Risk mitigation.”
Q31,What are the Achievements & Challenges of NMEEE?
1) Achievements: (i) Total avoided capacity addition→19.5GW; (ii)Saving the fuel→23 million tones/Year; (iii)Emission intensity reduction→100 million tones/year; (iv)ESCERTs→Formalized carbon market 2) Challenges: (i) Tech penetration→Poor in grass-root level; (ii) Huge initial investment→Energy efficient technologies; (iii) Indigenous R&D →Investment is low; (iv) No measures→T&D loss.”
Q32,What is meant by UN REDD?
1) UN REDD Programme → Advisory platform → Outcome of Bali action plan & COP-13 → Collaborative initiative → FAO; UNDP; UNEP. 2) Objective: (i) Reduction → Forest emission; (ii) Expand → Carbon stocks; (iii) Sustainable development. 3) Goals → (i) Reduce forest emission → 1 Giga ton/Year; (ii) Mobilization → USD 5 billion by 2025; (iii) Enhanced forest ambitions → NDC. 4) Catalyst → Forest & Land use measures → Nationally Determined Contributions → mitigating the climate change.”
Q33,What is meant by UN REDD+?
1) UN REDD+ → COP-19 Warsaw → Mechanism of UNFCCC → Creates a financial value→Carbon stored in forest → Incentives to developing countries → (i) To reduce → CO2 emission; (ii) Investment→low carbon path. 2) Result based payment → Result based actions; Assistance for Countries → To develop capacities. 3) Capacity building → (i) National forest monitoring; (ii) National REDD+ Governance; (iii)Green economy; (iv) Knowledge management etc.”
Q34,What is the significance of REDD & REDD+ initiatives?
1) Significance → (i) Mitigation → Global warming → Increasing the carbon sink; (ii) Security → Food; Fuel; Fiber; Shelter → Indigenous people; (iii)Proactive measures to reverse → Forest habitat fragmentation; (iv) Improved livelihood → Carbon payment; (v) Cancun safeguard → Minimizing social risk; (vi) Biodiversity conservation → Through forest expansion; (vii) GIS tool → Better tracking → Progressive measures.”
Q35,What are the limitations of REDD & REDD+ initiatives?
1) Limitations → (i) Doesn’t target → Individuals/Corporate → Responsible for massive deforestation; (ii) Uncertainty → Forest definition; (iii) Opaqueness → MRV; (iv) Static drivers of deforestation → Barrier for sustainable development; (v) Didn’t calculate → Socio-cultural knowledge systems; (vi) Carbon credits → Flooding the market → Reduce carbon price further.”
Q36,What are the initiatives which are taken for fostering the objectives of REDD & REDD+?
1) International Initiatives: (i) Forest carbon partnership facility; (ii) Norway’s International climate & Forest initiative; (iii) Global environment facility; (iv) Australia’s international forest carbon initiative; (v) Green climate fund. 2) Indian initiatives: (i) INDC → 2.5 to 3 billion tones → By 2030; (ii) Green India mission; (iii) National afforestation program; (iv) Green highways policy.”
Q1,What is meant by Namami Gange Programme?
1) Namami gange programme → Flagship programme → Twin objectives → (i) Effective abatement → Pollution; (ii)Conservation & Rejuvenation→ National river Ganga. 2) Main pillars → (i) Sewage treatment infrastructure; (ii) River front development; (iii)River surface cleaning; (iv) Bio-diversity; (v)Afforestation; (vi) Public awareness; (vii) Industrial effluent monitoring; (viii) Ganga gram.”
Q2,What is the mechanism followed under the Namami Gange Programme?
1) (i) Entry level activities → immediate visible impact; (ii) Medium term activities→Timeline→5 years; (iii) Long term activities → Timeline → 10 years. 2) National Ganga Council → Commanding authority → Implementation of NMCG → Chairman: Prime minister → Functions → (i) Prevention → Pollution; (ii) Rejuvenation → Basin states; (iii)Improvement → Vegetation; (iv) Ensure → Natural continuity → Water flow. 3) Empowered task force → Minister for water development: Chairmanship → (i) Action plan; (ii) Monitoring & Coordination → other ministries. 4) (i)State Ganga committee → (i) Superintendence; (ii) Direction; (iii) Control → District Ganga protection committee.; (ii) District Ganga committee → Micro specific measures→Local level [Example: Constructing STPs → Highly dense Industrial clusters]”
Q3,What is the significance of Namami Gange Programme?
1) Inflate → Sewerage treatment capacity → 4950 MLD → Under Construction. 2) Online continuous effluent monitoring system → 85/1072 grossly polluted industries. 3) River front development → Construction & Modernization → Ghats 4) Emphasized → River surface cleaning → Hotspots → Treatment of surface water 5) Ganga praharis → Conservation of biodiversity → Endangered species → Gangetic dolphin; Gharial; Smooth coated otter etc. 6) Increase the green cover → Ganga basin states→ 134000 hectares → afforestation. 7) Public awareness → components → (i) Information; (ii)Education; (iii)Communication → River Ganga.”
Q4,What are the challenges involved in the pollution abatement of River Ganga?
1) Challenges: (i) High water extraction → Agriculture and ancillary activities → Impact in river flows; (ii) Poor behavior → Eco friendly rituals; (iii) Cremation; Bathing; Open defecation→ River bank; (iv) Untreated sewage → Tanneries & other Industries; (v) Dredging & Sand mining → Affect the substratum; (vi) Substandard liner → transports.”
Q5,What are the other initiatives which are taken in the pollution abatement of River Ganga?
1) Schemes: (i) Environmental protection act-1986 → National Ganga River Basin Authority; (ii) Clean ganga fund; (iii) Bhuvan-ganga web app; (iv) E-flows.”
Q6,What is meant by Environmental Impact Assessment?
1) EIA rules-2006 → Assessment → Environmental consequences → Plan; Policy; Program; Project etc. → Aid in taking precautionary measures→Mitigating the ramifications. 2) Objectives: (i) Predict → Economic; Environmental & Social impact; (ii) Information → Environmental consequences; (iii) Promote → Sound environmental governance.”
Q7,What are the procedures involved in the Environmental Impact Assessment?
1) Screening → Project → suitability of Environmental clearance → Criteria → (a) Location; (b) Scale of investment; (c) Type of development. 2) (i) Scoping → Detailed analysis → Inputs from consultant + Guidelines of MOEFCC → Quantifiable impact prediction → Socio-economic criteria; (ii) Baseline data → Site specific → Primary + Secondary data. 3) Impact prediction → mapping possible impact → Multi-pronged strategy → possible precautions → Air; Noise; Water; Land; Biological parameters. 4) Assessing the alternatives → Project location & Process technologies → Mitigation plan + EMP → Clear information to Decision maker. → Along with uncertainties. 5) Public hearing → likely affected people → (i) Access to Executive summary; (ii) Opportunity→ Oral/Written suggestions → SPCB; EMP → Mitigation delineation; Unmitigated impacts; Financial plan; Physical planning 6) Decision making → Consultation process → Project proponent & Impact assessment authority → Environmental clearance → EIA & EMP. 7) Draft EIA notification-2020 → (i) Reduced time → Public hearing; (ii) Classification → Increased further; (iii) Public participation → Absent → Post compliance etc.”
Q8,What is the significance of EIA?
1) (i) Promotes → Sound environmental governance; (ii) Cost saving modifications → Project design; (iii) Avoided impact & Violations → Laws & Regulations; (iv) Project performance → Cut above the optimum; (v) Fewer conflicts → Natural resource; (vi) Increased Community.”
Q9,What are the limitations of Ecological Impact Assessment?
1) (i) Lackadaisical coverage → Ecological & Socio-economic indicators; (ii) Public comments→Not taken in early stage → Conflict in final stages; (iii) Projects → Significant Environment & Social impacts→ Exclusion → Mandatory public hearing; (iv) Indigenous knowledge of tribes → Not considered; (v) No provision → Registering the compliant.”
Q10,What are the measures that can be taken for the proper implementation of EIA?
1) (i) Increasing the time → Public hearing; Strategic projects → should get more scrutinization; (ii)Simplification → Bureaucratic role; (iii)Informed decision making → Public; (iv)Inclusion of local people → Annual report formation; (v) Penalty for firm → need to be rationalized.”
Q11,What is Oil-palm cultivation?
1) Oil palm → Highest oil yielding crop → Native to Southwest Africa → Species: guineensis → Per hectare Productivity → Very high → than any other oil crops. 2) Palm oil → cheap fat → Tropical countries → multiple utilities [Example: Madagascar; Malaysia; Indonesia; Philippines; Sri Lanka; India etc. 3) Uses: Pharma & Cosmetics; Food products; Bakeries & Pastries; Lubricants; Emulsifiers; Paint manufacturing; Biofuel & Energy applications etc.”
Q12,What is meant by NMEO-OP scheme & related effects?
1) NMEO-OP → Centrally sponsored scheme → Focus area → Northeast region; Andaman & Nicobar island → Targets: (i) Increasing area & Productivity; (ii) Assistance → Seed garden; (iii) Price assurance. 2) Effects: (i) Aid → Doubling farmer’s income by 2022; (ii) Ensure → cheap palm oil; (iii) Save → Precious forex reserve; (iv) Pristine region → Prone to deteriorate; (v) Endangered species → One horn rhino; Hoolock gibbon etc. → Habitat fragmentation → Will go extinction.”
Q13,What are the Environmental issues associated with palm oil cultivation?
1) Ever expanding cropping area → Shrinking tropical forest → Spike the C02 Emission → Global warming. 2) Mono-cultural practices → Increase the pest infestation → Utilization of pesticides →Increased. 3) Oil palm cropping → Habitat fragmentation & Habitat destruction → Tropical species → Verge of extinction. [Example: Asian rhinos; Elephants; Tigers; Orangutans etc.] 4) Reduced biodiversity → Destruction to biodiversity hotspots → Invasive species. 5) Oil palm plantation → Agricultural process → Loosen the soil → Nutrient influx → Due to soil erosion. 6) Over cropping → deplete the soil fertility → Land degradation → Desertification. 7) Expanding palm oil plantation → Evict the tribes. [Example: Kalimantan state → Borneo] 8) Outbreak of zoonotic diseases → Deforestation → Tropical land scape.”
Q14,What are the measures that can be taken to mitigate the environmental issues from oil palm cultivation?
1) (i) Promotion of alternatives → Rape seed; Sunflower oil etc.; (ii) Olive oil plantation → Desert zone →To offset the slump; (iii) WHO REPLACE program → Trans-fat → Impact the consumption → Palm oil; (iv) Awareness program → Benefits of Heterotrophic algal oil →; (v) Higher R&D allocations → Increasing the productivity/Area → To reduce → Area under palm cultivation.”
Q15,What are the initiatives that have been taken for mitigating the impact oil palm cultivation?
1) Initiatives: (i) Rain forest alliance; (ii) Rain forest action network; (iii) ITTO (iv) GRASP; (v) SOCP.”
Q16,What is meant by Marine pollution?
1) Marine pollution → Chemicals & Trash from continent → Washed into Ocean → Damage to Environment; Health of organisms & Economic structures. 2) Majority of waste → Runoff [Example: Single use plastics]; Continental shelf→More prone to pollution.”
Q17,What are the causes of Marine pollution?
1) Nonpoint sources → Spatial & Temporal variation → Run off → Ground to oceans [Example: Precipitation → Runoff → Leftover oil → To ocean basin → Dead zone] 2) Intentional discharge → Manufacturing plants → Toxic waste [Example: Mercury; Cadmium; Nickel etc] → Through sewage → Polluting the ocean. 3) Oil spills → Cargo carrier → High density furnace oil & Hydrocarbons → Devastate the fragile area. [Example: Oil spill in Mauritius] 4) Deep ocean mining → Disrupt the surface layer → Release of nutrients & Breakage of CO2 sinks → Alteration in Parameters → Marine pollution. 5) Thermal plants → Coolant for power generation → Crude release of coolants → Spike in temperature → Dissolved oxygen reduction → Hypoxic condition.”
Q18,What are the impact of Marine pollution?
1) Economical impact: (i) Reduction in fisheries → Poor export → Lower Forex reserves; (ii) Higher resource allocation → Mitigation & Adaptation. 2) Environmental impact: (i) Marine planktons → Elimination; (ii) Prey base → Tertiary animals → Reduced; (iii)Addition of nutrients → Eutrophication; (iv) Coral bleaching; (v) Habitat fragmentation → Endemic species → Extinction; (vi) Bioaccumulation & Bio-magnification → Food chain. 3) Social impact: (i) Impact the Livelihood→Vulnerable fisherman population;(ii) Eutrophication → Hypoxia → Poisonous gases → Impact the health; (iii) Poor availability of protein source → Malnutrition; (iv) Poor Reproductive health → Marine organisms & Humans.”
Q19,What are the measures that can be taken to prevent Marine pollution?
1) (i) Conservation of water → Less runoff; (ii) Substitutes → Non-toxic chemicals → Industries; (iii) 3R principles; (iv) Shop wisely → Less plastic → Reusable bag; (iv)Stop → single use plastics; (vi) Renewables → Energy basket; (vi) Practice → Safe boating; (vii) Respect → Healthy habitat & Survival; (viii) Co-generation → Thermal plant coolants.”
Q20,What are the initiatives that have been taken to abate Marine pollution?
1) India: India-Norway Marine pollution initiative; (ii) Biological diversity act-2002; (iii) Plastic waste management rules-2016; (iv) ICZM 2) International: (i) Global partnership on marine litter; (ii) GW2 I; (iii) UN sustainable development; (iv) Marpol convention”
Q21,What is meant by Hazardous waste?
1) Hazardous waste → Potential threat → (i) Ignitability; (ii) Reactivity; (iii) Corrosiveness; (iv) Toxicity → Traits of Hazardous waste → (a)Soluble in Oil; (b) Long life time; (c)Bioaccumulation and Bio-magnification etc. → Danger to Health & Environment. 2) Compliance → Basel convention; Rotterdam convention & Stockholm convention; 3) Examples: (i) Used Engine oil; (ii) Paints & Emulsifiers; (iii) Mercury containing waste; (iv) Electronics etc.”
Q22,What are the salient features of Hazardous Waste Management Rules-2016?
1) Hierarchy → Waste management → Prevention; Minimization; Reuse; Recycling; Recovery; Co-processing & Safe disposal; (ii) Scope expansion → ‘Other waste’. 2) Revision of forms → Import; Export; Transportation; Annual returns→Stringent approach; (ii) Co-processing → Preferential mechanism → Supplementary resource / Energy from waste; Approval process → Streamlined with Emission norms. 3) SOPs → To protect → Environment & Health → Processing Industry → Authorization by SPCB; Single window clearance → Hazardous waste disposal facility & Imports; Process of Import/Export → Simplified Documentation → Revision in list of pollutants. 4) Exception list for Ministry approval: Metal scrap; Paper waste; Electrical & Electronics equipment; (ii) State government’s role → Sound waste management → (i) Industrial space; (ii) Registering the workers; (iii) Formation of groups; (iv) Skill development activities 5) Annual inventory → SPCB report → CPCP; State government → Implementation plan → Annual report to MOEFCC. 6) 2019 Amendment rules: Prohibition of Import → Solid plastic waste; Exempted → Silk waste exports; Reimporting → Defective electronic goods.”
Q23,What is the significance of Hazardous Waste Management Rules-2016?
1) Significance: (i) Scope → Expanded by including ‘Other waste’; (ii) Cumbersome procedures → Replaced with Single window clearance → Import/Export; (iii) Segmentation of States’ role → Hazardous waste management; (iv) Annual inventory → Tracking → Safe disposal of waste; (v) Importance of Co-processing → Optimization → Energy intensity.”
Q1,What is meant by E-waste?
1) E-waste →Loosely discarded, obsolete, broken electric & electronic devices → Cycle after their lifetime → Refurbishment; Reuse; Resale; Recycle & Disposal; Sources of E-waste→Information & Technology Equipment; Communication equipment; Consumer electric & electronic devices etc. 2) E-waste Management: Segregation of E-waste → Two variants → (i) Usable part [Example: Precious metals] → Recycle; Reuse; Refurbishment; (ii) Hazardous waste → Safe disposal → Incineration; Pyrolysis etc.”
Q2,What are the Salient features of E-waste management rules 2016?
1) (i) Applicability: Components; Consumables; Spares; Schedule I → Equipment; CFL; Mercury containing lamp etc.; (ii) Collection mechanism: Extended Producer Responsibility → Collection point → Collection center. 2) Functional mechanism of E-waste collection: (i) Producer responsibility organization; (ii) E-waste exchange; (iii) E-retailer; (iv)Deposit refund scheme. 3) (i) Authorization by CPCB → Establishing Extended Producer responsibility; (ii) Additional stakeholders: Manufacturer; Dealer; Refurbisher etc. 4) Collection & Channelization of E-waste → Extended Producer Responsibility → Schedule-III; Deposit refund scheme → Deposit during purchase → Return with interest → End of product lifetime. 5) (i) Manufacturer → Responsibility → Collect E-waste → Manufacturing Process; (ii) Dealer → Responsibility → Collection of E-waste→Behalf of producer; (iii) Dealer; Retailer/E-Retailer → Deposit Refund scheme. 6) (i) Liability provision: Improper management & violations → Monetary penalty; (ii) Urban local bodies → Channelizing the waste → Dismantler.”
Q3,What is the significance of E-Waste Management Rules-2016?
1) Significance: (i) E-waste rules → Purview → Containing mercury & CFL → Ideal waste reduction; (ii) Detailed mechanism → Aggregation to segregation → E-waste management; (iii) Deposit Refund scheme → Educate the customers → Toxic E-waste constituents; (iv) Recognition of State’s role → Waste handling & Health; (v) Stakeholder responsibility & Customer centric awareness → Hone the waste management.”
Q4,What are the limitations of the E-waste management Rules-2016?
1) Limitation: (i) No financial mechanism → Upgradation of Technology → E-waste segregation; (ii) State’s role → Registration → Curtailed; (iii) Technology → GPS & RFID → Tracking the movement → Absent; (iv) Rag pickers & Kabadiwalas’ Participation → Collection & Separation → Unaddressed.”
Q5,What are the initiatives which have been taken for E-waste Management?
1) International: (i) StEP; (ii)WEEE Flows; (iii) IEMN → Awareness campaign (iv) China → The Impact. 2) India: (i) E-waste management rules; (ii) Swachh bharat; (iii) Design for Environment (DfE).”
Q6,What is meant by Biomedical waste?
1) Biomedical waste → Any waste → Infectious/Potentially infectious → Activities → Diagnosis; Prevention; Treatment etc. [Examples: Human anatomical waste; Animal waste; Microbiological specimens; Syringes; Scalpels etc.] 2) Advantages of Biomedical waste management: (i) Golden Opportunity → Recycling; (ii) Avoidance → Illegal use → Pharma products; (iii) Prevent harmful waste → General municipal waste load; (iv) Safe disposal procedure → Harmful toxic pollutant; Safety → Health workers; Patient etc.”
Q7,What are the Salient features of Bio-medical waste management rules-2016?
1) (i) Expansion in Application → Vaccination camps; Blood donation camps; Surgical camps etc.; (ii) Timeline → Phasing out → Chlorinated plastic bags; Blood bags; Gloves etc. 2) Barcode system → Container/Bags → Biomedical waste → Disposal. 3) Measures for Pre-treatment → Onsite-Sterilization → Microbiological waste; Blood bags; Blood samples etc. → WHO &NACO Standards. 4) (i) Classification of Biomedical waste → 4 categories → To streamline Segregation → In Source itself; (ii) Measures → Report → Major accidents. 5) (i) Stringent rules → Incinerators → Emission standard [Example: Dioxin; Furan]; (ii) Two year time → Achieving the standards → Retention time→Secondary chamber. 6) State government → Land facility → Common waste treatment Facility. 7) (i)Operator → Common facility → Ensures timely collection; (ii) Health care facility → Awareness & Immunization → All workers. 8) Amendment Rules-2018: (i) Phased out → Chlorinated bags by 2019; (ii) Enforcement → Annual report → All healthcare facilities → Within two years; (iii) GPS & Barcode → Transport of Biomedical waste.”
Q8,What are the limitations in the implementation of BWMR-2016?
1) Limitations: (i) No guidelines → Deal with Pandemic → Mass waste generation; (ii) Confusion → Between CPCB guidelines & BWMR-2016; (iii) Data monitoring → Biomedical waste generation → Abysmal [Example: CPCB under reported about biomedical treatment facility to the NGT]; (iv) Penal provisions → Violating facilities → Absent; (v) RFID tag → Better tracking & Less time consumption → Instead of Barcode; (vi) Common facility → Every 30 kilometer → Swift transport → Instead of 70 KM.”
Q9,What is the significance of Biomedical Waste Management Rules-2016?
1) Significance: (i) Amendment rules-2018 → Helped the Healthcare facilities → Covid-19 certain extent; (ii) Awareness → Health workers → Proactive measures in handling; (iii) GPS in transport → Better tracking → Source to Incineration; (iv) BWMR rules-2016 → In compliance → Basel convention → Hazardous waste → To protect → Environment & Health; (v) Emission standards → Dioxin & Furan → Reduction in carcinogens → Surrounding environment of HCF; (vi) Phased out → Chlorinated bags → Decreased harmful pollutants.”
Q10,What is meant by Solid Waste?
1) Solid Waste → Any garbage or Refuse/Sludge → Industrial & Commercial establishments; Agriculture; Mining etc. → Solid; Liquid; Semi-solid state; Solid waste components-Household waste; Construction & demolition debris; E-waste etc. 2) Impact: (i) Infectious disease; (ii) Water & Air pollution; (iii) Obstruction in seepage; (iv) Bio-accumulation & Bio-magnification → Food chain; (v) Loss of Biodiversity etc.”
Q11,What are the Salient features of Solid Waste Management Rules-2016?
1) Applicability → Beyond Municipal area: (i) Agglomerations; Census Towns; Notified Industrial Townships; Defense Establishments; SEZ etc.; (ii) SEZ; Industrial parks → 5% of land → Waste handling & Treatment. 2) Emphasize → Source segregation → Principles → 3R [Reduce; Reuse; Recycle] 3) Segregation → Three streams → Wet; Dry & Hazardous waste; Integration → Rag pickers; Waste-dealers; 4) (i) Generator → User fee → Waste collectors; (ii) Spot fine → Littering & Non-segregation. 5) Guidelines → Sanitary pads & Diapers → Disposal mechanism → Non-Hazardous waste. 6) (i) Residential associations; Gated communities; Institutions → Greater than 5000 sq.m → Waste segregation at Source; (ii) New-townships/Group housing societies → In-house waste handling. 7) Bio-degradable waste → Composting/Biomethanation; Residual waste → Waste-collectors → Local authority. 8) (i) Construction & Demolition waste → Disposed-off separately; (ii) Non-recyclable waste → Calorific value-1500K/Cal/Kg → Energy generation; (iii) High calorific waste → Co-processing → Thermal/Cement plants. 9) Other provisions: (i)Waste-management → Events, above 100 persons; Awareness drives → Concern product → Manufacturer; Brand-owner; Marketing companies. 10)Plastic waste management amendment rules-2018: (i) Phasing out → Multilayered Plastic; (ii) Central registration system → Importer; Producer; Brand owner.”
Q12,What is the significance of Solid Waste Management Rules-2016?
1) Significance: (i) Jurisdiction Coverage → Addressed the waste generation → In all terrain; (ii) Source segregation to Management → Comprehensive action plan; (iii) Emphasize on Importance → Waste Management plan → In new Townships etc.; (iv) Include → Rag pickers & Kabadiwalas → Streamline the collection process; (v) Waste → Power generation → Economic & Environmental benefits.”
Q13,What are the limitations of Solid waste Management Rules-2016?
1) (i) Emphasize → On penalty; Not on Incentives; (ii) Devolution of power → States is poor → Highly centralized system; (iii)Informal sector → Only in paper → Absence of mechanism → Integration → Waste management; (iv) Guidelines → Red handed the Violators → Absent; (v) Behavioral related measures → Educational institutions → Un-addressed.”
Q14,What is meant by Plastic pollution?
1) Plastic → Polymeric Material → Very large Molecule size → Non-biodegradable → Accumulation in environment → Affect the parameters → Ecosystem and it’s components. 2) Impact: (i) Contaminate the food chain; (ii) Release toxic substance → Dioxin; Furan etc.; (iii) Obstruct → Development of marine organism [Plankton; Cetaceans; Marine turtles etc.] (iv) Catalyst → Dead zone formation & Eutrophication; (v) Spike the carcinogen → Cancer; Hepatitis B & C etc.”
Q15,What are the salient features of Plastic Waste management rules - 2016 & Amendment - 2021?
1) Objective: (i) Plastic waste minimization; (ii) Source segregation; (iii) Recycling. 2) Prime Target → Uncollected Plastic waste → 6000 tonnes/day → Principle: Extended Producer Responsibility → Producers; Manufacturers & Industries. 3) Jurisdiction Expansion → Including Rural areas too; Escalate the size → 40 to 50 microns. 4) Responsibilities → Producers & Generators → Collect back system & Plastic waste management system. 5) Plastic Waste Management Fee → Pre-registration → Producers, Importers & Vendors → Collecting, Handling & Recycling → Plastic waste. 6) Promote → Plastic waste → Utilitarian purposes → Road construction; Energy recovery; Waste to oil etc. 7) User charge responsibility →Waste generators → Determined by Local authority 8) 2021 Amendment: (i) Sub rule-2 → Prohibit the Single-use plastic [Example: Plastic flags; Ice-cream sticks; Candy-sticks; Cups & Plates etc.] (ii) Plastic carry bags → Thickness → 50 to 120 micron; (iii)Details → Manufacturer & Register number → Exception: Multi-layer packaging → Import goods (iv) Rule 3 → Definition → (a) Non-Woven plastic bags; (b) Thermo-plastic (iii) Thermoset plastic.”
Q16,What is the significance of Plastic waste management rules - 2016 & 2021?
1) (i)Timeline → banning Single use plastic → Major headache → Global community; (ii) Rural area → Under the purview; (iii) Increase in micron → Reduction in consumption → High cost; (iv) Utility measures [Example: Plastic Road construction] → Waste to resource; (v) Trace the waste generation → From Source itself.”
Q17,What is the criticism behind Plastic waste Management rules-2016?
1) Criticism: (i) Government failure → Interim Tax reimbursements → Compliant companies → To offset the Additional cost → Plastic waste management; (ii)Emphasize → Plastic Waste management & not Plastic waste reduction; (iii) Didn’t provide Guidelines → Alternatives → Soft transient; (iv) No measures → Mineral water bottles [PET] → Large component → Plastic pollution; (v) No mechanism/Scheme → Implementation of EPR.”
Q18,What are the initiatives taken for abating the Plastic pollution?
1) India: (i) Swachh Bharat Mission; (ii) Ban on Single use plastic by 2022; (iii) Plastic Waste Management rules – 2016 & 2021; (iv) UPC initiative 2) International Initiative: (i) Global Tourism Plastic Initiative; (ii) GPML.”
Q19,What is the historical background behind FRA-2006?
1) Tribes & Forest → Positive reciprocity → Since historical time period; Interdependence → Customary rules & Procedures; Beliefs & Rituals. 2) Origin of FRA-2006 → Indian forest act-1865,1894 &1927”
Q20,What are the salient features of FRA-2006?
1) (i) Restitution of Forest rights → Forest dwelling communities & Other traditional forest dwellers → Individual & Community → Resided for 3 generation and above [Generation → 25 years] → Common property resources; (ii) Scope → Integrating historic opportunity & Livelihood. 2) Maximum limit → Recognizing right → 4 hectares; Rights → Heritable but Inalienable. 3) Applicability of FRA → (i) National Parks; (ii) Wildlife Sanctuaries; (iii) Protected & Reserve Forest. 4) Recognition → Right of Ownership → Collect, Use & Dispose Minor Forest Produce [MFP]; MFP → Bamboo; Cashew kernel; Mahul leaves; Nagod; Gamhar etc.; 5) Provision → Diversion of Forest land → Schools; Hospitals; Anganwadis; Drinking water supply; Telecommunication & Electric lines etc. 6) Eviction Process → Detailed Verification procedure → Standard operating procedure. 7) Gram Sabha → Competent authority → Individual & Community rights.”
Q21,What are the significance of Forest Rights Act-2006?
1) Conservation measures → Traditional essence → Participation of Tribal population → Restitution of their rights too. 2) FRA 2006 → Streamline the principles → 5th and 6th schedule of constitution → Assert their livelihood. 3) Community rights → Recognized → 1st time → History of Indian statutes. Developmental rights → Balanced with conservation 4) FRA-2006 → Sensitize the tribal population → Stumble the Naxalism movement. 5) FRA-2006 → Protective mechanism → Traditional knowledge & Intellectual Property Rights. 6) Potential tool → Democratize → Forest governance → Above 1 lakh Villages → Red corridor zone.”
Q22,What are the challenges in the implementation of Forest Rights Act-2006?
1) Challenges: (i) Bureaucratic reluctance; (ii) Outsiders/Dikus → Encroachment & Illegal occupation; (iii) FRA → Degree of tilt is high → Individual rights; (iv)Tribal segment → Low bargaining strength → State governments → Diluting the provisions; (v)Technical lacuna → Implementation by Gram sabha; (vi) Tribal innocence → Prey base → Greedy moneylenders.”
Q23,What are the initiatives which can be taken for the proper implementation of FRA?
1) Initiatives: (i) Forest bureaucracy → Infuse their technical knowledge → FRA implementation; (ii) Central government → Encourage the states → people participation; (iii) Geo-tagging → Land resource → allocated to tribes; (iv) NGO→Information dissemination → Including grass-root level officials; (v) Micro scale → Detailed project report → Devolving the rights → To Tribes.”
Q24,What is National Green Tribunal?
1) NGT Act-2010 → National Green Tribunal → Fast track court → Efficacious & swift disposal of cases → Natural resources, Environmental protection, Conservation of Biodiversity & Forest → Within 6 months; Apex court → NGT → Suo-moto powers. 2) Guiding principle → (i) Principle of Natural Justice; (ii) Polluter Pays Principle; (iii) Principle of Sustainable Development; (iv)Precautionary Principle. 3) Section-6 → Structure: (i) Chairperson; Judicial members & Expert members; Appointment → Central government → In consultation → CJI; (ii) Tenure → 5 years; No reappointment. 4) Initiatives: (i) Save Mon Federation Vs Union of India case → NGT suspended → 6000crore Hydro project; (ii) Curbing → Noise pollution → Noise pollution rules-2000; (iii) Preventive & Remediation measures → River Mandovi; River Sutlej & Beas.”
Q25,What are the Salient features of National Green Tribunal Act?
1) Jurisdiction: (i) Civil case → Substantial factor → Environment → Inclusion → Legal right Enforcement → (a) Water Act-1974; (b) Water cess Act-1977; (c) Forest Act-1980; (d) Air Act-1981; (e) Environmental Protection Act-1986; (f) Public Liability Insurance Act-1991; (g) Biological Diversity Act-2002; (ii) Appellate Jurisdiction → To hear cases. 2) Appeal procedure: Verdict of NGT → Appeal → Apex court. 3) Exception: NGT → No Jurisdiction → Wildlife Protection Act-1972; Civil procedure code - 1908; 4) Relief measures for Victim: NGT → Judgements → (i) Compensation; (ii) Restoration & Reimbursement → Damaged assets & Devastated Environment. 5) Penal Provisions: Non-compliance → (i) Imprisonment → Up to Three years; (ii) Monetary penalty → Up to 10 crores (iii) Both Monetary fine & Imprisonment.”
Q26,What is the significance of NGT?
1) Rise of NGT → India → Front runner → Environmental protection → Global arena. 2) Principle of Natural justice → Prevail over the Technicalities → Prompt Justice. 3) Functions of NGT → Catalyst for India → Achieving Paris targets → Environmental protection & Conservation measures; (ii) Suo-moto power → NGT → Proactive measures → Preventing the pollution. 4) Timeline for Disposal → Reduction → Case pendency load → Judiciary. [Example: Between 2011 & 2019 → NGT disposed → 28000 cases]”
Q27,What are the issues involved in the functioning of National Green Tribunal?
1) (i) Decision of NGT → Stalling the Industrial expansion; (ii) Absence of Principles → Determination of compensation; (iii) Judgements → challenged in High court; (iv) Contradiction → Judgement & Time frame; (v) Absence of jurisdiction → Wildlife protection report-1972 & Forest rights act-2006.”
Q28,What are the measures can be taken for the proper functioning of NGT?
1) (i) Delineation → Between High court & NGT; (ii) Three tier monitoring mechanism → Implementing the NGT verdict; (iii) Aligning the principles → Economic development & Environmental protection; (iv) Data analytics → Monitoring the pendency.”
Q29,What is meant by Biological diversity?
1) Biological diversity → Measurement → Variety of life → Flora & Fauna → All levels → Genes to Ecosystems → Domain → Evolutionary, Ecological & cultural process → To sustain life. 2) Objectives of Biological diversity act: (i) Safeguarding traditional knowledge; (ii) Preservation of threatened species; (iii) Prevention of bio-piracy.”
Q30,What are the salient features of Biological Diversity Act-2002?
1) National Biodiversity Authority: (i) Advisory role → To conserve biodiversity; (ii) Selection process → Biological heritage sites; (iii)Stringent measures → Intellectual Property rights → Sustainable utilization; 2) State Biodiversity Act → Section 22 → Biological diversity act: (i) Advisory role → State government→Biodiversity values→Equitable distribution→Conservation & Sustainable utilization; (ii) Regulatory role→Grants & Approvals→Commercial utilization. 3) Biodiversity Management Committee→ (i) Mandatory role → People’s Biodiversity Register; (ii)Education & Awareness → Biodiversity → Local people; (iii)Threatened species→Protection & Rehabilitation [Example: Cheetah rehabilitation project]; 4) Section 2 of Income tax act → Foreigner, Foreign body corporate & NRI → Government approval → Obtaining biological knowledge & Resource”
Q31,What is the significance of Biological diversity?
1) (i) Specific role → Energy & Nutrient circulation; (ii) Diverse ecosystem→Greater resilience→ Environmental stress; (iii) Biodiversity → Reservoir of resources [Food,, Medicinal & other Pharmaceuticals etc.]; (iv) Economical utility; (v) Source of Eco-Tourism → Forex reserves;”
Q32,What are the threats to Biological diversity?
1) (i) Anthropogenic activities → Habitat fragmentation& Deterioration; [Example: Tropical Forest → Shrinking than any other forest → Southeast Asia → Palm oil cultivation → Orangutan → Critically Endangered.] (ii) Deforestation → Ramp up → CO2 emission → Carbon sink; (iii) Desertification → Decrease soil organic matter → Reduction → Water infiltration & Fertility;(iv) Rampant wildlife trade (v) CO2 emission → Increase in concentration → Plant function → Detrimental factor.”
Q33,What is meant by Biodiversity Heritage sites (BHS)?
1) BHS → Unique; Ecologically Fragile Ecosystem → Terrestrial; Coastal; Inland &Marine → Section-37 → State government → Biological heritage sites. 2) Components: species richness; High endemism; Rare endemic species; Ancestors of species; Pre-eminence of biological components”
Q34,What are the initiatives which have been taken for protecting the biodiversity?
1) International: (i) CBD; (ii) CITES; (iii) CMS; (iv) IPPC; (v)IWC 2) India: (i) WPA act-1972; (ii) PCA act-1960; (iii) EPA act-1986; (iv) Project tiger etc.”
Q35,What is meant by Coastal Regulation Zone?
1) Area → 500m from HTL + Land → Between HTL & LTL → Declares as CRZ →1991. 2) High tide line → Highest water line → Spring tide; Low tide line → Lowest water line → Spring tide. 3) Importance: (i) Protection → Ecologically sensitive area [Mangroves; Coral reefs; Sea grass bed etc] (ii) Livelihood → Fishing communities; (iii) Resilient measures → Mitigation; (iv) Balance → Development & Conservation.”
Q36,What are the salient features of CRZ-2011 &2018 notification?
1) CRZ-I → No new construction→Exception [Atomic energy; Trans harbor sea link]; Between LTL &HTL → (i)Exploration → Natural gas; (ii) Basic amenities → School, Roads etc; (iii) Salt harvest; (iv) Non-hazardous storage → Cargo; (v) Desalination plants. 2) CRZ-II → Area developed to Shoreline → Municipal limits → Village and Towns → (i) Buildings → Landward side (ii)Desalination plants; (iii)Regulated constructions. 3) CRZ-III → Undistributed area → (i) Between 0-200 meters → HTL → No Development zone → No construction [Exceptions: Agriculture; Forestry; Atomic Energy; Rare minerals; Regasification units etc] (ii)Between 200-500 meters → HTL → Activities in 0-200 meters + Construction of Houses & Tourism. 4) CRZ-IV → Aquatic area → Low tide line to Territorial limits → (i)No restriction → Traditional Fishing; (ii)Prohibition→Untreated sewage dumping. 5) 2018 notification: (i) No development zone → Reduced; (ii) CRZ-III → Two separate categories: (a) CRZ-III A → Rural areas → High Population density → No development zone → 50 meters from HTL; (b) CRZ-III B → Rural areas → Low Population density → 200 meters from HTL.”
Q37,What are the Recommendations of Shailesh Nayak committee Report?
1) Recommendations: (i) Permission → Housing infrastructure; (ii) Slum → Redevelopment & Reorientation; (iii) Devolution of powers → States (iv) Temporary tourism → NDZ 2) Importance: Inputs → Shailesh Nayak Committee → Bedrock for CRZ rules 2018.”
Q38,What is the significance of Coastal Zone Regulation & Management?
1) Significance: (i) Fragile ecosystems → Endemic species → Food chain; (ii) Conserve & Protect → Coastal stretches → Preventing Marine Pollution; (iii)Livelihood → Fishing & Local communities; (iv) Developmental process → Scientific principles → Sea level rise, natural hazards; (v) Landward → Coastal shore → Vulnerable human habitats; (vi) High density human population. [Example: 200 million Europeans → Within 50Km from shore]”
Q39,What are the initiatives which are taken for Coastal zone Management?
1) India: (i) Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan; (ii) Island Protection Zone; (iii) COMAPS 2) International initiatives: (i) Blue Flag Certification; (ii) Mangroves For Future; (iii) WWF → Coastal community led conservation.”
Q40,What are the salient features of Wetland conservation and management rules?
1) State wetland authority: Head → State Environment minister; Functions: (i) Activity → Regulation & Permission; (ii) Prohibition → Certain activities → Specific wetlands; (iii) Awareness → Stakeholders & Local people → Sustainable utilization. 2) Prohibited activities: Conversion → Non wetland purpose → Prohibited [Encroachment; Industrial expansion; Waste dumping; Effluents & Domestic discharge] 3) Digital inventory: State authorities → Responsibility → Comprehensive Digital Inventory → To be updated → Every 10 years. 4) National Wetland Committee: Head → Secretary [MOEFCC]; Functions: (i) Monitoring → States’ activities; (ii) Recommend the designation → International importance; (iii) Advisory role.”
Q41,What is the criticism behind Wildlife conservation and management rules2017?
1) (i) Dilution → Strong monitoring system; (ii) Omitted → Importance → Wetland types; (iii) No authority → Issuing Binding directions → Detrimental factor → Wetland conservation; (iv) Red tapism → Compliance.”
Q42,What are the significance of Wetlands?
1) Mitigate the floods → Protect the Coastlines. [Example: Andaman & Nicobar Islands] 2) Wetland → Livelihood →1million people 3) Source → Fuel, Food, Fiber, Fodder [Example: Sea grass] 4) Genetic resource → Several Species & Medicine 5) Carbon sequestration → Peatland 6) Economical importance →Transport, Tourism, Cultural & Spiritual value. [Example: Vembanad Lagoon] 7) Nutrient filtration → Bioremediation & Biodegradation [Example: East Kolkata Wetlands]”
Q43,What are the threats to wetlands?
1) Agriculture expansion → Paddy fields; Aquaculture → Shrimp cultivation → Quality deterioration → Wetland [Example: Lake Chilika]; Salinization → Groundwater → Exploitation. 2) Pollution load → Fertilizers & Pesticides → Eutrophication. [Example: Lake Wular] 3) Developmental pressure → Industries → Effluents & Encroachment [Example: Lake Bellandur] 4) Hydrological activities → Construction Activities → Dam, Canals, Streams etc. 5) Dredging in Streams → Lower water table → Wetland → Drying. 6) Exotic species → Salvinia &Water hyacinth → Eliminate native vegetation. 7) Climate change → Spatial & Temporal Variation → Frequency & Intensity → Precipitation, Drought etc.”
Q44,What are the initiatives taken for the Conservation of Wetlands?
1) International initiatives: (i) Ramsar convention → Montreux Record → Wetlands → International importance; (ii) Wetland international → BLiSS; LIFE project → Europe; Wetland reserve program → USA; PREZOH → IUCN. 2) Indian Initiatives: (i) Wetland rules → 2010 & 2017; (ii) NPCA; (iii) CWCM;”
Q45,What is meant by Wetland?
1) Wetland → Dynamic aquatic ecosystem → Area of land → Saturated with water → Seasonal/Permanent → Except Antarctica. 2) Natural Wetlands: Mangroves, Marshes, Rivers, Lakes, Floodplains, Paddy fields. Marine areas → Depth → below 6 meters → Low tide. 3) Human made wetlands: Waste water ponds, Reservoirs, Salt pans etc. 4) India → 4.6% of land → 15 million hectares → Wetland.”
Q46,What is Ramsar convention?
1) Ramsar convention → Intergovernmental pact → Objective → Conservation + Wise use → Wetlands’ initiative → International, National, Local level. 2) Three pillars → (i) Wise use; (ii) List of wetlands → International importance; (iii) International cooperation. 3) Criteria: (i) Representative, Rare, Unique → Natural/Near natural wetland. (ii) Species → Vulnerable, Endangered, critically endangered; (iii) Plant/Animal species → Biological diversity; (iv) Plant /Animal species → Critical stage → Life cycles; (v) Water birds → Above 20,000; (vi) Individuals → 1% of species (vii)Significant proportion→Indigenous fish species. 4) IOPs → (i) Birdlife International; (ii) IUCN; (iii) IWMI; (iv) Wetlands International; (v) WWF; (vi) WWT. 5) Other partners: UNCCD; CMS; UNCBD; World Heritage Convention; CITES.”
Q47,What is meant by Montreux Record under the Ramsar convention?
1) Montreux record → Register for wetlands → International importance → Parameter → Ecological character → Technological developments; Pollution; Human interference. 2) Criteria: (i) Change → Ecological character → Human interference; [Example: Keoladeo National Park; Loktak lake]”
Q48,What about the financial mechanism behind Ramsar convention?
1) Project Funding → Multilateral development bank; Bilateral donors. 2) Voluntary Contributions → UNEP, UNDP, NGOs etc.”
Q49,What is the significance of Ramsar convention?
1) Only International treaty → Specific ecosystem. 2) Focus of treaty → Water birds’ habitats. 3) Trans-boundary initiatives → Promotes Environmental integrity. 4) Wetlands →30 % of Land based Carbon → Peatland → Foster CO2 sequestration. 5) Ensures the compliance → Nation’s initiative.”
Q1,What is Environmental Protection Act-1986?
1) EPA → Empower → Central government → Prevent & Control → Environmental pollution; EPA → tackle Specific issue → different states. 2) Constitutional provisions: (i) Article 48A → Protect & Improve → Forest, Wildlife & Environment; (ii) Article-51A → Fundamental duties → Protect & Improve → Natural environment; (iii) Article 253 → Enactment → Effecting → International agreements. 3) Objectives: (i) Coordination → Activities → Different agencies (ii) Sustainable development → Environment (iii) Ensure → Right to life → Article-21”
Q2,What are the salient features of Environmental Protection Act-1986?
1) Act → Empowers the Central government → Appropriate measures → Prevention, Control & abatement → Pollution. 2) Central government / Authorized person → Collect samples → Air, Water, Soil etc. → Evidence → Offence. 3) Special procedure → Handling → Hazardous substance; Central government → Directives → Operations, Process, Closure, Regulation → Any Industry. 4) Penal provision: Minimum 5 years → Jail term/Fine/both. 5) Grants Immunity → Officers → Central government → Functions → assigned. 6) Jurisdiction provisions: Debars → Civil court’s Jurisdiction → Regulations → Under EPA 7) Supremacy → Provisions of EPA → Any act → Inconsistent.”
Q3,What are the drawbacks of the act?
1) Complete centralization → States → No power → Arbitrariness & Misuse; (ii) No public participation; (iii) Lackadaisical coverage → Pollutants; (iv) Deterrent → Industrial activities; (v) Emphasize Closure → Rather than Regulation; (vi) Financial crunch → Implementation.”
Q4,What is the significance of Environmental Protection act-1986?
1) (i) Maintain the balance → Need & Availability; (ii) Bedrock of act → Polluter pays principle; (iii) Comprehensive definition → Environment; Pollutant; Pollution; Hazardous substance; (iv) Explicit Prohibition → Discharges → Environmental pollutants (v) Any citizen → Approach the Court → Offence → Under EPA.”
Q5,What are the progressive measures which are taken under EPA-1986?
1) Notifications: (i) CRZ notification-1991; (ii) CRZ notification-2018; (iii) Environmental Impact Assessment. Note - CRZ (It’ll be covered in upcoming class) 2) EPA Jurisdiction → International initiatives: (i) Montreal Protocol (ii) Basel convention (iii) Rotterdam convention (iv) Stockholm convention (v) UNFCCC (vi) CBD (vii) UNCCD.”
Q6,What is meant by Wildlife protection act-1972?
1) WPA act 1972 → Legal Protection → six schedules → Plant, Animal & Avian species; 2) Constitutional provisions: (i) Article 48A → Protect & Improve → Forest, Wildlife & Environment; (ii) Article-51A → Fundamental duties → Protect & Improve → Natural environment. 3) Need: (i) India → 2.4 % of land area → 7-8 % of World recorded species; (ii) Since 1940 → Massive decrease → Flora & Fauna; (iii) Stringent punishments → Violators & Poachers.”
Q7,What are the major threats to wildlife in India?
1) Threats: (i) Human habitat expansion; (ii) Habitat degradation & Habitat Fragmentation; (iii) Over exploitation → Natural resources; (iv) Hunting & Poaching; (v) Climate change; (vi) Human-wildlife conflict; (vii) Anthropogenic activities [Industries; Mining; Agriculture; Infrastructure development].”
Q8,What are the salient features of the act?
1) Institutions: NBWL & SBWL → Apex body → Wildlife related issues → (i) Selection of areas; (ii) Policy formulation; (iii) Review & Approve → Wildlife projects (iv) No alteration → Boundaries → Without approval → NBWL. 2) Management boards: (i) Central zoo authority → Oversight of zoos (ii) NTCA → Statutory body → Project Tiger → Supervisory; Capacity development; Coordination; (iii) WCCB → Wildlife intelligence. 3) Umbrella protection → National parks; Wildlife sanctuaries; Conservation reserves. 4) Grass root level authorities →Wildlife advisory boards & Wildlife warden → Powers & Duties 5) Regulations: (i) License → Sale, Transfer & Possession → Certain wildlife species. (ii) Prohibited → Hunting &Trading → Certain scheduled species. 6) Schedules: Schedule I & II [Example: Tiger; Clouded leopard] → Absolute protection → Offence → Maximum penalties; (ii) Non endangered species → Schedule III & IV [Example: Porcupine; Hyena] → Lesser penalty; (iii) Schedule V [Example: Common crow] → Permitted → Hunting; (iv) Schedule VI [Example: Blue vanda] → Floral species → Forbidden → Cultivation.”
Q9,What is the significance of Wildlife protection act-1972?
1) Significance: (i)1st time → Comprehensive list → Endangered wildlife species; (ii) Define → Wildlife related terminology; (iii) WPA-1972 → Helped India → Membership → CITES; (iv) Regulates → Wildlife trade → Endangered species; (v) Revised → Falling trend → Faunal species. (vi) Encourage → Community participation → Wildlife protection → Community reserves & Conservation reserves.”
Q10,What are the initiatives taken under WPA-1972?
1) Initiatives: (i) Project Tiger → Centrally sponsored scheme → Tiger & Prey base; (ii) Project Elephant → Centrally sponsored scheme → Wild & Domesticated elephant; (iii) Crocodile conservation project; (iv) UNDP Sea Turtle project; (v) Project Snow Leopard; (vi) Project Hangul.”
Q11,What is meant by Green Building?
1) Green Building → Design & Construction → Eliminates → Negative impacts; Positive→Influence → Climate & Natural environment. 2) Components: (i) Life cycle assessment; (ii) Structure design efficiency; (iii) Energy efficiency; (iv) Water efficiency; (v) Material efficiency; (vi) Indoor environmental quality assessment; (vii) Operations & Maintenance optimization; (viii) Waste reduction.”
Q12,What are the salient features of Green Building?
1) Efficiency → (i) Energy; (ii) Water; (iii) Waste recycling; [Example: In-built STP] 2) Power → Major share → Renewables [Solar; Hydro; Wind; Biomass; Tidal; Geothermal] → Utilization. 3) Pollution & Waste reduction measures → Reuse &Recycling [Example: 5R principles] 4) Indoor → Environmental quality → Ideal; Material → Non-toxic → Ethical & Sustainable. [Example: Chopped straw, Grass etc] 5) Considering factor → Environment & Quality of life → Design, construction & Operation; Design → adaptation → Environment change.”
Q13,What are the significance of Green building?
1) Buildings → Primary pollutant → Affect → Urban air quality; Green buildings → Address → environmental conservation & Climate change. 2) Economic significance: Initial Cost → Design & Construction → Green building → High; Operational cost → Low; Maintenance cost → Low; 3) Efficiency → Energy, water & other resources; Protect → Occupant health; Reduce → Waste; Pollution & Environmental degradation; Urban/Heat Island effect. 4) Social significance: (i) Better health (ii) Indoor Ambience → Ideal (iii)Disease burden → COPD & Lung cancer → Very low; Occupants Productivity → Outstanding.”
Q14,What can be done for the promotion of Green buildings?
1) Tax incentives & capital Subsidies → Construction; (ii) Single window clearance→Green buildings; (iii) Uniformity → Standards → ECBC → Dire need; (iv) Roof cooling → Mandatory norm; (v) Developing skilled work force → Skill India Mission → Construction & Maintenance.”
Q15,What is meant by GRIHA?
1) GRIHA → TERI & MNRE; National rating tool → Principle → Balance → Energy & Environment. 2) Benefits: (i) Pollution load → Low; (ii) High water efficiency; (iii) Energy emission intensity → Negligible.”
Q16,What are the initiatives taken for promoting the green building?
1) International initiatives: (i) Green star → G.B.C of Australia; (ii) UNEP → Sustainable buildings & Climate initiative; (iii) US → LEED; (v) UK → BREEAM. 2) India: (I) IGBC → GRIHA; (ii) Eco niwas samhita [ECBC-R]; (ii) ECBC-C;”
Q17,What is meant by Climate resilient agriculture?
1) Climate resilient agriculture → Approach → Principle: Sustainability → Using → Natural resources → Crop & Livestock production → To achieve → Long term → Higher productivity. 2) Climate change → Reduce → Agriculture income → 15 to 25%. 3) Outcomes: (i) Improved access; (ii) Utilization of technology; (iii) Transparent trade regime; (iv) Resource conservation → Increase; (v) Climate stress → Increased Adaptation → Crops & Livestock.”
Q18,What are the strategies and technologies for Climate resilient agriculture?
1) Tolerant crops → Stress: (i) Salinity, (ii) Moisture etc → Adaptation → Gene level → To maintain biomass. [Example: Green gram- B.M 2002-1; Pigeon pea - BDN-708]. 2) Tolerant breeds → Unique characteristics → Adaption → Specific eco system → Lower productivity → Better thermo-regulation → Low resource footprints. 3) Feed management → Alteration → feeding time; Feeding frequency; Diet composition. 4) Water management → Smart tech → (i) Furrow irrigated raised bed (ii) Micro irrigation (iii) Rain water harvesting (iv) Drainage management 5) Agro advisory: Advisories → Technocrats → Spatial & Temporal variations → Proactive measures. 6) Soil organic carbon → Conservation agriculture technologies [ Example: (i) Zero tillage; (ii) Crop rotations; (iii) Cover crops] → Nutrient recharge → refill → soil organic matter.”
Q19,What are the challenges in Climate resilient agriculture?
1) Challenges: (i) Arable land → Scarcity; (ii) Water → Saline strength → High → Certain zone; (iii) Obsolete Technology; (iv) Nature resources → Depleted → Beyond threshold; (v) Precipitation → extreme variation → Intensity & Frequency; (vi) Highly resistant pest [Example: Two spotted spider mite].”
Q20,What is the significance of Climate resilient agriculture?
1) Significance: (i) Agriculture productivity → High → Boost → Farm income; (ii) GHG emissions → Very low; (iii) Sufficient production → Food; Fuel; Fodder; Fiber; (iv) Carbon sequestration → Green carbon → Higher → Conventional agriculture; (v) Crop diversity → high → Resilience → Pest infestation; (vi) Livestock Workforce → Female participation→ Increased → House hold income [Example: Tanzania].”
Q21,What are the initiatives taken for Climate resilient agriculture?
1) India: (i) NMSA; (ii) NICRA; (iii) National adaptation fund; (iv) SAPCC; (v) P.M Krishi sinchai yojana. 2) International: (i) COP-22 → Adaptation of African agriculture; (ii) Europe → Project Agro-mix; (iii) USA → Climate resilient farming program; (iv) CAADP → Africa”
Q22,What is meant by carbon sequestration?
1) Carbon sequestration → Long term storage → carbon → Carbon sinks → Plants, Soils, Geologic formations & Oceans; 2) Atmospheric CO2 Pathway → carbon sequestration → Natural & Anthropogenic 3) Types : (i) Biological carbon sequestration [Example: Ocean; Forest; Soil; Grassland] (ii)Geological carbon sequestration [Rock caverns] (iii) Technological carbon sequestration [Example: Graphene production; Engineered molecules; Direct air capture] (iv) Industrial carbon sequestration [Example: Pre-combustion; Post-combustion; Oxy-combustion]”
Q23,What are the methods in carbon sequestration?
1) Natural carbon sequestration → Natural forces → Balance of CO2 ; All organic life → CO2 based → When they die → CO2 → return to sink. 2) Artificial carbon sequestration → Number of process → Carbon emission → Captured at source → Buried; Geo sequestration → CO2 → Pumped → Underground chambers [ Oil reservoirs; Rock cavern; Aquifers]”
Q24,What is the significance of Carbon sequestration?
1) Prevention → Large quantities of CO2 → To keep temperature → Preferably below 1.5˚C → Pre-Industrial level. 2) Potential tool → Mitigation → Fossil fuel emission → Global warming & Ocean acidification. 3) CO2 → Injected → Geological formations → Multipurpose → (i) Enhance → Oil recovery (ii) Long term storage. 4) Ideal platform → To reduce → Atmospheric & Marine accumulation → GHG → Blue carbon & Green carbon. 5) Deep socket → Coal mines → CO2 absorption → surface of coal → Methane → Recovery. 6) Faster sequestration → Increase in productivity → Employment generation”
Q25,What are the challenges of Carbon sequestration?
1) Challenges : (i) Technology → Nascent stage (ii) Corporations → Developing countries → Resource crunch; (iii) Cost affordability → Very poor → Extensive use; (iv) Energy intensity → Operations → Extremely high; (v) Technical transfer → Developed countries → Lack → Political will; (vi) Disturbance → sink → Mass release of CO2 → Unintended consequences; (vii) Storage → Under ocean → Possibilities → Rapid Ocean acidification.”
Q26,What are the initiatives taken for Carbon sequestration?
1) International: (i) Blue carbon initiative; (ii) European commission → Carbon farming (iii) CCUS project network. 2) Corporations: Century plant → USA; Shute creek gas processing plant → USA. 3) India: (i) MGNREGA (ii) National mission for green India (iii) Carbon capture → RIL, UNILEVER etc”
Q1,What is meant by coral?
1) Coral → Coral polyps → Symbiotic relationship → Zooxanthellae; Zooxanthellae → photosynthesis → nourishment → calcification; 2) Corals → Beautiful colors → zooxanthellae; Corals → protected environment → Algae. 3) Types: (i) Hard coral→reef builders [Patch; Fringe; barrier; atoll etc]; (ii) Soft coral [Example: Sea fans] 4) Necessity condition: (i) Clean, clear & Shallow water; (ii) Ample sunlight; (iii) Temperature → 20˚C to 32˚C; (iv)Average saline → 27 to 40 %. 5) Largest coral reefs: (i) Great barrier reef → Australia; (ii) Red Sea coral reef → Israel, Djibouti & Egypt; (iii) Florida reef → United states of America.”
Q2,What is meant by coral bleaching?
1) Coral bleaching → Stress → Temperature, Light, Nutrients etc; Coral → expel → Zooxanthellae → white → Coral bleaching. 2) Translucent tissue → pale white → symptom → coral bleaching; Non severe bleaching → Coral → Recoverable; 3) Places of coral bleaching → Indian ocean, Pacific Ocean. Caribbean ocean etc.”
Q3,What are the causes of coral bleaching?
1) Causes → (i) Irradiance (ii) temperature rise; (iii) Ocean acidification; (iv) sub-aerial exposure; (v) Chemical pollutant [Example: Xenobiotics]; (vi)Eutrophication; (vii) UV - penetration; (viii) Sedimentation; (ix) Contagious diseases; (x) Human induced threats [Sea-bed mining; Overfishing etc]”
Q4,What are the consequences of Coral bleaching?
1) Coral bleaching → Affect → Dependent species → impact → food chain. 2) Coral bleaching → Affect → Endemic species → survival [Example: Dugong-dugong] 3) Genetic and species diversity → Low → resilience → low. 4) Coral bleaching → Fish catching → reduce → Monetary benefits → Poor 5) Vulnerability → Coastal shore → High [Erosion, Flooding, Storm damage, Tsunami etc.] 6) Carbon sequestration → Poor → Release of carbon → vulnerable → climate change.”
Q5,What are the initiatives taken for preventing the Coral bleaching?
1) International initiatives: (i) ICRI; (ii) Global coral reef monitoring network; (iii) Reef islands initiative; (iv) LOICZ; (v) Coral reef alliance. 2) Indian Initiatives: (i) ICMAM; (ii) SICOM; (iii) COMAPS; (iv)Coral reef mapping & Reef health monitoring → ESSO. 3) Conventional measures: (i) Pollution → Reduction → recycle; (ii) Delineation → Trawler → Route map; (iii) Artificial reef [Example: Gulf of Kutch]”
Q1,What is Kigali agreement?
1) Kigali agreement → 9th amendment → Montreal protocol → Environment treaty → Ozone depleting substance; 197 members → Signed. 2) Objective: Reduction → Manufacture and Usage → HFC → 80 to 85% from baselines → Until 2045. 3) HFC → Replacement → Fluorine and Hydrogen → Organofluorine → Refrigerants & Air conditioning; HFC → Non-ODS → Green-house gas→1000 times potent. 4) Montreal protocol → Fight against GHG → Kigali amendment.”
Q2,What are the Salient features of Kigali agreement?
1) Principle → “Common but differentiated responsibilities” & Respective capabilities. 2) Legally binding agreement → Non-compliance measures → Proper implementation. 3) Different targets → Different factors included → (i) Development; (ii) Socio-economic constraints; (iii) Sophisticated technologies; (iv) Scientific capacities; 4) Three groups: (i) Developed countries → US and European countries → Phase down of HFC → 15% of 2012 level → 2036; (ii) Developing countries → China, Brazil & African states → Phase down → 20% of 2021 level → By 2045 (iii) Developing economies + hottest nations → Phase down →15% of 2024-26 → By 2047.”
Q3,How it is going to provide a funding mechanism?
1) Multilateral fund → Developing countries → Adaptation and Mitigation. 2) Technology and Assessment panel → Periodic review → Alternative technologies → Energy efficiency & safety standards.”
Q4,What is the significance of Kigali agreement?
1) Significance: (i) Enforcing → Paris agreement → Ambitious target → Below 2 degree Celsius → Pre-Industrial level; (ii) Unlike Paris agreement → Clear and concrete targets → Fixed timelines; (iii) Prevention → HFC → 70 billion tonnes → Equivalent to CO2; (iv) Mechanism → Mitigation & Adaptation; (v) Developed countries → Technology support → Developing countries (vi)International arena → India’s credential → Improved a lot.”
Q5,How Indian have been progressing towards the target?
1) HPMP plan: Stage-1 → Successfully implemented → 2012 to 2016; Stage II → Under implementation; 2) ODS rules-2019 → Article 5 → Montreal protocol 3) India’s cooling action plan → compliance → Kigali amendment (i) Thermal comfort (ii)Skilled workforce (iii) Make in India → Domestic manufacturing (iv) Robust R&D → Innovation.”
Q1,What is the mechanism behind ozone formation?
1) Ozone: Location →10% in troposphere & 90% in stratosphere → Absorb → 99% of UV radiation. 2) Mechanism: Formation → 02+0→Sunlight → 03; Depletion → Formation rate < Decomposition rate. 3) Impact of UV-rays: a) On human→ (i) Pre-mature ageing; (ii) Shortness of breath; (iii) Sore throat; (iv) Cough; (v) Chest pain; (vi) Cancer. b) On Food supplies→ (i) Damage sensitive crops [Example: Soya beans] → Food insecurity (ii) Marine phytoplankton → Marine organisms → Supply chain disruption”
Q2,What is the Vienna Convention?
1) Vienna convention →1985 → Multilateral environmental agreement→Protect the ozone → Non-legally binding; Entered in to force→1988. 2) Legally binding targets → Montreal protocol; Ozone secretariat-UNEP [Nairobi]”
Q3,What is Montreal Protocol?
1) Principle → Common but differentiated responsibility; Reducing ODS→Time bound targets; Provisions → For amendment → Economic, Scientific & Technological advancements. 2) Provisions: (i) Article 2 → Control measures; (ii) Article 7 → Reporting of data; (iii) Article 10 → Technical assistance; 3) Regulation of ODS: (i) Annex A→ CFC & Halons; Annex B → Halogenated CFCs, CCl4, Methyl chloroform; Annex C → HCFC → 19th MOP; Annex E → Methyl bromide.”
Q4,What are the initiatives which India has taken concerning the protocol?
1) Implementation agency → Ozone cell [MOEFCC]; India → Article 5 country → assistance → Multilateral funds; ODS in India → CFC, CCl4, Methyl bromide, Methyl chloroform. 2) Steps taken → (i) ODS rules-2000; (ii) Mandatory registration for ODS → Producers, Importers, Sellers etc. (iii) Phased out ODS → CFC, CCl4, Halon etc.; (iv) HPMP plan → Phase I & Phase II.”
Q5,What is the significance of the Montreal protocol?
1) (i) First treaty → Universal ratification → Most successful → 1st environmental agreement; (ii) Decreased → Atmospheric concentration of ODS → 98% reduction → Compared to 1990 level; (iii) Halon → Concentration → Rate of Increase → Decreased; (iv) To fight → Climate change; (v) GHG emission reduced → 135 gigatonnes of CO2; (vi) Ozone layer → Expected to recover → By 2050; (vii) Avoided → 280mn cancer incidents; (viii) R&D → Sophisticated Technology → Foundation stone → Eco green products.”
Q1,How the climate change initiatives have been progressing in Post Paris ?
1) Cop-22: (i) Countries → Earlier set → $100 billion; (ii) 5 year work plan → Loss and damage (2017); (iii) Climate vulnerable forum → Vision document; (iv) COP-22 → COP of Africa; (v) Morocco → Adaptation of Africa agriculture. 2) COP-23: (i) Consensus → Dialogue → Assistance and Tech transfer → Climate change victims; (ii) Koronivia Joint work on agriculture; (iii) Finalized → Gender action plan; (iv) Local communities; Indigenous peoples platform; (v) Powering past coal alliance; 3) COP-24: (i) Paris agreement rulebook → Outlines → Incorporated; (ii) Climate finance → Discussed; (iii) Monitoring and progress report system. 4) COP-25: Chile-Madrid Time for action; No other concrete outcome → In COP 25.”
Q2,What are the objectives and Outcome of COP-26?
1) Objectives: (i) Net zero → Mid-21st centuary; (ii) Adaption → Communities & Natural Habitats, (iii)Mobilization → USD 100Bn/Year; (iv) Unresolved issues → Finalize → Rule book (CoP-21). 2) Outcomes - Glasgow breakthrough agenda: (i) Foster→clean tech, (ii) Phasing out → dirty fuel, (iii) Urged countries → strengthening 2030 targets → Before COP27”
Q3,What are the roadblocks faced by COP-26?
1) (i) Targets → Voluntary; (ii) Penal provisions → Absent; (iii) Data → Insufficiency; (iv) Carbon budget → Anomaly in distribution; 2) Financial mechanism → (i) Fragile statement; (ii) funding commitments from developing nations → Unaddressed.”
Q4,Why Paris rule book is getting delaying even in COP-26?
1) Reluctance → To take action → IPCC report findings; 2) Political will → Poor [Consequences, Climate finance etc]; 3) Tussle → Principle of common but differentiated responsibilities; 4) Poverty & Economic development → Climate change.”
Q5,What need to be done in Post COP-26?
1) Global scale → Rationalization of carbon budget, Measures → LDC and Island Nations; 2) Finance → (i) Beyond 100USD billion; (ii) Healthy carbon market (iii) Clean tech transfer 3) Giant emitters → steep cut [Example: US SHOULD ADVANCE NETZERO DATE BY 2040] 4) India → (i) Panchamrit strategy; (ii) Decarbonisation; (iii) Encouraging EV, (iv) Scaling out polluting power plants etc.”
Q1,What is Paris agreement (CoP-21)?
1) CoP-21 → International treaty → Legally-binding. 2) Ultimate goal: (i)Reduce → Temperature → Below 2 degree celsius /Preferably to 1.5 degree Celsius → Pre-Industrial level; (ii) Adaptation &Mitigation → Vulnerable countries; (iii) Developed countries → Obligation → Developing countries → Finance and tech transfer. 3) 20/20/20 targets → (i) CO2 emission reduction → 20%; (ii) Renewables → Market share → 20%; (iii) Energy efficiency → 20%.”
Q2,What is meant by Intended Nationally Determined Contributions?
1) Article-6 → Paris agreement → (i) INDC; (ii) Global carbon price; (iii) Countries exceed NDC → Pay → Cost of Global warming. 2) NDC: (i) Contribution → Each member → To achieve → Global goal; (ii) Reporting span → Every 5 years; (iii) Contributions → Voluntary. 3) Goal → All countries → Access → Technical expertise & Financial capability. 4) India’s NDC: (i) Emission intensity reduction → 33 to 35% (ii) Renewables → 40% in energy basket [Solar → 100GW; Wind → 60GW; Biomass→10GW; small hydro → 5 GW] (iii) Additional carbon sink → 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes → CO2 equivalent.”
Q3,How Paris agreement differs from Kyoto protocol?
1) Developing & Developed countries: (i) Paris agreement → No differentiation; (ii) Kyoto protocol → Differentiation. 2) INDC → Emission reduction projects → In other countries → can be included.”
Q4,What are the financing mechanisms envisioned in Paris agreement?
1) Developed countries → USD 100 Billion/ Year; Equal distribution → Mitigation and Adaptation. 2) G7 → Climate risk Insurance & CREWS → USD 420 million. 3) USD 3 billion → Green Climate Fund.”
Q5,How has the Paris agreement reoriented the public policy making in India?
1) International initiatives: (i) International solar alliance; (ii) Mission Innovation; 2) Renewables → 40% from Renewables (i) National solar mission (ii) National biofuels policy & SATAT (iii) National Hydrogen Energy Mission (iv)PLI scheme. 3) Energy efficiency: (i) UJALA scheme; (ii)ECBC-R 4) Transport: (i) FAME; (ii) Vehicle scrappage policy; (iii) Indian railways: Going green; (iv) Sustainable aviation etc.”
Q6,What have been the Post Paris agreement roadblocks?
1) Roadblocks: (i) Funding mechanisms → not materialized; (ii) Paris rule book → Unaccomplished; (iii) INDC → Targets are voluntary; (iv) Carbon budget → Inequality in distribution.”
Q1,What is Kyoto protocol (CoP-3)?
1) Principle: Common but differentiated responsibilities → Obligation → Historic emitters; ““Common”” → All countries; differentiated responsibility → Proportional control. 2) Target gases: (i) Carbon dioxide; (ii) Methane; (iii) Nitrous oxide; (iv) Sulphur hexafluoride; (v) groups of HFC; (vi) Groups of PFC. 3) Target: 5% average Emission reduction → 1990 level; Time period →2005-12 4) Historic polluters → US, UK, Japan, France, Russia; New polluters → China, India, Brazil; 5) Funding mechanism: Developed countries → Developing & LDC countries. 6) Voluntary initiative: Developing & LDC countries → Non-binding. 7) Core of KP → Reporting & Verification, Flexible market mechanism, compliance system.”
Q2,What is meant by flexible market mechanism under Kyoto?
1) FMM → (i) Joint implementation [J.I]; (ii) Clean development mechanism [CDM]; (iii) Emission trading[ER] 2) J.I : Annex B → Annex B → Emission reduction units. 3) CDM: Annex B→ ERU project → Developing countries. 4) Emission trading → Two types → Emission trading & Offset trading; (i) Emission trading: Annex I → Remaining carbon credit→ 1 m.t CO2-equivalent; (ii) Offset trading: Investment→ Clean energy projects → Carbon credit.”
Q3,What is the significance of Kyoto protocol?
1) Significance: (i) Bedrock → Paris agreement; (ii) Penal provisions → Failure → Measurement & Reporting → loose the Privilege under J.I; (iii) Emission above cap/Doesn’t make up difference → Difference + additional 30% [For next period]; (iv) Stimulating green investment; (v) Private sector participation → Enhanced; (vi) Visible long term benefits; (vii) Promotes environmental integrity; (viii)Transparency → Carbon trade.”
Q4,What is the criticism behind Kyoto?
1) Annex 1→ Carbon credit/Carbon trade → Ignores → Long term socio-economic benefits. 2) CBDR → Legal pathway →To increase pollution. 3) Excluded → India & China, U.S ; USA → Never ratified; Canada → Withdrawn [2012]. 4) Doha climate change conference → Little progress → Kyoto 2.0”
Q5,How the world is Combating the climate change in Post Kyoto?
1) Paris agreement → CoP-21→ Outcome → Legally binding agreement → Combat climate change. 2) Objective: (i) Temperature→below 2 degree celsius →pre-industrial level; (ii) Efforts → below even 1.5º Celsius; (iii) Mechanism → Mitigation & Adaptation; (iv) Developed countries → Tech support → Developing countries; (v) INDC → Heart of agreement → Non legal → Recognized under CoP-21.”
Q1,What is meant by Dead zone (Hypoxia)?
1) Area in ocean → Oxygen starvation → Low dissolved O2 → Hypoxic condition → Impossible to survive→Biological deserts. 2) Mechanism: Anthropogenic activities → Run off →Addition of nutrients → N, P, K → spike in marine planktons → Decomposition → Oxygen starvation → Dead zone [Eutrophication].”
Q2,How many variants are there in Dead zone?
1) Permanent dead zone → Very deep water → More than a year → Dissolved O2 → below 2 mg. [Examples: Baltic Sea] 2) Temporary dead zone → Duration-Hours or days. [Example: South china sea] 3) Seasonal dead zone → Annual → Warm months. [Example: Australian coast] 4) Diel cycling hypoxia → Warm months → Night → Hypoxic water.”
Q3,How dead zones are occurring?
1) Natural factors: (i) Northerly summer winds → Upwelling → Algal bloom; (ii) Global warming → Lower Dissolved O2 → Catalyze the stratification. 2) Anthropogenic factors: (i) Sewage → Inorganic, Organic nutrients and suspended loads; (ii) Agricultural-run off [Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur]; (iii) Industrialization & Combustion of fossil fuels → Sulphur oxides & Nitrogen oxides.”
Q4,What are the impacts of Dead zone?
1) On marine Organisms: (i) Faunal elimination; (ii) Habitat loss; (iii) Reduction in predatory organisms; (iv) Gill perforation. 2) On Corals: Oxygen starvation → High Turbidity → Affects the photosynthesis → Reduction in Zooxanthalle → Coral bleaching. 3) On Human: (i) Food chain → Supply shock → Food insecurity [Example: Mexico - USD 2.4 Bn loss/annum]; (ii) H. A. B → Hypoxic condition → Cyanobacterial toxins → Health issues → Seashore populations.”
Q5,What are the remedial measures which can be taken?
1) In Agriculture → (i) Conservation tillage; (ii) Integrated nutrient management; (iii) Vertical farming; (iv) Hydroponics; (v) Integrated scientific farming. 2) In Industries & Transports → (i) Scrubbers; (ii) NOx burners; (iii) Steam injection; (iv) Catalytic converters; (v)BS-VI emission standard; (vi) Non renewables → Clean energy. 3) In community level → (i) Phytoremediation; (ii) 5R principles; (iii) Awareness drives.”
Q1,What is Eutrophication/ Hypertrophication?
a) Greek term→ ““Eutrophos”” →Well nourished; Syndrome → Addition of nutrients → Fertilize the aquatic ecosystem. b) Mechanism: Enrichment by nutrient salts → Increase in production of algae → Depletion of fish species → Deterioration of water quality.”
Q2,Why eutrophication occurs?
a) Agricultural run-off→Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium etc. b) Concentrated animal feed operations→ Ammonium compounds→ Cyanobacterial and algal blooms. c) Direct sewage discharge→Inorganic & organic nutrients, Suspended loads d) NPK deposition→Wet and dry”
Q3,Which are the two types of eutrophication?
a) Natural eutrophication: (i) Nutrient → gradual rise; (ii) Catalyst → Natural forces [Example: Landslide, Floods etc]; (iii) Environmental factors → CO2 concentration, temperature & light; (iv) Time duration → Above 100 years. b) Cultural eutrophication: (i) Nutrient influx → excess; (ii) catalyst → Over fertilization, Industrial and agricultural expansion; (iii) Place of occurrence → Fresh and marine; (iv) Time duration → Very short.”
Q4,What are the characteristics?
a) Aquatic plant nutrient influx → High; b) Aquatic plant & animal production→Eliminated; c) Oxygen in hypolimnion → Absent; d) Depth → shallow; e) Water turbidity → high; f) Conductance → High; g) Species diversity → few; h) BOD &COD→high.”
Q5,How does it impact?
a) On Ecosystem → (i) Abundance of unwanted substance [Example: Nitrosamines & Cyanobacterial toxins]; (ii) Gelatinous zooplankton → high; (iii) Benthic and epiphytic algae→high; (iv) Survival of organisms → Very poor;(v) Harmful algal blooms;(vi) Red tide. b) On biodiversity → (i) Dense mat of floating plants [Example: Nile cabbage, Water hyacinth], (ii) Shift in species composition; (iii) Invasive species; (iv) Mobility and recreational activities → Tends to low. c) On human health→ (i) Skin irritation; (ii) Burning eyes; (iii) Tingling; (iv) numbness; (v) drowsiness; (vi)respiratory paralysis.”
Q6,What are the measures which can be taken to contain eutrophication?
a) Preventive measures: (i) Flushing → Nutrient poor water; (ii) remove → Sludge; (iii) Algae → skimming and separation; (iv) Harvest → Fishes and macrophytes; (v) De-stratification. b) Mitigation measures: (i) Demarcation & Surveying; (ii) Buffer strips; (iii) Industrial layout → Restructuration; (iv) Phytoremediation; (v) Common ETPs & STPs.”
Q7,What are the initiatives that have been taken regarding eutrophication?
a) International initiatives: (i) UNEP → IWCAM; (ii) IUCN → GWI; (iii) ICPDR b) Indian initiatives: (i) Common ETPs → Small scale Industries; (ii) National water quality monitoring; (iii) Online effluent monitoring program. c) Schemes: (i) National Lake Conservation Program; (ii) National Wetland Conservation Program; (iii) National Mission for Clean Ganga etc.”
Q1,What is Water pollution?
1) Water pollution → Human activities (Pollutant) → Contamination of water bodies → disrupts aquatic ecosystem. 2) Pollutant → Pathogens/ Organic matter/Chemicals/ Thermal/ Salinity etc.”
Q2,What are the two main sources of water pollution?
1) Point source → origin-Traceable → Easy to regulate Example: (a) Community waste water [Discharges & droppings, Food residue, Detergents & Cleaning agents] (b) Industrial waste water [Hydrocarbons, Phenols, Plasticizer, biphenyl etc.] (c) Thermal pollution → Coolant → Spurt in temperature → Fish kill 2) Non point sources → Origin-hard to trace → Variation → Spatial and temporal → Hard to regulate Example: (a) Agricultural pollutant source [Insecticides, Fungicides, Herbicides, Nematocides, etc] & Agricultural run off. (b) Under ground water pollution → seepage of surface pollutant (c) Marine pollution [Navigational discharge, Oil spilling, sewage, garbage etc.]”
Q3,What are the parameters for measuring water pollution?
1) Parameters → (a) Dissolved organic matter; (b) Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis; (c) Conductivity; (d) Salinity; (e) Temperature; (f) pH and KH testing; (g) Dissolved Oxygen;”
Q4,What are the effects of water pollution?
1) Human health → (a)waterborne diseases[Jaundice; Typhoid etc] (b)Diseases by heavy metals[Minamata; Itai-itai] 2) Aquatic ecosystem → Low Dissolved oxygen → Elimination of planktons 3) Hazards of ground water → (a) Excess nitrate → Impacts Infants [Blue baby syndrome] (b) Excess fluoride [Gastro intestine disorders; Skeletal fluorosis etc] 4) Over exploitation of ground water (a) Leaching of arsenic [Peripheral neuritis; Hyper kerotosis] 5) Excess Nutrient → Eutrophication.”
Q5,What are the Pollution abatement measures which can be taken?
1) For Point source → (a) Riparian buffer; (b) Treatment of sewage → (i) alum → coagulation; (ii) Fluoridation → lower free fluoride ion; (iii) Lime → pH correction; (iv) Chlorine + Alum → Arsenic removal; (v) Limestone → Removing Fe. [STP] 2) For Non point source → (a) Organic farming; (b) INM → Optimizing Agriculture runoff ; (c) Bioremediation [Water hyacinth → Heavy metals absorption; Equalyptus → sewage water absorption → to atmosphere] (d) Oil spills [Oilzapper, Oilivorous etc.]”
Q6,What are the initiatives for abating water pollution?
1) India → (a) National water quality monitoring; (b) Online effluent monitoring system; (c) DRDO → Bio-toilets; (d) Installation of Common ETP → Small scale Industrial Units; 2) Schemes → (a) National Lake Conservation Program; (b) National Wetland Conservation Program; (c) National Mission for Clean Ganga etc. 3) International initiatives → (a)UNEP → Global waste water initiative; (b) UNESCO → International Initiative on Water Quality; Global water challenge etc.”
Q1,What is meant by Ecological succession?
1) Ecological succession→ Changes in species structure, over geological scale. 2) Pioneer community→ Seral →Climax community 3) Seral→ Intermediate stage between pioneer and climax community.”
Q2,What are the characteristics of ecological succession?
1) (a) Changes→Unidirectional; (b) Nutrient cycle→complex and rapid; (c)Genetic and species diversity→Highly diverse; (d)Food webs→complex; (e)Niche differentiation& development→High (f) Productivity→High;”
Q3,What are the variants in Ecological succession?
1) (a) Primary succession→Pioneer species colonization→Organic matter→Invasion of new species→complex ecosystem→Climax community Example: Mauna loa→Volcanic eruption→Windward side→ Organic Substrate→Lichens and microbes→ Montane rain forest. (b)Secondary succession→Climax community→ Devastation and destruction→ Natural and Anthropogenic factors→Invasion of hardy species→Stable ecosystem, Time taken<Primary succession. Example: (a) Acadia National park→forest fire→Evergreen to deciduous; (b)Andaman and Nicobar→Post Tsunami→Mangroves→Wetlands. 2) (a)Autogenic succession → Dominant inside forces, Example: Australian forest→forest fire→Domination of Mammals (b)Allogenic Succession→ Dominant Outside forces. Example: Water hyacinth in water bodies of Assam. 3) (a)Autotrophic succession→Photosynthetic plants→Numerical dominant. Example: Climate change→Polar desert→polar tundra & Eutrophication in water bodies. (b)Heterotrophic succession→Heterotrophs dominate. Example: Invasion of maggots on dead organisms.”
Q4,How humanity gains with ecological succession?
1) Vegetation→carbon sequestration and carbon sink→Green carbon and blue carbon 2) Invasion→Increased biodiversity→Resilient ecosystem. 3) High gene and species diversity→ Complex food webs→ Ensures food security.”
Q5,How Ecological succession harms?
1) Invasive species→Endemic species→Extinction. Example: North America→Kudzu(aggressive vine)→Native plants extinction.”
Q1,What are disasters?
- Disruption on a massive scale + causing severe damage to life and property + occurring in short or long periods 2. It can be either natural (earthquakes + volcanic eruptions + floods + droughts + hurricanes + heat/ cold waves + epidemics) or man made (nuclear attack + accident + gas leak + mining accidents + terror attacks + stampede)”
Q2,What is the disaster vulnerability profile of India?
- 59% of the landmass → prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity. (Delhi earthquake 2015) 2. 5,700 kms/ 7,516 kms long coastline → prone to cyclones + tsunamis. (tauktae cyclone 2021) 3. 12% of its land → prone to floods + river erosion. (Bihar + West Bengal + Assam) 4. 68% of its cultivable area → vulnerable to droughts 5. Hilly areas→ landslides and avalanches. (Dharmshala landslides 2021) 6. Highly vulnerable to man-made disasters→chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear disasters. (Bhopal gas tragedy) 7. Vulnerability further increases → a) changing demographics and socio-economic conditions, b) unplanned urbanization, c) development within high-risk zones, d) environmental degradation, e)climate change, f)geological hazards, g) epidemics and pandemics. (Covid 2019)”
Q3,What is disaster management?
- Organization and management of resources and responsibilities→ to deal with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery→to lessen the impact of disasters. 2. Disaster management cycle; disasters → a) response → b) recovery → c) Mitigation → d) preparedness.”
Q4,What is the institutional framework in India for disaster management?
- 3 tier structure →a) National disaster management authority (NDMA), b)State disaster management authority(SDMA), c) District disaster management authority(DDMA) 2. NDMA → to build safer + disaster resilient India → statutory body headed by PM + assisted by national executive committee 3. National disaster management plan → to achieve sustainable disaster risk reduction in line with Sendai framework. 4. National disaster response force →specialised response during disasters + impart raining to local police, civil defence, home guards + public awareness. 5. SDMA →headed by CM + assisted by state executive committee 6. District disaster management authority → chaired by district magistrate”
Q5,What is Sendai framework which India has agreed to?
- Successor of Hyogo framework → Sendai framework → state = primary role to reduce disaster risk + responsibility shared among all stakeholders. 2. For disaster risk reduction 2015 - 2030 → four priority areas 3. Understanding disaster risk →understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions of vulnerability, capacity, exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the environment 4. Strengthening disaster risk governance → at global, national and regional levels for mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation. 5. Investing in disaster risk reduction →Public and private investment in disaster risk prevention and reduction through structural and non-structural measures. 6. Build back better →disaster preparedness for response, taking action in anticipation of events, and ensure capacities are in place for effective response and recovery at all levels.”
Q1,What can be the solutions to tackle climate change?
- Mitigation →Reducing emissions of and stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere 2. Reducing the use of fossil fuels + increasing the use of renewable energy sources e.g. Solar power 3. Afforestation → increasing carbon sinks 4. Electrification of transport sector and industrial sector → reduce dependence on non-renewable energy 5. Carbon tax + polluter pays principle 6. R&D → to make machines efficient and environment friendly 7. Adaptation →Adapting to the climate change already in the pipeline 8. Building Back Better → Building resilient infrastructure 9. Improving weather forecast systems + usage of satellites to predict vulnerabilities 10.Expanding the horizons of land use planning to incorporate longer climate predictions 11.Adopting drought-proof seeds and crops for agriculture practice 12.Promoting green financing → green bonds, blue bonds and climate financing under international agreements.”
Q2,What are the steps being taken internationally & nationally in this direction?
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) → Kyoto protocol + Paris agreement + REDD+ 2. Adopting common but differentiated responsibility→ protect the interests of developing countries + ensuring collaborative effort. 3. WMO + UNEP → founded the IPCC to provide for a mechanism to study the effects of global warming at a governmental level. 4. International Solar Alliance 5. Transformative Carbon Asset Facility→ A World Bank Fund →to help developing countries implement their plans to cut emissions 6. European Green Deal → by the European Council →to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 7. Mission Innovation→global initiative of 22 countries and EU →to accelerate global clean energy innovation 8. India’s INDC targets → to be achieved by 2030 → a) 40% of the installed capacity for electricity will be from non-fossil fuel sources, b) reduce the emissions intensity of the GDP by about a third, c) additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover. 9. National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)→ with 8 National Missions 10.Coalition for DisasterResilient Infrastructure 11.Raising the domestic renewable energy target to 450 GW by 2030 12.National Hydrogen Mission. 13.India Climate Change Knowledge Portal 14.shift from Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms”
Q1,What is Climate Change?
- Long-term alteration of temperature + weather patterns + variability of phenomenon of a place 2. Not a new phenomenon →Earth’s climate has constantly been changing — even long before humans came into the picture. 3. Includes warming + cooling phases”
Q2,What are the causes of climate change?
- Volcanic eruptions → releasing lava, ashes and pyroclastic material → Mount Pinatuba eruption 1991 →the aerosols formed a global layer of sulfuric acid haze →Global temperatures dropped by about 0.5 °C in the years 1991–1993 2. Changes in the orbit of the Earth → ‘Milankovitch cycles’→ eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession →affects the amount of solar heat that reaches the Earth’s surface 3. Plate tectonics→ Continental drift leads to changes landmass & oceans positions → changes in ocean currents + wind patterns. 4. Changes in Solar Cycle → ““Little Ice Age”” occurred over parts of Earth during the Maunder Minimum (period of near zero sunspot activity) → direct impact on temperature of earth. 5. Increased use of fossil fuels in electricity, transport and industries→Increasing Green House Gases in the atmosphere → global warming. 6. Deforestation→ Trees keep the balance of CO2 and O2 maintained by acting as carbon sinks→ lack of trees → imbalance of gases. 7. Unplanned urbanization → excessive concretization and construction of glass buildings → trapping of heat → disturbing heat budget of the earth 8. Increase in demographic load → over exploitation of resources→carrying capacity of the earth breached. 9. Anthropogenic aerosol → due to uses of fertilizer and burning of plant residues → traps the heat”
Q3,What can be impacts of climate change on different aspects of life?
- Global warming →Increased weather extremities → Forest fires + Sea level rise + Melting of ice caps +Heat Wave + Changes in rainfall patterns and intensity→ increased risk of floods and droughts + intensity of cyclones, tornados and storm surges 2. Changing vegetation patterns →forcing animal species to migrate to new, cooler areas in order to survive. 3. Ocean acidification → threat to marine life 4. Change in Ocean current patterns e.g. Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is losing its stability 5. Spread of new pathogens → giving rise to new and fatal diseases 6. Adverse impact on agriculture productivity → risk to food security. 7. Overall economic losses → as per reports if no action is taken to curtail the global carbon emissions, climate change could cost 5 -20% of annual global GDP. 8. Risk of submergence to small island Nations→ rise in climate refugees. 9. Positive feedback system →rise in temperature →melting of ice caps → release of trapped gasses like CH4 → GHG emissions increased → rise in temperature.”
Q1,What is IPCC and its 6th assessment report2021?
1) Intergovernmental panel on climate change (United Nations body) → assess the science of climate change + guide policy makers to form policies. 2) Assessment reports→determines the state of knowledge on climate change→ So far it has released 5 assessment reports (AR)→ a) AR-1 in 1990, b) AR-2 in 1995, c) AR-3 in 2001, d) AR-4 in 2007, e) AR-5 in 2014 3) 6th Assessment report →Assessment of the climate change on physical science basis. 4) Talks about →a) Current status of climate change, b) Human influence, c) Possible climate futures, d) regional analysis and e) limiting human influence.”
Q2,What is the current status of climate change according to the report?
1) GHG gasses concentration in the atmosphere → risen since 1970s 2) Since 2011→concentrations continue to increase reaching 410 ppm for carbon dioxide (CO2), 3) Global surface temperature in 2011- 2021→1.09°C higher than 1850–1900. 4) Larger increases over land (1.59°C) than over the ocean (0.88°C). 5) Hot extremes→more frequent and intense, while cold extremes→less frequent and less severe. 6) Marine heatwaves→doubled in frequency since the 1980s. 7) The frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events have increased since the 1950s over most land area”
Q3,What is the quantitative assessment of the human influence?
1) Well-mixed GHGs contributed a warming of 1.0°C to 2.0°C 2) Other human drivers (principally aerosols) contributed a cooling of 0.0°C to 0.8°C. 3) Natural drivers changed global surface temperature by –0.1°C to 0.1°C. 4) This means → Net rise of temperature 0.9 to 2.9C”
Q4,What are the future climate predictions by this report?
1) Global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in CO2 is done. 2) Increased frequency + intensity →hot extremes + marine heatwaves + heavy precipitation + ecological droughts + tropical cyclones + reductions in Arctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost. 3) Upper ocean stratification + ocean acidification + ocean deoxygenation will continue to increase in the 21st century→ Changes are irreversible on centennial to millennial time scales 4) The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is very likely to weaken over the 21st century for all emission scenarios.”
Q5,What does this mean for India?
1) India expected to see → higher severity of heat waves ++ forest fires + tropical cyclones 2) Short duration + high intensity rainfall over SW coast. 3) Monsoon precipitation → increase in mid- to long term over South Asia. 4) High occurrence of glacial lake outburst floods + flash flood + landslides 5) Regional mean sea level rise → coastal flooding”
Q6,What has report said about limiting the future climate change?
1) Global collective efforts (especially the NDCs under Paris deal) fall far short of what is required by science to limit global temperature increases by the end of the century to 2C, let alone the desired objective of less than 1.5C. 2) Large scale rapid, sustained and large-scale reductions of climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, methane and others, are required. 3) Anthropogenic CO2 removal (CDR) has the potential to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and durably store it in reservoirs leading to net zero / net negative emissions.”
Q1,What is meant by Earthquake?
1) Earthquake ➔ shaking of earth’s surface; movement along plate boundaries (divergent/convergent/transform) → Stress build up → sudden energy release → seismic waves→ Earthquake. 2) Types ➔ Tectonic (plate movement)/Volcanic (post volcanic eruption; less prevalent)/Explosion (nuclear tests)/Collapse (mine bursts) 3) Causes ➔Natural (volcanic activity, landslides, geological faults rupture, moving Indian Plate (5cm/year)) Anthropogenic (mine blasts, nuclear tests, underground tunnels, reservoir induced etc.) 4) Assessment ➔ Richter scale (energy release), Mercalli (damage)”
Q2,What is Seismic Zonation?
1) Seismic Zonation➔ subdivide territory → regions; based on seismic hazard (Mercalli scale); BIS + IMD → 4 zones (II, III, IV, V); Zone V most active; 59% India’s area →moderate/severe earthquake prone”
Q3,What are the various impacts of Earthquake?
Economical (infrastructure collapse, logistics issue, fiscal burden, rehabilitation cost, livelihood loss); Socio-cultural (life loss, aesthetic loss, heritage sites, migration) Environmental (can trigger landslides, tsunami, avalanches, fires, affect dams → floods)”
Q4,What are the various ways for earthquake preparedness and mitigation in India?
(i) Install Early warning systems➔ IIT Roorkee pilot project; Germany + CSIR project; India Quake+ Sagar Vani App (ii)Earthquake Monitoring and mitigation→ via monitoring stations (Centre for seismology, nodal body ); vulnerability maps; (iii) Multisectoral coordination➔ MoES + IMD + EREC + GSI etc. (iv) Public Awareness ➔community training; role of education and schools (v)Assess construction materials➔ encourage local materials→ bamboo, coir etc. Ex. Bhongas (kutch), Dhajji diwari (J&K), Ekra contruction (Assam) (vi)Resilient buildings➔ abide NBC; soil analysis”
Q5,What are the various initiatives for earthquake management in India?
1) National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (NERMP) ➔ strengthen non/structural efforts 2) National Building Code➔ 2005; regulate construction activities; follow international practices 3) National Centre for Seismology➔ earthquake surveillance reports 4) NDMA Guidelines➔ (i) Awareness Generation➔ manual, safety audits, videos films etc (ii) Earthquake resistant Built up➔ earthquake proofing buildings(Japan model-80% buildings quake proof); NB Code (iii) Capacity Building➔ R&D , joint capacity (NGO, civil society, private etc.) (iv) Draw programs to retrofit existing structures➔govt. building, dams, courts etc. (v) strengthening Enforcements ➔strictly enforcing byelaws, building code etc. ; states responsible (vi)Fast Emergency response ➔ via Incident Command system; local administration coordinate 5) Other Initiatives ➔ (i) Sendai framework signatory(ii) BIMSTEC Ex. (iii) SCOJtEx-2019 → on urbans earthquakes”
Q1,Discuss the evolution of sculptor in Post-Mauryan period?
• After Mauryan’s rule Greek power became prominent. Menander’s rule extended from Sailakot to Patlitputra. • After Greeks -> dynasties: Shaka, Parthian, Kushan. Kushans contributed to the field of Buddhism. • Kanishk, a Kushan, was the first monarch to hold Central Asian states to the Indian state. Commanded the major area of the Silk Route. The rule was extended from Oxus to Varanasi. There were two capitals: Purushpur (Peshawar) and Mathura. • Under the patronage of Kushans, two schools of art developed: Gandhara Art and Mathura Art. Parallel to these developed the Amravati Art in the South. • They developed independently but somehow there is a relation between Gandhara art and Mathura art. • Gandhara art is Greek-Roman art. Mathura art – Indo-Greek. Amravati art – indigenous.”
Q2,What were the features of Gandhara art?
• Mostly blue-grey sandstone or spotted-grey sandstone was used. • Most of the statue of Buddha was sculpted as free-standing statue, e.g. Bamiyan Buddha located in Hindu-Kush Mountains in Kandahar on the Silk route. • Buddha was represented by the Greek god Apollo. So a large halo behind the head is found. • Buddha was generally lean and thin, covered with a thick cloth. • Semi-closed eyes were sometimes represented with a moustache, sometime head was saved. • It represented the pre-Nirvana stage of Buddha.”
Q3,What were the features of Mathura Art?
• Red sandstone was used. • Represented all three religions: Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. • Mathura sculptors have been found at Mathura, Sonkh, and Kankalitha. • Buddha was represented in a delighted mood. • Muscular Buddha wearing thin cloth. • There is Pirva Mandal i.e. long hair knotted on top. • Sitting posture, mostly in Padmasana and in different mudras. • Bhumisparsh mudra – one palm in an upright position and the other hand touching the earth, calling the earth to become the witness of truth i.e. attainment of nirvana. • Abhay mudra – expressing the fearlessness and that the light coming from Buddha do not discriminate between people to people i.e. all are equal. • Anjali mudra (Namaste) – denotes regard, learning something and wishing for prosperity.”
Q4,What were the features of Amravati Art?
• Indigenous. • Patronised by Satavahanas, flourished in the Krishna-Godavari valley. • Amravati stupa is a fantastic example. Only the stupa was built by the use of white marble. • Buddhist vihar was constructed at Nagapattinam. • Another example is in eastern India at Dhauli where a large elephant is coming out of a cave. • There are many small sculptors representing the Jatakas stories, and Puranic theme. This form of art is called ‘narrative art’.”
Q1,Give a brief historical background of painting in India
• An elaborate description of the painting is given in the Kamasutra of Vatsayayan -> 6 major parts or limbs of paintings. • But early painting can be traced to the pre-historic period, particularly during the Upper Palaeolithic in the form of cave paintings. • In the Upper Palaeolithic age, natural colours were used that came from plants that were dried up. So dry colour on drywalls was called Murals. E.g. in Bhimbetka in MP, Murahna Pahar in Mirzapur (UP). • Subsequently during the Buddhist period cave paintings were refined. Along with Mural paintings, Frescos are found. Frescos- wet colour on wet plaster. When dry soaked colour became a fresco painting.”
Q2,Discuss the features of paintings found in Ajanta Cave and Ellora Cave.
Ajanta Cave • Here we have a combination of murals and frescos. • Ajanta cave – 29 caves in the form of Chaitya (worshipping place) and Viharas (residence for monks). • Cave no 1 – representation of Bodhisattvas and there is a representation of Tribhaga i.e. 3 great bodhisattvas. 1. Vajrapani – protection and exhibition of Buddha’s power. 2. Manjushree – Buddha’s wisdom 3. Avalokiteshvara – Compassion of Buddha. Also known as Padmapani or Amitabh. • In other caves, all the themes are based on Jatakas stories • Cave no 16 – painting of Dying Princess was also beautifully expressed. • The painting of Harshavardhan meeting with Avalokiteshwar is expressed using painting. Ellora Cave • Themes from all religions, Hindu deities, Jain and Buddha, are present. • Paintings of Vishnu and Lakshmi • Lord Shiva and followers are represented in two forms: solo dance Tandav and marriage of Shiva. • Painting of gracious Apsaras. • Here also murals and frescos were used. Other caves like Bhagh cave painting, Jogimara cave (Sarguja, Chhattisgarh) where continuity in painting can be found from pre-historic to ancient times.”
Q3,Classification of Indian painting
- Mural and Frescos 2. Miniature: 3. Early miniature: Pala School (AD 750-1100) and Apabhrams School 4. Mughal miniature: Rajput school and Pahari School”
Q4,Discuss the features of miniature paintings in Pala school and Apabhrams school.
Pala School of Miniature Art (AD 750-1100) • Earliest miniature painting. • Three rulers who patronised this art: Gopal, Dharmapala and Devpala • Pala rulers patronised Vajrayana Buddhism. The chief deity of Vajrayana Buddhism was Tara, spouse of Avalokiteshwar. • Many paintings are made on the palm leaf of Vallum leaf where a single image was painted. • The painting was used for the religious purpose of the Buddhist monks – to teach and practise the philosophy of non-violence. • Many paintings of Jataka theme and Bodhisattvas were painted in the form of a manuscript. • Famous painters – Dhimman and Vitpal. Apabhrams School of Painting (AD 1100-1500) • Developed in Gujarat and the Mewar region of Rajasthan. • Theme – Hindu god and goddess along with Jainism; representation of secular love in the form of Krishna & Radha. • The human figurine was given importance. • Great accuracy in facial expressions like double chin, pointed nose, and fish-shaped eyes. • Even animals and birds were also represented taking from a popular theme; painting of cow and Garuda. • The influence of Jaina iconography was also found, like the popular theme from Kalpashutra and Kalkacharya Katha in the form of narrative arts. Miniature painting reached its climax during the Mughal period.”
Q1,Reasons of Origin
▪ The word Sufi is derived from the word suf i.e. thick cloth. So those who wore thick cloth were called Sufi. The thick cloth was considered anti-materialistic. ▪ The reason behind the movement: impurity in Islam in the form of rising materialism. Islam is a religion of equality, purity, and simplicity. But very soon Islam was in the grip of hierarchy, glamour, and dominance of the mosque and the maulvis. These were rejected by the Sufi saints.”
Q1,Approach of Sufis: Loving adoration of God
▪ The Sufi movement was started by Jahiz Basra, who advocated maintaining purity and simplicity in Islam. Sufi saints rejected the role of intermediaries like mosques and maulvis. ▪ They said that relation between God and humans is not like the slave and master. Rather there is a loving adoration of humans to God. ▪ In Sufi trading dance (Sama) and music (Raag) are the ways to meet the god. Rituals and intermediaries have no role in the relationship between God and humans.”
Q1,Sufi way of Salvation
▪ Sufi-> in the relationship between God and humans both sides had rights and obligations. ▪ So Sufi tradition said that the biggest hurdle that is preventing humans from meeting the god is ‘ego’. ▪ Ego is mainly because of a lack of knowledge. Ego can be removed by imparting proper knowledge. One can receive knowledge by coming in contact with Pir, who is a mentor having an ocean of knowledge. ▪ Those who received the knowledge were called Murid, i.e. disciples. Those who are Murid today will become Pir tomorrow-> knowledge will be transferred from generation to generation. This is called Silsila i.e. continuation. ▪ Silsila will remove ego from mankind, thereby helping them come closer to god and achieve salvation. There are many silsilas of the Sufis. There are two kinds of Sufism: Wahadat-ul-Shud, which believed in Islamic brotherhood; and Wahadat-us-Wajid, those who believed in the unity of mankind. In India there are many silsilas: • Multan – Shuharwardi Silsila • Northern India – Chisti, • UP and Bihar – Firdausi and Shattari. • Bengal – Khadri • Minor silsilas- Naqsbandiya Sufis, Maneri Sufis. Chisti Silsila: most famous, accepted by a vast section of society. ▪ Under its influence, a large number of lower-caste Hindus converted to Islam. ▪ Founder - Sheikh Moinuddin Chisti ““Garib Nawaz””. He estb his Khanqah at Ajmer. Khanqah was a residential place of Sufi saints. He came to India along with Mohammad Ghori. ▪ But the spread of Sufism in India had nothing to do with the propagation of Islam. It spread because of its value
Q1,Classification of Indian Music
Classical – Hindustani style and Carnatic style Modern – Rock, Jazz, Pop, Blues, Trans Folk Music – Stree Geet, Panihari, Wanawan, Mand, Lavani Others (fusion of classical and folk) – Sugam sangeet, Rabindra sangeet, Haveli sangeet and Ganga sangeet. Indian Classical Music has two distinct varieties : Hindustani music • North India • Became popular during the Mughal period • Fusion of Indian, Persian & Arabic music. • Scope for improvisation -> various Gharanas developed • Equal Importance->instrument & Voice • 6 major ragas • Time factor is important, there are defined notes and variations • Common Instruments: Table, sarangi, sitar, santoor. Carnatic music • Southern India. • Became popular around the same time. • Indigenous • No freedom to improvise -> only one style • More emphasis on vocal music • 72 ragas • No adherence to time • Veena, mandolins, mridangam. • Flute and Veena are common to both.”
Q1,Origin of Hindustani Music
• Both music systems trace their roots to Bharata’s Natyashastra, but diverged in the 14th century. • HM adopted a scale of Shudha Swara Saptak or ““Octave of Natural Notes””. • HM has elements of ancient Hindu tradition, Vedic philosophy and Persian tradition. • Guru-Shishya Parampara carried it forward through generations. • Based on the raga system. Raga is a melodic scale comprising basic seven notes: sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni, and sa. • HM is vocal-centric. Major vocal forms: Khayal, Ghazal, Dhrupad, Dhammar, Tarana, Thumri. • Most of the Hindustani musicians trace their descent to Tansen, known as Gun Samudra. • Tansen, during Akbar’s reign, invented many ragas, like Mian ki Toli, Mian kid rag, and Ragmalhar. • Dhrupad: oldest and grandest form of HM. It is essentially poetic. Rag and alap are integral to it. Alap is exposition proceedings composed in verses. Dhrupad is further divided into various gharana: Dagri, Darbhanga, Bettiah and Talwandi. • Khayal: originated by Amir Khusrau. Popular among artists as it provides scope for improvisation. Short songs in khayal = Bandis. Gharanas: Gwalior, Kirana, Patiala, Agra, Bhendibazaar.”
Q1,What are the various components of Horticulture?
1) Agriculture → related → fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants, spices, cashew, cocoa 2) Capital + labor intensive → India’s share → fruit →10%; vegetable →14%; 2nd largest producer 3) Fruits → Banana top produced fruit (Tamil Nadu); Mango → Largest area cultivated (U.P) 4) Vegetables → highest share cultivation → Potato; Uttar Pradesh → highest in production 5) Flowers → Increase well being + affluence; diverse agro-climatic condition; Floriculture → increasing area → loose + cut flowers; Tamil Nadu→ highest share of production”
Q2,What is the status of horticulture sector in India?
1) Contributes → 30.4% → India’s agriculture GDP; Improving income → rural sector → employment; Doubling farmers income; smaller scale of cultivation 2) Food security + Hidden hunger → reduce; Nutrition → POSHAN abhiyan; roughage+ fibre 3) Increased production → export; Value addition → Food processing industry → raw material 4) Horticulture growth → agriculture; Low per capita consumption → low (46gms,130gm) 5) Cultivable wasteland → Horticulture crop→ without diverting agricultural land”
Q3,What are the challenges to horticulture sector in India?
1) Price realization → dumping of farm produce → distress sale→ dip in production cycle 2) Market inefficiencies → short shelf life + poor storage capacity; poor government policies 3) High input cost + initial capital high → Small+ marginal farmer → lack resources 4) Volatility → price fluctuations; Export oriented → WTO norms → phyto sanitary measures 5) Limited availability → market intelligence + hedging risk → future trading 6) Climate change variability → Ex: loss of apple production → hailstorm, landslide”
Q4,What are the steps that have been taken to increase horticulture production?
1) MIDH → Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture → Integrate → Horticulture+ Bamboo+ Coconut → (a) Holistic development; area based regionally differentiated strategy; (b) Encourage aggregation of farmers → FPO, SFAC, Co-operatives; (c) Improve productivity → germplasm, water use efficiency → Micro Irrigation; (d) skill development + employment generation → post harvest management + value addition + cold storage 2) Remote sensing + Geographic Information System → planning + monitoring; Ex: Bhuvan 3) Technology driven program → High Density Plantation+ Bee-keeping for crop pollination 4) National Horticulture Mission → Rejuvenation, replacement senile plantations → canopy management → low productivity farms; Integrated Pest Management; Post harvest management + processing; Cluster based development 5) Construction of green houses, shade net house, plastic mulching, plastic tunnels, anti bird/hail nets → construction cost to be minimal 6) TOPS/Operation Greens → enlarged → 22 perishable products → Subsidy on transportation + storage → TOP → TOTAL → increase market availability → avoid distress sale 7) National Bamboo Mission→ Yield + new variety + coverage area for bamboo; Promotion of marketing → handicrafts; Develop technology → scientific + traditional; Employment”
Q1,What is the status of production of pulses and millet in India?
1) Pulses → High quality protein + complement cereal protein; Low cost → Dietary habit suited 2) Leguminous crops → restoring → soil fertility; Source of Protein; Less moisture → dry conditions; Major states → Madhya pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gram → 40% share; Tur/Arhar → 20%; Cultivated → Marginal + sub marginal land 3) 2023 → International year of Millet. Common millet grown → Jowar(sorghum), Bajra, Ragi etc. Millet → 60% less coverage area; Important source→ Nutritional security”
Q2,Why is the government pushing towards increasing pulses and millet production?
1) Famine reserves → non-acid forming, non-glutinous, highly nutritious, easily digestible, low glycaemic index (GI) → slow release of glucose; good amount of dietary fiber 2) ‘Miracle grains’ + ‘crops of the future → Wider adaptability → coastal → dry areas→ withstand → moisture + temperature variability + drought resistant 3) Dual purpose → Food + Fodder → livelihood + livestock; low use of chemical fertilizers 4) Curbing the life style disease → important to fight changing disease burden of India 5) Environmentally sustainable agriculture → reduce atmospheric carbon pressure”
Q3,What are the issues with production of pulses and millets?
1) Climate resilient staple food crops → dry land agriculture; Rain fed area → most cultivated 2) Supply – demand mismatch; Decreasing production; low demand due to look + taste 3) Short–shelf life → storage → primary processed product; Lack of awareness → health benefit 4) Higher incidence of pest + fungal infection → rainy season; Absence of production support 5) Competition → market friendly remunerative crop + preference pattern in consumption 6) Huge import bill; Policy bias towards → Rice + wheat; Low yield → seeding + milling loss”
Q4,What are the steps that have been taken to increase pulse and millet production?
1) Inclusion in (Targeted) Public Distribution System → sub-mission ‘Nutri-cereals’ → high nutritive value + anti-diabetic properties 2) Nutritional Security through Intensive Millet Promotion → under RKVY → integrate improved production + post harvest technology; NFSM → enhance production 3) Pricing support → MSP + price realization + procurement + inclusion under NFSM, PDS 4) Short duration → Pest resistant crop; Seed multiplication→ increase per capita availability 5) Area expansion → change cropping system → cereal-based cropping, inter-cropping 6) Buffer stock → overcome seasonal variability → Food + nutritional security → Protein; Low carbon + water footprint → sustainable farming system + dietary diversification 7) Small holder centric crop → Efficient market system → FPO+ electronic National Agriculture Market → value chain integration”
Q1,What is demographic transition?
1) Population of region → High birth/high death → low birth/low death → rural agrarian → urban industrial → cycle → demographic cycle 2) first stage → high fertility + high mortality; Growth → slow; Second stage → fertility → mortality; Third stage → decline in mortality (net addition); Last stage → fertility + mortality stabilizes; population either stable → grows slowly”
Q2,What is demographic dividend?
1) India → 62.5% → 15-59 years; Peak around 2041; share of working age population → 59% 2) Economic growth potential → shifts in a population’s age structure → share of working-age population > non-working-age share 3) First → Working age population increases + % of dependents (young + old) decrease 4) Second → increase in adult longevity → savings increase → economic growth + investment”
Q3,Why India should focus on demographic dividend?
1) Economic growth → increasing economic activity → domestic demand → higher working population→ per capita GDP increase → consumption increase 2) Human capital → Potential workforce → advanced economy + self reliant India 3) Increased labor supply → Productivity + skill; Capital formation → Increase stock of capital 4) Accelerate shift → knowledge economy + disruption→ innovation economy → unicorns 5) Creation → social goods → health + education → resource divert → infrastructure 6) NFHS 5 → TFR → Replacement rate (2.1) → 19 states; Demographic shift → 1020women /1000 men; Sex ratio at birth → 929; More than 50% → anaemic child + women; Significance → Urban (1.6)-Rural divide (2.1) in TFR; North (younger + male)-South divide; Challenges → Women → translate → economic freedom + autonomy; literacy rate; overcoming divide”
Q4,What are the challenges of demographic dividend?
1) Enhancing skill → human capital → unproductive + under employed 2) Low human development → Nutritional deficiency+ Life expectancy + stunting + wasting 3) Informal economy → low wages + little social security → seasonal employment 4) Jobless growth → deindustrialization, de-globalization, 4th industrial revolution, technology 5) Asymmetric demography → Concentrated poor state → Southern states → replacement rate 6) Skewed gender ratio → Declining female labor force participation → 27% 7) Demographic disaster → Digital technology substituting current jobs + lack of skills → increase old population → economic insecurity → state burden → social security”
Q5,What can India do maximize the outcomes from it’s demographic dividend?
1) Addressing social evil → child marriage, access → quality sexual + reproductive health services + family planning services + contraceptives → reducing fertility 2) Building human capital → Investing → healthcare + education + job + skill → NSDC + PM kaushal vikas yojana + digital literacy; inclusive society → fighting erosion of opportunity 3) Nutritional security → RMNCH + A → ICDS scheme → Start up + Stand up India scheme 4) Urbanisation → Planned + safe sustainable cities; Smart City Mission, AMRUT mission 5) Job creation → formal + white collared → EODB → Business interest + entrepreneurship”
Q1,What is population growth?
1) Change → number of inhabitants + specified territory + specified time; Might be +ve/-ve 2) Natural growth → Births – Deaths; Actual growth = Natural Growth + Net Migration 3) Density → number of people/size of the land → Persons/sq km”
Q2,What are the factors that influence population distribution?
1) Geographical factors → Availability of fresh water, Land forms (gentle slopes, plains), Climate (harsh climates → sparsely populated), Soils (agriculture soils) 2) Economic Factors → Minerals(mining), Urbanization (Migration), Social + Cultural factors, Industrialization, Ease of living, economic opportunities”
Q3,What are the different types of migration in India?
1) Internal migration → Inter + Intra regional; Long term + Short term; Construction; 2) Rural-Urban Migration → Economic reasons → Second five year plan → industries set up, Large growth → IT industry; increased by LPG based reforms 3) Seasonal migration → rural landless, agriculture, religious reasons → urban areas → Footloose industries; under employment; Tourism industry → Hilly areas in summer 4) Rural-Rural migration→ social reasons → marriage, communal tensions, evictions, resettlement; Urban-Rural → reverse migration/counter current → largely old population”
Q4,What are the challenges of migration in India?
1) Urbanization→ demographic explosion + poverty-induced → rural-urban migration 2) Inter state migration ~ 9 million annually; Climate change → Disaster induced migration 3) Distress migration → rural-agrarian crisis; pandemic induced → lock down; Vulnerability increases due to → lack negotiating power + lack social + political clout 4) Ghettos and urban slums; social impact → crime rate increase; poor social indicators 5) Environment degradation → urban ecology → urban heat island, eutrophication of urban water bodies, air pollution, land + water stress. Ex: Bengaluru”
Q5,How can the problem of increasing migration be resolved?
1) Structural gaps → circular migration → Opportunities in rural areas → Shift from primary to tertiary sectors; social security + formalization of economy → estimation of number 2) Development of satellite towns → alternate industry; absorb the excess migrant 3) Rural urbanization → RURBAN mission; MPLAD, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, PURA 4) Developing → functional towns + functional specialization; reduce load on urban centres 5) Smart city mission → Affordable housing programs (PM AWAS yojana); Law enforcement needs to be sensitized → Looked with suspicion 6) Peace, stability, regional development, digital literacy → ASPIRE scheme, DISHA, CSC scheme, MGNREGA → Better remuneration and timely payments”
Q1,What are the features of Indian cropping pattern?
1) Proportion of area → crops → given time → unit area; Temporal + spatial arrangement 2) India → tradition bound + Food crop oriented (rice, wheat → base crop) + regional variation 3) Subsistence level → Number of crops grown; Cash crops → Negligible; Rain fed nature 4) Small size → Land holding; Over dependency → Food security; Pressure → Land resource 5) Cropping System = Cropping Pattern + Management; Efficient utilization of resources + Stability, Higher net agricultural return”
Q2,What are the factors affecting cropping patterns?
1) Geographical Factor → physical environment + fertility + climate + temperature + moisture 2) Socio - Cultural Factors- Food Habits, Customs, Traditions, local preferences etc. 3) Infrastructure Factors → Irrigation, Storage, Transport, Extension Services etc. 4) Economic Factors - Land Ownership, Land Tenancy, Land tenure, Size of Land Holding Labor Intensive and capital-intensive agricultural crops, information system + marketing 5) Technological factor → Mapping, drones, availability of genetic seeds 6) Government policy → Non-distortion, price support mechanism, rural credit availability”
Q3,What are the significance of cropping systems?
1) Enhancing soil fertility → Nitrogen fixation; perennial forages + millet → soil organic content 2) Inhibit pest, disease → biological predator; reduce homogeneity, against dispersal of pest 3) Resource efficiency → Integrated farming system → ecological sustainable 4) Reduce risk of crop failure → differential response → climate → income security to farmer 5) Food security → fork to farm; nutritional deficiency overcome; crop diversification”
Q4,What is the changing nature of cropping pattern in India?
1) Pre-Green Revolution Phase → 3/4th, → under food crops → sugarcane dominated 2) Green Revolution Phase → MSP announced → assured market + income; wheat-rice predominance; self-sufficiency; intensive + commercial agriculture production system 3) Economic Reform Phase → rise of Agricultural export + corporate, contract farming + mechanization + diversification → non-food crop prominence; Prime moving force”
Q5,What steps have been taken to correct the imbalances in cropping pattern?
1) Reasons → food grains → remunerative + productive; MSP → rice, wheat high sans millet 2) Change in consumption pattern → cereals → rice + wheat; food processing + middle class 3) Change from demand driven production pattern → reduce input cost; storage is poor 4) Gov Measures → National food security mission → increasing production → pulses 5) Increasing push towards oil seeds + oil palms; millet; fortification of crops; horticulture 6) Rationalization of MSP; Soil health card scheme → improve soil fertility + organic farming”
