Daily Current Affairs

May 26, 2025

Current Affairs

Bharat Forecast System 

Context: The Ministry of Earth Sciences launched 'Bharat Forecast System'- the world's highest-resolution numerical weather model with a 6-kilometre grid. It will significantly enhance Indian Meteorological Department’s weather forecasting capabilities, especially with respect to extreme rainfall and cyclones.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Bharat Forecast System.

Bharat Forecast System

  • Bharat Forecast System (BFS) is India’s first indigenously built weather model.
  • Developed by: Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). 
  • Spatial resolution: It offers a spatial resolution of 6km x 6 km, making it the world’s first weather model with such high resolution. Weather modellers have been working to fine-tune this resolution to 3km and 1km.
    • Current models like- Coupled Forecasting System (CFS) and Global Forecasting System (GFS) operate at lower resolution of 12 km x 12 km, missing out smaller, localised variations in weather patterns. They are unable to pick weather events occurring over smaller areas within this 144 sq km area unit. 
    • BFS reduces this area to 36 sq km, allowing more granular and precise forecasts.
  • BFS uses supercomputer Arka (with a capacity of 11.77 petaflops and storage capacity of 33 petabytes). 
  • Data from a network of 40 Doppler Weather Radars from across the country will be used to run the BFS model. Gradually, the number of Doppler radars will increase to 100 which would allow the weather office to issue nowcasts- weather forecasts for the next two hours across the country.

Significance

  • Improved spatial resolution will enable accurate forecasts for small-scale weather patterns, extreme rainfall, cyclones and disaster management. 
  • It will also help agriculture and water resource management. 
  • BFS is a deterministic model, i.e., it gives one clear and specific weather forecast based on the current data, rather than multiple possible forecasts.

BFS had been under experimental testing since 2022, and the data generated from it helped improve the accuracy of weather forecasts by 30-64%, depending on the event. 

This development represents a leap in India’s weather forecasting technology with potential impact on disaster preparedness and climate resilience.

Sacred Groves

Context: The state government of Rajasthan has initiated the process for classifying the community-protected ‘Oran’ lands as forests in compliance with the Supreme Court’s direction. The sacred groves will subsequently be notified as community reserves under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 

The SC recognised ‘Oran’ lands as forests under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, in a landmark judgment in 2024. SC has also directed the Central Government to create a comprehensive policy for the management of sacred groves across the country.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Sacred Groves. 

What are Sacred Groves?

  • UNESCO (1996) defined Sacred Groves as an area of natural vegetation preserved through local taboos and sanctions that entail spiritual and ecological values. 
  • They are areas of natural vegetation resembling small forests protected by local communities for their religious and cultural significance. 
Sacred Groves
  • These are important sites for worship and community gatherings. Logging and hunting are strictly prohibited in these territories.
  • Sacred groves are found all over India - especially in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
    • There are around 14,000 sacred groves reported across India. 
    • However, experts believe that the total number of sacred groves could be as high as 100,000.
  • They are known by different names in different parts of India like – Devban in Himachal, Devbhoomi in Uttarakhand, Gumpa forest in Arunanchal, Sarna in Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, Deorai/Devrai in Maharashtra, Kavu/Sarpa Kavu in Kerala, Devarakadu/ Devkad in Karnataka, Jahera/ Thakuramma in Odisha, etc.

Significance: 

  • It acts as a repository for various Ayurvedic medicines. It is a source of replenishable resources like fruits and honey. 
  • Sacred groves often contain plant and animal species that have become extinct in neighboring areas. They therefore harbor great genetic diversity. 
  • They have become biodiversity hotspots, as various species seek refuge in the areas due to progressive habitat destruction and hunting elsewhere. 
  • They are often associated with ponds and streams, and meet water requirements of local communities. They help in recharging aquifers as well.
  • Prohibition of cutting and chopping of trees helps reduce soil erosion and prevents desertification as in Rajasthan. 
  • They act as lungs in urban landscapes, providing much needed vegetation cover.

Why is this directive significant? 

  • The Centre has usually maintained that the management of wildlife and its habitat is primarily the responsibility of the States. The Centre had noted that the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, empowered States for declaration of any private or community land, as a community reserve, for protecting fauna, flora and traditional or cultural conservation values and practices.
  • The judgment aligned the preservation of sacred groves with the cultural and traditional rights of entire communities.
  • The court has asked the Ministry to develop a plan for a nationwide survey of sacred groves. The court said the survey must identify the area and extent of the groves. It said the boundaries of the groves have to be clearly marked but left flexible to accommodate future growth of the forests.

** The court  cited the case study of Piplantri village to highlight how a community-driven initiative came to effectively address social, ecological and environmental challenges in a cohesive manner.

Piplantri village Rajasthan

A village in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, was once a victim to denuded land due to marble mining, exhausted foliage and gender inequality. From being a usual Indian village, Piplantri went on to gain international recognition for its unique model where the villagers plant 111 trees whenever a girl child is born. The girl’s parents and the villagers get together to raise a Fixed Deposit of ₹ 31,000 ($ 450) to support the girl child’s future endeavours.

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The movement was spearheaded by the Padma Shri, Shyam Sundar Paliwal, who was devastated after he lost his 17 year old daughter to bouts of dehydration. He planted a tree in her memory and encouraged everyone in his village to do the same for their daughters. Soon the village was able to revive their land and even earn additional income through the forest produce. The village now has more than 350,000 trees, with various indigenous varieties, proving to be a boon to the Environment and Climate.

Plastic Pollution from Tyres of Electric Vehicles  

Context: In recent years, there has been a global transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs) largely driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. However, recent research reveals negative impacts of the deployment of EVs.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key Highlights of the recent study on EVs impact on environment.

Electric Vehicles

  • Electric Vehicles (EVs) are rapidly gaining popularity across the globe. While they make up only 2% of the total global vehicle stock, they accounted for about 20% of all new car sales in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
  • In India, around 2.5% of new cars sold in 2024 were electric, and the government plans to increase this to 30% by 2030. In China, EVs already account for nearly 50% of new car sales.

Key Highlights of the Study

  • Typically, an EV is at least 15-20% heavier than a comparable conventional vehicle majorly due to the weight of batteries. EVs on account of their greater weight experience higher wear and tear in their tyres compared to conventional vehicles. Thus, EVs release substantially larger numbers of small plastic particles in the atmosphere.
  • EVs are also able to accelerate more rapidly. This can lead to additional stress on the tyres due to increased friction and heat generation. Primary fragmentation (from potholes, braking) produces smaller airborne particles while Sequential fragmentation (gradual wear) produces larger particles.
  • The tyres of heavier and faster-moving vehicles produce a higher proportion of smaller particles (about 1-10 micrometres). Unlike the larger particles that settle on the ground due to gravity, smaller particles remain suspended in the air, adding to the concentration of air pollutants.

Way Forward

  • Expand air quality regulations: Current air quality regulations focus on PM2.5 and PM10, but with the rise of EVs and increased emission of even smaller tyre fragments, these standards need to be expanded to cover ultra-fine particulate pollution.
  • Incorporate Non-Exhaust Emissions: Emissions standards would probably need to account for non-exhaust emissions from vehicles.
  • Research & Development in tyres: Tyre manufacturers would need to invest in research and development to produce sturdier tyres that are better suited to heavier EVs.
  • Improve road infrastructure: Better roads reduce tyre damage and pollution.

Rising Rice Cultivation and its Ecological Cost

Context: India must balance food security with ecological sustainability by adopting climate-smart rice practices, and promoting pulses and oilseeds cultivation. 

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Rice Production in India and its ecological costs.

Rice Production in India

  • India is emerging as the top rice producer in the world with over 140 million tonnes of annual production. 
  • With a buffer stock of 55-65 million tonnes and food security schemes reaching over 80 crore people, rice cultivation has played a vital role in alleviating extreme poverty (now estimated at 2.3% as per World Bank estimates based on HCES data). 

Ecological Costs of cultivating Rice

However, this comes with a price: the ecological costs of cultivating paddy. 

  • Excessive Water Use: Rice is a water intensive crop. Producing 1 kg of rice requires over 3,500 litres of water. It depletes groundwater reserves, especially in Punjab, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Virtual Water Export: India exported nearly 20 million tonnes of rice in FY25 (14 million non-basmati). This amounted to an export of large quantities of water (virtual water export) worsening India’s water stress. 
  • Energy-Water Paradox: Use of rice for making ethanol amounts to the ironical use of energy (pumping water out of the ground) and water to produce energy. 

Sustainable Alternatives: 

  • Gene-edited Rice varieties: Gene-edited rice varieties are expected to produce 10 million tonnes more paddy on 5 million less hectares than at present. They use less water, mature early, and are drought-resistant. However, these seed varieties should be priced at affordable rates to small farmers. 
  • Indigenous Rice varieties: Indigenous varieties must be revived for their resilience to weather extremes as well as their nutritional value.  
  • Methods like Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and System of Rice Intensification (SRI):  
    • Direct Seeded Rice eliminates the practice of transplanting seedlings from nurseries to fields. Instead, the seeds are sown directly in the field using drills or machines. They save up to 25% water, fewer greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependency on labour. 
    • System of Rice Intensification is a method of rice cultivation for increasing rice yield with reduced seed and water demand. SRI involves cultivating rice with as much organic manure as possible, starting with young seedlings planted singly at wider spacing in a square pattern; and with intermittent irrigation that keeps the soil moist but not inundated, and frequent inter-cultivation with a weeder that actively aerates the soil. 
  • Promote Crop Diversification: Entrenched status quo of systemic support for rice and wheat, at the expense of other crops must be disrupted. Increases in minimum support prices have proved ineffective to this end, in the absence of timely procurement of other crops.  Oilseeds and pulses must be given top priority.  
  • ICAR must shift its focus from traditional Green Revolution methods to actively promoting climate-resilient, water-efficient rice varieties. Although some such strains have been developed, old varieties like Sona Masuri still dominate, highlighting the need for stronger institutional push. 

Rice production in India needs an ecological and policy reset. With mounting environmental costs, India must embrace technological innovations, crop diversification, and institutional reforms to ensure climate-smart sustainable agriculture. 

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