Context: Opposition uproar over coal mine project in Chhattisgarh.
Hasdeo-Arand area
The Hasdeo Arand coalfield is spread over an area of 1,879.6 km2 and comprises 23 coal blocks.
Hasdeo Arand is a large coalfield with 1.369 billion tons of proven coal reserves and 5.179 billion estimated coal reserves.
Ecology
The forest is home to 82 species of birds, 167 varieties of vegetation out of which 18 are considered threatened, and endangered butterfly species.
The forest is a habitat and a major migratory corridor for elephants and has had confirmed sightings of tigers.
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education has described it as "the largest un-fragmented forest in Central India consisting of pristine Sal and teak forests."
The forest also acts as the water catchment area for the Hasdeo river, thus maintaining its perennial flow.
Hasdeo river
Hasdeo River is the largest tributary of Mahanadi River.
The river flows in the state of Chhattisgarh.
It joins Mahanadi River near Shiladehi (Birra).
Hasdeo Bango Dam is constructed across this river. The river originates in a place about 10.0 km (6.2 miles) from Sonhat in Koriya district.
The major tributary of Hasdeo River is Gej River.
The river flows through the Hasdeo Arand forest.
Development so far
The coalfield was recommended to be mined in by the Chhattisgarh government in 2010 by diverting 1,898.393 hectares of forest to the Parsa East and Kanta Bavan (PEKB) coalfields which would be allotted to RRVUNL, a state-owned power utility of Rajasthan.
This was challenged in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which suspended the mining work in 2014, but the order was stayed by the Supreme Court, where the matter remains pending.
In 2013 Adani Enterprises announced that its subsidiary Adani Mines would become the mine developer and operator for the PEKB coalfields under a contract with RRVUNL, giving it access to the 450 million tons of coal reserves of the mine.
Coal mining was halted in the PEKB coalfields by mid-August 2022 following widespread protests against the phase 2 extension of it led by local villages that would've been displaced or affected by it.
Context: The Wildlife Institute of India and the Zoological Survey of India have been carrying out assessment of the black-necked cranes.
About the Previous Survey
As per the survey conducted by Wildlife Institute of India in 2016-2017 in Ladakh region, the population size of black necked crane was around 66-69 individuals.
In Arunachal Pradesh, a small population of approximately 11 individuals arrives during winter months.
The important steps taken to protect bird species include:
The Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) is listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby according them the highest degree of protection.
The species is also listed in Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of wild fauna and flora and the Convention on conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).
The important habitats of Black-necked Crane have been notified as a Protected Areas, for example, Changthang Sanctuary, Ladakh.
The Tso Kar Wetlands Complex (Ladakh), an important foraging and breeding ground for Black-necked Crane has been designated as a Ramsar Site in December 2020.
Black Necked Crane
IUCN Status - Near Threatened
Characteristics
Both the sexes are almost of the same size but male is slightly bigger than female.
The upper long neck, head, primary and secondary flight feathers and tail are completely black and body feather is pale gray/whitish.
A conspicuous red crown adorns the head.
The bill is greenish and the legs and feet are black.
The juveniles have a brownish head and neck and plumage is slightly paler than that of adult.
Distribution
The high-altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau are the main breeding ground of the species.
This species is mainly found in China and some populations are also found in India, Bhutan and Vietnam.
High altitude marshes and lakes of Tibetan Plateau (Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu), Sichuan (China), and eastern Ladakh (India) are the known breeding grounds of black-necked crane.
The major wintering flocks are in Tibet, Yunnan and Guizhou (China) and Bhutan (Phobjika and Bomdaling Valleys).
A small wintering population is also found in Sangti and Zimithang valleys of Arunachal Pradesh in India.
Threats
The unavailability of sufficient undisturbed habitat with suitable water levels is a major impediment.
The increased human pressure (like grazing pressure on the limited pastures near the wetlands), and industrial development (like construction of dams) is also leading to the degradation of the wetland habitat.
Further, the major threat to the black-necked crane is the damage to the eggs and chicks, caused by feral dogs.
Wildlife Institute of India
It is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India
Established in 1982, it offers training programs, academic courses and advisory in wildlife research and management.
Located in Dehradun (Uttarakhand).
Zoological Survey of India
It was established in the year 1916.
It works under the Ministry Of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Scientists in ZSI are engaged in exploring, naming, describing, classifying and documenting animals from all over India.
Headquarter is located in Kolkata, and it has 16 regional centres all over India.
Context: Scientists announced the first-ever rhino pregnancy achieved by transferring a lab-made rhino embryo into a surrogate mother.
Background
The last four northern white rhinos were brought to a conservancy in Kenya in 2009.
This population failed to breed in their natural environment because the two males died, and the two females turned out to be incapable of reproduction for pathological reasons.
Leaving surrogacy as the only viable option to produce a northern white calf through IVF.
Challenge
The embryos are all from eggs harvested from two females and sperm taken from a few deceased zoo males, even multiple successes with IVF and surrogacy cannot build a gene pool large enough for a viable northern white population.
Babies will not be born genetically hardwired to behave as one of the species. They pick up those traits from family and social interactions. So, calves born to surrogate southern white mothers need to be raised by northern white adults to learn to be northern whites and carry that legacy for the next batch of IVF calves.
White Rhino
White rhinos are the second-largest land mammal (after elephants).
They are also known as the square-lipped rhinoceros, white rhinos have a square upper lip with almost no hair.
There are two genetically different subspecies that exist.
The Northern white rhino
The Southern white rhino
Difference
Northern White Rhino
They are relatively smaller 1400-1600 kg (adult male); have straight back and flat skull. They have no grooves between ribs; hairier ears and tails and shorter front horn.
Southern white rhino
They are larger 2000-2400 kg (adult male) in size have concave back and prominent shoulder hump. They have concave skull sometimes with distinct vertical grooves between ribs. They exhibit more body hair and longer front horn.
Distribution and IUCN status
Northern White Rhino - Critically endangered
The subspecies is practically extinct in the wild due to being wiped out in their natural habitat of Sudan, Chad, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Uganda, by poachers.
The last two remaining northern white rhinos now live at Ol Petjeta Conservancy in Kenya, which is a private reserve to protect wildlife from poachers.
Southern White Rhino - Near Threatened
The majority (98.8%) of the southern white rhinos occur in just four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
Context: There is consistent arrest and attack on Tamil Nadu and Puducherry fisherman near DELFT island in the Palk Bay Sea area despite diplomatic intervention at the highest level.
Confusion in Boundary
India and Sri Lanka share a maritime border of more than 400 kilometres, which cuts through three different seas - the Bay of Bengal in the north, the Palk Bay in the centre, and the Gulf of Mannar (which opens to the Indian Ocean) in the south.
The International Boundary Line (IBL) is close to the shores of both countries in the Palk Bay region, where the maximum distance separating them is around 45 km and the minimum 16 km (between Dhanushkodi on the Indian coast and Talaimannar on the Sri Lankan coast).
Crossing the IBL would mean entering into the territorial waters (12 nautical miles or 22 km) rather than the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Demarcation of Boundary
Even before the Law of the Sea was negotiated at the United Nations, and India declared its 200-nautical-mile EEZ, came the maritime agreements of 1974 and 1976 between India and Sri Lanka.
The 1974 agreement demarcated the maritime boundary in the Palk Strait and ceded Kachchatheevu to Sri Lanka.
The 1976 agreement demarcated the boundary in the Gulf of Mannar and the Bay of Bengal and barred either country's fishermen from fishing in the other's waters.
Concern of fisherman
The continued use of deep-sea trawlers (a practice banned by Sri Lanka since 2017) by Indian fisherman has raised issue of both livelihood and ecological destruction.
Fishermen also face a practical problem as under the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1983, mechanized fishing boats are permitted to fish only beyond three nautical miles from the coast.
Since the distance between Dhanushkodi and the International Maritime Boundary Line is only nine nautical miles, breaches do occur, a point the Sri Lankan Navy not overlooked.
Deep Sea Trawling
Bottom trawling is a method of fishing that involves dragging heavy weighted nets across the sea floor, in an effort to catch fish.
It’s a favored method by commercial fishing companies because it can catch large quantities of product in one go.
Ecological impacts of deep-sea trawling
Habitat Destruction: Trawling can cause physical damage to the seabed and the structures that support marine life.
The heavy gear used in trawling can crush or remove vulnerable habitats such as deep-sea corals, sponges, and other benthic organisms.
Biodiversity Loss: The indiscriminate nature of trawling nets can lead to the capture of non-target species, including various marine organisms.
This bycatch often includes species that are not commercially valuable and can result in the depletion of non-targeted populations, leading to biodiversity loss.
Altered Ecosystem Dynamics: The removal of large quantities of marine organisms through trawling can disrupt the balance within ecosystems.
Targeted species and their predators may experience declines, leading to cascading effects throughout the food web.
Slow Recovery: Deep-sea ecosystems have limited resilience, and the slow growth rates of many deep-sea species mean that recovery from trawling impacts can take decades or even centuries. Some species may struggle to rebuild their populations, if at all.
Carbon Sequestration: Deep-sea ecosystems play a crucial role in carbon sequestration. Trawling can disturb sediments and release stored carbon, contributing to climate change.
Additionally, the destruction of deep-sea habitats reduces their ability to sequester carbon effectively.
Context: A highly lethal form of bird flu has been detected in Antarctic penguins for the first time. The virus, H5N1, was confirmed in two gentoo penguins that were found dead on Sea Lion Island in the Falkland Islands, a British territory.
Penguins
Penguins are a group of aquatic flightless birds.
They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere and only one species, the Galápagos penguin, is found north of the Equator.
Highly adapted for life in the ocean water, penguins have counter shaded dark and white plumage and flippers for swimming.
Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other forms of sea life which they catch with their bills and swallow whole while swimming.
The largest living species is the emperor penguin.
The smallest penguin species is the little blue penguin also known as the fairy penguin.
Larger penguins generally inhabit colder regions, and smaller penguins inhabit regions with temperate or tropical climates.
Species of Penguins and their status
Species of Penguins
IUCN Status
Emperor Penguins
Near Threatened
Royal Penguin
Least Concern
Adelie Penguin
Least Concern
Magellanic Penguin
Least Concern
Humboldt Penguin
Vulnerable
Fiordland Penguin
Near Threatened
Adaptation:
1. Heavy Bones
Although penguins are birds, they have heavy bones, while typical birds have bones that are hollow. The heavy bones allow the penguins to stay underwater like a scuba diver.
2. Paddle Flippers
Unlike fish, the penguin does not have fins. Instead, it uses its wings to move underwater. The paddle-like flippers of penguins allow them to “fly underwater.”
3. Strong Legs
Penguins have strong legs that are also set back on the body. This position allows the penguin to balance itself while standing and yet makes it easy for them to steer when swimming.
4. Webbed Feet and Claws
A penguin’s feet are webbed and clawed. The webbing works in the same way as the feet of a duck. It gives the penguin more surface tension or coverage to allow it to steer.
5. Long and Thin Bill
Penguins have a powerful bill that allows them to catch fish and squid. Since they have no teeth, they must rely on this bill to clasp the prey tightly, especially underwater.
6. Waterproof Feather
Penguins live in cold regions of the earth. To survive extremely cold temperatures, they have adapted to have feathers that keep them warm. Their feathers have a waterproof layer of insulation. Without this, they will die of hypothermia.
7. Blubber or Fat
Another physical adaptation of penguins is the blubber. They have a layer of fat under the skin, and this adds to their capability to stay warm.
8. Counter Shades
Counter shade means that penguins are dark at the back and white at the front. All adult penguins are like this. The theory is that this is adaptive camouflage.
9. Adaptive Swimming
Penguins need to swim fast to catch prey and evade predators. With all the adaptations combined, such as their blubber, feather, and paddle wings, they are well-equipped to navigate the sea and survive.
10. Social Structure
Apart from physical adaptations, penguins adapted to become social animals as it makes survival easier. For example, they huddle together when it is extremely cold.
Habitat:
Contrary to popular belief, they’re not specifically dependent on a cold climate, but on nutrient-rich waters that sustain a productive enough food-chain to keep them in fish. In the tropical Galápagos and Peru, this is delivered by upwellings of deep oceanic water.
Penguins prefer islands and remote continental regions without land predators to ensure their survival.
Their inability to fly is not a disadvantage in these areas.
Penguins are highly specialized marine birds adapted to long periods at sea.
They are commonly found near nutrient-rich, cold-water currents, ensuring a steady food supply.
Different penguin species thrive in diverse climates, from tropical islands like the Galápagos for some to the icy waters of Antarctica for others.
Geographical Distribution:
Penguins are distributed across various regions, with some species inhabiting tropical areas like the Galápagos Islands.
Others, like emperor penguins, are restricted to the pack ice and waters of Antarctica.
Their distribution is influenced by the availability of food and suitable conditions for nesting.
Why not in Northern Hemisphere
Penguins do not live in the Northern Hemisphere because predators such as polar bears and arctic foxes would limit their survival.
In addition, many islands in the northern hemisphere are surrounded by sheer rocks, so penguins can't land on them.
Context: India’s focus on energy security and clean energy transition in the recent budget.
What is the present status of India’s energy sector?
Fossil and non-fossil contribution:
Total generation including renewable sources (trends)
India's energy demand will continue to provide fuel for future economic growth and is bound to grow exponentially in the coming years.
At present the country is world's 3rd largest consumer of oil, 3rd largest LPG consumer, 4th largest LNG importer, 4th largest refiner, 4th largest automobile market.
India is likely to account for 25% of global energy demand growth over the next two decades.
India’s final energy demand is expected to double to about 1,200 Mtoe (millions tonne of oil equivalent) by 2070.
The report titled ‘India’s energy-transition pathway: A net-zero perspective by FICCI and Deloitte India’, has projected that the country requires a massive $15 trillion in investments to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2070.
Issues in India’s energy sector:
Uneven Distribution of Energy Resources which further lead to regional disparities in energy availability and consumption.
Over Dependency on Fossil Fuels as still India’s more than 50% of electricity generation comes only from fossil fuels.
Renewable Energy Integration into the grid poses challenges due to their intermittent nature.
Energy Access is also an issue in remote and rural areas having rugged terrain & topography.
Financial Health of DISCOMs in India is also not good as they are facing financial stress, leading to issues in maintaining and upgrading the electricity distribution infrastructure.
Global and Geopolitical Factors such as fluctuating oil prices and geopolitical tensions, can impact India's energy security and prices. This becomes significant in the backdrop of the fact that India meets close to 88% of its crude oil requirements through imports.
Sustainability: Balancing economic development with environmental sustainability is a critical challenge
This is one of the reasons why India has been focusing on energy transition. In fact, in last year’s Budget (2023-24) government had provided for ₹35,000 crore for priority capital investments towards energy transition and net zero objectives, and energy security.
Recent budget announcements in this regard:
Commitment to meet net zero by 2070 — viability gap funding for wind energy (offshore); setting up of coal gasification and liquefaction capacity, phased mandatory blending of CNG, PNG and compressed biogas; and financial assistance for procurement of biomass aggregation machinery.
Rooftop solarisation — one crore households will be enabled to obtain up to 300 units of free electricity.
Adoption of e-buses for public transport, and strengthening the e-vehicle ecosystem.
A new scheme of bio-manufacturing and bio-foundation.
Challenges in India’s clean energy transition:
Intermittency and Grid Integration: The integration of intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the grid poses challenges in balancing supply and demand, as these sources depend on weather conditions.
Land Acquisition: Securing suitable land for renewable energy projects, especially large-scale solar and wind farms, is a challenge especially in densely populated regions. This can also impact the land use.
Financial Viability and Investment: The high upfront costs of renewable energy projects, coupled with financial constraints, can hinder the rapid deployment of clean energy technologies.
Energy Storage Technologies: Efficient and cost-effective energy storage technologies are crucial for storing excess energy generated during peak times and supplying it during periods of low renewable energy production. Developing and implementing such technologies at scale is a challenge.
Logistics: For e.g. India’s waste collection is highly informal which becomes a huge challenge in the way of biogas generation. Preliminary processes like collection, transportation, and segregation limit it’s adaptation.
Lack of support from Discoms: For e.g. Discoms have been reluctant to aid rooftop solar installations as they fear a loss of revenue with consumers moving to another energy source.
Geopolitical factors:Supply chain disruptions in critical minerals can affect the renewable and EV revolution.
What can be a way ahead in this regard?
Regional approach should be followed. For e.g In North India has a huge scope of biogas, western Indian has scope of solar energy. Similarly coastal states and Ladakh region has huge wind potential.
Domestic manufacturing of critical components is necessary to reduce import dependence.
Energy efficient storage systems should be built to manage the issue of intermittency. India can leverage innovation in lithium-ion batteries and battery recycling technology to enhance energy storage capabilities and optimize renewable energy utilization.
Recycling & repurposing: Along with battery recycling, India has begun repurposing used batteries into sustainable 2nd-life Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), saving 98% of GHGe compared to making new batteries.
Experts also feel that a separate body can be built on lines of GST council with States as members to ensure uniformity in terms of regulations and policies.
Financing: Nationalised banks should offer easy financing options with affordable interest rates, for e.g. under the PM Suryodaya Yojana, facilitating broader access to capital for installation.
Role of Discoms: Discoms should conduct extensive awareness campaigns and technical workshops to educate potential beneficiaries and also streamline the process of providing solar and net meters to reduce installation time and expedite project completion.
Bilateral negotiations are necessary to ensure supply of critical minerals. E.g. Indo-Australia critical mineral investment partnership.
Steps already taken by Government of India:
To achieve its target of 500 GW in renewable power capacity by 2030, India has implemented various measures:
Waiver of transmission system charges for inter-state solar and wind power sales,
Establishing renewable power purchase obligations, and creating Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks
Support to domestic manufacturing through Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
Setting up of innovative green energy trading platforms such as the GTAM (Green Term Ahead Market) and GDAM (Green Day Ahead Market). These platforms enable renewable energy developers to sell power on the open market without signing long-term Power Purchase Agreements.
Context: Recent government data stated a growth in the number of compressed biogas (CBG) plants set up in India- from only 19 functional plants in 2020 to 125 currently in 2024.
Relevance of the topic:
Prelims: Compressed Biogas; Benefits of Compressed Biogas.
Mains: Challenges involved in scaling CBD.
Major Highlights:
In October 2018, the Union government launched the ‘Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation’ (SATAT) initiative. It aimed for 5000 CBG plants with a total output of 15 million tonnes a year by 2023-24.
While the government release mentions 125 plants, the SATAT portal says only 77 plants have been commissioned (target 5000 plants), and only 17,801 tonnes of gas was sold in 2024-25.
Background:
To promote clean energy transition, the government has set a goal of reaching up to 15% of energy supply from Natural Gas from the present level of about 6%.
Only 54% of CO2 is emitted in producing electricity from Natural Gas as compared to what is emitted in producing the same amount of electricity from coal.
However, there is high import dependence on Natural gas (50% of the total gas consumed is imported).
This challenge can be addressed to a large extent by blending domestically produced Compressed Biogas (CBG) with Natural Gas .
What is Biogas?
Biogas is produced when bio-degradable organic materials/wastes such as cattle-dung, biomass from farms, gardens, kitchens, industry, poultry droppings, night soil and municipals wastes are subjected to a scientific process, called Anaerobic Digestion (A.D.) in a Biogas Plants.
Biogas contains about 55-65 % of methane, 35- 44 % of carbon dioxide and traces of other gases, such as Hydrogen Sulphide, Nitrogen, water vapour, Nitrogen, Carbon monoxide and Ammonia.
The presence of water vapor, H2S, and CO2 make biogas very corrosive and unsuitable to be used as fuel.
The digested slurry produced from Biogas Plants as a by-product is a better source of nutrient enriched organic manure for use in Agriculture. It not only helps in improving the crop yield but also maintain soil health.
What is Compressed Biogas (CBG)?
The biogas is purified to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide CO2), water vapor and compressed as Compressed Bio Gas (CBG), which has methane (CH4) content of more than 90%.
CBG has calorific value and other properties similar to CNG and hence can be utilized as green renewable automotive fuel. Thus it can replace CNG in automotive, industrial and commercial areas, given the abundance biomass availability within the country.
The most widely used technologies for biogas upgrading are water scrubbing, Pressure Swing Adsorption, membrane, and chemical scrubbing. Of these technologies, water scrubbing and Pressure Swing Adsorption are considered to be most appropriate on a small scale due to low cost and easy maintenance.
Note- CNG stands for ‘compressed natural gas’. Bio-CNG is a renewable fuel obtained by purifying biogas – in contrast to CNG, a non-renewable source of energy.
What are the benefits of Compressed Biogas
Import reduction of natural gas and crude oil.
Waste management- Utilization of agricultural residue, cattle dung and MSW.
Providing additional source of revenue to the farmers, increasing rural employment and amelioration of the rural economy.
Towards self-sufficiency in energy & providing a buffer against energy security concerns and crude/gas price fluctuations.
A boost towards fulfilment of National commitments in achieving climate change goals.
What are the challenges involved in scaling CBG?
Funding Issues: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued multiple letters of intent to the entrepreneurs to show that the targets under SATAT scheme are met. However, in reality the banks are not extending loans to entrepreneurs formore than one project, despite having multiple letters of intent.
Feedstock availability: The feedstock for CBG (primarily agricultural residue) is seasonally available and of varying quality. This leads to inconsistency in supply of raw materials.
High cost of production: CBG plants are typically set up in rural areas (where the feedstock biomass is available) and the gas is produced in low-consumption centres. Due to the lack of nearby demand, the producers have to incur additional costs in storage and transportation of CGB. Preliminary processes like collection, transportation, and segregation of raw material also increase operational complexity.
Uncertain price realisation: Given the uncertainty in offtake (demand), the surplus gas is either flared or sold in the local market at unpredictable prices. E.g., In the SATAT scheme, oil marketing firms provide prices for transportation CBG only up to 25 km, leaving producers to bear additional costs.
Lack of supporting infrastructure: Lack of infrastructure to inject CBG into natural gas pipelines for transportation and distribution, hinders the scalability of CBG.
Lack of skilled workforce: The production process requires skilled technicians, but the shortage of trained manpower exists.
Standardisation issues: No specific standards exist in India for installation, operation, and maintenance of CBG plants.
Lack of incentives: For E.g., Currently, there is no mechanism for trading, purchasing, and monitoring of green attributes of CBG, such as carbon credits or premiums. Owing to which, the CBG scheme has not been able to encourage investors/ entrepreneurs to establish CBG plants.
Low returns on Investments: CBG plants have a very low internal rate of return and that the pricing of gas isnot remunerative to the marketing companies. The CBG prices are linked to natural gas prices (at 20 per cent discount) which further impacts profitability.
Funding Issues: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued multiple letters of intent to the entrepreneurs to show that the targets under SATAT scheme are met. However, in reality the banks are not extending loans to entrepreneurs formore than one project, despite having multiple letters of intent.
What are the steps taken by Government in this regard?
National Policy on Biofuels 2018 emphasizes on promotion of advanced Biofuels including CBG.
Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme to convert cattle dung and solid waste in farms to Bio-CNG (CBG) and compost. GOBAR-DHAN scheme proposes to cover 700 projects across the country.
Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for Bio-CNG has been notified by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Financial assistance under the program is available for Biogas generation, Bio CNG generation, Power generation from MSW, Biomass Gasifier etc.
SATAT Initiative: An initiative of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas that promotes entrepreneurs to set up Compressed Biogas plants, produce and supply CBG to Oil Marketing Companies for sale as automotive and industrial fuels.
An Oil Ministry report has proposed trading CBG’s green attributes and the creation of an extra revenue stream for biogas producers by monetizing these attributes.
One key aspect involves proposing CBG blending mandates for entities marketing CNG and PNG. The report suggests trading CBG’s green attributes and the creation of an extra revenue stream for biogas producers by monetizing these attributes. This strategy involves creating certificates that hold a premium value over standard natural gas.
The National Biofuels Coordination Committee, led by the Union Petroleum Minister, announced the gradual mandatory blending of CBG in the CNG and PNG segments.
The Compressed Biogas Obligation (CBO), which is voluntary till FY25, is proposed to be made mandatory from FY26.
The amended Energy Conservation Act, 2022 empowers the Centre to mandate consumption of a particular non-fossil fuel in a laid down proportion.
Context: Five more wetlands have been added to the list of Wetlands of International Importance under Ramsar Convention. This takes total number of wetland sites from India listed as Wetlands of International Importance under Ramsar Convention to 80 from earlier 75.
This was announcement was made on the eve of World Wetlands Day, 2024. With the addition of these five wetlands to List of Wetlands of International Importance, the total area covered under Ramsar sites is now 1.33 million ha which is an increase of 5,523.87 ha from existing area (of 1.327 million ha. Tamil Nadu continues to have maximum number of Ramsar Sites (16 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).
Karaivatti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
One of largest inland wetlands of Tamil Nadu with an area of 453 hectares.
Provides important stopover and foraging ground for bird migrating along the Central Asian Flyway.
Gum Arabic tree (Acacia nilotica) provides roosting and nesting grounds for threatened species such as spotted eagle, tawny eagle and Indian darter.
When the water level starts receding after January, larger birds such as painted stork flock to the site.
The site provides breeding habitat for vulnerable Indian flap-shelled turtle.
This site has one of the largest congregations of waterbirds in Tamil Nadu.
During the driest period, water from the Mettur dam on Cauvery River is used to maintain water level of this site.
Vulnerable Bonnet Macaque is present at this site and leads to human-wildlife conflict.
Madai Kere Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
Manmade wetland constructed to store rainwater for irrigation purposes in Gadag district of Karnataka.
Water in the wetland have overtime become increasingly alkaline and unsuitable for irrigation.
This wetland harbours two vulnerable species, namely Common pochard and River tern and four near-threatened species, namely Oriental Darter, Black-headed Ibis, Wooly-necked Stork, Northern Shoveler and Painted Stork.
This wetland is one of the largest wintering grounds for the Bar-headed goose in South India.
The wetland is a designated Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBBA).
Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
This site features intermittent freshwater marshes and streams nested within a 'shola', tropical montane forest of south India.
Located on the eastern slope of Nilgiri mountain range.
This site has high endemism, with multiple species of trees, reptiles, frogs and birds.
Noteworthy plant species at the site include Bourne's beak-rusk and Wight's cinnamon.
These forested wetlands serve as habitats for globally endangered Black-chinned Nilgiri Laughing thrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin and vulnerable Nilgiri wood-pigeon.
14 out of 26 endemic bird species of Western Ghats are found in these wetlands.
About Shola Forests
Sholas are found in the upper reaches of Niligiris, Anamalais, Palni hills, Kalakadu, Mundanthurai and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Shola forests are tropical montane forests found in the valleys separated by rolling grasslands in higher elevations. They occur only in the valleys where occurrence of fog and mist is low.
Shola forests have a high water retention capacity and support origin and maintenance of streams and rivers in Western Ghats which provides sources of water for high elevation organisms.
Generally, Shola forests are found from 2000 meters above sea level.
However, in certain hilly regions of South India, they can be found at 1600 meters elevation.
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Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
A manmade village irrigation tank built for storing monsoon run-off water coming from the Tungabhadra River.
Located near Hampi in Vijayanagara district.
Several thousands of Gum Arabic trees (locally known as Karijali) are found growing from the lakebed. These trees provide nesting and roosting habitat for large colonial waterbirds.
Ecologically important wetland, rich in biodiversity with many species of plants, mammals, reptiles, birds, fishes, frogs, butterflies and odonates.
Over 30,000 waterbirds nest and roost at this wetland supporting more than 1% of biogeographic population of Painted Stork and Black-headed Ibis.
This site have 9 endemic fish species. Ex. Tiger loach, Aruli barb and Nukta etc.
Excessive growth of invasive alligator weed, shrub Prosopis juliflora and African Catfish found here, threaten the native fish and waterbirds.
Aghanashini Estuary, Karnataka
An estuary built at the confluence of Aghanashini River with Arabian Sea.
Brackish water from the estuary provides diverse ecosystem services including flood and erosion risk mitigation, biodiversity conservation and livelihood support.
Provides livelihood to 6000-7500 families by supporting fishing, agriculture, collection of edible bivalves and crabs, shrimp aquaculture, traditional fish farming in the estuarine rice fields (locally known as Gazni rice fields), bivalve shell collection and salt production.
Mangroves bordering the estuary help to protect the shores against storms and cyclones.
This estuary supports over 43,000 birds from 66 waterbird species and over 1% of biogeographic population of 15 waterbird species (including River tern , Oriental darter, Lesser black-backed gull, Wooly necked stork, Eurasian oystercatcher etc.)
About Aghanashini River
Aghanashini River (also known as Tadri River) originates in the central Western Ghats of Karnataka. The river has a length of 181 kilometers which passes through valleys and gorges of a forested mountainous terrain before reaching a narrow coast where the river widens into a sprawling estuary, meeting the Arabian Sea at Kumta in Uttara Kannda district. The estuary is located between tourist town of Gokarna (north of estuary) and Kumta (south of estuary). The estuary supports traditional fishermen communities such as Ambigas, Harikantras and Dajlis. Locals have been cultivating a salt-tolerant rice called Kagga in the estuarine rice fields.
World Wetlands Day
World Wetlands Day is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of Ramsar Convention on 2nd February 1971.
The theme of WWD-2024 is ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’ which underscores the critical role wetlands play in enhancing our lives. It highlights how wetlands contribute to flood protection, clean water, biodiversity and recreational opportunities, all of which are essential for human health and prosperity.
Context: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the report on Status of Snow Leopards in India during the meeting of National Board of Wildlife. The estimation of the Snow Leopards was done under the Snow Leopard Population Assessment (SPAI) Program. This is the first ever rigorous examination of snow leopard populations in India, employing advanced methods such as occupancy modelling and camera trapping.
About Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India
The Snow Leopard population in India has been estimated under the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) conducted between 2019-23.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is the National Coordinator for the SPAI program. The exercise was conducted by WII with the support of all snow leopard range states and two conservation partners (i) Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysusu (ii) WWF-India.
SPAI is the first ever scientific exercise that reports Snow Leopard population in India.
Snow Leopard population in India has been estimated to be 718 individuals.
The SPAI program covered 70% of potential snow leopard range in India of crucial snow leopard habitat across the trans-Himalayan region, including UTs of Ladakh and J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Total snow leopard range in India is estimated to be around 120,000 sq. km.
Estimated Snow Leopard population in different states: Ladakh (477), Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu & Kashmir (9). (Ladakh has highest number of snow leopards in India).
Estimated population of snow leopards in different states
Snow Leopard Range in India
About Snow Leopards
Scientific name of Snow Leopard is Panthera uncia.
They are also called the ‘ghosts of the mountains.
The snow leopard is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh.
Snow leopards are generally found at an elevation of 3,000 m to 5,200 m in India above the tree line. However, during winters, snow leopards may descend to lower elevations.
The snow leopard’s fur is white to brown and has black spots around its head and neck.
It preys on Himalayan Blue Sheep, Himalayan Tahr, Tibetan Argali and Himalayan Ibex etc.
Snow leopards are sparsely distributed in the high mountains of Central and South Asia in 12 countries of Central Asia, from southern Russia to the Tibetan Plateau, including Mongolia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal.
Sixty percent of the geographic range of snow leopard falls in China, followed by Mongolia and India.
In India, it is found in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
Listed in Appendix I of CITES which prohibits international trade in animal parts and products except under exceptional, non-commercial circumstances.
Key facts about Snow Leopard
Smallest of the big cats with tails that can be nearly as long as their bodies.
Perfect camouflage: Snow leopards have thick, smoky-gray fur patterned with dark gray open rosettes and spots. This helps them to blend perfectly with rocky slopes of their habitat. (Rosettes are large rings enclosing smaller spots). It is for this reason they are known as ghost of mountains.
Do not roar: They can only hiss, growl and prusten. They give a ‘main’ call described as ‘piercing yowl’. This is so loud; one can hear it over the roar of the river. Prusten, also known as chuffing, is a non-threatening vocalisation made by blowing through their nose while their mouth is closed.
Swift movers: Snow leopards are swift movers in a rugged terrain. They can travel for over 25 miles in a day and can jump as much as 50 feet in length.
Well-adapted to cold temperatures: The fur of this elusive species keeps them well insulated in cold weather.
Solitary: Snow leopards live a solitary life other than when they are mating. It is very rare to see two snow leopards together. Female snow leopards raise their kids alone for a period of 18 months after which the kids depart.
Feed: Snow leopards are carnivorous predators feed on Blue Sheep (Known as Bharal in India), Asiatic Ibex (a large wild goat), Argali (wild sheep species), marmots, pikas, deer and other small mammals.
Large range: Snow leopards have large home ranges of up to 1,000 sq. km.
Importance of Snow Leopard
Apex predator in the Himalayan ecosystem: As an apex predator, snow leopard regulates the prey population in a top-down fashion. Thus, influencing the ecological equilibrium of its habitat.
Biomarker of health of Himalayan ecosystem: A healthy and thriving population of snow leopard reflects the broader health and resilience of high-altitude alpine ecosystems in general and Himalayas in particular. The population estimation will also give a reflection of potential threats such as habitat degradation, climate induced shifts, besides human-wildlife conflicts.
Symbolic importance: Snow leopards holds cultural and symbolic importance for many communities living in the high-altitude alpine ecosystems in its range countries.
Protecting Snow Leopard can in turn help in the protection of alpine high-altitude ecosystems: Alpine high-altitude ecosystems are critical for source of perennial rivers for the Asian landmass and thus critical for the well-being of downstream populations.
Conservation steps taken for Snow Leopards
Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP):
This program aims for sustainable development of high-mountain development issues using the conservation of charismatic snow leopards as a flagship.
It is alliance of snow leopard range country governments and NGOs.
GSLEP was founded by 2013 Bishkek Declaration by 12 snow leopard range countries.
12 Snow Leopard range countries are: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. (India is party to this program).
Secretariat of GSLEP: Located in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.
Initiatives under GSLEP
Population Assessment of the World’s Snow Leopards (PAWS): It is an initiative of GSLEP to develop a global snow leopard population assessment.
Secure 20 by 2020: This goal aims to identify and secure at least 20 healthy populations of snow leopards across the range of snow leopard (20 by 2020). Many of these populations will cross international boundaries. Criteria for defining healthy populations of snow leopards:
Representing at least 100 breeding age snow leopards
Containing adequate and secure prey populations.
Having connectivity to other snow leopard populations.
Under this, a total of 24 GSLEP landscapes have been identified for snow leopards across the snow leopard’s range. As part of identifying and securing snow leopard snow leopard GSLEP landscapes, India has identified three such landscapes: Hemis-Spiti, Nanda Devi – Gangotri, Khangchendzong – Tawang.
National Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Priorities: Each of the 12 Snow Leopard range countries have developed to align national snow leopard conservation strategies with global goals under GSLEP.
Project Snow Leopard:
This program was launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2009 for landscape restoration of snow leopard habitat conservation and implementation of participatory landscape-based management plans.
Dedicated areas for In-situ conservation of Snow Leopards in India:
India has notified three GSLEP Landscapes: Hemis-Spiti, Nanda Devi – Gangotri and Khangchendzong Tawang.
Three Biosphere Reserves with an area of 21,300 sq. km. – Cold Desert (Himachal Pradesh), Nanda Devi (Uttarakhand), Khangchendzong (Sikkim).
There are 57 Protected Areas (National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries) which covers 34% of snow leopard range in India.
Suggestions for snow leopard population restoration
The report offered some suggestions for better conservation of Snow Leopard population in India.
Establishment of Snow Leopard Cell at Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under the MOEFCC with a primary focus on long-term population monitoring, supported by well-structured study designs and consistent field surveys.
States and UTs in the snow leopard range can consider adopting a periodic estimation approach of snow leopards at an interval of every four years.
Bringing at least 70% of snow leopard habitat under legal protection. India has moved from an exclusive focus on protected areas to a collaborative landscape management for snow leopard population restoration.
Sensitising border guarding forces: Given that a significant portion of snow leopard habitat borders neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and China and is manned by Indian border guarding and security forces, it is essential to sensitise them and foster long-term cooperation for conservation of critical snow leopard habitats.
Landscape level management planning and coordination: There is a need for creating scientifically informed, collaborative and landscape-based management plans for our conservation efforts.
Context: A yearlong celebration on the occasion of 150 years of IMD, will begin on 15th January 2024 and conclude on 15th January 2025. A logo commemorating 150 years of IMD will be unveiled by Honourable Minister of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
History of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD):
In 1864, two formidable cyclones wreaked havoc in India, with one hitting Kolkata and the other striking the Andhra coast, causing the loss of more than one lakh lives.
The Kolkata cyclone alone claimed an estimated 80,000 lives, marking it as one of the most destructive events at that time.
Subsequently, in 1866, India faced severe drought and famine, leading to malnutrition and starvation among the population.
While such calamities were not uncommon in 19th-century India, the severity of these events exposed the absence of a systematic approach to monitor atmospheric parameters and predict changes.
These circumstances catalysed the establishment of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which celebrates its 150th anniversary on January 15, 2024.
Evolution of Meteorological observations (1850s-1875):
The British East India Company established meteorological observatories in Calcutta (1785) and Madras (1796).
The Asiatic Society of Bengal, founded in 1784, played a key role in promoting meteorological studies.
Captain Harry Piddington coined the term ‘cyclone’ in the mid-19th century.
On January 15, 1875, the IMD officially commenced operations, employing Englishman HF Blanford as the Imperial Meteorological Reporter.
Organization:
Headed by the Director General of Meteorology, the IMD operates through six Regional Meteorological Centres located in Chennai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, and New Delhi.
These centres focus on various functions, ranging from surface observations to processing satellite data and seismic monitoring.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), is an agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Developed into a comprehensive organization:
Over the years, the IMD has evolved into a comprehensive organization, managing numerous permanent observatories and thousands of automatic weather stations nationwide.
While weather forecasting remains its core function, the IMD now extends its services to encompass a variety of specialized areas, providing crucial inputs for activities ranging from general elections and examinations to sporting events and space launches.
Integral role:
The IMD's influence is evident across several sectors, including agriculture, railways, airways, shipping, power plants, and water management agencies.
In the telegraph age, it made extensive use of weather telegrams for collecting observational data and sending warnings.
Later IMD became the first organisation in India to have a message switching computer for supporting its global data exchange.
India was the first developing country in the world to have its own geostationary satellite, INSAT, for continuous weather monitoring of this part of the globe and particularly for cyclone warning.
Recent additions to IMD's portfolio include services for organizing major events, such as general elections. Notably, IMD's expertise is sought by the Election Commission of India for deciding election dates.
The IMD has also played a crucial role in predicting favourable weather conditions for significant events, such as the launch of India's first moon mission, Chandrayaan-1, in 2008.
The monsoon system, inherently complex, has become more erratic and difficult to predict. Despite these challenges, the last 15 years have witnessed significant improvements in IMD's capabilities, evident in more accurate forecasts.
The IMD's dedication to preventing the recurrence of disasters, such as the 1999 Odisha super cyclone, has led to substantial investments in time, manpower, and technology.
The IMD holds immense significance by directly supporting the farming community through accurate monsoon predictions and aiding disaster management with timely forecasts of extreme weather events.
It is a key player in offering precise weather predictions, studying climate change effects in India, and contributing to various nation-building activities.
Recent Initiatives:
Introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Mausam app enhances the dissemination of weather forecasts and warnings, providing accessible weather information to the general public.
IMD has commissioned ten indigenously built X-Band Doppler Weather Radars, designed and developed by ISRO. These radars, strategically placed over the Himalayas, monitor atmospheric variations and extreme weather events, offering timely forecasts and warnings for disaster preparedness.
Launched in 2012, the National Monsoon mission aims to develop a cutting-edge dynamical prediction system for monsoon rainfall on different time scales, fostering partnerships between Indian and foreign institutes.
While celebrating its 150th anniversary, the IMD continues its commitment to advancing meteorology in India. The emphasis on understanding and predicting the monsoon remains a core objective, driven by advancements in technology, investments in personnel, and a dedication to preventing disasters.
Context: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has finalised guidelines to prevent deceptive or unsubstantiated environment-related claims by brands in advertising. Thus, checking claims of greenwashing.
Need for Such Regulation
The need for regulations, such as those now ASCI has brought, arises due to practices like greenwashing.
Greenwashing involves making false or misleading environmental claims about products, services, processes, brands, or operations with the intent to create an impression that they are more environmentally friendly than they truly are. This can include unsubstantiated claims like "environment-friendly" or "free from," among others.
Greenwashing is a significant concern as it deceives consumers and goes against the principles outlined in Chapter I of the ASCI code on misleading advertisements.
To address and prevent such deceptive practices, ASCI has introduced guidelines.
These guidelines serve as a framework to ensure that companies adhere to ethical advertising practices and do not breach the principles outlined in Chapter I of the ASCI code.
About Regulations
Absolute Claims: Claims such as “environment-friendly”, “sustainable” etc. must be substantiated by robust data or credible accreditations. Disclaimers or clarifications cannot dilute such claims.
Comparative Claims: Claims like “greener” or “friendlier” should be supported by evidence showing environmental benefits over previous products or competitor products, and the basis of comparison must be clear.
General Environmental Claims: Must be based on the full life cycle of the product or service, unless stated otherwise, and should specify the limits of the life cycle. Misleading claims about the total environmental impact are not allowed.
Specificity of Claims: Advertisers should specify whether the claim refers to the product, packaging, service, or a portion of them, unless it is clear from the context.
“Free-of" Claims: Claims about the absence of environmentally damaging ingredients must not mislead consumers, and disclaimers should be added if necessary. As it may be deceptive to claim that a product is “free-of” a substance if it is free of one substance but includes another that is known to pose a similar or higher environmental risk.
Use of Certifications: If certifications or seals of approval are used, advertisers should clarify what attributes have been evaluated, and the certifying agency should be nationally/internationally accredited.
Visual Elements: Visual elements should not convey a false impression of a product's environmental impact, and the use of logos or colour schemes related to nature should be directly connected to environmental claims. E.g., logos representing a recycling process on packaging and/or in advertising material.
Aspirational Claims: Advertisers should avoid making aspirational claims about future environmental objectives unless they have clear and actionable plans delineating how these objectives will be achieved.
Carbon Offset Claims: Advertisers should disclose if carbon offsets do not occur within the next two years, and they should not imply that a carbon offset represents an emission reduction if it was required by law.
Product Attributes Claims: Claims about composability, biodegradability, recyclability, non-toxicity, etc., should be qualified, and scientific evidence must support these claims.
By regulating and monitoring advertising content, ASCI plays a crucial role in safeguarding consumer interests and promoting truthful and transparent communication in the marketplace. These guidelines about environment related claims are going to be effective from February 15th, 2024.
About Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)
Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) was established in 1985. It serves as a self-regulatory body for the Indian advertising industry.
ASCI's code is an integral part of The Advertising Code enshrined within the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act of 1994, providing it with a legal foundation.
ASCI was formed by representatives from the four pillars of the industry itself
Businesses that sponsor/pay for the advertising.
Ad agencies that conceptualise and give them a form.
Media that carry these ads.
Allied professions such as market research that support the development of communication.
Functions of Advertising Standards Council of India
Monitoring Advertisements: ASCI scrutinizes advertisements across various media types and formats, including TV, print, digital, outdoor, radio, point of sale, and claims made on packaging, among others.
Consumer Protection Collaboration: ASCI collaborates closely with different stakeholders to address matters related to consumer protection in the advertising industry.
Expertise in Advertising Depictions: Leveraging its extensive panel of advertising and technical experts, ASCI has established expertise in evaluating advertising depictions, claims, and representations.
Pre-Production Advisory: Many organisations voluntarily submit their advertisements at a pre-production stage to ASCI, seeking non-binding advice on whether the ad might potentially violate any ASCI code.
Endorser Due Diligence Service: ASCI provides an Endorser Due Diligence service, assisting endorsers in meeting their obligations to ensure that the ads they feature in do not make misleading claims and potentially violate the law.
Complaint Management
ASCI resolves issues in advertisements that relate to
Biodiversity prospecting or bioprospecting is the systematic search for biochemical and genetic information in nature in order to develop commercially-valuable products for pharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetic and other applications.
Bioprospecting is today seen as a crucial tool in developing new drugs which are largely plant derived.
While enriching our lives, the global consensus is that bioprospecting must be a sustainable activity which brings social and economic benefits to local communities.
But it also has a downside: biopiracy — defined as exploiting knowledge and genetic resources of indigenous communities and gaining monopoly over them through patents.
The 2010 Nagoya Protocol on “Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization” is an international agreement aimed at ensuring equitable sharing of benefits.
It also spells out the need for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
