World Environment Day
(Paper 3 : Environment, Pollution)
Why in News?
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year across the world.
Key Points –
- The World Environment Day was started due to the concerns of the ever-increasing pollution and increasing global warming in the world.
- World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5th. The main purpose of this day is to make people aware of the environment.
- On this day, many programs are organized to make people aware of the damage caused by the environmental pollution.
- It is worth noting that the increasing level of pollution is becoming a threat to the environment as well as to humans. Due to this, many animals are becoming extinct. At the same time, humans are also falling prey to many types of serious diseases.
Background –
- Since the year 1974, World Environment Day began to be celebrated as an annual event every 5 June, in order to increase the importance of a healthy and green environment in human life, to resolve environmental issues by implementing some positive environmental actions by the government, organizations.
- The year 1972 marked a turning point in the development of international environmental politics: the first major conference on environmental problems, convened under the auspices of the United Nations, was held in Stockholm (Sweden) from 5-16 June.
- It is also known as the Conference on the Human Environment, or the Stockholm Conference. Its goal was to create a basic common approach to address the challenge of preserving and enhancing the human environment. Later that same year, on December 15, the General Assembly adopted June 5 as World Environment Day under a resolution.
- Also on December 15, the General Assembly adopted another resolution to lead to the creation of the Special Agency on Environmental Issues, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). For the first time in 1974, World Environment Day was celebrated with the slogan “Only one Earth”.
The theme of World Environment Day is –
- A theme is selected for each year before World Environment Day is celebrated. The theme of this year’s (2022) World Environment Day is “Only One Forest Earth”.
- It is worth mentioning that in 1972, a conference was held in Stockholm, in which only one earth slogan was given. Since then, the annual global event has begun. To mark the completion of 50 years of the conference, Sweden is hosting the World Environment Day this time.
- The theme of World Environment Day 2021 was ‘Ecosystem Restoration’.
- That is, by giving new life to the forests, planting trees and plants, preserving rain water and building ponds, we can restore the ecosystem.
- The theme of World Environment Day 2020 was “Biodiversity”.
The objective behind celebrating World Environment Day –
- World Environment Day is celebrated to spread awareness among the general public about environmental issues.
- To encourage common people from different societies and communities to actively participate in the event as well as to become active agents in developing environmental protection measures.
- To encourage people to make their surroundings safer and cleaner to enjoy a safer, cleaner and more prosperous future.
- On World Environment Day, efforts are being made to urge UN governments, industries, communities and unite people about the importance of the environment and how it can be saved. To find options that are sustainable and helpful. That is why a global platform has been created where people can collect positive environmental actions. We should participate in campaigns and unite to eradicate the problems caused by pollution and make the environment clean. We can all make a difference together.
Source – PIB
EX SAMPRITI-X
(Paper 2 International Relations)
Why in News?
Recently, India-Bangladesh joint military exercise “Ex Samprati-X” started in Bangladesh.
Key Points –
- As part of the ongoing India Bangladesh bilateral defence cooperation, a joint military training exercise Ex SAMPRITI-X is being conducted at Jashore Military Station in Bangladesh from 05 June to 16 June 2022.
- It is noteworthy that exercise SAMPRITI is an important bilateral defence cooperation endeavour conducted alternately by both countries which aims to strengthen and widen the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between both the armies.
- The aim of the exercise is to strengthen interoperability between the two armies and to understand each other’s tactical drills and operational techniques.
- The Indian contingent of company strength is being represented by a Battalion of the DOGRA Regiment and the contingent departed by road for the exercise location on 4 Jun 2022.
- During the joint military exercise Ex SAMPRITI-X, armies of both the Nations will share expertise in multiple simulated scenarios of Counter Terrorism, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief and UN Peacekeeping Force under UN mandate.
- The exercise schedule is progressively planned in such a manner that the participants will initially get familiar with each other’s organisational structure and tactical drills.
- As the exercise progresses, joint tactical exercises will be conducted wherein the joint battle drills of both contingents will be practised. The exercise will culminate with a final validation exercise in which troops of both armies will jointly practice a Counter-Terrorism Operation in a simulated environment.
Significance –
- In addition to sharing best practices and understanding each other at the tactical level, this exercise is an opportunity for greater cultural understanding to strengthen trust and cooperation between armies of both the Nations.
- The exercise will benefit both the armies by gaining from each other’s vast experience which will further contribute to peace and stability in the region. s
Source – All India Radio
Pan-India Rooftop Solar Awareness Campaign
(Paper 3 Energy Resources)
Why in News?
Recently Union Minister Shri Bhagwant Khuba launches NSEFI’s Pan-India Rooftop Solar Awareness Campaign.
Key Points –
- Shri Bhagwant Khuba, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy launched the Pan-India Rooftop Solar Awareness Campaign in an event at Bidar, Karnataka.
- During the launch ceremony Shri Khuba said that without the involvement of people, no big idea can succeed. He added that Rooftop Solar provides an opportunity to the common person to make his contribution towards Global Warming & Climate Change. He further said that this campaign titled “GHAR KE UPAR SOLAR IS SUPER” shall aim at mobilizing local government, citizens, RWAs, and Municipalities to spread awareness of Solar Rooftop.
- It is noteworthy that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is working towards achieving the target of 500 GW non-fossil by the year 2030. It is expected that rooftop solar power will play a major role in this and Tier II and Tier III cities will showcase their maximum potential in achieving this goal.
- Karnataka alone has 1 GW of rooftop solar power capacity. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is providing 40% subsidy for installing solar in homes.
- NSEFI, with the support of the German Solar Association (BSW) and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the Sequa KVP Programme, is launching a 3 year long, Pan India Rooftop Awareness Program aimed at increasing awareness of Solar Rooftops among 100 Indian towns and cities, especially tier 2 and tier 3 towns/cities.
About National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) –
- National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) is an umbrella organization of all solar energy stakeholders of India. Which works in the area of policy advocacy and is a National Platform for addressing all issues connected with solar energy growth in India.
- It consists of leading International, National and Regional companies and includes Solar Developers, Manufacturers, EPC Contractors, Rooftop Installers, System Integrators, and Balance of Plant suppliers and Manufacturers, Small and Medium Enterprises and works in a complimentary manner with the Central and State Governments for achieving India’s National Solar Target of 100 GW by 2022 & Renewable Target of 450 GW by 2030.
Source – PIB
National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Traveller campaign
(Paper 3 Tourism)
Why in News?
Recently Ministry of Tourism launches the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Traveller campaign
Key Points –
- Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with United Environment Program (UNEP) and Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI) organized National Summit on Developing Sustainable & Responsible Tourist Destinations today in New Delhi.
- On the occasion, the Ministry of Tourism launched the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Traveller Campaign.
- The Strategy document has identified the strategic pillars for development of sustainable tourism like Promoting Environmental Sustainability, Protecting Biodiversity, Promoting Economic Sustainability, Promoting Socio-Cultural Sustainability, Scheme for Certification of Sustainable Tourism, IEC and Capacity Building and Governance.
- Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Tourism Arvind Singh said the Ministry of Tourism had launched Swadesh Darshan Scheme with the objective to provide experience to the tourists and has now sanctioned 76 Projects.
- He added that they have now revamped the Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0. The idea of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 is to undertake holistic development with the vision to develop Sustainable and Responsible Tourist Destinations. The Scheme will encourage the adoption of principles of sustainable tourism including environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability.
What is Swadesh Darshan Scheme?
- Swadesh Darshan Scheme is a central sector scheme launched in the year 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India with the objective of integrated development of thematic tourism circuits.
- The objective of this scheme is to promote, develop and harness the potential of tourism in India. Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, the Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance – CFA – to the State Governments, UT Administrations for the development of the circuit’s infrastructure.
- The scheme is envisaged to synergize with other schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India etc. to make tourism sector employment generation, driving force for economic development, synergy with different sectors so that tourism has been ranked as a major engine to realize its potential.
Source – PIB
INS Nishank and INS Akshay
(Paper 3 : Security, Internal Security)
Why in News?
Recently, Indian Navy ships INS Nishank and INS Akshay were decommissioned.
Key Points –
- Indian Naval ships Nishank and Akshay were decommissioned on June 03, 2022, after providing 32 years of excellent service by them.
- It was held at a traditional ceremony at naval dockyard, Mumbai, in which the national flag, naval flag and decommissioning penant were lowered for the last time from both ships at sunset.
- It may be mentioned that INS Nishank and INS Akshay were built at Poti Shipyard in Georgia. INS Nishank is a high speed missile craft that was inducted into service on September 12, 1989, while INS Akshay was put into service a year later on December 10, 1990, at Poti, Georgia.
- INS Nishank was part of the 22 Missile Vessel Squadron and INS Akshay 23 Patrol Vessel Squadron, which come under the operational control of the Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Region.
- These ships were actively involved in the navy’s service for more than 32 years and took part in several naval operations during their spectacular service, including O.P. Talwar during the Kargil war and OP Parakram in 2001.
- The chief guest of the function was Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff. The guests of honour at the event were Vice Admiral R K Patnaik (Retd) and Vice Admiral SPS Cheema (Retd), who have been the first Commanding Officers of INS Akshay and INS Nishank.
Source – PIB
Indian Air Force Heritage Centre
(Paper 3 : Security, Internal Security)
Why in News?
Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for setting up of the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre at Chandigarh.
Key Points –
- The Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, Shri Banwarilal Purohit and The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhary attended the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Union Territory of Chandigarh and the Indian Air Force for setting up of the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre at Chandigarh.
- It may be mentioned that this heritage centre will have artifacts, simulators and interactive boards to highlight various aspects of the Indian Air Force.
- The Centre will also showcase the important role played by the Army in various wars and in the assistance provided for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
- The Union Territory of Chandigarh Administration and the Indian Air Force plan to complete this joint project by October 2022 . The project will attract and encourage local youth to join the armed forces.
The features –
- There will be 8 centers of attraction in the museum, in which there will be aircraft, simulators, rockets, missiles and other things used in war. People will be able to read and see the history of the Air Force.
- Air Force officers will play the role of guide. People will be able to know about the valour of the army, stories of war and weapons used.
- The museum will provide information on recruitment and eligibility in water, land and air force. The heritage centre will also house the ship, the MiG-21, used in the 1971 war.
Source – PIB
Tiangong Space Station
(Paper 3 Science Technology)
Why in News?
Recently 3 Chinese astronauts arrive at Tiangong space station for 6-month stay.
Key Points –
- Three Chinese astronauts arrived at the Tianhe core module of the unfinished Tiangong space station on Sunday ( June 5, 2022) morning, where they’ll stay for six months to help finish its construction.
- The Shenzhou 14 spacecraft took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert and docked with Tianhe.
- The team will live and work at the Tiangong Space Station’s Tianhe core module for six months before returning to Earth in December. Tiangong means Heavenly Palace.
- It is noteworthy China aims to complete the construction of Tiangong by the end of this year, with the launch of the Xuntian telescope module slated for 2023.
- Shenzhou 14 is China’s third crewed mission to the space station since the launch of the Tianhe module in April 2021. This latest trio is set to welcome the Shenzhou 15 crew aboard the station towards the end of this year, marking the first time the station will hold six people.
- The team aboard Shenzhou-14 will help with the docking, setting up and testing of the two laboratory modules Wentian and Mengtian, which are set to launch in July and October.
- The modules will be assembled into a T-shaped structure, along with the Tianhe core cabin — the main living space for the astronauts — which will be expanded from 50 cubic meters to 110 cubic meters, the CMSA said. The astronauts will also conduct two to three spacewalks.
- At the end of the Shenzhou-14 mission, another three astronauts are expected to rotate and live with the crew for five to 10 days, bringing the number of Chinese astronauts in space at the same time to a record six.
- Once construction is completed, the Tiangong space station is expected to last for 15 years. China plans to launch two crewed missions and two cargo missions to the station every year, according to the CMSA.
Source – The Hindu
Rivers facing heavy pollution
(Paper 3 : Environment, Pollution)
Why in News?
According to the report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) 75% Of River Monitoring Stations Recorded Heavy Metal Pollution
Key Points –
- Twenty-five glacial lakes and water bodies in India, China and Nepal have recorded over 40 per cent rise in their water spread areas since 2009, posing a grave threat to five Indian states and two Union territories, a new report stated.
- According to the report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the seven states and Union Territories which are under threat are Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
- However, it is not just the rise in water spread that is concerning. The data published in the report ‘State of India’s Environment 2022: In Figures’ tell a worrying tale.
- Three out of every four river monitoring stations in India posted alarming levels of heavy toxic metals such as lead, iron, nickel, cadmium, arsenic, chromium and copper. In about a fourth of the monitoring stations, which are spread across 117 rivers and tributaries, high levels of two or more toxic metals were reported.
- Of the 33 monitoring stations in Ganga, 10 had high levels of contaminants. The river, which is the focus of the Centre’s Namami Gange mission, has high levels of lead, iron, nickel, cadmium and arsenic, according to the report.
- The report is an annual compendium of environment-development data and is derived from public sources.
- India has 764 river quality monitoring stations across 28 states. Of these, the Central Water Commission tested water samples from 688 stations for heavy metals between August 2018 and December 2020.
- Of the 588 water quality stations monitored for pollution, total coliform and biochemical oxygen demand were high in 239 and 88 stations across 21 States – an indicator of poor wastewater treatment from industry, agriculture and domestic households. India dumps 72% of its sewage waste without treatment. Ten States do not treat their sewage at all, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.
Coastline erosion –
- Over a third of India’s coastline that is spread across 6,907 km saw some degree of erosion between 1990 and 2018. West Bengal is the worst hit with over 60% of its shoreline under erosion.
- The reasons for coastal erosion include increase in frequency of cyclones and sea level rise and anthropogenic activities such as construction of harbours, beach mining and building of dams.
- While the global average of the Ocean Health Index, a measure that looks at how sustainably humans. are exploiting ocean resources, has improved between 2012 and 2021, India’s score in the index has declined over the same period, the CSE report underlines.
- India’s total forest cover has registered a little over a 0.5% increase between 2017 and 2021 though most of the increase has taken place in the open forest category, which includes commercial plantations. This has happened at the cost of moderately dense forest, which is normally the area closest to human habitations. At the same time, very dense forests, which absorb maximum carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, occupy just 3% of total forest cover.
- India has a forest cover of 77.53 million hectares. But recorded forests—the area under the forest department— with forest cover are only 51.66 million. This gap of 25.87 million hectares —a size bigger than Uttar Pradesh— remains unaccounted, the organisation noted.
Source – The Hindu
World’s first fishing cat census
(Paper 3 Biodiversity)
Why in News?
Recently World’s first fishing cat census done in Chilika.
Key Points –
- Chilika Development Authority (CDA) in collaboration with The Fishing Cat Project (TFCP) conducted a census for fishing cats.
- This is the world’s first population estimation of the fishing cat, which has been conducted outside the protected area network.
- According to CDA, the estimation was conducted in two phases. Phase-I was conducted in 2021 in the 115 sq km marshland present in the north and north-eastern section of Chilika and its surrounding areas. Phase II was conducted in 2022 in the Parikud side along the coastal islands of Chilika.
- A total of 150 camera traps were deployed in two phases with each fixed in the field for 30 days. Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture (SECR) method was used to analyse the data.
The main points of the census –
- according to census The Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, has 176 fishing cats.
- About twice the size of a typical house cat, the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a feline known to even dive to catch fish. Wetlands are the favorite habitats of the fishing cat.
- fishing cats are globally threatened cats that occur in wetlands like marshlands, mangroves and flooded forests in major South and Southeast Asian river basins starting from Indus in Pakistan till Mekong in Vietnam and in the island nations of Sri Lanka and Java.
- They are found in 10 Asian countries but have remained undetected in Vietnam and Java since the last decade or so.
- In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys and in the Western Ghats.
- The fishing cat is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) lists the fishing cat on Appendix II part of Article IV of CITES. In India, the fishing cat is included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
About Chilika Lake –
- Chilika Lake is a brackish water lake and a shallow lagoon with estuarine character spread across the districts of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam in the state of Odisha in eastern India.
- It is considered to be the largest lagoon in India and counted amongst the largest lagoons in the world.
- It is the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on the Indian sub-continent.
- It is one of the hotspot of biodiversity in the country, and some rare, vulnerable and endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened Animals inhabit the Lake area for atleast part of their life cycle.
- On account of its rich bio-diversity, Chilika lake was designated as a “Ramsar Site”.
- Major attraction at Chilika is Irrawaddy dolphins which are often spotted off Satapada Island.
Source – The Hindu
Saras crane
(Paper 3 Biodiversity)
Why in News?
Recently Gujarat villagers turn farm into artificial wetland to save Saras crane eggs.
Key Points –
- A Saras crane couple in the family way has found surprise custodians in the people of Ganasar village, eight kilometres away from Motown Sanand.
- In their zeal to protect two eggs laid in a farm, villagers have turned the one-acre agricultural plot into a makeshift ‘artificial wetland’ – filling it with water brought in pots and with a makeshift canal – and are keeping an almost 24×7 vigil to ensure the two eggs are not attacked by wild animals or dogs.
- The farm owned by one Bachubhai Thakore is now the most frequented spot by villagers, who are brimming with excitement over the likely hatching of the eggs anytime next week.
- It is noteworthy that Saras cranes are a critically endangered species. In the last census by the State Forest Department in 2010, there were 1,900 of them in Gujarat.
- The number is feared to have declined to around 600 though a formal count has not taken place in the past decade.
- The village’s collective effort for the safety of the birds is commendable. For the past one month, they have done everything possible to ensure that the eggs are not harmed. This is the only plot where machines were not used and harvesting was done by hand.
About Saras cranes –
- The sarus crane (Antigone antigone) is a large non-migratory crane.
- It is found in open wetlands in South Asia, seasonally flooded Dipterocarpus forests in Southeast Asia, and Eucalyptus-dominated woodlands and grasslands in Australia.
- The Sarus crane is the tallest flying bird in the world standing 152-156 cm tall with a wingspan of 240cm. The sarus crane is easily distinguished from other cranes in the region by its overall grey colour and the contrasting red head and upper neck.
- The main threat to the Sarus crane in India is habitat loss and degradation due to draining the wetland and conversion of land for agriculture.
- Status: Listed in Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 of India and as Vulnerable on IUCN Red List.
- In India, sarus cranes preferentially use wetlands for nesting, but also nest in uncultivated patches amid flooded rice paddies (called khet-taavadi in Gujarat), and in the rice paddies especially when wetlands are not available to breeding pairs.
Source – All India Radio