Vehicle-scrappage policy and circular economy
Context: Recently, the Prime Minister launched the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy on August 13, 2021. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of the Environment, Government Policies and Interventions), GS-III: Indian Economy (Macroeconomics) Dimensions of the Article: About the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy Benefits of the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy policy What […]
Code red: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report
Context: The IPCC has issued arguably its strongest warning yet on impending catastrophe from unmitigated global warming caused by human activity, lending scientific credence to the argument that rising wildfires, heatwaves, extreme rainfall and floods witnessed in recent times are all strongly influenced by a changing climate. Relevance: GS Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and […]
The sovereign right to tax is not absolute
Context: An important bill introduced in Parliament last week aims to nullify the regressive 2012 amendment in the Income Tax Act. The 2012 amendment overturned the Supreme Court’s decision in Vodafone International Holdings v. Union of India and made the income tax law retroactively applicable on indirect transfer of Indian assets. Relevance: GS Paper 3: […]
Pensilungpa Glacier retreat due to warming
Context: A recent study has found that the Pensilungpa Glacier located in Ladakh’s Zanskar Valley is retreating due to increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation during winters. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography, Distribution of Key Natural Resources, Water Resources, Important Geophysical Phenomena), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Climate change and its impact) Dimensions of the […]
Sunderbans is now drowning in plastic
Context: Cyclone-ravaged Sunderbans is now drowning in plastic as plastic accumulating in the isolated islands of the fragile ecosystem are cause for great concern. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of the Environment and Ecology), GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography, Indian Geography) Dimensions of the Article: Sunderbans Flora and Fauna of the […]
Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) weakens
Context: The Atlantic Ocean’s current system (AMOC) could be weakening to such an extent that it could soon bring big changes to the world’s weather according to a recent study. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Climatology, Important geographical phenomena), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Impact of Climate Change) Dimensions of the Article: What are Ocean Currents? Factors responsible […]
Why switching to electric vehicles is fiscally imprudent?
Context: Prem Shankar Jha writes: It would mean subsidising a small affluent section of the car-owning population, when there are better alternatives to fossil fuels available. Relevance: GS Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment. Mains Questions: For India, gasification holds even greater promise because simple, air-blown gasifiers are already in use […]
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR Bill
Context: The Parliament approved a Bill that seeks to set up a commission for air quality management in the National Capital Region and its adjoining areas. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution, Pollution Control Measures, Conservation of Environment and Ecology), GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: CAQM in National Capital […]
Climate crisis and emissions from India’s dairy sector
Context: Agriculture contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions release by cattle and from animal waste. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution, Conservation of Environment, Climate Change), GS-III: Agriculture Dimensions of the Article: Dairy Sector and Environmental Damage Other issues with dairy sector according to activists Background to the Dairy Sector in India Dairy […]
New frog species in Western Ghats
Context: Researchers from University of Delhi have named a newly-discovered frog species as Minervarya Pentali. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Species in News) Dimensions of the Article: About the new frog species discovered About the new frog species discovered The new frog species named Minervarya Pentali belongs to the family of Dicroglossidae which comprises […]