World’s largest iceberg breaks off from Antarctica
Context: A huge ice block has broken off from western Antarctica into the Weddell Sea, becoming the largest iceberg in the world and earning the name A-76. It is the latest in a series of large ice blocks to dislodge in a region acutely vulnerable to climate change, although scientists said in this case it […]
Cloudbursts and Floods in Uttarakhand
Context: A number of cloudbursts caused several homes and roads in a number of villages in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, Tehri and Rudraprayag districts to be flooded with water and debris in early May 2021. Cloudburst-like events have hit Uttarakhand since May 2021 and have caused considerable damage in the four hilly districts of Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, […]
New species of skink in Western Ghats
Context: In September 2019, a group of herpetologists stumbled upon a new species: an Asian gracile skink. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Important Species in News) Dimensions of the Article: What are Skinks? Noteworthy Species in India About the new species found in Western Ghats What are Skinks? With long bodies, relatively small or […]
MoEFCC on elephants killed on railway tracks
Context: A total of 186 elephants were killed after being hit by trains across India between 2009-10 and 2020-21, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Biodiversity, Initiatives and Steps for Conservation of species, Man-Animal Conflict) Dimensions of the Article: Human-Elephant Conflicts MoEFCC on […]
Native Indian turtles face U.S. slider threat
Context: The American turtle – red-eared slider, popular as a pet is threatening to invade the natural water bodies across the Northeast, home to 21 of the 29 vulnerable native Indian species of freshwater turtles and tortoises. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Biodiversity, Species in news) Dimensions of the Article: About the Red-eared […]
Smuggling of uranium: ATS seizes 7kg uranium
Context: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested two persons under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, with 7 kg natural uranium estimated to be worth around Rs 21 crore. Relevance: GS-III: Industry and Infrastructure, Mineral & Energy Resources, GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution & Degradation) Dimensions of the Article: What exactly is uranium and what […]
EAC allows Great Nicobar plan to advance
Context: The Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC) – Infrastructure I of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has removed the first hurdle faced by the project. It has “recommended” it “for grant of terms of reference (TOR)” for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies, which in the first instance will include baseline studies over […]
Tribes in Anamalai reserve unaware of COVID-19
Context: Residents of two tribal settlements within the limits of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), around 100 km off Coimbatore city, were gearing up for the annual festival of their local deity, Vairapattan. The Kattupatti and Kuzhipatti settlements of Pulayar community have barely heard of the acronym COVID-19. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation […]
UNEP report on methane emissions
Context: Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions report was released by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Pollution Control and Management, Environmental Degradation) Dimensions of the Article: Highlights of the Global Methane Assessment report Why is Methane Harmful? Steps […]
Climate Change and shift in Earth’s axis explained
Context: A study published in Geophysical Research Letters of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) says that due to the significant melting of glaciers because of global temperature rise, our planet’s axis of rotation has been moving more than usual since the 1990s. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Pollution Control and Management, Environmental Degradataion, Impact of […]