Strategic Lithium Deal with Argentina
Context: India is on the verge of finalizing a crucial agreement for five lithium blocks in Argentina, marking a pivotal step in diversifying its sources of critical minerals. This strategic move holds the potential to significantly diminish India’s dependency on China for essential resources, presenting a game-changing development in the country’s resource security. Relevance: GS […]
About Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Context: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recently declared a notable rise in the tiger population at Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), with the number of big cats increasing from 31 in 2018 to 54 in 2023. Relevance: GS III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: Factors Behind Increased Tiger Population in VTR: Key Features […]
Rediscovery of Namdapha Flying Squirrel
Context: The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) has recently reappeared in Arunachal Pradesh after an absence of 42 years. The last documented sighting was in 1981 when a single individual was observed in the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Relevance: GS III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: Namdapha […]
ASA Bans Airlines Greenwashing Ads
Context: The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned advertisements from Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad, accusing them of misleading consumers with false claims of flight sustainability and downplaying the environmental impact of air travel. Relevance: GS III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: What Is Greenwashing? Examples of Greenwashing Effects of greenwashing -Source: […]
India’s Ethanol Conundrum
Context: As COP28 in Dubai saw the commitment of over 100 countries to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, India is confronted with a delicate situation concerning its ethanol blending objective. Despite the rise in ethanol blended petrol (EBP) from 1.6% in 2013-14 to 11.8% in 2022-23, the 20% target by 2025 faces hurdles due to low […]
Yak Domestication in Bangga Tibet
Context: A recent study reveals the earliest evidence of human domestication of yaks in Bangga, a settlement in the Shannan prefecture of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, China. Shannan, located along the Brahmaputra River and sharing borders with Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, serves as the archaeological site for this significant discovery. Relevance: GS III: Conservation Dimensions […]
Fossil Fuels and the Rapid Retreat of Glaciers
Context: The recently concluded Conference of Parties (COP28) marked a pivotal move toward ending the fossil fuel era for the preservation of humanity. Interestingly, this landmark decision was made in Dubai, the stronghold of the powerful oil-producer group Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). During a meeting with mountain countries at COP28, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored […]
Insufficient Funds will not Mitigate Climate Change
Context: Climate finance has become a focal point in discussions on global climate action, particularly during COP28 in Dubai. The finance day at COP28 marked a significant breakthrough in international financial architecture, with influential countries and financial institutions committing to innovative mechanisms aimed at supporting low-income and vulnerable nations in their efforts against climate change. Relevance: GS-3- […]
Significant Steps in Waste Management
Context: In a recent written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change highlighted the significant steps taken to tackle waste management in the country. Relevance: GS II: Environment and Ecology Highlighted Initiatives in Waste Management: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Mechanism: Waste Processing Capacity: Swachh Bharat Mission for Solid Waste Management: Waste Management […]
Climate Change Impact on Species
Context: The recent update of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, revealed at the 28th Conference of Parties, highlights the growing impacts of climate change on a wide array of species. The updated list comprises 157,190 species, with 44,016 facing the threat of extinction. Relevance: GS III: Environment and Ecology […]