Koalas Topic: Environment Context: Australia has now officially listed Koalas as ‘Endangered’ species after widespread bushfires, drought and land clearing for agriculture and Urban settlements which destroyed much of their habitat. Concept: As per WWF report, Koala population inhabited parts of Australia 25 million years ago but, today only one species remains- the […]
INDIA INVESTING IN NUCLEAR POWER TO PROVIDE CLEAN ELECTRICITY TOPIC: Environment Context- The Government of India has undertaken a nuclear power expansion programme to provide the country with clean electricity. India is pursuing an indigenous three-stage nuclear power programme. Besides, light water reactors based on foreign cooperation are also being set up as […]
MULLAPERIYAR DAM TOPIC: Environment Context- In January this year, the Central Water Commission told Supreme Court that no review on the safety of Mullaperiyar was done in the past 12 years. However, it also maintained that reports indicate that the dam is safe in all respects, hydrologically, structurally, and seismically. Concept- Though located […]
Glaciers at Pangong in Ladakh retreated 6.7% since 1990- says recent research TOPIC: Environment Context- A recent study has found that 87 glaciers have retreated 6.7 percent at the Pangong region of Ladakh since 1990. This is primarily attributed to atmospheric warming and an increase in the anthropogenic footprint in the glacial and […]
Kaziranga National Park is a net carbon emitter TOPIC: Environment Context- The soil in Kaziranga is home to a large population of bacteria that release carbon dioxide as they breathe, adding to what trees and others emanate. Concept- Why Kaziranga a Net Carbon emitter: This is mainly due to decreasing rainfall in the […]
New centre for carbon capture utilisation at IIT Bombay TOPIC: Environment Context- The Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology has established the National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCOE-CCU) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. Concept- About NCOE-CCU: This Centre of […]
India’s newest mammal: White Cheeked Macaque TOPIC: Environment Context- Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have found a new mammal species in the country — the White Cheeked Macaque. Concept- While the Macaque was first discovered in China in 2015, its existence was not known in India before this. Indian scientists […]
AGRO FORESTRY TOPIC: Environment Context- There is an immense need for crop diversification and role of agroforestry due to series of adversities and climatic vagaries during agricultural production, such as erratic rainfall, stone hail, drought, flood, and so on. Concept- Agroforestry: Agroforestry is a land-use system that includes trees, crops and / or […]
MUMBAI’S POLLUTION TOPIC: Environment Context- Mumbai has seen unusually high levels of pollution this week, with its air quality index reading frequently above 300, at times matching Delhi’s AQI. Concept- An AQI between 301 and 400 is categorised as ‘red’ or ‘very poor’. The AQI in Mumbai touched 316 on Sunday, followed by […]