PM 2.5, Sulphur Dioxide, and more: What are the pollutants in our air, and how they impact health Subject: Environment Section: Pollution Context: Rising pollution levels in north India have led to focus returning on the Air Quality Index (AQI) score, a measure of air pollution. AQI Index score: The AQI transforms complex […]
GRAP Stage 4 implemented in Delhi-NCR amid severe air pollution: What does it mean? Subject : Environment Section: Pollution Context: With the Nation Capital Region’s Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorating to the ‘severe’ category, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) […]
More light, less sound Subject :Environment Section: Pollution Context: The ‘festival of lights’ should not be allowed to deteriorate into a celebration of noise. Fireworks are traditionally associated with joyful festivities worldwide, but many of them are harmful, often excessively loud, and emit harmful fumes when ignited. Initiatives to combat Noise Pollution In […]
Flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) Subject :Environment Section: Pollution Context Coal-fired power plants in India are spewing sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere way above the allowed limit. The biggest culprits are those built after January 1, 2017, which are also wayward in putting out nitrous oxides, data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). This […]
Carbon emissions: India may accept EU’s default values Subject :Environment Section: Climate change Key Points: During the ongoing transition phase of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), India is likely to accept the bloc’s default values for calculating carbon emitted during production of identified polluting items, including steel & aluminium, in the […]
Elvish Yadav case: How is snake venom used as a recreational drug? Subject: Environment Section: Species in news Context: Snake venom is often used as a recreational drug. Its smuggling is a multi-million dollar illicit industry, media reports suggest. Details: Not enough scientific studies have been done on the recreational use of snake […]
Intercepting the illegal capture of migratory birds in south-central West Bengal Subject: Environment Section: Species in news Illegal trapping and trading of migratory birds: For several years, migratory birds are poached during their winter stop at wetlands (beel in Bengali) and open fields in the central-south Bengal districts of Murshidabad, Malda, Birbhum and […]
Elephant corridor report plagued with inconsistencies, could escalate conflict with humans, says expert Subject: Environment Section: Protected Areas Context: An expert has flagged multiple inconsistencies in the recently published report on elephant corridors of India by the central government. Details: The central government released a report titled Elephant Corridors of India, 2023, which […]