IRDAI Proposes Rs 1,500 Price Tag for Bima Vistaar Insurance
Context: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has recently proposed pricing its ambitious all-in-one affordable insurance mass product, Bima Vistaar, at Rs 1,500 per policy. Targeted at rural areas across the country, this proposal aims to make insurance accessible and affordable for rural communities. Relevance: GS III: Growth and Development Dimensions of […]
Why are ‘Unclassed’ Forests Missing
Context: In accordance with a Supreme Court directive, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has uploaded various State Expert Committee (SEC) reports on its website. This interim measure was prompted by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutionality of the Forest (Conservation) Act Amendment (FCAA) 2023. A primary concern raised in […]
Decline in Solar Radiation Raises Concerns Amid Climate Change
Context: As concerns about climate change mount, the significance of renewable energy sources such as solar power becomes increasingly evident. However, a recent study by scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has unveiled a troubling trend. It suggests that the quantity of solar radiation available for conversion into electricity by solar panels is decreasing […]
Producing Better Labor Statistics
Context: The continual evolution of labor institutions is driven by both objective factors, such as changes in product markets, technology, trade, and investment, and subjective factors, including the orientations of involved agencies. This dynamic applies to the industrial relations system and labor market (IRS-LM), where variables like trade unions, collective bargaining, and strikes are in flux. Reforms […]
Why are Unclassed Forests ‘missing’?
Context: In accordance with a directive from the Supreme Court dated February 19, 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) published various State Expert Committee (SEC) reports on its website earlier this April. This interim measure was initiated in response to a public interest litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Forest (Conservation) Act […]
On the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
Context: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), initiated by the Indian government in 2019, aimed to reduce atmospheric Particulate Matter (PM) levels by 20-30% by 2024, based on 2017 levels. This target was later revised to a 40% reduction by 2026. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change allocated ₹10,422.73 crore to facilitate this initiative. Despite proactive […]
India Loses 2.33 Million Hectares of Tree Cover Since 2000
Context: Recent data from the Global Forest Watch (GFW) monitoring project shows that India has experienced a loss of 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since the year 2000. This decline represents a 6% reduction in tree cover over this period. Relevance: GS III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: Key Findings of Global […]
Restoring Earth’s Right to Good Health
Context: In a groundbreaking ruling, the European Court of Human Rights has found the Government of Switzerland culpable of breaching the rights of a cohort of elderly women belonging to a Swiss civil society group named KlimaSeniorinnen. The court emphasized that the government’s efforts to mitigate emissions were insufficient and had failed to shield women from […]
Green Credit Programme
Context: Recently, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC) has clarified that under the Green Credit Program(GCP) primacy must be accorded to restoring ecosystems over merely tree planting. Relevance: GS III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: Green Credit Programme: Objectives: Tradable Credits: Program Administrator: Green Credit Activities: The programme promotes a range of activities that contribute to environmental […]
Right to Protection from Climate Change Impacts
Context: The Supreme Court of India recently acknowledged the right to protection from the impacts of climate change as part of the fundamental rights to life (Article 21) and equality (Article 19) enshrined in the Indian Constitution. This landmark ruling was made during a case concerning the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard and the […]