About the Great Indian Bustard
Context: The critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has adopted an altogether new behaviour of giving clutch of two eggs at a time after getting additional protein diet during the monsoon season. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Species in News, Conservation of Biodiversity) Dimensions of the Article: About the Great Indian Bustard About the […]
The Most Polluted Cities In The World
Context According to the United States-based Health Effects Institute’s recent report titled Air Quality and Health in Cities, Delhi and Kolkata are the top two most polluted cities in terms of exposure to harmful fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The report looks at pollution and its effects on global health in over 7,000 cities around the […]
New Elephant Reserve in Tamil Nadu
Context: Recently, the Government of India has announced the notification of one more Elephant Reserve (ER) Agasthiyamalai in Tamil Nadu during a programme in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. This will be the 32nd Elephant Reserve in the country after Singphan ER in Nagaland was notified in 2018. Agasthiyamalai is Tamil Nadu’s 5th Elephant Reserve and also a Bioshphere Reserve. Relevance: GS […]
What is Arctic Amplification?
Context: Recently, Finnish Meteorological Institute researchers published their study in the Communications Earth & Environment journal, concluding that the Arctic is heating four times faster than the rest of the planet. The warming is more concentrated in the Eurasian part of the Arctic, where the Barents Sea north of Russia and Norway is warming at an alarming rate — […]
Taking A Step Back From An Ecological Disaster
Context Chipko. The Valley of Silence. Narmada. Koel-Karo. Many of us who were passionate about environmental issues as children in the 1970s and early 1980s were inspired by these and other movements. As the government responded with a slew of forest, wildlife, and environmental laws and policies, there was hope that India would be able […]
Ethanol Blending
Context: Prime Minister announced that India has achieved its target of blending 10% sugarcane-extracted ethanol in petrol, ahead of schedule. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology, GS-III: Industry and Infrastructure Dimensions of the Article: What is Ethanol fuel? What is ethanol blending? Advantages of Ethanol Blending Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (EBP) Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in […]
Relocation of Cheetahs
Context: India’s ambitious project to translocate African cheetahs has missed an unofficial deadline of August 15, though sources say the wild cats are likely to arrive here within this year. Relevance: GS III- Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: What was the distribution of cheetahs in India? What caused the extinction of cheetahs in […]
11 More Ramsar Site
Context: India adds 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites to make total 75 Ramsar sites covering an area of 13,26,677 ha in the country in the 75th year of Independence. Relevance: GS III- Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: 11 wetlands designated as Ramsar sites What is a Ramsar Site? […]
Drought In England
Context: The government formally declared parts of England to be in drought as the country faces a period of prolonged hot and dry weather. The declaration does not trigger government-level intervention, but allows water companies to go further in their steps to manage supplies. Relevance: GS III- Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: What […]
Eco-Sensitive zones
Context: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has said the Ministry will file a review petition in the Supreme Court urging a relook into its judgment on eco-sensitive zones. Relevance: GS III- Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: What are Eco-Sensitive Zones? Activities Allowed in ESZs How are they demarcated? What are […]