At 156.87%, groundwater extraction highest in Punjab: Report
The report, released ahead of World Environment Day on June 5 by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth, highlights that over 75% of Punjab's blocks are classified as overexploited, with groundwater extraction soaring to 156.87%—the highest in the country.
Punjab also faces widespread contamination of its groundwater with toxic elements such as uranium, arsenic, and nitrate, affecting nearly all its districts, according to the report.
The number of districts with groundwater levels deeper than 40 metres rose from three in 2014 to 11 in 2024 in Punjab, while those with shallower water tables have declined.
Punjab also suffers from severe contamination issues. Nine of its 23 districts show abnormal salinity levels; 17 report fluoride anomalies; uranium contamination affects 20 districts; nitrate and iron pollutants appear in 20 and 18 districts, respectively; and arsenic contamination is present in 12 districts, according to the report.
The report further said that Punjab, alongside Ladakh, ranks lowest in the country for tree and forest cover.
At the national level, India, according to the report, has witnessed a decline in agricultural land from 62.33% in 1952-53 to 58.69% in 2022-23, driven by population growth, rapid urbanisation, and industrialisation. Irrigation has increasingly shifted towards tubewell dependence, rising from 0.55% in 1960-61 to 43.34% in 2022-23, with Punjab among 10 states relying almost entirely on tubewells for irrigating farmland.
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The Hindu
6 hours ago
- The Hindu
India celebrates clean energy milestone but coal still king
Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India's installed energy capacity -- years ahead of schedule -- but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. "A landmark in India's energy transition journey," Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world's most populous nation released figures in July. "Five years early," he added, referring to India's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country's stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50% milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures -- which refer only to potential energy production -- tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. Coal paradox The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India's continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe's second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five percent last year, mining one billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. "Coal remains crucial," the ministry said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India's energy transition. Coal is needed to fulfil power demands while storage capacity lags behind the surge in renewable sources of power. "The coal sector remains a crucial contributor to India's energy mix, powering over 74 percent of the country's electricity and sustaining key industries like steel and cement," the coal ministry said, celebrating what it dubbed "India's coal boom". This reliance places India in a challenging position globally. The country ranks behind only China and the United States for carbon emissions overall. But analysts point out that in a country of 1.4 billion people, per capita emissions are only one-third of the global average, according to official figures. "Looking at India's per capita emissions, the effort it is making, India is doing pretty well," said activist Harjeet Singh, head of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. India has set itself the daunting challenge of reducing emissions by 45 percent by 2030. At the same time, electricity needs are expected to more than double by 2047, according to the country's Center for Science and Environment. Supplying some of that demand "is likely to be met by the addition of renewables", Goswami said. 'Waste that energy' Half of India's 484.8 GW installed capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources. The majority comes from solar, totalling 119 GW -- the third-largest level globally. India is building one of the world's largest solar and wind energy farms, spread over a desert the size of Singapore. It is followed by hydro and wind, and also nuclear power -- which makes up less than two percent of the total mix. But solar and wind create steady power only when the conditions are right, and India's storage capacity is a meagre 505 MWh -- far lower than it can generate. The storage bottleneck was not lost on the renewable energy minister. Speaking at the inauguration of a battery storage systems plant in June, Joshi said India's renewable energy potential was "growing fast" and "adding 25-30 GW every year". He added: "But without storage, we will either waste that energy or fall back on coal when renewables dip." Building storage based on batteries requires rare earth metals, with rival and neighbour China controlling 70 percent of the world's supplies. "We still remain dependent on China," said Harjeet Singh, the climate activist. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in New Delhi for talks on Tuesday, with the supply of rare earth metals on the agenda. One solution India is considering is pump-hydro energy storage projects. When wind and solar plants produce excess energy, water is pumped into high reservoirs. That stored energy can then be released to generate power when demand surges. But Goswami believes the transition to cleaner power requires a multi-pronged approach. The transition to cleaner power must come from "emission intensity reduction" of often inefficient coal plants, combined with better integrated renewable energy in the grid that "will actually make the shift happen".
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Brain-eating amoeba, Animal blood bank network and India's S&P rating
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 18, 2025. If you missed the August 17, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Health and diseases, Science. What's the ongoing story: Kerala's health department has sounded an alert in Kozhikode district after three back to back cases of the rare primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) were reported in the region. One of the victims, a nine-year-old girl, died and two others, including a three-month-old baby, are battling for their lives. Key Points to Ponder: — What is Naegleria fowleri or 'brain-eating amoeba' (rare primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) ? — In which season is PAM more likely to occur? — How does Naegleria fowleri infect people? — What are the symptoms of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis? — Read about the acute encephalitis syndrome (AES). — What steps should we take to stop the spread of PAM? Key Takeaways: — Amoebic meningoencephalitis is caused by Naegleria fowleri, known as the 'brain eating amoeba'. It is a free-living amoeba found in warm, fresh water and soil, and infects people when it enters the body through the nose. This year, Kerala had eight confirmed cases and two deaths, including the one reported in Thamarassery in Kozhikode on August 14. — Health department officials said there is no common factor among the three cases, which were reported from different villages in the district. — Sources said that when molecular diagnosis of meningoencephalitis was done, it was understood that apart from naegleria fowleri, another genus, acanthamoeba, also causes the illness. — The first case of PAM in India was reported in 1971, and the first case in Kerala was reported in 2016. From 2016 to 2023, the state had only eight cases. Last year, Kerala had 36 positive cases and nine deaths. — If the fatality of the disease is 97 per cent globally, Kerala has been able to bring it down to 25 per cent. All reported cases in India had led to the patient's death until July 2024, when a 14-year-old boy in Kozhikode district became the first Indian to survive the disease. He was only the 11th PAM survivor in the world. — One of the reasons for the spike in cases in Kerala has been increased testing for acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) – a condition that can be caused by various diseases including amoebic meningoencephalitis – as well as other factors such as climate change and environmental pollution. Last year when Kerala faced a sudden spike in cases, the state issued a special treatment protocol and a standard operating procedure for the management of amoebic meningoencephalitis cases – the first state in India to do so. Do You Know: — The initial symptoms of PAM include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Later on, the patient may experience a stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and slip into a coma. — Scientists have not yet identified any effective treatments for the disease. Currently, doctors use a combination of drugs, including amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine, and dexamethasone for treatment. — According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the rising global temperatures, the chances of getting Naegleria fowleri infection will go up as the amoeba mainly thrives in warm freshwater bodies. The organism best grows in high temperatures up to 46°C and sometimes can survive at even higher temperatures. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Knowledge nugget of the day: Brain-eating amoeba 📍How common is primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, and does it occur more during the monsoon season? UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (1) With reference to the Naegleria fowleri, consider the following statements: 1. It lives in warm saline water. 2. It infects people when it enters the body through the nose. 3. Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare brain infection that is caused by Naegleria fowleri. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What's the ongoing story: The Union government is working on ways to facilitate and standardise blood banking and blood transfusion in veterinary care. Key Points to Ponder: — Why are blood banks for animals required in India? — What role does the livestock and companion animal sector play in the Indian economy? — What are the major challenges in veterinary blood transfusion practices in India? — Know the key features of the draft SOP for veterinary blood banks. — What are the challenges associated with the storage of animal blood? — What services will be provided by the National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN)? Key Takeaways: — The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying invited comments from experts, institutions, and the public on draft 'Guidelines/ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Blood Transfusion & Blood Bank for Animals in India' that it prepared last month. — India is home to a very large livestock population of 536.76 million, according to the 20th Livestock Census conducted in 2019, and is also seeing a boom in the practice of keeping pets or companion animals. — Livestock include cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep, as well as animals such as horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, camels, and pigs. India has the world's largest population of cattle and buffalo, and the second-largest population of goats. The population of companion animals is estimated at 125 million, according to the draft guidelines. — The livestock and companion animal sector plays a pivotal role in the country's agricultural economy and rural livelihoods. The animal husbandry and dairying sector contributes about 30 per cent of the agricultural GVA and 5.5 per cent of the national economy. — Given this context, there is an urgent need to formalise critical and emergency veterinary care services, including blood transfusion support across species, the draft says. Blood transfusion, it says, is 'increasingly recognized globally as a life-saving intervention, essential for managing trauma, severe anemia, surgical blood loss, infectious diseases, and coagulation disorders'. — India, the draft notes, 'lacks a national regulatory framework and standardized protocols guiding veterinary transfusion medicine with structured blood banking and transfusion practices'. Most animal blood transfusions are dependent on 'hospital-available or client-owned donors, without consistent screening, blood typing, or standard operating protocols'. — According to the government, the SOPs will address this situation 'by providing structured, ethical, and scientifically sound guidance on donor selection, blood collection, processing, storage, transfusion procedures, and safety monitoring'. — The veterinary blood banks will be hosted at veterinary colleges and universities, referral hospitals and polyclinics, large veterinary diagnostic centres, and multi-speciality animal hospitals operated by the government. The veterinary blood banks will function round the clock, according to the draft. — Notably, the draft document prohibits monetary incentives to pet owners or livestock owners for the donation of the animal blood. Do You Know: — The volume of blood in both humans and animals ranges between 7 per cent and 9 per cent of body weight. Transfusion is required when the volume of blood falls below this level. — Cattle have 55 ml of blood per kg of their body weight, and at an average weight of 300 kg, each head of cattle carries 16.5 litres of blood. — Like humans, there are a large number of blood groups in animals, produced by species-specific antigens on the cell membrane of their red blood cells. There are 11 blood groups in cattle, 9 in dogs, 8 in horses, and 4 in cats, according to the draft guidelines. UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (2) Consider the following statements: Statement 1: The livestock and companion animal sector plays a pivotal role in the country's agricultural economy and rural livelihoods. Statement 2: The animal husbandry and dairying sector contributes about 30 per cent of the agricultural GVA and 5.5 per cent of the national economy. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1. (b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1. (c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is incorrect. (d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, Economic development. Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment. What's the ongoing story: Last week was turning out to be a great one for the Indian economy even before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a raft of reforms in his Independence Day speech. A day earlier, S&P Global Ratings had upgraded its rating on India to BBB from BBB-. Key Points to Ponder: — What is the Sovereign Credit Rating System? — What are the credit rating agencies in India? — Who regulates credit rating agencies in India? — Read about the S&P rating. — What is the significance of rating upgrade on India by S&P? — What can be the implications of better rating by S&P for India? — What are the reasons behind India's improved S&P rating? — Know about the SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999. — Read about the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Key Takeaways: — The sovereign rating upgrade by S&P is significant for two key reasons. One, it came after a gap of nearly two decades; and two, it has meaningful implications for the Indian economy. — The Indian government has over the last several years aggressively pursued the three global agencies — S&P, Moody's, and Fitch Ratings — for higher ratings that, in its opinion, better reflect the economy's fundamentals. In fact, New Delhi has repeatedly expressed its displeasure over the agencies' methodologies, saying they were biased against emerging economies. So, what has convinced S&P that now is a good time for India to be given an upgrade? — The primary reason is clarity on the government's finances. While the Centre has had a law called the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act since 2003 — it demands reducing the annual fiscal deficit to 3 per cent of GDP — it has rarely been met. — However, post the coronavirus pandemic, the fiscal deficit has been reduced aggressively from 9.2 per cent in 2020-21 to a targeted 4.4 per cent in 2025-26. Going forward, the Centre will start targeting a reduction in its debt-to-GDP from 57.1 per cent in 2024-25 to 49-51 per cent by 2030-31. — Then there is growth. Despite GDP growth falling to a four-year low of 6.5 per cent in 2024-25, India remains one of the fastest growing large economies in the world — or in S&P's words, 'among the best performing economies in the world'. And this is real, or inflation-adjusted, growth; nominal growth — which is the actual increase in the GDP in today's prices — is even higher. — Another key factor has been the fairly low and stable domestic inflation, with S&P praising the Reserve Bank of India's inflation management record. — To be sure, India's rating level with S&P has itself not changed — the country remains in the BBB category. It's just that it has gone from the lowest edge of it, or BBB-, to a more secure position. The next step would be BBB+. — Ratings are divided into two rough classes: investment and speculative grades. Entities, including countries, in the former class are worth investing in, while repayment of loans taken by those in the latter is difficult to predict. But even within the investment grade, there are steps, and BBB is the lowest. — According to S&P, a BBB rating indicates 'adequate capacity to meet financial commitments, but more subject to adverse economic conditions'. The next step is A, then AA, and finally, AAA, which signifies 'extremely strong capacity to meet financial commitments'. – The implications of a better credit rating are clear — the Indian government should be able to borrow at a lower rate of interest. This has already occurred, with government bond yields in the secondary market on August 14 falling as much as 10 basis points, with the rupee's exchange rate also getting a boost. Do You Know: — A credit rating is nothing more than a measure of an entity's creditworthiness, or how likely it is that they may pay back borrowed money. If you pay back your loans and credit card bills on time and in full, your credit score improves. It is the same for countries. — Most countries need to borrow money every year to fund some of their expenditures. The difference between the total income and the expenditure for a year is the fiscal deficit; the Indian government's is Rs 15.69 lakh crore for 2025-26. This has to be met by borrowing money from the markets, with the government paying interest on it. Now, if the government is seen as being more likely to repay the loan — which is what a higher credit rating indicates — then the rate of interest is lower. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍By raising India's credit rating, S&P affirms optimism about growth Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (3) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2022) 1. In India, credit rating agencies are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India. 2. The rating agency popularly known as ICRA is a public limited company. 3. Brickwork Ratings is an Indian credit rating agency. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-III: ScienceandTechnology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life, Environmental pollution and degradation. What's the ongoing story: The country's largest refiner and fuel retailer Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) expects to start producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on commercial scale at its Panipat refinery by December, following the recent international certification received by the unit for manufacturing the biofuel from used cooking oil, according to energy major's chairman Arvinder Singh Sahney. Key Points to Ponder: — What is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)? — How is SAF different from conventional aviation fuel? — What is the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)? — What are the key environmental benefits of adopting SAF in the aviation sector? — Why is SAF referred to as a 'drop-in' fuel? — What are the primary feedstocks used in SAF production? How can India leverage its agricultural and waste resources to become a global exporter of SAF? — How has India positioned itself in the global SAF landscape, and what are its national blending targets? — What are the major global initiatives for promoting SAF adoption? Key Takeaways: — By the end of this calendar year, IOC will have the capacity to produce 35,000 tonnes per year of SAF from used cooking oil, which will be sourced from large hotel chains, restaurants, and sweets and snacks majors like Haldiram's, which normally discard cooking oil after single use. — Earlier this week, IOC became the first company in India to receive the ISCC CORSIA certification for SAF production at its Panipat refinery in Haryana. — ISCC CORSIA is a certification system for compliance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) criteria for SAF. It is a prerequisite for commercial SAF production. According to IOC, the certification also sets a benchmark for other domestic refiners and industry players to scale up SAF production. — SAF is a biofuel that is produced from sustainable feedstocks and has chemistry similar to conventional aviation turbine fuel (ATF) or jet fuel, which is derived from crude oil. This means that existing aircraft engines can easily use the SAF-ATF blend. — The year 2027 will be an important one for adoption of SAF globally with the mandatory phase of CORSIA kicking in. CORSIA, which applies to international flights, would require airlines globally to offset any growth in carbon dioxide emissions beyond the 2020 levels. Using jet fuel blended with SAF is one of the ways through which carriers can keep their emissions under permissible levels. — India, too, will have to comply with the mandatory phase starting 2027. In line with the CORSIA framework, India's National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) has set the initial indicative targets for blending of SAF with jet fuel 2027 onwards, starting with international flights. The indicative targets are: 1 per cent blending in 2027 and 2 per cent in 2028. The government is expected to announce SAF blending mandates for domestic flights in India as well, but only after blending for international flights begins 2027 onwards. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Govt panel sets indicative targets for blending sustainable aviation fuel in ATF from 2027 UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (4) With reference to the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), consider the following statements: 1. It is a biofuel that is produced from sustainable feedstocks. 2. It is cheaper and requires low production costs. 3. The National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) has set the initial indicative targets for blending of SAF with jet fuel from 2027. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, economic and social development. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment. What's the ongoing story: Ashok Gulati and Ritika Juneja write- 'As the Tricolour was unfurled on India's 79th Independence Day, the country stood proudly as a confident, resilient, and rising nation. It is not just the world's largest democracy, but a country that has successfully crafted its destiny since attaining independence in 1947.' Key Points to Ponder: — As India has become the world's fourth-largest economy in nominal terms and third-largest in PPP terms, what is the significance of this achievement? — What are the challenges that remain for inclusive growth? — Why do the issues of nutritional security still persist in India? — Why is rationalising food and fertiliser subsidies the need of the hour? — What measures should be taken to ensure efficiency and equity of subsidies? — Why are increasing investments in agri-R&D and efficient value chains important? Key Takeaways: — 'Just look at the last decade, India's GDP has more than doubled. It is projected to reach $4.19 trillion by 2025, making India the fourth-largest economy, behind the United States ($30.5 trillion), China ($19.2 trillion), and Germany ($4.74 trillion) (IMF estimates).' — 'Measured in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, India is already the world's third-largest economy at $17.65 trillion, trailing only China ($40.72 trillion) and the US ($30.51 trillion) in 2025. All this is a reflection of rising aspirations and India's strong resolve to regain its civilisational legacy.' — 'When India gained independence in 1947, its GDP was around $30 billion. The population stood at 330 million, with an estimated 80 per cent living in poverty. The average life expectancy was a mere 32 years (1947), and literacy levels were just 18.3 per cent (1951). Foodgrain production stood at about 50 million metric tonnes (MMT).' — 'Fast forward to 2025: India's population has increased to 1.46 billion, but poverty, measured at the $3/day (2021 PPP) threshold, has fallen to just 5.3 per cent, as per World Bank estimates. Literacy has surged to 77 per cent, while life expectancy has more than doubled to 72 years (2023). Foodgrain production has multiplied sevenfold, reaching 353.9 MMT in 2024-25. India is now the world's largest rice exporter, shipping 20.2 MMT in FY25…India is a net exporter of agriculture, unlike the US and China, which are both net importers of agriculture. These are not mere statistics; they narrate the story of a country in motion.' — 'However, even as India has achieved food security, there are still many challenges: Nutritional security, especially of children under the age of five, remains pressing. This calls for a sharper focus on women's education, improved maternal health, and continued emphasis on sanitation. The Modi government deserves compliments for making India open defecation free (ODF), which will help improve child nutrition.' — 'In the agri-food space, however, much more can be done. In particular, rationalising food and fertiliser subsidies needs to be put on high priority…While these subsidies are meant to shield vulnerable populations, they are plagued by large inefficiencies.' — 'Studies suggest that at least 20 to 25 per cent of these subsidies fail to reach intended beneficiaries. Though politically tempting, these subsidies come at the cost of productive investments.' — 'The next leap forward has to be rationalising subsidies and increasing investments in agri-R&D and efficient value chains. India's future lies in empowering its citizens to innovate, invest, and generate sustainable incomes. Environmental sustainability has to be central to this journey. The quality of India's soil, water, and air needs to be protected to attain the Viksit Bharat vision by 2047. Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India? (UPSC CSE 2018) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate What's the ongoing story: C. Uday Bhaskar writes- 'The bombing of Hiroshima with an atomic weapon on August 6, 1945, that killed almost 1,40,000 people and led to the end of World War II is a pivotal event in global history. It marked the dawn of the apocalyptic atomic age, wherein nuclear weapons demonstrated their enormous destructive capability — first in Hiroshima and three days later over Nagasaki. Progressively, a norm was internalised globally that Nagasaki would be the last time that a nuclear weapon would be used militarily. And so, the nuclear taboo was born.' Key Points to Ponder: — How did the bombing of Hiroshima also mark the start of a new way of thinking about war, peace, and the use of force? — What was the Cuban missile crisis? — What is the doctrine of MAD — mutually assured destruction? — What is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)? — Is India part of the NPT? What is the purpose of the NPT? — What is India's Nuclear doctrine? — India's nuclear power programme — Read about the Helsinki Accords. Key Takeaways: — 'It is a matter of considerable relief that the nuclear-weapon nations of the world have so far respected the sanctity of the nuclear taboo. But the run-up to the 80th anniversary suggests that the taboo is under stress in a very unexpected manner. The recent war of words between the US and Russia, laced with menacing references to nuclear weapons, is cause for deep concern and augurs ill for global nuclear stability and restraint.' — 'The US and Russia (which inherited the nuclear arsenal of the former Soviet Union) were the two superpowers of the Cold War decades and had amassed thousands of nuclear weapons of varying yields. After the October 1962 Cuban missile crisis that saw these two nations stepping back from the precipice, they arrived at a modus vivendi that neither nation would use the dreaded nuke except to 'deter' the other. Thus was born the deterrence doctrine of MAD — mutually assured destruction — an anomalous form of ensuring 'security' in a SAD manner: Self-assured destruction. — 'To regulate the spread of nuclear weapons, the two superpowers introduced the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) in 1970, and while this had no legitimacy in law, it was a de facto imposition of realpolitik and techno-strategic power. The world was divided into the nuclear haves — the first five nuclear weapon powers (US, USSR/Russia, UK, France, and China) — and the permanent nuclear have-nots, who were compelled to forego the option of ever acquiring nuclear weapons.' — 'The quid pro quo was that the latter, the NNWS (non-nuclear weapon states), would have access to civilian nuclear technology, and they would not be threatened by an NWS (nuclear weapon state). Concurrently, the NWS agreed to 'negotiate in good faith' towards disarmament — this remains the elusive Holy Grail.' – 'In summary, the world had evolved two norms to ensure the sanctity of the nuclear taboo. One, that nuclear weapons would not be brandished to resolve territorial disputes (Pakistan was rebuked for its attempt to do so in the 1999 Kargil War), and secondly, the sovereignty of a NNWS would not be violated without legitimate sanction.' — 'There was no sabre-rattling for almost three decades, from 1991 till 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and Moscow found it necessary to invoke its nuclear capability.' — 'This was a major setback to the deterrence template and agreements such as the 1975 Helsinki Accords that sanctified the inviolability of borders in Europe. This was compounded in June 2025 when Israel, not an NPT signatory, attacked Iran, a NNWS, on the assumption that Tehran was about to acquire a nuclear weapon in violation of its NPT commitment.' — 'The more alarming exigency is a breakdown in US-Russia relations and an unintended military escalation. While the probability is low, it merits notice that both nations possess the world's largest nuclear arsenals — Russia with 5,459 warheads and the US with 5,177 (Federation of American Scientists' 2025 report on the Status of the World's Nuclear Forces).' — 'Even a limited exchange could cause catastrophic loss of life. A 2019 Princeton University simulation estimated 91.5 million casualties in the first few hours of a US-Russia nuclear war, with long-term effects like radioactive fallout and global cooling adding to the atomic apocalypse.' Do You Know: — The NPT is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to foster the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of disarmament. — In 1968, the NPT came into existence. The treaty defines nuclear-weapon states as those that have built and tested a nuclear explosive device before January 1, 1967 – the US, Russia (formerly USSR), the UK, France and China – and effectively disallows any other state from acquiring nuclear weapons. — While the treaty has been signed by almost every country in the world, India is one of the few non-signatories. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: India's doctrine of Nuclear No First Use 📍Knowledge Nugget | All you need to know about India's nuclear might for UPSC exam 📍Was Hiroshima a show of strength meant to shape future order? Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (5) Consider the following countries: (UPSC CSE 2015) 1. China. 2. France 3. India 4. Israel 5. Pakistan Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 2, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ALSO IN NEWS Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Alaska summit, GST reforms and Eco-sensitive Western Ghats
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 17, 2025. If you missed the August 16, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine should make a deal to end the war with Russia because 'Russia is a very big power, and they're not', after a summit where Vladimir Putin was reported to have demanded more Ukrainian land. Key Points to Ponder: — Know about the Russia-Ukraine war and its impact. — Read about Alaska. — What is the geopolitical significance of the Alaska summit? — What is the history of India's bilateral relations with Russia and the US? — What are the areas of cooperation between India and Russia? — What are the areas of cooperation between India and the US? — What is India's stand in the Russia-Ukraine war? — Map work: Locate Alaska, Ukraine, Russia and other places in the news in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war on map. Key Takeaways: — In a subsequent briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a source familiar with the discussion cited Trump as saying the Russian leader had offered to freeze most front lines if Kyiv's forces ceded all of Donetsk, the industrial region that is one of Moscow's main targets. — Zelenskyy rejected the demand, the source said. Russia already controls a fifth of Ukraine, including about three-quarters of Donetsk province, which it first entered in also said he had agreed with Putin that a peace deal should be sought without the prior ceasefire that Ukraine and its European allies, until now with US support, have demanded. — Zelenskyy said he would meet Trump in Washington on Monday, while Kyiv's European allies welcomed Trump's efforts but vowed to back Ukraine and tighten sanctions on Russia. The source said European leaders had also been invited to those talks. From Economy Page- 'No deal or ceasefire: What the 'failed' Trump-Putin Alaska summit could mean for India' — US President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire in Ukraine did not yield results, with Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly not yielding. — The apparent failure of the talks may come as a relief for Ukrainian and European leaders, who were worried that Trump would yield to Putin's demands and follow up on his earlier talk of swapping land. New Delhi too had one eye on America's frigid outpost over 15,000 kilometers away, to see if anything came out of the spectacle that could impact India's prospects. — There was some hope in India that if Trump and Putin reached a deal of some kind, that outcome would provide relief to New Delhi with respect to the secondary tariffs imposed on India. There was a belief here that the 25 per cent additional punitive tariff could possibly go away if the Trump administration believed that it was making some kind of progress with Putin on stopping the war. — That hope, although relatively diminished, may still be there to some extent as both Trump and Putin—while saying there was no deal yet—indicated some progress in the Alaska talks. New Delhi would still be hoping for the best-case scenario—rollback of the 25 per cent additional tariff, or at least the postponement of the August 27 deadline when the extra tariff is slated to take effect. Do You Know: — New Delhi has called the targeting of India over the purchase of Russian oil 'unjustified and unreasonable' and said these imports began as its traditional supplies were diverted to Europe, with the US having 'actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability'. — India has maintained over the years that as a country that depends on energy imports, it will buy oil from wherever it gets a good deal, as long as the oil is not under sanctions. To be sure, Russian oil is not under sanctions, and is only subject to a price cap imposed by the US and its allies that applies if Western shipping and insurance services are used for transporting the oil. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Caught in the Trump-Putin game of chicken: India's Russian oil imports' future and options 📍An Expert Explains: Russia-Ukraine war Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (UPSC CSE 2020) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, Economic and Social Development, Indian Polity and Governance Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development, and employment. What's the ongoing story: The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Rate Rationalisation is set to meet in the coming week to discuss the proposal on next-generation GST reforms Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday. The GoM has ministers from six states: Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar and Karnataka. Key Points to Ponder: — What is Goods and Services Tax (GST), and how does it work? — What are the different types of GST? (Thought Process: Know the differences between Central GST (CGST), State GST (SGST), Union Territory GST (UTGST) and Integrated GST (IGST). — What is the purpose of introducing GST? How is it an example of cooperative federalism? — GST Reforms – What do you know so far? — What is the GST Council? (Thought Process: Know the Key Provisions of Article 279A of the Constitution, the composition and role of the GST council) — What are the issues associated with the GST? — What does the term 'rate rationalisation' in the context of GST in India refer to? — How does the process of GST rate rationalisation align with the principle of cooperative federalism in India? Key Takeaways: — While the proposal was shared with the ministers from the six states a day before the PM's Independence Day address, the Department of Revenue in the Union Ministry of Finance will make a presentation to the GoM when it meets, sources said. — Sources in the Union Finance Ministry said they were confident the GoM and later the GST Council would find merit in the proposal. Internal calculations by the Department of Revenue in the Finance Ministry suggest that gross GST revenues under the proposed two-pillar rate structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent will not be lower than what it is now. — Giving a broad idea of the proposal, sources said most of the products and services would be placed in either of the two rates — 5 per cent or 18 per cent. Goods and services used by the common man, or as inputs by farmers, small entrepreneurs and MSMEs, will attract the lower 5 per cent duty. This will reduce the tax burden and is expected to drive consumption. Most other goods and services will attract the 18 per cent rate, they said. — At present, there are multiple rate slabs — 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent — and a compensation cess ranging from 1 per cent to 290 per cent that is levied on sin and luxury goods such as cars, refrigerators, air conditioners, pan masala, tobacco and cigarettes. — With loans taken by the Centre to pay compensation cess to states getting recouped and fully repaid by November-December, the cess rates on goods are proposed to be subsumed at this special rate of 40 per cent, sources said. But on some goods like tobacco, the tax incidence is substantially higher than 40 per cent; the government is aware of this, and a separate mechanism may be arrived at in due course, the sources said. — Though there might be an initial impact on revenues, the gains from higher compliance and consumption are expected to offset the losses, they said. — Against a tight timeline, the Centre is learnt to have factored in at least three meetings of the GoM before a final proposal is put before the GST Council, the apex decision-making authority on aspects of the indirect tax regime that was introduced in 2017. Indications are that a rollout is being targeted well ahead of Diwali, since the industry needs time to reconcile to the new rate structure and any disruption ahead of the festive season would need to be avoided. — The Centre, sources said, is convinced of the buoyancy from the rate rationalisation taking care of the worries stemming from revenue loss, unlike an earlier attempt in 2018 when rate cuts did not result in revenue gains. Do You Know: — GST, the biggest indirect tax reform in recent years, came into force after the Constitutional (122nd Amendment) Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament in 2016. More than 15 Indian states then ratified it in their state Assemblies, after which then-President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent. — It came into effect in 2017 and was billed as an attempt to simplify the existing tax structure in India, where both the Centre and states levied multiple taxes, and to make it uniform. — The President set up the GST Council as a joint forum of the Centre and the states, under Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution. It said that members of the Council include the Union Finance Minister (chairperson), and the Union Minister of State (Finance) from the Centre. Each state can nominate a minister in charge of finance or taxation or any other minister, as a member. — According to Article 279, the GST council is meant to 'make recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST Laws'. It also decides on various rate slabs of GST, whether they need to be modified for certain product categories, and so on. — The proposed rationalisation of GST rates and doing away with multiple rates will ease compliance and lower the tax burden on ordinary people. As the complexity of the GST structure has made its administration unwieldy. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: What is the GST Council, and what does it do? 📍Next-gen GST reforms by Diwali, says PM Modi; just two rates: 5% & 18% Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (1) What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing 'Goods and Services Tax (GST)'? (UPSC CSE 2017) 1. It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple authorities and will thus create a single market in India. 2. It will drastically reduce the 'Current Account Deficit' of India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange reserves. 3. It will enormously increase the growth and size of the economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the near future. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the goods and services tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017. (UPSC CSE 2017) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. What's the ongoing story: Opposing the Supreme Court's decision to fix a timeline for the President and Governors to act on Bills forwarded by State Legislatures, the Centre has underlined the separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary, and said the order has the potential to 'destabilise the constitutional balance between (the) organs of State'. It has emphasised that 'gubernatorial assent is a high prerogative, plenary, non-justiciable power'. Key Points to Ponder: — In Tamil Nadu v. Governor case, what specifically has the Supreme Court said about the president's and governor's power? — What is the doctrine of separation of powers? — What are the constitutional provisions with regard to the office of President and Governor? — Read about Articles 200 and 201. — What is Article 142? What are the limitations to Article 142? — Can the Supreme Court undermine the President's powers? — What are judicial encroachment and judicial overreach? — Administrative Reforms Commission of 1968, the Rajamanar Committee of 1969, the Sarkaria commission of 1988 and Punchhi Commission-What were their recommendations in the context of role of Governor? Key Takeaways: — In a written submission to the court on August 12 — a five-judge bench is hearing a reference made by the President on whether timelines can be fixed for the actions of the President or Governors — Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the judiciary does not hold answers to all problems in a democracy, and 'if any organ is permitted to arrogate to itself the functions of another, the consequence would be a constitutional disorder not envisaged by (Constitution) framers.' — In April, a two-judge bench had set a timeline for Governors to act on pending Bills, and, for the first time, prescribed that the President should take a decision on the Bills reserved for consideration by the Governor within three months from the date on which such reference is received. In a reference to the Supreme Court in May, President Droupadi Murmu had posed 14 crucial questions on the verdict. — Mehta, in his submission, said though separation of powers is part of the constitutional framework, 'over the years, a certain degree of overlap and checks and balances or fusion of powers have come to form…in practical application.' Despite this, he said, 'there are certain zones which remain exclusive to either of the three organs…and cannot be trenched upon by the others. The high plenary positions of Governors and President fall within that zone. While they are political positions, they are also representations of democratic will.' — He said Governors 'are thus not to be treated as alien/ foreigner in the federating units of the Union. Governors are not just emissaries of the Centre, (but) rather representatives of the entire nation in each and every federating unit. They represent national interest and national democratic will in the States as part of the larger Indian constitutional brotherhood.' — Mehta said 'despite the expanding contours of judicial review, there are some zones like assent that remain non-justiciable. The classical notion of judicial review cannot be lifted and applied to assent as the factors at play during the grant or withholding of an assent have no legal or constitutional parallel.' — 'Each organ of the State in the Constitution has certain core functions, one organ interfering with the core functions of another would breach the separation of powers which is a fundamental feature of Indian Constitution.' he said. — 'Exercise of Article 142 is not a supervening judicial power which can override the constitutional provisions or run contrary to them. The apex court, even under Article 142, is bound by constitutional provisions and principles,' he said. Do You Know: — Article 163 of the Constitution deals with the powers of the Governor generally. Article 200 specifically deals with the issue of granting assent to Bills. Both provisions are read together to determine the contours of the Governor's power on this issue. — When a Bill passed by the legislature of a state is presented to the Governor, the Governor has four options: (1) grant assent to the Bill; (2) withhold assent to the Bill; (3) return the Bill for reconsideration; or (4) reserve the Bill for the consideration of the President. — Article 200 reads: 'When a Bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of a State or, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, has been passed by both Houses… it shall be presented to the Governor and the Governor shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom or that he reserves the Bill for the consideration of the President.' — Under Article 201 of the Constitution, the Governor has the power to reserve a Bill – passed by both Houses of the State Legislature – for the consideration of the President. — In its ruling, the apex court invoked its special power under Article 142 and called for a decision within three months and added, 'in case of any delay beyond this period, appropriate reasons would have to be recorded and conveyed' to the state concerned. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Governor vs. State: Supreme Court draws the line 📍Knowledge Nugget: SC Verdict on TN Governor — Why it matters for UPSC Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (2) Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past? (UPSC CSE 2019) (a) First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966) (b) Rajamannar Committee (1969) (c) Sarkaria Commission (1983) (d) National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000) (3) Which one of the following statements is correct? (UPSC CSE 2013) (a) In India, the same person cannot be appointed as Governor for two or more States at the same time (b) The Judges of the High Court of the States in India are appointed by the Governor of the State just as the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President (c) No procedure has been laid down in the Constitution of India for the removal of a Governor from his/her post (d) In the case of a Union Territory having a legislative setup, the Chief Minister is appointed by the Lt. Governor on the basis of majority support Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: C. Raja Mohan writes- 'If India was counting on a clear and positive outcome from the Alaska summit to avert the additional 25 per cent US tariff on Indian exports, it will be disappointed by the inability of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to deliver last night.' Key Points to Ponder: — What is the significance of the Alaska summit for India? — What are tariffs? Why are tariffs imposed? — Why the U.S. imposition of a 25% tariff plus penalty against India represented a significant departure from prior U.S. trade strategy regarding tariff differentials. — What can be the implications of the higher tariff imposed by the US on India? — What strategies is India using to navigate potential trade negotiations with the U.S.? — What can be the implications of the reset of US-Russia ties for India? — Know about the status of India's relations with the US and Russia. Key Takeaways: — 'The unfinished US-Russian talks in Alaska leave a cloud of uncertainty over India's trade negotiations with Washington. On the upside, though, there was no breakdown of engagement, and the two leaders remain hopeful of an accommodation. As the details of the summit conversations come into public view, India will have to look beyond the tariff question at the implications of a potential reset in Russia's relations with the US and the West.' — 'At their joint press appearance, Putin spoke of the 'agreement' between the two leaders that 'will pave the path toward peace in Ukraine'. — 'While the initial assessments of the summit focused on the lack of an agreement on ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump and Putin appear to have elevated their ambitions to sketch out the terms of a broader peace deal. As Trump said in a social media post on Saturday, 'the best way to end the horrific war in Ukraine is to go directly to Peace Agreement' and not a mere pause or a ceasefire.' — 'Putin put special emphasis on improving bilateral ties with Washington. He noted that Russia and the US are neighbours across the Northern Pacific, evoked their wartime cooperation during the Second World War, and highlighted the potential for broad commercial and strategic engagement – including in the areas of high tech, outer space and Arctic.' — ' Delhi's immediate concern is centred on the punitive measures against India that Trump has inserted into his Ukraine strategy. As part of the effort to pressure Putin into accepting a peace deal, Washington announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports — explicitly linked to Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil.' — 'Since the 2022 invasion, India has become a major buyer of discounted Russian crude, a move that has improved its energy security but drawn sharp criticism from the West. The US administration argues that targeting India, among other large importers, will cut into Moscow's revenues and push it toward compromise in Ukraine.' — 'For now, Delhi must await greater clarity on the summit's outcome, the future trajectory of the Ukraine talks, and the next steps from the US and Europe. One conclusion though is hard to avoid: India's big turn to discounted Russian oil over the last three years has tied it, if indirectly and unwittingly, to the geopolitics of war and peace in Ukraine.' — 'The Modi government will hope that Washington and Moscow will arrive at a final agreement on how to deal with Ukraine, sooner than later, and Trump will discard the 25 per cent additional tariff. At the minimum, Delhi would want Trump, who continues to be optimistic about a breakthrough, to postpone the deadline of August 27 for implementing the additional tariffs against India.' Do You Know: — US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, along with a penalty for procuring military equipment and energy from Russia, has key consequences. — One, it puts India at a disadvantage in comparison to competitors. Two, it put the onus back on the Indian side to fast-track its negotiations for an interim deal with the US. Indications are that the outer limit for a deal, currently pegged at around October from New Delhi's perspective, might need to be brought forward. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Alaska Summit: Trump and Putin call for deeper economic ties despite 25% US tariff on India over Russian oil imports 📍The Alaska Report Card: First assessment of who won what, and how 📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | Tariff war: 4 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. What's the ongoing story: The gigantic antenna reflector on earth observation satellite NISAR, a joint Isro-Nasa mission, has successfully 'bloomed' in space, marking a significant milestone in the satellite's deployment phase. Confirming the successful antenna deployment, Nasa said in a statement that the step-wise unfurling of the antenna reflector with a diameter of 39 feet was completed Friday. Key Points to Ponder: — Know about the NISAR mission in detail. — What is the significance of the NASA–ISRO collaborative model in the NISAR mission? — How does NISAR complement India's existing earth observation systems? — What are the advantages of dual frequency SAR (L band and S band) in studying Earth surface processes? — What are the geopolitical and scientific significance of the ISRO-NASA collaboration on NISAR? Key Takeaways: — NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is the first collaboration satellite of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the United State's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NISAR is the most expensive earth observation satellite ever built, weighing over 2.8 tonnes and costing $1.3 billion. — ISRO launched NISAR on July 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota, and it was later successfully inserted into a sun-synchronous orbit. NISAR is the first-of-its-kind space mission, which will study the earth's solid, liquid and frozen landforms. It is designed to track even the smallest changes in ice sheets, glaciers, forest coverage, oceans, soil moisture, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. — NISAR is equipped with high-end dual radars that will be used to image the earth, once every twelve days. The onboard sophisticated radar systems form a combination of two synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems: an L-band system and an S-band system, capable of peering through clouds and facilitating an all-weather imaging of the earth. — Both the ISRO and NASA teams are currently focusing on fine-tuning the antenna and other components of the satellite. — After the deployment of the antenna, NISAR will continue to remain in its calibration and testing phase. NISAR will remain under a 65-day engineering phase, during which the preliminary tests and calibration will be performed. On day 65 (tentatively early October), the first, full-frame scientific data will be taken and the science teams will check for its quality and other parameters. Do You Know: — NISAR will be the first satellite ever to observe the Earth in two frequencies — NASA's L-band and ISRO's S-band. Putting two radar systems on a single satellite is a unique engineering feat because the two systems require different sets of hardware, and yet have to function in a complementary fashion without interfering with one another. — This would mean that the satellite would be able to provide very high-resolution data, in all types of weather conditions, and both during the day and the night. The satellite is powerful enough to capture changes as small as one centimetre in size during its repeated observations over the same terrain. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Knowledge Nugget | NISAR in focus: Why is this NASA-ISRO mission relevant for UPSC Exam UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (4) With reference to the NISAR satellite, consider the following statements: 1. This satellite is developed by the Indian Space and Research Organisation in partnership with NASA. 2. It will measure the motion of the entire planet's land and ice-covered surface every 28 days. 3. The satellite will work only during the daytime. 4. The satellite will be able to predict earthquakes. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Government policies and interventions, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: The Environment Ministry's Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has, for now, declined Stage-II or final approval for Hindalco Industries Ltd's bauxite mine in Maharashtra's Kolhapur, as it falls under the eco-sensitive areas (ESA) of the Western Ghats, according to the minutes of the FAC meeting. Key Points to Ponder: — Read about the Western Ghats. — What are eco-sensitive areas (ESA)? — What is the purpose of demarcating the ESAs? — What is the significance of ESAs in the context of wildlife conservation in India? — What is the Kasturirangan Committee Report? — Know the 2011 guidelines on eco-sensitive zones? — What are the challenges faced by states in implementing the ESZ guidelines?. Key Takeaways: — The committee also noted that no valid mine lease exists for the proposal as of now, and it is a part of a conservation reserve that was declared in March 2021. Elephants, Indian gaur, sambhar, deer, porcupine, leopard, and tiger 'are found in this patch', the ministry's regional office in Nagpur submitted to the FAC. — The mining project was granted in-principle forest approval in 2009 and environmental clearance from the Centre in January 2014. However, since the company had not obtained the Rights of Forest Resources certificate, it got delayed in seeking final approval for the forest diversion of about 16 hectares. The company has not commenced any mining activity yet on the lease. — The committee noted in the minutes of its July 30 meeting that it had a detailed discussion and deliberation with the deputy director general of forest, regional office, Nagpur and nodal officer, Government of Maharashtra, on the proposal. The FAC cited the issue of the mining lease validity, prohibition of mining proposed in the Western Ghats eco-sensitive areas, and the location of the mining lease in a conservation reserve as the reasons for not considering the proposal at this stage. — As per the Environment Ministry's 2024 draft notification on protection of Western Ghats, 'there shall be a complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining' in ESAs, and all existing mines have to be phased out from the date of final notification or on expiry of the mining lease. — In 2024, the Centre had issued a sixth iteration of a draft notification declaring 56,825.7 sq km of the Western Ghats as an ecologically sensitive area across the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Do You Know: — The Western Ghats are a 1,600-km-long mountain chain running the western coast of the country covering six states — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. It has been accorded the World Heritage status by UNESCO. — In August 2012, then Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan constituted a High-Level Working Group on Western Ghats under former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief Dr K Kasturirangan. — While the Gadgil panel recommended 64 percent area in the Western Ghats, a report by a panel led by Dr K Kasturirangan notified only 37 percent of the area as ecologically sensitive. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Western Ghats: States' submission on ESAs to Centre's committee based on old surveys Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (5) 'Gadgil Committee Report' and 'Kasturirangan Committee Report', sometimes seen in the news, are related to (UPSC CSE 2016) (a) constitutional reforms (b) Ganga Action Plan (c) linking of rivers (d) protection of Western Ghats ALSO IN NEWS Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at
