Category: Environment Current Affairs

Solar Waste:   While India ramps up its solar power capacity, the nation does not yet have a firm policy on managing waste that results from used solar panels or from the manufacturing process. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) last December estimated that the global photovoltaic waste will touch 78 million tonnes by 2050, […]

India’s Newest Mammal: White Cheeked Macaque The Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have found a new mammal species in the country — the White Cheeked Macaque (Macaca leucogenys). While the species was first discovered in China in 2015, its existence was not known in India before this. It is only now that […]

Marine Heatwaves:   According to a study, marine heatwaves — or the ones that form on oceans — have been on the rise in the waters around India. Emerging studies have reported their occurrence and impacts in the global oceans, but are little understood in the tropical Indian Ocean. Also, according to the Intergovernmental Panel […]

What Is Bioremediation?   A team of Argentine scientists is using microorganisms native to Antarctica to explore the idea of cleaning up pollution from fuels and, potentially, plastics in the pristine expanses of the white continent. The continent is protected by a 1961 Madrid Protocol that stipulates it must be kept in a pristine state. […]

Aravalli Biodiversity Park:   On World Wetlands Day, that is, on February 2, the Aravalli Biodiversity Park (Gurugram) was announced as the first Other Effective Area – based Conservation Measures site, OECM site. The OECM tag is provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN. According to IUCN, the OECM sites are not […]

Definition Under State Of Forest Report:   Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change informed Rajya Sabha about the Definition under State of Forest Report. As per decision 19/Conference of Parties (CP) 9-Kyoto Protocol, the forest can be defined by any country depending upon the capacities and capabilities of the country as follows:- Forest is […]

National Adaptation Fund For Climate Change (NAFCC):   The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) was established to support adaptation activities in the States and Union Territories (UTs) of India that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. NAFCC is implemented in project mode and till date, 30 projects are sanctioned in […]

Golden Langur:   Assam villagers are opposing the sanctuary tag for golden langur habitat. The Assam Forest Department had issued a preliminary notification for converting the 19.85 sq. km. patch of forest into the Kajoijana Bamuni Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. Kakoijana Reserve Forest is one of the better-known homes of the golden langur. The villagers demanded […]

Coal Gasification And Liquefaction:   In its endeavour to reduce emissions and control dependence on crude oil, the Centre has said four coal gasification plants will be set up on a pilot basis to understand the technical and financial viability of such projects. India is committed to cut consumption of coal, a primary pollutant, in […]

What Is Coal Gasification?   The Delhi-based non-profit, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has raised concerns about the Union Government’s announcement on coal gasification projects in the Budget 2022-23. The budget proposed four pilot projects for coal gasification and conversion of coal into chemicals required for the industry. According to CSE, the process of […]