CURRENT AFFAIRS BY RAKSHIT CHARAN 1
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
‘CULTURAL MODEL’ OF CONSERVATION
Idu Mishmi Cultural and
Literary Society wrote that the
right strategy for the Dibang
Tigers would be to develop a
new kind of tiger reserve that
is not built with fences and
armed patrol guards, but
around a cultural model, a
culture so far proven to be
effective in saving the tigers.
The animist tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, who consider tigers their elder
brothers, fears that declaring Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS) as a tiger reserve
would impact their livelihood.
The 2014 tiger census reported 201 tigers in the northeastern hills and the
Brahmaputra plains, out which five were reported in DWS, which extends over
the Mishmi hills.
An area of 4129 sqkm of the 9129 sqkm Dibang Valley is designated as
Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS) but has not yet been named a tiger reserve.
Human activities are permissible inside wildlife sanctuaries. People are
allowed to graze cattle and collect forest produce. Settlements aren’t permitted
but rights over land are granted to their rightful holders. While in case of a
national park, grazing, settlement and other such human activities inside a national park are strictly prohibited.
Even collection of firewood and other forest produce isn’t allowed.
Application by Cultural model of conservation in different tribes of India
• Bishnoi Tribe of Rajasthan: Bishnois consider trees as sacred and protect the entire ecosystem including animals
and birds that exists in their villages. Tribe has organized their own Tiger Force which is a brigade of youth actively
pursue wildlife protection.
• Chenchu Tribe of Andhra Pradesh: They are involved in tiger conservation at Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger
Reserve (NSTR).
• Maldhari Tribe in Junagadh(Gujarat): The success of lion conservation in Gir forest area is due to peaceful
coexistence of tribe with lions.
• Bugun Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh: They protect the critically endangered bird Bugun Liocichla. For its efforts
Singchung Bugun Community Reserve won the India Biodiversity Award 2018.
• Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh - Hornbills in the Pakke/Pakhui Tiger Reserve. Recently, government of
Arunachal Pradesh declared the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF)– the state’s only conservation festival, as a
‘state festival’.
CURRENT AFFAIRS BY RAKSHIT CHARAN 2
KHANGCHENDZONGA BIOSPHERE RESERVE
• The Khangchendzonga
Biosphere Reserve, located in
norther part of sikkim has become
the 11th Biosphere Reserve from
India that has been included in
the UNESCO designated World
Network of Biosphere Reserves
(WNBR).
• The decision to include
Khangchendzonga Biosphere
Reserve in WNBR was taken at
the 30th Session of International
Coordinating Council (ICC) of Man
and Biosphere (MAB) Programme
of UNESCO held at Palembang,
Indonesia.
• India has 18 Biosphere
Reserves and with the inclusion of
Khangchendzonga, the number of
internationally designated WNBR
has become 11, with 7 Biosphere
Reserves being domestic
Biosphere Reserves.
• Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve includes a range of ecolines , varying from sub-tropic to Arctic, as well as
natural forests in different biomes, that support an immensely rich diversity of forest types and habitats.
• The core area of the Biosphere Reserve is a major transboundary Wildlife Protected Area.
• The southern and central landscape, which makes up 86% of the core area, is situated in the Greater Himalayas.
The northern part of the area accounts for 14% is characterized by trans-Himalayan features.
• Buffer zones are being developed to promote eco-tourism activities. Plantation and soil conservation work is also
being carried out.
• The core zone – Khangchendzonga National Park was designated a World Heritage Site in 2016 under the ‘mixed’
category. Many of the mountains, peaks, lakes, caves, rocks, Stupas (shrines) and hot springs function as
pilgrimage sites. Over 118 species of the large number of medicinal plants found in Dzongu Valley in north Sikkim
are of ethno-medical utility.
• The transition zone is targeted for eco-development activities, afforestation, plantation of medicinal herbs and soil
conservation measures.
CURRENT AFFAIRS BY RAKSHIT CHARAN 3
PRADHAN MANTRI JI-VAN YOJANA
"Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN
(Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool
fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana"
for providing financial support to
Integrated Bioethanol Projects
using lignocellulosic biomass and
other renewable feedstock.
Under this Yojana, 12
Commercial Scale and 10
demonstration scale Second
Generation (2G) ethanol Projects
will be provided a Viability Gap
Funding (VGF) support in two
phases:
a) Phase-I (2018-19 to
2022-23): wherein six commercial
projects and five demonstration
projects will be supported.
b) Phase-II (2020-21 to 2023-24): wherein remaining six commercial projects and five demonstration projects will be
supported.
The scheme focuses to incentivise 2G Ethanol sector and support this nascent industry by creating a suitable
ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and increasing Research & Development in this area.
The ethanol produced by the scheme beneficiaries will be mandatorily supplied to Oil Marketing Companies
(OMCs) to further enhance the blending percentage under EBP Programme.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has targeted to achieve 10% blending of Ethanol in petrol by 2022.
CURRENT AFFAIRS BY RAKSHIT CHARAN 4
INDIA’S FIRST OFFSHORE WIND POWER PROJECT
India’s first offshore wind power project is
to be set up in Gujarat.
An MOU for setting up a joint venture
company (JVC) for executing the demonstration
project has been signed by the Union Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), National
Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) and a
consortium of public sector agencies.
The consortium comprises the National
Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Grid
Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), Indian
Renewable Energy Development Agency
(IREDA), Power Finance Corporation (PFC),
Power Trading Corporation (PTC), and Gujarat
Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL).
The project will be of about 100 MW
capacity.
In India, there is yet no commercial production of energy from off-shore wind farm. Two regions where
preliminary studies are conducted are off coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu which have shown significant potential.
MNRE has declared medium and long-term target for off-shore wind power capacity additions, which are 5 GW by
2022 and 30 GW by 2030
India has around 7,600 km of coastline, which offers great potential for offshore wind power development.
CURRENT AFFAIRS BY RAKSHIT CHARAN 5
SOLAR CHARKHA MISSION
The Solar Charkha Mission is a Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) initiative launched by President
Kovind in June 2018. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) would implement the programme.
The objectives of the Scheme are as follows:
To ensure inclusive growth by generation of
employment, especially for women and youth, and
sustainable development through solar charkha
clusters in rural areas.
To boost rural economy and help in arresting
migration from rural to urban areas.
To leverage low-cost, innovative technologies and
processes for sustenance.
The target is to cover 50 solar clusters across the
country, whereby approx. 1,00,000
artisans/beneficiaries are to be covered (each cluster will employ 400 to 2,000 artisans) under the various scheme
components. The scheme shall be implemented in all States of India.
The geographical distribution of the clusters throughout the country, with at least 10% located in the North Eastern Region
(NER), J&K and hilly states, will also be kept in view.
NATIONWIDE ‘STATE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PREPAREDNESS INDEX’ RELEASED
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Alliance for an Energy
Efficient Economy (AEEE), released the ‘State Energy
Efficiency Preparedness Index’, which assesses state policies
and programmes aimed at improving energy efficiency across
various sectors.
The nationwide Index, is a joint effort of the NITI Aayog
and BEE.
Developed by the BEE, these will serve as a standard
reference document for energy intensive industries and help
them achieve high operational efficiency of energy consuming utilities thereby improving their energy
performance.
It examines states’ policies and regulations, financing mechanisms, institutional capacity, adoption of energy
efficiency and energy savings.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is a joint venture of four national Public-SectorUndertakings under
Ministry of Power– NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation Limited, Rural Electrification Corporation Limited and
POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited.
It leads the market-related activities of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), one of the
eight national missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change
CURRENT AFFAIRS BY RAKSHIT CHARAN 6
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Panel headed by Y S Malik, has presented a 15 point plan to aid car manufacturers to switch from Internal Combustion
Engines (IECs) to Electric Vehicles (EVs).
The panel recommended to have approximate induction of 3 to 5% EVs, as against total manufactured vehicles,
the fuel efficiency norms have to be lower by 20-25 percent over FY 2017-18 data
Earlier, the Ministry of Transport had mandated car manufacturers to produce vehicles that are 30 per cent more
fuel-efficient by 2022. This is expected to help India meet the global CO2 emission norms, and likewise assist in
reducing its carbon footprint.
In order to incentivise electric car manufacturing, the panel seeks to provide tax deductions for scientific research,
and inhibit imports to protect and promote domestic manufacturing.
Additionally, manufacturers have been requested to keep their profit margins low for the first five years, given the
soaring costs of e-vehicles. Disbursement of low rate interest loans has also been suggested for buying EVs for
public transport services.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has, on parallel lines, called upon industry leaders to make bids to
avail its indigenously developed Lithium-Ion Cell Technology.
National Electric Mobility Mission Plan - (NEMMP) 2020 with an aim to achieve national fuel security by promoting
hybrid and electric vehicles in the country. It set an ambitious target to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and
electric vehicles year on year from 2020 onwards.
CURRENT AFFAIRS BY RAKSHIT CHARAN 7
FAME-India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (hybrid &) Electric vehicles in India) scheme: To support the
hybrid/electric vehicles market development and its manufacturing eco-system to achieve self-sustenance by
subsidizing electric vehicle purchases on an annual basis.
Scheme is proposed to be implemented till 2020.
The scheme has four focus areas viz. technology development, demand creation, pilot projects and charging
infrastructure
Climate Vulnerability Report
Climate Vulnerability
Assessment for the Indian
Himalayan Region Using a
Common Framework is a
first-ofits-kind report
prepared by the Department
of Science and Technology.
This follows an assessment
of the global warming risks
faced by 12 Himalayan States
— and discussed at last
year’s U.N. climate change
conference in Poland — that
found States such as Assam,
Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand vulnerable to climate change.
According to the report, all the 12 Himalayan states in India are extremely vulnerable to global warming.
It is based on 4 indicators such as
1. The economic and sociological status of the people and their health,
2. Possible impact on agriculture production,
3. Forest-dependent livelihoods and
4. Access to information services and infrastructure
States having low per capita income, low area under irrigation and low area under forests per 1,000 households and
high area under open forests received a high vulnerability score.
Assam, Mizoram and Jammu & Kashmir topped the list.
Sikkim is the least vulnerable state.
Different factors contributed to a State’s vulnerability. In Arunachal Pradesh, the key factors are low female literacy
and high percentage of population above BPL whereas in Nagaland the key issues are loss of forest cover, steep
slope and high yield variability.
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