Archive

1. Ocean acidification is the long-term decrease in the pH of seawater caused primarily by the absorption of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere.

2. The world’s oceans absorb nearly 30% of human-generated carbon dioxide emissions, making them one of the Earth’s largest carbon sinks.

1. India is home to nearly 70% of the world’s wild tiger population, making it the global leader in tiger conservation.

2. International Tiger Day is observed annually on 29 July to promote tiger conservation and global awareness.

1. Soil is a strategic national resource that supports agricultural productivity, food security, ecosystem health, and the livelihoods of more than 46% of India’s workforce engaged in agriculture and allied activities.

2. According to Land Use Statistics 2022–23, India’s total reported geographical area is 306.65 million hectares, of which nearly 59% is under agriculture.

1. Climate finance refers to local, national, and international financial flows from public, private, and alternative sources that support climate change mitigation and adaptation activities.

2. Climate mitigation finance aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low-carbon technologies.

1. The Planetary Boundaries framework was proposed in 2009 by Johan Rockström and a team of 28 scientists at the Stockholm Resilience Centre to define a safe operating space for humanity.

2. The framework identifies nine critical Earth-system processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the planet.

1. Nearly 70 percent of India’s surface water is contaminated, and the country ranks 120th out of 122 nations on the global Water Quality Index, highlighting the severity of its water pollution crisis.

2. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India has 296 polluted river stretches spread across 271 rivers.

1. The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) is India’s national framework for reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions through carbon pricing and the creation of the Indian Carbon Market (ICM).

2. CCTS was introduced under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022 and shifts the focus from energy-efficiency targets to direct reduction of carbon emissions.

1. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was launched in 2014–15 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) to promote climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture.

2. From 2018–19, NMSA was operationalised as a sub-mission under the Green Revolution–Krishonnati Yojana umbrella scheme.

1. India ranks as the world’s third-largest country in terms of large dams and currently has 6,628 specified dams, including 6,545 operational dams and 83 under construction.

2. The gross water storage capacity of India’s specified dams is approximately 330 billion cubic metres, making them vital for irrigation, hydropower, flood control, and water security.

1. The Great Nicobar Project aims to develop Great Nicobar Island into a strategic maritime and economic hub by leveraging its location near the East-West international shipping route.

2. The project site lies about 40 nautical miles from the East-West shipping route, giving it strong potential for transshipment activity and strategic maritime relevance in the Indian Ocean region.