UPSC Environment Ecology PSIR

#Environment ■ A climate crisis agenda remains urgent - ✅The next five years are critical for India as it aims to meet its 2030 climate targets. While significant progress is being made in solar and renewable energy, India's dependence on coal, which still dominates 78% of its electricity mix, is a major challenge. ✅To make headway on its climate goals, the country must urgently address key issues such as reducing heat stress, improving air quality, waste management, and enhancing energy efficiency. ● Heat Stress and Air Quality: ✅India is particularly vulnerable to heat stress, with potential heat waves that could exceed human survivability limits. Reducing both CO2 and short-lived super pollutants like methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons is crucial. Methane, for instance, traps much more heat than CO2 over short periods, and reducing its levels could help curb near-term warming. ✅By breaking down the climate problem into more manageable parts, such as targeting specific pollutants or sectors, more effective solutions can be achieved. ● International Frameworks: Learning from Success: ✅India can look to the Montreal Protocol as a blueprint for climate action. With its Kigali Amendment, the protocol successfully phased out harmful F-gases and is expected to prevent 0.5°C of global warming by the end of the century. ✅Focusing next on methane could avoid another 0.3°C of warming by 2040. Global cooperation, possibly led by the U.S., EU, and China, could secure corporate commitments to nearly eliminate methane emissions by 2030. ● Tackling Air Pollution: A Year-Round Effort: ✅Air pollution, a year-round issue in India, needs consistent attention. Reducing black carbon and expanding the National Clean Air Programme would not only improve air quality but also public health. ✅Five key steps for improving air quality include fostering collective responsibility, investing in clean air initiatives, integrating sustainable development, using data-driven interventions, and recognizing clean air as an economic driver. ● Energy Efficiency and GHG Reduction: ✅Enhancing energy efficiency and rapidly adopting low global warming potential refrigerants, as mandated by the Kigali Amendment, will be essential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Decarbonizing sectors such as energy and industry should also be fast-tracked, aligning with India's climate targets. ● Role of Carbon Markets: ✅The introduction of carbon markets can provide financial incentives for GHG reductions. India aims to launch its India Carbon Market by 2026, which could become the world’s largest emissions trading system by 2030. ✅A successful carbon market could avoid $35 trillion in climate-related costs over the next 50 years, aligning with the global goal of keeping temperature rise under 1.5-2°C. ● Governance for Coordinated Climate Action: ✅Coordinating efforts at all levels of governance is essential to address these challenges. A nodal authority with constitutional powers, timelines, and accountability mechanisms is needed to ensure that stakeholders across government and private sectors work together effectively. ✅This will also help integrate climate action into political agendas, ensuring that climate-progressive leadership drives real change, rather than symbolic gestures. ● Conclusion: ✅India stands at a critical juncture where swift and coordinated action can pave the way for meeting its ambitious climate targets. With the right policies, governance, and international cooperation, India can turn its climate challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth, improved health, and a more resilient future. SOURCE - THE HINDU

🎓 IAS GS फाउंडेशन कोर्स | PRELIMS & MAINS | हाइब्रिड कोर्स 📚 | ऑफलाइन 🏫 | ऑनलाइन 💻 बैच आरंभ: 30 SEP | 11:30 AM 🕦 कोर्स में शामिल: 📺 3 वर्षों तक, असीमित बार देखने की सुविधा 📄 प्रत्येक विषय/खंड के प्रिंटेड क्लास नोट्स 📝 नियमित क्लास टेस्ट प्रिलिम्स और मुख्य परीक्षा के लिए For Details Visit ➛ https://www.sanskritiias.com 📞 9555-124-124

#Agriculture ■ Govt. plans ₹6000 cr scheme to body precision farming - ✅The Centre has also set up 22 Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs) across the country to test new technologies and modify them according to local needs ● Highlights: ✅The Indian government is considering allocating ₹6,000 crore to promote precision farming, a technology-driven approach that leverages the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), drones, and data analytics to enhance agricultural production while minimizing environmental impact. ✅The initiative aims to modernize farming practices and ensure sustainable agriculture through the optimal use of resources. Smart Precision Horticulture Programme ●New Scheme under MIDH: ✅The Union Ministry of Agriculture is developing a Smart Precision Horticulture Programme under the existing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme. ✅The programme will be implemented from 2024-25 to 2028-29 and cover 15,000 acres, potentially benefiting around 60,000 farmers. This initiative will focus on promoting smart farming solutions to enhance productivity and efficiency in horticulture. Financial Support through Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) ●Eligibility and Support: ✅Under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), farmers and farmer groups such as Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are eligible for financial support. ✅The scheme offers loans with a 3% interest subvention for adopting smart agriculture technologies, including drones, sensors, AI, and blockchain solutions in farming practices. The Role of Technology in Sustainable Farming ●Impact of Smart Agriculture: ✅Precision farming technologies maximize the use of resources like water, fertilizers, and pesticides to improve production quality and quantity. ✅This approach also helps insulate farmers from the uncertainties of climate change while ensuring sustainability. Technologies like remote sensing and IoT play a pivotal role in monitoring and managing farm activities efficiently. Collaboration with Global Leaders in Agriculture ●Indo-Israel and Dutch Collaboration: ✅The Centre is exploring collaboration with countries like the Netherlands and Israel, known for their advancements in tech-driven farming, through the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs). ✅These CoEs will provide expertise and innovative solutions for precision agriculture. The government aims to set up 100 CoEs in the next five years, building on the success of the 32 Indo-Israel Agriculture Project CoEs already established across 14 states. Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs) ●Testing and Local Adaptation of Technologies: ✅The government has also set up 22 Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs) across various State and Central Agricultural Universities, ICAR Institutes, and IITs to test and adapt new farming technologies to local conditions. These PFDCs are spread across states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Haryana, and several others. ●Prelims Takeaways: ✅Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme. ✅Centres of Excellence (CoEs) ✅Primary Agricultural Credit Societies SOURCE - INDIAN EXPRESS

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🎓 IAS GS फाउंडेशन कोर्स | PRELIMS & MAINS | हाइब्रिड कोर्स 📚 | ऑफलाइन 🏫 | ऑनलाइन 💻 बैच आरंभ: 30 SEP | 11:30 AM 🕦 कोर्स में शामिल: 📺 3 वर्षों तक, असीमित बार देखने की सुविधा 📄 प्रत्येक विषय/खंड के प्रिंटेड क्लास नोट्स 📝 नियमित क्लास टेस्ट प्रिलिम्स और मुख्य परीक्षा के लिए For Details Visit ➛ https://www.sanskritiias.com 📞 9555-124-124

🔆CE elongated tortoise spotted in Aravallis ✅The species, also called the Sal forest tortoise, normally occurs in open deciduous forest patches, including Sal (Shorea robusta) and evergreen forest habitats, dry thorn forests, and savannah grasslands. ✅The species is found in the Asian countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. ✅In and around India, it is found in the Manas-Bhutan transboundary landscape, Corbett-Rajaji-Nepal Terai landscape, and northeast Myanmar and northeast Bangladesh transboundary landscape. ✅Over 90 percent of the habitat of the critically endangered elongated tortoise falls outside the protected area (PA) network in the Indian subcontinent. ✅In India, the Sal forest tortoise is one of the 29 species (24 turtles + 5 tortoises) of freshwater tortoise and turtles. ✅It is listed in Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). #species

🎓 IAS GS फाउंडेशन कोर्स | PRELIMS & MAINS | हाइब्रिड कोर्स 📚 | ऑफलाइन 🏫 | ऑनलाइन 💻 बैच आरंभ: 30 SEP | 11:30 AM 🕦 कोर्स में शामिल: 📺 3 वर्षों तक, असीमित बार देखने की सुविधा 📄 प्रत्येक विषय/खंड के प्रिंटेड क्लास नोट्स 📝 नियमित क्लास टेस्ट प्रिलिम्स और मुख्य परीक्षा के लिए For Details Visit ➛ https://www.sanskritiias.com 📞 9555-124-124

#Environment ■ Critically endangered elongated tortoise spotted in Aravalis for the first time - ✅A critically endangered species, the elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), was spotted in Haryana’s Damdama area during a research survey in the Aravallis. ● Highlights: ✅A critically endangered species, the elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), was recently spotted in the Damdama area of Haryana’s Aravallis during a research survey. ✅This rare sighting, the first of its kind in the region, has sparked interest among conservationists, given the tortoise's typical habitat in wetter regions such as the foothills of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. ● Description and Habitat: ✅The elongated tortoise is a medium-sized species with a yellowish-brown or olive shell adorned with distinct black blotches on each scute. ✅During the breeding season, individuals develop a pinkish colouration around the nostrils and eyes, with a pink ring around the nostrils being a distinctive feature. ✅The tortoise is usually found in Sal deciduous and hilly evergreen forests, with its distribution spanning across Southeast Asia, including northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Thailand, among others. In India, disjunct populations exist in the Chota   plateau and lowland regions up to 1,000 meters above sea level. ● The Significance of the Sighting: ✅Environmentalists Sunil Harsana and Nitesh Kaushik discovered the tortoise during a research survey, and the species was identified by expert Sneha Dharwadkar. ✅The finding is considered an aberration as the species is not native to the Aravalli region and typically inhabits wetter areas. ✅Dharwadkar suggested that the tortoise could have been introduced to the region through illegal wildlife trade, though further research is needed to confirm this. ● Conservation Concerns: ✅Listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2018, the elongated tortoise has experienced severe population declines. Despite its wide distribution, human activities such as hunting, habitat destruction, and exploitation for food and traditional medicine have significantly impacted its numbers. ✅Local communities often capture tortoises while farming or foraging, while others deliberately hunt them, sometimes using dogs to locate the animals. ✅The discovery in Haryana highlights the importance of ongoing conservation efforts and the need for further surveys to assess the species’ presence and protection in the region. ● Prelims Takeaways: ✅IUCN Red List SOURCE - INDIAN EXPRESS

🎓 IAS GS फाउंडेशन कोर्स | PRELIMS & MAINS | हाइब्रिड कोर्स 📚 | ऑफलाइन 🏫 | ऑनलाइन 💻 बैच आरंभ: 30 SEP | 11:30 AM 🕦 कोर्स में शामिल: 📺 3 वर्षों तक, असीमित बार देखने की सुविधा 📄 प्रत्येक विषय/खंड के प्रिंटेड क्लास नोट्स 📝 नियमित क्लास टेस्ट प्रिलिम्स और मुख्य परीक्षा के लिए For Details Visit ➛ https://www.sanskritiias.com 📞 9555-124-124

#Environment ■ Critically endangered elongated tortoise spotted in Aravalis for the first time - ✅A critically endangered species, the elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), was spotted in Haryana’s Damdama area during a research survey in the Aravallis. ● Highlights: ✅A critically endangered species, the elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), was recently spotted in the Damdama area of Haryana’s Aravallis during a research survey. ✅This rare sighting, the first of its kind in the region, has sparked interest among conservationists, given the tortoise's typical habitat in wetter regions such as the foothills of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. ● Description and Habitat: ✅The elongated tortoise is a medium-sized species with a yellowish-brown or olive shell adorned with distinct black blotches on each scute. ✅During the breeding season, individuals develop a pinkish colouration around the nostrils and eyes, with a pink ring around the nostrils being a distinctive feature. ✅The tortoise is usually found in Sal deciduous and hilly evergreen forests, with its distribution spanning across Southeast Asia, including northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Thailand, among others. In India, disjunct populations exist in the Chota   plateau and lowland regions up to 1,000 meters above sea level. ● The Significance of the Sighting: ✅Environmentalists Sunil Harsana and Nitesh Kaushik discovered the tortoise during a research survey, and the species was identified by expert Sneha Dharwadkar. ✅The finding is considered an aberration as the species is not native to the Aravalli region and typically inhabits wetter areas. ✅Dharwadkar suggested that the tortoise could have been introduced to the region through illegal wildlife trade, though further research is needed to confirm this. ● Conservation Concerns: ✅Listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2018, the elongated tortoise has experienced severe population declines. Despite its wide distribution, human activities such as hunting, habitat destruction, and exploitation for food and traditional medicine have significantly impacted its numbers. ✅Local communities often capture tortoises while farming or foraging, while others deliberately hunt them, sometimes using dogs to locate the animals. ✅The discovery in Haryana highlights the importance of ongoing conservation efforts and the need for further surveys to assess the species’ presence and protection in the region. ● Prelims Takeaways: ✅IUCN Red List SOURCE - INDIAN EXPRESS