Sunday, February 5, 2023
Sunday, October 2, 2022
India’s first Avalanche Monitoring Radar
The Indian Army and the Defence Geoinformatics and Research Establishment (DGRE) have jointly installed the Avalanche Monitoring Radar, first of its kind in India, at an altitude of 15,000 feet in north Sikkim.
- Besides being used for detection of avalanches, this radar can also be employed to detect landslides.
- This radar has the capability to detect avalanches within three seconds of their triggering and will assist in saving valuable life of troops and civilians as also vehicles in super high altitude areas.
- The avalanche radar was made operational by Defence Research and Development Organisation’s wing DGRE, which is involved in forecasting and mitigation of avalanche hazards faced by Indian Army in the Himalayan region.
Working Principle/Features
- The radar uses a series of short micro wave pulses which are scattered at the target and can detect an avalanche in less than three seconds.
- The radar, which can permanently scan the targeted slope for avalanche release and track its path and its size in case it is triggered, can “see” through snow, fog as well as in the night, making it an all-weather solution and covers an area of two sq/km obviating the requirement to place additional instruments in dangerous avalanche prone areas.
- The radar is also linked to an alarm system enabling automatic control and warning measures in case an avalanche is triggered. Images and videos of the event are automatically recorded for future analysis by the experts.
Sunday, September 25, 2022
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan- Ranking of Cities under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
A two day National Conference of Ministers of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat on 23-24th September, 2022. The conference was inaugurated by the Prime Minister virtually.
During a parallel session on Control and Prevention of Pollution, the States were informed regarding guidelines on ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan- Ranking of Cities’ released under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
Under the guidance of the Minister for Environment, Forest and climate Change, the Ministry is going to launch Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan that promotes ranking of 131 cities in the country for implementing City Action Plans prepared as part of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for reducing air pollution upto 40% by 2025-26.
131 cities are categorized into three groups based on population. 47 cities are in the first group having population more than 10 lakh. 44 cities are in the second group having population between 3 to 10 lakh. Third group consists of 40 cities having population less than 3 lakh.
Cities are required to do the self-assessment as per the framework provided on PRANA online portal. This assessment is carried out annually. Cities have to report implementation of activities and measures taken in respect of solid waste management, road dust management, management of construction and demolition waste, control of vehicular emissions and industrial pollution.
It was informed that based on the self-assessment and third party assessment, 3 best performing cities in each group will be given cash award in the spirit of competitive federalism. This promotes constructive competition in the spirit of competitive federalism to take measures to improve air quality. This Survekshan provides a tool to cities to plan their actions in order to improve the air quality. It is not based on the measurement of the air quality parameters to rank the cities. It is based on the actions taken by the cities to improve the air quality in different domains. The actions taken by the cities would result in the improvement of air quality. It thus, provides a planning implementation tool to improve the air quality and the assessment of the cities regarding how better they have aligned their actions to improve the air quality.
The Ministers of Environment, Forest and Climate Change from across the country participated in the National conference organised by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. State Forest and Environment Ministers, the concerned State Secretaries as well as Chairmen of State PCBs / PCCs along with PCCFs also participated in the two-day National Conference along with senior officials of the Ministry.
అమృత్ సరోవర్ మిషన్
దిగువ పేర్కొన్న ఆరు మంత్రిత్వ శాఖలు మరియు విభాగాలను ప్రభుత్వం సంప్రదించింది.
- గ్రామీణాభివృద్ధి శాఖ
- భూ వనరుల శాఖ
- తాగునీటి వనరుల శాఖ
- పంచాయితీ రాజ్ మంత్రిత్వ శాఖ
- అటవీ మంత్రిత్వ శాఖ
- పర్యావరణం మరియు వాతావరణ మార్పు విభాగం.
మిషన్‌తో నిమగ్నమైన ఇతర సంస్థలు భాస్కరాచార్య నేషనల్ ఇన్‌స్టిట్యూట్ ఫర్ స్పేస్ అప్లికేషన్ అండ్ జియో-ఇన్ఫర్మేటిక్స్ (BISAG-N) సాంకేతిక భాగస్వామిగా ఉన్నాయి.
మహాత్మా గాంధీ NREGA, XV ఫైనాన్స్ కమిషన్ గ్రాంట్లు, వాటర్‌షెడ్ డెవలప్‌మెంట్ కాంపోనెంట్ వంటి PMKSY సబ్-స్కీమ్‌లు మరియు హర్ ఖేత్ కో పానీ వంటి అనేక ఇతర మిషన్‌లపై మిషన్ దృష్టి సారించింది. అలాగే, ఈ ప్రయత్నాలకు అనుబంధంగా పౌరులు మరియు ప్రభుత్వేతర వనరుల సమీకరణను పెంచడం మిషన్ లక్ష్యం.
భారత ప్రభుత్వం అనుకున్న విధంగా అమృత్ సరోవర్ నిర్మాణాన్ని పూర్తి చేయాలని అన్ని రాష్ట్రాల ప్రభుత్వం మరియు సెక్రటరీలను అభ్యర్థించారు. అమృత్ సరోవర్ నిర్మాణంలో సాంకేతికత వినియోగం ఉంటుందని ప్రభుత్వం హామీ ఇచ్చింది. వినియోగదారుల సంఘం కోసం నీటి నిర్మాణాన్ని ఏర్పాటు చేయాలని మరియు అమృత్ సరోవర్ యొక్క మెరుగైన అభివృద్ధికి అవసరమైన శిక్షణ ఇవ్వాలని రాష్ట్రాలు అభ్యర్థించబడ్డాయి. ఇప్పటి వరకు, అమృత్ సరోవర్ నిర్మాణానికి 12,241 స్థలాలు ఖరారు చేయబడ్డాయి, వాటిలో 4,856 అమృత్ సరోవర్ కోసం పనులు ప్రారంభించబడ్డాయి.
1. మిషన్ 15 ఆగస్టు 2023 నాటికి పూర్తి చేయాలని లక్ష్యంగా పెట్టుకుంది.
2. దేశవ్యాప్తంగా 50,000 అమృత్ సరోవర్‌ను నిర్మించనున్నారు.
3. ప్రతి అమృత్ సరోవర్ 10,000 క్యూబిక్ మీటర్ల నీటి నిల్వ సామర్థ్యంతో సుమారుగా 1 ఎకరం ఉంటుంది.
4. మిషన్ యొక్క కేంద్ర బిందువు ప్రజల భాగస్వామ్యం.
5. స్థానిక స్వాతంత్ర్య సమరయోధులు, వారి కుటుంబ సభ్యులు, అమరవీరుల కుటుంబ సభ్యులు, పద్మశ్రీ అవార్డు గ్రహీతలు మరియు స్థానిక ప్రాంతాల పౌరులు అమృత్ సరోవర్‌ను నిర్మించాల్సిన ప్రదేశాలు మరియు వారు అన్ని దశల నిర్మాణంలో నిమగ్నమై ఉంటారు.
6. ప్రతి అమృత్ సరోవర్లో, ఫ్లాగ్ హోస్టింగ్ ప్రతి స్వాతంత్ర్య దినోత్సవం, 15 ఆగస్టులో జరుగుతుంది.
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Sunday, June 5, 2022
Thursday, June 2, 2022
Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection MCQs
1. Atmospheric ozone layer which protect us from UV-B & C is getting depleted most by addition of
(a) Chlorofluorocarbon
(b) Carbon monoxide
(c) Carbon dioxide
(d) Sulpur dioxide
2. In which of the following biome the maximum plant diversity is found ?
(a) Tropical evergreen forests
(b) Tropical moist deciduous forests
(c) Tropical dry deciduous forests
(d) Temperate moist forests
3. Which among the following is a water borne disease?
(a) Smallpox
(b) Meningitis
(c) Malaria
(d) Cholera
4. The term ‘dead’ with respect to a water body refers to:
(a) The inability of a water body to sustain aquatic life
(b) The ability of a water body to sustainaquatic life
(c) The inability of a water body to flow
(d) The heating or cooling of a water body
5. Which one of the following is not normally a pollutant?
(a) Carbon monoxide
(b) Carbon dioxide
(c) Hydrocarbons
(d) Sulphur dioxide
6. Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight causes the reaction that produces
(a) Fluorides
(b) Ozone
(c) Carbon monoxide
(d) Sulphur dioxide
7. DDT is a
(a) Green house gas
(b) Persistent Organic Pollutant
(c) Degradable pollutant
(d) None of these
8. Decomposition of domestic wastes under natural processes is called
(a) Industrial pollution
(b) Thermal pollution
(c) Biodegradable pollution
(d) Nonbiodegradable pollution
9. Eutrophication is often seen in
(a) Mountains
(b) Deserts
(c) Fresh water lakes
(d) Ocean
10. Fish die in water polluted by sewage due to
(a) Pathogens
(b) Reduction in O2
(c) Clogging of gills by silt
(d) Foul smell
11. Fluoride pollution mainly affects
(a) Brain
(b) Teeth
(c) Heart
(d) Kidney
12. Gas leaked during Bhopal tragedy was
(a) Ethyl isothiocyanate
(b) Sodium isothiocyanate
(c) Potassium isothiocyanate
(d) Methyl isocyanate
13. The best way to dispose plant waste is
(a) Burning
(b) Composting
(c) Dumping in a water body
(d) Incineration
14. Which of the following is a major pollutant causing acid rain?
(a) Carbon dioxide
(b) Sulphur dioxide
(c) Hydrogen peroxide
(d) Carbon monoxide
15. Increase in the concentration of pollutants in higher trophic levels is known as
(a) Biomagnification
(b) Biodegradation
(c) Eutrophication
(d) Recycling
16. The best household method to obtain potable water is
(a) Filtration
(b) Boiling
(c) Chemical treatment
(d) Decantation
17. Consider the following statements regarding Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972?
1. The Government of India enacted Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 with the objective of effectively protecting the wild life of this country and to control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife and its derivatives.
2. The Act was amended in January 2003 and pun- -ishment and penalty for offences under the Act have been made more stringent.
3. The Ministry OF Environment and Forest has proposed further amendments (The Wild Life (Pro- -tection) Amendment Bill, 2010) in the law by intro- -ducing more rigid measures to strengthen the Act.
4. The objective of ‘The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2010’ is to provide protection to the listed endangered flora and fauna and ecologically important protected areas.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
18. An endemic species is
(a) a species found uniquely in one place.
(b) a species carrying an epidemic disease.
(c) a species at an early phase of its evolution.
(d) a taxonomist’s mistake.
19. Contamination of water with sewage is indicated by cysts of
(a) Escherichia
(b) Escherichia coli
(c) Pseudomonas
(d) Leishmania
20. Consider the following statements regarding National Environment Tribunal
1. In 1999 the Central Government established the National Environment Tribunal [through the National Environment Tribunal Act 1999].
2. National Environment Tribunal was established to provide for strict liability for damage arising out of accidents caused from the handling of hazardous substances.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWERS:
1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (a) 5. (b)
6. (b) 7. (b) 8. (c) 9. (c) 10. (b)
11. (b) 12. (d) 13. (b) 14. (b) 15. (b)
16. (b) 17. (d) 18. (a) 19. (b) 20. (b)
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram has been revised for implementation w.e.f from 2022-23 onwards in all Districts of the country including all the Aspirational Districts.
• The erstwhile Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) has been restructured and renamed as Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) for effective implementation since 2018.
• PMJVK is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that seeks to provide better socio-economic infrastructure assets and basic amenities to the minorities mainly in the field of education, health & skill development.
• This which would further lead to lessening of the gap between the national average and the minority communities with regard to backwardness parameters. • In 2018, the restructuring was done to be implemented in 1300 identified Minority Concentration Areas (MCAs) of the Country.
• MCAs include Minority Concentration Blocks (MCBs), Minority Concentration Towns (MCTs) and Minority Concentration District Headquarters (MCD Hqrs).
• Beneficiaries - The communities notified as minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992 would be taken as Minority Communities under PMJVK.
• At present 6 communities namely Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains have been notified as Minority Communities under Section 2 (c) of the NCM Act, 1992.
• Special focus by earmarking funds - 80% of the resources under the PMJVK would be earmarked for projects related to education, health and skill development.
• 33 to 40% of resources under the PMJVK would be specifically allocated for women centric projects.
Mumbai and Hyderabad - Tree City of the World
Mumbai and Hyderabad have been jointly recognised as ‘2021 Tree City of the World’ for their commitment to growing and maintaining urban trees and greenery in building healthy, resilient and happy cities.
• While Mumbai has made the list for the first time, Hyderabad has featured on it for the second consecutive year.
• ‘Tree Cities of the World’ is a programme started by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN-FAO) and non-profit organisation Arbor Day Foundation.
• It is an international effort to recognise cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated.
• It provides direction, assistance, and worldwide recognition for a community’s dedication to its urban forest.
• It provides a framework for a healthy, sustainable urban forestry programme in a town or city.
• For 2021, 138 cities have been recognised under the programme.
• A city is recognised as a ‘Tree City’ if it meets five core standards to show its commitment towards caring for its trees and forests.
• To be recognised as a Tree City, a city must have a written statement delegating responsibility for the care of trees within the municipal boundary to a staff member, a city department, or a group of citizens - a Tree Board.
• The city should have in place a law or an official policy to govern the management of forests and trees.
• The city should have a dedicated annual budget for the implementation of the tree management plan.
• To be recognised as a Tree City, it should organise an annual celebration of trees to raise awareness among people and to acknowledge citizens who carried out the tree programme
National Hydrogen Mission
The Mission aims to aid the government in meeting its climate targets and making India a green hydrogen hub. This will help in meeting the target of production of 5 million tonnes of Green hydrogen by 2030 and the related development of renewable energy capacity.
Features of Mission :
• The Green Hydrogen / Ammonia manufacturer can bank his unconsumed renewable power, up to 30 days, with distribution company and take it back when required.
• Distribution licensees can also procure and supply Renewable Energy to the manufacturers of Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia in their States at concessional prices which will only include the cost of procurement, wheeling charges and a small margin as determined by the State Commission.
• Waiver of inter-state transmission charges for a period of 25 years will be allowed to the manufacturers of Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia for the projects commissioned before 30th June 2025.
• The manufacturers of Green Hydrogen / Ammonia and the renewable energy plant shall be given connectivity to the grid on priority basis to avoid any procedural delays.
• The benefit of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) will be granted as incentive to the hydrogen/Ammonia manufacturer and the Distribution licensee for consumption of renewable power.
• To ensure ease of doing business a single portal for carrying out all the activities including statutory clearances in a time bound manner will be set up by MNRE.
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