GS Analyst
Daily Current Affairs

Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is facing threat of extinction due to their entanglement in power lines build to evacuate renewable energy. The Supreme Court constituted an expert committee to balance the conservation and protection of the endangered Great Indian Bustard bird population with the country’s international commitments to promote renewable sources of energy.

1: Dimension- Constitution of the Expert Committee

• Multidisciplinary Expertise: The committee comprises experts from the Wildlife Institute of India, forest conservationists, and officials from Renewable Energy and Environment Ministries.
• Inclusive Representation: Eminent personalities from diverse backgrounds, including academia, government, and conservation organizations, ensure comprehensive deliberations.
• Special Invitations: Inclusion of representatives from Central Electrical Authority and Central Transmission Utility reflects a holistic approach towards addressing the issue.

2: Dimension- Scope and Objectives of the Committee

• Feasibility Assessment: The committee will assess the viability of transitioning power cables underground, considering technical, economic, and ecological factors.
• Identification of Priority Areas: Through scientific evaluation, priority spots for the birds in Rajasthan and Gujarat will be identified to focus conservation efforts effectively.
• Sustainable Solutions: The committee's mandate extends beyond mitigating immediate threats to recommending long-term strategies that harmonize biodiversity conservation with sustainable development goals.

Analysis and Required Measures

3: Dimension- Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict

• Technological Solutions: Transitioning power cables underground can significantly reduce bird mortality rates by eliminating collision risks.
• Awareness and Education: Public awareness campaigns about the importance of biodiversity conservation and responsible infrastructure development are essential to mitigate conflicts.
• Ecological Corridor Protection: Establishing protected ecological corridors can facilitate safe passage for wildlife, reducing human-wildlife conflicts in the long term.

4: Dimension- Integration of Sustainable Development Goals

• Renewable Energy Transition: Promoting renewable energy sources such as solar and wind while minimizing ecological impact is crucial for achieving sustainable development objectives.
• Green Infrastructure: Investing in eco-friendly infrastructure designs, such as wildlife-friendly power lines and green corridors, can promote biodiversity conservation alongside economic growth.
• Policy Alignment: Harmonizing environmental regulations with developmental policies ensures that conservation efforts are integrated into broader national agendas.

5: Dimension- Enhanced Conservation Efforts

• Habitat Restoration: Besides mitigating immediate threats, restoring degraded habitats and creating protected areas are essential for the long-term survival of the Great Indian Bustard.
• Community Engagement: Involving local communities in conservation initiatives fosters stewardship and ensures the sustainable management of natural resources.
• Research and Monitoring: Continued scientific research and monitoring are vital to understanding the ecological needs of the species and adapting conservation strategies accordingly.

Mains Practice Question

Analyze the role of public-private partnerships in promoting sustainable development initiatives that balance environmental conservation with economic growth.

The recent Nuclear Energy Summit held in Brussels underscores the growing recognition of nuclear power as a critical component in the global effort to combat climate change and achieve sustainable development goals.

1: Dimension- Global Acknowledgment of Nuclear Energy's Role

• COP28 Declaration: The declaration signed by 22 world leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference emphasized the indispensable role of nuclear energy in meeting climate goals.
• Triple Nuclear Energy Capacity: The declaration highlighted the need to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 to facilitate the transition towards a low-carbon future.
• Atoms4Netzero Programme: The Nuclear Energy Summit, in collaboration with the IAEA's 'Atoms4Netzero' programme, signifies a multilateral approach to decarbonization.

2: Dimension- Technological Advancements and Financial Considerations

• Innovative Nuclear Technologies: Recent developments in nuclear technology, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and extended fuel cycles, mitigate risks associated with nuclear power.
• Financial Challenges: Despite technological advancements, the nuclear industry faces significant challenges in securing financing from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and private investors.
• Cooperative Funding Models: Successful cooperative funding models in countries like France, South Korea, and Russia demonstrate alternative financing mechanisms for nuclear projects.

3: Dimension- Maximizing Nuclear Energy's Potential

• Public Perception and Education: Addressing public concerns about nuclear safety and radiation risks through public awareness campaigns and education initiatives.
• Regulatory Reforms: Streamlining regulatory processes to expedite project approvals while ensuring safety standards and environmental protection.
• Research and Development: Investing in research and development to enhance nuclear technology, improve safety features, and reduce costs.

4: Dimension- Financial Mobilization and Investment

• Role of Multilateral Institutions: Encouraging MDBs to reassess their nuclear financing policies and explore blended finance models to attract private capital.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Promoting public-private partnerships to share risks and mobilize resources for nuclear projects, thereby diversifying funding sources.
• Incentives and Subsidies: Providing financial incentives and subsidies to incentivize private investments in nuclear energy infrastructure and technology development.

5: Dimension- International Collaboration and Cooperation

• Knowledge Sharing: Facilitating knowledge sharing and technology transfer between countries to accelerate nuclear energy deployment and capacity building.
• Joint Research Initiatives: Collaborating on joint research initiatives to address common challenges, such as waste management, nuclear security, and proliferation concerns.
• Policy Harmonization: Harmonizing international policies and regulatory frameworks to create a conducive environment for nuclear energy development while ensuring global safety and security standards.

Mains Practice Question

Discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with nuclear energy expansion in the context of sustainable development goals.

Amidst escalating concerns about climate change, the concept of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) emerges as a potential solution to align economic growth with environmental sustainability.

1: Dimension- Recognizing Ecosystem Value

• Economic Incentives: PES incentivizes local communities and indigenous peoples for their role as stewards of the environment by assigning economic value to ecosystem services.
• Transformative Narrative: By acknowledging the invaluable contributions of forests and other ecosystems, PES shifts the narrative from exploitation to conservation, integrating environmental stewardship into economic decision-making processes.
• Global Significance: PES initiatives worldwide highlight the universal recognition of the need to preserve natural resources and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

2: Dimension- Empowering Communities for Sustainable Development

• Agroforestry and Land Management: PES encourages farmers to adopt sustainable practices such as agroforestry, integrating trees with crops and livestock to enhance land productivity and biodiversity.
• Sustainable Practices: Encouraging communities to adopt sustainable land management practices, such as agroforestry, fosters biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
• Community Ownership: PES fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among communities, empowering them to actively participate in conservation efforts and ensuring the long-term sustainability of ecosystems.

3: Dimension-Technological Integration and Transparency

• Monitoring and Accountability: Technological advancements, including satellite imagery and drones, facilitate transparent monitoring of conservation efforts, ensuring fair compensation for communities and promoting ethical practices.
• Preventing Greenwashing: Robust regulations and ethical standards are essential to combatting fraudulent practices such as "carbon cowboys" and ensuring that PES initiatives deliver tangible environmental benefits.
• Scaling Up PES: While PES holds promise, scaling up initiatives requires strategic market engagement, innovative financing mechanisms, and strong policy frameworks to mobilize resources effectively and address evolving challenges.

Mains Practice Question

How can Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) contribute to sustainable development and environmental conservation in India?

MeitY successfully unveiled BhasaNet portal

What is BhasanNet Portal

• The BhashaNet portal is designed to support the cause of Universal Acceptance by providing resources, tools, and information to help developers, businesses, and organizations make their applications and systems UA-compliant.
• It works to provide a truly multilingual internet, where local language website name and local language email id, work everywhere seamlessly.

Scientists have found a twin star pair which gobbles planets

What are twin stars?

• Twin stars are formed within the same intersteller cloud of gas and dust.
• Also called as co-natal stars as they have same chemical makeup, and roughly equall mass and age.
• They are not binary system as they are not gravitationally bound to each other.

The species is being in news due to ongoing effort to count it in spite of its elusive nature

• The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is a wild cat that lives in the cloud forests of Southeast Asia, from the foothills of the Himalayas through Northeast India and Bhutan to mainland Southeast Asia into South China.
• They are named for their cloud-like spots, and are one of the oldest cat species.
• Clouded leopards are stocky, larger than small cats, and smaller than large cats.
• They have large paws with specialized footpads for gripping branches, and specialized anklebones that allow them to climb in different positions.
• They can open their mouths to a 100-degree angle, and are one of only two cat species that can climb down trees headfirst.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable