India is taking another step in its quest to find valuable minerals hidden in the depths of the ocean which could hold the key to a cleaner future. India applied to the International Seabed Authority (ISBA), Jamaica, for rights to explore two vast tracts in the Indian Ocean seabed that aren’t part of its jurisdiction.
1: Dimension-The global race for mineral resources
2: Dimension-Rights for Open Ocean
3: Dimension-Environmental Concerns
Fact Box Afanasy Nikitin Seamount (AN Seamount)
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Amid a flaring up of tensions between Beijing and Manila over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, India has taken its side and backed the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty and seeks “staunch adherence” to a rules-based order.
1: Dimension- India-Philippines’ growing relations
2: Dimension-India’s interests in the Region
Fact Box South China Sea
Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA)
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India's commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, announced at the COP26 climate talks, highlights its ambitious targets for carbon neutrality and renewable energy adoption. India's emphasis on black carbon reduction, particularly through initiatives like the PMUY scheme, underscores its commitment to addressing regional health issues and achieving sustainable development goals while contributing to global climate mitigation efforts.
1: Dimension- India's Climate Commitments and Renewable Energy Targets
2: Dimension-Risks of Black Carbon
3: Dimension-Impact of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
4: Dimension- Challenges in Implementation
The key to enhancing the quality of life in these areas lies primarily in securing access to clean cooking fuels. While the future holds the promise of meeting energy needs in rural areas through renewable sources, the immediate benefits for rural communities are poised to come from using LPG.The local production of coal-bed methane (CBM) gas by composting biomass is also a solution. CBM is a much cleaner fuel with lower black-carbon emissions and investment. Panchayats can take the initiative to produce CBM gas locally at the village level, ensuring every rural household can access clean cooking fuel.
Fact Box About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
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The International Labour Organisation (ILO) released its latest report on India and has said that India is poised to reap a demographic dividend but challenges related to youth unemployment persist.
Key-highlights of the Report
1: Dimension-Disruptive Factors
2: Required Measures
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APCC) Climate Center has predicted that India is likely to experience above-normal precipitation during its peak monsoon season from July to September. This forecast change is attributed to the recent ENSO alert which predicts a smooth transition from El Nino to La Nina condition.
Impact on Indian Monsoon
With the State stepping into peak summer season, Kerala is staring at heat wave-like conditions at many places.
What is a heat wave?
Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after a container ship smashed into a pylon.
About the Bridge
S.No. |
Term |
About |
1. |
Coal bed methane (CBM) |
Coal bed methane (CBM) is an unconventional form of natural gas found in coal deposits or coal seams. It is a primary clean energy source of natural gas. |
2. |
Demographic Dividend |
Demographic dividend refers to the growth in an economy that is the result of a change in the age structure of a country's population |
3. |
Mineral resources |
Mineral resources and reserves are natural concentrations of inorganic and organic substances, including major and minor minerals and their by-products, fuels, and underground water on Earth. |
4. |
Peninsula |
A Peninsula is any landmass which is surrounded by water on three sides and land on one side. India is called as Peninsula because it is surrounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east. |
5. |
Seamount |
A seamount is an underwater mountain with steep sides rising from the seafloor. Most seamounts are remnants of extinct volcanoes, while others are actively erupting and growing. Typically, they are cone shaped, but often have other prominent features such as craters and linear ridges. |
Context:
The UN Security Council's call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza signals a potential shift in the Biden administration's policy towards the conflict.
Key Developments in the Conflict:
Implications and Choices for Israel:
Context:
Concerns regarding the mental health and well-being of students in India, particularly those preparing for competitive exams, have come to the forefront due to a rising number of suicides, notably in Kota, Rajasthan.
Challenges Faced by Students:
Impact on Mental Health:
Context:
Concerns about the dysfunctionality of the democratic political process in India, characterized by a lack of constructive collaboration and consensus-building, have gained attention.
Challenges in Democratic Politics:
Pathologies Affecting Democratic Processes:
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