environment

Great Indian Bustard (GIB): Features, Threats and Conservation Status

Context: To overcome the biological hurdle of Gujarat’s surviving wild Great Indian Bustards (GIB) being exclusively female, conservationists successfully deployed the 'Jumpstart Method' to produce the first chick in the state in over a decade. About Jumpstart Method The technique...

Seshachalam Forest: Topography, Vegetation, Flora and Fauna

Context: A recent forest fire in the Jeevakona-Mondodikona section of Tirupati district has highlighted the vulnerability of the Seshachalam forest, a critical biodiversity hotspot in Andhra Pradesh. About Seshachalam Forest The Seshachalam Hills are part of the Eastern Ghats in...

NGT Mandates Mitigation of Arsenic & Fluoride: Key Directions and Impact

Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued strict directives to all 28 State governments and the Union Government to address the critical levels of arsenic and fluoride contamination in India’s groundwater, citing severe public health risks. Groundwater Pollutants and...

Climate Adaptation and Resilience: Pathways for India’s NDCs (2031–35)

Context: India is mainstreaming adaptation into its development strategy through updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and localised resilience models. Current State of Climate Vulnerability in India India is the ninth most climate-vulnerable nation globally. Between 1995 and 2024, India recorded...

Sekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary: Location, Biodiversity and Importance

Context: The Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary has been declared India's 99th Ramsar site. About Sekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary The Sekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary is an emerging wetland ecosystem known for its rich bird diversity and ecological importance. This sanctuary has...

Dependence of Grazing Communities on Forests in National Parks: Issues and Solutions

Context: The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL), chaired by the Union Environment Minister, has directed the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to conduct a comprehensive study on the dependence of pastoralist and nomadic communities on forests...

Ethanol 85 (E85): Composition, Benefits and Use in Flex-Fuel Vehicles

Context: Amid geopolitical vulnerabilities in West Asia, the Indian government is set to notify draft regulations for Ethanol 85 (E85), a high-blend alternative fuel expected to roll out within the next two years. About Ethanol 85 (E85) Fuel Ethanol 85...

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): Meaning, Objectives and Global Importance

Context: The Odisha government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) to launch a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP), making it the first state in India to implement such a framework in the...

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Benefits, Production and Future of Aviation

Context: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has emphasised that India must prioritise biofuels for aviation, as sectors like road transport have alternatives (e.g. electrification), while aviation does not. About Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Definition: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is...

Microplastics in Sundarbans Delta: Sources, Impact and Environmental Risks

Context: A study by IISER Kolkata reveals that microplastics in the Sundarbans are acting as a "novel carbon reservoir," releasing dissolved and biogenic carbon that threatens the efficiency of this critical blue-carbon ecosystem. Microplastics in Sundarbans Delta Concentration Levels: Microplastic...