ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY & CLIMATE CHANGE

1. WHAT IS THE KALASA-BANDURI NALA PROJECT?

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Recently,Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told the Legislative Assembly that the government had received clearance from the Centre for two Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala on the Mahadayi. It has escalated its long-standing dispute on the issue with neighbouring Goa.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Kalasa Banduri Nala project:

• The Kalasa Banduri Nala project aims to divert water from Mahadayi to satisfy the drinking water needs of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Gadag districts.
• Though the project was first proposed in the early 1980s, it has remained on paper owing to a dispute between Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.
• As per plans, barrages are to be built against Kalasa and Banduri streams — tributaries of Mahadayi — and water diverted towards Karnataka’s parched districts.
• Mahadayi originates inside the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in the Belagavi district of Karnataka and flows into the Arabian Sea in Goa.

What did the Tribunal say?

• A Tribunal was set up by the UPA government in November 2010.
• The Tribunal in 2018 awarded 13.42 TMC water from Mahadayi river basin to Karnataka, 1.33 TMC to Maharashtra and 24 TMC to Goa.
• In Karnataka’s share, 5.5 TMC was to meet drinking water needs and 8.02 TMC was for hydro-electricity generation.
• Of the 5.5 TMC, 3.8 TMC was to be diverted to Malaprabha basin through Kalasa and Banduri Nalas (canals).
• This was notified by the Central government in February 2020.

2. INDIA’S FIRST GREEN HYDROGEN BLENDING PROJECT

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: NTPC Limited and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL) have commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas township, Surat.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Green Hydrogen?

• Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water, using electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar or wind power. This process splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, with the hydrogen being captured and stored for use as a fuel. The oxygen is released into the atmosphere.
• The main advantage of green hydrogen is that it is a clean, renewable fuel that can be used to power a variety of applications, including transportation and electricity generation.
• It also has the potential to play a significant role in the decarbonization of the energy sector, as it can be used to replace fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Benefits of Green Hydrogen Blending

• The green hydrogen blending project in Surat is being carried out with the approval of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). The regulatory body has given permission for a 5% vol./vol. blending of green hydrogen with PNG to start with, with the blending level to be gradually increased to reach 20%.
• The addition of green hydrogen to the natural gas network has a number of benefits. First and foremost, it reduces CO2 emissions while maintaining the same net heating content. This is an important step in the fight against climate change and will help India reduce its hydrocarbon import bill while also bringing in foreign exchange through the export of green hydrogen and green chemicals to the rest of the world.
• In addition, the use of green hydrogen in the energy sector has the potential to create new job opportunities and boost economic growth. It can also improve energy security by reducing the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.
• The commissioning of India’s first green hydrogen blending project is a major milestone that puts the country at the forefront of the global hydrogen economy. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of NTPC and GGL, who have been able to achieve this feat in record time.
• The project serves as a model for other countries to follow and demonstrates the potential for green hydrogen to play a key role in the decarbonization of the energy sector. It is hoped that this project will pave the way for the wider adoption of green hydrogen in India and help the country transition to a more sustainable and cleaner energy future.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTION

3. RISE- RISING INDIA THROUGH SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III- GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the President of India participated in the launch of the National Campaign on ‘RISE- Rising India Through Spiritual Empowerment’, organized by Brahma Kumaris at Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

THE EXPLANATION:

President’s Personal Connection with Brahma Kumaris

• In her address to the gathering, the President spoke of her personal connection with the Brahma Kumaris Institution. She explained that she had learned the method of Raja Yoga, which emphasizes inner spiritual power rather than external physical conveniences and events. This helped her to find light and enthusiasm during a time when she felt surrounded by darkness and lacked hope.

Objectives of RISE

• The National Campaign on ‘RISE- Rising India Through Spiritual Empowerment’ is aimed at spiritually empowering Indian nationals in order to fulfill the dream of a “Golden India.” Brahma Kumaris believes that self-transformation leads to world transformation, and that the journey of a million transformations will create a domino effect, ultimately leading to the rebuilding of the nation.

Methodology

• To achieve these goals, a range of lectures, workshops, short courses, youth camps, and fests will be conducted nationwide to create awareness and transformation among youth. Additionally, Brahma Kumaris will collaborate on various projects that provide opportunities for young people to participate in activities of social and humanitarian concern.

Key Areas

• The National Campaign on ‘RISE- Rising India Through Spiritual Empowerment’ will focus on a range of areas, including lectures, workshops, short courses, youth camps, and fests nationwide to create awareness and transformation among youth. Additionally, the campaign will involve collaboration on projects that offer opportunities for young people to engage in social and humanitarian activities.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

4. DIEBACK DISEASE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT:Recently, Dieback disease hits neem trees in Telangana.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Dieback Disease:

• The dieback disease was first reported in the country during the 1990s near Dehradun in Uttarakhand, while it was first noticed in Telangana in 2019.
• The dieback disease is mainly caused by the fungi Phomopsis azadirachtae.
• The dieback disease affects leaves, twigs and the inflorescence of neem trees of all ages and it causes almost 100% loss of fruit production in severely infected trees.
• The dieback is a fungal disease but the neem trees are sometimes hit by insect infestation and the combination of both increases its impact.
• The disease posing a threat to the neem trees has been identified as twig blight and dieback disease in Telangana, and it has reappeared in the state this year on a massive scale.
• The appearance of symptoms starts with the onset of the rainy season and becomes progressively severe in the later part of the rainy season and early winter.

5. WORLD BRAILLE DAY: JANUARY 4

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Every year, the World Braille Day is celebrated on January 4 by the United Nations and several other international organizations. The day is celebrated to create awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the realization of human rights for the blind.

THE EXPLANATION:

Why is World Braille Day celebrated on January 4?

• The celebration of World Braille Day on January 4 is in honor of Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system. Braille was born in France on January 4, 1809, and it was his development of the system that has allowed blind individuals to read and write, increasing their independence and access to education and employment opportunities.

When was the first World Braille Day celebrated?

The first World Braille Day was celebrated in 2019.

What is Braille?

• Braille is a system of representing alphabetic and numerical symbols using six raised dots. The dots are arranged in a grid, with different combinations of dots representing different letters, numbers, and symbols. This allows blind individuals to read and write by feeling the raised dots with their fingers.

Who invented Braille?

• Braille was invented by Louis Braille in the 19th century in France. As a young boy, Braille was blinded in an accident and struggled to find ways to continue his education. He eventually developed the Braille system as a way for blind individuals to read and write, and it has since become the primary means of communication for the blind community around the world.

Braille Language in India

• In India, the Braille system has been in use for many years, with the country adopting uniform Braille codes for different languages in 1951. India also established the Central Braille Plant in Dehradun and the Central Braille Press in 1954, which produce simple Braille equipment such as slates and styluses.

Steps Taken by the Government of India to Support People with Disabilities

• The Government of India has taken several steps to support people with disabilities, including enacting the Persons with Disabilities Act in 1995. This act provides a special category called “low vision” in addition to the category of “blind,” and meets the stipulations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• India has also accepted several United Nations resolutions on disabled people, including observing the International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981 and the UN Decade for the Disabled from 1983 to 1992.
• Additionally, India has observed the Asia-Pacific Decade for the Disabled declared by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), a regional think-tank that provides analysis on social, economic, and environmental dynamics in the region.

1. Preventing animal cruelty is a duty of the state READ MORE
2. All you have to do is be happy READ MORE
3. Genius and pacifism READ MORE
4. RESOLVING LIFE’S DILEMMAS is an art READ MORE
5. Humanities develop a rounded personality READ MORE

1. What is causing the winter heat wave in Europe? READ MORE
2. Mission LiFE and women’s E-waste side story READ MORE  
3. India Pitches for Climate Finance Internationally, But Prioritises ‘Development’ at Home READ MORE

1. Need to address root-causes of domestic violence READ MORE  
2. Women: Education, employment, empowerment READ MORE
3. SC’s triple test for OBC quota can start fresh caste conflicts. Govt must step in READ MORE
4. Maharashtra Government’s decision to monitor marriages is the latest push towards ‘othering’ experiment READ MORE

1. Overly deferential: On Supreme Court judgment on demonetisation READ MORE
2. Building a pact on free speech READ MORE
3. RTI Act does not need any covert amendment; it needs implementation READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. ADB, India sign $350 million loan to improve in Maharashtra READ MORE  
2. India takes over leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union READ MORE
3. India said to aim for $17 bln cut in food, fertiliser subsidies in FY24 READ MORE
4. Constitution a living document, capable of incorporating changing aspirations of people: President READ MORE
5. PM, CMs have no disciplinary control over members of the Council of Ministers: Supreme Court READ MORE
6. Draft rules for online gaming: What are the regulations govt has released, and why READ MORE
7. How the Earth’s tilt creates short, cold January days READ MORE
8. N. Security Council welcomes new members including two first timers READ MORE
9. What is causing the winter heat wave in Europe? READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. For a new paradigm of growth: Groundwater crises of Arizona and Punjab show how things have gone wrong READ MORE
2. Need to address root-causes of domestic violence READ MORE  
3. Women: Education, employment, empowerment READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Overly deferential: On Supreme Court judgment on demonetisation READ MORE
2. Building a pact on free speech READ MORE
3. RTI Act does not need any covert amendment; it needs implementation READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. SC’s triple test for OBC quota can start fresh caste conflicts. Govt must step in READ MORE
2. Maharashtra Government’s decision to monitor marriages is the latest push towards ‘othering’ experiment READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. How global power dynamics are shifting with the Russia-Ukraine war and what challenges it poses for India READ MORE
2. US-China relation is at an inflection point READ MORE
3. Japan’s new security strategy to counter China is a lesson for India READ MORE
4. Why the return of a communist prime minister in Nepal has raised concern in Delhi READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. High growth … but do more: India’s humming economy isn’t yet helping much of its low-income citizens, who need the education deficit bridged and policies that promote job-creation READ MORE
2. Huge potential in our new FTAs READ MORE
3. Rising unemployment: Job creation biggest challenge for government READ MORE
4. Raise resources to produce, import fuels READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Mission LiFE and women’s E-waste side story READ MORE  
2. India Pitches for Climate Finance Internationally, But Prioritises ‘Development’ at Home READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Digi Yatra: Convenience at a Cost? READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Preventing animal cruelty is a duty of the state READ MORE
2. All you have to do is be happy READ MORE
3. Genius and pacifism READ MORE
4. RESOLVING LIFE’S DILEMMAS is an art READ MORE
5. Humanities develop a rounded personality READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Ideology plays a critical role in shaping how Nepal’s internal politics powers its foreign policy’. In light of this statement, discuss why the formation of the communist government has posed serious concerns for India-Nepal relations?
2. ‘If the USA’s partners in Asia, including India, do not share a sufficient weight of the burden of Countering China Strategy, China will not be balanced’. Comment.
3. The signing of FTAs with the United Arab Emirates and Australia demonstrates the government’s determination to capitalise on emerging global trends while also safeguarding domestic interests. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.
• Although the Digi Yatra aims to make airports future-ready, it does not tackle the real causes of congestion in airports.
• Open incineration and acid leeching often used by informal workers are directly impacting the environment and posing serious health risks.
• No additional restrictions other than those mentioned in Article 19(2) can be imposed on free speech, the Supreme Court has ruled in a unanimous judgment.
• ‘Pro-China’ Prachanda and KP Sharma Oli’s frequent run-ins with the Indian government have raised the spectre of an uneasy path ahead for India-Nepal relations.
• Ideology plays a critical role in shaping how Nepal’s internal politics powers its foreign policy.
• If the USA’s partners in Asia, including India, do not share a sufficient weight of the burden of the Counter Strategy for China, China will not be balanced.
• Science and Technology institutes will not be able to foster holistic development of students without studying humanities, which are crucial for building character.
• The pursuit of absolute truth often becomes a pseudo search because researchers fail to understand the ultimate goal of any research: the common good of humanity.
• Policymakers in India are in a bind over the growing oil import bill which is putting pressure on the current account deficit.
• A judicial rap on policy questions matters little. But it might give governments cause for pause before implementing decisions with far-reaching consequences for the people.
• A way to approach the jallikattu dispute is to see it in the context of our own right to live in a world that treats animals with equal concern.
• The signing of FTAs with the United Arab Emirates and Australia demonstrates the government’s determination to capitalise on emerging global trends, while also safeguarding domestic interests.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Humanities develop a rounded personality

50-WORD TALK

• The Supreme Court’s 4-1 verdict holding demonetisation as legal is a good caution on the judiciary wading into executive decisions. Judges are right to underline the importance to avoid getting into the outcomes. Yet, this verdict, six years after the event, is like a wasteful autopsy on a mummified corpse.
• Justice B.V. Nagarathna’s brilliant dissent on demonetisation is as significant as former Justice Indu Malhotra’s on the 2018 five-judge Sabarimala case. That these most significant dissenting orders have come from women judges underlines the value of diversity to balance groupthink on the bench. Pity, the bench has so few women.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

[WpProQuiz 397]

THE CONTEXT: Indian agriculture is confronting serious issues such as a huge yield gap, a multitude of smallholders, imbalances with respect to input use and declining natural-resource productivity. Extension systems in India, which have an important role to play in addressing these concerns, are constrained by financial, infrastructural, and human resource limitations. This article explains in detail about the role of agricultural extension services in increasing the overall agriculture productivity.

WHAT IS AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES?

• Agricultural extension can be defined as the “delivery of information inputs to farmers to increase agricultural productivity” and also it is the application of scientific research and knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education.
• According to The Committee for Doubling Farmers’ Income, “Agricultural Extension is an empowering system of sharing information, knowledge, technology, skills, risk & farm management practices, across agricultural sub-sectors, all along the agricultural value chain, to enable the farmers to realise higher net income from their enterprise on a sustainable basis”
• The field of ‘extension’ now encompasses a wider range of communication and learning activities organized for rural people by educators from different disciplines, including agriculture, agricultural marketing, health, and business studies.

PURPOSE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES

• The basic purpose of the extension services is the overall development of the rural people.
• To bring about desirable changes in the human behavior, which includes change in knowledge, skill and attitude.
• The dissemination of useful and practical information relating to agriculture, including improved seeds, fertilizers, implements, pesticides, improved cultural practices, dairying, poultry nutrition etc.
• In India there is variability of rainfall due to which there is always exist the possibility of crop failure and loss of yield thus to minimize it, there is an important role of agriculture extension services.
• To make the people aware that agriculture is a profit table profession.
• To create an environment for rural people so that they can show their talent, leadership and efficiency.
• To provide appropriate solution of the farmer’s problems.
• To bring the scientist closer to the farmers.

MAIN ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

1. Extension services provide knowledge and information to the farmers that they do not have. For example:

• Knowledge about the cause of the damage to a particular crop.
• The general principles of pest control or the ways in which manure and compost are broken down to provide plant nutrients.

2. The application of such knowledge often means that the farmer has to acquire new skills of various kinds for example:

• Technical skills to operate unfamiliar equipment.
• Organizational skills to manage a group project.
• The skill to assess the economic aspects of technical advice given.
• Farm management skills for keeping records and allocating the use of farm resources and equipment.

TECHNICAL ADVICE AND INFORMATION

• Extension provides advice and information to assist farmers in making decisions and generally enable them to take action.
• This can be information about prices and markets, for example, or about the availability of credit and inputs.

FARMERS’ ORGANIZATION

• To represent the interest of farmers and to give them a means for taking collective action. Extension, therefore, should be concerned with helping to set up, structure and develop organizations of local farmers.
• This should be a joint venture and any such organization should only be set up in consultation with the farmers.
• In the future, these organizations will make it easier for extension services to work with local farmers, and will also serve as a channel for disseminating information and knowledge.

MOTIVATION AND SELF-CONFIDENCE

• One of the main constraints to development that many farmers face is isolation, and a feeling that there is little they can do to change their lives.
• Some farmers will have spent all their lives struggling in difficult circumstances to provide for their families with little support or encouragement.

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION

1. Technology transfer Services– Transfer of advice, knowledge and information.
2. Advisory Services– Advice to farmers in relation to specific problems faced by them.
3. Facilitation Services–Support farmers to outline their own problems and develop their own solutions.

WHO PROVIDE THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES?

In India, Agricultural Extension is provided by:

• Public sector bodies such as Ministries of Agriculture or Rural Development,
• The private sector (e.g., consulting firms, seed and other input companies, and buyers of produce)
• Non-profit entities such as NGOs,
• Commodity boards or farmer-based organizations.

AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES BY PUBLIC SECTOR

• Presently, the Public extension system predominantly handles the Extension Services and Public extension system in India.
• They include State Agriculture departments, Agriculture Universities, ICAR Organisations, KVKs, ATMs, and several other Central and State Government organisations.
• Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA)

In 1998, the Indian Government, with the support of World Bank, introduced the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) under the Innovation in Technology Dissemination (ITD) component of the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP)

• Its mandate is to have linkage with all the line departments, research organizations, non-governmental organizations and agencies associated with agricultural development in the district.
• Research and Extension units, Departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture and Fisheries etc. as the constituent members of ATMA.
• ATMA-KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)) linkage need to be strengthened further by creating functional inter-dependence as KVKs has very important role to play in frontline extension system.

National Mission on Agriculture Extension and Technology (NMAET)

The National Mission on Agriculture Extension and Technology (NMAET) aims to make the system farmer-driven and accountable by restructuring and strengthening existing agriculture extension programmes to enable the delivery of technology and to improve the current agronomic practices of farmers

AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES BY PRIVATE SECTOR

• Private Extension Services cover seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, credit, insurance, contract farming, export, advisory etc and many private players like progressive farmers, farmers’ organisations (CIGs, FPOs), including cooperatives are direct stakeholders under this system.
• Other private sector involvement is through agri-entrepreneurs, input dealers, agri-business companies, NGOs, private banks, private media including TV, radio, print media, internet, donor agencies, consultancy firms etc.

CHALLENGES IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN INDIA

ADVICE NOT RELEVANT IN NATURE

• The major problem reported by those who had access to extension services was the practical relevance of the advice.
• In India, Agricultural Extension has largely been focusing on production aspects, whereas farmers’ requirement today is more market related.

LACK OF TRAINED AND CAPABLE HUMAN RESOURCE

• The capa­city development of agricultural extension professionals on technical and collaboration aspects is one of the important issues of the ongoing extension reforms to serve the farming community efficiently and effectively.

MISINFORMATION AND INFLUENCE OF PRIVATE INPUT DEALERS

• Public extension provides advisory services, whereas input supply is controlled by private sector, this duality in delivery of services also creates confusion, despite right advice by public extension, farmers purchase wrong inputs influenced by aggressive sale by private input dealers.

REGIONAL DISPARITY IN EXTENSION EXPENDITURE

• Regional variation in extension expenditure is an issue of concern. Dry regions, accounting for about 60% of the total agricultural land, received only 23% of the total funding as of 2013. On the other hand, the irrigated regions accounted for about 24% of the agricultural land, and were allotted 35% of the extension budget.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION SOURCES

• The small farmers and socially backward farmers have access to fewer information sources compared to their counterparts.Smallholder farmers still rely mainly on local sources of information.

THE WAY FORWARD

SUSTAINABILITY

• The focus of agricultural extension has been on increasing yield with much less attention paid to ecosystem health and natural resource conservation.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Extension needs to identify the potential for entrepreneurship development across the value chain and help forge forward and backward linkages.
• Assessing the entrepreneurial intention of farmers and capacity building for entrepreneurship development need to be undertaken.

INNOVATIVE WAYS

• Innovations like block chain technology, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and geographical information systems need to be manoeuvred for improving production, productivity and returns in a sustainable manner.

ENGENDERING EXTENSION SERVICES

• Extension services remain dominated by men, and the needs of women farmers, as well as households headed by women, are excluded systematically from accessing many extension services

ROLE OF PUBLIC SECTOR

• While private and non-governmental institutions should be encouraged, public extension has to be strengthened to cater to the scale and diversity of agriculture in India.

THE CONCLUSION: Thus, the extension system needs to be futuristic and evolve strategies to suit emerging technology platforms. In this context, both the public and private sectors need to be promoted through different institutional mechanisms, so as to achieve inclusiveness and geographical coverage.

QUESTIONS FOR MAINS EXAMINATION:

Q1. Despite several measures to reduce the vulnerability of farmers in India, the farm sector and farmers continue to suffer losses Elaborate and also discuss the role of agriculture extension services in doubling the income of Indian farmers.

Q2. What do you mean by agriculture extension services? How will extension services help in increasing the overall agricultural productivity?