• Hit initially by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, dozens of aftershocks followed the initial quake.
• The earthquake events are scaled either according to the magnitude or intensity of the shock.
  • The magnitude scale is known as the Richter scale. The magnitude indicates energy released during the quake. It is expressed in absolute numbers 0-10.
  • The intensity scale is named after Mercalli, an Italian seismologist. The intensity scale indicates the visible damage caused by the event. The range of intensity scale is from 1-12.
• Location-Region where earthquake has struck lies along a seismic fault line called Anatolia tectonic block that runs through northern, central, and eastern Turkey.
  • Seismicity in this region is a result of interactions between African, Eurasian, and Arabian plates.
  • Arabian plate is known to be pushing northward, which results in a slight westward movement for Anatolian plate, where Turkey is located.
• One of the largest strike-slip earthquakes to occur in recent times, it struck along East Anatolian Fault Zone.
  • Strike-slip faults are vertical (or nearly vertical) fractures where blocks have mostly moved horizontally.
  • In these faults, two plates move parallel but in opposite direction from one another.
• Turkey bridges continents of Europe (via. Eastern Thrace) and Asia (via. Anatolian Plateau); divided by Dardanelles, Sea of Marmara, and Bosporus Strait.

• It spans around 8,500 acres of land and is being built part of the Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) as part of National Industrial Corridor Programme (NICP).
  • The project for Tumakuru node was approved by government of India on 30 December 2020. The node has been targeted for development, with a 1,736.20-acre priority development area defined.
• The CBIC project includ es the construction of industrial townships in three locations: Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Tumakuru (Karnataka), and Ponneri (Tamil Nadu).

Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC)

• It is being planned to achieve accelerated development and regional industry agglomeration in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• CBIC proposes to address the infrastructure bottlenecks through a holistic approach while benefiting from the inherent strengths and competitiveness of each state. Accordingly, high impact/market driven nodes are proposed to be developed at strategic locations within the corridor, to provide transparent and investment friendly facility.
• These regions are proposed to be self-sustained nodes with world-class infrastructure, road and rail connectivity for freight movement to and from ports and logistics hubs, served by reliable power, quality social infrastructure and provide a globally competitive environment conducive for setting up businesses.

About National Industrial Corridor Programme (NICP)

• NICP aims to promote world class manufacturing facilities and develop futuristic industrial cities in India. Broad objective is to provide plug and play infrastructural facilities for setting up large scale manufacturing units.
• Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor was the first corridor taken up for development in 2011.
  • Subsequently, Amritsar- Kolkata, CBIC, Vizag-Chennai, East Coast etc. were added.

Important features of NICP

• Land parcels are developed for immediate allotment to manufacturing units.
• Statutory clearances including environment clearance are being taken beforehand.
• National Industrial Corridor Development & Implementation Trust (NICDIT) for unified development.

Significance

• Propel forward the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Tumakuru Industrial Township has been planned with holistic and integrated approach in line with the principles of PM-GatiShakti to address the issue of last mile multi-modal connectivity to the economic zone.
• The Tumakuru Industrial Township project and the Industrial Corridor Programme at large will contribute to futuristic and inclusive growth of the country with the vision for ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.

• E20 fuel, a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, was launched 2 year ahead of target and will be rolled out across country in a phased manner. IEW, under Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, aims to showcase India’s rising prowess as an energy transition powerhouse.

What is Ethanol Blended Petrol?

• Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, or alcohol) is a biofuel with chemical formula C2H5OH. It is naturally made by the fermentation of sugar. In India, it is largely derived while extracting sugar from sugarcane. However, other organic matter like surplus rice with Food Corporation of India and Maize is also allowed.
• The government has launched the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme to mix this biofuel with petrol to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel.
• Government has been implementing Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme wherein OMCs sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10%.
  • Target of achieving average 10% blending was achieved in June, 2022 and target of 20% ethanol blending was advanced to 2025 (from 2030).

Benefits of blending Ethanol in Petrol

• E20 fuel has been shown to result in larger reductions in carbon monoxide emissions, which are 50% lower in two-wheelers and 30% lower in four-wheelers, because ethanol promotes full combustion. Research points a 20% reduction in hydrocarbon emissions, but there is no discernible trend in nitrous oxide emissions because it depended on the type of vehicle/engine and the circumstances under which it was operating.
• In last eight years, the 10 per cent ethanol blending has saved India up to ₹53,894 crore in foreign exchange outgo while also benefiting farmers, who earned ₹49,078 crore. It resulted in a reduction of 318 lakh tonnes of CO2 emissions, PTI reported.

Significance

• Will help to contain vehicular pollution- According to 2021 data published by NITI Aayog in report titled ‘Roadmap for Ethanol blending in India 2020-25’, 98 per cent of the fuel requirement in the road transportation sector is currently met by fossil fuels and while only 2% by biofuels.
• Reports states that of the total oil requirement in the transportation sector, 85 percent need to be imported. Thus it can help in achieving energy security and lowering crude oil import bill
• Apart from these, the alternative use-case of sugarcane will help the farmers realise more income on their produce. This will enable local enterprises and farmers to participate in energy economy.
• The surplus and damaged rice procured by the Food Corporation of India can be used to produce ethanol. Thus reducing post production losses and wastage.

Challenges

• Availability of sufficient raw material sustainably is required. Sugarcane is a water intensive crop, so promoting its cultivation may deplete our groundwater. Research on non-sugarcane derived ethanol needs to be undertaken.
• Sugarcane is locally available in only some parts of India, thus the supply chain needs to be strengthened to accomplish the Interstate movement of ethanol.
• There is a need for the development of infrastructure to extract ethanol. It requires ethanol compliant dispensing units and additional storage tanks for ethanol at marketing terminals / depots.
• There is a requirement of upgrading the vehicle engines to make it compliant with Ethanol blending. Although no significant change is required for 10% mixing, engines and components will need to be tested and calibrated with E20 as fuel.

• The national-level Holi festival of Sujanpur Tira in Hamirpur district will be celebrated from March 5 to 8.
• Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) reviewed the preparations for the festival by holding a meeting with officials of the departments concerned recently.

• Less than 15 per cent water release from the Pandoh dam and reservoir of power project at Barot has irked the environmentalists, who are concerned about the conservation of nature in the district.
• Impacting ecology
• The dam authorities at Pandoh and Barot in Mandi district are constantly flouting the order of the NGT.
• As per the NGT order, it is a must for dam authorities to release at least 15% water from its reservoirs regularly in stream to maintain the e-flow. Less water release adversely impacts nature and aquatic life.
  • Environmental flow (e-flow) describes the quantity, timing, and quality of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods and wellbeing that depend on these ecosystems.
• The environmentalists have requested the dam authorities to release water on many occasions, but their requests have gone unheeded. The environmentalists have also requested the HP Pollution Control Board to take action against the dam authorities.
• Unfortunately, the board also did not take any action.

• Scientists have created a new type of ice, called medium-density amorphous ice ,that matches the density and structure of water.
• The ice is called medium-density amorphous ice. The team that created it, led by Alexander Rosu-Finsen at University College London (UCL), shook regular ice in a small container with centimetre-wide stainless-steel balls at temperatures of (–) 200 °C to produce the variant, which has never been seen before. The ice appeared as a white granular powder that stuck to the metal balls.
• Amorphous ice consists of water molecules arranged in a disordered state, with no large-scale regularity to their orientations or positions.
  • This kind of ice is most often found in space, comets, interstellar clouds etc.
• Normally, when water freezes, it crystallizes and its molecules are arranged into the familiar hexagonal, solid structure that we call ice. Ice is less dense than its liquid form — an unusual property for a crystal.
• Depending on conditions such as pressure and the speed of freezing, water can also solidify in any of two dozen other regular arrangements.
  • Amorphous ice is different: it has no such order.
• Significance- Helps in studying water’s mysterious properties like Ice is less dense than its liquid form – an unusual property for a crystal.

• President Droupadi Murmu recently appointed five new Judges to the Supreme Court after the Centre cleared the proposal by the Collegium that was shared in December last year.
• Accepting the recommendations made by SC collegium, Centre notified the appointment of 5 Judges.
• With these appointments, working strength of SC will rise to 32 against sanctioned strength of 34.
  • Sanctioned strength is prescribed by law made by Parliament (Article 124 (1)).
• Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Judges of SC are appointed by President under Article 124 (2) of Constitution on the basis of Memorandum of Procedure (MoP).
• Under MoP, Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs consider the recommendations forwarded by Cll.
• Collegium system is the way by which judges of SC and HC are appointed and transferred.
• SC collegium is a five member body, which is headed by incumbent CJI and comprises four other senior most judges of the court at that time.

Evolution

Collegium system has evolved with Three Judges case

1. First Judges Case, 1981 (S P Gupta Case): SC ruled that recommendation made by CJI to President can be refused for-cogent reasons’: thereby giving greater say to executive.
2. Second Judges Case, 1993 (SC Advocates on Record Association (SCARA) vs Union of India): CJI only need to consult two senior-most judges over judicial appointments and transfers.
3. Third Judges Case, 1998: CJIs should consult with four senior-most SC judges to form his opinion on judicial appointments and transfers.

• In exercise of powers conferred under SEBI Act, 1992, SEBI (Issue and Listing of Non- Convertible Securities) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 amends 2021 regulations to expand the scope of the definition of Green Debt Securities (GDS).
• SEBI defines “Green debt security” as a debt security issued for raising funds sustainable energy, clean transportation, sustainable waste management etc.
• As per new framework, projects and assets categories under GDS has been expanded to incorporate
  1. Blue bonds: Comprises funds raised for sustainable water management including clean water and water recycling, and sustainable maritime sector including shipping, fishing, ocean energy and mapping etc.
  2. Yellow bonds: Comprises funds raised for solar energy generation and upstream industries and downstream industries associated with it.
  3. Transition bonds: Comprises funds raised for transitioning to a more sustainable form of operations, in line with India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.

Significance of the move

• Gives more clarity regarding what is considered ‘green’, thus preventing ‘greenwashing’.
• Help in attracting sustainable finance.
• Aligns extant framework for GDS with updated Green Bond Principles (GBP) recognised by IOSCO.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF SECURITIES COMMISSIONS (IOSCO)

• It is the international body that brings together world’s securities regulators and is recognized as global standard setter for securities sector.
• Secretariat- Madrid, Spain.
• SEBI is a member of IOSCO Board.

• International Energy Agency (IEA) recently released the report titled “Life Lessons From India”
• Report examines how India has integrated several policies in its energy transition strategy that are aligned with LiFE initiative.
• Key highlights
  • Annual global CO2 emissions will fall by 2 billion tonnes in 2030 on adoption of LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) measures.
  • LiFE measures can also help lower inequalities in energy consumption and emissions between countries. The reductions the measures could deliver in per capita carbon dioxide emissions in advanced economies by 2030 are three to four times greater than in emerging market and developing economies, it says.
  • LiFE measures would save consumers globally around $440 billion in 2030.
  • India’s economy is already 10 percent more energy efficient than both global and G20 average.
  • India took less time to go from half to full electricity access than other major economies.
  • Around 60% of emissions saving by LiFE measures could be directly influenced or mandated by governments.
  • India’s example shows the importance of behavioural change and consumption choices in driving energy transitions.

India’s initiatives

India has embarked on a dynamic new phase in its energy transformation, which spans three broad areas.

1. Firstly, it has launched important initiatives to bring down the prices and increase the supply of clean energy. These include a target of non-fossil fuel sources contributing to 50 per cent of India’s power generation capacity by 2030; a National Green Hydrogen Mission with the ambition of establishing annual renewable hydrogen production of 5 million tonnes (Mt) by 2030; and biofuel mandates that target 30 per cent blending of ethanol in petrol by 2030.
2. Secondly, India seeks to domesticate parts of the global supply chains that will be critical to its new energy economy. This includes the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme that promotes the domestic manufacturing of solar PV, advanced batteries and electric vehicles.
3. Thirdly, the government has focused on demand-side measures, including taking the first steps towards the creation of a national carbon market, an energy efficiency trading scheme for industries, incentivising the purchase of electric vehicles, bulk procurement of electric buses for public transport, standards and labelling of appliances, and most recently, the Lifestyles for Environment (LiFE) initiative that aims to nudge behaviours and individual consumption choices towards cleaner alternatives.

Challenges

These measures have immense potential but need global support.

• The IEA estimates that India will need $145 billion per year until 2030 in clean energy investment to put it on a path towards net-zero emissions by 2070.
• This is triple the current level of annual clean energy investment in India.

About LiFE mission

• LiFE mission was launched by Prime Minister of India at COP 26 in 2021 to bring individual behaviours at forefront of global climate action narrative.
• LiFE envisions replacing the prevalent ‘use-and-dispose’ economy with a circular economy.
• Mission plans to create and nurture a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3), who will have a shared commitment to adopt and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles.
• LiFE Mission is being piloted by NITI Aayog and implemented by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Tenure: 2022 to 2027.

International Energy Agency

• Created in 1974 to help co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in supply of oil.
• Headquarters in Paris, France.
• India is an associate member.

• Latest discovery of stone carvings dating back to Paleolithic period in Gurgaon has added to Aravalis’ trove of history.
• The petroglyphs discovered in Badshapur Tethar village of Sohna include graffiti, and hand and footprints of humans and animals engraved on quartzite rocks. The site is atop a hillock and just 6km from Mangar, where cave paintings believed to be from the same period were discovered in 2021.
• Several tools and equipment used to make them were found at the site as well.
• These petroglyphs are highly significant, considering their antiquity can go to prehistory. These can be territorial, or used for ancient games or record-keeping.

About Paleolithic age

• Palaeolithic (‘Old Stone Age’) makes up the earliest chunk of Stone Age – the large swathe of time during which hominins used stone to make tools.
• During Lower Paleolithic (about 2.6 million to 1 million years ago), simple pebble tools and crude stone choppers were made by earliest humans.
• Middle Paleolithic (250,000 to 30,000 years ago) was characterized by flake tools and widespread use of fire.
• Upper Paleolithic (50,000-40,000 years ago until about 10,000 years ago) saw emergence of more sophisticated tools.