Recently Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the “Bhu-Neer” portal during India Water Week 2024. About Bhu-Neer Portal

• Aim: Serve as a one-stop platform for managing and regulating groundwater resources at the state and national levels.
• Developed by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

CGWA operates under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, overseeing groundwater regulation and development.

Current Context : Recently, a bomb cyclone struck North-western US and western Canada.

About Bomb Cyclone

A bomb cyclone (also called bombogenesis) is an extreme weather event involving the rapid intensification of a low-pressure system within 24 hours, typically marked by a decrease in central air pressure of at least 24 millibars. Key details:

• Formation : Results from the collision of cold polar air with warm tropical air, intensifying the cyclone rapidly.
• Occurrence : Primarily over oceans, but impacts coastal and inland areas. These can be tropical or non-tropical in nature.
• Associated Weather : Bomb cyclones are linked to severe weather such as blizzards, heavy rainfall, high winds, thunderstorms, and coastal flooding.

Current Context : Recently, UNICEF’s Flagship State of the World’s Children 2024 report released.

Relevant data about Report :

Report Focus:

• Examines three global megatrends affecting children: demographic shifts, climate crises, and frontier technologies.

Key Findings:

Demographics:

• Global child population to stabilize at 3 billion by the 2050s.
• India to account for 350 million children (15% of the global child population) by 2050.

Climate Risks:

• 1 billion children live in high climate-risk regions.
• India ranks 26th on the UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Index.

Digital Divide:

• Internet access : 95% in high-income countries vs. 26% in low-income countries.

Current Context : Recently, India proposed seven key pillars to strengthen ties between India and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Seven pillars listed by the India form the acronym C-A-R-I-C-O-M :

• C – Capacity Building: Scholarships, training, and establishing forensic centers.
• A – Agriculture and Food Security: Enhanced collaboration for food resilience.
• R – Renewable Energy and Climate Change: Promotion of sustainable energy and climate action.
• I – Innovation, Technology, and Trade: Partnerships to boost trade and tech initiatives.
• C – Cricket and Culture: Strengthening cultural exchanges and cricket cooperation.
• O – Ocean Economy and Maritime Security: Focus on sustainable marine resources.
• M – Medicine and Healthcare: Assistance in healthcare infrastructure and technology​

Significance of CARICOM for India

• Partnership in Multilateral Forums : CARICOM countries support India’s initiatives, e.g., permanent UNSC membership.
• South-South Cooperation: Participants of the Voice of Global South Summit 2024, hosted by India.
• Defence Exports : Recent delivery of Dornier 228 aircraft to Guyana.
• Climate Collaboration: Nations like Suriname joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• Gateway to Latin America: Enhances India’s trade and geopolitical reach.

Diaspora Connection: Home to a significant Indian diaspora, particularly in Trinidad and Tobago​

Current Context : Scientists at IIT Bombay have developed portable water-pollutant detecting device called ‘AroTrack’.

What is AroTrack?

• AroTrack is a compact, low-cost, and portable device developed by IIT Bombay scientists to detect harmful pollutants in water, particularly aromatic xenobiotics like phenol,benzene, and xylenols.
• Purpose: Detects harmful pollutants in water, such as phenol, benzene, and xylenols.

Technology:

• Utilizes a MopR protein-based biosensor derived from bacteria in polluted environments.
• Measures light intensity changes using an LED-phototransistor assembly.

Performance:

• Detects pollutants at low concentrations (as low as 10 ppb).
• Works efficiently in water temperatures up to 50°C.

Current Context : Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Released ‘Statistical Yearbook 2024’.

• Statistical Yearbook’ is a primary tool & indispensable reference for policymakers, researchers and analysts, to understand past, present and future paths of food and agriculture.

General Observations:

1. Global Agriculture’s Share in GDP: Stabilized around 4% since 2000.
2. Global Workforce in Agriculture: Declined from 40% in 2000 to 26% (892 million) in 2022. Agriculture remains the second-largest employment sector after services.
3. Global Hunger: Affected 9.1% of the global population in 2023, higher than pre-pandemic levels (7.5%).

Key Findings about India:

1. Agriculture’s Contribution to GDP: Dropped from 27.9% in 2000 to 15.9% in 2022, compared to the global average of 4.3% and China’s 7.7%.
2. Employment in Agriculture: India had the largest agricultural workforce (226 million in 2022), followed by China (170 million).
3. Women in Agriculture: Their participation increased from 32.2% in 2000 to 36% in 2022.
4. Cropland per Capita: Decreased from 0.16 hectares in 2000 to 0.12 hectares in 2022.
5. Production Leadership:
   1. Sugar: India is the second-largest producer (19%), after Brazil.
   2. Milk: Largest producer globally (23% of total).
6. Irrigation: India has the largest equipped area for irrigation globally (76 million hectares), followed by China (75 million hectares).
7. Organic Farming: 6% of India’s total area is under organic farming, second only to Australia.

Additional Global Insights:

1. Fertilizer Usage: Use of inorganic fertilizers grew by 37% since 2000, reaching 185 million tonnes in 2022, with nitrogen being the primary component.
2. GHG Emissions: Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture increased by 10% between 2000 and 2022, with livestock being the major contributor (54%).
3. Water Scarcity: Regions like the Near East and North Africa face extreme water stress, affecting agricultural sustainability.

Current Context : Recently, COP29 Presidency launched the new initiatives.

Reducing Methane from Organic Waste Declaration

1. Objective: Support the implementation of the 2021 Global Methane Pledge (GMP) to cut methane emissions.
2. Key Actions:
   1. Countries commit to setting targets within their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce methane from organic waste.
   2. Focus on creating policies and roadmaps to achieve these targets.
3. Background:
   1. Organic waste is the third largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions, after agriculture and fossil fuels.
   2. Developed in partnership with the UNEP Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
4. Signatories:
   1. 35 countries representing 47% of global methane emissions from organic waste (India is not a signatory)​

Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers

1. Purpose: Assist farmers in accessing programs that support climate-resilient agricultural systems.
2. Features:
   1. A digital platform to consolidate resources for farmers, focusing on women and youth.
   2. Hosted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) partnership.
   3. Goal: Strengthen agrifood systems and provide accessible financing options​

Global Energy Efficiency Alliance

1. Launch: Announced by UAE during COP29 in Azerbaijan.
2. Aims:
   1. Double global energy efficiency rates by 2030.
   2. Foster emission reductions through public-private partnerships and increased investments.
3. Focus Areas:
   1. Share best practices globally, with special emphasis on assisting African nations.
   2. Builds on the “UAE Consensus” from COP28 to promote sustainable resource management​

Current Context : The 2024 G20 Summit, hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, concluded with the adoption of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration.

Theme : “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet”, reflecting its focus on equity, climate action, and global reforms.

Focus Areas of the Summit :

Social Inclusion and Poverty Eradication:

• Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty: Aimed to provide cash transfers to 500 million low-income people and school meals to 150 million children by 2030.
• Focused on sanitation, drinking water access, and addressing racial inequalities.

Climate Action and Energy Transition:

• Established Task Force for Global Mobilization Against Climate Change to boost private capital flow for climate initiatives.
• Reaffirmed the Paris Agreement and committed to phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
• Supported COP30 to be held in 2025 in Belém, Brazil.

Reform of Global Governance:

• Committed to reform the UN Security Council for inclusivity and accountability.
• Endorsed the G20 Roadmap for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)to enhance support for development goals.

Economic Measures:

• Introduced progressive taxation for billionaires to reduce global inequalities.
• Advocated for ethical development and application of artificial intelligence.

Current Context : The Indian Army conducted the annual Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, ‘Sanyukt Vimochan 2024,’ in Gujarat.

Aim :  to assess and enhance disaster response capabilities, focusing on effective coordination and planning among various agencies for disaster relief operations.

Focus Area:

• This year’s theme centered on cyclone management with a tabletop exercise simulating disaster scenarios and responses.

Participating Agencies:

• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
• Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA)
• Civil administration, armed forces, and other stakeholders.

Current Context : The Bihar Cabinet has recently approved an initiative named ‘Mahila Samwad’.

• Aim : to empower women in rural areas by raising awareness about government policies and programs that support women’s welfare and empowerment.
• The program will involve Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, ministers, and senior officials actively engaging with women at district and block levels. These interactions aim to foster direct communication with women and understand their expectations and aspirations from the government.
• Budget : ₹78 crore.