General Studies Paper-3 Context According to the Air Quality Life Index, India is the second most polluted country in the world. The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) is developed by Professor Michael Greenstone and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). It translates air pollution levels into their impact on life expectancy, offering hyper-local data to help users see how much longer people could live if pollution met various standards. It supports EPIC’s Clean Air Program, which aims to inform policy and public action with high-quality pollution data. Key Findings of....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context India has registered 56.75 lakh electric vehicles by February 2025, reflecting the rapid adoption of clean mobility. About Electric two-wheeler (e-2W) sales hit 11.49 lakh units, up 21% from the previous year’s 9.48 lakh. The Government of India has set a vision to achieve 30% EV penetration by 2030, aligning with the global EV30@30 initiative. India has set its sights on an ambitious green horizon, aiming to slash projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. India also aims to cut the economy’s carbon intensity to below 45% by 2030 and ultimately transform into a....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: India achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol (E20) in 2025, five years earlier than the 2030 target set under the National Policy on Biofuels (2018). The government highlights significant benefits including reduced oil imports, enhanced farmer incomes, and lower carbon dioxide emissions. However, concerns remain over consumer dissatisfaction regarding mileage drop, agricultural sustainability issues etc. About EBP Launched: Pilot in 2003; expanded under the National Policy on Biofuels (2018). Target: Achieve 20% ethanol blending (E20) by 2030, achieved in 2025. Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Objectives: Reduce India’s heavy reliance (~85%) on crude oil....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context NITI Aayog launched the Report on ‘Unlocking a $200 Billion Opportunity: Electric Vehicles in India. This report offers a timely and comprehensive review of current challenges, alongside actionable recommendations to fast-track the EV transition in India. Major Highlights The key objectives of India’s EV Push:  Reduced dependence on imported fuel; Increased share of renewable energy by leveraging the storage capacity of EV batteries; Reduced Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions; Improved air quality; Improved Plant Load Factor (PLF) of electricity generating plants; Becoming a leader in a rapidly growing global market. Goal: India seeks to attain a 30% share of....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: India relies heavily on groundwater for drinking and irrigation, but rapid, unregulated extraction has led to widespread contamination. India’s groundwater crisis India depends on groundwater for about 85% of its rural drinking water needs and around 60% of irrigation water. Despite an increase in rainfall over the past decades, groundwater replenishment is insufficient due to excessive withdrawals and encroachments on natural recharge zones. Groundwater levels in many parts of India have depleted drastically, with water tables in northwestern states (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh) dropping over 40 meters deep, making extraction expensive and unsustainable. According to recent....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context:  The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has conducted its first-ever auction for Green Ammonia procurement via SIGHT Scheme (Mode-2A) under National Green Hydrogen Mission. Hydrogen It  is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe and rarely found in nature in its elemental form and must always be extracted from other hydrogen-containing compounds. It is categorised into three categories, namely, Grey, Blue and Green. Grey Hydrogen: It is produced via coal or lignite gasification (black or brown), or via a process called steam methane reformation (SMR) of natural gas or methane (grey). These tend to be mostly carbon-intensive processes. Blue....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context The Supreme Court held that projects with a built-up area above 20,000 square meters, whether industrial, educational, or otherwise, cannot be exempted from the environment impact assessment (EIA) 2006 regime. About The SC reaffirmed that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) would remain the competent authorities for conducting project-level environmental assessments. Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) EIA can be defined as the study to predict the effect of a proposed activity/project on the environment.  EIA systematically examines both beneficial and adverse consequences of the project and ensures that these effects are taken into....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: The 15th Meeting of the Ramsar Convention (COP15), held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, concluded with new resolutions on wetland restoration, protection of migratory birds and wetland species, and equitable governance. 15th Meeting of the Ramsar Convention (COP15) The Ramsar COP15 conference in Zimbabwe attended by some 3,000 delegates, was the second time that Africa has played host to a Ramsar Convention conference after Uganda hosted COP9 in 2005. The conference, themed “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”, gathered global stakeholders to address freshwater ecosystem threats. COP16 will be hosted by Panama in 2028. Zimbabwe took over....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a landmark advisory opinion affirming that countries have a legal obligation under international law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Key takeaways of the  recent ruling on climate change The court examined the provisions of the three climate treaties — the 1994 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and the 2015 Paris Agreement — and several other environment-related international laws that have a bearing on the climate system. These include the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 1987 Montreal Protocol....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context Ramsar Convention on Wetlands has released the Global Wetland Outlook for 2025. About Global Wetland Outlook for 2025 It offers the most current global evaluation of the condition, trends, value and policy responses concerning wetlands. Produced by: The Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Convention on Wetlands. Eleven broad wetland types are evaluated encompassing: Seagrass, Kelp Forests, Coral Reefs, Estuarine Waters, Salt Marshes, Mangroves, Tidal Flats, Lakes, Rivers and Streams, Inland Marshes and Swamps, and Peatlands (Mires). Major Findings Wetland loss continues: Since 1970, an estimated 411 million hectares of wetlands have been lost....Read More