General Studies Paper -3 Context: The article discusses India’s need to prepare for hotter summers and water stress, shifting from temporary disaster relief to long-term climate resilience. It highlights the interconnectedness of water, food, and energy, and calls for policies, efficient water use, and increased adaptation funding. What is the current status of water in India? India houses 18% of the world’s population but only has 4% of its freshwater resources. Approximately half of India’s rivers are polluted. The country’s major reservoirs are at only 38% capacity. India is the largest user of groundwater globally. Three-quarters of India’s districts are....Read More

General Studies Paper -3 Context: Ahead of the UN meeting in Canada, India chooses to ‘regulate’, not ban, single-use plastic. About the Single Use Plastics: Single-use plastics have become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, used in everything from packaging to consumer goods. These are those that are discarded after one-time use. However, the environmental impact of these materials is now a major global concern. The Global Plastic Problem: Plastic’s invention in 1907 led to its widespread use due to affordability, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Major single-use plastic applications include food and beverages (31%), bottle and container caps (16%),....Read More

General Studies Paper -3 Context: India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000, equivalent to a six percent decrease in tree cover during this period, according to the latest data from the Global Forest Watch monitoring project. The Global Forest Watch tracks forest changes in near real-time using satellite data and other sources. Findings Primary Forest Loss: India lost 4,14,000 hectares of humid primary forest (4.1 per cent) from 2002 to 2023, making up 18 percent of its total tree cover loss in the same period. Tree Cover Loss: From 2001 to 2023, India lost 2.33 Mha....Read More

Generals Studies Paper-3  Context: Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed that global carbon dioxide levels reached a record high in 2023. About the Carbon Dioxide (CO2): It is an important heat-trapping gas, also known as a greenhouse gas, that comes from the extraction and burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas), from wildfires, natural processes like volcanic eruptions, and land use changes like deforestation, peat emissions, and agricultural activities. Since the onset of industrial times in the 18th century, human activities have raised atmospheric CO2 by 50% – meaning the amount of CO2....Read More

General Studies Paper -3 Context: India’s climate policy has evolved significantly over the years, reflecting the country’s commitment to addressing the challenges posed by climate change. The Evolution of India’s Climate Policy: India’s climate change policies have primarily focused on supporting synergies between development and climate outcomes, and it has always been clear, consistent, and coordinated. After the Rio Summit of 1992, the Divisions of Climate Change and Biodiversity in India’s then Ministry of Environment and Forests came to life slowly and steadily. The Rio Summit of 1992 saw the emergence of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: Recently, it has been highlighted that Climate change is not gender-neutral and It represents an enormous challenge to the well-being of women. About Climate Change Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s,human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures. The main....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced to support efforts to test the viability of green hydrogen as a fuel for cars and heavy vehicles. Scheme Guidelines for Pilot Project The scheme will support development of technologies for use of Green Hydrogen as a fuel in Buses, Trucks and 4-wheelers, based on fuel cell/internal combustion engine-based propulsion technology. The other thrust area for the scheme is to support development of infrastructure such as hydrogen refueling stations. The scheme will also seek to support any other innovative use of hydrogen for reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector, such....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: The role of the private sector in ‘climate finance’ has so far been somewhat of a blind spot. About Climate Finance  Climate finance refers to local, national or transnational financing—drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing—that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change. The Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement call for financial assistance from Parties with more financial resources to those that are less endowed and more vulnerable. Significance It is critical to addressing climate change because large-scale investments are required to significantly reduce emissions, notably in sectors that emit large quantities of greenhouse gases. It....Read More

General Studies Paper -3 Context: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has introduced a new set of amendments to India’s Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024. About It defines biodegradable plastics as not only capable of degradation by biological processes in specific environments such as soil, landfill but also as materials that do not leave any microplastics. Rules specify that the makers of disposable plastic ware can label them as biodegradable only when they do not leave any microplastics behind. Need for the Amendment Ambiguity:After the Union government banned single-use plastic in 2022, and recommended the adoption of biodegradable plastic, the question of what exactly constituted biodegradable plastic was unanswered.....Read More

General Studies Paper-3  Context: India’s solar waste could reach 600 kilotonnes by 2030 as per a study published by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) in collaboration with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Key Findings Waste Generation:India’s installed 7 gigawatt (GW) capacity, as of FY23, has generated about 100 kilotonnes (kt) of cumulative waste, which will increase to 340 kt by 2030. This volume will increase 32 times by 2050 resulting in about 19000 kt of cumulative waste. States Contribution:Around 67 percent of this waste is expected to be generated in five states: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Rajasthan will account for 24 percentof the waste generated by 2030, followed....Read More