India's First InterState Cheetah Conservation Corridor

 

Description 

• India’s first interstate cheetah conservation corridor is a wildlife corridor project connecting protected habitats in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. 
• It enables reintroduced cheetahs to roam freely and naturally across an extensive ecosystem. 

 

Geographical Scope 

• The total area covered by the corridor is around 17,000 sq. km, with 10,500 sq. km in Madhya Pradesh and 6,500 sq. km in Rajasthan. 
• Key locations involved in the corridor include Palpur Kuno National Park, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. 
• Various districts in Rajasthan are also part of the project, including Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, and Chittorgarh. 

 

Key Features of the Corridor

• The corridor is the first on such a scale providing seamless movement for the cheetahs to migrate naturally between reserves. 
• It aims for ecological restoration, primarily focusing on the conservation of the grassland ecosystem.
• The project is supported by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India, with a possible Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the states. 
• It stands as an exemplary conservation model in Asia, as acknowledged by experts.

 

Significance for India 

• The project plays a crucial role in reviving the native species and supports India’s cheetah reintroduction mission. 
• It demonstrates the essence of cooperative federalism in ecological governance by involving different states. 
• The project is in alignment with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) targets, aiming at protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable use of resources.

 

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Biological Diversity (Access and Benefit Sharing) Regulation, 2025

 

Introduction and About

• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has introduced the Biological Diversity (Access and Benefit Sharing) Regulation, 2025. 
• The aim of this regulation is to ensure a fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources.  
• The regulation replaces the 2014 Guidelines, expanding its scope to cover Digital Sequence Information (DSI), now considered part of genetic resources.

 

Key Highlights of the Regulation

• Benefit Sharing Linked to Turnover: Users with an annual turnover exceeding Rs 1 crore must share a statement detailing resources used annually. The level of benefit sharing is proportionate to the turnover.
• HighValue Biological Resources: Benefitsharing from highvalue resources such as red sanders, sandalwood and agarwood should be at least 5% of the sale or auction amount. For commercial use, the sharing rate can surpass 20%.
• Digital Sequence Information (DSI): The digital code of an organism's genetic makeup is now included under the regulation.
• Researchers & Intellectual Property Applicants: Mandated benefitsharing applies to these individuals, whereas 1015% of the collected benefits are retained by NBA.
• Cultivated Medicinal Plants: These are exempt from benefit sharing, as promoted by the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 to foster cultivation and ease compliance for AYUSH practitioners.

 

Understanding 'Access and Benefit Sharing' (ABS)

• ABS refers to the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of biological resources (like plants and genetic material). 
• This system relies on mutually agreed terms for the sharing of these resources and their benefits. 
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including the Nagoya Protocol from 2010, provides a legally binding framework for ABS.
• COP16 of the CBD in Colombia in 2024, worked out details for sharing benefits from the use of DSI. India implements ABS via the Biological Diversity Act of 2002 and ABS Regulation of 2025.

 

About the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

• The NBA, established in 2003, is an advisory body for central government on biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and benefitsharing.
• It is based in Chennai and operates using a decentralized system which includes State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).
• The SBBs guide state governments, while the BMCs deal with local biodiversity documentation and conservation.  
• BMCs create People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs). 
• Since its inauguration, they have assisted in creating SBBs in 28 States and 8 Union Territories and helped establish around 2,77,688 BMCs.`

 

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Microplastic Infiltration in Oceans

 

Introduction and Summary of Study Outcomes

• According to a recent study published in Nature, microplastics are infiltrating the world's oceans at unprecedented levels.
• The study found microplastics are widespread across oceans, reaching depths of up to 100 metres and are no longer just surface pollutants.
• There's also evidence suggesting that shifts in the planet's biogeochemical and carbon cycles are being driven by microplastic pollution.
• Major contributors include fishing gear made of nylon and polyester, adding to the concentration of dense plastics, such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET).

 

Impact of Microplastics on the Carbon Cycle

• The study also reveals that the increase of microplastics in the water column disrupts the ocean’s carbon cycle.
• Microplastic pollution adds allochthonous carbon to marine ecosystems.
• This could make marine samples appear 420 years older, posing a significant issue for scientists studying marine life and geological history.

 

Understanding Microplastics

• Microplastics, defined as plastics less than 5 millimetres in diameter, have potentially harmful effects on oceans and aquatic life.
• They can be classed as primary microplastics, which are tiny manufactured particlelike microbeads and microfibers, or secondary microplastics, which form when larger plastics degrade.
• Microplastics are known to attach themselves to red blood cells, reducing oxygen transport, and damaging human cells. Several reports have also found them in placentas and fetal organs.

 

Microplastics' Applications and Concerns

• Despite their potential harm, microplastics are used in numerous applications including drug delivery, industrial cleaning, and personal care products.
• However, the environmental and health concerns surrounding microplastics are significant, especially for young children who are particularly vulnerable to such exposure.

 

Regulations Governing Microplastics

• Efforts to control microplastic pollution include both international and local legislations.
• These include the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Plastics Treaty and, for India, the ban on SingleUse Plastics, Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, and Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024. 

 

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Cloud Seeding  A potential solution for Air Pollution and Water Scarcity

 

Introduction and About

• Cloud seeding refers to a weather modification technique aimed at enhancing precipitation. 
• This process involves dispersing chemicals, which can constitute silver iodide, potassium iodide, or dry ice, into clouds. 
• These chemicals serve the purpose of nuclei for water droplet formation, leading ultimately to rainfall. 

 

Recent Updates

• The Delhi Cabinet has recently approved a project. 
• The project aims to conduct trials of cloud seeding. 
• This decision is directed towards addressing two significant issues, air pollution and water scarcity prevalent in the region.

 

Benefits and Importance of Cloud Seeding

• The process is perceived as a tool to combat air pollution, specifically during periods of high Air Quality Index (AQI) readings.
• The enhanced rainfall owing to cloud seeding may potentially increase water availability.
• This can result in various economic, environmental, and human health benefits.

 

Types of Cloud Seeding

• Static cloud seeding: This process involves introducing ice nuclei into cold clouds, instigating the formation of ice crystals or snowflakes.
• Dynamic cloud seeding: This type serves to stimulate rainfall by enhancing vertical air currents and promoting the growth of rain clouds.
• Hygroscopic cloud seeding: It uses fine particles of salts to increase the size of cloud droplets.
• Glaciogenic cloud seeding: This type is used for inducing ice formation in supercooled clouds, aiming to trigger precipitation. In addition to enhancing snowfall and increasing the mountain snowpack, it is also used for inducing rain in droughthit areas and reducing air pollution.

 

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NorthEast India's First Geothermal Well in Dirang

 

Introduction and About

• Northeast India’s first geothermal production well has been established in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh.
• The well marks significant progress in renewable energy utilisation in the Himalayan region.
• The technology used in the project includes a closedloop binary organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system.
• This system utilises geothermal heat to vaporise an organic fluid in a secondary loop, which then drives a turbine to produce electricity.

 

The Dirang Geothermal Project

• Dirang Geothermal Project is the first geothermal energy project in Northeast India.
• Its goal is to make Dirang the first town wholly powered by geothermal energy.
• The project site is situated between quartzite and schist near major fault zones similar to those in the Himalayas, with a reservoir temperature of approximately 115°C.
• It aims to lessen reliance on diesel and firewood while boosting agricultural productivity and living standards in highaltitude areas.
• The project can potentially contribute to India's estimated 10,600 MW geothermal potential by providing stable, baseload renewable energy.

 

Geothermal Energy in India

• Geothermal energy, a form of heat from the Earth’s interior created by radioactive decay, is renewable and furnishes baseload power.

• It is available 24/7 as the Earth continually generates heat.
• India has identified 381 thermally anomalous sites, according to the Geological Survey of India (GSI), with a capability to yield 10,600 MW, which could power 10 million households.
• Key projects showcasing geothermal energy include a 20 kW pilot plant in Manuguru, Telangana, and ONGC's 1 MW project in Puga Valley, Ladakh.
• India has also established collaborations with countries like Iceland (2007), Saudi Arabia (2019), and with the Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) of the US (2023) to further exploration and utilisation of geothermal energy.

 

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Early Onset of SouthWest Monsoon in 2025: Causes, Criteria and Impact of Climate Change

 

Introduction and Overview

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported an earlier than usual onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala in 2025, a significant event as monsoon rains account for over 70% of India's annual rainfall, which is pivotal for agriculture and the economy.
• The prior early onset occurred in 2009.

 

Determining the Onset of Monsoon

• IMD declares the onset of the monsoon after 10th May, based on key criteria including rainfall, wind field, and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR).
• For rainfall, 60% of 14 designated weather stations must record a minimum of 2.5mm of rain for two consecutive days.
• The wind field should involve westerly winds and specific atmospheric pressure measurements.
• The OLR value, indicating atmospheric heat promoting rainfall, must be below 200 W/m² in the specified region.

 

Causes of the Early Monsoon Onset in 2025

• Multiple phenomena, including the MaddenJulian Oscillation (MJO), Mascarene High, convection, the Somali Jet, a heatlow, the monsoon trough, the cyclonic monsoon vortex and pressure gradients, contributed to the early monsoon.
• The MJO, an eastwardmoving system of winds, clouds, and pressure disturbances, influences tropical weather including India, causing increased rainfall in its active phase.
• The intensity of the Mascarene High and an increase in convective activity also contributed to enhanced rains.

 

Impact of Climate Change on the Indian Monsoon

• Climate change has resulted in an increase in extreme rainfall events and a decrease in moderate rainfalls.
• Over the last 50 years, overall monsoon rainfall has decreased by 6%.
• There has been a significant increase in the frequency of heavy rainfall events, linked to rising global temperatures increasing the atmosphere's moistureholding capacity.

 

Withdrawal of Monsoon

• The withdrawal of the monsoon refers to the gradual retreat of the southwest monsoon from India.
• It represents the end of the rainy season, characterised by a cessation of rainfall for at least 5 consecutive days, changing wind patterns, reduced atmospheric moisture, and the formation of anticyclonic circulation.

 

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