[ Day 34 – August 5, 2024] 75 Days Mains Revision Plan 2024 Environment
Kartavya Desk Staff
75 Days Mains Revision Plan 2024 – Environment
Environment
Q1. Eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) are not just shock absorbers for protected areas, they are lifelines for our fragile ecosystems. Comment on the recent issues regarding ESZs in India. (10M)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu, Indian Express
Why the question: The question addresses the critical role of Eco-Sensitive Zones in preserving India’s biodiversity and highlights the recent controversies and challenges faced in their implementation. Key Demand of the question: To explain the significance of ESZs as lifelines for fragile ecosystems and analyze the recent issues and controversies surrounding their implementation in India. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Introduce Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) by defining their purpose and establishment under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Body: Role of ESZs: Shock Absorbers: First line of defense against negative human activities. Mitigate impact of natural disasters. Transition zones from areas of high protection to lesser protection. Lifelines of Fragile Ecosystems: Conserve biodiversity by preventing detrimental activities. Maintain connectivity between ecosystems for wildlife movement. Ensure survival of threatened species. Provide ecosystem services such as clean water and soil conservation. Recent Issues and Controversies: Conflict with Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA): ESZs excluding human habitation and minor activities deny customary and traditional rights to forest-dwellers. Conflict with Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996 (PESA): ESZs not recognizing habitation-level gram sabhas’ role in safeguarding community resources. Recent Landslide in Wayanad Protests in Kerala: Supreme Court’s order for a mandatory 1 km ESZ around protected areas impacts dense forest regions and local populations. Farmers and local communities protest due to fear of displacement and restrictions on land use. Conclusion: A balanced approach is needed to ensure sustainable development by harmonizing conservation efforts with the rights and livelihoods of forest-dwellers and local communities. Policymakers must engage stakeholders in the decision-making process and develop strategies that support both environmental and human interests.
Why the question:
The question addresses the critical role of Eco-Sensitive Zones in preserving India’s biodiversity and highlights the recent controversies and challenges faced in their implementation.
Key Demand of the question:
To explain the significance of ESZs as lifelines for fragile ecosystems and analyze the recent issues and controversies surrounding their implementation in India.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction: Introduce Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) by defining their purpose and establishment under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
• Role of ESZs: Shock Absorbers: First line of defense against negative human activities. Mitigate impact of natural disasters. Transition zones from areas of high protection to lesser protection. Lifelines of Fragile Ecosystems: Conserve biodiversity by preventing detrimental activities. Maintain connectivity between ecosystems for wildlife movement. Ensure survival of threatened species. Provide ecosystem services such as clean water and soil conservation.
• Shock Absorbers: First line of defense against negative human activities. Mitigate impact of natural disasters. Transition zones from areas of high protection to lesser protection.
• First line of defense against negative human activities.
• Mitigate impact of natural disasters.
• Transition zones from areas of high protection to lesser protection.
• Lifelines of Fragile Ecosystems: Conserve biodiversity by preventing detrimental activities. Maintain connectivity between ecosystems for wildlife movement. Ensure survival of threatened species. Provide ecosystem services such as clean water and soil conservation.
• Conserve biodiversity by preventing detrimental activities.
• Maintain connectivity between ecosystems for wildlife movement.
• Ensure survival of threatened species.
• Provide ecosystem services such as clean water and soil conservation.
• Recent Issues and Controversies: Conflict with Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA): ESZs excluding human habitation and minor activities deny customary and traditional rights to forest-dwellers. Conflict with Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996 (PESA): ESZs not recognizing habitation-level gram sabhas’ role in safeguarding community resources. Recent Landslide in Wayanad Protests in Kerala: Supreme Court’s order for a mandatory 1 km ESZ around protected areas impacts dense forest regions and local populations. Farmers and local communities protest due to fear of displacement and restrictions on land use.
• Conflict with Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA): ESZs excluding human habitation and minor activities deny customary and traditional rights to forest-dwellers.
• ESZs excluding human habitation and minor activities deny customary and traditional rights to forest-dwellers.
• Conflict with Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996 (PESA): ESZs not recognizing habitation-level gram sabhas’ role in safeguarding community resources.
• ESZs not recognizing habitation-level gram sabhas’ role in safeguarding community resources.
• Recent Landslide in Wayanad
• Protests in Kerala: Supreme Court’s order for a mandatory 1 km ESZ around protected areas impacts dense forest regions and local populations. Farmers and local communities protest due to fear of displacement and restrictions on land use.
• Supreme Court’s order for a mandatory 1 km ESZ around protected areas impacts dense forest regions and local populations.
• Farmers and local communities protest due to fear of displacement and restrictions on land use.
Conclusion: A balanced approach is needed to ensure sustainable development by harmonizing conservation efforts with the rights and livelihoods of forest-dwellers and local communities. Policymakers must engage stakeholders in the decision-making process and develop strategies that support both environmental and human interests.
Q2. “Although India can produce reliable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable bioenergy to meet its energy demand, progress has been slow”. Discuss (15M)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Key Demand of the question: To discuss the potential of bioenergy in India, the challenges hindering its progress, and the government initiatives aimed at promoting bioenergy. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Introduce bioenergy and its potential to meet India’s energy demands sustainably. Body: Bioenergy Potential: Abundant Biomass: Agricultural and forest residues. Used cooking oil, acid oil, algal feedstock, and damaged food grains. Municipal solid waste, with significant annual generation. Applications: Power generation: Potential to generate 18,000 MW from biomass. Transport sector: Conversion into biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, and bio-CNG. Industrial use: In sectors like food processing, textiles, and paper manufacturing. Cooking: As a major source of cooking fuel. Government Initiatives: National Bioenergy Programme: Launched in 2021, extended to 2026, includes waste-to-energy, biomass, and biogas production sub-programs. National Biofuels Policy, 2018: Targets blending biofuels with fossil fuels by 2030. National Bioenergy Mission: Promotes research and development of bioenergy technologies. SATAT Initiative: Encourages the use of biofuels in the transport sector. Challenges to Bioenergy Production: Policy Limitations: Existing policies are not comprehensive enough. Funding: Inadequate fiscal incentives and financial support. Infrastructure: Fragmented and costly bioenergy production chain. Research and Development: Lack of focus on advanced bioenergy technologies. Competition from Other Renewables: Solar and wind energy receive better policy and funding support. Conclusion: Bioenergy is crucial for sustainable development, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing national energy security. Progress can be accelerated through government-private sector collaboration, increased financial incentives, and technological innovation.
Key Demand of the question:
To discuss the potential of bioenergy in India, the challenges hindering its progress, and the government initiatives aimed at promoting bioenergy.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction: Introduce bioenergy and its potential to meet India’s energy demands sustainably.
• Bioenergy Potential: Abundant Biomass: Agricultural and forest residues. Used cooking oil, acid oil, algal feedstock, and damaged food grains. Municipal solid waste, with significant annual generation. Applications: Power generation: Potential to generate 18,000 MW from biomass. Transport sector: Conversion into biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, and bio-CNG. Industrial use: In sectors like food processing, textiles, and paper manufacturing. Cooking: As a major source of cooking fuel.
• Abundant Biomass: Agricultural and forest residues. Used cooking oil, acid oil, algal feedstock, and damaged food grains. Municipal solid waste, with significant annual generation.
• Agricultural and forest residues.
• Used cooking oil, acid oil, algal feedstock, and damaged food grains.
• Municipal solid waste, with significant annual generation.
• Applications: Power generation: Potential to generate 18,000 MW from biomass. Transport sector: Conversion into biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, and bio-CNG. Industrial use: In sectors like food processing, textiles, and paper manufacturing. Cooking: As a major source of cooking fuel.
• Power generation: Potential to generate 18,000 MW from biomass.
• Transport sector: Conversion into biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, and bio-CNG.
• Industrial use: In sectors like food processing, textiles, and paper manufacturing.
• Cooking: As a major source of cooking fuel.
• Government Initiatives: National Bioenergy Programme: Launched in 2021, extended to 2026, includes waste-to-energy, biomass, and biogas production sub-programs. National Biofuels Policy, 2018: Targets blending biofuels with fossil fuels by 2030. National Bioenergy Mission: Promotes research and development of bioenergy technologies. SATAT Initiative: Encourages the use of biofuels in the transport sector.
• National Bioenergy Programme: Launched in 2021, extended to 2026, includes waste-to-energy, biomass, and biogas production sub-programs.
• National Biofuels Policy, 2018: Targets blending biofuels with fossil fuels by 2030.
• National Bioenergy Mission: Promotes research and development of bioenergy technologies.
• SATAT Initiative: Encourages the use of biofuels in the transport sector.
• Challenges to Bioenergy Production: Policy Limitations: Existing policies are not comprehensive enough. Funding: Inadequate fiscal incentives and financial support. Infrastructure: Fragmented and costly bioenergy production chain. Research and Development: Lack of focus on advanced bioenergy technologies. Competition from Other Renewables: Solar and wind energy receive better policy and funding support.
• Policy Limitations: Existing policies are not comprehensive enough.
• Funding: Inadequate fiscal incentives and financial support.
• Infrastructure: Fragmented and costly bioenergy production chain.
• Research and Development: Lack of focus on advanced bioenergy technologies.
• Competition from Other Renewables: Solar and wind energy receive better policy and funding support.
Conclusion: Bioenergy is crucial for sustainable development, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing national energy security. Progress can be accelerated through government-private sector collaboration, increased financial incentives, and technological innovation.
ETHICS
3Q. What are the sources of ethical guidance? How do these factors collectively assist a public servant in making ethical decisions? [10M, 150words]
Key Demand of question: Define sources of ethical guidance and explain their role in public service. Structure of the answer: Introduction: Start with the definition of ethical guidance. Body: Briefly explain each source such as law, rules, regulation, and conscience. Discuss how the assist public servants in ethical decision-making. Conclusion: Conclude by highlighting its significance.
Key Demand of question:
Define sources of ethical guidance and explain their role in public service.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction: Start with the definition of ethical guidance.
Body:
• Briefly explain each source such as law, rules, regulation, and conscience.
• Discuss how the assist public servants in ethical decision-making.
Conclusion:
Conclude by highlighting its significance.
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