21st Livestock Census in India

• The Union Government launched the 21st Livestock Census in New Delhi. 

What is the Livestock Census?

• Conducted every five years, the Livestock Census is a nationwide headcount of domesticated animals, poultry, and stray animals.
• It aims to gather detailed information about the species, breed, age, sex, and ownership status of these animals.
• Since its inception in 1919, a total of 20 censuses have been carried out, with the most recent one conducted in 2019.
• The enumeration for the 21st census is scheduled to take place from October 2024 to February 2025.

Which Animals Will Be Counted? 

The census will encompass a diverse range of animals, with data collected on 16 species, including: Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun, Yak, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Camel, Horse, Ponies, Mule, Donkey, Dog, Rabbit, Elephant

• In total, the census will account for 219 indigenous breeds recognized by the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR). Additionally, it will also include a headcount of various poultry birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, quails, ostriches, and emus.

Objectives of the Livestock Census: 

• The livestock sector plays a pivotal role in the Indian economy, providing employment opportunities in rural areas and contributing significantly to the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the agricultural sector. It accounts for about 30% of the GVA in agriculture and around 4.7% of the overall economy.

Findings from the 2019 Livestock Census: 

• The last census revealed a total livestock population of approximately 535.78 million in India, broken down as follows:
• Cattle: 192.9 million
• Goats: 148.88 million
• Buffaloes: 109.85 million
• Sheep: 74.26 million
• Pigs: 9.06 million
• Together, other animals constituted just 0.23% of the total livestock population.

Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index 2024

• The Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index 2024 provides a comprehensive evaluation of government policies aimed at addressing economic inequality across 164 countries. 
• Released by Oxfam and Development Finance International, the index highlights a troubling trend: a significant majority of nations have regressed in their commitment to reducing inequality since the last assessment. 
• Specifically, 84% of countries have decreased their investments in essential public services such as education and health, while 81% have weakened their tax systems’ effectiveness in addressing inequality. 
• Alarmingly, 90% of the countries surveyed have seen a deterioration in labor rights and minimum wage protections. 
• The report underscores that nearly nine out of ten countries are implementing policies that may exacerbate economic disparities, particularly in the context of austerity measures imposed by international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank. 
• As global leaders grapple with rising inequality, the CRI Index serves as a critical tool for assessing governmental accountability and guiding policy reforms necessary to foster equitable growth and social justice.

GIANT SALMON CARP

• The The giant salmon carp, thought to be extinct, has been found in the Mekong River.

The Giant Salmon Carp

 Mekong River

• It is an international river in Southeast Asia.
• It is the twelfth-longest river in the world and also the third-longest river in Asia with a total length of 2700 km.

Course of the river

•  The river originates at the place called Sanjianyuang in the Tibetan Plateau of China and it drains into the South China Sea.
• The river course covers  six Asian countries which are China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. 

Biodiversity 

• The river basin is the second most biodiverse region in the world, after Amazon River Basin. 
• The river basin biodiversity has about 21,000 plant species,1,200 bird species, numerous mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and fish species.

Major cities on the river banks are

• 1) Vientiane– It is the capital of Laos
• 2) Phnom Penh- it is the capital of Cambodia

Importance for India 

• The Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) initiative by India and five riverine  countries of the Mekong River and also the ASEAN countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam has potential to enhance the trade and connectivity between India and South East Asia.

India Set to Establish Its First Coal Exchange

• India is poised to establish its first coal exchange, a significant development aimed at modernizing the coal market and enhancing trade efficiency.

Overview of the Coal Exchange

• Purpose and Functionality: As mentioned above the proposed coal exchange is an attempt at creating an on-line trading forum where the sellers and the buyers can agree on the price of coal as the object of sale. Information on this platform is expected to be provided by market forces to achieve price discovery by efficiency. The exchange shall work under the provisions of the Coal Controller Organisation to comply with the legal formalities required.

Key Features: 

• Online Trading Platform: The exchange will offer a technological platform that will also enhance the sourcing and selling of the commodity.
• Clearing and Settlement Mechanism: This feature will contribute to improved reliability of transactions by ensuring that trade is followed by an efficient settlement process.
• Market-Driven Pricing: The exchange operations doing this because it seeks to open up market factors in an attempt to lower prices.

Government Initiatives

• Action Plan for 2024-25: The setting up of the coal exchange is one of the strategic steps the Ministry of Coal has in its implementation plan for Financial Year 2024-25. This plan envisages measures to further deregulate the coal market and make assured availability of dry fuel in the market. The note for consideration of establishing the exchange has been prepared in draft form and has already triggered round-table inter-sectoral discussions suggesting that the government is serious about this idea.
• Cabinet Approval Process: The last but one note regarding the coal exchange has been signed by the Minister of Coal, and now it will be taken to the higher level of the Cabinet. Such approval is necessary for the purpose of establishing the right legal and regulatoryxf structures that will enable the exchange to operate.

Market Implications

• Impact on Coal Trade: In introducing a coal exchange, participation in coal trading is expected to have grown significantly. This may encourage more sellers and buyers to engage in the transactions and should prevent a scarcity of buyers, but instead might leave liquidity of the market improved. To that end, this initiative may as well make it easier to access coal and to stabilize prices as well as supply should be equal with demand.
• Potential for Imports: However, Minister Reddy said that in the event that India required the coking coal, India would not hesitate to import from countries like Russia. This flexibility is critical, since it enables India to satisfy its industrial requirements, while at the same developing domestic production possibilities.

Challenges Ahead

• While the establishment of a coal exchange presents numerous opportunities, several challenges must be addressed:
• Infrastructure Development: Robust digital infrastructure is the main cornerstone for successful online trading platforms. Key will be ensuring that people have reliable internet and technological support in regions.
• Regulatory Framework: Forever trading activities have to be controlled through a complete logistics framework which will protect the participants interests and the market integrity.
• Market Acceptance: In order to encourage participation from various stakeholders in the coal industry, there needs to be good outreach and education about how trading on an exchange will provide benefits.

Conclusion

• The establishment of India’s first coal exchange marks a pivotal moment in the country’s energy sector. By modernising coal trading practices through an online platform, India aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in its coal markets. As this initiative progresses, it will be essential for stakeholders to collaborate closely to address potential challenges and maximise the benefits of this new trading environment.

 India’s FTA Strategy

• Recent discussions surrounding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in India have prompted a reconsideration of existing strategies, particularly in light of government procurement policies. As India celebrates initiatives like “Make in India,” the need to reassess the implications of FTAs on domestic industries becomes increasingly critical. 

Understanding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

• Definition and Purpose: The Free Trade Agreements are treaties between two or more countries to lower barriers of trade and to foster economic cooperation among the said countries. These agreements usually entail phasing out or cutting tariffs and quotas on goods and services that will be exchanged between signatory countries.
• Current Scenario in India: India has conducted a number of FTA negotiations, including with the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK). But reports this week suggest a change of approach, with the Department of Commerce favoring a more cautious approach to ongoing negotiations. In part, the change results from worries about the effects FTAs may have on domestic industries and government procurement practices.

The Role of Government Procurement

• Importance of Government Procurement: Government procurement refers to the buying of goods and services by government agencies from private companies. It is essential to this process to support local industries; foster innovation; and ensure that public funds are used wisely. Government procurement in India has effectively been a vehicle for promoting domestic manufacturing through government tenders that favor the local suppliers.
• Current Policies Supporting Domestic Industries
• General Financial Rules: Rule 153 permits mandatory procurement from specific categories of bidders in order to advance domestically produced goods.
• Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs): Requires that central ministries and departments procure a minimum of 25% annually from MSEs.
• Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017: It seeks to create a reliable market for manufacturers enforcing ‘Make in India’ motives.
• These policies have led to significant procurement figures, such as ₹82,630.38 crore from MSEs during the fiscal year 2023-24.

Challenges Posed by FTAs

• Impact on Government Procurement Flexibility: This is one special worry about FTAs because they often require countries to treat foreign suppliers as they would domestic ones for contracts with the government. In recent decades, however, globalization has grown at such a dramatic pace that this has restricted the possibility of local industries’ top priority when contracts are being awarded by governments. Let us take for instance, the provision contained in the FTAs negotiated by developed countries, which limit the flexibility countries have in applying procurement as a tool of economic development.
• Specific Concerns for India: In India’s case, while some FTAs have government procurement related information exchange provisions, negotiations can give rise to an aspirational demand for more limited market access that would undermine the already existing protections for local suppliers. For instance, the UK and the EU could both seek to further extend access now available in, for instance, agreements such as that with the UAE.

The Need for a Rethink

• Strategic Pause on Negotiations: The current pause in FTA negotiations offers Indian policymakers an opportunity to reconsider their policies with respect to government procurement. Keeping in mind that many of the developed nations have been able to leverage the use of procurement policies to increase domestic production and underpin vulnerable sectors during economic downturns, this is all the more pertinent.
• Learning from Global Practices: Countries like the United States have successfully initiated the local economies through the tool of government procurement. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 required that projects financed under stimulus occurred must do so using domestically produced material. Such examples point how keeping robust government procurement policies while opening to some international trade agreements might be an opportunity.

Potential Benefits of FTAs

• Access to New Markets: Despite concerns about domestic impacts, FTAs can provide Indian exporters with access to larger markets. For instance, the EU’s public procurement market was valued at €473 billion in 2022, while the UK’s was around £110 billion in 2021. However, it is crucial to note that historically, non-EU suppliers have received minimal contracts from these markets—often less than 0.5%.
• Enhancing Competitiveness: Engaging in FTAs can also encourage Indian companies to enhance their competitiveness through exposure to international standards and practices. This can lead to improved efficiency and innovation within domestic industries.

Conclusion

• India’s approach to Free Trade Agreements must be carefully calibrated to balance international commitments with domestic priorities. As negotiations progress or pause, it is essential for policymakers to consider how government procurement can serve as a strategic tool for promoting local industries while still engaging meaningfully with global trade partners. The current rethink presents an invaluable opportunity for India to refine its FTA strategy, ensuring that it aligns with national economic goals while safeguarding domestic interests.

 IndiaAI at MeitY & Meta collaborates to advance Open Source AI

•  IndiaAI and Meta have announced the establishment of the Center for Generative AI, Srijan (सृजन) at IIT Jodhpur, along with the launch of the “YuvAi Initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building” in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), for the advancement of open source artificial intelligence (AI) in India.
• The partnership will enable development of indigenous AI applications, advance skill development in AI, boost research capabilities with the aim of contributing to India’s AI mission of ensuring tech sovereignty and the vision of building AI solutions that are tailor made for India

Center for Generative AI, Srijan (सृजन) at IIT Jodhpur

• As part of this collaboration, Meta will support the establishment of the Center for Generative AI, Srijan, (सृजन) (“GenAI CoE”) at IIT Jodhpur. This GenAI CoE aims to advance research and development in AI while fostering the growth of responsible and ethical AI technologies in India. It will support and enhance open science innovation across the AI technology landscape.
• Through education, capacity building, and policy advisory, the center will be empowering the next generation of researchers, students, and practitioners with the knowledge and tools necessary for the responsible development and deployment of GenAI technologies.

Empowering India’s AI Future

• Highlighting the power of collaborative innovation, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), emphasized the significance of the partnership between IndiaAI, IIT Jodhpur, AICTE and Meta. These initiatives are pivotal in creating a robust ecosystem for groundbreaking research, skill development, and open-source innovation, advancing AI technology while ensuring its responsible and ethical deployment. The initiative will support India''s ambitious goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by equipping the nation''s youth to lead in the global AI arena, securing India''s position as a leader in technological advancement and economic growth

Collaboration to drive AI Innovation and Skill Development

•  “The Indian government is supporting the vision of AI innovation, skilling, and technological advancement to drive inclusive growth under the IndiaAI initiative. Our collaboration with industry leaders like Meta is vital to realizing this vision.”..
• By emphasizing the importance of open-source AI, IndiaAI ,Meta is committed to nurturing an ecosystem where indigenous solutions can flourish.
• These initiatives will empower the next generation of innovators and equip them with the tools to address pressing real-world challenges, ultimately propelling India to be at the forefront of global AI advancements.”

Bridging AI talent gap through “AI for Skilling and Capacity Building" initiative

• Meta, in collaboration with MeitY and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), also launched the “YuvAi initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building" . This program aims to bridge the AI talent gap in the country by empowering 100,000 students and young developers aged 18-30 to leverage open-source large language models (LLMs) to address real-world challenges.
• It aims to build capacity in generative AI skills, utilizing open-source LLMs while fostering AI innovation across key sectors. Over the next three years, the initiative will train one lakh youth, developers, and entrepreneurs, contributing significantly to India’s AI ecosystem across critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities, and financial inclusion.
• This will include the establishment of a Gen AI Resource Hub with courses, case studies, and open datasets; an LLM for Young Developers Course designed by Meta; and Master Training Activation Workshops to introduce participants to foundational AI concepts. The program also features Unleash LLM Hackathons, where students will submit AI solutions to address real-world problems, with top ideas receiving mentoring, seed grants, and market support.
•  Additionally, the AI Innovation Accelerator will identify and support 10 student-led startups experimenting with open-source AI models, offering incubation and visibility

Mass Bleaching of Coral Reefs

•  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the mass bleaching of coral reefs around the world since 2023 is now the most substantial on record.
• 77% of the sector’s coral reef regions – from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Indian oceans – have up to now been subjected to bleaching-level warmness strain.
• The NOAA coral reef authority declared the global bleaching event in 2024, making it the fourth of its type since 1998. 
• Mass bleaching events at the Great Barrier Reef were documented with full-scale surveys in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2024.
• The preceding report from the 2014 to 2017 mass bleaching affected just under 66% of the world’s reef location.
• In coming months and years scientists will conduct underwater tests of dead corals to assist tally up the severity of the damage.

What are Corals?

• Corals are invertebrates that belong to a large group of animals known as Cnidaria.
• Corals are formed by multiple small, soft organisms known as polyps. 
• They secrete a rocky chalk-like (calcium carbonate) exoskeleton around themselves for protection. 
• Coral reefs are therefore created through thousands and thousands of tiny polyps forming big carbonate systems.
• Appearance: Corals range in coloration from crimson to red or even blue, but are most generally shades of brown and green.
• Coral are vibrant and colourful because of microscopic algae known as zooxanthellae.
• There are 3 forms of coral reefs – fringing reefs, barrier reefs and atolls.
• Fringing reefs form along shores, barrier reefs form in open water and atolls are circular reefs which have formed around sunken volcanoes.
• Significance: They provide meals, refuge, resting and breeding grounds to 1 / 4 of all marine life, acting as nurseries and refuges to shield important biodiversity.
• They also guide greater than 1 billion humans residing in coastal areas around the sector by supplying food, livelihoods and activity.

Coral Bleaching

• Coral bleaching occurs while corals expel the colourful algae living in their tissues. 
• Without those helpful algae, the corals end up light and are liable to hunger and ailment. 
• A bleached coral is not useless, but ocean temperatures want to cool off for any need of restoration.
• At least 14% of the world’s remaining corals have been anticipated to have died in the previous  international bleaching events.
• Scientists had formerly projected that coral reefs could become a tipping factor at 1.5 degree Celsius (2.7оF) of global warming, wherein up to 90% of reefs would be lost.
• The state-of-the-art report bleaching adds to developing evidence that reefs have already passed a point of no return at just 1.3 C (2.3 F) of warming.

What triggers Coral Bleaching?

• The leading motive of coral bleaching is climate change. 
• A warming planet means a warming ocean, and a trade in water temperature—as little as 2 tiers Fahrenheit—can cause coral to power out algae. 
• Coral also bleaches for other reasons, like extremely low tides, pollution, or too much daylight.
• The ongoing bleaching has been made worse by El Nino, a natural climate sample that can temporarily warm a few oceans, which led to May.

Impact of Coral Bleaching

• Wildlife: Thousands of marine animals rely on coral reefs for survival.
• Coral reefs offer shelter, spawning grounds, and safety from predators. 
• They also guide organisms at the bottom of ocean food chains. 
• As reef ecosystems disintegrate, already at-risk species might also face extinction.   
• Humans: Coral reefs are natural boundaries that take in the force of waves and storm surges, retaining coastal groups safe. 
• Every year, reefs offer about $2.7 trillion in goods and services, as per a 2020 estimate via the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.
• Bleached coral also compounds the overfishing disaster by doing away with links in the food web and depriving some fish of an area to spawn and expand.
• Reef tourism brings in billions of dollars each year and supports lots of jobs. 

Way Ahead

• Strengthening Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
• Implementing coral healing techniques, including coral gardening and breeding resilient coral species, to enhance healing after bleaching occasions.
• Advocating for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to restrict temperature will increase ocean acidification.
• Increasing funding in studies to better apprehend coral resilience, bleaching triggers, and recovery strategies, along with growing advanced tracking technology.

 NATIONAL ONE HEALTH MISSION (NOHM)

• The UN General Assembly recognised anti-microbial resistance (AMR) as an urgent “global health threat and developmental challenge”. This has brought the attention back on National One Health Mission.
• Antimicrobial is an all-encompassing term that includes antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics administered to humans, animals and plants. They have been misused and overused not just to treat diseases but also as “growth promoters” in industrial-scale food production. In 2000, the WHO recommended rapidly phasing out antibiotic growth promoters from the agriculture and animal sectors.

Concept of One Health:

• One Health is a collaborative, multi-sectoral, and transdisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of the health of humans, animals, and the environment.
• It aims to prevent and control zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted between animals and humans) and other public health threats by working at the intersection of these three domains.

 National One Health Mission

• The National One Health Mission is a comprehensive initiative in India aimed at       integrating human, animal, and environmental health sectors to address health  challenges holistically.

Vision and Goals

• Vision: To build an integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness system  by bringing together human, animal, and environmental sectors for better health  outcomes, improved productivity, and conservation of biodiversity.
• Goals: The mission aims to enhance pandemic preparedness, integrated disease  control, and early warning systems for both endemic and emerging epidemic  threats.

Key pillars of the NOHM are:

• Technology enabled integrated surveillance across sectors.
• National network of Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories (for testing high-risk or unknown pathogens).
• Collaborative and integrated R&D for medical countermeasures including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for human-animal-wildlife-livestock health.
• Data integration across sectors.
• Training and capacity building in all spheres related to One Health.

Governance Structure

• Executive Committee: Chaired by the Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family  Welfare, with the Principal Scientific Adviser as the vice-chair.
• Scientific Steering Committee: Chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser, providing overall scientific direction and oversight.

Novel molecules Developed to Treat Alzheimer''s Disease

• Scientists have designed and synthesized novel molecules through a blend of synthetic, computational, and in-vitro studies for treating Alzheimer''s Disease (AD). These non-toxic molecules could be effective in the treatment of the disease.
• Neurons are specialized cells in the brain that form the nervous system. The nervous system communicates between the brain and the rest of the body. Alzheimer''s disease (AD) disrupts this communication, causing limitations in learning and memory and changes in adaptive behaviour. AD occurs due to an imbalance in certain hormones.
• AD is the most common form of dementia and constitutes around 75% of all dementia cases. Of the about 55 million people worldwide with dementia, 60% to 70% are estimated to have AD. The disease most commonly affects people over the age of 65. The causes mainly include a combination of age-related brain changes and genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The treatment may be able to slow dementia and improve quality of life, but these conditions are progressive, and symptoms of the disease worsen over time.
• To date, treatment options available to cure AD are limited to one N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist (Memantine) and three anti-cholinesterase drugs (Donepezil, Rivastigmine, Galantamine). However, approved anti-cholinesterase drugs suffer from limitations of short-term benefits and serious side effects that restrict their clinical applications.
• Recently, scientists from Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, have developed a rapid one-pot, three-component reaction with high synthetic yields to generate novel molecules. Developed molecules were found to be non-toxic and effective against cholinesterase enzymes.
• Finally, molecules identified through a blend of synthetic, computational, and in-vitro studies have proved to be good dual cholinesterase inhibitors. Utilized multipronged approaches with modern scientific validation offer the potential for holistic health and wellness of society.
• Together, these molecules could be exploited to develop dual anti-cholinesterase drugs to treat AD in combination with other drugs.

 STUBBLE BURNING & RIGHT TO HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

• The Supreme Court recently observed that stubble burning is not just an issue of breach of law but it also encompasses the violation of fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.

SC verdict on Stubble Burning:

• The court observed that stubble burning encompasses the violation of the fundamental right to the environment under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• The court referred to Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which provides for penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of ₹1 lakh for causing harm to the environment.
• The court ruled that there is a lack of a proper system in place to collect these fines and questioned the role of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in this regard.
• The court observed that there is a gap between the number of stubble-burning cases reported and the actual penalties imposed for violations.

Court directives: 

• The court directed that the Union government should consider the request of the Punjab government for more funds to fight stubble burning.
• The court also directed the central government and the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to submit reports on how they are handling pollution issues within 2 weeks.

Right to the environment in the Indian constitution

• Environment has been defined in The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as The water, air and land and the interrelationship among them and the human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms and property.
• There are various constitutional and legal frameworks to ensure the right to the environment.

Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 21
• The Supreme Court in the Maneka Gandhi vs. The Union of India case held that Article 21 guarantees the fundamental right to life.
• Article 21 of the Constitution covers the right to live with dignity, the right to survive as a species, the right to livelihood, and the right to a healthy environment.
• Article 21 of the Indian Constitution also prevents the deprivation of one’s life or personal liberty except by following procedures established by law.
• In Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar, 1991 the Supreme Court held that Article 21 covered the right to environment and the same verdict was reiterated in Virender Gaur v. State of Haryana case of 1994.

Article 47

• Apart from Article 21, Article 47 of the Constitution of India also outlines the state''s duties to improve public health, nutrition, and the standard of living.

Directive Principle of State Policy

• Article 48-A directs the states to endeavour for the protection and improvement of the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife in the country.
• The National Green Tribunal in Sher Singh vs State of Himachal Pradesh 2014, held that the State has a constitutional obligation to protect and strive towards the protection of the environment.
• In M.C. Mehta vs Union of India, 2002, The Supreme Court established the principle of “absolute liability”, which holds corporations in hazardous industries strictly liable for any mishaps in industries.

Fundamental Duties

• Article 51A(g) imposes a fundamental duty upon the citizens of India to protect and preserve the environment.
• Article 51-A (g), provides that “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.” 

Legal Framework:

• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
• Forest Conservation Act, 1980
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
• Biological diversity Act, 2002
• Plastic waste management rules

What is Stubble Burning?

• Stubble burning is the process of removing paddy residue from fields after the harvest to prepare for the next crop.
• Farmers in northwest India burn 23 million tonnes of rice straw annually.
• India produces over 500 million tonnes of crop residues and cereals account for 70% of this.
• As per the Ministry of Agriculture, 80% of 20 million tonnes of stubble generated in Punjab is burnt annually due to cost and time constraints.
• It is commonly practised in areas which use the combine harvesting machines, which leaves residue behind.
• Combine Harvesting

These machines harvest, thresh, and clean grains in one go.

• They don''t cut crops close enough to the ground, due to which the stubble is left behind.

Reason Behind Stubble Burning

• Stubble which has been left behind has no use for farmers and delays the next sowing season. This makes farmers obliged to burn the stubbles.
• The short time of 20-25 days between rice harvesting and wheat sowing also causes farmers to burn stubble.
• Punjab’s 2009 Subsoil Act further delays paddy transplantation. The Act is an effort to conserve groundwater resources by mandatorily delaying the transplantation of paddy.

Risks associated with Stubble Burning

• Environmental Risks

Stubble burning reduces soil nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and kills beneficial microbes in the soil.

• Health Risks

The burning process also releases huge amounts of harmful pollutants such as CO2, CO, NOx, SOx, CH4, and particulate matter which includes PM2.5 and PM10. These are the major causes of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Long-term exposure to these pollutants increases cancer risks and mortality.

• Burning is not the only solution but it is the cheapest and fastest method available to farmers.

Way ahead

• Technological Interventions

There are machines such as the Happy Seeder, Zero-till seed drill, Rotavator, and Paddy Straw Chopper which help to manage residue without burning.

• The Turbo Happy Seeder for instance cuts stubble and sows wheat simultaneously and covers the seeds with straw as mulch.
• Waste Decomposer

A bio-concoction has been developed by the National Centre for Organic Farming to compost crop residue in situ. The compost can be used as manure in farms to further enhance productivity.

• The Chhattisgarh Model of Gauthan applies a sustainable approach where crop residue is collected and turned into organic fertiliser. This reduces the stubble burning and also provides rural employment.
• Other Uses for Stubble

The stubble can also be used as animal feed, compost, biochar, or converted into biodegradable cutlery.

Stubbles may also be used as a replacement for coal in power plants.

Long-Term Solutions

• Combine Harvester Redesign

There is a need to modify the combine harvester design to cut closer to the base. The government can incentivise companies in this process. 

• Agri-Waste Collection Centers

The government can set up Agri-Waste Collection Centers where farmers can sell stubble for additional income. This incentivises them not to burn it.

          Incentives for Industries

• The union and state governments can support industries to convert stubble into valuable products like cattle feed or fuel.

Crop Diversification

There is a need to incentivise the farmers to plant crops like maize, beans, and lentils which can reduce the need for burning as they are harvested by hand and have earlier harvest windows.

• Short-duration paddy varieties including the Pusa Basmati-1509 allow earlier harvest.

THE LASER INTERFEROMETER SPACE ANTENNA (LISA) MISSION

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has revealed the first full-scale prototype of six telescopes of The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission.

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Mission

• It is a collaborative effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) set to launch in the mid-2030s.
• The space mission consists of three spacecraft which are separated by millions of miles to detect gravitational waves.
• These spacecraft will fly in a triangular formation behind the Earth and the Sun.
• The spacecraft will be placed in a heliocentric orbit at a distance of 50 million km from Earth at a distance of 2.5 million km between each spacecraft.
• All three spacecraft will carry two telescopes each. 

Purpose

• Its main purpose is to search for gravitational wave signatures which emerge from distortions in spacetime caused by massive objects like black holes.

Detection Mechanism

• The spacecraft uses Laser Beam Technology to relay laser beams to measure shifts in the positions of the objects due to gravitational waves.
• It aims to measure changes which are smaller than the diameter of a helium nucleus over a distance of a million miles.

LISA Pathfinder Mission

• It is nothing but a proof-of-concept mission to test technologies developed for LISA.
• It was launched on December 3, 2015, and it reduced noise levels by a factor of 100, which is higher than the target requirements.