Green bonds worth Rs 1,000 crore, to be Issued by NHAI

•  The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said its special purpose vehicle DME Development Ltd (DMEDL) will raise Rs 1,000 crore through green bonds to implement climate-friendly measures on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project.
•  The aggregate size of the issue will be up to Rs 1,000 crore, with a base issue size of Rs 500 crore. Also, there will be a green-shoe option to retain oversubscription up to Rs 500 crore.
• The proceeds will be used for avenue plantation, median plantation, construction of animal underpasses, natural stormwater drainage, streetlight on renewable energy (solar), waste recycling and reuse, and rainwater harvesting.
•  The issue of green bonds will help enhance DMEDL’s financial performance in terms of the overall cost of borrowings and diversify investor base by attracting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) focused investors.
• Incorporated in August 2020, DMEDL is a wholly-owned special purpose vehicle of NHAI for financing, construction, and operation of the Delhi-Mumbai greenfield expressway and has received AAA rating from CRISIL, CARE and India Rating.
•  DMEDL aims to raise about Rs 48,000 crore from banks as well as the  financial market through loans and bonds and has raised around Rs 42,000 crore.

What are green bonds?

• Green bonds are committed to financing or refinancing investments, projects, expenditure or assets helping to address climate and environmental issues.
• Both governments and companies use them to finance the transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.
•  A green bond is differentiated from a regular bond by its label, which signifies a commitment to exclusively use the funds raised to finance or refinance green projects, assets or business activities. Green projects are projects that promote progress on environmentally sustainable activities. 
•  Green bonds provide an opportunity to mobilise capital for green investments.
•  The green bond market can provide an additional source of green financing to bank lending and equity financing, and enable long-term financing for green projects in geographies where the supply of long-term bank loans can be limited.

Evolution of green bonds

• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) initiated the development of the green bond market in 2007-2008, with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the World Bank leading the way. In July 2007, the EIB issued the first green bond called Climate Awareness Bond (CAB) worth €600 million, which focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency. 
• The following year, the World Bank launched its first green bond of approximately $440 million in response to specific demand from Scandinavian pension funds seeking to support climate focused projects.
• Since then, the green bond market has grown substantially in size and sophistication.
•  In 2010, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and other public entities (governments, agencies and municipalities) joined and issued $4 billion worth of green bonds.
• More countries joined the green bond market in 2015, contributing to a total annual issuance of $41.8 billion.
• Today, the annual green bond issuance continues to grow rapidly. 
• The green bond market needs to grow more quickly to achieve the targets in the Paris Agreement.
•  According to experts, global green bond investment is expected to reach $1 trillion soon.

 India, Egypt strengthens ‘Strategic Partnership’

·         India and Egypt held the 13th round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi. 

·         The discussions reviewed the entire gamut of India-Egypt bilateral relations with a renewed commitment to strengthen the Strategic Partnership. 

·         Both sides also discussed avenues for further deepening of existing relations in political, economic, and socio-cultural areas.

India-Egypt relations

·         India and Egypt, two of the world’s oldest civilisations, have enjoyed a history of close contact from ancient times. Ashoka’s edicts refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy-II. 

·         Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul shared common goals on the independence of their countries, a relationship that was to blossom into an exceptionally close friendship between President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, leading to a Friendship Treaty between the two countries in 1955.

·         The joint announcement of establishment of diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level was made on August 18, 1947. 

·          Both countries have cooperated closely in multilateral fora and were the founding members of Non-Aligned Movement. 

·          Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most important trading partners in the African continent.

·          The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause and the bilateral trade has increased more than five times in the last 10 years.  In June 2023, India and Egypt elevated their relationship to a ‘Strategic Partnership’.

·          Bilateral trade has expanded rapidly in 2021-22, amounting to $7.26 billion registering a 75 per cent increase compared to FY 2020-21.

·          India’s exports to Egypt during this period amounted to $3.74 billion, registering a 65 per cent increase over the same period in FY 2020-21.

·         At the same time, Egypt’s exports to India reached $3.52 billion registering an 86 per cent increase.

·          During 2021-22, the top Indian imports from Egypt were mineral oil/petroleum, fertilisers, inorganic chemicals and cotton. Main items of export to Egypt from India were buffalo meat, iron & steel, light vehicles and cotton yarn.

·          According to the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), India was the third largest export market for Egypt, sixth largest trading partner and seventh largest exporter to Egypt.

·          Bilateral mechanisms are in place to facilitate trade and economic relations between India and Egypt. Around 50 Indian companies have invested in various sectors in Egypt with a combined investment exceeding $3.15 billion. Egyptian investments in India are to the tune of $37 million.

·         Space cooperation is an emerging vertical of cooperation between India and Egypt. 

·         Egypt signed the International Solar Alliance framework agreement as a founding member in March 2018 and ratified it in January 2019.

·         Egypt and India enjoy cordial defence relations. Most of the current defence cooperation is determined by Joint Defence Committee (JDC) activities.

·         Starting in 2006, nine JDC meetings have been held alternately in either country, followed by exchange activities.

Finance Commission and State Funding Challenges

·         The Finance Commission plays a crucial role in the fiscal architecture of India by ensuring a fair distribution of financial resources between the central and state governments.

·         As states face increasing financial pressures, the challenges before the Finance Commission have become more pronounced. 

Vertical Fiscal Imbalance

·         Definition and Implications: Vertical fiscal imbalance on the other hand is whereby, the ability of one tier of government to raise revenues does not match its obligation to spend revenues. In India, the centre allocates expenditure responsibilities to states that may include health, education and infrastructure development but the states do not have enough powers to mobilise revenues. This mismatch makes it compulsory for the institution to receive financial subsidies from the central government.

Challenges Faced: 

·         Inconsistent Revenue Sources: Two problems are that states depend on state-specific taxes and grants from the central government making it inconsistent.

·         High Expenditure Pressures: Growing needs in public services and particularly after the Covid, pandemic affect the state budgets.

·         Debt Burden: Most of the states are still in deep debt and thus cannot afford to fund development projects.

Inadequate Devolution of Funds

·         Current Scenario: Fiscal decentralisation can also be described as the process of transferring of financial resources from central to state government. Most of the states still consider the devolution as unresponsive to their need despite the previous Finance Commission’s provision of recommendations.

Key Issues: 

·         Formula-Based Allocation: There is a predominance of state revenues, where allocation criteria do not take into account the specific problems of states when determining funding.

·         Delay in Transfers: Release of funds involves fiscal responsibility; but a delay may prove disastrous to developmental processes.

·         Conditional Grants: Most of the funds are conditional, and this implies that most of the important decisions regarding the use of the funds are pre-determined by sources of the funds.

Compliance with Constitutional Mandates

·         Importance of Compliance: The Finance Commission is mandated by Article 280 of the Indian Constitution to recommend measures for distributing funds between the center and states. Ensuring compliance with these mandates is critical for maintaining fiscal federalism.

Challenges in Compliance: 

·         Political Considerations: The political landscape can influence how recommendations are implemented or ignored.

·         Lack of Transparency: A lack of clear communication regarding fund allocation can lead to mistrust between states and the central government.

·         Monitoring Mechanisms: Weak monitoring and evaluation frameworks make it difficult to assess the impact of fund allocations effectively.

Conclusion

·         The challenges before the Finance Commission are multifaceted and require a nuanced approach to address them effectively.

·         By focusing on reducing vertical fiscal imbalances, ensuring adequate devolution of funds, and enhancing compliance with constitutional mandates, the Finance Commission can help strengthen fiscal federalism in India.

·         This will ultimately enable states to better fulfill their responsibilities towards citizens and foster equitable growth across the nation.

·         As India continues to evolve economically and socially, addressing these challenges will be critical for sustainable development and governance.

 RBI’s Control on Inflation and its challenges

·          The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has faced significant challenges in managing inflation while also considering economic growth.

·          As the central bank navigates these turbulent waters, it has demonstrated a commitment to its inflation-targeting framework, even amidst calls for rate cuts.

The Current Inflation Scenario

·         As of December 2024, the RBI has revised its inflation forecast for the fiscal year 2024-25 to 4.8%, up from an earlier estimate of 4.5%. This adjustment is primarily attributed to rising food prices and subdued consumption demand, which have contributed to elevated inflation rates. Notably, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation surged to 6.2% in October 2024, surpassing the RBI’s upper tolerance limit of 6%.

·         The RBI’s projections indicate that inflation is expected to remain high in the near term, particularly in the third quarter of FY25, where it is anticipated to reach 5.7%.

·         However, a decline to 4.5% is expected by the fourth quarter as seasonal factors and improved agricultural outputs come into play.

RBI’s Monetary Policy Response

·         Much as these inflationary pressures have been occasioned by the war situation affecting Russia and Ukraine, the RBI has continued to stick to its benchmark repo rate at 6.5% for eleven consecutive sessions beginning February 2023.

·         This decision is considered prudent with increasing price level and decelerating GDP growth with the last reading showing 5.4% Q3/2012, – the lowest in seven quarters.

·         RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that despite expectations for rate cuts coming from various levels, including governmental ones, inflation control should remain a priority. He re-emphasised that the RBI’s duties are to focus on the CPI or headline inflation as specified in the legislation rather than giving in to political influences or short term fiscal factors.

The Balancing Act: Inflation vs. Growth

·         The RBI’s current policy presents one of the most insightful attempts to balance price stability imperative and economic growth.

·         Although there are enormous demands from the policy makers to let the interest rates decline to spur up economic activity, the central bank is cautious not to lower interest rates as the inflation rates keep persisting.

·         Inflation Control: The major target being achieved by the RBI is to contain inflation at any given time within a band of 2-6%. Besides, several recent inflation increases have had high food prices as a causative factor—the food and beverage inflation hitting nearly double digits in October of 2024.

·         Economic Growth Concerns: Such a deceleration of GDP growth rate can be a threat for economic activity and consumption. The RBI has cut its GDP growth estimate to 6.6 per cent from 7.2 per cent thus showing some recognition of these issues.

·         The monetary policy and other decision making processes of the central bank requires several variables including some projections of the economic variables.

·         The recent reduction of the CRR by 50 basis points has the objective of increasing the supply of money in the system to support the banking system and at the same time to keep its inflation camouflage intact.

Future Outlook: Navigating Uncertainty

·         Looking ahead, several factors will influence both inflation and growth trajectories:

·         Agricultural Performance: The increase in kharif crop harvest is expected to bring some down prices of food items hence contributing to the rise in Inflation in the coming quarters. Rabi crop production may in fact be further supported by favorable conditions which exist in the country.

·         Global Economic Conditions: Other drivers include international prices for food and other consumables as well as the political climate globally on issues such as imperialism.

·         Domestic Demand Recovery: There are indications that the vibrancy of festive demand and rising rural activities are pointing to a renewed domestic demand for goods, which may enhance economic growth.

·         The stance adopted by the RBI strongly indicates that whereas it is not averse to bringing in more rate cuts in future depending on the developments in the price front, its major priority at the moment and in the near future shall be to ensure price stability.

Conclusion: A Steadfast Commitment

·         In conclusion, the Reserve Bank of India’s steadfast focus on controlling inflation amidst calls for rate cuts reflects its commitment to long-term economic stability. By prioritizing its mandate over short-term political pressures, the RBI aims to ensure that India’s economy remains resilient against external shocks while fostering sustainable growth.

·          As policymakers navigate this complex landscape, continued vigilance will be essential in balancing inflation control with economic recovery efforts.

·         The coming months will be critical as various factors converge to shape India’s economic future—an endeavor that requires both prudence and foresight from the central bank.

Digital public infrastructure for agriculture is built as an open source, open standard and interoperable public good

·         Under the Digital Agriculture Mission, Gujarat became the first state  in the country to generate “Farmer IDs” for 25 percent of the targeted number of farmers in the country.

Digital Agriculture Mission

·         The Digital Agriculture Mission was approved with an outlay of Rs. 2817 Crore, such as the valuable share of Rs. 1940 Crore.

·         It is conceived as an umbrella scheme to guide digital agriculture projects, along with growing Digital Public Infrastructure, enforcing the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and taking on other IT projects by the Central Government, State Governments, and Academic and Research Institutions.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture

·         DPI for Agriculture aims to offer comprehensive and useful data on farmers including authenticated demographic info, land holdings and crops sown. 

·         It will include cultivators & tenant farmers, as per the policy of the State Government. 

·         It is a transformative approach to digital governance, underpinned by the following principles:

·         Interoperability: Seamless integration with relevant and state  authorities platforms.

·         Open Standards: Ensuring significant adoption and accessibility.

·         Scalability: Designed to serve farmers throughout the country.

·         Strong Governance: Data safety and privateness frameworks ensure trust and transparency.

Three Pillars DPIs

·         Agristack: The farmer’s digital toolbox. It’s a federated form, collaboratively built through various agencies of both central and state governments. Agristack homes 3 foundational registries:

·         Farmers’ Registry: A digital farmer listing.

·         Geo-referenced Village Maps: For every village, with crop info overlaid.

·         Crop Sown Registry: A digital ledger of what’s sprouting wherein.

·         Krishi Decision Support System: It provides well timed and reliable records to farmers, supporting them to make knowledgeable decisions.

·         It aims to create a comprehensive geospatial system to unify far off sensing-primarily based facts on vegetation, Soil, Weather, water resources, etc.

·         Soil Profile Mapping: It maps soil properties, moisture degrees, and nutrient content material, empowering precision agriculture.

Challenges

·         Digital Divide: Farmers in far off areas face problems because of confined net access to and digital literacy.

·         Data Privacy: strong safeguards are needed to guard sensitive farmer records.

·         Inter-State Coordination: Uniform implementation throughout states demands cooperation and aid-sharing mechanisms.

Way Ahead

·         Strengthen digital infrastructure in rural regions.

·         Launch capacity-building programs to enhance digital literacy amongst farmers.

·         Implement strong governance frameworks to ensure data protection and privacy.

 UNGA, with India''s support, designates December 21 as World Meditation Day, fostering global harmony and wellness.

• India co-sponsored a UN General Assembly draft resolution that was unanimously adopted to proclaim December 21 as World Meditation Day.
•  India, including Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mexico and Andorra, was a member of the core group of countries that guided the unanimous adoption of the resolution in the 193-member UN General Assembly on December 6.
•  It also falls exactly six months after the International Day of Yoga commemorated on June 21, which is the Summer Solstice.
•  December 21 marks the Winter Solstice. 
• The Summer Solstice is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight while the Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight.
•  The resolution, introduced by Liechtenstein, was also cosponsored by Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Burundi, the Dominican Republic, Iceland, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Portugal and Slovenia.
•  India’s instrumental role in the adoption of the resolution on World Meditation Day was a testimony to its firm commitment to overall human wellness and global leadership on this front in tune with civilisational dictum of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
•  The declaration of World Meditation Day comes at a time when various regions of the globe witness conflicts and growing tensions.
•  Meditation is rooted in ancient practises and is an effective tool to achieve inner transformation and peace in the modern day.
•  It is aimed at comprehensive human well-being, including mental, emotional, physical and spiritual dimensions.
• It prepares human beings to cope with several modern-day issues such as heightened anxiety and stress and brings about harmony between mind and body, humans and nature.
•  Modern science attests to the numerous benefits of meditation and its profound impact on our lives.
•  It has been scientifically proven that regular meditation significantly reduces stress, and enhances cognitive and physical functions.

Why the UN observes International Days?

•  The United Nations observes designated days, weeks, years, and decades, each with a theme, or topic. By creating special observances, the United Nations promotes international awareness and action on these issues. 
•  Each international day offers many actors the opportunity to organise activities related to the theme of the day.
• Organisations and offices of the United Nations system, and most importantly, governments, civil society, the public and private sectors, schools, universities and, more generally, citizens, make an international day a springboard for awareness-raising actions. 
• The majority of observances have been established by resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, although some have been designated by UN specialised agencies. The United Nations also observes anniversaries of key events in its history.

WHO prequalifies first TB diagnostic test

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has granted prequalification to the molecular diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB) called Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra.
• It is the first test for TB diagnosis and antibiotic susceptibility testing that meets WHO’s prequalification standards.
• WHO’s assessment for prequalification is based on information submitted by the manufacturer, Cepheid Inc., and the review by Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), the regulatory agency of record for this product.  
• This nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) detects the genetic material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB, in sputum samples, and provides accurate results within hours.
• Simultaneously, the test identifies mutations associated with rifampicin resistance, a key indicator of multidrug-resistant TB.
•  It is intended for patients who screen positive for pulmonary TB and who have either not started anti-tuberculosis treatment or received less than three days of therapy in the past six months.
• Tuberculosis is one of the world’s leading infectious disease killers, causing over a million deaths annually and imposing immense socio-economic burdens, especially in low and middle-income countries. 
• Accurate and early detection of TB, especially drug-resistant strains, remains a critical and challenging global health priority.
•  This first prequalification of a diagnostic test for tuberculosis marks a critical milestone in WHO’s efforts to support countries in scaling up and accelerating access to high-quality TB assays.
•  WHO prequalification of this test is expected to assure quality of diagnostic tests used to improve access to early diagnosis and treatment.

Tuberculosis

• Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. It can spread when people who are sick with TB expel bacteria into the air – for example, by coughing.
•  Every year, 10 million people fall ill with TB. Despite being a preventable and curable disease, 1.5 million people die from TB each year.
•  TB is the leading cause of death of people with HIV and also a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance.
• Most people who develop the disease are adults.
• TB is preventable and curable. About 85 per cent of people who develop TB disease can be successfully treated with a 4/6-month drug regimen.
• Treatment has the added benefit of curtailing onward transmission of infection.
• Economic and financial barriers can affect access to health care for TB diagnosis and completion of TB treatment; about half of TB patients and their households face catastrophic total costs due to TB disease. 
• Progress towards universal health coverage (UHC), better levels of social protection and multisectoral action on broader TB determinants are all essential to reduce the burden of TB disease.

WHO sends experts to Congo to diagnose mystery disease

• Public health officials in Africa urged caution as Congo’s health minister said the government was on alert over a mystery flu-like disease that in recent weeks killed dozens of people.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has deployed experts to support health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to carry out further investigations to determine the cause of a yet undiagnosed disease that has been reported in Panzi, a locality in Kwango province in the southwest of the country. Laboratory tests are being conducted to determine the cause.
•  Authorities in Congo have so far confirmed 71 deaths, including 27 people who died in hospitals and 44 in the community in the southern Kwango province.
•  The Congolese government is on general alert regarding this disease.
• The deaths were recorded between November 10 and 25 in the Panzi health zone. There were around 380 cases, almost half of which were children under the age of five.
•  Symptoms of the illness include headache, cough, fever, breathing difficulties and anaemia. 
•  The Panzi health zone, located around 700 kilometres from the capital Kinshasa, is a remote area of the Kwango province, making it hard to access.
•  A local UN health agency team has already been supporting authorities in Kwango province since the end of November to reinforce disease surveillance and identify cases.

 New Navodaya Vidyalayas , Approved by CCEA.

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has permitted the establishment of 28 new Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) in uncovered districts throughout the country under the Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme (Central Sector Scheme).
• Navodaya Vidyalayas are residential, co-educational schools that provide quality education from Class VI to XII, normally to proficient rural children, no matter their socio-economic history.
• Admissions are based on a Selection Test, with around 49,640 college students admitted yearly to Class VI.
• Present Status:  Currently, there are 661 sanctioned NVs, with 653 operational. As a part of the National Education Policy 2020, many NVs were designated as PM Shri schools, serving as models for other schools.
• The scheme is more and more famous, with growing enrollment of girls (42%) and students from SC (24%), ST (20%), and OBC (39%) backgrounds.
• Relevance: The status quo of those schools can even create 1,316 permanent jobs and generate employment for skilled and unskilled people during production. Local companies and service carriers will benefit from imparting food, consumables, furnishings, and other essentials.

Little Gull

• The Little Gull, the smallest gull species globally, was recently spotted near Sultanpur National Park in NCR. Native to the Palearctic region, it breeds in freshwater habitats and winters at sea, including the Mediterranean. Recognizable by its black hood and pinkish flush, it holds a "Least Concern" IUCN status.
• Little gull is a bird native to the Eurasian region and was spotted for the first time in National Capital Region.
• It is a species of gull belonging to the family Laridae which is mainly found in the Palearctic with some colonies in North America.
• It breeds on freshwaters and spends winters at sea.
• It is the smallest species of gull in the world and the only species in the monospecific genus Hydrocoloeus.
• The little gull has a wide Palearctic distribution breeding from northern Scandinavia and the eastern Baltic Sea to eastern Siberia.
• They also breed in North America around the Great Lakes.
• It is a migratory species that winters along the coasts of Europe as far south as the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas.
• It is a migratory species with separate breeding and wintering ranges.
• Habitat: Seacoasts, bays, estuaries, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, and flooded fields.
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Features:

• Smallest gull species in the world.
• The adults in breeding plumage have a black hood, dark red bill, bright red legs and a rosy flush to the underside.
• It is pale grey in breeding plumage with a black hood, dark underwings, and often a pinkish flush on the breast.
• Young birds have black markings on the head and upper parts, and a "W" pattern across the wings.
• By their first winter the head and body are similar to those of an adult but the upperwing pattern is retained.

Details on Mediterranean Region

International Tropic Timber Organization (ITTO)

• Forest and land fire management learnings from Indonesia and Peru that included community empowerment will pave way for new guidelines of tropical forest fire management.

 International Tropic Timber Organization (ITTO)

• It is an intergovernmental organization that promotes conservation of tropical forest resources and their sustainable management, use and trade.
• The organization was established under the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), which was sponsored by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and was ratified in 1985.
• Its mandate was renewed by the International Tropical Timber Agreement, in 1994 and again by the International Tropical Timber Agreement, in 2006.
• To promote sustainable management and legal harvesting of forests that produce tropical timber, and to promote expansion and diversification of international timber trade from these forests.
• The governing body is the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC). Half the votes on the ITTC are assigned to producing countries and half to consumers. Within each block, votes are assigned based on market share.

What is a forest fire?

• A wildfire, forest fire, or bushfire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation.
• Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a bushfire (in Australia), desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, prairie fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire. Some natural forest ecosystems depend on wildfire.
• Wildfires are different from controlled or prescribed burning, which are carried out to provide a benefit for people. Modern forest management often engages in prescribed burns to mitigate fire risk and promote natural forest cycles.

Causes of forest fire

• Natural causes: Natural occurrences that can ignite wildfires without the involvement of humans include lightning, volcanic eruptions, sparks from rock falls, and spontaneous combustions.
• Human activity: Sources of human-caused fire may include arson, accidental ignition, or the uncontrolled use of fire in land-clearing and agriculture such as the slash-and-burn farming in Southeast Asia. In the tropics, farmers often practice the slash-and-burn method of clearing fields during the dry season.

Vulnerability of India’s forest to wildfires

• It is estimated that the proportion of forest areas prone to fire annually ranges from 33% in some states to over 90% in others.
• The Forest Survey of India (FSI) estimated that about 50% of the forest area of the country is fire prone. It is estimated that about 3.73 million ha.
• Moderately dense forests recorded 43 per cent of the total forest fire incidents. The highest number of forest fire incidents occurred in tropical dry deciduous forests, followed by tropical moist deciduous forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests.
• The report determines that 15 per cent of the land in the country is prone to forest fires.
• According to data collected in the report, Madhya Pradesh (38), Uttar Pradesh (28) and Maharashtra (26) had the most districts vulnerable to forest fires.

Status of forest fire in the world

• Record-setting Forest fires are becoming the norm, with 2020, 2021, and 2023 marking the fourth, third, and first worst years for global forest fires, respectively.
• Nearly 12 million hectares — an area roughly the size of Nicaragua — burned in 2023, topping the previous record by about 24%.
• Extreme wildfires in Canada accounted for about two-thirds (65%) of the fire-driven tree cover loss last year and more than one-quarter (27%) of all tree cover loss globally.

How can forest fire risks be mitigated?

• Defensible Space: Create a buffer zone around homes by clearing vegetation and combustible materials to slow or stop wildfire spread.
• Fuel Management: Reduce flammable vegetation, thin tree canopies, and remove dead wood to lower fire intensity and spread.
• Controlled Burns: Intentionally set fires under controlled conditions to consume flammable materials and reduce wildfire risk.
• Firebreaks and Vegetation Gaps: Use natural features (rivers) or man-made features (roads) to interrupt wildfire progress.
• Building Design: Use fire-resistant materials and implement fire-safe landscape designs to reduce fire spread.
• Emergency Planning: Develop clear evacuation routes and communication protocols to ensure swift action in emergencies.
• Community Education: Educate residents on wildfire risks and how to reduce and respond to them effectively.
• Early Detection Systems: Improve systems to detect wildfires early, enabling rapid response to limit their impact.

Case Study: Best Practices of Forest Fire Management

• Two forest fire management projects, funded by Japan, provided valuable insights into sustainable practices in tropical forests. These initiatives were presented during the 60th ITTO Council in Japan.
• Indonesia:
  The project focused on South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.

Key activities included:

• Training local communities in zero-burning methods.
• Establishing eight demonstration sites for clearing farmland without burning.
• Enhancing the capacity of local fire brigades.
• Developing a nationwide monitoring and reporting system for fire prevention patrolling.

Peru:
Implemented across five departments, the project involved:

• Training over 200 volunteer fire brigade members.
• Improving coordination among national, regional, and local authorities.
• Empowering indigenous and local communities as agents of change.
• Enhancing government agencies'' forest fire management capacity.

Conclusion

• Incorporating forest fire risk mitigation into forest management strategies in fire-prone regions would help protect forest carbon, create jobs and support rural communities at the same time.

 Bhutan and India discuss hydro power plans

• The India and Bhutan discussed bilateral projects in the fields of electricity and urban planning during the visit of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk and Queen Jetsun Pema.
•  Punatsangchhu II is a 1GW run-of-the-river hydroelectric power generating facility under construction in the Wangdue Phodrang district of Bhutan.

Development:

• The project is being developed by the Punatsangchhu II Hydroelectric Project Authority, under an Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of India.
• India-based Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) provided engineering and design consultancy services during the project study phase, while the National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM) was engaged for modeling and geotechnical engineering services.

Capacity:

• 1,020 MW

Site details:

• The project site is spread along the Wangdue-Tsirang National Highway, downstream of the Punatsangchhu I hydroelectric power project which has been under construction since 2008.

Power Evacuation:

• The electricity generated by the Punatsandchhu II hydroelectric power plant will be evacuated through a 400kV double-circuit power transmission line.
• Funding:
• Government of India provided 30% grant and 70% loan at 10% annual interest, repayable in 30 equated semi-annual installments commencing one year after the mean date of operation.

Run-Of-The-River Hydroelectricity

• Run-of-river hydroelectricity (ROR) or run-of-the-river hydroelectricity is a type of hdroelectric generation plant whereby little or no water storage is provided.
• Run-of-the-river power plants may have no water storage at all or a limited amount of storage, in which case the storage reservoir is referred to as pondage.

India-Bhutan Hydropower Cooperation