Context: 

• According to a recent research published in Science Advances, groundwater depletion in India is projected to triple between 2041 and 2080 due to the effects of global warming. 

More about the news: 

• Increased groundwater demand: As temperatures rise, there will be an increased demand for underground water resources, hastening their depletion.
• Groundwater level (GWL) decline: The estimate of GWL decline between 2041 and 2080, on average, is 3.26 times the current depletion rate. 
  • This estimate varies from 1.62 to 4.45 times the current rate depending on the specific climate model and Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenario.
  • RCPs serve as a framework for encapsulating various assumptions within a range of scenarios. These scenarios’ conditions are essential for modeling potential future climate developments.
• Farmers response to rising temperatures: Farmers have increased their use of groundwater in response to rising temperatures hastening the depletion of groundwater resources.
• Reduced irrigation capacity: Although increased irrigation helps mitigate the adverse effects of rising temperatures, groundwater depletion can reduce farmers’ long-term capacity for irrigation.
• Expanding Overexploitation of aquifers: Overexploitation may expand to include aquifers in the southwest, the southern peninsula, and central India by 2050.
  • It is a cause for concern, as these regions predominantly feature hard rock aquifers that are challenging to recharge and have limited storage capacity compared to the alluvial aquifers in northwest India.
  • Currently, most overexploitation of aquifers is concentrated in the northwest and south India.
• Faulty government policies: Farmers have been able to sustain groundwater irrigation despite declining water tables due to policies that encouraged groundwater extraction and an unregulated groundwater irrigation system. 
  • Factors such as increased access to borewells, free or subsidized electricity, and the absence of electricity metering have enabled farmers to extract groundwater as needed, ultimately leading to its overexploitation.

Suggestions by the report: 

• Water saving policies and interventions: Implementation of effective policies such as power supply rationing, electricity usage metering, incentives for farmers who invest in groundwater recharge, and the reduction of energy subsidies.
• Adoption of groundwater-saving measures: It will include the utilization of efficient irrigation technologies like drip or sprinkler irrigation, the cultivation of crops that require less water, and the exploration of supplemental irrigation through canals.
• Increased focus on south and central India: Water-saving policies and interventions, which have traditionally focused on northwest India, should now extend their scope to include south and central India.

Present status of groundwater extraction in India:

• India, with nearly 18% of the world’s population, occupies about 2.4% of the total geographical area and consumes 4% of total water resources.
•  As per a World Bank report, India is the largest groundwater user.
• Contribution of groundwater in agriculture is about 62 per cent, 85 per cent in rural water supply and 50 per cent in urban water supply, respectively.
• Over extraction at the current rate can make nearly 60% of India’s aquifers critical and threaten nearly 80% of drinking water over next two decades. 

Challenges with groundwater extraction in India: 

• Accelerated population growth: The burgeoning urban population increases demand for water as well as the management of waste and polluted water. 
• Over-exploitation:  Increased number of  private bore / tube wells to fulfill the demand and supply of water leads to deepening of the water table, land subsidence, saline water intrusion and aquifer contamination.
• Modification of groundwater cycle: Unplanned urbanisation modifies the groundwater cycle and results in a sharp decline or rise of groundwater levels, reduced well yields and deteriorating quality. 
  • Underground infrastructures like tunnels, metros, basements as well as disturbed natural drainage systems and watershed areas result in the loss of habitat and frequent urban flooding.
• Urban groundwater pollution: Infiltration and seepage from roads, gardens, industrial sites, waste dump sites, effluent drains with heavy metals and micro-pollutants; microbiological contamination through the sewage system and on-site sanitation.
• Groundwater contamination: Overexploitation and contamination have adversely impacted both the water quantity and quality of a resource that the country is heavily dependent on. 
  • 76% of the water samples collected contained contaminants that included fluoride and uranium  which was higher than the limits prescribed by WHO.
• Minimal rainwater harvesting: Although the rains are intense in many places, the rainwater harvesting is minimal. 
  • For example, in Delhi the potential of rainwater harvesting is 2500 million litres per day, but most of the rainwater goes waste.
• Lack of effective regulatory mechanism: There is no central law governing the use of groundwater and various states have their own laws on regulating its extraction that are deployed in a perfunctory manner.
• Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs): It hinders the achievement of the United Nations-mandated SDG especially SDG11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation).

Regulatory Framework:

• Indian Easement Act, 1882: Land ownership rights under this exclude a large part of the society that has no land rights and gives landowners the liberty to withdraw limitless water. 
• Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA): It was formed in 1970 specifically to develop groundwater policies and programs. Under this groundwater was acknowledged as a public resource.
• Model Groundwater Bill(MGB): MGB passed in 1970 was revised in 2011, 2016 and 2017. These bills empowered the state groundwater boards to create laws, manage water allocation and other relevant issues.
• National Water Framework Bill, 2016: It seeks to provide an overarching national legal framework based on principles for protection, conservation, regulation and management of water.
• Groundwater (Sustainable Management) Bill, 2017: The Bill addresses the need for the creation of protection zones for the protection of aquifers from unrepairable depletion.

Government Initiatives for groundwater conservation:

• National Framework for Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater: The framework gives guidelines for the formulation of State reuse policy and is intended to build appropriate market and economic models for the reuse of treated wastewater. 
• Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY): It brings up behavioral changes in groundwater management in water stressed States.
• National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM): It envisages the mapping aquifers to help gather authentic data and enable informed decision-making.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan: It was launched in 256 water stressed districts in the country in collaboration with states to improve water availability, including groundwater conditions in the country.
• National Water Mission: Its objective is to conserve water resources, improve water use efficiency, and promote sustainable water management practices.

Way Forward:

• Wastewater recycle and reuse: Provision for wastewater recycle and its reuse to promote the circular economy of one water cycle will help in source sustainability and groundwater pollution mitigation. 
• Interventions for groundwater recharge: Rainwater harvesting, stormwater harvesting, rain-garden and bio-retention ponds that intercept rainfall with vegetated land are low-maintenance alternatives to conventional systems. 
• Blue-green infrastructure approach: The green (trees, parks, gardens, playgrounds and forests) and the blue (seas, rivers, lakes, wetlands and water utilities) spaces can help in recharge of groundwater.
  • Ex-Bhopal’s green-blue smart city plan, Bengaluru through its recharge wells.
• Climate-resilient sanitation technologies:  With this, septic tanks and sewerage systems will not be affected by frequent floods, which helps in protecting the groundwater aquifers.
• Strengthening of regulatory frameworks: Legal frameworks with stringent regulations and monitoring of groundwater extraction, contamination and recharge can reverse the damages.
• Aquifer mapping and data dissemination: Aquifer characterisation and robust monitoring of groundwater quality as well as quantity are imperative with provision of data collection, formulation of effective regulatory legal policies.
• Promotion of Water efficient crops: Draft National Water Policy has recommended a shift in usage from water-guzzling crops and prioritising recycled over freshwater for industrial purposes.

News Source: DTE

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Context:

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched Aditya L-1, its first space-based mission to study the Sun, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

About Aditya-L1 Mission:

• Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun and the solar corona.
  • The meaning of Aditya is “Sun God”.

• It will be placed in a halo orbit around the first Lagrange point (L1) of the Sun-Earth system which allows it to look at the Sun continuously.
• PSLV-C57: It is the 25th mission using PSLV-XL configuration.

Major Science Objectives of Mission:

• Study:
  • Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics.
  • Chromospheric and coronal heating.
  • Physics of the partially ionized plasma.
  • Initiation of the Coronal Mass Ejections (CME).
  • Solar Flares.
• Observe:
  • In-situ particle and plasma environment providing data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun.
  • Physics of solar corona and its heating mechanism.
  • Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma: Temperature, Velocity and Density.
  • Development, dynamics and origin of CMEs.
• Identify the sequence of processes that occur at multiple layers which leads to solar eruptive events.
• Identify magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona.
• Identify the drivers for space weather.

Associated Concepts:

• Sun’s Corona: It is the outermost layer of the Sun. The corona’s high temperature causes its particles to move at very high speeds. These speeds are so high that the particles can escape the Sun’s gravity. 
• Space Weather: It refers to changing environmental conditions in space. It is mainly influenced by activity on the Sun’s surface like solar wind, magnetic field, etc.  
• Chromosphere: It is a layer of gas above a star’s photosphere with temperature ranging from 6,000 to 20,000 degree Celsius. It is the transition between corona and the photosphere. The temperature rises as the chromosphere moves farther away from the Sun unlike other objects of the solar system.
• CME: These are the large eruption of magnetized plasma from corona that propagates outward into interplanetary space. 
• Solar Flares: It is an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots. They are seen as bright areas in the sun and they can last from minutes to hours. 
• Plasma: It is a gas that is so hot that some or all its constituent atoms are split up into electrons and ions, which can move independently of each other. It is the fourth state of matter.

About Lagrange Points:

• They have been named after Italian-French mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange.
• There are five Lagrange points, L1 to L5, between any two-celestial body system. 
• At these positions, the gravitational pull of the celestial bodies equals the centripetal force, thus the forces acting on the third body cancel each other out.
• The L1 point of the Earth-Sun system provides an uninterrupted view of the sun and is currently home to the Solar and Helio spheric Observatory Satellite SOHO. 
• According to NASA, the points can be used as ‘parking spots’ for spacecraft in space to remain in a fixed position with minimal fuel consumption.

Significance of Aditya L-1 Mission:

• Observe Solar Activities: It promises to provide crucial insights into the Sun’s activities and their implications for the Earth.
  • For instance, the mission aims to comprehend how solar storms generate high-energy charged particles that can potentially damage satellites and disrupt our modern way of life.
• Space Weather Prediction: Aditya-L1 holds the promise of providing us with the knowledge to predict space weather.
  • For instance, it will monitor the near-Earth space environment and contribute to refining space weather forecasting models.
  • Severe space weather impacts telecommunication and navigational networks, high-frequency radio communications, air traffic on polar routes, electric power grids and oil pipelines at high latitudes of the Earth.
• International Leadership and Prestige: The ambitious mission marks the country’s inaugural journey into space-based solar studies. ISRO will join the ranks of NASA and the European Space Agency to station a solar observatory there.
• Placing Satellite in a Halo Orbit: It is situated outside Earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere thus it remains unaffected by Earth. Moreover, a satellite experiences much fewer mechanical and thermal disturbances thus it is more stable.
• Scientific Discovery: Solar missions often lead to unexpected discoveries and new insights into the Sun’s behaviour.
  • For example, the Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA, has provided new data about the solar wind.
• Other Advantages: Apart from the primary pursuit of the scientific goals, the impact of the mission extends to critical aspects of industry and society.
  • For example, space-based solar studies help in creating scientific and technical jobs, enhance safety on Earth, and increase international collaboration among different countries.

Challenges:

• L1 Point Distance: Navigating a spacecraft requires extremely precise calculations and manoeuvres to ensure it remains on its desired trajectory. The Sun’s gravitational pull and the spacecraft’s high speed can complicate navigation.
• Exposure to Sun’s Heat: Proximity to the Sun exposes spacecraft to extreme temperatures and intense radiation.
  • To withstand these conditions, solar missions require advanced materials and thermal protection systems to ensure functioning of moving components.
• Power Generation: Solar missions must rely on solar panels to generate power. However, as they get closer to the Sun, the intensity of sunlight becomes too intense for conventional solar panels to generate power for the spacecraft’s operation.
• Communication: The interference from the Sun’s radio emissions with a spacecraft transmitting data over such vast distances hinders communication.
• Data Collection: Precise calibration of scientific instruments is crucial to ensure the accuracy of data collected during a solar mission, but the extreme environment makes it a challenging task.

Way Forward:

• Advanced Instruments Development: Investing in the development of advanced solar observation instruments and technology including improving data collection capabilities, precision of measurements, and enhancing the longevity of instruments.
• International Cooperation: India should seek international cooperation in space exploration with like-minded players like the USA, ESA etc.
• International Competition: India needs to strive for leadership in solar science and technology to better understand the Sun and space weather phenomena.
• Education: Engaging with the public and educational institutions to promote interest in space science. This can help foster the development of future scientists and engineers.
• Funding: Such missions require long-term planning and financial commitment and it is important to ensure a supportive space policy environment and adequate funding.
• Data Utilisation: Effective utilisation of the data collected from solar missions can maximize the scientific return on investment.

News Source: Down To Earth

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Context: 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development celebrating the 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah throughout September 2023.

About Poshan Maah:

• Rashtriya Poshan Maah will be celebrated in collaboration with all stakeholders from the 1st to the 30th of September.
• The Focal point of Poshan Maah 2023: To cultivate widespread awareness concerning critical human life stages: pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence. 
• Theme: “Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat” (Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, Empowered India).

POSHAN Abhiyaan:

• Launched in: 2018
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the implementation of the scheme being done by States/UTs.
• Aim: 
  • To target the unique 1,000-day window of childbirth and pre- and post- delivery support to mothers to reduce malnutrition. 
  • To improve nutritional status of children (0-6 years), adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
  • To reduce anaemia among women and adolescent girls (15-49 years) and young children(6-59 months) and improve birth weight.
  • Prevent and reduce Stunting in children (0- 6 years)
  • Prevent and reduce under-nutrition (underweight prevalence) in children (0-6 years)
• Pillars of Implementation: 
  1. Technology (Integrated Child Development Services-Computer application software)
  2. Convergence Action Planning
  3. Behavioral Change Communication and Capacity Building

News Source: PIB

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Context: 

The Department of Investment & Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage an asset valuer for the strategic disinvestment of IDBI Bank. 

More on News:

• RFP for Asset Valuer: DIPAM, representing the Government of India (GoI) and LIC, seeks a reputable asset valuer registered with the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) to value IDBI Bank’s assets and assist in the strategic disinvestment process.
• Ownership Details: As of March 31, 2023, LIC holds 49.24% while the Government owns 45.48% of IDBI Bank. 
  • The strategic disinvestment plan aims to sell 30.48% of the Government’s stake and 30.24% of LIC’s stake, totaling 60.72% along with a transfer of management control in IDBI Bank.

Disinvestment in India:

• Disinvestment is the process of selling or liquidating government-owned assets, including Central and state public sector enterprises and fixed assets.
• Objectives:
  • Fiscal Relief: Disinvestment is undertaken to reduce the fiscal burden on the government, helping it manage finances more effectively.
  • Resource Generation: It aims to raise funds for specific needs, such as bridging revenue shortfalls from other sources.

Strategic Disinvestment:

• Ownership Transfer: Strategic disinvestment involves transferring ownership and control of a public sector entity, often to a private sector entity.
• Privatization: It represents a form of privatization, with the government selling a substantial portion of its shareholding (up to 50% or more) in a central public sector enterprise (CPSE) and transferring management control.
• Economic Principle: Guided by the principle that the government should not engage in manufacturing or providing goods and services in sectors with competitive markets.

News Source: Business Standard

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Context:

Despite coal and hydropower units operating at maximum capacity and experiencing significant growth, several states, including industrial hubs like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat, face energy supply shortages due to extended hot weather.

More on News:

• Widening Shortages: States like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Bihar, which typically contend with supply deficits, have seen these deficits increase compared to the previous year.
• Peak Power Supply Deficit: On September 1, the peak power supply deficit reached 10 Gw as the country’s peak demand approached 240 Gw.
• Hydropower Growth: Hydropower, contributing nearly 13% of the national energy supply, recently reported record generation, with a 9% increase compared to the previous year.
• Coal Dominance: Coal remains the largest energy supplier, representing 70% of the total supply, while renewable energy sources contribute 11%.
• Coal Production Surge: Coal India (CIL) experienced double-digit growth in both production and offtake in August 2023, reaching 67.65 million tonnes, a YoY increase of 12.85%.
• Grid Challenges: Experts note that while the national grid efficiently manages load, weak transmission networks and limited capacity to purchase surplus electricity in states pose challenges.
• Demand Drivers: Rising GDP, emerging sectors like electric mobility, data centers, and increased industrial activities drive power demand growth.

Way Forward:

• Capacity Expansion: Power sector planners must prepare for 8–10% growth in power demand and expand the total transfer capability (TTC) of the Power Grid Corporation of India, expected to reach 150 Gw by 2030.
  • TTC refers to the maximum power that can be transferred on an intercon- nected transmission network. 
• Mitigating Supply Gaps: Solutions include constructing more substations, demand-side management, and leveraging energy storage technologies such as batteries and pump storage.

News Source: Business Standard

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Data from the Air Quality Life Index 2021 shows that failure to meet the World Health Organization (WHO)’s guidelines on reducing PM2.5 (particulate matter) pollution to 5 µg/m3 would cut global life expectancy by 2.3 years. 

Particulate Pollution in South Asia:

• According to AQLI data, from 2013 to 2021, particulate pollution in South Asia surged by 9.7%, which is estimated to reduce life expectancy in the region by an additional six months.  
• Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, where 22.9% of the global population lives, are the most polluted countries in the world.

Impact on Life expectancy:

• The average Indian resident is set to lose 5.3 years of life expectancy if WHO guidelines remain unmet. 
• In contrast, cardiovascular diseases reduce the average Indian’s life expectancy by about 4.5 years, while child and maternal malnutrition reduces it by 1.8 years.

Most polluted States in India:

• Chart shows the most polluted States in India and the potential life expectancy loss if pollution levels do not meet WHO guidelines. 
• In Delhi, the world’s most polluted city, 18 million people could lose 11.9 years of life expectancy relative to the WHO guideline and 8.5 years of life expectancy relative to the national guideline if current pollution levels persist.

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Russia initiated a series of drone attacks on one of Ukraine’s major grain exporting ports, Izmail, causing substantial damage to port infrastructure.

About Danube River port of Izmail:

• It is located  in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region in Black Sea.
• Izmail is a crucial port responsible for transporting Ukrainian grain via barges to the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta, from where it is further shipped to other destinations.

News Source: Hindustan Times

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