1. ALLIGATOR GAR FISH (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: A non-native alligator gar fish, known for its crocodile-like head and razor-sharp teeth, was found in one of Kashmir’s idyllic lakes, raising apprehensions about its impact on the native fish species.

• The rare, carnivorous fish was caught by the Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) during the routine deweeding process near Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC).

Alligator Gar Fish

• A close relative of the bowfin species.
• Known for its crocodile-like head and razor-sharp teeth.
• One of the biggest freshwater fish in North America and the largest species in the ‘gar’ family.
• Grows rapidly and has a lifespan of 20-30 years.
• Can survive in cold water (11-23 degrees Celsius).
• Geographical distribution: Northern and Central America and Mexico.
• Threats: A predator fish that poses a threat to native species and the overall ecosystem.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern.

About Dal Lake

• Location: Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It is one of the world's largest natural lakes and the second-largest lake in J&K.
• Also known as the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel".
• It is also an important source for fishing and water plant harvesting.
• The floating gardens, known as “Raad” in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August.

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2. INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: In the most extensive study on invasive species carried out till date, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in its new publication – the “Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control’’ – has found that there are 37,000 alien species, including plants and animals.

Key Points

• Invasive alien species are one of the five major direct drivers of biodiversity loss globally, alongside land and sea use change, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, and pollution.
• Number of alien species has been rising continuously for centuries in all regions..
• The water hyacinth is the world’s most widespread invasive alien species on land. Lantana, a flowering shrub, and the black rat are the second and third most widespread globally.
• he brown rat and the house mouse are also widespread invasive alien species.
• Invasive alien species like Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegyptii spread diseases such as malaria, Zika and West Nile Fever, while others also have an impact on livelihood.

Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES): It is an independent intergovernmental body established to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services, working in a similar way to the IPCC, which is the UN’s climate science body. 

• It proposed: A new term for ecosystem services, calling them “Nature’s Contributions to People” (NCPs).
• Formation: 2012.
• Headquarter: Bonn, Germany.

Invasive/Alien Species: Organisms that are not native to a specific area and pose a threat to native species.

• They have the potential to lead to the extinction of indigenous plants and animals, diminish biodiversity, engage in resource competition with native organisms, and modify habitats.

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3. NIIF (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Ltd (NIIF) and private equity firm Actis Llp are among four contenders vying to acquire Macquarie Asset Management’s Green Investment Group platform Vibrant Energy.

Key Points

• India’s green energy space has witnessed tremendous interest, given the country’s ever-increasing demand for power.
• India recently set a new record, with power demand reaching 239.9GW, exceeding India’s power sector planning body, the Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) projections of 230GW. 
• India has an installed renewable energy capacity of 172GW, with an additional 128GW either under development or have been bid out.

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)

• About: It is a quasi-sovereign wealth fund (Category-II Alternative Investment Fund) to attract investment from both domestic and international sources for infrastructure projects in various sectors such as transportation, energy, urban development, and more.
• Set up: In December 2015 as a Category-II Alternate Investment Fund.
• Objective: Creating this organisation was to catalyse capital into the country and support its growth needs across sectors of importance.

oInvesting in core infrastructure sectors, such as transportation, energy and digital.

oIt is a collaborative investment platform for international and Indian investors.

• NIIF is sponsored and anchored by the Government of India, which holds a 49% interest in it and other stakes by the private firms.

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4. BIOGAS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: The private firm Reliance Industries recently announced its plans to set up 100 compressed biogas (CBG) plants. Adani Group's Adani Total Gas is planning to set up five CBG plants in the next five years with more to follow in future.

Compressed Biogas (CBG)

• About: It is a mixture of Methane (CH4), Carbon-dioxide (CO2) and small quantities of other gases.  A highly purified biogas comprising of up to 90% methane with high calorific value, a perfect green renewable automotive fuel.
• Produced by: Anaerobic fermentation of organic matter in an oxygen-free environment. 
• The precise composition of biogas depends on the type of feedstock and the production method used. 
• Usage: As cooking and lighting fuel; and the left over slurry serves as an enriched manure
• India is the pioneer of biogas. The first bio-gas plant was set up in 1897.
• Less emission: It produces 20-60 percent less emissions in comparison to fossil fuels.
• Reduced import: On imported Liquid Natural Gas, hence saving the forex reserves.
• Green source: Generated from the bio-waste sources like agricultural residue, cattle dung, filter cake.
• Benefits: Helps farmer in enhancing their income, enhance infrastructure development leading to rural development, job creation among others – making it a classic case of sustainable development.

oCBG is also being considered to produce Green Hydrogen and could be used as a replacement for Piped Natural Gas for domestic use.

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5. CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3– Economy)

Context: Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor highlighted the challenges of high costs and slow processing in cross-border payments, emphasizing the potential of the central bank digital currency (CBDC) instant-settlement feature to offer a solution to these issues.

Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)

• About: It represents a legal tender and is a liability of the central bank, with its value denominated in the nation's currency, reflected on the central bank's financial statement.
• This digital form maintains an equal exchange rate with traditional “fiat currency”, with the only distinction being its digital nature.
• It can be readily converted or traded at an equivalent rate with physical cash and conventional central bank deposits of the same denomination.
• Transactions using CBDCs or digital “fiat currencies” are conducted through blockchain-backed wallets.
• CBDCs, while initially inspired by Bitcoin, differ significantly from decentralized virtual currencies and cryptocurrencies because they are government-issued and carry the legal status of 'legal tender.'
• Objective: To reduce risks and minimize expenses associated with the management of physical currency, including the costs related to replacing worn-out notes, transportation, insurance, and logistical operations.

Global Trends

• Bahamas: First economy to launch its nationwide CBDC — Sand Dollar. Nigeria is another country to have rolled out eNaira in 2020. China became the world's first major economy to pilot a digital currency e-CNY.

Fiat Money: It is a type of currency that is not backed by any commodity such as gold or silver. Ex.-Notes and Coins.

Legal Tender: It is a form of money that is backed by the government (mostly by the central bank) and cannot be refused by any citizen of the country for settlement of any kind of transaction.

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6. GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (GI) TAG (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – IPR Policy)

Context: Recently, Rayagada shawls and Koraput Kalajeera Rice, an aromatic rice variety, have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status.

Rayagada shawls (Kapdaganda)

• Kapdaganda is the esteemed traditional shawl of the Dongria Kondh tribe, a particularly vulnerable indigenous community residing in the Niyamgiri hills of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. 
• This shawl holds immense significance as it represents a vital part of their cultural and ethnic heritage. 
• The artistic and craftwork of the Dongria Kondh people beautifully portrays the mountains' importance in their lives. 
• Due to the high demand for this shawl among both local and international tourists, some traders have begun producing inexpensive imitations of the handwoven Kapdaganda, potentially diluting its cultural and artistic value.

Koraput Kalajeera Rice

• The farmers of Koraput district in Odisha have cultivated Kalajeera rice over generations.
• Known as the 'Prince of Rice,' it is a fragrant variety of rice.
• This rice is highly popular among consumers due to its black color, aromatic scent, delicious taste, and pleasing texture.
• Ancient texts suggest that Kalajeera rice may enhance memory and help manage diabetes.
• It is believed to boost hemoglobin levels and metabolism in the body.
• This fragrant grain possesses several beneficial properties, including antispasmodic, stomachic, carminative, antibacterial, astringent, and sedative qualities.

What is GI Tag?

• It is a symbol used on items that come from a particular geographical area and have qualities or a reputation linked to that place of origin.
• Nodal Ministry: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Tenure: 10 Years
• Regulated By: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
• India’s First GI Product: Darjeeling Tea (2004-05)

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7. KYLINXIA ZHANGI (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: Researchers from the University of Leicester and the Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology employed advanced scanning technology to recreate a ‘fossil monster’ that lived half a billion years ago.

Kylinxia zhangi

• Kylinxia, an extinct arthropod, inhabited the early Cambrian period, approximately 520 million years ago. 
• The fossil of this species was discovered near Chengjiang, located in the Yunan Province of southern China.
• Kylinxia is one of the approximately 250 exceptionally well-preserved fossilized animals documented in the area, collectively referred to as the Cambrian Chengjiang biota.

Key Features of Kylinxia

• It possessed a segmented body consisting of a head, thorax, and abdomen.
• Kylinxia had three eyes on its head and a pair of formidable claws, likely employed for hunting purposes.
• The creature exhibited a fused head shield, a segmented trunk, and legs with joints.
• Its head comprised six segments, reminiscent of the structure found in modern insects.

What Are Arthropods?

• Arthropods are invertebrate organisms characterized by jointed legs. They constitute approximately 75% of all known animal species on Earth.
• Arthropods are highly adaptable and can thrive in diverse habitats, ranging from the depths of deep-sea hydrothermal vents to the highest mountain regions.

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8. INDIA’S CRUDE OIL IMPORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Russia's share in India's crude oil imports fell to 34% in August from 42% in July as state-run refiners sharply reduced imports from Russia.

• Supplies from Russia fell 23% month-on-month to 1.47 million barrels per day (mbd) in August, even as India's overall crude imports fell 5% to 4.35 mbd.
• Russia's seaborne crude exports to China, however, increased to 1.4 mbd in August from 1.3 mbd in July.
• Imports from Russia declined because of the planned maintenance work at some refineries in India, coupled with a decrease in the availability of Russian supplies.

India’s Oil Import/Consumption

• India ranks as the world's third-largest oil consumer, with a daily consumption of approximately 5 million barrels, trailing only the United States and China.
• The country's oil demand is experiencing an annual growth rate of 3-4%.
• Based on these projections, India's oil consumption could potentially reach approximately 7 million barrels per day within the next decade.
• India’s Dependence on OPEC Countries: India’s imports from OPEC countries constitute 85% of our total crude imports and 94% of the gas imports.
• India ranks a distant 21st in crude oil production and 26th in natural gas production.
• Russia has continued to be the single largest supplier of crude oil for India, which is converted into petrol and diesel at refineries.
• Saudi Arabia was India’s second largest supplier and Iraq was the third biggest supplier of crude oil in March 2023.

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9. PM-DAKSH YOJANA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalata Sampanna Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana.

PM-DAKSH Yojana

• Launched: 2020-21
• Implementation: National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC),

oNational Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC),

oNational Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)

• Eligibility: Marginalized persons of SC, OBC, EWS, Denotified tribes, Sanitation workers including waste pickers, manual scavengers, transgenders and other similar categories.
• Target Group: SCs, OBCs, EBCs, DNTs Safai Karamcharis including waste pickers>
• Objective: To enhance competency level of the target groups to make them employable both in self- employment and wage-employment for their socio-economic development.

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10. GLOBAL WARMING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: If global warming reaches or exceeds two degrees Celsius by 2100, it could lead to deaths of roughly a billion people, quantifying future harms caused by carbon emissions has found as per study  published in journal Energies.

Key Points

• The analysis suggested aggressive energy policies to enable immediate and substantive decreases in carbon emissions.
• It also recommended a heightened level of government, corporate and citizen action to accelerate the decarbonisation of the global economy, aiming to minimise the number of projected human deaths.
• The oil and gas industry, which includes many of the world’s most profitable and powerful companies, directly and indirectly emits more than 40 per cent of carbon emissions.
• The researchers found that peer-reviewed literature on the human mortality costs of carbon emissions converged on the “1,000-tonne rule”. 

oThe rule is an estimate that a future person is killed prematurely every time 1000 tonnes of fossil fuels are burned.

Global Warming

• “Global warming" denotes the general alteration of Earth's climate, characterized by a substantial rise in the planet's temperature due to human activities occurring within a relatively brief timeframe.
• Even a minimal increase of one degree in temperature qualifies as an instance of global warming. An increment of 0.4 percent over a century is regarded as a matter of concern.
• The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), comprised of 2500 scientists, has monitored the Earth's temperature increase, and their findings indicate a 0.6-degree warming within a mere 9-year period.

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