The international environmental think tank ‘Germanwatch’ released the Global Climate Risk Index 2021. This is the 16th Edition of the Index. It is published annually. Germanwatch, based in Bonn and Berlin (Germany), is an independent development and environmental organisation which works for sustainable global development. Important points: The Index analyses the extent to which countries and regions have been affected by the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, …

In India, countless workers engaged in mines, construction and factories are silently dying of exposure to dust. This is better referred to as silicosis Silicosis can be described as an occupational disease or hazard due to dust exposure. It is incurable and can cause permanent disability. However, it is totally preventable by available control …

Recently, the Kunming Declaration was adopted by over 100 countries at the ongoing 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in china. The adoption of the declaration will create momentum for a new global biodiversity pact. In a previous agreement, Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, signed in Aichi, Japan, in 2010, governments agreed …

Recently, the government of India has launched the ambitious Gati Shakti scheme or National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity plan, with the aim of coordinated planning and execution of infrastructure projects to bring down logistics costs. Important points: To ensure integrated planning and implementation of infrastructure projects in the next four years, with focus on …

Recently, as a part of the ongoing ‘Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative the government of India inaugurated a training program on Indian Sandalwood Farming & Management. The programme aims at establishing Sandalwood Technology Innovation centres in the growing states, value addition in training & skill development as well as introducing new methods of cultivation …

Recently, an Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Save the Children released the Global Girlhood Report 2021: Girls Right in Crisis. It is observed annually on 11th October. It was declared by the United Nations (UN), which was first observed in 2012. A resolution to declare 11th October as the International Day of the Girl Child was adopted by the UN General …

Scientists from Chennai Mathematical Institute and Ors. have analysed data from the LIGO-VIRGO observatories and estimated the fraction of the binary Black Hole mergers detected so far that show potential to form Intermediate-Mass Black Holes. It is the phenomenon of merging of two or more black holes. Indian scientists have already observed merger of three supermassive black holes Merging of two …

Recently, the government has inaugurated C-DOT’s (Centre for Development of Telematics) Quantum Communication Lab and unveiled the indigenously developed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution. The government has also allocated USD 1 billion for the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications spanning over a period of 8 years. Important points: QKD, also called Quantum Cryptography, is …

Recently, the Prime Minister has launched the Indian Space Association (ISpA) via video conferencing. ISpA will act as a single-window and independent agency on matters related to space technology. The PM also remarked that the Government’s approach to space reforms is based on 4 pillars. Important points: ISpA aspires to be the collective voice of the …

Recently, the Union Environment Ministry has come out with a draft notification for regulation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under Plastic Waste Management rules 2016. The draft specifies the quantity of waste that will have to be managed by producers, importers and brand owners who generate plastic packaging waste in India. Earlier, the Ministry had …

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded in one half to Canadian-born David Card and the other half jointly to Israeli-American Joshua D Angrist and Dutch-American Guido W Imbens. David Card has been awarded for his empirical contributions to labour economics. Joshua D Angrist and Guido W Imbens won the award “for their methodological contributions …

Recently, some researchers studied a meteorite from Katol, Maharashtra which was from the meteor shower of 2012. A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon. …

Recently, the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP), an international think tank released the Ecological Threat Report (ETR) 2021: Understanding ecological threats, resilience and peace. This is the second edition of the ETR, which covers 178 independent states and territories. The ETR includes the most recent and respected scientific research on population growth, water stress, food insecurity, droughts, floods cyclones, and rising temperature Important …

Recently, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has announced that a global deal to ensure big companies pay a Global Minimum Tax (GMT) rate of 15% has been agreed by 136 countries (including India). The countries behind the accord together accounted for over 90% of the global economy. Important points: GMT is …

Recently, the government has asked the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) to begin developing 6G and other futuristic technologies to catch up with the global market in time. The next generation telecom technology (6G) is said to be 50 times faster than 5G and is expected to be commercially launched between 2028-2030. Important points: …

Recently, the Meghalaya Government has claimed that a detoxing pilot project has brought the Lukha river back from the dead. Important points: The Lukha River was considered toxic beyond redemption a decade ago owing to contamination due to acid mine drainage and run-off from the coal mines Phytoremediation method was used to detoxify the river, where Algae was used …

The first stretch of rail link between Nepal and India is ready to resume on the neighbouring country’s first-ever broad gauge passenger service (Jainagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas railway project). Important points: The rail link between Nepal and India has been popular since the early 20th century. In 1937, the British had built a narrow gauge line to ferry cargo, mainly …

Recently, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) unanimously voted for recognising a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a Universal Human Right. If recognised by all, the right will be the first of its kind in more than 70 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the UN General Assembly …

Recently, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2021 was released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI). The Index considers data from 109 countries and 5.9 billion people. Highlights of the report: 3 billion people are multidimensionally poor. About half (644 million) are children under age 18. Nearly 85% live in Sub-Saharan …

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to launch ‘Lucy’, its first mission to explore the Jupiter Trojan Asteroids. Important points: The solar-powered mission is estimated to be over 12 years long, during which the spacecraft will visit eight asteroids covering a distance of about 6.3 billion km to deepen the understanding of the “young solar system”. The …