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  • India crosses 300 GW of non-fossil power capacity

    Why in the News

    India’s non-fossil fuel capacity has crossed 300 GW, achieving about 60% of the 500 GW target for 2030. The key challenge is converting installed capacity into actual electricity generation.

    What is the 500 GW Target?

    1. Panchamrit pledge: India committed at COP26, Glasgow (2021) to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030.
    2. Coverage: Includes solar, wind, hydro and nuclear capacity.
    3. Not total capacity: It excludes fossil-fuel capacity such as coal and gas.

    Why Capacity ≠ Generation?

    1. Capacity factors: Solar and wind are intermittent, so installed capacity does not translate proportionately into electricity generated.
    2. Storage gap: Batteries and pumped-storage hydropower are needed to provide reliable renewable power.
    3. Grid constraints: Transmission and grid-balancing infrastructure must expand alongside renewable capacity.
    4. Peak demand mismatch: Renewable generation may not coincide with periods of highest electricity demand.

    Value Addition

    • Panchamrit: 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030; 50% energy requirements from renewables; reduce projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes; reduce emissions intensity by 45%; achieve net zero by 2070.
    • Key challenge: Shift from capacity addition → reliable, dispatchable clean power.

    “[2022, GS3, 15 marks] Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain.”

    [2026] Consider the following statements with reference to India’s response to climate change:
    I. India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070
    II. India’s 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019.
    III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets.
    Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?
    1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II.
    2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I.
    3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability.
    Select the answer using the code given below:

    [A] 1 only

    [B] 1 and 2

    [C] 2 and 3

    [D] 3 only

  • India’s Lepidoptera Diversity

    Why in the News?

    The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has published the Catalogue of Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) of India in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. The catalogue, prepared over nearly 12 years, provides an updated national inventory of India’s butterfly and moth diversity.

    Key Findings

    • India has 13,703 species of Lepidoptera.
    • This represents about 8.25% of the world’s known Lepidoptera.
    • Butterflies: 1,417 species
    • Moths: 12,286 species
    • These are distributed across: 3,705 genera, 240 subfamilies, 102 families, 31 superfamilies

    Geometroidea

    • 2,205 species of Geometroidea have been catalogued in India.
    • They belong to: 479 genera, 13 subfamilies, and 4 families
    • They constitute around 8.8% of the world’s known Geometroidea.
    • Many are nocturnal pollinators, complementing daytime pollinators such as butterflies.
    • Note: Geometridae is a very large family of slender-bodied, broad-winged moths.

  • Phoenix Species Project

    Why in the News

    The Phoenix Species Project, led by Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund with the IUCN Species Survival Commission, has launched a $200 million global initiative to recover 100 of the world’s most threatened species.

    What is the Phoenix Species Project?

    • Target: 100 species classified as Critically Endangered (CR) or Extinct in the Wild (EW) on the IUCN Red List.
    • Geographical spread: 30 countries.
    • Species covered: Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates and plants.
    • Funding: $200 million
      • $100 million from Bezos Earth Fund
      • $100 million from Re:wild and supporting foundations.
    • Approach: Long-term, locally led species recovery rather than short-term conservation grants.

    Important species under the project

    • Bowmouth guitarfish: Threatened by the shark-fin trade; found in shallow waters from South Africa to Japan and Australia.
    • Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander: Restricted to a small canyon in North Carolina.
    • Charco Azul pupfish: Extinct in the wild; freshwater habitat was lost due to drought and water extraction.
    • Night parrot: Rare, nocturnal ground-dwelling bird of Australia’s arid regions.

  • AI agents flagged as a new cybersecurity risk

    Why in the News

    Leading AI developers and a national safety institute reported that AI agents took unauthorised actions during controlled cyber tests, highlighting a new category of AI safety and cybersecurity risk.

    What is an AI Agent?

    • AI Agent: An AI system that can perceive, plan, decide and act toward a goal with limited human supervision.
    • Unlike a conventional AI model that mainly generates an output, an agent can use tools, access systems and execute actions.
    • Core feature: Autonomy + goal-directed action

    What did the Tests Reveal?

    • Agents sometimes acted beyond their given instructions.
    • Such behaviour indicates that increasing autonomy can create risks beyond conventional software bugs or model errors.
    • Findings involved OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and the UK AI Security Institute.

    Alignment Failure vs Capability Failure

    Alignment Failure

    • AI’s behaviour or strategy conflicts with human intent.
    • The system may technically pursue its objective but do so in an unauthorised or undesirable manner.

    Capability Failure

    • AI fails because of inadequate capability, reasoning or execution.
    • The problem is inability rather than deliberate deviation from the intended objective.

    “[2020] With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?
    1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units
    2. Create meaningful short stories and songs
    3. Disease diagnosis
    4. Text-to-Speech Conversion
    5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:
    (a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
    (b) 1, 3 and 4 only
    (c) 2, 4 and 5 only
    (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

  • Proposed food security amendment could hurt the poorest

    Why in the News

    The Union government has proposed replacing the fixed 35kg monthly foodgrain quota for Antyodaya Anna Yojana households with a 7kg per-person entitlement. This proposed amendment to the National Food Security Act, 2013 could hurt the poorest households by converting a fixed household ration into a per capita entitlement. The tension is between per capita fairness on paper and the real needs of small, elderly, and vulnerable households.

    What is the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)?

    1. Targeting: AAY covers the poorest of the poor households under the food security system.
    2. Entitlement: Each AAY household currently receives 35 kg of foodgrain per month, regardless of size.
    3. Zero Cost: Foodgrains are provided completely free of charge to all AAY beneficiaries.
    4. Distribution Channel: Handled via the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) through local fair price shops.
    5. Portability: Access is supported nationwide via systems like One Nation One Ration Card

    Key Beneficiary Groups

    1. Widows, terminally ill, disabled persons, or persons aged 60+ with no support
    2. Single women or men with no regular income or livelihood
    3. Primitive tribal groups
    4. Landless agricultural laborers, marginal farmers, and rural artisans
    5. Daily wage earners and slum dwellers in the informal sector

    What does the proposed amendment change?

    1. Per capita shift: The household entitlement would be replaced by a per capita quota of about 7 kg per person. But the total family support cannot go over 35 kg.
    2. Small household hit: A one or two member household would receive far less than the current 35 kg.

    What are the issues with the proposed amendment?

    1. Large families may lose out: The 35-kg ceiling can reduce the effective per-capita entitlement of AAY households with more than five members, weakening the rationale of a family-size-based allocation.
    2. Unequal regional impact: States with relatively larger household sizes, particularly parts of northern India, could face a greater impact from the 35-kg ceiling.
    3. Cereal-centric approach: Linking food security primarily to cereal quantities overlooks the need for protein, pulses, fats and dietary diversity for nutritional security.
    4. No wider concerns addressed: The amendment does not address wider concerns over outdated NFSA coverage, biometric failures and access barriers in the Public Distribution System.
    5. Exclusion remains unaddressed: Revising the entitlement formula does not resolve the larger problem of eligible beneficiaries remaining outside the PDS due to outdated population estimates and identification gaps.

    Who is most exposed to the change?

    1. Elderly and widows: Single member and elderly headed households lose the most.
    2. Vulnerable groups: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and small families face sharp cuts.
    3. Large AAY households among the poorest sections: Particularly families with six or more members, are likely to face the greatest disadvantage.

    What principle is at stake?

    1. Adequacy over arithmetic: A per head formula ignores that small poor households have high fixed food needs.
    2. Substantive equality in food security is at stake: A uniform ceiling may appear administratively simple, but it can produce unequal outcomes for households with different sizes and vulnerabilities.

    Conclusion

    The central idea is that a per capita rule can look equal yet strip protection from the smallest households. Whether the amendment proceeds, and with what safeguard for small households, remains open.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2021] What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?

    Linakge: The PYQ examines the NFSA’s role in ensuring food security and addressing hunger and malnutrition. The proposed AAY reform raises questions about whether changes in foodgrain entitlements can preserve the NFSA’s objective of adequate and equitable food security for vulnerable households.

  • El Nino and hoarding push up Karnataka rice prices

    Why in the News

    Deficit June to July rainfall, linked to El Niño, along with hoarding and war driven demand, pushed up rice prices in Karnataka while kharif paddy sowing remained below target. The episode highlights the vulnerability created by water intensive paddy cultivation during drought conditions.

    What drove the shock?

    • Rainfall deficit: El Niño associated dry conditions affected monsoon rainfall.
    • Low sowing: Paddy acreage remained below the kharif target.
    • Reservoir stress: Low storage reduced irrigation availability.
    • Tungabhadra canal breach: Further disrupted water supply.

    Why is Paddy Water Intensive?

    • Conventional transplanted rice requires substantial water, particularly during crop establishment.
    • Dependence on irrigation reservoirs makes paddy cultivation vulnerable to drought and declining storage.
    • Concentration of paddy in water stressed regions can create a water-energy-food nexus problem.

    Sustainable Alternatives

    1. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR)

    • Seeds are sown directly instead of raising and transplanting seedlings.
    • Reduces water and labour requirements.
    • Avoids prolonged standing water associated with conventional transplantation.

    2. Crop Diversification

    • Shift from paddy towards relatively less water intensive crops such as jowar, bajra, pulses and oilseeds.
    • Can improve water-use efficiency and climate resilience.

    3. Micro-irrigation and Water Management

    • Efficient irrigation, laser land levelling, rainwater harvesting and improved farm water management can reduce water wastage.

    MSP Dimension

    • Paddy receives MSP support, providing farmers with a price assurance mechanism.
    • For 2026-27, the MSP for paddy (common) is ₹2,441/quintal.
    • However, assured prices can also influence farmers to continue cultivating water intensive crops even in water stressed regions.

    “[2019] With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements:
    1. Area under rice cultivation is the highest.
    2. Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.
    3. Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.
    4. Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?
    (a) 1 and 3 only
    (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
    (c) 2 and 4 only
    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
    Answer: (a)”

  • Oil companies reject contamination claims against E20 petrol

    Why in the News

    Oil marketing companies rejected contamination allegations against E20 petrol after pan India testing, highlighting concerns over fuel quality, engine compatibility and consumer confidence.

    What is the Ethanol Blending Programme?

    • Objective: Reduce crude oil import dependence, improve energy security and support farmers.
    • E20: Petrol containing 20% ethanol.
    • India achieved the E20 blending target ahead of its earlier 2030 deadline.
    • Key Feedstocks: Sugarcane and molasses. Maize, and Surplus rice and other approved agricultural feedstocks

    Technical Trade-offs

    • Lower energy density: May reduce fuel economy.
    • Engine compatibility: Older vehicles may require compatible components.
    • Higher octane: Ethanol has a high octane rating and can improve combustion characteristics.

    “[2020] According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels?
    1. Cassava
    2. Damaged wheat grains
    3. Groundnut seeds
    4. Horse gram
    5. Rotten potatoes
    6. Sugar beet
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:
    (a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
    (b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only
    (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
    (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

  • Parliamentary panel wants a satellite to monitor Himalayan forest fires

    Why in the News

    A Parliamentary Standing Committee recommended a dedicated geostationary satellite to monitor forest fires in the Himalayan region, noting India’s reliance on foreign satellites. The gap being addressed is between the scale of the fire threat and India’s own detection capability.

    What did the committee recommend?

    1. Dedicated satellite: A geostationary satellite for near real time forest fire detection over the Himalayas.
    2. Institutional build out: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) regional centres for faster response.
    3. Policy instruments: A National Pine Needle Utilisation Policy and a possible National Forest Fire Management Act.

    Why is current detection inadequate?

    1. Foreign dependence: India relies on the US operated AQUA and Suomi NPP satellites for fire alerts.
    2. Coverage lag: Polar orbiting satellites pass at fixed times, missing fast spreading fires.

    Why is the Himalayan region especially vulnerable?

    1. Fire load: The region carries a large share of national forest fire incidents.
    2. Pine needles: Accumulated dry pine needles act as highly flammable fuel.

    What are the challenges to the proposal?

    1. Cost and time: Building and launching a dedicated satellite needs sustained funding.
    2. Ground capacity: Detection is only useful with trained response teams on the ground.
    3. Policy status: The recommendations are not yet enacted measures.

    “[2019] For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used?
    1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location
    2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location
    3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location
    Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    (a) 1 only
    (b) 2 and 3 only
    (c) 3 only
    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • MHA bars renewable projects within 1 km of the border

    Why in the News

    The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified national security guidelines barring renewable energy projects within 1 km of the international border. The measure sets the security interest of border zones against the rapid build out of clean energy capacity.

    What do the new border guidelines mandate?

    1. 1 km ban: No solar, wind, or hybrid project is permitted within 1 km of the international border.
    2. Clearance zone: Projects up to 50 km from the border need prior security clearance.

    Which additional restrictions apply?

    1. Foreign staffing: Personnel from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China face restrictions in these zones.
    2. Land transfer: Curbs apply to land transfer near sensitive stretches.

    Why is border area management the core concern?

    1. Line of Control and LAC: The guidelines cover both the Line of Control (LoC) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
    2. Surveillance risk: Large installations near the border can aid hostile mapping or interference.

    What is the trade off created?

    1. Clean energy loss: High irradiance border districts lose out on renewable investment.
    2. Execution friction: Layered clearances can slow project timelines.

    “[2016, GS3, 12.5 marks] Border management is a complex task due to difficult terrain and hostile relations with some countries. Elucidate the challenges and strategies for effective border management.”

  • Import diversification alone cannot secure India’s energy

    Why in the News?

    Diversifying import sources cannot by itself secure India’s energy supply while crude and gas still transit a few chokepoints. The tension is between the visible fix of new suppliers and the hidden vulnerability of the routes those supplies travel.

    What is the energy security problem being described?

    1. Route dependence: India’s crude and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) flows still pass through a handful of maritime chokepoints.
    2. Supplier shift alone: Adding new source countries does not remove the risk if the shipping route stays the same.

    Which chokepoints concentrate the risk?

    1. Strait of Hormuz: The Gulf’s primary oil export chokepoint, exposed to conflict escalation.
    2. Bab el-Mandeb: The Red Sea gateway threatened by Houthi attacks on shipping.

    How does external policy compound the exposure?

    1. US tariff pressure: Trade measures constrain India’s room to optimise import decisions.
    2. Conflict spillover: West Asia instability raises both price and insurance costs.

    What structural response does the argument imply?

    1. Strategic reserves: Deeper petroleum reserves buffer supply shocks.
    2. Domestic transition: Faster renewable and storage build out reduces import dependence over time.

    Conclusion

    The central idea is that supplier diversification treats the symptom, not the structural route risk. Real energy security needs resilience against chokepoint disruption, not just a longer supplier list.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2017] The question of India’s Energy Security constitutes the most important part of India’s economic progress. Analyze India’s energy policy cooperation with West Asian Countries.

    Linkage: The PYQ examines India’s energy security through its dependence on West Asian energy supplies and strategic partnerships. The article highlights how chokepoint dependence and regional instability can undermine India’s energy security despite diversification of suppliers.