National Environmental Legislation

• Our constitution, originally, did not contain any direct provision regarding the protection of natural environment.
• However, after the United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972, Indian constitution was amended to include protection of the environment as a constitutional mandate.
• Environment related legislation came very late in 1972 with Wild Life Protection Act 1971.
• The forty second amendment Clause (g) to Article 51A of the Indian constitution made it a fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment.

Clause (g) to Article 51A of the Indian constitution states “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and have compassion for living creatures.”

• There is a directive, given to the State as one of the Directive Principles of State Policy regarding the protection and improvement of the environment.

Article 48A states “The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”.

• The Department of Environment was established in India in 1980 to ensure a healthy environment for the country. This later became the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 1985.
• The Environment Protection Act of 1986 (EPA) came into force soon after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and is considered umbrella legislation as it fills many lacunae in the existing legislations.

Pollution Related Acts

• Among all the components of the environment air and water are necessary to fulfill the basic survival needs of all organisms. So, to protect them from degradation the following acts have been passed.

1. Water Acts
2. Air Acts
3. Environment Act

• A few important legislations of each category with brief description are given below:

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and Amendment, 1988

• The main objective of this act is to provide prevention and control of water pollution.

Some important provisions of this Act are given below:

• The Act vests regulatory authority in State Pollution Control Boards to establish and enforce effluent standards for factories.
• A Central Pollution Control Board performs the same functions for Union Territories and formulate policies and coordinates activities of different State Boards.
• The Act grants power to SPCB and CPCB to test equipment and to take the sample for the purpose of analysis.
• Prior to its amendment in 1988, enforcement under the Act was achieved through criminal prosecutions initiated by the Boards.
• The 1988 amendment act empowered SPCB and CPCB to close a defaulting industrial plant.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act of 1977

• The Water Cess Act was passed to generate financial resources to meet expenses of the Central and State Pollution Boards.
• The Act creates economic incentives for pollution control and requires local authorities and certain designated industries to pay a cess (tax) for water effluent discharge.
• The Central Government, after deducting the expenses of collection, pays the central board and the states such sums, as it seems necessary.
• To encourage capital investment in pollution control, the Act gives a polluter a 70% rebate of the applicable cess upon installing effluent treatment equipment.

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981 and amendment, 1987

• To implement the decisions taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in June 1972, Parliament enacted the nationwide Air Act.
• The main objectives of this Act are to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control and abate air pollution in the country.

Important provisions of this Act are given below:

• The Air Act’s framework is similar to that of the Water Act of 1974.
• The Air Act expanded the authority of the central and state boards established under the Water Act, to include air pollution control.
• States not having water pollution boards were required to set up air pollution boards.
• Under the Air Act, all industries operating within designated air pollution control areas must obtain a “consent” (permit) from the State Boards.
• The states are required to prescribe emission standards for industry and automobiles after consulting the central board and noting its ambient air quality standards.
• The Act grants power to SPCB and to test equipment and to take the sample for the purpose of analysis from any chimney, fly ash or dust or any other.
• Prior to its amendment in 1988, enforcement under the Act was achieved through criminal prosecutions initiated by the Boards.
• The 1988 amendment act empowered SPCB and CPCB to close a defaulting industrial plant.
• Notably, the 1987 amendment introduced a citizen’s suit provision into the Air Act and extended the Act to include noise pollution.

Environment (Protection) Act of 1986

• In the wake of the Bhopal tragedy, the government of India enacted the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
• The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment of 1972, in so far as they relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.
• The Act is an “umbrella” for legislations designed to provide a framework for Central Government, coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established under previous Acts, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.
• In this Act, main emphasis is given to “Environment”, defined to include water, air and land and the inter-relationships which exist among water, air and land and human beings and other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property.
• “Environmental pollution” is the presence of pollutant, defined as any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such a concentration as may be or may tend to be injurious to the environment.
• “Hazardous substances” include any substance or preparation, which may cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms, property or the environment.

Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC)

1. Biosafety concerns have led to the development of regulatory regime in India.
2. The MoEFCC has notified the Rules for Manufacture, Use/Import/ Export & Storage Of Hazardous Micro Organisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 [‘Rules 1989’]
3. Aim of ‘Rules 1989’ is to protect environment, nature and health in connection with application of gene technology and micro-organisms.
4. These rules cover areas of research as well as large scale applications of GMOs and their products including experimental field trials and seed production.
5. The Rules 1989 also define the competent authorities and composition of such authorities for handling of various aspects of the Rules.

The Ozone Depleting Substances Rules

• The rules are framed under the jurisdiction of Environment (Protection) Act.
• These Rules set the deadlines for phasing out of various ODSs, besides regulating production, trade import and export of ODSs and the product containing ODS.
• These Rules prohibit the use of CFCs in manufacturing various products beyond 1st January 2003 except in metered dose inhaler and for other medical purposes.
• Similarly, use of halons is prohibited after 1st January 2001 except for essential use.
• Other ODSs such as carbon tetrachloride and methylchoroform and CFC for metered dose inhalers can be used upto 1st January 2010.
• Further, the use of methyl bromide has been allowed upto 1st January 2015.
• Since HCFCs are used as interim substitute to replace CFC, these are allowed up to 1st January 2040.

National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)

• National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) is a financing, planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the Ministry of Water Resources.
• The mission of the organization is to safeguard the drainage basin which feeds water into the Ganges by protecting it from pollution or overuse.
• In 2014, the NGRBA has been transferred from the Ministry of Environment and Forests to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.
• It was established by the Central Government of India, in 2009 under Section 3(3) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which also declared Ganges as the ‘National River’ of India.

Composition of NGRBA

• The Prime Minister the chair of the Authority.

Members belonging to the government sector are as follows:

• Prime Minister of India
• Minister of Environment and Forests (Union Minister)
• Minister of Finance
• Minister of Urban Development
• Minister of Water Resources
• Minister of Power
• Minister of Sciences and Technology
• Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal
• Ministry Of Environment and Forests (state minister)
• Ministry Of Environment and Forests, secretary

Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 and Amendment, 1982

• In 1972, Parliament enacted the Wild Life Act (Protection) Act.
• The Wild Life Act provides for

1. state wildlife advisory boards,
2. regulations for hunting wild animals and birds,
3. establishment of sanctuaries and national parks,
4. regulations for trade in wild animals, animal products and trophies, and
5. judicially imposed penalties for violating the Act.

Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980

• First Forest Act was enacted in 1927.
• Alarmed at India’s rapid deforestation and resulting environmental degradation, Centre Government enacted the Forest (Conservation) Act in1980.
• It was enacted to consolidate the law related to forest, the transit of forest produce and the duty livable on timber and other forest produce.
• Forest officers and their staff administer the Forest Act.
• Under the provisions of this Act, prior approval of the Central Government is required for diversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes.
• An Advisory Committee constituted under the Act advises the Centre on these approvals.
• The Act deals with the four categories of the forests, namely reserved forests, village forests, protected forests and private forests.

Biodiversity Act 2000

• India’s richness in biological resources and indigenous knowledge relating to them is well recognized.
• The legislation aims at regulating access to biological resources so as to ensure equitable sharing of benefitsarising from their use.
• The Biological Diversity Bill was introduced in the Parliament in 2000 and was passed in 2002.

Salient features of the biodiversity legislation

• The main intent of this legislation is to protect India’s rich biodiversity and associated knowledge against their use by foreign individuals and organizations without sharing the benefits arising out of such use, and to check biopiracy.
• This bill seeks to check biopiracy, protect biological diversity and local growers through a three-tier structure of central and state boards and local committees.
• The Act provides for setting up of a National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in local bodies. The NBA will enjoy the power of a civil court.

National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

• Act of the Parliament of India which enables creation of NGT to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.
• It was enacted under India’s constitutional provision of Article 21, which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment.
• The specialized architecture of the NGT will facilitate fast track resolution of environmental cases and provide a boost to the implementation of many sustainable development measures.
• NGT is mandated to dispose the cases within six months of their respective appeals.

1.Kuril islands – In the news, for dispute between Japan and Russia

2.Falkland island – Argentina seeks support of Saudis for this british territory

3.Rohingya island – Refugees of a distinct Muslim ethnic group who are effectively stateless have been fleeing Myanmar.

4.Houthis – Shia rebels from north Yemen (Shia(Iran support) vs Sunni(Saudi support) conflict in Yemen – so, India’s Rahat operation) so, was in news.

5.Spartly islands –Territorial dispute between Brunei, China,Malaysia,the Philippines,Taiwan, and Vietnam.(Mostly Chinese dominant claim)

6.Taro Island (in Solomon sea) – located nearby to the northeast part Australia
(Planning to migration bcoz of rising seas/Global warming).

7. Lake Victoria – It is the largest lake in Africa and chief reservoir of the Nile, lying mainly in Tanzania and Uganda but bordering on Kenya.

8. Fuego Volcano –

• On 3 June 2018,the volcano suddenly produced its most powerful eruption since 1974.
• Guatemala (Central America)

9.Sabratha

• UNESCO declared ‘Sabratha’ heritage site to be at high risk, mainly due to damage caused by armed groups.
• It lies on the Mediterranean coast, west of modern Tripoli, Libya.

10.Andaman and Nicobar

• The Government recently announced the renaming of
three islands of Andaman and Nicobar archipelago as a
tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
• It lies to the south of Myanmar, west of Thailand, and north
of Indonesia.
• Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Dweep
• Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep
• Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep.

Dear students,

We understand that the UPSC exam is a generalist exam. It’s more important to cover more issues than to cover one issue in more depth. Hence, through Samachar Manthan, we are trying to maintain a fine balance of covering many important news items and having a detailed discussion on selected topics which require the same. On daily basis a news gets repeated multiple times. Scattered knowledge is not adequately useful when you have to write a 200 words answer within 6-7 minutes. To handle this, Samachar manthan covers such issues in a comprehensive and consolidated manner which is the smart strategy.

Benefits of Samachar Manthan

• Packed 3 – 3.5 hours Weekly videos will focus on news and its importance from both prelims and mains perspective.
• This program will also help you understand how to utilize current affairs in all your prelims and mains papers.
• This ideology makes this course the best utilization of your time.
• Detailed coverage would mean analysis from all the angles like background or history, features, significance, challenges and way forward. Also, multiple sources like epw, diplomat magazine etc will be referred to in the video lectures.
• Such an approach will help in writing multidimensional answers.
• Also which part of the topic is important from mains and prelims perspective will also be discussed.
• Audio Visual Learning is more impactful than simply glancing through the material. So that you are able to retain information for long also interlink with any new information you get.
• 4 stage structure of Video->Notes->testing->review to perfect your preparation
• The sequence of video->Notes->testing->review is the best way to ensure maximum retention and a rock solid preparation. Each component of the program has been meticulously crafted.

For example this week, we will be covering the following issues;

Economics 
[op-ed snap] If food prices rise
Services Trade Restrictiveness Index by OECD
[pib] 7th Economic Census 2019
[op-ed snap] Missing demand: on economic slowdown
[op-ed snap] IBC hits and misses
Graphite mining in Arunachal Pradesh
Reserve Bank proposes 24×7 NEFT money transfer
[op-ed snap] Trade troubles
[op-ed snap] External woes
Masala Bonds
RBI asks NBFCs to appoint Chief Risk Officer
Explained: Why an industrial policy is crucial

Enviro & Biodiversity 
DNA database for Indian Rhino
Herbivore census in Gujarat’s Gir forest
Coastal Regulation Zone: How rules for building along coast have evolved
[pib] Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)
[op-ed snap] Facing the climate emergency
[op-ed snap] Green is cool
[pib] Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction

Governance 
Global Drug Survey Report 2018
National Institute of Nutrition
International Relations
Explained: Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most important oil artery
[op-ed snap] All out at sea
India signs ‘Christchurch Call to Action’
[op-ed snap] Slippery slope
[op-ed snap]Charting a clear course in the Indo-Pacific

Polity
[op-ed snap] Redactive pricing audit and the CAG’s duties
[op-ed snap] No apology, please
Explained: Article 324 and the special role of Election Commission

Science Tech
NASA’s Artemis to put first woman on Moon
Person in news: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Chang’e-4 Mission
Poly-Di-Ketoenamine (PDK): New plastic that could be fully recycled

Security Issues 
[pib] High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT)

And these issues will be covered in detail

• Redactive Pricing Audit
• Strait of hormuz
• Indo Pacific Vision of India
• External Trade Troubles
• Economic Census
• Climate Challenges

So to be thorough in your preparation and to have an integrated approach, join Samachar Manthan here.

Indian Paintings

Prehistoric Cave Paintings 

• Painted rock shelters by prehistoric cave dwellers
• Notable example →  Bhimbetka caves in the Kaimur Range, MP (biggest prehistoric art depositoryin India)

Genres of Indian Painting 

• Indian paintings can be broadly classified as murals and miniatures.
• Murals are large works executed on the walls of solid structures directly, as in the Ajanta Caves & Kailash temple (Ellora)
• Miniature paintings are executed on a very small scale for books or albums on perishable material such as paper and cloth.

Mural Paintings

• Mural is the only form of painting that is truly three-dimensional, since it modifies and partakes of a given space.
• Mural paintings are applied on dry wall with the major use of egg, yolk, oil, etc.

• Notable examples → Ajanta Caves, Bagh Caves, Sittanavasal Caves, Armamalai Cave (Tamil Nadu), Kailasa temple (Ellora Caves)
• Murals from this period depict mainly religious themes of Buddhist, Jain and Hindu

Ajanta Murals Paintings 

• Depict a large number of incidents from the life of the Buddha (Jataka Tales)
• Exclusively Buddhist, excepting decorative patterns on the ceilings and the pillars.

Ellora Murals Paintings 

• Painted in rectangular panels with thick borders with following
• Prominent features →  Sharp twist of the head + painted angular bents of the arms + sharp projected nose + long drawn open eyes + concave curve of the close limbs

Badami Mural Paintings 

• A cave site in Karnataka, patronized by chalukya king, Manglesha
• Depictions in the caves show Vaishnava affiliation, Therefore, the cave is popularly known as Vishnu cave.

Murals under the Pallava, Pandava and Cholas 

• Paintings at the Kanchipuram temple were patronised by Pallava king, Rajsimha
• Paintings at Tirumalaipuram caves & Jaina caves at Sittanvasal were patronised by Padayas
• Paintings at Nartamalai & Brihadeswara temple were patronized by Cholas

Vijayanagara murals (13^th century) 

• Paintings at Virupaksha temple (Hamphi) & Lepakshi temple (Andhra Pradesh) were patronised by Vijayanagara Kings

Miniature Paintings

• The Palas of Bengal were the pioneers of miniature painting in India.
• The art of miniature painting reached its glory during the Mughal period.

The Pala School (11^th – 12^th century)

• Exist in the form of illustrations to the religious texts on Buddhism executed under the Palas of the eastern India & the Jain texts executed in western India
• The Buddhist monasteries of Nalanda, Odantapuri, Vikramsila & Somarupa were great centers of Buddhist learning and art.
• A large number of manuscripts on palm-leaf relating to the Buddhist themes were written, illustrated with the images of Buddhist deities at these centers

• The Pala painting is characterized by sinuous line and subdued tones of colour

Western Indian School of Painting 

• Also called Jaina Painting, largely devoted to the illustration of Jaina religious texts of the 12th–16th century
• Notable sites → Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh, Central India & Orissa
• Characterized by simple, bright colours, highly conventionalized figures, and wiry, angular drawing

Mughal Paintings (16^th – 19^th century) 

• Mainly confined to miniature illustrations on the books or as single works to be kept in an album
• Mughal paintings were a unique blend of Indian, Persian (Safavi) and Islamic styles
• Marked by supple naturalism →  Primarily aristocratic and secular
• Tried to paint the classical ragas and Seasons or baramasa
• Tuti-nama – first art work of the Mughal School.
• Akbar’s reign (1556–1605) ushered a new era in Indian miniature painting.
• At Zenith under Jahangir who himself was a famous painter
• Jahangir encouraged artists to paint portraits and durbar scenes.
• Shah Jahan (1627–1658) continued the patronage of painting.
• Aurangzeb had no taste for fine arts.

• Most significant are Hamza Nama, Razm-Nama or “The Book of War”, Akbar Nama
• Finest example of this school includes Hamzanama series, started in 1567 & completed in 1582
• Hamzanama →  Stories of Amir Hamza, illustrated by Mir Sayyid Ali
• 1200 paintings on themes of Changeznama, Zafarnama & Ramayana
• The paintings of the Hamzanama are of large size, 20” x 27″ and were painted on cloth.
• They are in the Persian safavi style with dominating colours being red, blue and green
• Indian tones appear in later work, when Indian artists were employed 

Rajput Painting (16^th – 19^th century)

• the art of the independent Hindu feudal states in India
• Unlike Mughal paintings which were contemporary in style, Rajput paintings were traditional & romantic
• Rajput painting is further divided into Rajasthani painting and Pahari painting (art of the Himalayan kingdoms)

Central Indian and Rajasthani Schools (17^th – 19^th Century) 

• Deeply rooted in the Indian traditions, taking inspiration from Indian epics, Puranas, love poems & Indian folk-lore
• Mughal artists of inferior merit who were no longer required by the Mughal Emperors, migrated to Rajasthan

Malwa paintings (17^th century) 

• Centred largely in Malwa and Bundelkhand (MP); sometimes referred as Central Indian painting due to its geographical distribution.

• This school’s most appealing features is its primitive charm & a simple childlike vision

Kishangarh paintings (18^th century) 

• Distinguished by its individualistic facial type and its religious intensity
• Developed under the patronage of Raja Savant Singh (1748-1757 AD) by master artist Nihal Chand

Mewar (Udaipur) Paintings (17^th – 18^th century) 

• Characterized by bold bright contrasting colours and direct emotional appeal
• The earliest-dated examples come from Ragmala (musical modes) series painted in 1605

• Reflects portraiture & life of the ruler, along with religious themes

Marwar (Jodhpur) Paintings 

• Executed in a primitive and vigorous folk style
• Completely uninfluenced by the Mughal style.
• Portrays court scenes, series of Ragamala & Baramasa

Bundi paintings (Late 17^th century) 

• Very close to the Mewar style, but the former excels the latter in quality
• Prominent features → Rich and glowing colours, the rising sun in golden colour, crimson-red horizon, border in brilliant red colour (in Rasikpriya series)
• Notable examples → Bhairavi Ragini (Allahabad Museum), illustrated manuscript of the Bhagawata Purana (Kota Museum) & a series of the Rasikapriya (National Museum, Delhi)

Kota paintings (18^th – 19^th century) 

• Very similar to Bundi style of paintings
• Themes of tiger and bear hunt were popular
• Most of the space in painting is occupied by the hilly jungle

The Pahari Schools (17^th – 19^th Century) 

Comprises the present State of Himachal Pradesh, some adjoining areas of the Punjab, the area of Jammu, & Garhwal in Uttarakhand

Basohli Paintings (17^th – 18^th century) 

• known for its bold vitality of colour, lines & red borders
• Emotional scenes from a text called “Rasamanjari” →  Krishna legend
• Favoured oblong format, with the picture space usually delineated by architectural detail, which often breaks into the characteristic red borders
• Stylized facial type, shown in profile, is dominated by the large, intense eyes

Guler painting (Jammu) 

• Mainly consisting of portraits of Raja Balwant Singh of Jasrota (Jammu) designed by Nainsukh
• Colours used are soft and cool unlike Basohli school

• Style appears to have been inspired by the naturalistic style of the Mughal painting

Kangra painting (Late 18^th century) 

• The Kangra style is developed out of the Guler style & possesses its main characteristics, like the delicacy of drawing & naturalism
• The Kangra style continued to flourish at various places namely Kangra, GuIer, Basohli, Chamba, Jammu, Nurpur and Garhwal etc.
• However, Named as Kangra style as they are identical in style to the portraits of Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra
• In these paintings, the faces of women in profile have the nose almost in line with the forehead, the eyes are long & narrow, & chin is sharp.

• There is, however, no modelling of figures and hair is treated as a flat mass.
• Paintings of the Kangra style are attributed mainly to the Nainsukh family.

Kullu – Mandi painting 

• A folk style of painting in the Kulu-Mandi area, mainly inspired by the local tradition
• The style is marked by bold drawing and the use of dark and dull colours

Independent Paintings

Kalighat Paintings (Kolkata – 19^th century)

• Patua painters from rural Bengal came and settled in Kalighat to make images of gods and goddesses in the early 19^th century
• They evolved a quick method of painting on mill-made paper
• Used brush and ink from the lampblack

Madhubani Paintings (Mithila – Bihar) 

• Colorful auspicious images on the interior walls of homes on the occasion of rituals & festivity → painted by women
• This ancient tradition, especially elaborated for marriages, continues today.
• Used to paint the walls of room, known as KOHBAR GHAR in which the newly wedded couple meets for the first time
• Very conceptual, first, the painter thinks & then “draws her thought”

Phad paintings (Bhilwada, Rajasthan) 

• Phad is a painted scroll, which depicts stories of epic dimensions about local deities and legendary heroes.
• Bhopas (local priests) carry these scrolls on their shoulders from village to village for a performance

• Represents the moving shrine of the deity and is an object of worship
• Most popular & largest Phad – local deities Devnarayanji and Pabuji

Kalamkari Paintings (Andhra Pradesh) 

• Literal meaning is painting done by kalam (pen) , Mainly in Andhra Pradesh (developed under Vijaynagar rulers)
• Stories from the epics Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas are painted as continuous narratives
• Mainly to decorate temple interiors with painted cloth panels scene after scene; Every scene is surrounded by floral decorative patterns
  

Warli painting

• Practiced in tribal regions of Maharashtra with subjects, predominantly religious
• decorative paintings on floors & walls of ‘gond’ and ‘kol’ tribes homes and places of worship
• made in a geometric patterns like squares, triangles, and circles
• Unlike other tribal art forms, Warli paintings do not employ religious iconography and is a more secular art form.

Handicrafts