💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (July Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Subject: Environment

  • Discuss the Namami Gange and National mission for clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs?

  • Rehabilitation of human settlements is one of the important environmental impacts which always attracts controversy while planning major projects. Discuss the measures suggested for mitigation of this impact while proposing major developmental projects.

  • ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?

  • Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the environment.

  • How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna?

    Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, region, or the entire planet. India is recognized as one of the world’s 17 mega-biodiverse countries, hosting 7-8% of the world’s recorded species on just 2.4% of the global land area.

    Biodiversity in India

    Biogeographic Diversity – Presence of 10 distinct biogeographic zones based on climate, relief and ecology.

    Ecosystem Diversity – Eg- Mangroves of Sundarbans, coral reefs of Lakshadweep, alpine meadows of Himalaya.

    Species Richness – Over 47,000 plant species and 1,00,000+ animal species (ZSI & BSI estimates).

    Endemism – India ranks fifth in reptiles and seventh in amphibians. Eg- Lion-tailed macaque in Western Ghats, Nilgiri tahr in Nilgiris.

    Biodiversity Hotspots – Four global hotspots lie partly in India due to high endemism and threat levels. Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, Sundaland (Nicobar).

    Altitudinal Variation – Eg- Tropical sal forests in foothills vs alpine rhododendrons in upper Himalaya.

    Agricultural Diversity: India’s share of global crop diversity is 44%, compared to the world average of 11%

    Biological Diversity Act, 2002

    Objectives

    Conservation of Biological Diversity

    Sustainable Use of Biological Resources

    Benefit Sharing with Local Communities

    Role of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 in Conservation of Flora and Fauna

    Provides legal Backing to implement Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

    Three-Tier Institutional Mechanism – Establishes NBA, SBBs, and BMCs for decentralised biodiversity governance.

    Access Regulation to prevent bio-piracy. Eg- Foreign companies need NBA approval for bio-resource use.

    Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) – Ensures fair and equitable sharing of benefits with local communities.

    Protection of Traditional Knowledge – Eg- Kani tribe benefit-sharing from Jeevani drug in Kerala.

    People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) by Biodiversity Management Committees – Legal documentation of local flora, fauna and traditional practices.

    Creation of National, State and Local Biodiversity Funds for conservation activities.

    Challenges in Implementation

    Weak Enforcement – Only ~2.78 lakh PBRs completed.

    Lengthy approvals and compliance burden deter research.

    Low Awareness of ABS rights among Local Communities

    Limited Coordination Between Agencies

    Insufficient Protection of Digital Sequence Information (DSI)

    Biological Diversity Act, 2002 is a cornerstone of biodiversity governance in India.

  • What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India.

    As per Ramsar Convention, wetlands are defined as “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres”.

    Ramsar Concept of Wise Use

    It refers to the maintenance of ecological character of wetlands through sustainable use, ensuring that benefits derived from wetlands do not lead to long-term degradation.

    Recently, India’s resolution on the ‘‘Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands’’ was adopted at the 15th COP15 to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

    Key Elements of Wise Use

    Maintaining Ecological Character – Conservation of hydrology, biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystem services. Eg – Preventing encroachment and regulating land-use.

    Integrated Management Approach – Eg – Wetland Management Committees under Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

    Avoiding Degradation – Ensuring human activities do not cause pollution, over-extraction, or habitat loss. Eg – Restricting construction and waste discharge around wetlands.

    Sustainable Livelihoods – Supporting communities dependent on wetlands while ensuring ecological health. Eg – regulated fisheries in Ramsar sites.

    Examples of Ramsar Sites in India

    India has 94 Ramsar Sites (highest in Tamil Nadu)

    Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)

    A UNESCO World Heritage Site

    Important for migratory birds like Siberian cranes; supports floodwater-based wetland ecology.

    Chilika Lake (Odisha)

    Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon

    Known for Irrawaddy dolphins, rich fisheries, and large wintering bird populations.

    Wetlands are critical natural infrastructure and the Ramsar principle of wise use ensures that development and conservation are balanced.

  • What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment?

    According to a report by TERI, India generates 62 million tonnes (MT) of waste annually. Only 43 MT of total waste gets collected and 12 MT treated before disposal.

    Impediments in Disposing Huge Quantities of Solid Waste

    Rapid Urbanisation – Cities generate waste faster than civic bodies can manage. Eg – Cities produce 160,000+ tonnes/day of solid waste.

    Inadequate Segregation at Source – makes recycling and composting inefficient.

    Limited Treatment & Processing Capacity – Only 50% of the waste produced is actually processed in India. (CPCB)

    Dumping in Landfills – Eg – Ghazipur and Deonar operate beyond capacity.

    Dominance of Informal Sector – Eg- 80% of plastic collection relies on the informal sector – lack safety mechanisms

    Poor compliance with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Eg – Many ULBs still rely on open dumping.

    Lack of data transparency – Eg- according to the official estimates, plastic waste generation rate in India is 0.12 kg/capita/day, while as per ‘Nature’ , it is 0.54 kg/capita/day.

    Limited capacity of ULB’s – Lack 3Fs and functional overlap with parastatal bodies

    Inadequate Infrastructure for waste collection, segregation, transportation, processing, and disposal.

    Lack of Interagency co-ordination – Eg- MoEFCC develop rules and guidelines while the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs oversees ground-level enforcement

    Safe Removal of Toxic Wastes from the Environment

    Technology adoption – Eg – Biomedical waste treated using controlled incinerators.

    Smart Waste Management System using AI, IoT. Eg- RFID-enabled door-to-door waste collection monitoring

    Promoting circular economy based on 6R principle – Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle

    Promoting Composting, vermicomposting and bio-methanation for treating organic waste.

    Enhanced Public-Private Partnerships – Eg- contractual arrangement with the private sector for setting up compost plants.

    Decentralised Waste Processing – Eg- Micro-Composting Centres (MCC) with 5 TPD capacity for wet waste.

    Adopting Waste Hierarchy principle

    Strict implementation of ‘Polluter Pays Principle‘, to penalize non-compliance and shift towards ‘Government Pays Principle’

    Efficient waste management is not just a regulatory obligation but a constitutional imperative to safeguard the fundamental rights of citizens.

  • Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region.

    Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size or level of resource use that an ecosystem can support without long-term degradation. Eg- A grassland can sustain only a certain number of grazing animals before vegetation declines.

    Determinants of carrying capacity

    Resource availability (food, water, shelter, space)

    Regeneration rate

    Limiting factors (predators, disease, competition, waste)

    Crucial abiotic elements (climate, soil, sunlight)

    Importance of Carrying Capacity for Sustainable Development Planning

    Livelihood Security (SDG-1) – Maintains sustainable fisheries, forestry and pastoral systems without ecological collapse.

    Intergenerational Equity – Safeguards future resource availability by preventing current over-extraction.

    Preventing Resource Depletion – Ensures development does not exceed natural limits, avoiding overuse of land, water and energy.

    Guiding Land-Use and Urban Planning – Eg- Eco-sensitive zones in Western Ghats restrict high-impact activities.

    Controlling Pollution Load – Determines the capacity of air and water bodies to handle waste – Helps in deciding pollution limits

    Conserving Biodiversity – Prevents ecosystem stress that threatens species survival and habitat stability. Eg- Limiting visitor numbers in Kaziranga and Ladakh

    Enhancing long-term resilience to climate shocks. Eg- Strengthening Mangrove carrying capacity helps prevent coastal erosion and storm surge impacts.

    Encourages balanced regional growth without overburdening ecologically fragile regions. Eg- limits on construction and tourism in himalayan states

    Basis for Sustainable Agriculture – Helps determine cropping patterns, irrigation intensity, and livestock numbers suitable for the region.

    Policy and Environmental Governance – Provides a scientific base for EIAs, zoning and regulatory decisions.

    Disaster Risk Reduction – Reduces exposure to floods, landslides and urban heat islands caused by ecological overload. Eg- Joshimath crisis in Uttarakhand

    Population Regulation – Provides a scientific basis for setting population targets aligned with resource limits.

    Way Forward

    Natural Capital Accounting in Economic Policy to recognise ecosystem services as economic assets.

    Nature-Based Infrastructure Development – Eg- Wetland restoration for flood control and mangrove buffers for coastal protection.

    Urban Green Infrastructure Expansion – Eg- Urban forests and restored lakes for flood moderation and heat mitigation. (Miyawaki Method)

    Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) – Direct financial rewards to farmers and communities conserving ecological services.

    Channelising corporate funds into habitat restoration and sustainable supply chains.

    Circular Economy Anchored in Biodiversity Regeneration – Eg- Organic textiles, biodegradable packaging and nature-based construction materials.

    Carrying capacity acts as the ecological boundary for growth, ensuring sustainable and intergenerationally just development.

  • Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyse the impact of sand mining along the Indian coasts, citing specific examples.

    Sand mining refers to the extraction of sand from beaches, river mouths, dunes and seabeds for construction and land reclamation.

    Impact of sand mining

    Environmental Impacts

    Accelerated Coastal Erosion – Removal of sand weakens natural barriers, causing shoreline retreat. Eg – Alappuzha (Kerala).

    Habitat Destruction – Disturbs nesting sites and coastal biodiversity. Eg – Degradation of Olive Ridley turtle nesting beaches in Odisha.

    Saline Intrusion & Groundwater Contamination – Eg – Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu) recorded rising salinity in wells.

    Loss of Mangroves – Destabilised soil and altered hydrology harm protective ecosystems. Eg – Vegetation thinning in parts of the Sunderbans.

    Economic Impacts

    Damage to Infrastructure – Roads, bridges and coastal installations become unstable due to subsidence. Eg – Road collapse incidents in Uttar Kannada (Karnataka).

    Decline in Tourism Revenue – Eroded and degraded beaches reduce tourist inflow.

    Livelihood Loss for Fishing Communities – Altered seabed and turbidity reduce fish catch and destroy spawning grounds.

    Social Impacts

    Disaster induced displacement of coastal communities due to increased vulnerability

    Health Risks from Contaminated Water – Saline intrusion affects drinking water quality.

    Increased and sedimentation in rivers and coastal areas due to depletion of sand from river beds

    Political & Governance Impacts

    Rise of Illegal Sand Mining Networks – Criminalisation of mining fuels corruption. Eg – Sand mafias in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh.

    Threats to Officials – Violent attacks on officers during enforcement drives.

    Way Forward

    Strengthen Regulatory Enforcement

    Tighten monitoring of CRZ norms

    GPS-tracked transport permits

    Eg – Kerala’s drone-based monitoring model.

    Promote Sustainable Alternatives – Eg- M-sand

    Community-Based Coastal Stewardship– Eg – Odisha’s community patrolling linked to turtle conservation.

    Ecological Restoration of Mined Coasts– Eg – Puducherry’s beach nourishment project.

    Improve Inter-State Coordination – joint task forces to curb cross-border sand smuggling.

    Integrate Sediment Budgeting in Coastal Planning to ensure river-to-coast sediment flow is maintained.

    Ensuring sustainable extraction is essential to balance developmental needs with long-term coastal resilience

  • What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?

    The MoEFCC launched NCAP in 2019 with the objective of improving air quality in 131 non-attainment and Million Plus Cities by engaging all relevant stakeholders.

    Key Features of NCAP

    Multi-sectoral initiative involving the coordinated efforts of the Central and State Governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)

    Objectives

    Achieve up to a 40% reduction in PM10 levels or to meet national standards (60 µg/m³) by 2025-26.

    City specific targets ranging from 4-15% by implementing city specific action plans.

    An annual target of 15% improvement in Good Days (Air Quality Index <200) has been prescribed for 49 Million Plus cities/Urban Agglomerations.

    Funding Convergence – Mobilises resources from Central schemes (SBM-Urban, AMRUT), State/UT budgets and municipal bodies to finance City Action Plans

    City-Specific Clean Air Action Plans (CAAPs) targeting transport, industries, road dust, waste burning, and construction sources.

    Expansion of CAAQMS, manual stations, and low-cost sensors for strengthening Air Quality Monitoring

    Source Apportionment studies to list and quantify the significant sources of pollution in a city

    Performance-Based Funding – Annual city rankings under Swachh Vayu Survekshan

    Significance of NCAP

    First-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target.

    Focus on Non-attainment cities that have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

    Promotes Scientific and evidence-based Planning

    Strengthens air quality data reliability nationwide.

    Local Governance Reform – Enhances capacity of ULBs in environment management.

    Aligns with India’s Panchamrit Targets in UNFCCC

    Major Challenges

    Non-Binding Targets – Reduction targets are not legally enforceable – weaken accountability.

    Limited Capacity of ULBs/SPCBs – manpower shortage, and technical gaps.

    Inadequate Monitoring Coverage – Rural areas and small towns remain excluded.

    Poor Inter-State Coordination – Transboundary pollution not addressed effectively. Eg- stubble burning

    Insufficient Behavioural Change – Continued preference for private vehicles and biomass burning.

    Funding Constraints – Cities lack dedicated environmental budgets.

    Overlaps between ministries leads to slow decision-making. Eg- between MOEFCC and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

    Way Forward

    Empower municipal bodies for real-time emissions tracking. Eg- AI based dashboards.

    Renewable energy transition. Eg- Rooftop solar power.

    High-resolution air quality monitoring network at the construction site linked to automatic sprayers, mist cannons, or sprinklers to reduce dust

    Adopting Global Best Practices – Eg- California’s reinvestment of pollution fines into green projects.

    Vehicular Emission Control –

    Use catalytic converters to reduce Nitrogen and carbon monoxide emissions,

    Expand EV network

    Regulatory measures – Odd-even and congestion pricing (London Model)

    Waste to energy – Eg- biofuels from agriculture waste in Punjab, Haryana

    Expand Urban Green Infrastructure – Eg- Singapore’s green urban planning

    Strengthening NCAP supports India’s Panchamrit climate goals, cleaner-energy transition, and long-term sustainable development objectives.


    Climate Change