Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)

Ministry of Coal recently initiated India’s First Ever Pilot project for Underground Coal Gasification in Jharkhand.

• UCG aims to convert coal in-situ into valuable gases like methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide for various industrial applications.
• India's first Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) pilot project has been initiated by the Ministry of Coal.
• The project is located at the Kasta coal block in Jamtara District, Jharkhand, and is being managed by Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL).
• UCG can access coal resources that are economically unviable through traditional mining methods.
• This initiative aligns with India's 2015 policy framework for UCG in coal and lignite-bearing areas.

Kukkarahalli Lake

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is preparing an action plan for the Kukkarahalli Lake’s revival.

• Kukkarahalli Lake is a biodiversity hotspot situated at Mysuru, Karnataka.
• The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is preparing an action plan for the lake's revival.
• A stakeholders meeting was held to gather suggestions for the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
• Key recommendations include:
  • Removing encroachments along the Purnaiah canal
  • Diverting sewage away from the lake
  • Clearing about 20% of the encroached feeder canal to improve water inflow
  • Transferring lake management from the University of Mysore to the Forest Department
• Hydrological studies indicate the current catchment area is insufficient to fill the lake, necessitating the use of other catchments via the Purnaiah canal.
• The lake's historical aspects and biodiversity data collected over 40 years were discussed as important factors in conservation efforts.
• Issues affecting the lake include:
  • Encroachment
  • Inadequate freshwater inflow
  • Sewage release
  • Growth of water hyacinth
  • Fish kills
  • Low tree cover in some areas

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC)

India has assured its continued support in Africa in the area of training and capacity building through (ITEC) in the recently held ‘India Africa Postal Leaders Meet’.

• The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, established in 1964, is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs.
• ITEC aims to share India's developmental experience and expertise with other developing countries, enhancing India's role as a responsible global player.
• It is administered by the Development Partnership Administration-II Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.
• ITEC has trained over 200,000 officials from more than 160 countries in both civilian and defence sectors, making it one of the oldest and largest capacity-building programs globally.
• It provides nearly 10,000 fully-funded training opportunities through about 400 courses at over 100 premier Indian institutions annually.
• During the pandemic, ITEC shifted to online platforms, training nearly 10,000 professionals in healthcare and governance-related fields.
• It offers tailored programs to meet specific requests from partner countries, demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness.

Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai

The Non-governmental organisation Child Rights and You (CRY) has recently launched Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai, with an aim to increase the faltering participation of the girl child in Indian schools.

• Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai (Complete education is beneficial to the nation) is a nation-wide awareness campaign, with an aim to increase the faltering participation of the girl child in Indian schools.
• It is an initiative of Child Rights and You (CRY), a Non-governmental organisation (NGO).
• The seven-week-long campaign commenced recently in five cities namely Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata to engage all its stakeholders to address gender disparities in education.
• Purpose of the Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai
  • To increase the participation of girls in Indian schools.
  • To address gender disparities in education.
• UDISE+ data for 2021-2022 shows that less than 60% of girls are enrolled in higher secondary education, with significant dropout rates at secondary levels.
• Efforts under the campaign aim to reverse these trends, ensuring more girls complete their education and contribute meaningfully to society.

Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently moved Iberian Lynx conservation status from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Vulnerable’.

• Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) have a coat colour of yellowish to reddish-brown, patterned with many dark brown or black spots of varying size.
• They are found only in the Spain and Portugal.
• It is the world's most endangered feline species.
• Recently the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has moved its conservation status from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Vulnerable’ in its red list.
• The population of it has increased exponentially from 62 mature individuals in 2001 to 648 in 2022 due to various conservation efforts.
• LIFE Lynx-Connect project – It led the conservation action for the Iberian lynx, called the lynx’s revival as “the greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation”.
• The conservation efforts includes:
  • Increasing the abundance of its prey, the Endangered European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus),
  • Protecting and restoring Mediterranean scrub and forest habitat,
  • Reducing deaths caused by human activity and
  • Translocations and an ex-situ breeding programme, both of which have been key to increasing numbers.
• Threats
  • Susceptible to diseases from domestic cats
  • Poaching and road kills
  • Habitat alterations related to climate change