Part - 7/10

Prelims 2017

in 100 Days
Everything for Prelims

Trending Topics

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Index

Trending Topics

1. Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative

2. Climate Change Performance Index
3. Plant Quarantine
4. Marrakech Climate Change Conference
5. Graded Response Action Plan on Pollution
6. Olive Ridley Turtles
7. Draft on Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
8. AICHI Target
9. Open Waste Burning and its Impact
10. Tansat Satellite
11. Greater Mekong Region
12. Carbon Neutral District Concept
13. Sand Mining and its Impact
14. Illegal Salt Mining and its Impact
15. Groundwater Contamination
16. Harmful Impact of Modern Agriculture on Environment
17. Asian Waterbird Census
18. Marine Protected Areas
19. Bio-digester Toilet
20. National Clean Energy Fund
21. Sea Water Greenhouse
22. Polar Remotely Operated Vehicle
23. Cluster Munitions
24. Sodium Vapour Lamp and CFL
25. Quantum Communication
26. Cryogenics
27. Aquaponics
28. CERN
29. Food Adulterants
30. RFID
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SUSTAINABLE SUGARCANE INITIATIVE

Sugarcane is an important crop in India, being cultivated by 45 million farmers. About 50 million people
depend on this crop, including the employment generated by around 570 sugar factories and other related
industries. Sugar is used in many products and its use is growing. The sugarcane crop is also contributing to
our ever-increasing thirst for energy, becoming a substitute for oil. It is a crop with a future. But, sugarcane
cultivation in India is in crisis. During the last 10 years, sugarcane production has been fluctuating widely,
between 233 and 355 million tonnes. At the same time, productivity at the farm level has been stagnant over
the last two decades, at around 6570 tonnes/ha. With low yields, high input costs, lack of labour availability,
water scarcity, climate-induced uncertainties, pest and diseases, and so many other factors, the sugarcane

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farmers are indeed in a bad state. Those who are producing the raw material for sugar production are bitter.
They are shifting to other crops.

of sugarcane cultivation.
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The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) is a step in that direction of addressing the fundamental problems

The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) aims at providing practical options to the farmers in improving the
productivity of land, water and labour, all at the same time. SSI is also expected to reduce the overall pressure
on water resources and contribute to recovery of ecosystems. Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative is an innovative
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method of sugarcane production using less seeds, less water and optimum utilization of fertilizers and land to
achieve more yields.

The major principles that govern SSI

Raising nursery in portrays using single budded chips

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Transplanting young seedlings (25-35 days old)

Maintaining wider spacing (5x2 feet) in the main field

Providing sufficient moisture through efficient water management technologies viz., drip fertigation (sub
or sub surface)

Encouraging organic method of nutrient and plant protection measures

Practicing intercropping with effective utilization of land

SSI methods have received an overwhelming response from the farmers, industries and researchers. The important
thing about SSI or any other farm based approaches are that it has to be modified to suite the local conditions
while retaining the main principles.

The SRI in rice and SSI in sugarcane have proved the potential of addressing the water crisis while improving
the productivity and profitability. India needs to invest in these methods to upscale to see the full positive
impact of such approaches at the national level. It is also time for civil society, government agencies to work
together to support the farmers in adopting these methods in a big way.
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Overall benefits
Improved water use efficiency
Optimum use of fertilizers favour balanced availability of nutrients
Better aeration and more penetration of sunlight favours higher sugar content
Reduced cost of cultivation and increased returns through intercropping

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CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX

The Climate Change Performance Index(CCPI) is an annual publication byGermanwatchandClimate Action
NetworkEurope. It evaluates the climate protection performance of 58 countries, responsible for over 90% of
global energy-related CO2emissions.
The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) compares countries in the areas of emissions trends and levels,
expansion and use of renewable energies, energy efficiency and climate policies.
The CCPI is a tool designed to enhance transparency in international climate politics.
Its aim is to encourage political and social pressure on those countries which have, up to now, failed to take

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ambitious actions on climate protection as well as to highlight countries with best-practice climate policies.
On the basis of standardised criteria, the index evaluates and compares the climate protection performance of

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58 countries that are, together, responsible for more than 90 percent of global energy-related CO2emissions.
80 percent of the evaluation is based on objective indicators of emissions trend and emissions level. 20 percent
of the index results are built upon national and international climate policy assessments by about 300 experts
from the respective countries.
Key highlights
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The first three ranks in the list of 2017 CCPI rankings are left free because up to now no country is acting
enough to prevent dangerous climate change.
France was placed at 4th place, thus leads list for the first time. It was followed by Sweden (5th) and UK (6th).
India was placed at the 20th rank among the 58 countries on the 2017 Climate Change Performance Index
(CCPI).
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The index underlines that countries like India are making great efforts in the fields of renewable and energy
efficiency.
The 2015 Paris Agreement has helped in encouraging the trends in switching towards the renewable energy,
but the revolution in switching is very slow at the global level.
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PLANT QUARANTINE
Plant quarantineis a technique for ensuring disease- and pest-free plants, whereby a plant is isolated while tests
are performed to detect the presence of a problem.
Plant Quarantine regulatory measures are operative through the Destructive Insects & Pests Act, 1914 (Act
2 of 1914) in the country.
The purpose and intent of this Act is to prevent the introduction of any insect, fungus or other pest, which
is or may be destructive to crops.
The import of agricultural commodities is presently regulated through the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of

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Import into India) Order, 2003 the provisions of New Policy on Seed Development, 1988.
Further, the significance of Plant Quarantine has increased in view of Globalization and liberalization in

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International trade of plants and plant material in the wake of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)
Agreement under WTO. The phytosanitary certification of agricultural commodities being exported is also
undertaken as per International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), 1951.
Objectives
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Inspection of imported agricultural commodities for preventing the introduction of exotic pests and
diseases inimical to Indian fauna and flora through implementation of DIP Act, 1914and the Plant
Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 issued there under.
Inspection of plants and plant material meant for export as per the requirements under International Plant
Protection Convention (IPPC) 1951 of FAO to facilitate pest free trade.
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Detection of exotic pests and diseases for their containment by adopting domestic quarantine regulations,
if introduced.
Theongoing activitiesassigned under the scheme include:
To issue import permits with additional declarations and special conditions to facilitate safe imports of
agricultural products.
To undertake quarantine inspection and laboratory testing of plants and plant material to ensure freedom
from exotic pests.
To undertake phytosanitary certification (for issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates (PSCs); 150 Nos. of
Officers from Central/ State/ UT Governments have been authorized for this purpose.
To undertake fumigation/disinfestations/disinfections of commodities to control infestation/infection.
To undertake certification of post-entry quarantine facilities and inspection of imported growing plants
and plant material; 41 Nos. of Inspection Authorities have been designated.
To support Export market access for Indias Agriculture products from the phytosanitary point of view.
To facilitate safe global trade in agriculture by assisting the producers and exporters by providing a technically
competent and reliable phytosanitary certificate system to meet the requirements of trading partners.
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MARRAKECH CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

The Marrakech meeting was the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), known as COP 22. It also served as the first meeting of the
governing body of the Paris Agreement, known by the acronym CMA.
The conference incorporated the twenty-secondConference of the Parties(COP22), the twelfth meeting of the
parties for theKyoto Protocol(CMP12), and the first meeting of the parties for theParis Agreement(CMA1).
The purpose of the conference was to discuss and implement plans about combating climate change and to
[demonstrate] to the world that the implementation of the Paris Agreement is underway.Participants work
together to come up with global solutions toclimate change.
Salient outcomes are:

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International Solar Alliance: India went to Marrakesh with a draft Framework Agreement on International
Solar Alliance, which 26 countries signed. The Agreement will take the shape of an international treaty
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once 15 countries that have signed up, ratify it.
Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA): The triple-An initiative seeks to climate-proof agriculture in
Africa by promoting sustainable soil management, better water management, and risk mitigation strategies.
27 African countries are already on the platform.
Mission Innovation: There will be greater research collaborations between these countries, which together
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account for almost 80% of all investments into clean energy research. The mission has identified 7
innovation challenges, including smart grids, carbon capture and sequestration, building of storage cells for
solar energy, clean energy materials and sustainable biofuels. Science Based Targets initiative got a boost
in Marrakech when over 200 companies worldwide committed to emissions reductions targets.
Climate Vulnerable Forum: Member countries stressed that the target should be to keep global temperature
rise to within 1.5 (not 2) degrees Celsius from pre-industrial times. They vowed to update their climate
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action plans before 2020 to bring in greater ambition, and prepare a long-term low-carbon development
strategy for 2050 with a 1.5-degree target in mind. They also said they would strive to reach 100%
renewable energy production between 2030 and 2050.
Sub-national jurisdictions target: 165 sub-national jurisdictions, calling themselves the Under2s, announced
that they would reduce their emissions by 80-95 per cent below 1990 levels and limit their per capita
emissions to under 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2050. These governments range across states like
California, New York and Telangana and cities like Manchester and Sao Paulo, and contribute to over a
third of the global economy.
2050 Pathway Platform: This is an effort to get countries, cities and businesses to accept long-term targets
for climate action. Countries have submitted 5-year or 10-year action plans as part of their commitments
under the Paris deal.
Warsaw International Mechanismfor Loss and Damage, the framework for a five-year rolling work plan
was approved. It will serve as the basis for developing corresponding activities, starting with the first meeting
in 2017. Since adaptation has limitations, this is a global mechanism to provide support to countries that
sustain ongoing and future harm from climate change. The aim will be to address issues such as extreme
events, non-economic losses, displacement, migration, slow-moving climatic changes and risk management.
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Nearly 200 nations attending the COP22 to the UNFCC have adopted Marrakech Action Proclamation for
Our Climate and Sustainable Development.
One focus in Marrakech was to clarify all the rules related to NDCs so that each country could be confident
that others were being transparent about their actions.
India has welcomed Marrakesh Action Proclamation as most of its demands including the issue of providing
finance to developing nations to tackle climate change has been incorporated.
Future meetings: Negotiations will resume at the annual Subsidiary Bodies meeting, set for May 8-18, 2017,
in Bonn, Germany.
Fiji will assume the COP presidency at COP 23, to be held November 6-17, 2017, in Bonn.
Poland will host COP 24, set for November 5-16, 2018.

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GRADED RESPONSE
ACTION PLAN ON POLLUTION
The Union Environment Ministry notified a Graded Response Action Plan against air pollution for Delhi and
the National Capital Region.
The plan puts governments under the lens and holds out the promise of improvement in air quality.
A graded response lays down stratified actions that are required to be taken as and when the concentration of
pollutants, in this case particulate matter, reaches a certain level.
At the level of 100 microgrammes per cubic metre of PM 2.5, for example, mechanised sweeping and water-
sprinkling along roads has to start. Traffic police personnel have to ensure smooth flow of traffic, and all
pollution control measures that are already in place such as stopping landfill fires, and enforcing Pollution
Under Control (PUC) norms and a ban on firecrackers have to be imposed strictly.

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The graded action plan will be implemented if PM2.5 levels stay over300 micrograms per cubic metre and
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PM10 levels stay above 500 micrograms per cubic metre.
The Delhi specific comprehensive action plan was prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The new graded response action plan has proposed stratified levels of action according to the air pollution levels
classified by air quality index, which range from moderate to poor to very poor to severe to severe+ or emergency.
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The measures in the action plan are cumulative and add up to the highest level, which is severe+ or emergency.
Additional action can be proposed if pollution levels demand higher level of stringency. Decision to shut
schools will be taken as per the need of the hour.
The plan was prepared by the Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA)
The job of ensuring implementation of the action plan will be EPCAs under the Environment (Protection)
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Act, 1986, which will delegate the responsibility to the concerned departments.
The concentration of pollutants will be communicated to EPCA by a task force that will primarily comprise
officials from the respective pollution control boards and India Meteorological Department. This will be an
average for the entire city.
The job of ensuring implementation of the action plan will be EPCAs, which will delegate the responsibility
to the concerned departments. According to EPCAs report, at least 16 agencies will have to work together to
implement the various parts of the plan.
These include the municipal corporations of all NCR towns, the traffic police, police, transport departments,
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Transport Corporation, Resident Welfare Associations, Public Works
Departments and Central Public Works Department, Chief Controller of Explosives, and the Petroleum and
Explosives Safety Organisation. Each body has been set a task that it will have to carry out when EPCA asks
it to, based on the concentration of pollutants.
Beijing and Paris, most notably, have implemented graded action plans over the past few years. Paris recently
implemented the odd-even road rationing scheme when PM 2.5 levels crossed 95 g/m. It also made public
transport free to encourage people to leave their vehicles at home.
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OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES

Theolive ridley sea turtle(Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as thePacific ridley sea turtle, is a medium-
sizedspeciesofsea turtlefound in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans,
Atlantic Ocean.
The name for thissea turtle is tied to the color of its shell. They are carnivores in nature.
Olive Ridley Turtles are best known for their behavior of synchronized nesting in mass numbers called
Arribada
Nesting period:From October to early summer

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In the Indian Ocean, the majority of olive ridleys nest in two or three large groups near Gahirmatha inOdisha.
The coast of Odisha in India is the largest massnesting site for the olive ridley, followed by the coasts of
Mexico and Costa Rica.

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Conservation status: Vulnerable according to the (IUCN) and is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
Protection under The Convention on Migratory Species(CMS) and the Inter-American Convention for the
Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles
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Threats: Incidental take, particularly in shrimp trawl nets and near shore gill nets, direct harvest of eggs and
adults for their meat and skin, Marine pollution(including oil spills) and debris.
To reduce accidental killing in India, the Orissa government has made it mandatory for trawls to use Turtle
Excluder Devices (TEDs), a net specially designed with an exit cover which allows the turtles to escape while
retaining the catch. However, this has been strongly opposed by the fishing communities as they believe TEDs
result in loss of considerable amount of the catch along with the turtle. WWF-India, along with its partners,
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disproved this theory by conducting a study to measure the loss of catch through TEDs, revealing the loss to
be a very small percentage of the total catch. This result, along with regular meetings with the fishing
communities, is slowly helping to change their mindset and encourage use of TEDs, thereby aiding the
conservation of Olive ridley turtles.
SEE TURTLES: It is a non-profit organization that protects sea turtles through conservation travel and
volunteer tours, educational programs, and Billion Baby Turtles.
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DRAFT ON PREVENTION OF
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has invited comments on the draft notification of
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules), 2016.
The objective of the Rules is to make dog breeders and their marketers accountable and to prevent infliction
of any cruelty in this process.
The proposed Rules provide as under:-
It defines the breeding requirements/conditions for sale.
It will be mandatory for all dog breeders and the dog breeding establishments to register themselves with
the State Animal Welfare Board of the respective State Governments.

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An inspector authorised by the State Board can inspect the establishment.
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It defines the requirements to be met by the breeders and the establishments used for breeding, or housing
dogs, such as health-related requirements, housing facilities, manner of housing dogs, conditions for sale,
breeding, micro-chipping, vaccination etc.
Every dog breeder is required to submit yearly report to the State Board regarding animals sold, traded,
bartered, brokered, given away, boarded or exhibited during previous year or any other information asked
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for by the State Board.

It is mandatory for dog breeders to maintain proper records of both male and female dogs, their breed,
micro-chip number, number of litters, sale, purchase, death, rehabilitation etc.
Non-compliance of the proposed Rules will lead to cancellation of the registration of the dog breeder.
The Ministry has implemented Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 to prevent infliction of
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unnecessary pain, or suffering on animals.

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AICHI TARGET
The Aichi Target adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at its Nagoya conference.
In the COP-10 meeting, the parties agreed that previous biodiversity protection targets are not achieved, So
we need to do come up with new plans and targets
The short term plan provides a set of20ambitious yet achievabletargets, collectively known as theAichi
Targets.
Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across
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1. Make people aware about the values of biodiversity

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2. Integrated biodiversity values in development + poverty reduction plan
3. Subsidies which are harmful to biodiversity = and eliminate them, phase them out or reform them
4. Sustainable production and consumption
Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use.
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5. Reduce the rate of natural habitat loss + forest loss by at least 50%
6. Reduce overfishing
7. Agriculture, aquaculture and forestry in sustainable manner
8. Reduce pollution and excessive use of fertiliser
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9. Prevent invasive alien species (non-native)

10. Minimise the choral reflow destruction, ocean acidification
Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic
diversity
11. Conserve terrestrial and inland water, coastal marine areas
12. Prevent extinction of threatened species
13. Maintain genetic diversity of agro-plants, domesticated animals and minimising genetic erosion
Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services
14. Safeguard ecosystems for women, tribals, and poor.
15. Combat desertification and restore the degraded ecosystem
16. Operationalise the nagoya protocol on genetic resources, via national legislations
Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity
building
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17. National biodiversity strategy and action plans update for participation
18. Integrate the knowledge of tribal communities
19. Scientific and technological knowledge sharing application
20. Financial resources mobilisation
The IUCN Species Programme provides advice to Parties, other governments and partners on the implementation
of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2011 2020), and is also heavily
involved in work towards the Targets themselves.

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OPEN WASTE BURNING AND ITS IMPACT

Open waste burning is an inefficient combustion process and releases significant amounts of air pollutants and
ash, and dense white or black smoke.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a complete ban on burning of waste in open places and announced
a fine of Rs. 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning.
According to the NGT establishment and operationalisation of the plants for processing and disposal of the
waste and selection and specifications of landfill sites which have to be constructed, be prepared and maintained
strictly in accordance with the Rules of 2016.

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Non-biodegradable waste and non-recyclable plastic should be segregated from the landfill sites and used for
construction of roads and embankments in all road projects all over the country.
The negative impacts of Open Waste Burning are:
Health Effects:

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The pollutants are all toxic to humans, depending on their concentration, and may cause irritation, skin
and respiratory problems some are carcinogenic.
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Those individuals with respiratory problems such as asthma or with allergies may be even more sensitive
to the smoke.
Environmental Effects:
The smoke from waste disposal ground fires may reduce visibility on local roads. This has the potential
to cause traffic accidents.
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The ash, which may be dispersed by the wind or leached by water, may contain toxic contaminants.
Toxins may be leached from any ash remaining which could lead to the contamination of surface water
or ground water. There is always a risk of the fire burning out of control
Pollutants from burn barrels vary depending on the type of waste materials burned but, typically, emissions
include dioxins, ash, furans, halogenated hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, lead, barium, chromium, cadmium,
carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, arsenic or mercury. Burn barrels also often emit acid vapors and carcinogenic
tars.
Pound for pound, garbage burned in a burn barrel gives off twice as many furans, 17 times as much dioxin,
and 40 times as much ash as a municipal incinerator.
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TANSAT SATELLITE
TanSat, also known asCarbonSat, is a ChineseEarth observation satellitededicated to monitoringcarbon
dioxide in Earths atmosphere.
It is theChinese space program.The mission was formally proposed in 2010, and work began in January 2011.
It is funded by theMinistry of Science and Technology(MOST) and was built by theShanghai Institute of
Microsystem And Information Technology(SIMIT).
TanSat carries two instruments: the Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer and the Cloud and Aerosol Polarimetry
Imager.
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China is the third country after Japan and the United States to monitor greenhouse gases through its own
satellite.
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TheParis agreementon climate change came into force on November 4, with more than 100 countries
committed to reducing theircarbon emissions.
The satellite can trace the sources of greenhouse gases and help evaluate whether countries are fulfilling their
commitments.
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The project includes 4 research topics:

a) A high-resolution Carbon Dioxide Spectrometer for measuring the near-infrared absorption by CO2.
b) CAPI (Cloud and Aerosol Polarimetry Imager) to compensate the CO2measurement errors by high-
resolution measurement of cloud and aerosol.
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c) A spacecraft equipped with the two instruments, capable of performing scientific observations in multiple
ways as mission required.
d) A ground segment which receives observation data and retrieves the atmosphere column-averaged CO2dry
air mole fraction (XCO2), and performs data validation by ground-based CO2monitoring.
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GREATER MEKONG REGION

The Greater Mekong Sub region, or just Greater Mekong, is an international region of the Mekong River basin
in Southeast Asia.
The region spans Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the southern province of Yunnan in
China.
In 1992, with assistance from ADB, the six countries entered into a program of sub regional economic
cooperation, designed to enhance economic relations among the countries.
The landscapes of this vast area are just as diverse as the countries that it enshrines, from dusty savannahs to

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dense rainforests and from slow-moving rivers to icy torrents.
Greater Mekong holds irreplaceable natural and cultural riches and is considered one of the worlds most

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significant biodiversity hotspot. The region is a very important food provider and the site of many large-scale
construction projects with social and economic implications.
The unprecedented social and economic development of the Greater Mekong makes conservation work here
especially urgent, significantand hugely challenging. The most pressing current threats are hydropower
development, climate change, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat loss.
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With support from ADB and other donors, the GMS Program helps the implementation of high priority sub
regional projects in transport, energy, telecommunications, environment, human resource development, tourism,
trade, private sector investment, and agriculture.
WWF takes a comprehensive approach to seek this balance in the region. WWF recently launched an ambitious
project to disrupt the trade by closing down the biggest markets in the Greater Mekong region.
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CARBON NEUTRAL DISTRICT CONCEPT

Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by
balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying
enough carbon credits to make up the difference.
Carbon Neutral District refers to an area, where buildings do not cause net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
During a certain period, the district may be a net GHG emitter, but during another period it can be a net
supplier of carbon neutral energy, thus being net carbon neutral e.g. within a timeframe of one year.
Carbon neutrality can be achieved by enhancing energy efficiency of the buildings as well as purchasing the
remaining energy need from carbon neutral sources.
A district can be supplied with bio-energy based district heating, delivered by an energy company. Electricity

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can be purchased from a renewable energy based power plant outside the area, or the owners or users of the
buildings can even invest in renewable power generation facilities in another geographical area.
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The approach should not be restricted to onsite generation only.
City planning, construction and operation as well as maintenance of buildings and districts are key areas of
improvement, when reducing GHG emissions.
Assam government has initiated a project to make river island Majuli is the countrys first ever Carbon Neutral
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district by 2020. The project has been initiated to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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SAND MINING AND ITS IMPACT

Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. River
sand has the ability to replenish itself.
Sand is an important economic resource and also a source of silica for making sodium silicate, a chemical
compound used for manufacture of both common and optical glasses. Sand is an ingredient in plaster and
concrete and is added to clays to reduce shrinkage and cracking in the manufacture of bricks. Sand in the river
channel and floodplains constitutes an important raw material in the construction industry and has a variety
of uses in this sector. River sand is used along with cement, gravel, water and steel for making reinforced
concrete. Along with cement and water, it is used as mortar for joint filling and plastering.

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The economic aspects of sands are not confined to its value as raw material and its various uses. Sand
production, movement and deposition are of great concern to the engineering geologist and to the

development.
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geomorphologist, especially those concerned with river basin management, shore erosion and harbour

Besides its economic importance, sand also constitutes an important abiotic component in aquatic ecosystems
like rivers. lt provides suitable substrate for many benthic organisms. It is an unavoidable component for
psammophilic fishes as it provides breeding, spawning, feeding and hiding grounds. Inter-beds of sand within
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floodplain deposits act as aquifer systems storing large quantities of ground water. In addition to this, sand acts
as an efficient filter for various pollutants and thus maintains the quality of water in rivers and other aquatic
ecosystems. In earlier days, mining of sand did not create any problem to river ecosystem as the quantity of
mining was well within the replenishment limits. However, increase in population and the rise in economic and
industrial developments during the past few decades have aggravated mining of river sand many folds higher
than natural replenishments which really made a host of damages to river ecosystems in the world.
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Impacts of sand mining can be broadly classified into three categories:

Physical: The large-scale extraction of streambed materials, mining and dredging below the existing
streambed, and the alteration of channel-bed form and shape leads to several impacts such as erosion of
channel bed and banks, increase in channel slope, and change in channel morphology. These impacts may
cause: (1) the undercutting and collapse of river banks, (2) the loss of adjacent land and/or structures, (3)
upstream erosion as a result of an increase in channel slope and changes in flow velocity, and (4)
downstream erosion due to increased carrying capacity of the stream, downstream changes in patterns of
deposition, and changes in channel bed and habitat type.
Water Quality: Mining and dredging activities, poorly planned stockpiling and uncontrolled dumping of
overburden, and chemical/fuel spills will cause reduced water quality for downstream users, increased cost
for downstream water treatment plants and poisoning of aquatic life.
Ecological: Mining which leads to the removal of channel substrate, resuspension of streambed sediment,
clearance of vegetation, and stockpiling on the streambed, will have ecological impacts. These impacts
may have an effect on the direct loss of stream reserve habitat, disturbances of species attached to
streambed deposits, reduced light penetration, reduced primary production, and reduced feeding opportunities.
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ILLEGAL SALT MINING AND ITS IMPACT

A salt mine is a mine from which halite, commonly known as rock salt, is extracted from evaporite formations.
Illegal salt making and its impacts on Sambhar Lakes ecology:
Anicuts: a dam made in a stream for maintaining and regulating irrigation.
Unrestrained salt production threatens the very existence of Sambhar Lake, which was declared a wetland
of international importance in 1990 by the Ramsar Secretariat for being a unique migratory bird habitat
and wetland ecosystem.
The entire stretch is lined with salt refineries, all allegedly manufacturing salt with stolen brine from the
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Bad monsoon for several years and a dry lake surface has further led to the salt manufacturers exploiting
groundwater by digging illegal borewells in the land that belongs to Sambhar Salts Ltd.
OR
The road to Nawa witnesses heavy traffic of tractors ferrying clay from Sambhar that the salt manufacturers
use to make kyars or brine retaining pits.
Impacts:
SC

Excess water extraction has lowered groundwater levels by over 60 meters in the area.
Several dams and smaller anicuts blocking the natural drainage to ensure availability of irrigation water
barely contribute to the lake. Hence, deprived of recharge from subsurface flows, the lake is dying.
Pipelines have been dug to illegally extract water from the lake to manufacture salt and the situation is
worsening every year. It would soon reach a point where the existence of the Sambhar Lake itself (would
be) under threat.
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Presence of salt-tolerant algae makes the lake one of the most important wintering areas for flamingos
in country, after the Rann of Kachchh. Both Phoniconaias minor and Phoenicopterus roseus, settle here
during winters. But their number has fallen drastically in the past two decades because of overextraction
of subsurface brine from the lake and pollution caused by illegal salt-making units.
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GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
Introduction:

Any addition of undesirable substances to groundwater caused by human activities is considered to

becontamination.

Groundwater contamination also called Groundwater pollution occurs when pollutants are released to the
ground and make their way down into groundwater.

It can also occur naturally due to the presence of a minor and unwanted constituent, contaminant or
impurity in the groundwater.

E
Different mechanisms have influence on the transport of pollutants, e.g. diffusion, adsorption, precipitation,

decay, in the groundwater.

OR
The interaction of groundwater contamination with surface waters is analyzed by use of hydrology
transport models.

Sources:
SC
Point sources:

Municipal landfills.

On-site septic systems.

Leaky sewer lines.

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Leaks or spills of industrial chemicals at manufacturing facilities.

Sludge disposal areas at petroleum refineries

Underground injection wells (industrial waste).

Livestock wastes.

Chemicals used at wood preservation facilities.

Leaky tanks or pipelines containing petroleum products.

Fly ash from coal-fired power plants.

Non-point (distributed) sources:

Fertilizers on agricultural land.

Pesticides on agricultural land and forests.

Contaminants in rain, snow, and dry atmospheric fallout.

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Pollutant types:
Volatile organic compounds: They are generally introduced to the environment through careless industrial practices.
Pathogens: Pathogens contained in feces can lead to groundwater pollution when they are given the
opportunity to reach the groundwater, making it unsafe for drinking.
(Diseases: cholera, diarrhoea).
Nitrate: Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L (10 ppm) in groundwater can cause blue baby syndrome (acquired
methemoglobinemia).
Others: Organic pollutants can also be found in groundwater, such as insecticides and herbicides. Inorganic
pollutans might include ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, heavy metals or radionuclides.
Naturally occurring:
Fluoride: In areas that have naturally occurring high levels of fluoride in groundwater which is used for
drinking water, both dental and skeletal fluorosis can be prevalent and severe.
Arsenic: In the Ganges Plain of northern India and Bangladesh severe contamination of groundwater by

E
naturally occurring arsenic affects 25% of water wells in the shallower of two regional aquifers.
Exposure Pathways:
OR
Groundwater pollutants can enter the body directly through water supplies or by eating foods prepared
with contaminated groundwater or grown in fields using contaminated sources.
It may also affect humans when they are in direct contact with polluted waters.
SC

Health Effects:
Health effects from groundwater pollution depend on the specific pollutants in the water.
Pollution from groundwater often causes diarrhoea and stomach irritation, which can lead to more severe
health effects.
Accumulation of heavy metals and some organic pollutants can lead to cancer, reproductive abnormalities
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and other more severe health effects.

Prevention:
Locating on-site sanitation systems: On-site sanitation systems can be designed in such a way that
groundwater pollution from these sanitation systems is prevented from occurring.
The following criteria have been proposed for safe siting (i.e. deciding on the location) of on-site sanitation
systems:
a) Horizontal distance between the drinking water source and the sanitation system.
b) Guideline values for horizontal separation distances between on-site sanitation systems and water
sources vary widely (e.g. 15 to 100 m horizontal distance between pit latrine and groundwater wells).
c) Vertical distance between drinking water well and sanitation system.
d) Aquifer type.
e) Groundwater flow direction.
f) Impermeable layers.
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HARMFUL IMPACT OF MODERN AGRICULTURE

ON ENVIRONMENT
In modern agriculture, high yielding varieties (HYV) are grown which require large amount of water supply,
chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Hence it leads to following environmental problems:
a) Soil Erosion
Excessive water-supply and wind removes the top fertile layer of the farm. Loss of nutrient rich soil not only
reduces productivity, but also results in silting of water bodies and streams and induces release of soil carbon
from particulate organic material, which contributes to global warming.
b) Ground water contamination

E
Leaching of nitrates (NPK fertilizers) may cause ground-water pollution. E.g. haemoglobin combines with
nitrite to from methaemoglobin which is unable to carry the oxygen so reduces oxygen uptake in the lungs.
What is methemoglobin?
OR
A hematogenous pigment formed from hemoglobin by oxidation of the iron atom from the ferrous to the
ferric state.
SC
A small amount is found in the blood normally, but injury or toxic agents convert a larger proportion of
hemoglobin into methemoglobin,which does not function as an oxygen carrier.
The disease caused is methaemoglobinemia (When more than normal level of methemoglobin is present in
blood). Methaemoglobinemia further leads to cyanosis or blue baby syndrome. (the word cyanosis literally
means the blue colouration)
c) Water-logging and salinity
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Due to improper drainage, water gets accumulated in the farm known as water-logging. When water evaporates,
it causes salinity in the soil. As a result the crop plants die.
d) Eutrophication
When the water runoff with chemical fertilizers reach to the nearby water body small water plants grow in
excess known as Algal Bloom. It prevents or stops intermixing of atmospheric oxygen to dissolved oxygen
in water. The water plants and animals start dying due to lack of oxygen. The dead parts will deposit at the
bottom of the water body. The process continues and cause threat to the water-body. The process is known
as Eutrophication. The water body is known as eutrophic water body e.g. Chilka Lake in Orissa.
e) Biomagnification
Concentration of the toxic substance increases several times when it is transferred from one organism to
another, in the food-chain known as Biomagnification. E.g. increase in DDT concentration caused reproductive
failure in birds i.e. their eggs hatch before time.
f) Seed Suicide
High yielding varieties (HYV) are used in modern agriculture, to produce more crop yield. They require large
amount of water and fertilizers i.e. HYV are irrigation and chemical fertilizer intensive.
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Hence excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides kills the useful pests too.
However growing the same kind of seeds again and again also increases the chances of pest-attack. Thus the
crop becomes vulnerable to pest attack. E.g. potato famine occurred in Ireland in 1969 due to pest attack on
the complete crop due to monoculture.
Seeds of HYV do not germinate i.e. lose their viability every season due to terminator technology being used
in their genes. Thus, farmers used to buy these seeds every year.
Seeds of High yielding varieties are very costly. Farmers are compelled to use these high yielding varieties
seeds to increase their crop production and to gain profit.

E
OR
SC
GS
Notes

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ASIAN WATERBIRD CENSUS

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is an international programme that focuses on monitoring the status of
waterbirds and wetlands. It also aims to increase public awareness on issues related to wetland and waterbird
conservation. The census is carried out each January as a voluntary activity at national and local level.
The AWC is co-coordinated by Wetlands International- as part of global programme, the "International Waterbird
Census".
The census has three major objectives:
1. To obtain information on an annual basis of waterbird populations at wetlands in the region during the

E
non-breeding period of most species (January), as a basis for evaluation of sites and monitoring of
populations
2.
3. OR
To monitor on an annual basis the status and condition of wetlands
To encourage greater interest in waterbirds and wetlands amongst people, and thereby promote the
conservation of wetlands and waterbirds in the region.
The data collected for the AWC is being used to provide information on wetlands and waterbirds and to
SC
encourage local or national conservation measures for important wetlands. The primary role of Wetlands
International in coordinating the census is to raise awareness on the importance of waterbirds and wetlands
at international level and for this it collates information at regional level. The census is primarily carried out
by volunteers from all walks of life: university and school staff and students, nature club members, amateur
and professional ornithologists, government and non-governmental agencies and others. Sites covered include
rivers, lakes, reservoirs, tanks, swamps, coastal sites, mangrove and mudflats, reefs, sandy beaches, etc. All
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species of waterbirds associated with wetlands are entered onto standardized count forms.
In India, the AWC is annually coordinated by the Bombay Natural history Society (BNHS) and Wetlands
International.
BNHS is a non government Organisation (NGO) founded in the year 1883. It engages itself in the conservation
of nature and natural resources and also in the research and conservation of endangered species. Its mission
is to conserve nature, primarily biological diversity through action based on research, education and public
awareness.
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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Introduction:
Marine protected areas (MPA) are protected areas of seas, oceans, estuaries or large lakes.
It is a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other
effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and
cultural values".
MPAs restrict human activity for a conservation purpose, typically to protect natural or cultural resources.
Such marine resources are protected by local, state, territorial, native, regional, national, or international
authorities and differ substantially among and between nations.

E
This variation includes different limitations on development, fishing practices, fishing seasons and catch
limits, moorings and bans on removing or disrupting marine life.
OR
MPA is an umbrella term to describe a wide range of protected areas for marine conservation around the
world.
Several types of compliant MPA can be distinguished:
A totally marine area with no significant terrestrial parts.
SC

An area containing both marine and terrestrial components, which can vary between two extremes; those
that are predominantly maritime with little land
For example, an atoll would have a tiny island with a significant maritime population surrounding it), or
that is mostly terrestrial.
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Marine ecosystems that contain land and intertidal components only.

For example, a mangrove forest would contain no open sea or ocean marine environment, but its river-
like marine ecosystem nevertheless complies with the definition.
Why Marine Protected Area (MPA)?
Marine protected areas are essential to safeguard biodiversity and to sustain vibrant seas and can increase
biomass and biodiversity in tropical and temperate ecosystems
They serve as insurance policies against the impacts of fishing and other destructive activities.
In India:
India has a coastline of 8,118 km, with an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million sq km and
a continental shelf area of 372,424 km, spread across 9 maritime States and seven Union Territories,
including the islands of Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep.
The important species found in the Indian waters include, Dugongs, Whales, Dolphins, Olive Ridley
Turtles, a variety of fishes including the Whale Sharks & other sharks, Giant Groupers, Sea cucumbers,
horseshoe crabs, sea shells, soft & hard corals, etc.
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India has at present following designated Marine Protected Areas:

Gulf of Mannar National Park, Tamil Nadu
Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park, Gujarat
Gulf of Kutch Marine Sanctuary, Gujarat
Malvan (Marine) Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Gahirmatha Sanctuary, Orissa.
In India, all marine protected areas fall under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). It is the
nodal agency at the central level and responsible for:
Planning,

E
Promotion,
Co-ordination and

Management Project, 2012). OR
Overseeing the implementation of environmental and forestry programmes (Integrated Coastal Zone

At the state level the Department of Forests (under the Ministry of Environment and Forests) acts as the
nodal agency for the same.
SC
Departments of Fisheries are responsible for managing the fisheries resources in their particular state.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) deals with the science and technology research of exploitation
of ocean resources (living and non-living).
Economics:
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MPAs can help sustain local economies by supporting fisheries and tourism.
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BIO-DIGESTER TOILET
Human waste disposal in high altitude and low temp areas, Moving Railway coaches, Buses, Big Cities, Mines,
remote areas, Beaches, Rural areas, long distance buses is a burning problem.
The problem has further aggravated in glaciers where ambient temperature drops to -40 degree C and lower.
The low temp stops/ delays the natural bio-degradation of the waste leading to its preservation (accumulation)
for long time resulting in environmental hazard. Local heating by direct sunlight exposes the waste buried in
the ice causing nuisance and foul smell. The melting ice takes the waste to rivers disturbing the aquatic eco
system. More over human waste is also responsible for spreading of water born diseases like typhoid, cholera,
Shigellosis, Amebic Dysenteries, Diarrhea etc.
Bio-Digester Toilet is a decomposition mechanized toilet system by means of which the sludge(Human

E
Waste), the fecal matter is decomposed to bits in the digester tank using a specific high graded bacteria further
converting them into methane and water, discharged further to the desired surface. The Bio-digester toilet is
OR
total maintenance-free system & does not require any sewage system. The specific high graded bacteria
involved in these bio-digester toilets carries on to further auto generation on their own because of their
supreme quality. Bio-toilet technology is based on anaerobic biodegradation of organic waste by unique
microbial consortium and works at a wide temperature range. The bacterial consortium degrades night soil at
temp as low as -20 degree C and produces colorless, odorless and inflammable gas containing 50 - 70%
methane.
SC

Indian Railway and Bio toilets

Indian RAIL has rolled out new coaches with bio-toilets, using the bio-digester concept of the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
In phases, all conventional toilets will be replaced with bio-toilets, and the Southern Railway is looking
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at having only bio-toilets by 2022.

Under the bio-toilet concept of the DRDO, the bio-digester tank in every toilet is filled with inoculums
containing four types of bacteria. The water trap system in the toilet prevents air from getting into the
tank, the human waste is processed by anaerobic bacteria in seven chambers in the tank and the methane
gas is allowed to escape into the air.
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NATIONAL CLEAN ENERGY FUND

The National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) is a fund
created in 2010-11 using the carbon tax - clean energy
cess - for funding research and innovative projects in
clean energy technologies of public sector or private
sector entities, upto the extent of 40% of the total
project cost. Assistance is available as a loan or as a
viability gap funding, as deemed fit by the Inter-
Ministerial group, which decides on the merits of
such projects.

E
The Fund is designed as a non lapsable fund under
Public Accounts and with its secretariat in Plan
Finance II Division, Department of Expenditure,
Ministry of Finance
An Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) chaired by Finance
OR
Secretary approves the projects/schemes eligible for
SC
financing under the NCEF.
These projects include innovative schemes like Green
Energy Corridor for boosting up the transmission
sector, Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission
(JNNSM)'s installation of solar photovoltaic (SPV)
lights and small capacity lights, installation of SPV
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water pumping systems, SPV Power Plants, Grid

Connected Rooftop SPV Power Plants, pilot project
to assess wind power potential etc.
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SEA WATER GREENHOUSE

Introduction:
The technology was introduced by British inventor Charlie Paton in the early 1990s and is being developed
by his UK Company Seawater Greenhouse Ltd.
The seawater greenhouse is a response to the global water crisis.
A seawater greenhouse is a greenhouse structure that enables the growth of crops in arid regions, using
seawater and solar energy.
Process:

E
The technique involves pumping seawater (or allowing it to gravitate if below sea level) to an arid location
and then subjecting it to following processes:
OR
I. It is used to humidify and cool the air.
II. It is evaporated by solar heating and distilled to produce fresh water.
III. Finally, the remaining humidified air is expelled from the greenhouse and used to improve growing
conditions for outdoor plants.
SC

IV. The more concentrated salt water may either be further evaporated for the production of salt and
other elements, or discharged back to the sea.
Regions and criteria:
Seawater Greenhouse systems operate most efficiently and achieve greatest profitability when they are
located in arid regions, in proximity to the sea and close to consumer end markets.
GS

The distance and elevation from the sea must be evaluated considering the energy required to pump
water to the site.
Advantages:
The system does not rely on scarce fresh water, costly desalination equipment or fossil-fuel driven
greenhouse climate control systems.
Even in the most hostile, arid regions, the Seawater Greenhouse can create ideal growing conditions for
crops inside the greenhouse and produce fresh water for irrigation, using only seawater and sunlight.
The technology can be used to produce a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers etc. in most of the
world's driest regions. The Greenhouses can be adapted to suit a variety of customers, from small to large-
scale growers.
Seawater Greenhouse growers can therefore enjoy these advantages from both an economic and
environmental perspective.
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POLAR REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE

National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the aegis of Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government
of India has developed a Mini work class Polar Remotely Operated Vehicle (PROVe) for polar studies. PROVe
is an unmanned, free swimming underwater vehicle.
Benefits
It is capable of probing the sea bed under normal temperature and is capable of exploring up to 200
meters deep in inhospitable and tough regions like the ice clad Antarctica
The polar vehicle is remotely operated by scientists from the ship and has inbuilt thrusters allowing it for

E
360 degree movement
It will help the researchers to study and find out details about dissolved oxygen in sea bottom, salinity

OR
and the quantity of sunlight hitting the bottom of the sea
This will help the scientists to understand the biological activities that take place inside the sea
PROVe will also help in easy predictions of monsoon and reading the patterns
SC
Recently National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), for the first time, used the indigenously-developed
Remotely Operated Vehicle (PROVe), to map the coral reefs in Andaman & Nicobar Islands (North Bay and
Chidiyatapu) and that the ROV can be used for this purpose efficiently.
The ROV can effectively map 4-6 sq.km. of coral reefs in a day, whereas the same job takes about a week
for a Scuba diver. The images of corals recorded by the ROV are useful to study the biodiversity of coral reefs
and their evolution. The underwater visuals have shown the coral debris and boulders caused by the 2004
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Tsunami, at the same time, also capturingsome locations where the rejuvenation of the colonies of branching
corals, stony coral, brain corals was observed. The water temperature ranged between 31oC at surface and
30.5oC at 1 m water depth. It further decreases in deeper waters as recorded by the ROV based sensor.
The radiometer attached on the ROV provided the spectral signatures of different types of corals in Andaman.
The spectral signatures of the corals are valuable in developing algorithms to map the coral reefs using sensing
techniques, especially the satellite remote sensing.
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CLUSTER MUNITIONS
Introduction:
"Cluster munition" means a conventional munition that is designed to disperse or release explosive
submunitions each weighing less than 20 kilograms, and includes those explosive submunitions.
A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that releases or ejects
smaller submunitions.
Commonly, this is a cluster bomb that ejects explosive bomblets that are designed to kill personnel and
destroy vehicles.
Cluster bombs:

E
They are usually aimed at stopping the advance of army units and are dropped from an aircraft.
OR
The bombs can cruise for approximately 15 km and release around 200 bomblets that spread out
across a wide area.
Every bomblets contains hundreds of potentially lethal metal shards and "When it explodes, it can
cause deadly injuries up to 25m away."
SC

Other cluster munitions are designed to destroy runways or electric power transmission lines, disperse
chemical or biological weapons, or to scatter land mines.
Some submunition-based weapons can disperse non-munitions, such as leaflets.
Convention on Cluster Munitions:
The Convention on Cluster Munitions was concluded by the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster
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Munitions at Dublin on 30 May 2008.

The Convention entered into force and became binding international law upon ratifying states on 1 August
2010.
It bans the stockpiling, use and transfer of virtually all existing cluster bombs and provides for the clearing
up of unexploded munitions.
It had been signed by 108 countries, of which 38 had ratified it by the affected date, but many of the
world's major military powers including the United States, Russia, Brazil and China are not signatories
to the treaty.
Countries that ratify the convention will be obliged "never under any circumstances to":
Use cluster munitions;
Develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer to anyone, directly or indirectly, cluster
munitions;
Assist, encourage or induce anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this
Convention.
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It also includes several positive obligations to ensure no further use and to redress past harm caused by the
weapons.
Under the terms of the Convention, a number of responsibilities have been entrusted to the Secretary-
General of the UN, including:
Collection and dissemination of transparency reports by and to the States parties;
Facilitation of clarification of compliance;
Convening of the Meetings of States Parties.
The convention addresses the humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm caused to civilians by
cluster munitions, through a categorical prohibition and a framework for action.
The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) is an international civil society movement campaigning against the
use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions.
The CMC, formed in November 2003, is a network of civil society organizations, including NGOs, faith-

E
based groups and professional organizations.

OR
SC
GS
Notes

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SODIUM VAPOUR LAMP AND CFL

Sodium Vapour Lamp
A sodium-vapor lamp is a gas-discharge lamp that uses sodium in an excited state to produce light at a
characteristic wavelength near 589 nm.
They are some of the most efficient lamps in the world. They have an efficiency of up to 190 lumens
per watt compared to an incandescent street lamp which has between 15 and 19 lumens per watt.
There are two varieties of such lamps:
Low-pressure sodium lamps: They are highly efficient electrical light sources, but their yellow light
restricts applications to outdoor lighting such as street lamps.

E
Low-pressure sodium lamps only give monochromatic yellow light and so inhibit color vision at night
OR
High-pressure sodium lamps produce a broader spectrum of light than the low-pressure lamps, but
they still have poorer color rendering than other types of lamps.
Sodium lighting has the highest efficiency of all lighting.
How it works?
SC

The tube is made of borosilicate glass to withstand pressure and temperature and contains some sodium
metal, neon and argon.
When the lamp is switched on, the sodium vaporises and an arc is established.
Uses:
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Low pressure sodium lamps:

Outdoor lighting, security lighting, long tunnel lighting (the light seems to give less fatigue in tunnel
driving than white lights flashing by at close proximity).
High Pressure sodium lamps:
Outdoor lighting, municipal lighting, home yard lighting, high bay lighting
Advantages:
Good efficiency (lumens per watt).
Smaller size than LPS or fluorescent, the HPS fits into many fixture types.
Can be retrofitted into older Mercury Vapor fixtures.
Better bulb life than LPS lamps.
CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp)
CFL, energy-saving light, and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an
incandescent light bulb;
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Some types fit into light fixtures designed for incandescent bulbs.
The lamps use a tube which is curved or folded to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb, and compact
electronic ballast in the base of the lamp.
CFLs use one-fifth to one-third the electric power, and last eight to fifteen times longer.
There are two types of CFLs:
Non-integrated ballast CFL: It is the type of CFL technology that we typically call a "plug-in."
This means you will purchase the ballast separate from the lamp and the ballast will be configured in the
fixture. This is similar to linear fluorescents but is far smaller than linear ballast.
Integrated or self-ballasted CFL: These are created to replace incandescent and halogen lamps.
Literally, take out the incandescent or halogen bulb and put in a CFL bulb in the same socket.
In order for these CFLs to work in a regular medium base screw socket, a ballast has to be integrated into

E
the CFL.
How it works?

OR
In a CFL, an electric current is driven through a tube containing argon and a small amount of mercury
vapor. This generates invisible ultraviolet light that excites a fluorescent coating (called phosphor) on the
inside of the tube, which then emits visible light.
Advantages:
SC
Efficiency.
Savings.
Pollution reduction.
High quality light.
GS

Versatility
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QUANTUM COMMUNICATION
Introduction:
Quantum communication is a field of applied quantum physics closely related to quantum information
processing and quantum teleportation.
Quantum communication boasts ultra-high security communication.
It uses subatomic particles to securely communicate between two points. These subatomic particles are
mainly quantum entanglement of photons. It ensures that nobody taps into the line as a photon can be
neither separated nor duplicated.
In case intruder (hacker) tries to crack the message in Quantum communication, it will change its form

E
in a way that would alert the sender and cause the message to be altered or deleted. Thus tapping the
network will inevitably corrupt the signal.
OR
It has the ability to inform the two communicating users of the presence of any third party trying to
eavesdrop. At the same time, the information being intercepted will self-destruct.
It holds enormous prospects in the field of defense
Worlds first quantum satellite:
SC

China had successfully launched the worlds first quantum satellite in August, 2016, dubbed as Quantum
Experiments at Space Scaler (QUESS) satellite.
It was nicknamed as Micius after a 5th century BC Chinese philosopher and scientist.
The worlds longest super-secure quantum communication line connecting Hefei, capital of Anhui province
to Shanghai, the countrys financial hub.
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It boasts of ultra-high security making it impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack the information transmitted
through them.
Features:
The super-secure quantum communication line is 712-km in length.
It has 11 stations and it took three years of construction.
It will be located in sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 km and will circle the Earth once every
90 minutes.
In one of its first test communication, it had transmitted a secure video conference between the two cities.
It will be backbone highly secured communication network to be used in the fields of finance, electronics
and government affairs.
Applications:
It will enable the space-to-Earth highly secure hack-proof quantum communication network.
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The satellite will help China to establish hack-proof communications system by transmitting uncrackable
keys from space to the ground.
Ranges from highly secured military and government communications to online shopping.
Significance:
This will enable the space-to-Earth quantum communication network.
This is first of its kind satellite-based quantum network would make it possible to send quickly encrypted
(hack proof) messages around the world.
It also opens door to other possible uses of the technology.
Earlier, researchers around the world had successfully sent quantum messages on land.

E
OR
SC
GS
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CRYOGENICS
Cryogenics is the science and technology associated with generation of low temperature below 123 K.
Cryogenicists use theKelvinorRankinetemperature scales present in nature.
Cryogenic fluids with their boiling point inkelvins.
Cryogenic conditions are produced by one of four basic techniques: heat conduction, evaporative cooling,
cooling by rapid expansion (the Joule-Thomson effect), and adiabatic demagnetization.
Heat conduction is a relatively simple concept to understand. When two bodies are in contact, heat flows from
the body with the higher temperature to the body with a lower temperature. Conduction can occur between
any and all forms of matter, whether gas, liquid, or solid. It is essential in the production of cryogenic

E
temperatures and environments. For example, samples may be cooled to cryogenic temperatures by immersing
them directly in a cryogenic liquid or by placing them in an atmosphere cooled by cryogenic refrigeration. In
OR
either case, the sample cools by conduction (or transfer) of heat to its colder surroundings.
The second process for producing cryogenic conditions is evaporative cooling. Humans are familiar with this
process because it is a mechanism by which our bodies lose heat. Atoms and molecules in the gaseous state
are moving faster than atoms and molecules in the liquid state. Add heat energy to the particles in a liquid
and they will become gaseous. Liquid perspiration on human skin behaves in this way. Perspiration absorbs
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body heat, becomes a gas, and evaporates from the skin. As a result of that heat loss, the body cools down.
Fluid Boiling point (K)
Helium-3 3.19
Helium-4 4.214
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Hydrogen 20.27
Neon 27.09
Nitrogen 77.36
Air 78.8
Fluorine 85.24
Argon 87.24
Oxygen 90.18
Methane 111.7
Applications
Cryogenic liquids, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, are often used in industrial and medical applications.
The electrical resistance of most metals decreases as temperature decreases. Certain metals lose all electrical
resistance below some transition temperature and become superconductors. An electromagnet wound with a
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wire of such a metal can produce extremely high magnetic fields with no generation of heat and no consumption
of electric power once the field is established and the metal remains cold. These metals, typically niobium
alloys cooled to 4.2 K, are used for the magnets of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems in most
hospitals. Superconductivity in some metals was first discovered in 1911 by Onnes, but since 1986 another
class of materials, known as high temperature superconductors, have been found to be superconducting at
much higher temperatures, currently up to about 145 K. They are a type of ceramic, and because of their
brittle nature, they are more difficult to fabricate into wires for magnets.
Other applications of cryogenics include fast freezing of some foods and the preservation of some biological
materials such as livestock semen as well as human blood, tissue, and embryos. The practice of freezing an
entire human body after death in the hope of later restoring life is known as cryonics, but it is not an accepted
scientific application of cryogenics. The freezing of portions of the body to destroy unwanted or malfunctioning
tissue is known as cryosurgery. It is used to treat cancers and abnormalities of the skin, cervix, uterus, prostate
gland, and liver.
Absolute zero:The lowest temperature possible at which all molecular motion ceases. It is equal to
273C (459F).

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Kelvin temperature scale:A temperature scale based on absolute zero with a unit, called the kelvin, having

OR
the same size as a Celsius degree.
Superconductivity:The ability of a material to conduct electricity without resistance. An electrical current
in a superconductive ring will flow indefinitely if a low temperature (about260C) is maintained.
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AQUAPONICS
Introduction:
Aquaponics refers to any system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as
snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic
environment.
In an Aquaponics system, water from an aquaculture system is fed to a hydroponic system where the by-
products are broken down by nitrifying bacteria initially into nitrites and subsequently into nitrates, which
are utilized by the plants as nutrients, and the water is then recirculated back to the aquaculture system.
After the initial set-up costs, an Aquaponics system requires very little in terms of financial input. So
growers can reap huge rewards.

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How does it work?
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Fish naturally produce the nutrients that plant need to thrive. In an Aquaponics system, fish are kept in
tanks and their waste is collected at the bottom. This waste is then pumped through a filter to make it
into ready food for plants.
The plants are set up in grow beds, which allow the roots of the plants to dangle in water absorbing
goodness from the fish waste, while the leafy heads absorb the goodness from sunlight above.
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Parts of an Aquaponics system:

Aquaponics consists of two main parts, with the aquaculture part for raising aquatic animals and the
hydroponics part for growing plants.
Components include:
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Biofilter: a place where the nitrification bacteria can grow and convert ammonia into nitrates, which are
usable by the plants;
Hydroponics subsystem: the portion of the system where plants are grown by absorbing excess nutrients
from the water;
Settling basin: a unit for catching uneaten food and detached biofilms, and for settling out fine particulates;
Sump: the lowest point in the system where the water flows to and from which it is pumped back to the
rearing tanks.
Rearing tank: the tanks for raising and feeding the fish;
Benefits:
Aquaponics gardening eliminates weeds.
Reuse resources currently considered waste. In Aquaponics there is no more toxic run-off from either
hydroponics or aquaculture.
Aquaponics uses only 1/10th of the water of soil-based gardening, and even less water than hydroponics
or recirculating aquaculture.
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CERN
India recently became an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), the
worlds largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory. The agreement was signed by Sekhar Basu, Chairman
of Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and CERN Director
General Dr Fabiola.
About CERN
CERN began in the 1950s as the European Organization for Nuclear Research.
Today it is also known as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics.

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It is one of the worlds most prestigious research centres.

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Its business is fundamental physicsfinding out what makes our Universe work, where it came from and
where it is going.
At CERN, some of the worlds biggest and most complex machines are used to study natures tiniest
building blocks, the fundamental particles.
By colliding these minute particles of matter physicists unravel the basic laws of nature.
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The organisation is the worlds largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory, where scientists and engineers
are probing the fundamental structure of the Universe using the most sophisticated scientific instruments
and advanced computing systems.
Presently CERN has 22 member states, four associate member states, and the observer status is given to
four states and three International Organisations.
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FOOD ADULTERANTS
Adulteration means the addition of such substances in the food which are harmful, toxic and cause deterioration
of health.
According toPrevention of Food Adulteration Act;a food article is considered adulterated if it:
Contains any added poisonous or deleterious substance;
Contains filth;
Contains Unapproved food or, coloured additives;
If any valuable constituent has been omitted or removed;

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If any substance has been substituted for it;
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If inferiority is concealed; and
If any substance has been added to increase bulk or weight, or to make it appear more valuable.
Common adulterants
1. Desi ghee : adulterant added is Vanaspati, hydrogenated fat, animal fat, vegetable oils, argemone oil,
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mashed potato, sweet potato.

2. Haldi/Trurmeric : adulterant added is Metanil yellow.
3. Milk: adulterant added is Water dried milk, powder, urea, synthetic milk form shampoos, detergent,
soluble starch and low quality refined oil.
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4. Green chillies, green peas and other vegetables: adulterant added is Malachite Green (To accentuate the
bright, glowing green colour of the vegetable).
5. Monosodium glutamate (MSG): It is sold under the commercial name Ajinomoto. It is a flavour enhancer
and is used in Chinese cooking (noodles, macaroni, soups, salad dressings and packaged food).
6. Aspartame: it is an artificial sweetener sold as Sugar-Free. It is also present in diet sodas and low-calorie
diet foods. It is carcinogenic.
7. Oxytocin: Farmers give oxytocin injection to buffaloes so that they can be milked easily and for a longer
period of lactation. Some effects of this injection appear in milk and affect its consumers (through
biological magnification).
8. Ice cream: adulterant added is pepperonil, ethylacetate, butraldehyde, emil acetate, nitrate, washing powder,
etc.
9. Food additives are chemicals added to foods to keep them fresh or to enhance their colour, flavour or
texture. They may include food colourings (such as tartrazine or cochineal), flavour enhancers (or a range
of preservatives which are harmful for the human beings.
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of Indiahas been established under Food Safety and Standards Act,
to lay down the Standards and guidelines in relation to articles of food and specifying appropriate system of
enforcing various standards thus notified.
It also lays down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies engaged in certification
of food safety management system for food businesses.
It also provide scientific advice and technical support to Central Government and State Governments in the
matters of framing the policy and rules in areas which have a direct or indirect bearing of food safety and
nutrition.
Other major functions are:
Collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risk,
contaminants in food, residues of various, contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks
and introduction of rapid alert system.
Creating an information network across the country so that the public, consumers, Panchayats etc receive

E
rapid, reliable and objective information about food safety and issues of concern.
Provide training programmes for persons who are involved or intend to get involved in food businesses.

standards. OR
Contribute to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary and phyto-sanitary

Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.

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RFID
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) uses radio waves to communicate between two objects: a reader and
a tag. RFID communication is the same as two way radio communication in the sense that information is
transmitted or received via a radio wave at a specific frequency.
Passive tags collect energy from a nearby RFID readers interrogating radio waves. Active tags have a local
power source such as a battery and may operate at hundreds of meters from the RFID reader.
Emerging RFID applications include:
Self-checkins at Libraries / rental services as well as retail premises.
Livestock Management and pet identification.

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Toll/road collection/charging and control measures. Many more RFID-based payment collection systems.
OR
Building Security - secure access controls, documentation and passports.
Airports - for baggage tracking and tracing/locating.
SMART home controls - systems to manage home/business energy consumption/production.
Seismic Sensing - such as locating gas lines and temperature sensing (geophysical).
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Environmental - Energy, Ozone & Pollution measuring equipment.

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