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� Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs : 2013-2015

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ContentsWest Antarctic Ice Sheet warming rapidly.................................................................................................... 11ICT industry produces 830 million tonnes of CO2 ...................................................................................... 11MP identifies 17 eco-sensitive zones around sanctuaries............................................................................. 11MoEF asks all states to declare eco sensitive zones around national parks, sanctuaries by Feb 15, 2013 12Source of Iodine oxide gas responsible for destruction of ozone over oceans identified.......................... 13Air pollution in Beijing reaches to dangerous levels .................................................................................... 13National Green Tribunal orders halt to all constructions going in Noida and Greater Noida................. 14Panna Tiger Reserve of MP undergoes vulture population estimation ..................................................... 14‘Green Kumbh Mela’ ........................................................................................................................................ 14PMO forms executive panel on implementing the 8 missions of the NAPCC .......................................... 15Rare Whooper Swan spotted after 113 years in Himachal .......................................................................... 16Thinning of Ozone has altered ocean circulation: Study ............................................................................. 17MoEF sets up committee to study legal cover for elephant habitats........................................................... 17Fact Box: Dongria Kondh tribe....................................................................................................................... 18Fact Box: Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ..................................................................................... 19India, UK sign pact on boosting co-operation in Earth Sciences ................................................................ 20Compost Plant in New Delhi is first composting plant in India to get carbon credits from UNFCCC .. 21Central assistance of Rs. 41 Crore to protect Pashmina Goats .................................................................... 22North Island of New Zealand hit by worst drought in 30 years .................................................................. 22Fact Box: CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) ....................................... 22Fish with high cesium level found near Fukushima plant ........................................................................... 23Green Tribunal prohibits roads construction, cutting of trees in Aravallis ............................................... 232013 designated as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation by UNGA .................................... 23Great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros’ population rises in Kaziranga: Census .......................................... 24Biogas plant commissioned on the Kerala Government Secretariat campus ............................................. 24Research anticipates Arctic to be 50% greener in coming decades.............................................................. 24Supreme Court orders transfer of some Asiatic Lions from Gujarat’s Gir to MP’s Kuno ........................ 25Fact Box: K. Kasturirangan High-Level Working Group............................................................................ 26Supreme Court cancels Karnataka’s all 49 mining leases ............................................................................. 27Expert committee: “exact co-relation between radiation of communication towers and health of wildlife is so far not established” ..................................................................................................................... 28Ahmedabad becomes first city in South Asia to launch a heat wave preparation and warning system .. 28India’s over one-fourth land hit by desertification: Report.......................................................................... 29EU to Restrict ‘Bee-Harming’ Pesticides ........................................................................................................ 30Bombay HC directs Maharashtra govt to release water into Jayakwadi dam............................................. 30Fact Box: Top 15 countries with gigantic Oil Reserves................................................................................ 31Wildlife biologist Aparajita Datt wins Whitley Award “Green Oscars” for her “Hornbill” project......... 32Supreme Court allows the functioning of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant .......................................... 33Vice-President inaugurates iCED in Jaipur ................................................................................................... 34




Government mulls to ban trade of peacock feathers .................................................................................... 34Acidification on the rise in Arctic Ocean....................................................................................................... 35Kerala against creation of buffer zone in any populated area suggested in Western Ghats Report ........ 36Gold nanoparticles to aid efficient drug delivery and diagnostics ............................................................... 38Fact Box: Green Energy Corridor Project; Government plans to invest Rs 43,000 Crore in the project38Frozen plants from Little Ice Age revived ..................................................................................................... 39India, US & Australia will collaborate to develop climate-resilient crops .................................................. 39Archaeopteryx regains Bird status.................................................................................................................. 40IFC provides $5 million funds to NSL Renewable Power ........................................................................... 41Madhya Pradesh govt to listen to oustees of the Omkareshwar dam project ............................................ 41Union Government approves National Oil Spill Contingency Plan ........................................................... 42Uttarakhand CM opposes declaring Gomukh-Gangotri as eco-sensitive zone ......................................... 42ONGC adopts six monuments under Campaign Clean India ...................................................................... 43World Environment Day Observed globally with the theme: “Think. Eat. Save- Reduce Your Foodprint” ......................................................................................................................................................... 43World Oceans Day observed on June 8, 2013............................................................................................... 44Number of Royal Bengal Tiger in Sudarbans exceeds 2011 census estimates............................................ 44Renewable energy transmission corridors to be set up in Tamil Nadu ...................................................... 44Cabinet approves IWMP as a flagship programme ...................................................................................... 45V K Duggal appointed as nodal officer for relief & rescue operations in Uttarakhand............................. 46Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS): NASA launches satellite to study Sun’s atmosphere .... 47India imposes ban on testing of cosmetics on animals ................................................................................. 47Curb sale of adulterated milk: Supreme Court to State govts...................................................................... 48Man-made factors to blame Uttarakhand Floods: Environmentalists ........................................................ 48Ghaziabad, Allahabad most polluted in Uttar Pradesh: Survey ................................................................... 49Himachal Pradesh becomes country’s first ‘smoke-free’ State...................................................................... 50Experts highlight potential of cassava as biofuel crop .................................................................................. 51Great Barrier Reef in ‘poor’ health, admits Australia.................................................................................... 51Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, States on disaster management ................................................... 52India and ADB Sign an Agreement for Gujarat Solar Power Transmission System................................. 52Two US Jets drops bombs on Great Barrier Reef Marine Park................................................................... 53Campaign Clean India adopts Taj Mahal ....................................................................................................... 54Ford becomes the first automaker to join India Greenhouse Gas Reporting (GHG) Program ............... 54E-surveillance to monitor various tiger habitats........................................................................................... 56Pacific Marshall Islands under threat of climate catastrophe....................................................................... 57Research links Climate Change to Human Conflict ..................................................................................... 58China unveils first Giant Panda channel........................................................................................................ 58Environmental activists oppose Mithi Virdi Nuclear Plant......................................................................... 59Wildlife Protection Amendment Bill 2013 introduced in Rajya Sabha ...................................................... 59Environment Ministry’s panel finds illegal sand mining in Gautam Buddh Nagar................................... 60Scientist Vinod Prakash Sharma honored with Gujar Mal Modi award .................................................... 60




Government to set up an independent Coal Regulatory Authority............................................................ 60Extinction of large animals “Megafauna” damaged nutrient distribution system...................................... 61Sikkim is India’s greenest state........................................................................................................................ 61MoE slaps Rs 200 crore penalty on Adani group.......................................................................................... 62Montreal Protocol helps reduce the size of hole in Ozone .......................................................................... 62Indian scientists undertake earthquake prediction research, measure the ‘Deccan Trap’ ......................... 63Govt to set up world’s largest solar power plant in Rajasthan..................................................................... 63Three members of National Ganga River Basin Authority resign.............................................................. 64“Rock Wrens” – a species makes comeback from extinction through Conservation Project................... 65NGT bans digging of earth across the country.............................................................................................. 65IPCC report: Humans are dominant cause of Global Warming ................................................................. 66Acidification and overexploitation pushing marine life to mass extinction: IPSO.................................... 67Apex court upheld Green Tribunal order on WGEEP report..................................................................... 67‘Great Indian Bustard’ in critically endangered stage.................................................................................... 73Outdoor Air Pollution a Leading Environmental Cause of Cancer Deaths: IARC ................................... 73G. B. Pradhan is the new Chairperson of the CERC .................................................................................... 74Prof. Ravi Chopra Expert panel to study the impact of Hydro-projects in Uttarakhand.......................... 74Odisha imposes fishing ban to protect nests of endagered Olive Ridley sea turtles .................................. 75Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) gets nod from CCEA............................................... 76India’s climate negotiation strategy to put emission-cut burden on developed countries........................ 76Haiyan, most power typhoon ever, batters Philippines................................................................................ 77NGT issues notice to Ministry of Environment on idol immersion........................................................... 78India wins significant support on the issue of emission cuts affecting farmers: Warsaw Climate talks . 78India against forcing developing countries to review their voluntary emission cuts: Warsaw Climate talks.................................................................................................................................................................... 79Greenpeace to protest arrests of activists by Russia ..................................................................................... 80COP-19 climate talks at Warsaw concludes .................................................................................................. 80‘Operation Oliver’ to conserve vulnerable turtles ......................................................................................... 81Cyclone Lehar moving towards Andhra Pradesh ......................................................................................... 82Another Tiger Reserve to come up in Maharashtra..................................................................................... 82PFBTA: Newly discovered greenhouse gas ‘7,000 times more potent than CO2 ..................................... 83The coldest place on Earth is in East Antarctica ........................................................................................... 84NGT banned burning of plastic, rubber across the country ........................................................................ 84Western Ghats: Nod for farming activities by Ministry of Environment & Forests ................................ 85M. Veerappa Moily is the new Environment and Forests Minister ........................................................... 86Himachal High court bans on food in plastic packs ...................................................................................... 86PETA’s Person of the Year: Dr Shashi Tharoor............................................................................................ 86Study: Mangroves in Florida expanding poleward ....................................................................................... 87Moclic software – can predict weather .......................................................................................................... 88Scientists spot rare Indian Pitta after 60 years............................................................................................... 88Global Warming: Gangotri glacier is shrinking ........................................................................................... 88




Supreme Court directs Centre to set up National Regulator for granting all Green Clearances ............. 89POSCO’s steel plant gets environmental clearance....................................................................................... 90CCEA approved Capacity Building Scheme and Rajiv Gandhi Institute for climate change ................... 91India ranked 155th on Yale’s Environmental Performance Index (EPI)..................................................... 91Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE)........................................................................................... 92National Green Tribunal (NGT) bans on burning tyres in Public Places................................................... 93Dr. Marco Lambertini: New Director-General of WWF International .................................................... 94Vizag Zoo: Soon, India’s first breeding centre for wild dogs (Dhole) ......................................................... 95Study: Fertilization destabilizes Global Grassland Ecosystems.................................................................... 95“Indira Paryavaran Bhawan” inaugurated by Dr. Manmohan Singh .......................................................... 96Indian-origin men win Heinz Awards in US ................................................................................................ 97India’s Largest Solar Power Plant launched in Madhya Pradesh ................................................................. 98Mr. Chandi Prasad Bhatt: Eminent Gandhian and environmentalist selected for Gandhi Peace Prize 2013 ................................................................................................................................................................... 98Mysterious four new man-made Ozone-Killing gases discovered.............................................................. 99IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: 15 bird species from India are in critically endangered list...... 100“Great Eared Nightjar” spotted first time in Kollam’s Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary .......................... 101U.S. – India Energy Dialogue 2014 to advance clean energy access: Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) .................................................................................................................................. 102Environmentalist Ms. Almitra Patel............................................................................................................. 103“Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020”-Launched by WHO-India to protect Vulnerable Rhinos ............... 103Climate change may lead India to war: UN report ..................................................................................... 104Polo, India’s only gorilla, breaths his last ..................................................................................................... 105“SOLAR-JET”: An EU project makes “solar” kerosene from sunlight ...................................................... 106‘Net Metering’: An innovation to slash electricity bills .............................................................................. 106El Nino effect may shrink India’s GDP by 1.75%: Assocham..................................................................... 107Biologists discover 14 new ‘Dancing Frog’ species in Western Ghats...................................................... 108Olive Ridley Conservation programme restarted after nearly 25 years.................................................... 108Ranchis’ Kanke Dam endangered by waste ................................................................................................. 109RhoDIS: DNA-based tool to probe poaching.............................................................................................. 109Obama administration demonstrates historic rules to cut coal pollution by 30% ................................... 109Environment clearance to Navy’s Project Seabird (Karwar naval base) ................................................... 110Cyclone Nanauk moves towards Oman, monsoon to reach Maharashtra, Gujarat in few days ............ 111Gujarat gets NCA approval to raise height of Narmada Dam.................................................................... 111Japan kills 30 minke whales despite ICJ order............................................................................................. 112Scientists locate massive underground water reservoir, ‘three times’ the size of Earth’s oceans ........... 112IUCN releases Red List of Threatened Species – FIFA World Cup 2014 mascot “Brazilian three-banded Armadillo” enlisted as Vulnerable ................................................................................................... 113DLF is India’s first realty company to get ISO 9001: 2008 certification ................................................... 114NTPC seeks revocation of ban on Lata Tapovan Hydro Power Project................................................... 115




June 17: World Day to Combat Desertification observed with the theme “Land Belongs to the Future –Let’s Climate Proof It” .................................................................................................................................... 115Delhi is India’s first kerosene-free city ......................................................................................................... 116Government sets up Panel to design National Rubber Policy ................................................................... 117“Project Mausam”: Culture Ministry initiative to explore multi-faceted Indian Ocean.......................... 117Understanding the collusion between El Nino and Monsoon................................................................... 117Bor Wildlife Sanctuary: India’s 47th Tiger Reserve ................................................................................... 119Study shows whales are “ecosystem engineers”........................................................................................... 119Typhoon Neoguri: Super typhoon moving towards Japan........................................................................ 120Scientists develop new method to forecast floods upto 11 months in advance ....................................... 120R K Pachauri calls Shopping Malls “energy guzzlers” ................................................................................. 120Study attributes Oklahoma earthquakes to subsurface wastewater injection .......................................... 121Rich nations should capitalize Green Climate Fund: India........................................................................ 121Nagoya Protocol gets 50th Instrument of Ratification............................................................................... 122Typhoon Rammasun (Glenda) hits Philippines .......................................................................................... 123CII-GEC launched “EPEAT” environmental rating systems for electronics ............................................ 123Tiger population improves in Uttar Pradesh .............................................................................................. 124IUCN adds 8 more Indian bird species to 2014 Red List............................................................................ 124Researchers discovered new species of ‘Mayfly’ in India............................................................................ 124Science Express for raising biodiversity awareness flagged off ................................................................. 124Man-made water vapour next climate threat .............................................................................................. 125Urbanization activities impacted a few wetlands: Government................................................................ 125Bees choose best flowers even before landing just from the color of petals............................................. 126Science can now explain why sun’s atmosphere is hotter than its surface ............................................... 126NGRBA brought under Ministry of Water Resources .............................................................................. 127Mangroves in Sunderbans losing capacity to soak up CO2: Research...................................................... 127China plans to ban coal use in its capital by 2020 ....................................................................................... 128Researchers discover India’s first jellyfish lake in Gujarat.......................................................................... 128South Africa government relocates Rhinos from Kruger National Park ................................................. 129Independence Day: Modi’s mantras for new India ..................................................................................... 129India’s future lies in manufacturing with ‘Zero-Defect and Zero-Effect’: PM Narendra Modi.............. 130PM Modi accentuates promoting Tourism, ‘Clean India’ campaign to be launched on October 2 ....... 130“The Green Bus project”: India‘s first ethanol-run public bus launched in Nagpur................................. 131‘Coal block allocations from 1993 to 2010 illegal, done arbitrarily': Supreme Court .............................. 131Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria India (STCI) launched..................................................... 131India’s first coral garden to be set up in Gujarat.......................................................................................... 132Fresh choice of smugglers: ‘R22-Ozone-depleting fridge gas”................................................................... 132NGT bans tyre burning in the open, re-use of tyres as fuel....................................................................... 133Ozone layer on road to recovery................................................................................................................... 134Union Government to fund “Swachh Vidyalaya” campaign ...................................................................... 135Indian scientist Kamal Bawa wins the Midori Prize 2014.......................................................................... 136




Key Outcomes of Narendra Modi’s US visit................................................................................................ 136E-rickshaws recognized as special category three-wheeled vehicles......................................................... 138Government to revive Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change ..................................................... 138North east monsoon gets active over South India ...................................................................................... 139Government to create a SPV for Ken-Betwa River Linking Project ........................................................ 139Former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to be Chair of Future Earth’s Engagement Committee140Key Facts About Cyclone Nilofar ................................................................................................................. 140Government to soon put up Climate Change Adaptation Plan................................................................. 141SC gives free hand to NGT to whip Ganga polluting industries............................................................... 142Government reconstitutes Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change............................................... 142Kerala’s Ashtamudi clam fishery to first in India to receive MSC certification ....................................... 144Canine Distemper Virus pushing tigers towards extinction ..................................................................... 145World’s tallest hybrid wind turbine installed in Kutch .............................................................................. 146Newton-Bhabha Fund announced by UK and India .................................................................................. 146Environment Ministry approves waiver of mandatory green clearances for strategic border roads .... 1472015 to be celebrated as Year of Water Conservation in India ................................................................. 148Guru Ghasidas National Park in Chhattisgarh to be declared as Tiger Reserve...................................... 149India helps Maldives to tackle drinking water crisis................................................................................... 149Typhoon Hagupit approaches Philippines................................................................................................... 150Bangladesh oil spill disaster threatens wildlife in Sundarbans forest ........................................................ 150NGT forms panel to dispose sand on Yamuna riverbed ............................................................................ 151For first time 19 swamp deer translocated from Kaziranga to Manas National Park ............................. 151Second National Biodiversity Conference-2015 will be held in Kerala .................................................... 1523 day Flamingo Festival begins near Pulicat Lake in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh....................... 1525th General Assembly of IRENA begins in Abu Dhabi.............................................................................. 1532014 hottest year on record: US scientists ................................................................................................... 154World Future Energy Summit begins in Abu Dhabi ................................................................................. 154India’s Tigers population increases by 30% since 2011............................................................................... 155Kerala’s Periyar tiger reserve wins NTCA biennial award......................................................................... 155India’s 1st solar fenced elephant sanctuary to come up near Bengaluru ................................................... 156Jackal research and translocation project launched in Uttar Pradesh ....................................................... 156World Wetlands Day is being observed on 2 February ............................................................................. 157Two beneficial algal species discovered off the west coast of India .......................................................... 157Symposium: Towards Zero Poaching in Asia concludes in Nepal ............................................................ 158Four new fish species discovered in Kerala ................................................................................................. 159India signs $8 million loan agreement with World Bank for SLACC Project......................................... 159Muthoot Group partners with WWF for elephant project....................................................................... 160Union Government launches Soil Health Card Scheme in Rajasthan ...................................................... 160Environmental loss in Sundarbans worth Rs. 1290 Crore: World Bank Report .................................... 1613rd Tortoise Festival organised in Assam.................................................................................................... 162NGT issues the whip on vintage cars ........................................................................................................... 162




Zoological Society of London and Gujarat Forest Department inks MoU for Asiatic lion Conservation163Renowned ornithologist K.S. Lavkumar Khachar passes away................................................................. 163EU formally adopts climate change targets for December 2015 UNFCCC Paris Conference................ 164Mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles begins in Odisha ............................................................................... 164Union Government merges Green India Mission with MGNREGA to reclaim forest cover ............... 165Union Environment Ministry revokes suspension of Goa mines............................................................. 166NGT announces Rs 5,000 fine for littering on railway property .............................................................. 166Rajendra Singh wins prestigious 2015 Stockholm Water Prize................................................................ 167Mithivirdi nuclear plant gets CRZ nod from Union Government ........................................................... 167Union Government reconstitutes SEAC-II in Maharashtra...................................................................... 168Rajasthan passes bill to ban camel slaughter................................................................................................ 168Great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros’ population rises in Kaziranga: 2015 Census............................... 169Earth Hour 2015 observed across the World .............................................................................................. 170Rare spiders sighted in Western Ghats........................................................................................................ 170RINL launches first of its kind green project to generate 120 MW power.............................................. 171Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches National Air Quality Index to give pollution information .. 171National Green Tribunal bans diesel vehicles older than 10 years in Delhi............................................. 171Newly discovered Spider named after Telangana state .............................................................................. 172Union Government suspends Greenpeace India’s registration for 6 months .......................................... 172India to chair 9th International Renewable Energy Agency council meet ............................................... 173Punjab government approves release of Gharials in Sutlej and Beas rivers to promote eco-tourism ... 173Earth Day is being observed on 22 April ..................................................................................................... 174India-Bangladesh join hands to protect spectacled Langur........................................................................ 174NGT bans burning of waste in Delhi NCR ................................................................................................. 175Dr. Pramod Patil and Dr. Ananda Kumar won 2015 Whitley Awards for wildlife conservation ......... 175Rajasthan Government allocates 12 crore rupees for Project Great Indian Bustard ............................... 1761 in 6 species can face extinction by end of century due to global warming: Study ................................ 176India home to 48 species of bumblebees ...................................................................................................... 177NGT imposes monthly tax on all households in Delhi to clean up Yamuna River ................................. 177Asiatic lion population in Gir sanctuary increases to 523: Census report 2015....................................... 178Union Cabinet approves Namami Gange Program .................................................................................... 179Global energy subsidies to hit US $ 5.3 trillion this year: IMF report ...................................................... 179India ranks 24th in Environmental Democracy Index ............................................................................... 180Antarctic ice loss altering earth’s gravity: Study.......................................................................................... 181Gujarat Government initiates Sloth Habitat Project .................................................................................. 182Himachal Pradesh government sets up satellite tracking system to check forest fire.............................. 182Everest Glaciers may disappear by 2100 due to global warming: Study ................................................... 18305 June: World Environment Day ............................................................................................................... 183Nitin Gadkari inaugurates first Oil Spill Response Centre for Mumbai & JNPT Harbour .................... 184India’s first green police station inaugurated at New Delhi’s Maurice Nagar .......................................... 185Union Government launches Jal Kranti Abhiyan....................................................................................... 185




Yellow-Breasted Buntings on the verge of extinction: Study .................................................................... 186349 new species of flora and fauna discovered in the past one year in India ........................................... 186Renewable energy targets quadruple globally in 10 years: IRENA ........................................................... 187Critically endangered Sangai deer found in Manipur to be translocated ................................................. 188Humans driving Earth to sixth mass extinction: Study .............................................................................. 189Typhoon Kujira hits south China’s Hainan Province................................................................................. 189Kerala Government declares June 22 as ‘Snake Bird Day’ .......................................................................... 190Maharashtra declares Blue Mormon as ‘State butterfly’ ............................................................................. 190Union Government launches Bhuvan Ganga Mobile App to aid Clean Ganga Mission........................ 191Rajasthan becomes No. 1 state in solar energy in India.............................................................................. 191Union Government exempts educational institutions from prior green nod.......................................... 192First species of Yeti crab named Kiwa Tyleri found in Antarctica............................................................ 192India Fourth Largest Carbon Emitter: WRI Analysis ................................................................................ 193Elephant population rises in Odisha: 2015 Census ..................................................................................... 194World Bank approves $650 million loan for Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor................................. 194New butterfly species named ‘Banded Tit’ found in Arunachal Pradesh .................................................. 195India, US ink MoU to establish PACESetter Fund ..................................................................................... 195�

� prerna dixit | [email protected] | 34285



West Antarctic Ice Sheet warming rapidlyJanuary 1, 2013

What is Byrd Station?

ICT industry produces 830 million tonnes of CO2January 10, 2013

How does ICT industry produce CO2?

How it can be controlled?

MP identifies 17 eco-sensitive zones around sanctuariesJanuary 10, 2013




Why this move?

What is an eco-sensitive zone and what are the norms under it?

MoEF asks all states to declare eco sensitive zones around national parks, sanctuaries by Feb 15, 2013January 15, 2013

What is the purpose of creating eco-sensitive zones?

What is the extent of these areas?

What are the MoEF norms under eco-sensitive zone?

Why the site-specific proposals have been asked for?




What if a state/Union Territory fails to submit site-specific proposals?

Source of Iodine oxide gas responsible for destruction of ozone over oceans identifiedJanuary 17, 2013

Air pollution in Beijing reaches to dangerous levelsJanuary 20, 2013

What is PM2.5?




National Green Tribunal orders halt to all constructions going in Noida and Greater NoidaJanuary 20, 2013

Why this ban?

Panna Tiger Reserve of MP undergoes vulture population estimationJanuary 30, 2013

Vulture Population Estimation

‘Green Kumbh Mela’February 1, 2013




Objective:

PMO forms executive panel on implementing the 8 missions of the NAPCCFebruary 6, 2013

What is the job of the panel?

What is NAPCC and what are its 8 missions?




Rare Whooper Swan spotted after 113 years in HimachalFebruary 7, 2013




Thinning of Ozone has altered ocean circulation: StudyFebruary 7, 2013

MoEF sets up committee to study legal cover for elephant habitatsFebruary 15, 2013




Fact Box: Dongria Kondh tribeFebruary 21, 2013MoEF justifies cancellation of environmental clearance to Vedanta




About Dongria Kondh tribe:

Fact Box: Environmental Performance Index (EPI)March 1, 2013

Delhi placed lowest in pollution survey

Environmental Performance Index•

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Who are the Best Performers?•

How to look at scores?




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How would these results help?

What is Gagdil Formula?

India, UK sign pact on boosting co-operation in Earth SciencesMarch 3, 2013

How would it help?




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Compost Plant in New Delhi is first composting plant in India to get carbon credits from UNFCCCMarch 6, 2013

What are carbon credits?




Exchanges trading Carbon Credits:Currently there are 5 exchanges trading in carbon allowances:

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Central assistance of Rs. 41 Crore to protect Pashmina GoatsMarch 15, 2013

North Island of New Zealand hit by worst drought in 30 yearsMarch 15, 2013

Fact Box: CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)March 17, 2013CITES concludes, eight nations escape sanctions

• CITES

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Fish with high cesium level found near Fukushima plantMarch 19, 2013

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Green Tribunal prohibits roads construction, cutting of trees in AravallisMarch 28, 2013

What was the case?

2013 designated as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation by UNGAMarch 29, 2013




What is the objective of designating 2013 as International Year of Water Co-operation ?•

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Great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros’ population rises in Kaziranga: CensusMarch 29, 2013

Biogas plant commissioned on the Kerala Government Secretariat campusMarch 31, 2013

Research anticipates Arctic to be 50% greener in coming decadesApril 2, 2013As per a study published in journal ‘Nature Climate Change’:




What would be the effect of this increase in greening in Arctic ?•

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What is Positive Feedback ?

Supreme Court orders transfer of some Asiatic Lions from Gujarat’s Gir to MP’s KunoApril 17, 2013

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Why a re-allocation of lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh?•

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Fact Box: K. Kasturirangan High-Level Working GroupApril 18, 2013

Objective:

Some Facts:•

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What were the key suggestions made by the K. Kasturirangan led HLWG?•

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What were the key suggestions made by the Madhav Gadgil led WGEEP earlier?Earlier, the WGEEP had suggested that:

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Supreme Court cancels Karnataka’s all 49 mining leasesApril 25, 2013

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Expert committee: “exact co-relation between radiation of communication towers and health of wildlife is so far not established”April 26, 2013

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Ahmedabad becomes first city in South Asia to launch a heat wave preparation and warning systemApril 27, 2013

Ahmedabad’s Heat Action Plan:

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Major contributors / collaborators in the Heat Action Plan:•




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India’s over one-fourth land hit by desertification: ReportApril 30, 2013

Key findings of the Report:•

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What is Desertification?

What are the causes of desertification?

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What is the role of vegetation, livestock and wildlife in preventing desertification?




EU to Restrict ‘Bee-Harming’ PesticidesMay 2, 2013

What is a Neonicotinoid chemical?•

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Restricted Pesticides:•

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Objective this restriction:•

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Bombay HC directs Maharashtra govt to release water into Jayakwadi damMay 2, 2013

Jayakwadi dam•

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What is the issue?

Fact Box: Top 15 countries with gigantic Oil ReservesMay 6, 2013

Note: The data in parenthesis represents the percent of global reserves and global supply.Rank Country Oil Reserves Oil Supply Years of remaining

reserves1. Saudi Arabia 265 billion barrels

(19.1%)

11.75 million

Barrels daily

(13.2%)

72.4 years

2. Venezuela 211 billion barrels (15.3%)

2.47 million Barrels daily (2.8%)

234.1 years

3. Iran 137 billion barrels

(9.9%)

4.13 million Barrels

(4.7%)

88.4 years

4. Iraq 115 billion barrels (8.3%)


128.1 years

5. Kuwait 102 billion barrels (7.3%)


110.9 years

6. UAE 98 billion barrels (7.1%)


94.1 years

7. Russia Federation

77 billion barrels (5.6%)

10.33 million Barrels daily

(11.6%)

20.6 years

8. Libya 46 billion barrels

(3.4%)

834,000 barrels

(0.9%)

76.7 years




Wildlife biologist Aparajita Datt wins Whitley Award “Green Oscars” for her “Hornbill” projectMay 9, 2013

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Objectives of project to conserve Hornbill:•

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9. Kazakhstan 40 billion barrels (2.9%)


62.1 years

10. Nigeria 37 billion barrels (2.7%)


42.4 years

11. Canada 32 billion barrels

(2.3%)


daily (4.4%)

26.3 years

12. USA 31 billion barrels (2.2%)

10.59 million Barrels daily

(11.9%)

11.3 years

13. Qatar 26 billion barrels

(1.9%)


daily (1.9%)

45.2 years

14. China 15 billion barrels

(1.1%)


a day (4.7%)

9.9 years

15. Brazil 14 billion barrels (1%)

2.8 million Barrels a day (3.2%)

18.3 years




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Winners of 2013 Whitley Award awarded with a prize share worth £295 000:•

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Supreme Court allows the functioning of Kudankulam Nuclear Power PlantMay 9, 2013

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

Advantages of KNPP•

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Issues raised in protests•

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Vice-President inaugurates iCED in JaipurMay 9, 2013

About iCED•

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Government mulls to ban trade of peacock feathersMay 9, 2013

Why the population of Peacocks is declining?•

What the Environment Ministry is demanding?




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Acidification on the rise in Arctic OceanMay 12, 2013

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Key findings of the report:•

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What is Ocean Acidification?•




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Kerala against creation of buffer zone in any populated area suggested in Western Ghats ReportMay 13, 2013

Western Ghats Report:Background:

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What is a buffer zone in the context of environment protection?

What is ESA?

ESA for Western Ghats:

What is the difference b/w ESAs and Protected Areas?




Gold nanoparticles to aid efficient drug delivery and diagnosticsMay 27, 2013

How it was done?•

How it can help?•

•

Fact Box: Green Energy Corridor Project; Government plans to invest Rs 43,000 Crore in the projectMay 28, 2013Rs 43,000-cr ‘green energy corridor’ plan for renewable energy

What is “Green Energy Corridor Project”?




The Project:Objective:

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•

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What is the problem in integrating electricity generated from renewable energy to conventional power grids?

What is the current status of electricity generation in India?

Frozen plants from Little Ice Age revivedMay 31, 2013

What are Bryophytes?

India, US & Australia will collaborate to develop climate-resilient cropsMay 31, 2013




How it will be done?

What are Big Three Crops?Big Three crops are:

Why this endeavor?

Archaeopteryx regains Bird statusJune 1, 2013

Background:•

•




•

•

•

•

IFC provides $5 million funds to NSL Renewable PowerJune 2, 2013

About NSL Renewable Power:

What is the difference b/w World Bank and World Bank Group?

Difference:World Bank Group is a large group which comprises of five institutions collectively:

•

•

•

•

•

Whereas, World Bank is comprised of only two institutions:•

•

Madhya Pradesh govt to listen to oustees of the Omkareshwar dam projectJune 2, 2013

Why this protest?




The Omkareshwar Project:

Union Government approves National Oil Spill Contingency PlanJune 4, 2013

Uttarakhand CM opposes declaring Gomukh-Gangotri as eco-sensitive zoneJune 7, 2013




ONGC adopts six monuments under Campaign Clean IndiaJune 7, 2013

What is “Campaign Clean India”?

World Environment Day Observed globally with the theme: “Think. Eat. Save- Reduce Your Foodprint”June 7, 2013




World Oceans Day observed on June 8, 2013June 8, 2013

Importance:

Number of Royal Bengal Tiger in Sudarbans exceeds 2011 census estimatesJune 13, 2013

As per Study:•

•

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Factbox : Sunderbans•

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Renewable energy transmission corridors to be set up in Tamil NaduJune 15, 2013




Where are these projects being executed?

Why these projects?

Who is funding the projects?

Cabinet approves IWMP as a flagship programmeJune 23, 2013

Why IWMP?

Key Points of IWMP:

•

•

•

•




•

•

•

Expected Benefits of IWMP:

What are Flagship Programmes?

Major Flagship programmes of the Government of India are:•

•

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V K Duggal appointed as nodal officer for relief & rescue operations in UttarakhandJune 24, 2013




Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS): NASA launches satellite to study Sun’s atmosphereJuly 2, 2013

About IRIS mission:

What is this mysterious region?

India imposes ban on testing of cosmetics on animalsJuly 2, 2013

What is the ban?




Animal Testing Status:

Curb sale of adulterated milk: Supreme Court to State govtsJuly 5, 2013

According to a survey conducted by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):•

•

•

•

Man-made factors to blame Uttarakhand Floods: EnvironmentalistsJuly 6, 2013

How is it a man-made disaster?




Ghaziabad, Allahabad most polluted in Uttar Pradesh: SurveyJuly 6, 2013In a recent survey conducted by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)it was found that Ghaziabad and Allahabad are the two most air polluted cities in Uttar Pradesh. As per the survey:

•

•




•

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•

Himachal Pradesh becomes country’s first ‘smoke-free’ StateJuly 6, 2013

What is the scope COTPA 2003?•

•

What does Section 4 of COTPA provide for?Section 4: Prohibition Of Smoking In Public Places

•

•

•

•




Experts highlight potential of cassava as biofuel cropJuly 12, 2013

What is Cassava?

How “Cassava” can be used as a bio-fuel?

Great Barrier Reef in ‘poor’ health, admits AustraliaJuly 12, 2013

What has been the major cause of decline in Great Barrier Reef’s health?




Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, States on disaster managementJuly 24, 2013

India and ADB Sign an Agreement for Gujarat Solar Power Transmission SystemJuly 24, 2013

Key Objectives of the Project:•

•




•

•

Two US Jets drops bombs on Great Barrier Reef Marine ParkJuly 25, 2013

About The Great Barrier Reef:

Importance of GBR:•

•

•

•

•




Campaign Clean India adopts Taj MahalJuly 28, 2013

Background of Campaign Clean India:

What is “Campaign Clean India”?

Ford becomes the first automaker to join India Greenhouse Gas Reporting (GHG) ProgramJuly 30, 2013

What is “India Greenhouse Gas Program (India GHG Program)”:

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Program Partners for India Greenhouse Gas Program (India GHG Program)•

•

•

Founding Members for India Greenhouse Gas Program (India GHG Program)•

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Key Objectives of India Greenhouse Gas Reporting Programme :•

•

•




•

•

What is : The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol)?

•

•

•

•

Who Uses The GHG Protocol?

•

•

•

E-surveillance to monitor various tiger habitatsJuly 31, 2013




How will tiger E-surveillance help?

Pacific Marshall Islands under threat of climate catastropheAugust 3, 2013

Where are the Marshall Islands?




Research links Climate Change to Human ConflictAugust 6, 2013

How did the researchers discern that heat makes us angrier, especially in designed studies?

China unveils first Giant Panda channelAugust 8, 2013




What is the status of Giant Pandas?

Environmental activists oppose Mithi Virdi Nuclear PlantAugust 14, 2013

Why Environmental activists opposing the Mithi Virdi nuclear power plant?

Wildlife Protection Amendment Bill 2013 introduced in Rajya SabhaAugust 14, 2013

Salient features of the Wildlife Protection Amendment Bill 2013:•

•

•

•




•

Environment Ministry’s panel finds illegal sand mining in Gautam Buddh NagarAugust 18, 2013

Steps suggested by the panel to prevent illegal sand mining:•

•

•

•

Scientist Vinod Prakash Sharma honored with Gujar Mal Modi awardAugust 18, 2013

Government to set up an independent Coal Regulatory AuthorityAugust 19, 2013

The Government has decided to set up an independent Coal Regulatory Authority.Proposed role of the Coal Regulatory Authority:

•

•

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•




•

•

Extinction of large animals “Megafauna” damaged nutrient distribution systemAugust 20, 2013

What is ‘Megafauna’?

How did Megafauna play role in distributing nutrients?

Sikkim is India’s greenest stateAugust 23, 2013

A Comparison of Sikkim in Green terms:•




•

•

•

Who owns the credit of keeping Sikkim green?

MoE slaps Rs 200 crore penalty on Adani groupSeptember 5, 2013

Why did the environment ministry impose fine on Adani Group?

Montreal Protocol helps reduce the size of hole in OzoneSeptember 6, 2013

Uncertainty over the effect of Ozone Recovery




Indian scientists undertake earthquake prediction research, measure the ‘Deccan Trap’September 6, 2013

What is special about this study?

What are Deccan Traps?

How would this study help?

Govt to set up world’s largest solar power plant in RajasthanSeptember 22, 2013




First Phase Sambhar Ultra Mega Green Solar Power Project:

Three members of National Ganga River Basin Authority resignSeptember 26, 2013

Key points about the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)

Ex-Officio Chairman: Prime Minister

Who is G.D. Agarwal?




“Rock Wrens” – a species makes comeback from extinction through Conservation ProjectSeptember 29, 2013

NGT bans digging of earth across the countryOctober 2, 2013

About National Green Tribunal (NGT)

The NGT is:•

•

•




IPCC report: Humans are dominant cause of Global Warming

October 4, 2013

As per the IPCC report:•

•

•

•

•

•

What skeptics have to say about climate change?




Acidification and overexploitation pushing marine life to mass extinction: IPSOOctober 5, 2013

•

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Apex court upheld Green Tribunal order on WGEEP reportOctober 16, 2013




What were the highlights of WGEEP panel report?

The Panel was asked to perform the following functions:•

•

•

•

•

• Major Recommendations of WGEEP panel report:•

•




•

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39 Serial sites of Western Ghats in recently updated World Heritage Sites list




Objective

Some Facts:•

•

What were the key suggestions made by the K. Kasturirangan led HLWG?•

•




•

•

•

•

•

•

•

First: it used satellite data, down to 24 m resolution, as against 9 km used by WGEEP.

What were the key suggestions made by the Madhav Gadgil led WGEEP earlier?Earlier, the WGEEP had suggested that:

•

•

•




•

‘Great Indian Bustard’ in critically endangered stageOctober 18, 2013

Key reasons for the decrease in count of the Great Indian Bustard:-•

•

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Status of the Great Indian Bustard•

•

•

•

Outdoor Air Pollution a Leading Environmental Cause of Cancer Deaths: IARCOctober 21, 2013




What are the main sources of outdoor air pollution?

Which pollutants causing air pollution are of major concern?

G. B. Pradhan is the new Chairperson of the CERCOctober 21, 2013

What is CERC?

Functions of CERC:•

•

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Prof. Ravi Chopra Expert panel to study the impact of Hydro-projects in UttarakhandOctober 22, 2013




Tasks before the Prof. Ravi Chopra Expert Committee:•

•

•

•

Odisha imposes fishing ban to protect nests of endagered Olive Ridley sea turtlesOctober 27, 2013

Olive Ridley Turtles:•

•

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•




•

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Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) gets nod from CCEANovember 5, 2013

What is IPDS?

Projects under IPDS include:•

•

•

•

• How would IPDS benefit the textile industry?•

India’s climate negotiation strategy to put emission-cut burden on developed countriesNovember 9, 2013

What is the bottom-up approach in the context of climate change agreement?




India’s strategy for Warsaw Climate talks and Climate Pact 2015:•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Haiyan, most power typhoon ever, batters PhilippinesNovember 9, 2013




Typhoons in Philippines•

•

NGT issues notice to Ministry of Environment on idol immersionNovember 10, 2013

India wins significant support on the issue of emission cuts affecting farmers: Warsaw Climate talksNovember 15, 2013

Why the decision of US is a surprise?




India against forcing developing countries to review their voluntary emission cuts: Warsaw Climate talksNovember 15, 2013

What is the issue of volunteering emission targets?




Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) stance:

Greenpeace to protest arrests of activists by RussiaNovember 16, 2013

About Greenpeace International:

Focus:

COP-19 climate talks at Warsaw concludesNovember 25, 2013

What was the purpose of COP19 talks at Warsaw?




‘Operation Oliver’ to conserve vulnerable turtlesNovember 27, 2013


•

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Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary




Cyclone Lehar moving towards Andhra PradeshNovember 28, 2013

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Another Tiger Reserve to come up in MaharashtraDecember 2, 2013

Where are the other four tiger reserves in Maharashtra?•

•

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About National Tiger Conservation Authority:




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Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF)

PFBTA: Newly discovered greenhouse gas ‘7,000 times more potent than CO2�December 13, 2013

Do we need to worry about PFTBA?




The coldest place on Earth is in East AntarcticaDecember 13, 2013

Can humans exist at minus 94.7oC?

•

•

•

NGT banned burning of plastic, rubber across the countryDecember 17, 2013




About National Green Tribunal

Western Ghats: Nod for farming activities by Ministry of Environment & ForestsDecember 22, 2013

•

•

What are the recommendations made by the Kasturirangan panel?

•

•

•




M. Veerappa Moily is the new Environment and Forests MinisterDecember 28, 2013

Ministry of Environment & Forests ( MoEF)The MoEF is the chief agency in the administrative framework of the Central Government

Himachal High court bans on food in plastic packsDecember 31, 2013

As per the court order, the government has to ensure that•

•

•

•

•

PETA’s Person of the Year: Dr Shashi TharoorJanuary 3, 2014




About People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) – India•

•

•

•

Study: Mangroves in Florida expanding polewardJanuary 3, 2014

•

•

Usefulness of Mangrove trees•

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•




Moclic software – can predict weatherJanuary 6, 2014

Characteristics of Monitoring Climate Change (Moclic) software•

•

•

•

•

Scientists spot rare Indian Pitta after 60 yearsJanuary 11, 2014

Why sighting of Indian Pitta is special for scientists?

Global Warming: Gangotri glacier is shrinkingJanuary 11, 2014




Excerpts of the report – ‘Estimation of retreat rate of Gangotri glacier’•

•

•

•

•

About Gangotri Glacier•

•

•

• The River Bhagirathi is one of the main tributaries of the Ganga, originates from Gangotri glacier.

Supreme Court directs Centre to set up National Regulator for granting all Green ClearancesJanuary 11, 2014

Why does the Supreme Court want a national regulator for green clearances?

How may this decision affect Centre’s power?




What is the reaction of MoEF over this decision?

POSCO’s steel plant gets environmental clearanceJanuary 13, 2014

The POSCO-India story:

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CCEA approved Capacity Building Scheme and Rajiv Gandhi Institute for climate changeJanuary 24, 2014

•

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India ranked 155th on Yale’s Environmental Performance Index (EPI)January 30, 2014




About 2014 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)•

•

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•

Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE)February 5, 2014

•

•




Why Asian vulture population is declining?•

•

•

The most common species of vultures in South Asia:•

•

•

•

•

About SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction)•

•

•

National Green Tribunal (NGT) bans on burning tyres in Public PlacesFebruary 12, 2014

As per the Western Zone Bench of NGT-Pune ruling:




Why burning of tyres is harmful for environment?

About National Green Tribunal•

•

•

•

•

•

Dr. Marco Lambertini: New Director-General of WWF InternationalFebruary 15, 2014

Dr. Marco Lambertini•

•

•

About World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)•

•




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Vizag Zoo: Soon, India’s first breeding centre for wild dogs (Dhole)February 21, 2014

About Dhole

Study: Fertilization destabilizes Global Grassland EcosystemsFebruary 23, 2014

•

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“Indira Paryavaran Bhawan” inaugurated by Dr. Manmohan SinghFebruary 27, 2014

About Indira Paryavaran Bhawan

Requirements of GRIHA 5-Star and LEEDS Platinum ratings•

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Indian-origin men win Heinz Awards in USMarch 1, 2014

19th Heinz Awards – 2013: Category and its’ recipients•

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About Heinz Awards




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India’s Largest Solar Power Plant launched in Madhya PradeshMarch 3, 2014

About Welspun Solar MP project•

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Mr. Chandi Prasad Bhatt: Eminent Gandhian and environmentalist selected for Gandhi Peace Prize 2013March 5, 2014

About Mr. Chandi Prasad Bhatt




Mysterious four new man-made Ozone-Killing gases discoveredMarch 13, 2014

About four new man-made Ozone-Killing gases•

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•

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: 15 bird species from India are in critically endangered listMarch 14, 2014

Bird species falling under the Critically Endangered category in India:-•

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Major reasons of decline of bird species in India•

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About IUCN Red List of Threatened Species




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“Great Eared Nightjar” spotted first time in Kollam’s Shendurney Wildlife SanctuaryMarch 21, 2014

About the Kollam’s Bird survey at Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary•

•

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•




•

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•

U.S. – India Energy Dialogue 2014 to advance clean energy access: Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE)March 23, 2014

Focus Areas of Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE)•

•

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•

Under the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue 2014, both the Governments finalized an initial plan of activities viz.•

•

•




•

Environmentalist Ms. Almitra PatelMarch 24, 2014

About Ms. Patel’s work in the field of environment & solid waste management practices•

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“Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020”-Launched by WHO-India to protect Vulnerable RhinosMarch 28, 2014




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Climate change may lead India to war: UN reportApril 6, 2014

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Key indications/ findings from the report:•

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UN IPCC Report: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability(Source: http://www.ipcc.ch/)

Polo, India’s only gorilla, breaths his lastMay 2, 2014




“SOLAR-JET”: An EU project makes “solar” kerosene from sunlightMay 2, 2014

How did the researchers produce jet fuel from sunlight?

‘Net Metering’: An innovation to slash electricity billsMay 3, 2014

What is ‘Net Metering’?

How ‘Net Metering’ works?




Why is it called ‘Net Metering’?

What are the benefits of Net Metering?•

•

•

•

El Nino effect may shrink India’s GDP by 1.75%: AssochamMay 10, 2014




Biologists discover 14 new ‘Dancing Frog’ species in Western GhatsMay 11, 2014

Olive Ridley Conservation programme restarted after nearly 25 yearsMay 25, 2014


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Ranchis’ Kanke Dam endangered by wasteMay 27, 2014

RhoDIS: DNA-based tool to probe poachingMay 28, 2014

Obama administration demonstrates historic rules to cut coal pollution by 30%June 3, 2014




States will

have to come up with a plan till 2016 to mee the goals. Some states will have less go-getting targets, while others will

have more.

Environment clearance to Navy’s Project Seabird (Karwar naval base)June 11, 2014

Project Seabird (Karwar naval base)

Advantages of Karwar (Karnataka) as Naval Base:•




•

Cyclone Nanauk moves towards Oman, monsoon to reach Maharashtra, Gujarat in few daysJune 12, 2014

Gujarat gets NCA approval to raise height of Narmada DamJune 13, 2014




Benefits of Project:•

•

•

•

•

Japan kills 30 minke whales despite ICJ orderJune 14, 2014

Insufficiency in the ICJ order

Scientists locate massive underground water reservoir, ‘three times’ the size of Earth’s oceansJune 14, 2014




IUCN releases Red List of Threatened Species – FIFA World Cup 2014 mascot “Brazilian three-banded Armadillo” enlisted as VulnerableJune 15, 2014




Some of the facts about Lemurs:•

•

•

•

• It is a traditional food in Japan and the country’s most expensive food fish. It is endangered

due to:

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DLF is India’s first realty company to get ISO 9001: 2008 certificationJune 16, 2014




NTPC seeks revocation of ban on Lata Tapovan Hydro Power ProjectJune 16, 2014

June 17: World Day to Combat Desertification observed with the theme “Land Belongs to the Future –Let’s Climate Proof It”June 17, 2014




Delhi is India’s first kerosene-free cityJune 19, 2014




Government sets up Panel to design National Rubber PolicyJune 20, 2014

“Project Mausam”: Culture Ministry initiative to explore multi-faceted Indian OceanJune 22, 2014

Understanding the collusion between El Nino and MonsoonJune 24, 2014

Some cases of El Nino’s impact:•




•

•

•

•

•

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How the Indian Ocean Dipole’ (IOD) affects the monsoon?

Positive IOD (Indian Ocean Diapole IOD):

Role of EQUINOO (Equatorial Indian Ocean Oscillation):

Negative IOD (Indian Ocean Diapole IOD):

Negative EQUINOO (Equatorial Indian Ocean Oscillation):




Interplay between IOD and El Nino:

Latest Forecast:

Bor Wildlife Sanctuary: India’s 47th Tiger ReserveJuly 2, 2014

Study shows whales are “ecosystem engineers”July 6, 2014




Typhoon Neoguri: Super typhoon moving towards JapanJuly 7, 2014

Scientists develop new method to forecast floods upto 11 months in advanceJuly 9, 2014

R K Pachauri calls Shopping Malls “energy guzzlers”July 9, 2014




Study attributes Oklahoma earthquakes to subsurface wastewater injectionJuly 11, 2014

Rich nations should capitalize Green Climate Fund: IndiaJuly 14, 2014




Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Nagoya Protocol gets 50th Instrument of RatificationJuly 15, 2014




Typhoon Rammasun (Glenda) hits PhilippinesJuly 19, 2014

CII-GEC launched “EPEAT” environmental rating systems for electronicsJuly 24, 2014




Tiger population improves in Uttar PradeshJuly 27, 2014

IUCN adds 8 more Indian bird species to 2014 Red ListJuly 27, 2014

The eight species of birds newly added to the Red List are:•

•

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Researchers discovered new species of ‘Mayfly’ in IndiaJuly 28, 2014

Science Express for raising biodiversity awareness flagged offJuly 29, 2014




Man-made water vapour next climate threatJuly 30, 2014

Urbanization activities impacted a few wetlands: GovernmentJuly 31, 2014




Bees choose best flowers even before landing just from the color of petalsJuly 31, 2014

Science can now explain why sun’s atmosphere is hotter than its surfaceAugust 2, 2014




NGRBA brought under Ministry of Water ResourcesAugust 5, 2014

National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)

Mangroves in Sunderbans losing capacity to soak up CO2: ResearchAugust 6, 2014

•

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China plans to ban coal use in its capital by 2020August 6, 2014

Researchers discover India’s first jellyfish lake in GujaratAugust 7, 2014




South Africa government relocates Rhinos from Kruger National ParkAugust 13, 2014

Independence Day: Modi’s mantras for new IndiaAugust 15, 2014

Excerpts from his speech:




��,��”, “Eternal

vigilance is the price of liberty”.

India’s future lies in manufacturing with ‘Zero-Defect and Zero-Effect’: PM Narendra ModiAugust 15, 2014

“Zero Defect, Zero Effect” manufacturing

PM Modi accentuates promoting Tourism, ‘Clean India’ campaign to be launched on October 2August 15, 2014




“The Green Bus project”: India‘s first ethanol-run public bus launched in NagpurAugust 26, 2014

‘Coal block allocations from 1993 to 2010 illegal, done arbitrarily': Supreme CourtAugust 26, 2014

Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria India (STCI) launchedAugust 27, 2014

The principles of sustainability include:




India’s first coral garden to be set up in GujaratSeptember 4, 2014

Fresh choice of smugglers: ‘R22-Ozone-depleting fridge gas”September 8, 2014

R22 (HCFC-22 or Chloro-di-fluoro-methane or di-fluoro-mono-chloro-methane)•

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•

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NGT bans tyre burning in the open, re-use of tyres as fuelSeptember 13, 2014


•




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Note: The National Green Tribunal ruling can only be challenged in the Supreme Court.Ozone layer on road to recoverySeptember 13, 2014




Key findings:•

•

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Union Government to fund “Swachh Vidyalaya” campaignSeptember 16, 2014




Indian scientist Kamal Bawa wins the Midori Prize 2014September 17, 2014

Other Awardees For Year 2014•

•

Midori Prize for Biodiversity

Key Outcomes of Narendra Modi’s US visitOctober 2, 2014

Indo- US Investment Initiative

Infrastructure Collaboration Platform




Trade Policy Forum

Others•

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E-rickshaws recognized as special category three-wheeled vehiclesOctober 3, 2014

What are e-rickshaws?

Restrictions

Government to revive Prime Minister’s Council on Climate ChangeOctober 10, 2014




Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change

North east monsoon gets active over South IndiaOctober 28, 2014

About Northeast Monsoon

Government to create a SPV for Ken-Betwa River Linking ProjectOctober 28, 2014

Ken-Betwa River Linking Project




Approvals

Former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to be Chair of Future Earth’s Engagement CommitteeOctober 28, 2014

Future Earth Engagement Committee

Earlier roles in international fora

Key Facts About Cyclone NilofarOctober 28, 2014

•




•

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About Naming of cyclones

Government to soon put up Climate Change Adaptation PlanOctober 29, 2014

in New Delhi.

Key points:•




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SC gives free hand to NGT to whip Ganga polluting industriesOctober 29, 2014

Inactivity of other bodies

Efficient functioning of the NGT

Government reconstitutes Prime Minister’s Council on Climate ChangeNovember 5, 2014




The council will focus on the following tasks:•

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•

The composition of the re-constituted Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change:•

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Previous Council




Kerala’s Ashtamudi clam fishery to first in India to receive MSC certificationNovember 8, 2014

What is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification programme?•

•

•

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•

•

• Implications•




•

About Ashtamudi estuary

Canine Distemper Virus pushing tigers towards extinctionNovember 8, 2014

How the study took place?•

•

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A key finding of this study•

•

•

About canine distemper virus (CDV)




World’s tallest hybrid wind turbine installed in KutchNovember 8, 2014

Key features of Suzlon’s tallest hybrid wind generator turbine•

•

•

•

About Suzlon Energy

Newton-Bhabha Fund announced by UK and IndiaNovember 12, 2014




Key Features: Newton-Bhabha programme•

•

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Environment Ministry approves waiver of mandatory green clearances for strategic border roadsNovember 22, 2014




Implications of this decision on strategic border projects•

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2015 to be celebrated as Year of Water Conservation in IndiaNovember 23, 2014




Guru Ghasidas National Park in Chhattisgarh to be declared as Tiger ReserveNovember 24, 2014

Background•

•

•

India helps Maldives to tackle drinking water crisisDecember 6, 2014




Typhoon Hagupit approaches PhilippinesDecember 7, 2014

Bangladesh oil spill disaster threatens wildlife in Sundarbans forestDecember 13, 2014

Environmental Impact




NGT forms panel to dispose sand on Yamuna riverbedDecember 21, 2014

Guidelines set by NGT bench•

•

•

Background


•

For first time 19 swamp deer translocated from Kaziranga to Manas National ParkDecember 29, 2014




Second National Biodiversity Conference-2015 will be held in KeralaDecember 31, 2014

3 day Flamingo Festival begins near Pulicat Lake in Nellore district of Andhra PradeshJanuary 10, 2015




•

•

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Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary•

•

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5th General Assembly of IRENA begins in Abu DhabiJanuary 18, 2015

About International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)




2014 hottest year on record: US scientistsJanuary 19, 2015

Key outcomes•

•

•

•

•

•

World Future Energy Summit begins in Abu DhabiJanuary 19, 2015

Key highlights of World Future Energy Summit•

•




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India’s Tigers population increases by 30% since 2011January 20, 2015

Key facts of tiger census report 2014•

•

•

•

•

Tiger census

Kerala’s Periyar tiger reserve wins NTCA biennial awardJanuary 22, 2015

Public participation in managing the Periyar Tiger Reserve•




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•

India’s 1st solar fenced elephant sanctuary to come up near BengaluruFebruary 1, 2015

Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

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Jackal research and translocation project launched in Uttar PradeshFebruary 2, 2015

Jackal Translocation Project•

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World Wetlands Day is being observed on 2 FebruaryFebruary 2, 2015

Significance of Day•

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Two beneficial algal species discovered off the west coast of IndiaFebruary 5, 2015

Key Characteristics of discovered algal species•




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Symposium: Towards Zero Poaching in Asia concludes in NepalFebruary 6, 2015

Symposium: Towards Zero Poaching in Asia•

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Four new fish species discovered in KeralaFebruary 12, 2015

Facts about discovered species•

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India signs $8 million loan agreement with World Bank for SLACC ProjectFebruary 14, 2015

About Sustainable Livelihoods and Adaption to Climate change (SLACC) Project•

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Muthoot Group partners with WWF for elephant projectFebruary 15, 2015

Union Government launches Soil Health Card Scheme in RajasthanFebruary 20, 2015




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Environmental loss in Sundarbans worth Rs. 1290 Crore: World Bank ReportFebruary 22, 2015

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About Sundarbans

3rd Tortoise Festival organised in AssamFebruary 23, 2015

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NGT issues the whip on vintage carsFebruary 24, 2015

Background




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About National Green Tribunal

Zoological Society of London and Gujarat Forest Department inks MoU for Asiatic lion ConservationFebruary 27, 2015

As part of MoU, ZSL with its expertise in managing zoo will provide•

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Renowned ornithologist K.S. Lavkumar Khachar passes awayMarch 4, 2015

About K.S. Lavkumar Khachar•

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EU formally adopts climate change targets for December 2015 UNFCCC Paris ConferenceMarch 7, 2015

Mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles begins in OdishaMarch 13, 2015




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Union Government merges Green India Mission with MGNREGA to reclaim forest coverMarch 15, 2015

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Convergence guidelines includes•

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Union Environment Ministry revokes suspension of Goa minesMarch 18, 2015

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NGT announces Rs 5,000 fine for littering on railway propertyMarch 19, 2015




Rajendra Singh wins prestigious 2015 Stockholm Water PrizeMarch 21, 2015

About Rajendra Singh•

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About Stockholm Water Prize•

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Mithivirdi nuclear plant gets CRZ nod from Union GovernmentMarch 22, 2015

Union Government reconstitutes SEAC-II in MaharashtraMarch 23, 2015

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Rajasthan passes bill to ban camel slaughterMarch 29, 2015

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Great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros’ population rises in Kaziranga: 2015 CensusMarch 29, 2015

Key highlights of census•

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Earth Hour 2015 observed across the WorldMarch 29, 2015

About Earth Hour•

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Rare spiders sighted in Western GhatsMarch 31, 2015




RINL launches first of its kind green project to generate 120 MW powerMarch 31, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches National Air Quality Index to give pollution informationApril 6, 2015

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National Green Tribunal bans diesel vehicles older than 10 years in DelhiApril 7, 2015




NGT bench held that•

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Newly discovered Spider named after Telangana stateApril 10, 2015

Key facts Telangana crab spiders•

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Union Government suspends Greenpeace India’s registration for 6 monthsApril 10, 2015




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India to chair 9th International Renewable Energy Agency council meetApril 11, 2015

About International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)•

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Punjab government approves release of Gharials in Sutlej and Beas rivers to promote eco-tourismApril 17, 2015




About Gharial•

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Earth Day is being observed on 22 AprilApril 22, 2015

Background•

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India-Bangladesh join hands to protect spectacled LangurApril 25, 2015

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NGT bans burning of waste in Delhi NCRApril 29, 2015

Dr. Pramod Patil and Dr. Ananda Kumar won 2015 Whitley Awards for wildlife conservationApril 30, 2015




About Whitley Award•

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Rajasthan Government allocates 12 crore rupees for Project Great Indian BustardMay 3, 2015

Status of the Great Indian Bustard•

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1 in 6 species can face extinction by end of century due to global warming: StudyMay 4, 2015

Key facts from the report




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India home to 48 species of bumblebeesMay 5, 2015

Key facts about Indian Bumblebees•

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NGT imposes monthly tax on all households in Delhi to clean up Yamuna RiverMay 9, 2015




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Asiatic lion population in Gir sanctuary increases to 523: Census report 2015May 11, 2015

As per recent census,•

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About 2015 lion census•

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Union Cabinet approves Namami Gange ProgramMay 14, 2015

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Global energy subsidies to hit US $ 5.3 trillion this year: IMF reportMay 19, 2015




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India ranks 24th in Environmental Democracy IndexMay 22, 2015

Key facts from EDI report•




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About Environmental Democracy Index (EDI)•

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Antarctic ice loss altering earth’s gravity: StudyMay 26, 2015

Key highlights of Study•

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Gujarat Government initiates Sloth Habitat ProjectMay 26, 2015

Background

About Sloth bears•

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Himachal Pradesh government sets up satellite tracking system to check forest fireMay 28, 2015




Everest Glaciers may disappear by 2100 due to global warming: StudyMay 28, 2015

Key facts•

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05 June: World Environment DayJune 5, 2015




About World Environment Day (WED)•

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Nitin Gadkari inaugurates first Oil Spill Response Centre for Mumbai & JNPT HarbourJune 5, 2015

Facts about Tier-I Oil Spill Response Centre (OSRC)•

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India’s first green police station inaugurated at New Delhi’s Maurice NagarJune 6, 2015

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Union Government launches Jal Kranti AbhiyanJune 6, 2015




Yellow-Breasted Buntings on the verge of extinction: StudyJune 10, 2015

349 new species of flora and fauna discovered in the past one year in IndiaJune 11, 2015

Key facts




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Renewable energy targets quadruple globally in 10 years: IRENAJune 12, 2015




About International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)•

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Critically endangered Sangai deer found in Manipur to be translocatedJune 18, 2015

About Sangai deer

About Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP)




Humans driving Earth to sixth mass extinction: StudyJune 20, 2015

Key facts•

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Typhoon Kujira hits south China’s Hainan ProvinceJune 23, 2015




Kerala Government declares June 22 as ‘Snake Bird Day’June 23, 2015

About Snake Bird•

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Maharashtra declares Blue Mormon as ‘State butterfly’June 23, 2015

About Blue Mormon•

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• Other state symbols of Maharashtra are• ��)

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Union Government launches Bhuvan Ganga Mobile App to aid Clean Ganga MissionJune 24, 2015

Rajasthan becomes No. 1 state in solar energy in IndiaJune 24, 2015

Top five states in India are (in terms of installed capacity)•




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Union Government exempts educational institutions from prior green nodJune 26, 2015

First species of Yeti crab named Kiwa Tyleri found in AntarcticaJune 27, 2015




Characteristics of Kiwa Tyleri•

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India Fourth Largest Carbon Emitter: WRI AnalysisJune 27, 2015

According to the analysis figures of WRI,•

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Elephant population rises in Odisha: 2015 CensusJuly 1, 2015

As per 2015 Elephant Census•

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World Bank approves $650 million loan for Eastern Dedicated Freight CorridorJuly 2, 2015

This loan will fund•

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New butterfly species named ‘Banded Tit’ found in Arunachal PradeshJuly 11, 2015

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India, US ink MoU to establish PACESetter FundJuly 13, 2015

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