ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE & TECH CURRENT

AFFAIRS AND DOWN TO EARTH (FEBRUARY 2021)

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S. No. TOPICS Page No.

01. PSLV C51 and Amazonia 1 02

02. Himalayan Serow 03

03. New Species of Snake eel 04

04. Hydrogen Energy Mission 05

05. Coal Burning and Air pollution in India: IEACCC

08

06. Need for National Environmental Regulator 09

07. Objective Questions 11

08. Subjective Questions 14

CONTENT

1. PSLV C51 and Amazonia 1

Context:

● Amazonia 1 and 18 other satellites were launched from India’s launch vehicle from

Satish Dhawan Space Center, Shriharikota.

Amazonia-1

● Amazonia-1 is the optical earth observation satellite of National Institute for Space

Research (INPE), Brazil.

● This satellite would further strengthen the existing structure by providing remote

sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and

analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.

● This is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL),

a Government of India company under the Department of Space.

NewSpace India Limited

● NSIL is the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with

the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take up high technology

space related activities.

● It enables the promotion and commercial exploitation of the products and services

emanating from the Indian space programme.

● It is a wholly owned Government of India Company under the administrative

control of the Department of Space (DoS).

PSLV:

● Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of

India. It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages.

● The vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and

Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013 – that later traveled to the Moon and Mars

respectively.

● PSLV-C51 is the 53rd flight of PSLV and 3rd flight of PSLV in 'DL' configuration.

2. Himalayan Serow

Why in the News?

● Himalayan Serows have been spotted for the first time in Assam in the Manas

Tiger Reserve.

What is Himalayan Serow?

● It resembles a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig.

● It is a medium-sized mammal with a large head, thick neck, short limbs, long,

mule-like ears, and a coat of dark hair.

● There are several species of serows, and all of them are found in Asia and are

restricted to the Himalayan region.

● Taxonomically, it is a subspecies of the mainland serow.

● Himalayan serows are typically found at altitudes between 2,000 metres and 4,000

metres (6,500 to 13,000 feet).

● They are known to be found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas, but not in

the Trans Himalayan region.

Image: Himalayan Serow

Source: Indian Express

IUCN and WPA Status:

● According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),

Himalayan serows have experienced significant declines in population size, range

size and habitat in the last decade, and this is expected to continue due to intensive

human impact.

● Previously categorised as ‘near threatened’, the Himalayan serow is now

categorised as ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

● It is listed under Schedule I of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which provides

absolute protection. -

3. New Species of Snake eel

Why in the News?

● Researchers have discovered a new species of snake eel from the ports of Paradip

in Odisha and Petuaghat harbour in West Bengal along the Bay of Bengal.

● It was the second new fish species discovered by researchers from the Odisha coast

in the past two years.

About the new Snake eel:

Image: The new species of snake eel found in Odisha and West Bengal

Source: Down to Earth

● The genus of the species is Cirrhimuraena. It is part of the Ophichthidae family of

snake eels and its order is Anguilliformes.

○ The genus is represented in Indian waters by Cirrhimuraena playfairii or the

fringe-lip snake eel that is reported from the Godavari estuarine system.

● The researchers concluded that the new species belonged to the same clade as

Cirrhimuraena chinensis and was separated from it morphologically and

genetically.

● Cirrhimuraena chinensis is a tropical, marine eel that is known from China and

Papua New Guinea, in the western Pacific Ocean.

● The scientists have proposed the name of the new species as ‘Indian fringe-lip eel’

or Cirrhimuraena indica.

● The colour of the dorsal side of the body of the fish was light brown and the ventral

side slightly pale. The fins were uniform pale brown. The length was between 232

to 512 mm.

4. Hydrogen Energy Mission

Why in the News?

● The Budget 2020-2021 accounded the National Hydrogen Energy Mission which

aims for generation of hydrogen from green power resources.

Significance of the mission:

● Transportation sector contributes a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in India.

● India has set itself an ambitious target to decarbonise by 2050. It aims at generating

175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022.

● Hence, the budget allocated Rs 1,500 crore rupee for the mission.

Why Hydrogen?

● Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.

● It is lighter, denser and 3 times more efficient than burning fossil fuels.

● It will help reduce our import dependence on crude oil and gas.

● It will help tackle pollution since Hydrogen fuel cell cars have a near zero carbon

footprint.

● It will also benefit the steel, chemical and transportation industry.

● Hydrogen is the only source of energy that only emits water vapour and leaves no

residue in the air. Due to these advantages hydrogen is being seen as the biggest

source of clean energy fuel in the near future.

Hydrogen element basics:

● Types: Based on the production process

○ Blue Hydrogen: Blue hydrogen is when natural gas (CH4) is split into

hydrogen and CO2 either by Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) or Auto

Thermal Reforming (ATR), but the CO2 is captured and then stored. As the

greenhouse gasses are captured, this mitigates the environmental impacts on

the planet.

○ Grey Hydrogen: It is a similar process to blue hydrogen. SMR or ATR are used

to split natural gas into Hydrogen and CO2. But the CO2 is not being captured

and is released into the atmosphere.

○ Green Hydrogen: Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by splitting water by

electrolysis. This produces only hydrogen and oxygen. We can use the

hydrogen and vent the oxygen to the atmosphere with no negative impact.

Image: Types of Hydrogen

Source: https://www.pressreleasepoint.com

How to harness Hydrogen Energy?

● Hydrogen Energy could be harnessed via a mechanism called as “ Hydrogen fuel

cell”.

● Fuel cells transform Hydrogen fuel into electricity, which could be used for

mobility in Electric vehicles.

● A fuel cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy using oxidising agents

through an oxidation-reduction reaction.

● Fuel cell-based vehicles most commonly combine hydrogen and oxygen to

produce electricity to power the electric motor on board. Since fuel cell vehicles

use electricity to run, they are considered electric vehicles.

● Inside each individual fuel cell, hydrogen is drawn from an onboard pressurised

tank and made to react with a catalyst, usually made from platinum.

● As the hydrogen passes through the catalyst, it is stripped of its electrons, which

are forced to move along an external circuit, producing an electrical current. This

current is used by the electric motor to power the vehicle, with the only byproduct

being water vapour.

Image: Fuel Cell

Source: Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association

Challenges to the Mission:

● Lack of Infrastructure: There are less than 500 hydrogen stations globally. India

has only three manufacturers that are equipped with the hydrogen fuel

technology- Honda, Toyota and Hyundai

● Risk: Hydrogen has great explosion risk and is a highly combustible gas.

● High Initial investment: Although hydrogen is a clean molecule, the process of

extracting it is energy-intensive

5. Coal Burning and Air pollution in India: IEACCC

Why in the News?

● A study by the International Energy Agency’s Clean Coal Centre (IEACCC)

concludes that coal burning is the major source of heavy air pollution in india.

Major sources of Air pollution in India:

● Coal based thermal power plants with no pollution control measures contribute

50% of sulphur dioxide (SO2), 30% oxides of nitrogen (NOx), 20% particulate

matter (PM), among other man-made emissions in the country.

● Transport and other industrial sectors stand second.

Reasons for such pollution:

● Poor technological

deployment of pollution

control devices.

● Poor implementation of

the emission norms

happening on the

ground.

● Current energy

efficiency schemes

(performance and

achievement trade

scheme, efficiency

standards scheme and

carbon pricing schemes) are not ambitious enough to drive significant

improvement.

Way Ahead:

● Reviewing and resetting the goals of energy efficiency schemes (like Perform,

Achieve, Trade (PAT) Scheme).

● Reduce CO2 emissions from the coal sector:

○ Retiring old sub-critical thermal power generating units.

○ Running advanced technology plants of higher efficiency on priority.

○ Deploying carbon capture, storage and utilisation technology.

6. Need for National Environmental Regulator

Why in the News?

● The government was asked by the Supreme Court to explain the reasons for not

setting up an “Independent Environment Regulator” that would oversee green

clearances.

Background:

● The Supreme Court had ordered the setting up of a national environment

regulatory body, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to ensure

independent oversight of green clearances way back in July 2011 in Lafarge

Umiam Mining Private Limited v. Union of India.

● The expected role of the regulator: Appraising projects, enforcing environmental

conditions for approvals and to impose penalties on polluters.

● The Supreme Court gave a deadline of April 30, 2021 to start the process of setting

up a national environmental regulator.

Issues with the present environmental regulation:

● The environmental clearance at the national level is overseen by an Expert

Appraisal Committee (EAC), which functions on an ad-hoc basis, without much

regulatory capacity.

● Lack of expertise of its members and chairpersons.

● Lack of effective legislative power and supporting institutional capacity.

● Multiplicity of regulations:

○ Environment clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006.

○ Forest clearance under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

○ Coastal clearance under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011.

○ Wildlife clearance under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

○ Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate under the Water (Prevention and

Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of

Pollution) Act 1981 from the State Pollution Control Boards.

Independent regulator functions:

● To carry out independent, objective and transparent appraisal and approval of

projects for environmental clearances.

● To monitor and implement the conditions laid down in the clearances and impose

penalties on polluters.

● To ensure the National Forest Policy, 1988 is duly implemented.

● To carry out Unbiased Decision Making.

● To create an institutional mechanism for environmental regulation in India, which

currently lies with pollution control boards at the state and central level, lacks

regulatory capacity and independence.

● To cut down on regulatory delays. This may be possible with the help of a credible

independent regulator.

Way Forward:

● Independence in standard-setting, monitoring, and enforcement are important

characteristics of an effective regulatory body. Setting-up of a stand-alone

independent body must precede fragmented revamping of environmental laws.

● A second-generation reform for environmental regulation, which will safeguard

environment and community rights as well as reduce time and transaction costs

for the industry is the need of the hour.

● What is needed is to reduce multiplicity, remove archaic laws and streamline

regulatory procedure.

7. Objective Questions

1. With reference to the Himalayan Serow, consider the following statements:

1. They are amphibians.

2. They are not found in the trans-himalayan region.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Himalayan Serow are herbivores and resemble a cross between a goat, a donkey,

a cow, and a pig.

● There are several species of serows, and all of them are found in Asia and are

restricted to the Himalayan region.

● Taxonomically, it is a subspecies of the mainland serow.

Statement 1 is incorrect: They are medium-sized mammals with a large head,

thick neck, short limbs, long, mule-like ears, and a coat of dark hair.

Statement 2 is correct: Himalayan serows are typically found at altitudes between

2,000 metres and 4,000 metres (6,500 to 13,000 feet). They are known to be found in

eastern, central, and western Himalayas, but not in the Trans Himalayan region.

2. With reference to the International Energy Agency (IEA), consider the following

statements:

1. It is an intergovernmental organisation established in the framework of the

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

2. It publishes the annual report ‘World Energy Outlook’.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

The International Energy Agency (IEA) works with countries around the world

to shape energy policies for a secure and sustainable future.

Statement 1 is correct: IEA is a Paris based autonomous intergovernmental

organisation established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-

operation and Development (OECD).

Statement 2 is correct: IEA annually publishes the World Energy Outlook. It

provides critical analysis and insights on trends in energy demand and supply,

and what they mean for energy security, environmental protection and economic

development.

3. Which of the following statements is/are correct with reference to the Hydrogen

fuel cell technology?

1. It is a technology that uses electricity to produce clean and renewable energy.

2. It uses Hydrogen and Oxygen as the fuel to run the cell.

3. They are less efficient than electric batteries but more efficient than internal

combustion engines.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: A fuel cell converts chemical energy into electrical

energy using oxidising agents through an oxidation-reduction reaction.

Statement 2 is correct: Fuel cells commonly combine hydrogen and oxygen to

produce electricity.

Statement 3 is correct: Fuel cells are less efficient than electric batteries but are

more efficient than internal combustion engines. An internal combustion engine

technology converts fuel into kinetic energy at roughly 25 per cent efficiency

whereas a fuel cell can mix hydrogen with air to produce electricity at up to 60 per

cent efficiency.

4. With reference to the Amazonia-1, a Brazillian satellite launched by PSLV C51,

consider the following statements:

1. It is an optical earth observation satellite.

2. It is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

The Amazonia-1 is the first Brazilian satellite to be launched from India.

Statement 1 is correct: Amazonia-1 is the optical earth observation satellite of

National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Brazil. This satellite would provide

remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region

and analysis of diversified agriculture across Brazil.

Statement 2 is correct: This is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace

India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company under the Department of

Space.

5. Recently a new species of snake eel is discovered in which of the following

states/Union Territories?

(a) Kerala

(b) West Bengal

(c) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

(d) Maharashtra

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Researchers have discovered a new species of snake eel from the ports of Paradip

in Odisha and Petuaghat harbour in West Bengal along the Bay of Bengal.

● The colour of the dorsal side of its body was light brown and the ventral side

slightly pale. The fins were uniform pale brown. The length was between 232

to 512 mm.

● The scientists have proposed the name of the new species as ‘Indian fringe-lip

eel’ or Cirrhimuraena indica.

8. Subjective Questions

1. In the context of the Supreme Court judgement in the Lafarge Umiam Mining case,

discuss the need for an independent National Environment Regulator.

2. Discuss the need to harness the hydrogen energy. How does the National

Hydrogen Energy Mission aim to overcome the challenges involved.

3. Coal based industries are a major source of air pollution. In this context, discuss

the state and various sources of air pollution in India. Suggest remedial measures.

4. “The success of the NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) will dictate the financial future

of the space programme of India.” Comment.

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