Prelim Bits

Invented by and named after Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, the ‘Miyawaki Method’ is a unique technique to grow forests. Under the approach, dozens of native species are planted in the same area, close to each other, which ensures that the plants receive sunlight only from the top, and grow upwards than sideways . It requires very little space (a minimum of 20 square feet), plants grow ten times faster, and the forest becomes maintenance-free in three years . This technique is a 6 step process: Indentify the native species Division - For a multi-layered process, choose different species of plants like shrub layer (6 feet), sub-tree layer (6-12 feet), tree layer (20-40 feet) and canopy layer (above 40 feet). Do not place the same species next to each other. Prepare the soil Plant- Dig a one-metre-deep pit and plant 3-5 native saplings per square metre. Maintain a distance of 60 centimetres between the saplings and level the soil around the stem of the plant. Insert sticks - ...

In a latest development, the State government of Uttarakhand announced to initiate valuation of its natural resources in the form of ‘Gross Environment Product’ (GEP). It was established back in  1997   by ecological economists like   Robert Costanza at the global level . It is an   assessment system to measure ecological status . It is considered as the   product and service value that the ecosystem provides for human welfare and economic and social sustainable development, including provisioning,   regulating and cultural ecosystem services. Overall, GEP accounts for the economic value of the ecosystem in providing products and services, and it is one of the  components of green GDP . The term  “ecosystem services” was coined in 1981 to attract academics towards this aspect, its definition is still in the process of evolution. Ecosystems that can be measured include  natural ecosystems   such as forests, grassland, wetland, desert, ...

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the infusion of Rs 1,500 crore in the  Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA). ·          IREDA is a   mini ratna company   under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). ·          It was set up in 1987 as a specialized  non-banking finance agency   for the renewable energy sector. ·          IREDA  plays a key role in the renewable energy project financing   which gives confidence to the financial institutions/banks to lend in the sector.

A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity by a chemical reaction . Every fuel cell has two electrodes called, respectively, the anode and cathode . The reactions that produce electricity take place at the electrodes. Every fuel cell also has an electrolyte , which carries electrically charged particles from one electrode to the other , and a catalyst , which speeds the reactions at the electrodes . Hydrogen is the basic fuel , but fuel cells also require oxygen as oxidizing agent . One great appeal of fuel cells is that they generate electricity with very little pollution –much of the hydrogen and oxygen used in generating electricity ultimately combine to form a harmless byproduct , namely water . Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen (usually from air) to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes f...

Ministry of Power has notified Green Hydrogen/Green Ammonia Policy  for production of Green Hydrogen or Green Ammonia using renewable sources of energy. Green Hydrogen It is produced by  splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen   using an electrolyzer powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. The fuel can be a  game-changer for the energy security of India,  which imports 85% of its oil and 53% of gas requirements. To promote clean fuels, India is considering making it mandatory for fertilizer plants and oil refineries to purchase green hydrogen. Significance of Green Hydrogen Green hydrogen energy is vital for India to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) Targets and ensure regional and national energy security, access and availability. Green Hydrogen can act as an energy storage option, which would be essential to meet intermittencies (of renewable energy) in the futur...

Energy Compacts   (a platform to unite and connect commitments and actions): Energy Compacts are being  mobilized by UN-Energy   and will continue to be mobilized and updated  throughout the current Decade of Action . These are ongoing or new commitments with clear, underlying actions that will  advance progress on one or more of SDG7’s three core targets. SDG7 calls for “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all ” by 2030. SDG 7 three core targets:   Access to energy , Renewable energy , Energy efficiency . These are  voluntary commitments   from Member States and non-state actors, such as companies, regional/local governments, NGOs, and others. Since affordable, clean energy is a prerequisite for achieving all other SDGs and the  Paris Agreement , actions defined in an Energy Compact can be directly linked to  Nationally Determined Contributions   consi...

He was a Pashtun leader and ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and was known for his non-violent opposition to British Rule. He was known as Badshah Khan and “ Sarhadi Gandhi ” ( Frontier Gandhi ). He had started the first Pushto political monthly Pukhtoon . He also Participated in opposing the Rowlatt Act. He also played an active part in the Khilafat movement , and as a result, he was arrested in 1921 under the Frontier Crimes Regulations for spreading nationalistic ideas among the Pathans. He was kept in solitary confinement, with his hands and feet tied. After his release in 1924 he came to be known as Fakhr-e-Afghan . He was offered the presidency of the Indian National Congress in 1931 which he refused saying that “I am a simple soldier and Khudai Khidmatgar, and I only want to serve.” He remained a member of the Congress Working Committee for many years, resigning only in 1939 because of his differences with...