Solution (a)

The Indira Gandhi Canal is the longest canal of India. 

It starts from the Harike Barrage at Harike, a few kilometers below the confluence of the Satluj and Beas rivers in the Indian state of Punjab and terminates in irrigation facilities in the Thar Desert in the north west of Rajasthan state.

Benefits:

• Indira Gandhi Canal provides irrigation water to an arid area in Rajasthan starting Ganganagar district to Jalselmer along the Indo-Pakistan border. It has helped turn a significant part of the Thar desert to an agriculturally happening area. Animal.husbandry has also flourished.
• It also supplies drinking water to the towns and villeges along its course. This again has proved for the urbanisation of the area.
• Spread of irrigated agriculture has halted spreading of sand dunes, increased the tree cover and change in overall ecology. As canal irrigation has been invoked without drainage, the threat of salinity and waterlogging looms large in this area.
• The canal also serves as a barrier to military invasion from Pakistan side incase of an armed conflict.

Article Link: Indira Gandhi Canal Project

Solution (b)

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is a light-based remote sensing technology. It uses laser light rays for transmission and reception.

It is used to create 3-D images of the project areas to recommend soil and water conservation structures. This can be converted to create slope and sunlight exposure area map. This information can be used to identify the areas which require more water or fertilizer and help the farmers to save on their cost of labor, time and money.

Article Link: Govt launches LiDAR survey reports to augment water in forest areas

Solution (a)

The ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ Programme aims to expeditiously improve the socio-economic status of 117 districts from across 28 states. 

The three core principles of the programme are – Convergence (of Central & State Schemes), Collaboration (among citizens and functionaries of Central & State Governments including district teams), and Competition among districts. Driven primarily by the States, this initiative focuses on the strengths of each district, and prioritizes the attainable outcomes for immediate improvement.

The programme focusses on 5 main themes – 

• Health & Nutrition
• Education
• Agriculture & Water Resources 
• Financial Inclusion & Skill Development
• Basic Infrastructure

These indicators have direct bearing on the quality of life and economic productivity of citizens.

• Core Strategy of the programme can be listed as:
• States as main drivers
• Work on the strength of each district.
• Make development as a mass movement in these districts.
• Identify low hanging fruits and the strength of each district, to act as a catalyst for development.
• Measure progress and rank districts to spur a sense of competition.
• Districts shall aspire to become State’s best to Nation’s best.

Article Link: Tap water supply increases four-fold from 7% to 31% In 117 Aspirational districts with 84 lakh households getting tap connections in just 22 months

 Solution (c)

The Black Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia.

It is supplied by major rivers, principally the Danube, Dnieper, and Don. 

Six countries border with the Black Sea, including Ukraine to the north, Russia and Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.

Article Link: Russia, U.K. spar over Black Sea incident

Solution (b)

Recently, the Ramgarh Vishdhari wildlife sanctuary received a nod from the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) technical committee to become the 4th Tiger reserve of Rajasthan. This will be the 52nd Tiger Reserve of India.

Rajasthan has three other tiger reserves with over 90 big cats at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) in Alwar, and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) in Kota.