Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context: The 18th biennial State of Forest Report (ISFR-2023) by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) found a marginal gain of 156 sq km in forest cover, and a sizable increase of 1,289 sq km in tree cover since 2021.

Background: –

• Irrespective of land use or ownership, tree patches measuring 1 hectare or more with a minimum canopy cover of 10% are counted as forests in India : 
  • Very dense forest: Canopy density of 70% or more
  • Moderately dense forest: Canopy density of 40–70%
  • Open forest: Canopy density of 10–40%

Key takeaways

• For the first time, India’s green cover has exceeded the 25% threshold with 8,27,357 sq km (25.17%) of the country now under forest (21.76%) and tree (3.41%) cover. Of this, 4,10,175 sq km is classified as dense forests.
• Tree patches smaller than 1 hectare do not count as forests, and have been measured separately by FSI as tree cover since 2001. IFSR-2023 recorded a 0.5 percentage point jump in two years, with tree cover rising to 3.41%.
• In comparison, India’s forest cover has increased by only 0.05 percentage points since 2021. This is consistent with the trend of diminishing growth since India’s forest cover crossed the 20% threshold at the turn of the millennium. 
• Between 2003 and 2013, forest cover increased by 0.61 percentage points, from 20.62% to 21.23%. In the next 10 years, it grew by only 0.53 percentage points to 21.76%.
• Depending on factors such as climate and biotic pressure, a forest can improve or degrade to the next density category — a VDF patch may thin to become a moderately dense forest (MDF) or an OF may get upgraded as an MDF — during a 2-year IFSR cycle.
• SFR-2023 shows that 3,913 sq km of dense forests — an area larger than Goa — have disappeared in India in just two years since 2021. This is consistent with the worsening trend over the past two decades: 17,500 sq km of dense forests were wiped out between 2013 and 2023, while 7,151 sq km disappeared between 2003 and 2013.
• The bulk of this loss has been offset by the rapid transformation of 15,530 sq km of non-forested or scantly forested land to dense or even very dense forests in successive two-year windows during 2003-2023. These are plantations, say experts, because natural forests do not grow this fast.
• The trend of steady replacement of natural dense forests with plantations has been criticised by experts.
• Plantations usually have trees of the same age (and often the same species), are vulnerable to fire, pests and epidemics, and often act as a barrier to the regeneration of natural forests which are more biodiverse, perform a wider range of ecological functions, and support numerous species.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT ; GS 2

Context: Every year, Good Governance Day is celebrated on December 25th.

Background: –

• This day aims to raise awareness among citizens about government accountability and effective administration while promoting the practice of “good governance” among civil servants.

Key takeaways

• In 2014, the Union government announced that December 25 would be celebrated as “Good Governance Day.” This day honors the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• According to Good Governance Index Report, “Good governance can be referred as an effective and efficient process of decision making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented) keeping the amelioration of citizens as the topmost priority. Resource allocation, creation of formal establishments, setting up rules and regulations etc., are part of achieving this goal.”

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

• Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924 in Gwalior, present-day Madhya Pradesh.
• He held his first major national position as the External Affairs Minister in Morarji Desai’s post Emergency government. Eventhough he resigned and the government soon fell, Vajpayee had earned major plaudits for his tenure, with his UN General Assembly speech in Hindi drawing praise.
• While he first became Prime Minister in 1996 (for 16 days) it was his 1998-1999  and 1999-2004 terms that left a lasting impact on the nation. He was the first non-Congress prime minister to serve a full term in the office.
• Under his tenure, India formally became a nuclear power ( Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998) despite criticism from the West, ably faced war and peace with Pakistan, undertook massive public welfare projects including Sarva Shikshya Abhiyaan and PM Gramin Sadak Yojana, and ushered in a new era of foreign investment and international relations, especially with the US.
• In 2015, he was honoured India’s highest civilian honour – Bharat Ratna.
• When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the new “Good Governance Day” in 2014, there were two primary reasons cited. 
  • First was to commemorate the life of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
  • Second, was to use the day as a way to increase awareness of government services and accountability among people and inculcate “good governance” as a habit for civil servants.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Mains – GS 2

Context: A recent study examining the plight of Rohingya refugees detained in India has highlighted gross violations of constitutional and human rights and criticised India’s failure to uphold its obligations under international human rights treaties.

Background:

• According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 22,500 Rohingya refugees currently reside in India.

How are Rohingya refugees protected under international law?

• The Rohingya of Myanmar constitute the world’s largest stateless population, estimated to number approximately 2.8 million.
• The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol enshrine the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits states from expelling individuals when evidence suggests they would face persecution, torture, or other severe human rights violations upon return. Moreover, its status as customary international law imposes binding obligations on states regardless of formal assent. 
• In a 2007 advisory opinion, the UNHCR affirmed that non-refoulement constitutes customary law and is binding on all states, including those not parties to the Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol.

India’s stand

• As India is neither a signatory to the Refugee Convention nor a party to key international instruments such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, it maintains that it bears no legal obligation to provide asylum or adhere to non-refoulment. 
• India continues to detain Rohingya refugees under domestic legal frameworks, notably the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Passport Act, 1967.
• In response to a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court seeking the release of detained Rohingya refugees, the Union government clarified that while they are entitled to the right to life under Article 21, they do not possess the right to reside or settle in India. 
• In 2021, the top court in Mohammad Salimullah and Anr. v. Union of India, rejected a plea to prevent the deportation of Rohingya refugees detained in Srinagar accepting the Centre’s national security concerns.

What are India’s international obligations?

• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a party, implicitly obligates member states under Article 7 to refrain from refouling individuals to places where they may face torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
• Similarly, the principle of non-refoulement is enshrined in other instruments, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both of which India has ratified.
• Further, the Convention Against Torture makes an express mention of non-refoulement under Article 3. While India’s position as a signatory but not a ratifier renders it non-binding, any deviation from the principles would compromise the commitment India demonstrated by signing the treaty.
• Although India lacks a domestic refugee law, the Supreme Court in landmark rulings such as Vishaka & Ors. v. State of Rajasthan (1997) and National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (2014), has affirmed that in the absence of domestic legislation on a matter, international conventions and norms must be applied to ensure the dignity of human life. Additionally, Article 51(c) of the Constitution mandates that the State must strive to promote respect for international law and treaty obligations.
• Several High Courts in India have also interpreted the principle of non-refoulement as integral to Article 21 of the Constitution.

What are the existing concerns?

• The absence of a standardised refugee policy has led to disparate treatment of different refugees, driven by India’s shifting geopolitical and diplomatic interests. 
• While groups such as Tibetans, Sri Lankans, and Afghans are granted refugee certificates or long-term visas, most Rohingya refugees —despite being registered with the UNHCR — often face arbitrary detention and imprisonment. Further, the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, excludes Muslim minorities, such as the Rohingya, from its ambit.
• The lack of legal representation and aid for detained Rohingya refugees also poses a concern.
• Detention centres housing Rohingya refugees are plagued by dehumanising conditions. In light of the appalling conditions at the Matia Transit Camp, the Supreme Court in October, directed the Assam State Legal Services to conduct surprise visits and evaluate the conditions in which the refugees are living.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: This Christmas, papier-mâché artisans in Srinagar have created thousands of dodos, a bird that went extinct in 1681.

Background: –

• This year, over 50,000 papier-mâché dodos have been exported to markets in Europe and Mauritius, just in time for Christmas.

Key takeaways

• Kashmiri papier-mâché is a traditional handicraft of Jammu and Kashmir, known for its intricate designs and vibrant colors.
• The tradition of the Kashmir Papier Machie has its origin rooted in the 15th century when king Zain-ul-Abidin invited accomplished artists and craftsmen from Central Asia.
• Over time, the craft evolved, and during the Mughal era, it gained significant popularity. The Mughal emperors patronized this art, and it became an integral part of Kashmiri culture
• Derived from the French term “papier-mâché,” meaning “chewed paper.”
• Process of Making:
  • Raw Material: Waste paper soaked, pulped, and molded into various shapes.
  • Lacquer Work: Layers of glue and adhesive applied for durability.
  • Painting: Hand-painted using natural pigments and intricate floral or geometric patterns.
  • Varnishing: Polished to give a glossy finish.
• Papier-mâché is deeply embedded in Kashmiri culture and is protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) Act, 1999.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated a 1km stretch of Asia’s first highway with a bio-bitumen blended surface. The highway stretch is located on NH-44 in Mansar, Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Background: –

• The project’s success is still two years away. Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), a govt body, will observe whether the road withstands heavy traffic and changing seasons.

Key takeaways

• Bitumen, a black, viscous material derived from crude oil, is commonly used as a binder in road construction. Lignin, on the other hand, is a natural polymer found in plant cell walls and is abundant in agricultural waste.
• Processing lignin into bio-bitumen offers an environmentally friendly solution with up to a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional bitumen.

Composition and Production of bio bitumen

• Feedstock:
  • Agricultural residues (e.g., straw, husks, and lignocellulosic biomass).
  • Algae, waste cooking oil, and animal fats.
  • Organic waste from municipal solid waste (MSW) and industrial processes.
• Process:
  • Pyrolysis: Thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen to produce bio-oil, which is refined into bio-bitumen.
  • Hydrothermal Liquefaction: Converts wet biomass into bio-bitumen through high temperature and pressure.
  • Catalytic Upgradation: Enhances the physical and chemical properties of bio-bitumen for improved performance.

Benefits

• Reduced Imports: Bio-bitumen helps reduce dependency on imported bitumen.
• Environmental Impact: It addresses issues like stubble burning by utilizing agricultural waste as feedstock. It is estimated to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70% compared to fossil-based alternatives.

Source: Times of India

Q1.) Which of the following statements about Kashmiri Papier-Mâché is correct?

1. It originated during the Mughal era in the 18th century.
2. It is protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) Act, 1999.
3. The process involves hand-painting using natural pigments.

Options:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) Consider the following statements about bio-bitumen:

1. It is produced from crude oil through pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction.
2. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% compared to conventional bitumen.
3. It addresses environmental concerns by utilizing agricultural waste.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Q3.) Good Governance Day is celebrated on December 25 to commemorate the birth anniversary of which Indian Prime Minister?

a) Indira Gandhi

b) Atal Bihari Vajpayee

c) Morarji Desai

d) Lal Bahadur Shastri

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  Today’s – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – c