CURRENT AFFAIRS

India presented its updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024–30 (NBSAP 2024–30) at COP16 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) held in Cali, Colombia – 2024.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was established at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Its primary objectives are the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of benefits. COP16, the 16th Conference of the Parties, was held in Colombia.

Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to sign an agreement with Starlink, under which satellite-based internet services will be provided to government institutions and rural areas of the state.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) achieved a major success by raiding a clandestine factory in Valsad district, Gujarat, under Operation White Cauldron.

Renewable Energy (RE) refers to energy derived from natural resources that replenish themselves faster than they are consumed. Examples: Solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, biomass energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy, etc. These sources are environment-friendly, sustainable, and carbon-neutral compared to fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

In the Union Budget 2025–26, the Government of India announced an ambitious “Nuclear Energy Mission” with the goal of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.

The Great Nicobar Island is India’s southernmost and largest island, forming an integral part of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It holds immense strategic and ecological importance for India’s maritime boundaries. Recently, the proposed Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNI Project) has triggered widespread debate concerning environmental sustainability, national security, and tribal rights.

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is not only the ecological backbone of India but also the lifeline of Asia. Stretching from the high altitudes of the Himalayas to the hilly terrains of the northeastern states, this region sustains millions of lives, cultures, and water resources.

In India and many other countries, sand has become synonymous with illegal mining, mafia networks, and environmental degradation.

A report by the G20 group, led by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, warns that global inequality has reached emergency levels.