16 May 2023

• Environment: The Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022 were highlighted as a policy tool to deepen renewable energy markets.
• Governance: India extracts 433 billion cubic metres of groundwater annually, exceeding recharge rates. NCR sank 15 mm per year between 2011 and 2017.
• Culture: The Digital Public Infrastructure framework was endorsed by the SCO as an India initiative.
• Schemes: The Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar campaign promoted reduce-reuse-recycle.
• Science: Saturn regained the title of planet with most moons in the solar system.

GS area: Economy (Energy, Environment)

The Ministry of Power asked industry to adopt green energy targets and enforce violations of the Green Energy Open Access Rules, notified in June 2022.

• What open access means: A consumer is allowed to purchase electricity from a supplier other than the local distribution company by paying a wheeling charge.
• Green energy open access: Consumers with a connected load of 100 kW or more can source renewable energy from any generator through the grid.
• Time limit: Open access must be granted within 15 days. If it is not, it is deemed to be automatically approved.
• RPO fulfilment: Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia production qualify for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) fulfilment.
• India's emissions context: India contributes 3.5 per cent of global emissions despite having 17 per cent of the world's population.
• Policy purpose: Enables industrial and commercial consumers to switch to renewable energy without waiting for the state distribution company.

Static linkage: Electricity Act 2003, renewable energy, open access (Economy/Environment).

GS area: Environment (Water resources, Governance)

India extracts approximately 433 billion cubic metres of groundwater annually, far exceeding natural recharge rates.

• Threat horizon: This extraction pattern threatens 80 per cent of India's potable water supplies within the next two decades, according to a 2021 CAG report.
• NCR subsidence: The National Capital Region sank about 15 millimetres annually between 2011 and 2017, measured by the Sentinel-1 satellite.
• Consequences of subsidence: Building cracks, infrastructure damage and increased flood risk in areas that sink below surrounding drainage levels.
• Regulatory gap: The Central Ground Water Board lacks tools and authority to analyse the consequences of over-exploitation comprehensively.
• Solutions proposed: Rainwater harvesting incentives, strict enforcement against illegal extraction, building design standards that incorporate subsidence risk.

Static linkage: Groundwater, water resources, CAG reports (Environment/Governance).

GS area: Governance, International Relations

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation unanimously adopted India's Digital Public Infrastructure proposal.

• What DPI is: A set of open, interoperable digital platforms that governments use to deliver services at scale. India's DPI includes Aadhaar, UPI and DigiLocker.
• SCO context: India holds the SCO chairmanship in 2023. The endorsement adds DPI to the SCO's cooperation agenda.
• Why DPI matters for development: Enables direct benefit transfers that reduce corruption and leakage. Aadhaar-linked DBT has eliminated ghost beneficiaries at scale.
• UPI: India's Unified Payments Interface processed over 8.7 billion transactions in April 2023. Cross-border UPI links are active with Singapore, UAE and several other countries.

Static linkage: Digital India, DPI, SCO, UPI (Governance/International Relations).

GS area: Environment (Biodiversity)

A study on baobab trees raised concerns about their survival in Africa.

• Distribution: Found in Africa (where most species are endemic), Madagascar (6 of 9 species) and Australia (1 species).
• Lifespan: Can live up to 2,000 years. Known as the "tree of life" for storing water in their massive trunks.
• IUCN status: Listed as Endangered.
• Alarming finding: 9 of the 13 oldest and largest African baobab specimens died between 2005 and 2017. Climate change is the primary suspect.
• India connection: Madhya Pradesh is seeking a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for a baobab variety found in the state.

Static linkage: Biodiversity, IUCN red list, GI tags (Environment).

GS area: Governance (Environment schemes)

The Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar campaign promotes the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle philosophy under the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) mission.

• RRR centres: Establishes Reduce-Reuse-Recycle centres in urban areas for collecting and processing recyclable waste.
• Culmination: Campaign was designed to culminate on World Environment Day (5 June 2023).
• LiFE Mission: Launched by Prime Minister Modi at COP26 in 2021. A UN Environment Programme initiative co-led by India.
• Mission LiFE App: Launched separately by the Ministry of Environment. Five themes: Save Energy, Save Water, Reduce Plastic, Sustainable Food and Healthy Lifestyles.

Static linkage: LiFE Mission, waste management, environment schemes (Environment/Governance).

• Saraswati Yantra: A sacred geometric symbol of Goddess Saraswati from the Maha Upanishad. Represents knowledge, music, art and wisdom. Brought into news as a design element in public spaces.
• Saturn's moons: Saturn regained the title of planet with the most moons in the solar system after new discoveries were confirmed. Jupiter had briefly taken the lead.
• C-PACE: The Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit was established in March 2023 at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs in Gurgaon. It streamlines the process for striking off companies from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs register.