27 May 2024

• Cyclone: Cyclone Remal's aftermath brought heavy rainfall to Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. NDRF teams continued rescue operations across West Bengal.
• Tribal welfare: PM-JANMAN (PM-Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Development Mission) provided housing to PVTG families across 18 states.
• Critical minerals: India and African nations (Tanzania, Zimbabwe, DRC, Zambia) discussed critical mineral partnerships via KABIL, India's overseas minerals acquisition agency.
• Environment: The IUCN published the first comprehensive global mangrove assessment, warning of collapse risk in South Asia.

GS area: Governance (Social Welfare, Tribal Affairs)

PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) continued delivering housing to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) communities.

• PM-JANMAN launch: Launched by Prime Minister on 15 November 2023 (Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda). The scheme is managed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Target: PVTGs across 18 states and 1 UT. There are 75 identified PVTGs in India. PVTGs are the most vulnerable tribal communities characterised by pre-agricultural practices, low literacy, and stagnant or declining population.
• Nine interventions: PM-JANMAN covers safe housing (PMAY-G housing), clean drinking water and sanitation, electricity connections, roads and telecom connectivity, health and nutrition (mobile medical units), Anganwadi centres, multipurpose centres, and educational institutions (residential schools and hostels).
• Budget: Rs 24,104 crore over 3 years (2023-24 to 2025-26). Centrally sponsored scheme (100 per cent central funding for PVTGs).
• Birsa Munda connection: Birsa Munda (1875-1900) was a tribal freedom fighter and folk hero among the Munda people of Jharkhand. His birth anniversary (15 November) was designated Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in 2021 to honour tribal contributions to India's freedom struggle.
• PM-JANMAN vs PMAY-G: PMAY-G (Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin) is the broader rural housing scheme; PM-JANMAN's housing component uses PMAY-G funding but targets only PVTG habitations.

Static linkage: Tribal welfare, PVTG, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Birsa Munda.

GS area: International Relations (Resource Diplomacy)

India intensified critical mineral diplomacy with African nations, with KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited) in active discussions with Tanzania, Zimbabwe, DRC, and Zambia.

• Critical minerals at stake: Cobalt (DRC is the world's largest producer, 70% of global supply), copper (Zambia, DRC), lithium (Zimbabwe, DRC), graphite (Tanzania), and manganese (South Africa/Zimbabwe).
• DRC's cobalt: The Democratic Republic of Congo has the world's largest cobalt reserves. Cobalt is essential for lithium-ion battery cathodes (NMC and NCA chemistries). China controls approximately 80 per cent of cobalt refining.
• India's critical minerals list (2023): 30 minerals designated as critical. These include lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements (REEs). India currently imports most of these.
• KABIL's mandate: Acquire mineral assets abroad to ensure supply security, similar to China's CNODC/CMOC model. KABIL is a joint venture of NALCO, HCL, and MECL.
• India-Africa Forum Summit: India's engagement with Africa follows the India-Africa Forum Summit process (IAFS), last held in 2015. A fourth IAFS was anticipated.
• African Union in G20: India's presidency of the G20 (2023) successfully brought the African Union into the G20 as a permanent member, reflecting the continent's rising geopolitical importance.

Static linkage: Critical minerals, India-Africa relations, resource diplomacy.

GS area: Environment (Coastal Ecosystems, Biodiversity)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published the first comprehensive global mangrove assessment using the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems framework.

• Key finding: Approximately 50 per cent of global mangrove ecosystems face collapse. South Asian mangroves, particularly in India and Bangladesh (Sundarbans), face heightened collapse risk from sea-level rise and cyclone intensification.
• Sundarbans risk: The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest (spread across India and Bangladesh), faces a "high collapse risk." The Sundarban tiger population is directly threatened by habitat loss from mangrove die-off.
• Global mangrove extent: Approximately 14.8 million hectares of mangroves remain globally, down from higher historic extents. India has approximately 4,900 sq km of mangroves (around 3 per cent of global).
• Mangrove ecosystem services: Carbon sequestration (blue carbon: 3-5 times more effective per hectare than terrestrial forests), coastal protection, fisheries nursery habitat, and biodiversity.
• IUCN Red List of Ecosystems: Launched in 2016, this framework assesses ecosystems (not just species) for collapse risk. Categories: Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, and Collapsed.
• India's mangroves under India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023: India reported a slight increase in mangrove cover of 17 sq km (2021 to 2023). Major mangrove states: West Bengal (Sundarbans), Gujarat (Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat), Maharashtra, Odisha.

Static linkage: Mangroves, IUCN, blue carbon, Sundarbans, ISFR.

GS area: Geography (Disaster Management)

Cyclone Remal's remnant low-pressure system caused devastating rainfall in Northeast India on 27-28 May.

• Affected states: Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, and Manipur received extremely heavy rainfall. Silchar (Assam) and Aizawl (Mizoram) recorded flooding.
• Cherrapunji-Mawsynram effect: Meghalaya's topography (elevation and orographic rainfall) amplified the rainfall. Cyclone remnants are known to cause severe inland flooding in Northeast India.
• NDRF teams: 70+ NDRF teams deployed across West Bengal and Northeast India. Air Force helicopters conducted rescue operations in isolated areas.
• Brahmaputra flood plains: Assam's Brahmaputra valley is among the most flood-prone regions in India. The 2024 monsoon was already starting early due to the cyclone's moisture influx.
• Early monsoon: IMD noted Cyclone Remal's moisture contribution accelerated the advance of the southwest monsoon over Kerala and Northeast India.

Static linkage: Northeast India, Brahmaputra, monsoon advance, cyclone remnant.

GS area: Science and Technology (Meteorology)

IMD introduced the "Heat Index" or "feels like" temperature as a supplementary communication tool for public health during heatwaves.

• Heat Index definition: A measure of how hot it actually feels when relative humidity is factored in with the air temperature. At 41°C actual temperature with high humidity (60-70%), the perceived temperature can reach 50°C or above.
• Formula: The Heat Index is calculated using Steadman's formula, adopted internationally. At low humidity, the Heat Index can be lower than the actual temperature.
• IMD's heatwave criteria: A heatwave is declared when the actual maximum temperature is 45°C or above (plains), or 5°C above normal (any region). The Heat Index is a supplementary measure for public health guidance, not the formal heatwave declaration trigger.
• Health impact: Every 1°C rise in Heat Index above 42°C significantly increases the risk of heat stroke. Vulnerable groups include outdoor workers, elderly, and children.
• Global precedent: The US National Weather Service uses Heat Index routinely; the WMO encourages its use globally for public health warnings.

Static linkage: Heatwave, IMD, public health, climate change adaptation.

• Cyclone Remal infrastructure damage: Sagar Island, Bakkhali, and Fraserganj in West Bengal reported widespread damage: roads submerged, power lines downed, crops damaged. Estimated agricultural losses in lakhs of hectares.
• SC on Aravalli mining: The Supreme Court's halt on mining in Aravallis (17 May order) continued to be implemented, with Haryana government survey proceeding. The Aravallis form a critical groundwater recharge zone for Delhi and NCR.
• India-EU Free Trade Agreement: Discussions between India and the EU on a bilateral trade and investment agreement (BTIA, nicknamed "Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement") continued. India and the EU had suspended talks for 8 years before resuming in 2022.