29 July 2024

• Space: India's space economy expected to reach 44 billion dollars by 2033. A 1,000-crore rupee venture capital fund was announced for space startups. India has 200-plus space startups.
• Environment: World Mangrove Day (26 July) analysis continued. India's mangrove cover is 4,992 sq km. MISHTI scheme supports restoration.
• Food: World Food Security Report 2024 estimates 713 to 757 million people are chronically hungry globally. One in every 11 persons globally faces hunger.
• Olympics: Paris 2024 billed as the "Greenest Games" with half the usual carbon footprint.

GS area: Science and Technology, Economy

India's space sector is growing after the Indian Space Policy 2023 and the creation of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).

• Market projection: India's space economy is currently estimated at 8 to 9 billion dollars. The government's target is 44 billion dollars by 2033 (from a current global share of about 2 per cent to 10 per cent).
• VC fund: Budget 2024-25 announced a 1,000-crore rupee venture capital fund dedicated to the space sector. The fund is to be managed by the Department of Space.
• Startups: India has over 200 space startups. Skyroot, Agnikul Cosmos, and Pixxel are prominent examples.
• IN-SPACe: Established in 2020 as a single-window regulatory and promotional body under the Department of Space. Authorises private entities to carry out space activities, build launch vehicles and satellites.
• PSLV operations: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL, the commercial arm of ISRO) uses PSLV in Shared Launch Service mode, launching multiple payloads from a single vehicle for commercial customers.
• Indian Space Policy 2023: Formally opened launches, satellite operations, launch vehicle development, and space data processing to private sector for the first time. Prior to this, ISRO was the exclusive operator.

Static linkage: Space sector (S&T), Atmanirbhar Bharat, science and technology policy.

GS area: Social Justice, International Relations

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report (jointly published by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO) is the definitive annual global hunger assessment.

• 2024 estimate: 713 to 757 million people chronically hungry. Central estimate: 733 million. This is 1 in every 11 people globally.
• India's position: India is not part of the five-nation comparison used in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) methodology, though GHI ranks India at 111th of 125 countries (2023).
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Most severely affected region. 20.4 per cent of population chronically undernourished.
• Three dimensions of food security (FAO definition): Availability (sufficient food produced); Access (physical and economic access); Utilisation (nutritious food absorbed by the body); Stability (the other three dimensions are consistent over time).
• India's food programmes: National Food Security Act 2013 covers 81.35 crore beneficiaries (approximately two-thirds of India's population) with subsidised grain. PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana extended free grain for five more years from January 2024.
• Malnutrition double burden: India faces both undernutrition (stunting at 35.5 per cent in children under 5 per NFHS-5) and overnutrition (rising obesity and diabetes).

Static linkage: Food security (Social Justice/Economy), international organisations (IR).

GS area: Environment, International Relations

Paris 2024 was designed around a commitment to cut the carbon footprint of the Olympic and Paralympic Games by 50 per cent compared to equivalent games.

• Baseline: 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics each emitted approximately 3.5 million tonnes of CO2. Paris aims for 1.75 million tonnes.
• Key strategies: 95 per cent of events in existing or temporary venues (no new permanent stadiums built). 100 per cent renewable electricity for Games operations. Athletes' village powered by a geothermal network. Plant-forward menu (60 per cent of food plant-based). Zero single-use plastic in venues.
• Transport: Organisers encouraged spectators to use Paris metro and cycling. Hosted in a city already with dense public transit.
• River Seine: Ecological restoration of the Seine was accelerated ahead of the opening ceremony. The river was cleaned to enable marathon swimming and triathlon events in it, a first in Olympic history.
• Biodiversity: 400 trees planted per site cleared. Urban cooling corridors created through vegetation.

Static linkage: Climate change and events (Environment), international sports governance.

GS area: Disaster Management, International Relations

India assumed the chair of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) in 2024.

• ADPC: An intergovernmental organisation founded in 1986, based in Bangkok, Thailand. Member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand.
• Mandate: Reduce disaster risk and build resilience across the Asia-Pacific region. Supports member countries in implementing the Sendai Framework 2015-2030.
• Sendai Framework: Five-year mid-term review was conducted in 2023. Target D (reducing disaster mortality) is not on track globally.
• India's disaster profile: India is one of the most disaster-prone countries globally (coastal cyclones, floods, earthquakes, landslides, droughts). NDMA and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) operate domestic response.
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): India co-founded CDRI in 2019 as a global initiative to make critical infrastructure resilient to climate and disaster risks. A complementary international role.

Static linkage: Disaster management (Governance), international bodies (IR), Sendai Framework.

GS area: Environment and Ecology

The Global Mangrove Alliance's Mangrove 2024 report assessed the state of the world's mangrove ecosystems.

• Global area: 1,47,000 sq km worldwide. Southeast Asia has 33 per cent of global mangroves (52,000 sq km). Indonesia alone has 21 per cent.
• Loss trends: 1 per cent of global mangroves lost per year at peak loss rates (1980s to 2000s). The rate has slowed but not reversed in all regions.
• Threats to Indian mangroves: Aquaculture (shrimp farming), coastal infrastructure, and pollution. Rising sea levels threaten low-lying delta mangroves.
• Carbon value: Mangroves sequester 5 times more carbon per hectare than tropical upland forests, mostly in deep waterlogged soils (blue carbon).
• India's targets: Mangrove cell under MoEFCC. MISHTI scheme (Budget 2023-24) combines plantation with livelihood. Mangroves protected under CRZ Notification 2019 (no development in Coastal Regulation Zone-I).
• Sundarbans: The Sundarbans (India and Bangladesh combined) is the world's largest mangrove forest at 10,200 sq km. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.

Static linkage: Coastal ecology (Environment), CRZ regulation.

• Charaideo Moidams (follow-up): After UNESCO inscription, the Archaeological Survey of India announced measures to prevent over-tourism. Moidams will have visitor capacity limits to protect the earthen mounds.
• Manu Bhaker (follow-up): After her bronze on 28 July, Bhaker announced plans to compete in the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh. If she wins another medal, she would be the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympics.
• National Mission for Geospatial Data: Cabinet approved the National Geospatial Policy 2022, allowing private sector firms to use satellite imagery for mapping without special government clearance.