06 Apr 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Green Highways
2. India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise
3. Melting of Himalayan Glaciers

1. Green Highways

Syllabus: GS III, Infrastructure – Roads 

Prelims: Salient features of Green Highways, National Green Highways Mission

Mains: Discussing the effectiveness of Green Highways in achieving the goals set to tackle the issues of climate change. 

Context: The status and progress of the greenfield highways have been highlighted in the Parliament. 

Objective:

• The major objective of green highways is to establish green corridors accompanied by adequate trees and vegetation with enormous emphasis on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. 

What are Green Highways?

• Green highways are roadways that are constructed with a new concept of development integrating transportation functionality and ecological sustainability. 
• Such highways will result in better transportation benefiting the environment and promoting urban growth, public health and improving the surrounding communities. 

To know more about the National Green Highways Mission, follow the link.

2. India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise

Syllabus: GS III, Various Security forces and agencies

Prelims: Facts about India Central Asia Connect, India-Kyrgyzstan relations

Mains: Significance of Central Asia in terms of India’s security policies. 

Context: The 9th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise called ‘Khanjar’ has been concluded at Bakloh (Himachal Pradesh). 

About the Exercise:

• The exercise involves special forces contingents from India and Kyrgyzstan exchanging their expertise and best practices of tactics, techniques and procedures to counter existing and emerging security threats.
• Combat shooting, sniping, survival in mountains, hostage rescue drills and unarmed combat were practised extensively. 
• This exercise has contributed to further strengthening of the India-Kyrgyzstan relationship that has fostered over years of mutual respect for strategic autonomy, democratic values and zero tolerance for terrorism. 
• Last but not the least, this exercise exemplifies the growing defence ties between the two countries. 

Get a comprehensive understanding of India-Kyrgyzstan relations in AIR Spotlight.

3. Melting of Himalayan Glaciers

Syllabus: GS I, Important geophysical phenomena – changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps)

Prelims: About Glaciers

Mains: Significance of studying the Glaciers in the Himalayan region.

Context: The Geological Survey of India has conducted a study on the melting of the glaciers in the Himalayan region. 

Delving deeper into the study:

• The government of India has taken various measures to facilitate the study of the status of Himalayan glaciers maintaining the data regarding such events in the region. 
• Institutes like Geological Survey of India, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, NCPOR, National Institute of Hydrology and so on have been monitoring the effect of various factors on the Himalayan glaciers. 
• Studies have reported that the mean glacial retreat rate of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region is approximately 15.1 metres/annum which varies in different river basins. 
• Glaciers in the Karakoram range have shown comparatively minor length change that indicates stable conditions. 
• The NCPOR of the Ministry of Earth Sciences has monitored six glaciers in the Chandra basin in the western Himalayas for a long span of time. 
• Himansh is the state-of-the-art field research station in the Chandra basin and has been operational since 2016 assisting the glacial expeditions that generate valuable data related to glacial melting. 

Examples of some government interventions:

• The Department of Science and Technology has supported various research projects for the study of Himalayan glaciers. 
• The National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem and the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change have been effectively assessing the study of Himalayan glaciers along with a multidimensional approach. These studies offer a precise understanding that different glaciers of mountain ranges are melting and retreating at different rates. 
• This evaluates the alarming situation and impact of climate change on the physiography of the country. 
• The government with various research institutes is actively involved in monitoring the risks associated with the melting of glaciers and engaging with the National Disaster Management Authority to mitigate the risks and increase the preparedness to tackle disasters like Glacial Lake Outburst Floods. 

Read previous PIB here.

April 6th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here