Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited(BPCL) will set up Maharashtra’s first ever ethanol biorefinery in Vidarbha’s Bhandara district.The plant will manufacture ethanol from rice straw. The Government of India is encouraging production of Second Generation(2G) Ethanol from agricultural residues to provide additional sources of remuneration to farmers. The Bio-Refineries will also contribute to a cleaner environment due… Continue reading Ethanol biorefinery to come up in Vidarbha
Category: Factly: Environment
This category contains all Current Affairs Factly Articles for Prelims, related to the Environment. You can find all relevant Environment related updates on this page. This page is specifically useful for UPSC Prelims exam.
7,000 species added to IUCN ‘Red List’
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated its Red List. The list has assessed the extinction risk of almost 106,000 species. 27% of the assessed species are threatened and at a risk of extinction. More than 7,000 species from around the world were added to the endangered category of the Red List… Continue reading 7,000 species added to IUCN ‘Red List’
Dam Safety Bill gets nod from CCEA
Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has cleared the Dam Safety Bill, 2019 The bill aims to put in place a systematic procedure to ensure that dams in India are made and maintained safely. The Bill provides for the constitution of a National Committee on Dam Safety. Functions of the Committee include: a) formulating… Continue reading Dam Safety Bill gets nod from CCEA
Extinction of Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican: SC forms panel to frame emergency plan
The Supreme Court has constituted a high powered committee to urgently frame and implement an emergency response plan for the protection of Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican. The committee was formed on a plea which has contended that the population of the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican has seen a sharp decline… Continue reading Extinction of Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican: SC forms panel to frame emergency plan
12 Indian beaches in the race to crest the ‘Blue Flag’ challenge
The Union Environment Ministry has selected 12 beaches in India to compete for the ‘Blue Flag’ certification. The 12 beaches include: Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Bhogave (Maharashtra), Ghoghla (Diu), Miramar (Goa), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Eden (Puducherry), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha), and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands). The Blue Flag certification… Continue reading 12 Indian beaches in the race to crest the ‘Blue Flag’ challenge
India is home to 1,256 species of orchid, says first comprehensive survey
The Botanical Survey of India has published Orchids of India: A Pictorial Guide- the first comprehensive census of orchids of India. According to the publication, the total number of orchid species endemic to India is 388. 757 (60%) of all orchids found in India are epiphytic, 447 are terrestrial and 43 are mycoheterotrophic. The Himalayas,… Continue reading India is home to 1,256 species of orchid, says first comprehensive survey
Speed restrictions and sound alerts mooted for protection of dolphins
The Ministry of Shipping has planned to safeguard the population of the Ganges River Dolphin in Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) by restricting the speeds of vessels and blowing sirens and horns. The other measures suggested are a) fitting vessels with propeller guards and dolphin deflectors to minimise dolphin accidents and b) using non-toxic paints… Continue reading Speed restrictions and sound alerts mooted for protection of dolphins
Extinct bird had an extra long toe: study
Researchers have discovered a bird foot from 99 million years ago that had a hyper-elongated third toe.This is the first time such a foot structure has been observed in birds either extinct or living The researchers named it Elektorornis chenguangi. Elektronis means “amber bird”.It belongs to a group of extinct birds called Enantiornithes, the most… Continue reading Extinct bird had an extra long toe: study
How to save water the old Way
Recently, urged all Indians to take collective action to conserve water and requested to share traditional methods of water conservation. The following are few traditional methods of water conservation in India: Naula (Uttarakhand): It is a naturally-occurring water aquifer. It is a stone-lined tank which catches dripping water from springs and streams. Sculptures of Lord… Continue reading How to save water the old Way
Bengal port records country’s highest sea level rise in 50 years
According to data by the Ministry of Earth Sciences,Diamond Harbour in West Bengal has recorded the maximum sea level increase out of the major ports in India. The data says that sea level rise in the country has been estimated to be 1.3 mm/year along India’s coasts during the last 40-50 years.On the other hand,… Continue reading Bengal port records country’s highest sea level rise in 50 years

