Context: The Niti Aayog released the first draft of the Battery Swapping Policy 2022 on April 21, 2022, to improve interoperability and push for faster adoption of electric vehicles (EV) in the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segment. Why the battery swapping segment if significant? This segment has competitive prices compared to others. Further, it also constitutes… Continue reading Niti Aayog’s battery swapping policy provides direction, but lacks a constructive roadmap
Tag: down to earth
Seafloor spreading that creates crust slowed 35%, growing mountains may be driving it: Study
What is the News? According to a study that analyzed data from the last 19 million years, seafloor spreading rates have slowed down by roughly 35% globally. What is Sea Floor Spreading? Seafloor spreading is a geological process that creates crusts, the outermost shell of Earth. In this process, new oceanic crust forms continuously along… Continue reading Seafloor spreading that creates crust slowed 35%, growing mountains may be driving it: Study
Genetically modified mosquitoes for controlling vector-borne diseases? Successful trial gives hope
What is the News? Oxitec, the UK-based company, has said that the first open-air study of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes(GMM) in the United States has yielded positive results. What are Genetically Modified Mosquitoes(GMM)? These are the mosquitoes whose genome has been altered using recombinant DNA technology. Their genome is altered in a way to favour the… Continue reading Genetically modified mosquitoes for controlling vector-borne diseases? Successful trial gives hope
A new pandemic has struck the world: Food inflation
What is the News? According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Food prices have increased by almost 75% since mid-2020. What has been the trend of Food Prices worldwide? Food prices are increasing at an unprecedented rate worldwide. For instance, the FAO World food price Index averaged 159.3 points in March 2022 breaking an… Continue reading A new pandemic has struck the world: Food inflation
Extinction threat: Vaquita porpoise global population down to only 10
What is the News? According to the United States Commission for Environmental Cooperation(CEC), Vaquita Porpoise is nearing extinction and immediate measures are needed to save the remaining population. Note: Porpoises are among the smallest members of the cetacean family (whales, porpoises and dolphins). They are only distant relatives of dolphins (they last had a common… Continue reading Extinction threat: Vaquita porpoise global population down to only 10
Nitrogen levels on a decline in ‘nitrogen-rich world’, plants and animals may face consequences: Study
What is the News? According to a report, an imbalance in nitrogen availability has been reported across the globe with some places having an excess and others a shortage of the element. What is Nitrogen? Nitrogen is essential to life on Earth. It is a component of all proteins, and it can be found in… Continue reading Nitrogen levels on a decline in ‘nitrogen-rich world’, plants and animals may face consequences: Study
First Crisis, Then Catastrophe report: Quarter-billion people face extreme poverty in 2022 as the rich get richer: Oxfam
What is the News? Oxfam has released a report titled “First Crisis, Then Catastrophe”. What are the key findings of the report? Increase in Poverty: The combined impact of COVID-19, inequality and food price hikes could result in 263 million more people living in extreme poverty in 2022. This could result in a total of,… Continue reading First Crisis, Then Catastrophe report: Quarter-billion people face extreme poverty in 2022 as the rich get richer: Oxfam
Why time banking is a crucial tool to empower women
Context: Unpaid work is crucial for development of the society and economy, but is often invisible. Women perform 75% of the world’s unpaid care work. The largest source of women’s unpaid labor is domestic work. These include household chores like grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning as well as caregiving to the children, elderly and infirm. What… Continue reading Why time banking is a crucial tool to empower women
Cleaning India’s air: What is the report card so far?
Context: An analysis of various steps taken by the government in this regard shows that much more needs to be done. What is the present situation wrt the problem of air pollution in India? Some 22 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world are in India according to the World Air Quality Report,… Continue reading Cleaning India’s air: What is the report card so far?
Air pollution kills: Study counts 100,000 premature deaths in 8 Indian cities
What is the News? According to a study published in the journal Science Advances, there is a rapid degradation in air quality and an increase in urban exposure to air pollutants hazardous to health. What are the key findings of the study? Premature Deaths due to Air Pollution Air pollution caused more than 100,000 premature… Continue reading Air pollution kills: Study counts 100,000 premature deaths in 8 Indian cities
