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Chandrayaan-2 makes first-ever observations on lunar exosphere
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international Significance
For Mains Examination: GS III - Science and Technology
Context:
The lunar orbiter of India’s second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, has made the first-ever observation of the effects of the sun's coronal mass ejection (CME) on the moon.
Read about:
Chandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 (CHACE-2)
Coronal mass ejection (CME)
Key takeaways:
- Chandra's Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2, or CHACE-2, is a fascinating scientific instrument designed to study the composition of Mars's upper atmosphere. Let me explain what makes this tool so important and how it works.
- CHACE-2 is part of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), which is India's ambitious spacecraft that has been orbiting Mars since 2014. The primary role of this instrument is to analyze the atmosphere surrounding Mars, particularly focusing on the upper layers where the atmosphere gradually transitions into space.
- This region is crucial for understanding how Mars lost much of its atmosphere over billions of years—a process that fundamentally changed the planet from a potentially habitable world with liquid water to the dry, cold environment we see today.
- The instrument works by measuring the composition and density of atmospheric molecules and ions at various altitudes. CHACE-2 is equipped with sophisticated sensors that can detect different types of particles, including neutral atoms and molecules like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen, as well as charged particles or ions.
- By analyzing these measurements, scientists can understand what elements are present in Mars's atmosphere and in what proportions, which helps paint a picture of the planet's atmospheric loss processes.
- What makes CHACE-2 particularly valuable is that it operates in conjunction with other instruments on the MOM spacecraft to provide a comprehensive view of Mars's atmospheric dynamics.
- The data it collects helps scientists understand processes like solar wind interaction with the atmosphere, which is believed to be one of the main mechanisms responsible for stripping away Mars's atmosphere over geological timescales.
- This information is essential not only for understanding Mars's past but also for planning future human missions, as atmospheric composition directly affects radiation exposure and other environmental factors that astronauts would face
- Chandrayaan-2 is India's second lunar mission and represents a significant milestone in the country's space exploration program. This ambitious project demonstrates India's growing capabilities in advanced space technology and lunar science.
- Launched in July 2019 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-2 was designed as a comprehensive lunar exploration mission with multiple components working together. The spacecraft consisted of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover—three distinct elements that would each contribute to our understanding of the Moon.
- The orbiter component has been particularly successful, continuing to operate and send back valuable data about the lunar surface and environment.
- It carries several scientific instruments designed to map the Moon's surface, study its mineral composition, and observe various lunar phenomena.
- The orbiter's long operational life has made it one of the most productive components of the mission, providing continuous observations of the lunar landscape and contributing to our knowledge of the Moon's geology and evolution.
- The lander and rover components faced challenges during the mission. The lander attempted to touch down near the Moon's south polar region in September 2019, an area of intense scientific interest because it contains permanently shadowed craters that may harbor water ice. While the lander's descent didn't go as planned and it lost contact, this experience provided valuable technical lessons for future missions.
- What makes Chandrayaan-2 significant is that it represented India's first attempt at a soft landing on the Moon, showcasing the nation's technological advancement and ambition in space exploration.
- The mission's orbiter continues to function and has been instrumental in collecting data about lunar resources, geology, and the Moon's thin atmosphere.
- The knowledge gained from Chandrayaan-2, including both its successes and challenges, has directly contributed to the design and planning of subsequent Indian lunar missions, demonstrating how space exploration builds upon each attempt to push the boundaries of human knowledge and capability
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Prelims
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Answer (C)
Bhuvan is an Indian web-based geoportal developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It allows users to explore a 3D representation of the surface of India, similar to Google Earth but with greater focus on Indian data and satellite imagery. Launched in 2009, Bhuvan provides thematic maps, high-resolution satellite imagery, and GIS tools useful for applications such as urban planning, disaster management, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. In essence, Bhuvan serves as India’s indigenous geospatial visualization platform, enhancing access to spatial data for both citizens and government agencies |
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national Significance like Conservation of Blackbucks
For Mains Examination: GS III - Enviornmnent and Ecology
Context:
In 2018, officials at Chhattisgarh’s Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary embarked on an ambitious venture: to revive the blackbuck population 50 years after it had become “locally extinct”. It was a gamble: the habitat loss, human encroachment and forest fragmentation that contributed to the animal’s erasure from the state still existed, and officials were unsure if their efforts would pay off. They did – Barnawapara now boasts 190 blackbucks, and officials plan to replicate the conservation model across the state.
Read about:
Bishnoi community
What are the challenges to blackbuck populations in India?
Key takeaways:
- Blackbucks are native exclusively to the Indian subcontinent. The males are easily identified by their spiral-shaped horns and dark brown to black coats, while the females are lighter, with a fawn coloration. These antelopes are distributed mainly across three major regions of India — the northern, southern, and eastern zones.
- They are accorded the highest level of protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which makes hunting or poaching a non-bailable offence punishable by up to six years in prison. The Bishnoi community holds the blackbuck in high reverence and actively protects it as part of their religious tradition.
- In a remarkable conservation effort, the Chhattisgarh government has successfully reintroduced blackbucks into the state’s forests through a five-year reintroduction plan, restoring this graceful species to its former habitat.
- Historically found in the Barnawapara region of Balodabazar district, blackbucks had vanished from the area due to rampant poaching, infrastructure expansion, and encroachment on grasslands, leading to their local extinction by the late 20th century.
- Under the 2021–2026 revival initiative, the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board relocated 77 blackbucks — 50 from the National Zoological Park, New Delhi, and 27 from Kanan Pendari Zoological Garden, Bilaspur.
- Initially kept in controlled enclosures for acclimatization, they were later released into the wild. So far, around 100 blackbucks have been reintroduced, while 90 remain in enclosures awaiting release.
- The project faced early challenges, including the loss of eight animals to a pneumonia outbreak. In response, the department improved the habitat by adding sand layers for better drainage, enhancing waste management, and ensuring veterinary care. Over time, a dedicated conservation team was established to manage habitat conditions, nutrition, and monitoring.
- Following the success in Barnawapara, the state’s forest department is now planning to expand reintroduction efforts to other grassland-rich regions such as the Gomardha Wildlife Sanctuary, signaling a hopeful future for blackbuck conservation in Chhattisgarh
Follow Up Question
Mains
1.Discuss the significance of India’s blackbuck reintroduction programme in Chhattisgarh in the context of species conservation and grassland ecosystem restoration. What challenges do such rewilding efforts face, and how can they be addressed through policy and community participation?
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1.With reference to Blackbucks (Antilope cervicapra), consider the following statements:
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Blackbucks are endemic to the Indian subcontinent and are mainly found in open grasslands and semi-arid regions.
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The species is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, granting it the highest level of legal protection.
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The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is traditionally known for its efforts in protecting blackbucks.
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The IUCN currently classifies the blackbuck as an “Endangered” species.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
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Answer (a)
Hence, the correct answer is (a) 1, 2 and 3 only |
- Poverty refers to a state in which a person or household lacks adequate financial means to maintain a basic standard of living. Economists and policymakers often measure absolute poverty by comparing an individual’s consumption expenditure with a set benchmark known as the poverty line. This line represents the minimum income or consumption level required to satisfy essential needs, though its value varies across nations depending on economic conditions.
- In India, the Rangarajan Committee (2014) estimated the national poverty threshold at ₹1,407 per month per person in urban areas and ₹972 in rural areas. According to this assessment, anyone spending more than ₹47 per day in cities or ₹32 per day in villages was considered above the poverty line.
- Using these figures, about 29.5% of India’s population was categorized as poor. Since then, no officially updated poverty line has been introduced by the government.
- Recently, researchers from the Reserve Bank of India’s Department of Economic and Policy Research (DEPR) revisited and “updated” the Rangarajan poverty line for 20 major states using data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022–23.
- Their findings revealed that Odisha and Bihar experienced the steepest fall in poverty—around 40 percentage points between 2011–12 and 2022–23—while Kerala and Himachal Pradesh saw the smallest reductions.
- In 2022–23, rural poverty was lowest in Himachal Pradesh (0.4%) and highest in Chhattisgarh (25.1%), whereas urban poverty ranged from 1.9% in Tamil Nadu to 13.3% in Chhattisgarh.
- The RBI study did not simply adjust the old poverty lines using Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, as the consumption baskets used for CPI and the Rangarajan Poverty Line Basket (PLB) differ significantly.
- For example, food accounts for 57% of rural and 47% of urban expenditure in the Rangarajan PLB, compared to 54% and 36%, respectively, in the CPI. Instead, the economists developed a new price index aligned with the weights of the original PLB.
- Debates over India’s poverty estimates have persisted for years. For instance, State Bank of India Research (2024) used updated HCES data to estimate rural and urban poverty at 4.86% and 4.09%, respectively, based on inflation-adjusted lines of ₹1,632 for rural and ₹1,944 for urban areas.
- However, the government’s current focus has shifted from traditional income-based poverty to multidimensional poverty, which encompasses a broader view of deprivation.
- The National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), modeled on the Global MPI, evaluates deprivation across three key dimensions — health, education, and standard of living — through 12 indicators such as nutrition, child and maternal health, years of schooling, access to sanitation, housing, electricity, assets, and banking.
- Notably, unlike India’s MPI, the global index does not include maternal health and bank account ownership among its indicators
1.Discuss the evolution of poverty measurement in India from income-based estimates to the multidimensional approach. In this context, evaluate the significance and limitations of recent poverty assessments such as the Rangarajan Committee and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
(Word Limit: 250)
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India’s Legally Binding Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity Target Rules, 2025
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The Central Government has released the first legally enforceable Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025.
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These rules apply to four major high-emission industries — aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and pulp & paper.
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The notification was issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on October 8, 2025.
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Under its global climate commitments, India has pledged to cut the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels — meaning it will reduce the energy used per unit of GDP output
Understanding Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
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Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that trap heat, letting sunlight enter the atmosphere but preventing some of the outgoing heat from escaping into space.
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This natural phenomenon, called the greenhouse effect, acts like a thermal blanket around the Earth, helping sustain life by maintaining a habitable temperature.
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The key greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚), methane (CHâ‚„), ozone (O₃), and nitrous oxide (Nâ‚‚O) — all naturally occurring and essential in moderation.
Rising COâ‚‚ Levels and Global Warming Trends
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As per global data, the average COâ‚‚ concentration near Earth’s surface reached 423.9 parts per million (ppm) in 2024, marking a 3.5 ppm rise over 2023 — the steepest increase recorded since measurements began in 1957.
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The global average temperature in 2024 was 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels, making it the warmest year on record and the first to temporarily cross the 1.5°C threshold — a critical climate limit linked to irreversible environmental damage.
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Despite the Paris Agreement, COâ‚‚ levels have continued to climb steadily for over four decades, showing the failure of current global efforts to significantly curb emissions
Trends in Carbon Emissions and Their Impact
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Between the 1960s and 2010s, the annual rise in COâ‚‚ concentrations tripled — from about 0.8 ppm to 2.4 ppm per year. The 2023–2024 jump of 3.5 ppm is unprecedented.
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Present COâ‚‚ levels of 423.9 ppm are now 152% higher than the pre-industrial concentration of 278.3 ppm.
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Although natural processes such as photosynthesis, ocean absorption, and soil sinks absorb large portions of COâ‚‚, anthropogenic emissions from industries, vehicles, and deforestation have tipped this balance
Comparing Greenhouse Gases
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Carbon dioxide is the most abundant greenhouse gas, responsible for over 90% of the accumulated GHGs in the atmosphere.
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While methane traps about 25 times more heat than COâ‚‚ and nitrous oxide about 270 times more, COâ‚‚ has a much longer atmospheric lifespan — persisting for hundreds or even thousands of years.
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Consequently, COâ‚‚ accounts for about 66% of total global warming since pre-industrial times and nearly 79% in the past decade, while methane and nitrous oxide have shorter atmospheric durations (12–14 years and 100–120 years respectively)
Natural Feedback Loops and WMO Findings
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The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) noted that the sharp rise in COâ‚‚ levels between 2023 and 2024 was not solely due to human emissions but also influenced by natural carbon cycle variations.
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Global warming itself weakens natural carbon sinks — as warmer oceans absorb less COâ‚‚, reducing the planet’s capacity to offset emissions.
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In 2024, methane concentrations rose by 8 ppb (to 1,942 ppb) and nitrous oxide by 1 ppb (to 338 ppb), though these increases were slightly below the previous decade’s averages
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1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
2. The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
B. 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
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Answer (B)
Statement 1:
✅ Partially correct / Incorrect.
Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2:
✅ Correct.
Hence, Statement 2 is correct. Statement 3:
⌠Incorrect.
Hence, Statement 3 is incorrect. |