PRELIMS
Suriname – Forest Protection Pledge
Why in News: Suriname has pledged to permanently protect 90% of its tropical forests, the most ambitious biodiversity commitment by any Amazonian nation, far exceeding the global “30×30” target.
Static Information
- Location – Northern coast of South America.
- Capital – Paramaribo.
- Borders – Atlantic Ocean (N), French Guiana (E), Brazil (S), Guyana (W).
- Languages – Dutch (official), Sranan Tongo + regional languages.
Topography –
- Rainforests – 93% land under tropical forest (world’s highest share).
- Mountains – Juliana Top (highest peak).
- Coastal Plain – Swampy, rice cultivation, reclaimed polders.
- Major Rivers – Maroni, Coppename, Suriname, Courantyne.
- Climate – Tropical with 2 rainy and 2 dry seasons.
- Economy – Natural resources-based, major bauxite producer.
Key Fact
- Suriname is one of only three “carbon sink” countries worldwide, absorbing more CO₂ than it emits.
- Its forests remain largely primary and untouched by large-scale logging, farming, or mining.
Annapurti – Grain ATM
Why in News: Annapurti (Grain ATM), an automated grain dispensing machine, is being expanded across India to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS), ensuring 24×7 access to subsidised food grains under NFSA and PMGKAY.
Static Information
- Launched by – UN World Food Programme (WFP) India + Dept. of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Govt. of India.
- First installation – 9 August 2024, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- Other states – Gujarat (Sept 2024, Bhavnagar), expanding to multiple states by 2025.
Technology features –
- Aadhaar/ration card based biometric authentication.
- Dispenses up to 50 kg rice/wheat in 5 minutes.
- Linked with FCI digital supply chain for real-time monitoring.
- Works 24×7, reducing waiting time by ~70%.
Key Benefits
- Eliminates leakages & middlemen → ensures transparency.
- Faster & dignified access to food grains.
- Beneficial for women, daily-wage workers & marginalised groups.
- Aligned with SDG-2: Zero Hunger.
Latest (Oct 2025)
- Odisha nearing full district coverage.
- Over 50 units functional nationwide.
- Integration with FCI digital monitoring underway for scalability to reach 80 crore PDS beneficiaries.
ICAO Council
Why in News: India has been re-elected to Part II of the ICAO Council for the 2025–2028 term, securing a stronger mandate than in the 2022 elections.
About ICAO
- Full form – International Civil Aviation Organization.
- Established – 1944, by the Chicago Convention.
- Type – Specialized UN agency.
- HQ – Montreal, Canada.
- Members – 193 countries (India is a founding member).
- Mandate – Set international civil aviation standards, ensure safety, efficiency, security, and environmental sustainability.
Governance Structure
- ICAO Assembly – Supreme decision-making body; meets every 3 years.
- ICAO Council – Governing body (36 member states; 3-year term).
- Part I: States of chief importance in air transport.
- Part II: States contributing most to air navigation facilities (India’s category).
- Part III: Geographic representation.
Functions – Formulates SARPs (Standards & Recommended Practices), coordinates aviation policies, oversees technical & economic matters.
Other Key Body – Air Navigation Commission (ANC) advises Council on technical issues & develops SARPs.
India’s Re-Election (2025)
- Founding member since 1944.
- Secured a stronger mandate in 2025 vs 2022, showing global confidence in its leadership.
- Contributes to policy development, regulatory frameworks, & aviation standards.
Sugarcane Production
Why in News: The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare announced a dedicated sugarcane research and policy team within ICAR. (PIB)
About ICAR:
- Established: 1929
- Apex autonomous body for agri research & education.
- Works under DARE, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
About Sugarcane:
- Type: Kharif, perennial grass (Saccharum spp.), cash crop.
- Climate: 21–27°C; 75–150 cm rainfall.
- Soil: Deep loamy;
- Harvest: Oct–Mar (tropical), Feb–May (subtropical).
- Cultivation: Stem cuttings (setts), ratooning, flatbed/trench planting, intercropping.
Production in India:
- 2nd largest producer globally (after Brazil).
- India = world’s largest producer & consumer of sugar.
- Top States: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka.
Uses:
- Sugar, jaggery (gur), khandsari, ethanol (biofuel), molasses, animal feed, bagasse for paper & power.
Varieties & Issues:
- Variety: Co 0238 (high sugar, but red rot susceptible).
- Red Rot: Fungal disease damaging stalks, huge losses.
Key Challenges:
High water demand, fertiliser overuse, monocropping → soil fertility loss, red rot disease, delayed payments, labour shortage, climate risks.
Way Forward:
- Water-saving: Drip irrigation under Per Drop More Crop.
- Crop health: Disease-resistant varieties, intercropping.
- Mechanisation: To address labour shortages.
- Diversification: Value-added products (ethanol, cogeneration).
Snow Leopard
Why in News: Snow leopard population in Himachal Pradesh has risen to 83 in 2025, up from 51 in 2021, as per the state Forest Department’s latest survey.
About the Survey
- Conducted by Himachal Pradesh Forest Department in partnership with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF).
- Spanned from 2018 to 2021 (first survey: 51 individuals).
- Used 271 camera traps across 26,000 sq km of high-altitude habitats.
- Found 44 unique individuals, with density ranging from 0.16–0.53 per 100 sq km.
Key Highlights
- Himachal becomes the first state to complete population estimation of snow leopards.
Recorded additional rare species:
- Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul) in Kinnaur.
- Rediscovery of Woolly Flying Squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus) in Lahaul.
- Highest snow leopard densities recorded in Spiti and Pin Valley, followed by Upper Kinnaur and Tabo.
- Estimated state population: 83 (range 67–103).
Static Info
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia):
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
- CITES: Appendix I.
- Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
- Range in India: Himalayas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Indicator species of high-altitude ecosystem health.
- India is a signatory to the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP).
