CAQM
Context: CAQM directed NCR governments to implement stricter enforcement mechanisms against stubble burning after a significant rise in farm fire incidents in 2025.
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- Stubble burning cases in Punjab rose to 8,986, a 38.80% increase over the same period in 2024.
- Haryana reported 3,290 incidents — a sharp 118.89% rise over 1,503 cases recorded during the same period in 2024.
About CAQM
- Established under: Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 — a statutory body.
- Mandate: Coordination, research, identification, and resolution of air quality problems in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh).
- Powers:
- Restrict activities that adversely influence air quality.
- Investigate and conduct research on environmental pollution.
- Prepare codes and guidelines for air pollution control.
- Issue binding directions on inspections and enforcement; all persons, officers, and authorities must comply.
- Accountability: The Commission is directly accountable to the Parliament.
- Composition:
- Chairperson: Government official of rank of Secretary or Chief Secretary; tenure of 3 years or until age 70, whichever is earlier.
- 5 Ex-officio members: Chief Secretaries/Secretaries (Environment) of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
- 3 Full-time technical members.
- 3 Members from non-government organisations.
- Technical members from CPCB, ISRO, and NITI Aayog.
Ganges Soft-Shell Turtle
Context: India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle (an endangered species) was released in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, coinciding with Endangered Species Day.
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- The tagging exercise was led by a Wildlife Institute of India (WII) scientist under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in collaboration with Kaziranga NP authorities and Assam Forest Department; funded by the National Geographic Society.
- The turtle was released along the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River; the project aims to study seasonal movement patterns, home range, nesting, and breeding habitats in the Brahmaputra river basin.
- Assam is one of the world’s top priority areas for freshwater turtle conservation; of the 8 soft-shell turtle species reported from India, 5 are found in the Kaziranga landscape.
About Ganges Soft-Shell Turtle (Nilssonia gangetica)
- Belongs to family Trionychidae, characterised by a leathery shell (no keratinized/bony scute cover).
- Protection Status:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection — equivalent to Tiger)
- CITES: Appendix I
- Habitat & Distribution:
- Found in Ganges, Indus, and Mahanadi river systems.
- Prefers deep, turbid rivers, lakes, canals with mud/sand bottoms.
- Distributed across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
- Key Characteristics:
- Flat, oval, olive-green leathery carapace; carapace length up to 94 cm.
- Large head with a distinct proboscis (snout-like nose) — enables breathing while submerged.
- Can be identified by arrowhead-shaped markings on the top of the head.
- Omnivorous scavenger — feeds on fish, mollusks, frogs, and decaying matter; acts as a natural river cleaner.
- Poachers target individuals with 20 claws (5 on each limb), falsely believed to have medicinal/luck value.
Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)
About BBMB
- BBMB is a statutory body formed under Section 79, Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.
- It was originally constituted as Bhakra Management Board (BMB) on 1st November 1966.
- Bhakra Nangal Project operations were transferred to BMB from 1st October 1967.
- Beas Project Works were transferred from Beas Construction Board (BCB) to BMB under Section 80.
- BMB was renamed BBMB on 15th May 1976 after absorbing the Beas Project.
- BBMB distributes water and power to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Chandigarh.
Functions of BBMB
- It regulates water supply from Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas rivers to three states.
- It manages power generation and distribution from Bhakra Nangal and Beas Projects.
- It also constructs new hydroelectric projects within and beyond its existing system.
About Bhakra Nangal Dam
- It was among India’s first major river valley projects after independence.
- The dam was completed in 1963 and inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Key Features
- Bhakra Dam is built on the Sutlej River at a height of 207.26 metres.
- It is Asia’s second tallest dam after Tehri Dam (261 metres) in Uttarakhand.
- Gobind Sagar Reservoir has a total storage capacity of 9.34 billion cubic metres.
Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI)
What is MVI?
- MVI is a new international quantitative benchmark measuring structural vulnerability across nations.
- It assesses structural resilience across multiple dimensions of sustainable development.
- MVI functions as a complement to GDP and other existing development metrics.
- It operates at the national level for all developing countries worldwide.
- Aim
- MVI captures exogenous vulnerabilities and lack of resilience to external shocks.
- It ensures credibility and comparability across all developing nations globally.
- Key Indicators Covered
- Economic: Import dependency and exposure to external financial pressures.
- Environmental: Extreme weather events, water scarcity, and arable land availability.
- Social: Pandemics, regional violence, refugee pressure, demographic stress, and child mortality.
Bhojshala Complex
About the Complex
- Bhojshala Complex is located in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.
- It was built in 1034 AD by Raja Bhoja, the greatest ruler of the Paramara dynasty.
- Raja Bhoja ruled from 1000 to 1055 AD.
- It originally functioned as a centre of higher learning and scholarship.
- Students came here to study music, Sanskrit, astronomy, yoga, Ayurveda, and philosophy.
- Historical Events
- Alauddin Khilji first attacked the complex in 1305 AD.
- Mehmudshah Khilji II attacked it in 1514 AD and attempted to convert it into a dargah.
- He also encroached on land outside the Saraswati Temple and built the Kamal Moulana Makbara.
Inscriptions Found
- Two hymns in Prakrit language describe the Karmavatar (crocodile incarnation) of Vishnu.
- Two Sarpabandha pillar inscriptions were also discovered within the complex.
- One inscription contains the Sanskrit alphabet along with main noun and verb endings.
- The other covers individual declensions of the ten tenses and moods of Sanskrit grammar.
Legal Protection Status
- In 1951, it was declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient and Historical Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Declaration of National Importance) Act, 1951.
- It is currently protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958
About the Act
- It is the central legislation enacted to preserve monuments and archaeological sites of national importance.
- It was enacted as Act 24 of 1958 and came into force on 28th August 1958.
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the primary implementing agency under this Act.
Objectives
- It provides a legal framework for preservation of nationally important monuments and archaeological sites.
- It regulates excavation activities to prevent illegal digging and loss of evidence.
- It controls activities that may damage heritage structures or their surrounding areas.
Definition of Ancient Monument
- An ancient monument includes any structure, cave, rock sculpture, inscription, or monolith of historical, archaeological, or artistic interest.
- Such a structure must have existed for not less than 100 years to qualify.
Protected Area Around Monuments
- Up to 100 metres from a protected monument is designated as the Prohibited Area.
- Construction and mining are generally not permitted within the prohibited area.
- An additional 200 metres beyond the prohibited area is designated as the Regulated Area.
- Any construction in the regulated area requires permission from the competent authority.
- Such permission is granted on the recommendation of the National Monuments Authority (NMA).
Amendment of 2010
- The Ancient Monuments (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 significantly strengthened heritage protection.
- It formally introduced Sections 20A and 20B dealing with prohibited and regulated zones.
- It also inserted Section 35A on survey of prohibited and regulated areas.
- The National Monuments Authority was formally empowered through the post-2010 framework.
Miyawaki Forests
About Miyawaki Forests
- Miyawaki forests refer to a unique afforestation technique developed by Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki.
- The methodology was developed in the 1970s to densify green cover within small land parcels.
- It creates dense, multi-layered forests that rapidly mimic natural biodiversity of native forests.
Key Features
- The method involves planting two to four indigenous tree species per square metre of land.
- Plants used in this method are mostly self-sustaining after an initial establishment period.
- They do not require regular maintenance such as manuring or watering once established.
- Trees grown through this technique reach their full height within just three years.
