PRELIMS
Dongar Cultivation
Why in News: Traditional dongar cultivation of Kondh tribal communities in Rayagada district, Odisha, is under threat due to the spread of eucalyptus monoculture promoted by paper mills.
About Dongar Cultivation
- Upland mixed cropping system on hill slopes.
- Crops: millets, pulses, oilseeds grown together.
- Benefits: food diversity, ecological balance, climate resilience.
- Practiced by Kondh tribes (Talia Kondhs, Kutia Kondhs).
Eucalyptus Monoculture Expansion
- Spread from lowlands to uplands/midlands.
- Driven by paper industry demand.
- Farmers lease lands at low returns (₹1,500–₹3,000/acre).
- Displaces traditional crops & tuber sources.
Impacts
- Soil degradation and reduced fertility.
- Water scarcity due to high water demand of eucalyptus.
- Biodiversity loss – birds avoid eucalyptus areas.
- Threatens food sovereignty, traditional knowledge, and seed conservation.
Preservation Efforts
- NGOs like Living Farms working to revive dongar cultivation.
- Awareness campaigns on mixed cropping and organic practices.
- Promotion of traditional seed exchange and millet revival.
Challenges
- Commercial push from paper mills and external players.
- Short-term income pressures on tribal farmers.
- Risk of food insecurity and cultural erosion without sustained support.
Millets & Climate Resilience
- Millets are drought-resistant, climate-resilient crops.
- Highlighted during the International Year of Millets (2023).
- Replacement by eucalyptus and BT cotton monocultures threatens sustainability and nutrition security.
Senna spectabilis Invasion
Why in News: Senna spectabilis, an invasive species from South America (introduced in the 1980s), has spread rapidly in South India, especially the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. In Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala), community-led eradication has shown successful results in restoring forests and biodiversity.
About Senna spectabilis
- Introduced for shade, beautification, and firewood.
- Resembles Cassia fistula (Kerala’s state flower).
- Forms dense, sterile thickets → suppresses native plants, alters soil chemistry.
Ecological Impact
- Reduces native biodiversity, grasses, and shrubs.
- Food scarcity for herbivores (deer, gaur).
- Disrupts food chain → elephants, tigers forced into human settlements (↑ human-wildlife conflict).
- In Wayanad Sanctuary: coverage rose from 23% (2021) to 40% (2025).
Wayanad Eradication Model
- India’s first science-based, community-led eradication in Tholpetty range.
- Cleared 383 acres by uprooting 46,450 trees with entire roots.
- Tool innovation: lightweight hand tool (designed by a marine engineer) to extract root balls.
- Tribal youth (Kurichiya & Kattunaikka) trained as forest guardians and labourers.
Forest Recovery
- Native grasses and herbs regenerating naturally.
- 80+ native tree species replanted.
- Bird count: 184 species recorded.
- Elephants and large mammals returning.
Challenges
- Senna produces thousands of seeds annually; seed viability ~10 years.
- Stumps resprout if roots not destroyed.
- Requires continuous monitoring & seedling destruction.
Future Plans
- Model influencing policy in Karnataka & Tamil Nadu.
- Cross-border eradication projects planned.
- Exploring biomass utilization (paper pulp, other uses).
Broader Implications
- Highlights wider invasive species threats: Lantana, Eupatorium, Acacia.
- Shows importance of “un-planting” invasive species and community participation in ecological restoration.
Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) Report 2025
Why in News: The University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) released the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 showing that air pollution is reducing global life expectancy.
About AQLI:
Prepared by: University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (UCEPI).
Purpose: Quantifies causal relationship between long-term exposure to air pollution & life expectancy.
Data Basis: PM2.5 data of 2023.
Global Findings:
- Global PM2.5 concentration in 2023 → 1.5% higher than 2022, nearly 5× WHO guideline (5 µg/m³).
- WHO standard: ≤ 5 µg/m³; India’s national standard: 40 µg/m³.
- US & Canada: Highest pollution rise due to wildfires.
- Latin America: Bolivia → most polluted in region, entered global top-10 (first time since 2010).
- Africa: Slight decline in some areas; Cameroon & DRC still worst affected.
- South Asia: Most polluted region globally; Bangladesh consistently worst.
India’s Status:
- Most polluted populous country → followed by China & US.
- All 1.4 billion Indians live in areas above WHO guideline.
- Life expectancy loss: 3.5 years (avg).
Impact: ~2× childhood & maternal malnutrition; ~5× unsafe water & sanitation.
Northern India → World’s most polluted region (38.9% population = 544.4 million).
Life expectancy loss: Delhi-NCR (8.2 yrs), Bihar (5.6 yrs), Haryana (5.3 yrs), Uttar Pradesh (5 yrs).
Majorana Particles and Quantum Computing
Why in News: Researchers are exploring Majorana particles (particles that are their own antiparticles) to build noise-resistant quantum computers.
Background:
- Proposed by Italian physicist Ettore Majorana (1930s).
- Unlike electrons or protons, a Majorana particle is identical to its antimatter counterpart.
- Though not observed as fundamental particles, Majorana-like quasiparticles emerge in special superconducting materials at near absolute zero.
Key Concept:
- Decoherence Problem: Qubits are fragile; interaction with the environment collapses their superposition, leading to errors.
- Current solution: Quantum error correction → encodes 1 logical qubit into hundreds/thousands of physical qubits.
Majorana solution:
- Qubit encoded nonlocally → information shared between two separated Majorana modes.
- Protects data from local disturbances (noise, defects).
Non-Abelian Anyons & Braiding:
- Majorana modes belong to a class of non-Abelian anyons.
- Exchanging (“braiding”) them changes the quantum state in a robust, topologically protected way.
- Computations depend on the braid pattern, not physical precision → inherently fault-tolerant.
Advantages for Quantum Computing:
- Natural resistance to noise.
- Reduces error-correction overhead.
- Fewer qubits needed → simpler hardware and more scalable quantum computers.
Challenges:
- Direct experimental proof of Majorana braiding is still lacking.
- Current signals could also be explained by other physical effects.
- Requires precise superconducting nanowires, magnetic fields, and low temperatures.
SEBI Framework on Intraday Position Limits (2025)
Why in News: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced a new framework to increase intraday position limits of index equity derivatives at an entity level, with real-time monitoring.
Key Features of the Framework:
- Intraday Position Limit: Enhances scope for trading without constraining liquidity.
- Prevents Manipulation: Higher yet capped limits reduce chances of a single big player distorting price discovery.
- Real-time Monitoring: SEBI to monitor positions of entities in real time for better transparency and risk assessment.
Delta-based Method:
- New system for calculating open interest exposure.
- Delta value: Measures how much an option’s price moves relative to the underlying asset.
- Provides a more risk-weighted and accurate picture of exposure.
- Recognises that not all contracts have equal risks.
Impact:
- Builds trust and confidence in market fairness.
- Improves liquidity for institutional players and market makers.
- Provides retail investor protection by preventing misuse of old frameworks.
SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)
- Established: 1988 (statutory body in 1992 under SEBI Act, 1992).
- HQ: Mumbai.
- Mandate: Regulate securities market, protect investors, promote market development.
- Powers: Quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial, quasi-executive.
Key Terms:
- Equity Derivatives: Financial contracts whose value is derived from equity/index (e.g., options, futures).
- Open Interest (OI): Total number of outstanding derivative contracts not settled yet.
- Delta: Risk metric (Greek) in options, shows sensitivity of option price to changes in underlying asset.
