TOPIC : GS 3 Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

What is the news?

• The Indian Sugar Mills’ Association (ISMA) has said that to achieve the target of 8-8.5% ethanol blending, it is important to increase the blending level to at least 12% in surplus States and adjoining ones.
• The current supply is about 56% annually. The current demand is about 346.52 crore litres

What is ethanol?

• Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic chemical compound.
• It is a volatile, flammable, colourless liquid with a slight characteristic odour.
• It is a psychoactive substance, recreational drug, and the active ingredient in alcoholic drinks.
• Ethanol is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration.
• It has medical applications as an antiseptic and disinfectant.
• It is used as a chemical solvent and in the synthesis of organic compounds. It is a fuel source.

What is ethanol blending?

• It means blending of ethanol with other relevant fuels to make them more energy efficient.
• Ethanol can be mixed with gasoline to form different blends. As the ethanol molecule contains oxygen
• It allows the engine to more completely combust the fuel, resulting in fewer emissions and thereby reducing the occurrence of environmental pollution.
• Since ethanol is produced from plants that harness the power of the sun, ethanol is also considered as renewable fuel.
• Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme was launched in January, 2003.
• The programme sought to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels and to reduce import dependency for energy requirements.

Purpose and Importance of blending

1. To provide green and clean alternative fuel source.
2. To reduce burden of high fuel imports.
3. To reduce emission of greenhouse gases.
4. To provide alternative market for crops.
5. Promote organised sale of reduce crops.
6. To benefits farmers with income security and high returns.
7. To promote behavioural change in fuel consumption.
8. To raise spending on research and development.
9. Better utilisation of urban solid waste.
10. Possible employment generation.

Mains Question

Explain the steps taken for ethanol blending in India ?

Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/business/raise-ethanol-blending-in-surplus-states/article34711229.ece

PRELIMS PUNCHERS

1. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve

It is in the state of Maharashtra, created by the Indian government in 2008.Located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, it is part of the ecoregions of North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests and North Western Ghats montane rain forests. These ranges form a common boundary between Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, and constitute rich evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests.

The reserve spreads over Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary forming the northern portion and Chandoli National Park forming the southern part of the reserve. Recently reserve is extended towards Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary. The reserve is dedicated to the conservation of the Bengal tiger and Other animals here include the leopard

Sources : https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-to-come-up-with-protocol-to-keep-track-of-sightings-after-rare-vulture-spotted-for-first-time-in-state-7333392/

2. Section 301

It authorizes to take all appropriate action, including tariff-based and non-tariff-based retaliation, to obtain the removal of any act, policy, or practice of a foreign government that violates an international trade agreement or is unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory, and that burdens or restricts U.S. commerce. Section 301 cases can be self-initiated by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) or as the result of a petition filed by a firm or industry group.

If USTR initiates a Section 301 investigation, it must seek to negotiate a settlement with the foreign country in the form of compensation or elimination of the trade barrier. For cases involving trade agreements, the USTR is required to request formal dispute proceedings as provided by the trade agreements. The law does not require that the U.S. government wait until it receives authorization from the WTO to take enforcement actions, and the is increasingly focused on enforcing IP rights (under Agreements that may be outside of the WTO) under the “Special” 301 amendments

Sources : https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/section-301-ustr-suspends-for-six-months-retaliatory-tariffs-against-india-five-others-for-imposing-dst/article34711533.ece

3. Sustainable goals index: NITI AAYOG

The Index for Sustainable Development Goals evaluates progress of states and Union Territories on various parameters including health, education, gender, economic growth, institutions, climate change and environment. Kerala has retained the top rank in NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2020-21, while Mizoram, Haryana, and Uttarakhand are the top gainers in terms of improvement in their rankings from 2019

Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were the worst performing states in this year’s index. Both Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu took the second spot with a score of 74. From covering 13 goals, 39 targets, and 62 indicators in the first edition in 2018-19 to 17 goals, 54 targets and 100 indicators in the second this third edition of the index covers 17 goals, 70 targets, and 115 indicators .

Sources :  https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-retains-top-rank-in-niti-aayogs-sdg-india-index-2020-21-bihar-worst-performe-7342325/

4. Borneo Island

It I s the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and east of Sumatra.

The island is politically divided among three countries Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia to the south. It is the only island in the world to be politically administered by three countries at a time. Approximately 73% of the island is Indonesian territory. In the north, the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak make up about 26% of the island.. The sovereign state of Brunei, located on the north coast, comprises about 1% of Borneo’s land area. A little more than half of the island is in the Northern Hemisphere including Brunei and the Malaysian portion, while the Indonesian portion spans both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

Sources : https://indianexpress.com/article/world/malaysia-to-summon-chinese-envoy-over-jets-intrusion-7340679/

PRELIMS QUESTIONS

1. Section 301 is related to which of the following
2. Human Rights
3. Child Labour
4. Trade and Tariff
5. Criminal Proceedings against Arrest

Answer: C

It authorizes to take all appropriate action, including tariff-based and non-tariff-based retaliation, to obtain the removal of any act, policy, or practice of a foreign government that violates an international trade agreement or is unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory, and that burdens or restricts U.S. commerce. Section 301 cases can be self-initiated by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) or as the result of a petition filed by a firm or industry group.

If USTR initiates a Section 301 investigation, it must seek to negotiate a settlement with the foreign country in the form of compensation or elimination of the trade barrier. For cases involving trade agreements, the USTR is required to request formal dispute proceedings as provided by the trade agreements. The law does not require that the U.S. government wait until it receives authorization from the WTO to take enforcement actions, and the is increasingly focused on enforcing IP rights (under Agreements that may be outside of the WTO) under the “Special” 301 amendments

2. Consider the following statement with reference to SDG Index
3. It is released by NITI Aayog
4. Assam is one of the better performer compared to last year

Select the correct statement using code given below.

(a). 1only                                 (b) 2 only

(c). Both of them                 (d). None of the above

Answer : A

The Index for Sustainable Development Goals evaluates progress of states and Union Territories on various parameters including health, education, gender, economic growth, institutions, climate change and environment. Kerala has retained the top rank in NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2020-21, while Mizoram, Haryana, and Uttarakhand are the top gainers in terms of improvement in their rankings from 2019

Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were the worst performing states in this year’s index. Both Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu took the second spot with a score of 74. From covering 13 goals, 39 targets, and 62 indicators in the first edition in 2018-19 to 17 goals, 54 targets and 100 indicators in the second this third edition of the index covers 17 goals, 70 targets, and 115 indicators .