Objective – to distribute free menstrual pads to school and college girls between the ages of 10 and 18 years.
Launched in – 2013-14
Aim – create awareness about menstrual hygiene among girls studying in government and aided schools and colleges across the state.
Additional Information – Shuchi–Nanna Maithri
It was a pilot project launched in 2023
It distributes Menstrual Cups instead of pads to pre-university students in select districts like Dakshina Kannada and Chamarajanagar to promote eco-friendly hygiene.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) successfully dismantled a clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing facility in Wardha, Maharashtra, during a strategic operation codenamed “Operation Hinterland Brew.”
Mephedrone
Known as – 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) or 4-methylephedrone.
It is classified as a New Psychoactive Substance (NPS)
Mephedrone is prohibited under the NDPS Act, 1985.
National Drug Control Framework
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (August 15, 2020)
National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).
Yellow Line Defining New Gaza Border
Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations
Context
The Israeli military has described the “Yellow Line”, a temporary withdrawal line agreed during Phase-1 of the 2025 U.S.-brokered ceasefire, as a “new border”.
Yellow Line
The Yellow Line is a temporary military demarcation line inside the Gaza Strip.
Territory east of the line remains under direct Israeli operational control.
Territory Controlled by Israel: More than half of Gaza (53–58%) remains under Israeli control. It includes most agricultural land and Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
Trump Threatens Tariffs on Indian Rice
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
The US President warned of new tariffs on agricultural imports, especially on rice imports from India as trade talks continue without major progress.
India’s Rice Exports
China is the largest producer of rice in the world, followed by India, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
India is the world’s largest exporter of rice, accounting for 33 percent of the world’s total rice exports during 2023.
India exports rice to 179 other countries.
Facts and Conditions
Staple Food: Rice is the primary staple food for a majority of the Indian population.
Production Leader: India is the world’s second-largest producer of rice after China and the largest exporter globally.
Climatic Conditions: It is a Kharif (monsoon) crop requiring a hot and humid climate.
Temperature: Requires high temperatures, generally above 25°C.
Rainfall: Needs high annual rainfall, typically above 100 cm (ideally 150-300 cm). It is grown with the help of irrigation in areas with less rainfall, such as Punjab and Haryana.
Soil: Thrives in fertile, clayey, or loamy soils that can retain water, common in river valleys, flood plains, deltas, and coastal plains.
Major Producing States: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab are leading producer states, with Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana known for high yields.
Blue Corner Notice
Syllabus: GS2/IR/Governance
In News
Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice to track owners of nightclubs in Goa, after a fire at the club killed 25 people.
The Goa Police had requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to seek the notice from Interpol.
INTERPOL Notices
Red Notice:To seek the location and arrest of persons wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence.
Yellow Notice: To help locate missing persons, often minors, or to help identify persons who are unable to identify themselves.
Blue Notice: To collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.
Black Notice:To seek information on unidentified bodies.
Green Notice: To provide warning about a person’s criminal activities, where the person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety.
Orange Notice: To warn of an event, a person, an object or a process representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety.
Purple Notice: To seek or provide information on modus operandi, objects, devices and concealment methods used by criminals.
INTERPOL–United Nations Security Council Special Notice: Issued for entities and individuals who are the targets of UN Security Council Sanctions Committees.
Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)
Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology
In News
The Union Minister of Communications, chaired the meeting of the apex council under the Bharat 6G Mission and reviewed the progress of the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA).
Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)
It functions as the implementation arm of the Bharat 6G Vision, which India unveiled in March 2023 to position the nation as a global leader in 6G technology by 2030.
About 6G Technology
6G represents the next frontier of wireless communication technology, succeeding 5G as the sixth generation of mobile networks.
6G will deliver peak data rates of 1 terabit per second (1 Tbps), approximately 100 times faster than 5G, which offers 10 Gbps.
6G will achieve ultra-low latency of 0.1 milliseconds (compared to 5G’s 1 millisecond).
African Penguins
Syllabus: GS3/Environment; Species In News
Context
A new study finds that excessive sardine fishing off southern Africa led to the deaths of over 60,000 African penguins between 2004 and 2011, especially around Dassen and Robben Islands.
African Penguins
Scientific name: Spheniscus demersus
Among the smallest penguin species, fast swimmers, living along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia.
Unlike Antarctic penguins, they live on sandy beaches and rocky shores, not ice.
Appearance – Have a bare pink patch above the eyes to regulate body temperature. Each penguin has a unique chest-spot pattern, like human fingerprints.
Reclassified from “Endangered” to “Critically Endangered” (IUCN, 2024).
Do You Know?
There are 18 penguin species globally — with King, emperor and rockhopper among the most familiar.
Cantonment Railway Colony heritage site tag withdrawn
News
The state government has withdrawn the biodiversity heritage tag for the 8.61-acre wooded area near the Cantonment railway station.
Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)
Definition – They are specific locations with rich, unique, and ecologically fragile ecosystems, including terrestrial, coastal, inland, or marine areas.
Notified by – These are areas notified by state governments under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
India’s first BHS was Nallur Tamarind Grove in Karnataka in 2007.
Objective – It aims to improve local livelihoods and conserve biodiversity through community participation via Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).
Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) of Karnataka
Biodiversity Heritage Site
Location
Year Accorded
Area/Details
Significance
Nallur Tamarind Grove
Bengaluru
2007
54 acres
India’s first BHS; ancient tamarind trees, rich flora and fauna
Hogrekan Shola Forest
Chikkamagaluru
Notified pre-2020
Part of shola forests, wildlife corridor
Connects Kudremukha and Bhadra Sanctuaries; diverse vegetation
University of Agricultural Sciences (GKVK)
Bengaluru
Notified pre-2020
Large green campus
Ecologically important urban biodiversity hotspot
Ambaragudda
Shivamogga
Notified pre-2020
Shola forest and grasslands
Important for endemic species and conservation
Mamadapura Reserve Forest
Vijayapura
2024
Approximately 1494 acres
Also called Shri Siddeshwara Swamiji BHS; deciduous forest with diverse flora and fauna
India is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its national song, Vande Mataram.
Historical Background
It was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in Sanskrit and first appeared in the novel Anandamath in 1882.
First sung by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Indian National Congress session gave it national exposure.
The song celebrates the motherland as an embodiment of strength, prosperity, and divinity and provided a poetic voice to India’s awakening national consciousness.
Rise of National Consciousness
During the Swadeshi Movement of 1905, Vande Mataram emerged as the anthem of civil resistance.
Vande Mataram, as a political slogan, was first used on 7 August 1905.
For many young revolutionaries facing execution, Vande Mataram became the last chant before martyrdom, turning the song into a symbol of sacrifice.
In 1907, Madam Bhikaji Cama raised the tricolour flag for the first-time outside India in Stuttgart, Berlin. The words Vande Mataram were written on the flag.
In October 1905, a Bande Mataram Sampradaya was founded in North Calcutta to promote the idea of the Motherland as a mission and a religious passion.
In 1906, an English daily titled Bande Mataram was launched under the editorship of Bipin Chandra Pal, with Aurobindo later joining as joint editor.
National Song
After independence, the Constituent Assembly deliberated on the status of Vande Mataram.
On 24 January 1950, the first two stanzas were adopted as India’s National Song.
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was one of the architects of modern Indian literature.
As a distinguished novelist, poet, and essayist, his contributions significantly influenced the development of modern Bengali prose and the articulation of an emerging Indian nationalism.
Other works: Durgeshanandini (1865), Kapalkundala (1866), and Devi Chaudhurani (1884).
Thailand-Cambodia Conflict
Syllabus: GS2/IR
In News
Recently, Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodian military targets.
Background
The conflict centers on a long-standing territorial dispute dating back to colonial-era border demarcations made by France in 1907.
At the heart of the dispute is the Preah Vihear temple, a culturally significant 11th–12th century Khmer shrine claimed by both countries.
Though the International Court of Justice affirmed Cambodian sovereignty in 1962 and again in 2013, Thailand has rejected the rulings, and the area remains heavily militarized.
UPI Recognized as World’s Largest Real-Time Payment System by IMF
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
In News
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on ‘Growing Retail Digital Payments (The Value of Interoperability)’ dated June 2025 had recognized Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as the world’s largest retail fast-payment system (FPS) by transaction volume.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
Launched by – UPI was designed and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016.
Objective – It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.
Countries with operational or planned interoperability include: Singapore (PayNow), UAE, France, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and others.
Additional Information – National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
Established in – It serves as an umbrella body for the operation of retail payments in India.
Established by – Reserve Bank of India along with the Indian Bank’s Association.
Established under – It was set up under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Products of NPCI
RuPay
National Common Mobility Card
Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM)
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
Bharat Bill Payment System
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed a high-level meeting of the Collaborative Initiative for Big Cat Conservation under the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in New Delhi.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
Headquarters – India,
Objective – It is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 95 big cat range countries with an interest in big cat conservation.
Genesis: IBCA was launched by the Prime Minister of India in 2023 during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’.
Aim:Conserving seven big cats – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
Members: Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia and Liberia have signed the Framework Agreement to formally become members of the IBCA.
C. Rajagopalachari
Syllabus: GS1/History
In News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to C. Rajagopalachari popularly known as Rajaji on his birth anniversary (10th December).
Rajagopalachari
Early Life and Education:
He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.
Completed Bachelor of Law (1899) and began practicing law in Salem.
Early political consciousness was shaped by Curzon’s Partition of Bengal (1905) and Tilak’s call for Swaraj.
Contributions to Freedom’s Struggle:
He left his legal career in 1919 and went on to play a leading role in several major movements, including the protests against the Rowlatt Act, the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Vaikom Satyagraha, and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Led the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha (1930) in the Madras region, parallel to Gandhi’s Dandi March.
After Quit India Movement, published “The Way Out”, proposing the C. R. Formula to resolve the constitutional deadlock with the Muslim League over Pakistan.
Post-Independence Contributions:
Appointed Governor of West Bengal and later became the first Indian Governor-General of India (1947–1950) after independence.
Worked to protect India’s secular fabric and integrate Muslims into the national mainstream.
Served as Union Home Minister after Sardar Patel’s death; contributed to national integration & early planning processes, including the First Five-Year Plan.
Legacy: He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954 for his contributions to politics, literature and public service.
‘Your Money, Your Right’ Movement
Syllabus: GS2/Governance/GS3/Economy
In News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate in the ‘Your Money, Your Right’ movement.
‘Your Money, Your Right’ movement
It is an initiative, launched in October 2025
It was designed to ensure citizens can reclaim their rightful assets.
It aimed at helping people recover unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, dividends and other financial assets.
Significance – It offers individuals a chance to convert forgotten financial assets into usable funds.
Do you know?
● Indian banks currently hold about ₹78,000 crore in unclaimed deposits.
● Insurance companies have nearly ₹14,000 crore lying unclaimed, mutual fund companies around ₹3,000 crore, and unclaimed dividends amount to roughly ₹9,000 crore.
Various Steps
Dedicated online portals have been created to enable easy tracking and claiming of funds:
RBI UDGAM Portal for unclaimed bank deposits
IRDAI Bima Bharosa Portal for unclaimed insurance proceeds
SEBI MITRA Portal for unclaimed mutual fund amounts; and
IEPFA Portal for unpaid dividends and unclaimed shares.
Facilitation camps have been held in 477 districts across the country, with a focus on rural and remote areas.
‘Karnataka is India’s services export powerhouse, Bengaluru is the main engine’
News –
Bengaluru emerged as the leader in India’s service exports for 2024-25, contributing $78.64 billion, nearly 35% of the country’s total services exports.
As per Vishvehsvarayya-trade-promotion-centre-( VTPC) — Karnataka’s export facilitation arm, the State contributed 41% of India’s services exports in FY2021–22, valued at $254.4 billion,
Karnataka’s economy is profoundly services-driven. The Economic Survey of Karnataka records services at 68.1% of GSVA (2024–25), with Bengaluru Urban as the single largest contributor to GSDP.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over seven technologies developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme to the three Services.
Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme
It is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Defence executed by DRDO under ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Objective – It provides grants-in-aid to Indian industries, especially MSMEs and startups, to innovate, research, design, and develop indigenous defence and dual-use technologies.
Export Promotion Mission (EPM)
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
The Government has approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) with ₹25,060 crore to boost exports, especially for MSMEs and labour-intensive sectors.
Export Promotion Mission
Launched in – Union Budget for 2025-26, the Finance Minister announced an Export Promotion Mission.
Objective – It would facilitate easy access to export credit, cross-border factoring support, and support to MSMEs to tackle non-tariff measures in overseas markets.
Duration – 2025-26 to FY 2030-31.
Two Integrated Sub-Schemes: Niryat Protsahan & Niryat Disha.
Financial Support (Niryat Protsahan)
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE): Provides 100% coverage by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC).
Additional credit facilities up to ₹20,000 crore to eligible exporters (including MSMEs).
Enables collateral-free credit, improving liquidity and competitiveness.
Non-Financial Support (Niryat Disha)
Addressing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs): Funding for compliance, certifications, and technical standards.
Market Acquisition & Branding: Assistance for international exhibitions, packaging, and branding.
Logistics Cost Reduction: Support for supply chain efficiency and trade facilitation.
Karnataka’s Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill
News –
The State Cabinet approved the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025.
Objective – to effectively curb, prevent, dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and hate crimes, which cause disharmony and hatred in society.
Key Features of the Bill
Purpose and Scope: It seeks to prevent dissemination, publication, and promotion of hate speech and hate crimes.
It aims to curb actions causing injury, disharmony, enmity, or hatred against individuals, groups, or organisations.
It is applicable to both persons and institutions.
Hate speech definition – It includes any expression which is made, published, or circulated in words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony, or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against a person alive or dead, a class or group of persons, or a community to meet any prejudicial interest.
The prejudicial interest includes religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability or tribe.
The punishment for hate crime includes imprisonment from one to seven years and a fine of ₹50,000.
The offences are cognisable, non-bailable, and triable by the Judicial Magistrate First Class.
Alignment with Central Laws: The Bill incorporates provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 for procedural uniformity.
Constitutional Provisions
Article 19(2) – It deals with the reasonable restrictions that can be placed on the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a).
Conditions under which speech can be restricted by the state: Security of the State, Public Order, Decency or Morality, Contempt of Court, Defamation, Incitement to Offense.
Steps taken address hate speech
Indian Penal Code (IPC) / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Specific sections like Section 153A, Section 295A, etc in penal codes criminalize promoting enmity between groups (religion, race, language), outraging religious feelings, or inciting public fear/disorder.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: Sec. 123(3), 123(3A): Prohibit political speech that promotes hatred or appeals to religion, caste, community during elections.
The Supreme Court, in the case of Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India (2014), acknowledged the lack of specific legislation on hate speech and recommended that the Parliament enact a comprehensive law to address this issue
In the case of Amish Devgan v. Union of India (2020) the Supreme Court of India addressed the balance between freedom of speech and expression (Article 19) and the need to restrict hate speech to maintain public order and communal harmony.
A large-scale cancellation of flights by a major Indian airline recently led the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to grant a one-time exemption from the newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Establishment: Created in 1927 as a government organisation.
Legal status – It is a statutory body which is responsible for the implementation of the Aircraft Act.
Administrative Control: Functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
Aim: To promote safe, efficient, and reliable air transport through ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) norms.
Exercise Harimau Shakti
Syllabus: GS3/ Defence
In News
India and Malaysia have commenced the 5th edition of Exercise Harimau Shakti 2025 at the Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.
Exercise Harimau Shakti
It is a bilateral military exercise between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army.
The exercise aimed at training both forces in jungle warfare, counter-insurgency operations, semi-urban combat & enabling smoother cooperation in future missions.
The Allegiance International Co. Ltd. of Taiwan will establish an India-Taiwan Industrial Park (ITIP) in Karnataka with an investment of ₹1,000 crore.
Significance of the move – this collaboration will strengthen Karnataka’s position as India’s leading destination for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing
Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)
It is a not-for-profit organization established in 2021 by the Government of Karnataka.
It serves as a “knowledge bridge” between the state government and the technology industry to accelerate digital growth and investments.
Core Objectives
Economic Impact: Aims to help Karnataka contribute $300 billion toward India’s goal of a $1 trillion digital economy by 2030.
Startup Growth: Targets the creation of 10,000 startups in regional clusters (outside Bengaluru) by 2030.
Employment: Focuses on creating 5 million skilled and semi-skilled jobs within the digital sector.
Key Focus Areas (Verticals)
Innovation & Startups: Facilitating access to capital, mentorship, and networking for early-stage companies.
Beyond Bengaluru: Decentralizing the tech industry by developing clusters in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, and Tumakuru.
Electronics Systems Design and Manufacturing (ESDM): Promoting Karnataka as a global hub for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
Talent Accelerator: Bridging the skill gap through initiatives like Future Digital Jobs and the Karnataka Skill Connect Portal.
IT/ITeS, BPM & GCC: Attracting Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and mid-sized IT firms to establish operations across the state.
India and Russia held their 23rd annual bilateral summit, marking a major milestone — 25 years of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership (2000).
Key Outcomes of the Visit
Economic Programme 2030: The Leaders welcomed the adoption of the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India – Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030 (Programme 2030).
Trade Target: timely achievement of the revised bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030.
Strategic Agreements Signed: India and Russia exchanged sixteen agreements in areas related to defence, trade, economy, healthcare, academics, culture and media.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Push: Both sides are working towards the early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
Migration Cooperation: India will soon be launching a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a 30-day Group Tourist Visa for Russian citizens.
Cooperation in Global and Multilateral Platforms: The Russian side has decided to join the International Big Cat Alliance.
70th Mahaparinirvan Diwas
Syllabus: GS1/History
In News
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on Mahaparinirvan Diwas at the Parliament complex in New Delhi.
Mahaparinirvan Diwas
Meaning – Parinirvana, regarded as one of the major principles as well as goals of Buddhism, is a Sanskrit term which means release or freedom after death.
As per the Buddhist text ‘Mahaparinibbana Sutta’, the death of Lord Buddha at the age of 80 is considered as the original Mahaparinirvan.
Observed on –6th December is observed to commemorate the unfathomable contribution to society given by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and his achievements.
Owing to Dr. B.R.Ambedkar’s status as a Buddhist leader, his death anniversary is referred to as Mahaparinirvan Diwas.
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was a social reformer, jurist, economist, author, polyglot (knowing or using several languages), orator, a scholar and thinker of comparative religions.
Birth – He was born in 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).
Brief Profile
He is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was India’s first Law Minister.
He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.
He was a well-known statesman who fought for the rights of the Dalits and other socially backward classes.
Contributions
He led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 against Hindus who were opposing the decision of the Municipal Board which had barred the untouchables from using water from the mahad tank.
In 1926, the Municipal Board of Mahad (Maharashtra) passed an order to open the tank to all communities.
He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
In 1932, Dr. Ambedkar signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhiji, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes (Communal Award).
However, the seats reserved for the depressed classes were increased from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and to 18% of the total in the Central Legislature.
His ideas before the Hilton Young Commission served as the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Election and Designation
In 1937, he was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly as a legislator (MLA).
He was appointed to the Executive Council of Viceroy as a Labour member in 1942.
In 1947, Dr. Ambedkar accepted PM Nehru’s invitation to become Minister of Law in the first Cabinet of independent India.
Shift to Buddhism
He resigned from the cabinet in 1951, over differences on the Hindu Code Bill. He converted to Buddhism in 1956.
He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour the Bharat Ratna in 1990.
Annihilation of Caste, Buddha or Karl Marx, The Untouchable: Who are They and Why They Have Become Untouchables
Buddha and His Dhamma
The Rise and Fall of Hindu Women
Organizations
Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923)
Independent Labor Party (1936)
Scheduled Castes Federation (1942)
Death
He died on 6th December 1956.
Chaitya Bhoomi is a memorial to B R Ambedkar, located in Mumbai.
Relevance of Ambedkar in Present Times
Caste-based inequality in India still persists. While Dalits have acquired a political identity through reservation and forming their own political parties, they lag behind in social (health and education) and economic dimension.
India’s Groundwater Contamination Crisis
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) highlights a disturbing rise in toxic contaminants across India’s aquifers.
India’s Groundwater Contamination Crisis
India holds 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater resources, placing enormous pressure on available water systems.
India depends on groundwater for about 85% of its rural drinking water needs and around 60% of irrigation water.
Crisis of Groundwater Contamination
India’s aquifers show simultaneous contamination with, Arsenic, Fluoride, Nitrate, Uranium, Salinity and Heavy metals.
Government Initiatives
Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019): Focuses on water conservation and groundwater recharge in water-stressed districts.
Amrit Sarovar Mission: Aims to develop and rejuvenate 75 water bodies per district.
National Aquifer Mapping Program (NAQUIM): Helps delineate and understand aquifers for sustainable management.
Atal Bhujal Yojana – It was launched to improve groundwater management in priority areas with critical and overexploited blocks.
