On the National Clean Air Programme

• The goal of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which the Indian government introduced in 2019, was to reduce the amount of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere by 20–30% by 2024 compared to 2017 levels. Later on, this was changed to 40% by 2026.

The NCAP: What is it?

• 2019 saw the introduction of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in India by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• The NCAP uses a variety of strategies to try and lower PM10 levels.

PM10: What is it?

• Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 micrometers is referred to as PM 10.
• Long-term exposure to high levels of PM 10 can cause major health issues, such as respiratory disorders, cardiovascular illness, and even early mortality. PM 10 particles can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.

Key features of NCAP

• Target: By 2024, reduce particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) concentrations by 20% to 30%; 2017 will be the base year for concentration comparisons. However, by 2026, it has been revised to 40%.
• Communities according to air quality:122 non-attainment cities have been identified nationwide using data on air quality from 2014 to 2018.
• Plans unique to a city: creation of action plans tailored to each city, which should include steps to improve the surveillance system, cut down on emissions from industry and vehicles, and raise public awareness.
• Cooperation amongst central, state, and local entities: Encouraging cooperative, multi-level, and cross-sectoral cooperation amongst pertinent central ministries, state administrations, and local organizations.
• The ideal combination of exiting policies achieving the ideal balance with the government’s current climate change activities and policies, such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and other relevant programs.
• Modifications in light of new scientific knowledge: ongoing action, development, and modification in response to new scientific and technological knowledge as it becomes available.
• Monitoring station: Expanding the nation’s monitoring station network to include remote monitoring stations, data analysis, and technological support.
• Emphasis is placed on initiatives aimed at increasing public understanding and capacity, such as training courses, research and development projects, and public awareness campaigns.

Challenges related to NCAP

• Lack of Fund Utilization: 27% of cities have spent less than 30% of their allotted budgets, with an average of only 60% of the funds granted having been used thus far. Notably, of their NCAP money, Bengaluru has used 1% and Visakhapatnam has used 0%, respectively.
• Implementation Delays: There are a number of reasons why CAAPs take longer to execute than they should, including bureaucratic roadblocks like waiting for clearances from relevant authorities or the lack of standard operating procedures.
• Technical Difficulties: Technical difficulties can cause delays in implementation. Examples of these difficulties include establishing technical standards for tendering procedures and acquiring necessary equipment, such as electric buses and mechanical sweepers.

How useful is a scientific tool?

• Emissions Inventory (EI): EIs help predict future emissions and shape focused pollution control programs by offering vital insights into regional sources of pollution and their contributions.
• Studies on Source Apportionment (SA): SA studies provide in-depth evaluations of the contributions made by different sources of pollution, even those that are far away.
• The purpose of air quality (AQ) modeling is to better comprehend the dispersion of pollutants, even those coming from far-off sources.
• The integration of EI, SA investigations, and AQ modeling facilitates a thorough comprehension of pollution sources, their respective contributions, and dispersion patterns.

Stricter oversight procedures should be put in place to guarantee prompt and effective money use. Frequent reviews and audits can assist in locating underutilization and quickly implementing corrective measures.

Q What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the government of India? (2020)

CHIPKO MOVEMENT

It is currently the 50th anniversary of the Chipko Movement, which got its start in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand at the beginning of 1973.

Context:

• Future generations of activists are continually motivated by the unwavering dedication and hard work of the Chipko Movement to protect the environment.

About CHIPKO MOVEMENT :

• The nonviolent environmental movement known as the Chipko Movement, or Chipko Andolan, had its start in 1973 in Uttarakhand, which was then a part of Uttar Pradesh.
• The Hindi origin of the name “Chipko” means “to hug.”
• Villagers embraced trees during the movement to stop loggers from down them.
• The movement’s goal was to shield Himalayan range trees from development projects and private property concerns.
• The women’s active involvement in forest preservation is what makes the Chipko Movement most memorable.
• It altered perceptions of women’s place in society and brought attention to their contribution to environmental preservation.
• Gandhian and environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna was a key figure in the Chipko Movement.
• The well-known Chipko tagline, “Ecology is permanent economy,” was created by him.

Major Achievements:

• Rights to Forests: The movement raised awareness of people’s rights to forests and showed how grassroots action may affect the formulation of public policy pertaining to shared natural resources and environment.
• commercial tree-cutting was outlawed in 1981 as a result of the movement, if the trees were cut at a slope more than 30 degrees or at a height of 1,000 meters above mean sea level (msl).

RASHTRIYA AROGYA NIDHI (RAN) SCHEME

Concerns have been expressed by the Delhi High Court regarding the low-income cutoff point for financial aid under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) programme.

Context:

• The observation made by the court emphasizes the necessity of reassessing the income level in order to guarantee people who are in need of healthcare equitable access to it.

About RASHTRIYA AROGYA NIDHI (RAN) SCHEME:

• A central sector programme called Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) aims to give underprivileged patients who make less than the poverty level financial support.
• It offers one-time financial support to low-income patients receiving treatment at any Super Specialty Government hospital or institution for life-threatening conditions such as cancer, heart illness, kidney disease, liver disease, or other conditions and living below the State or UT threshold poverty level.
• RAN provides funding for life-saving surgeries, cancer treatments, and other essential medical operations.
• For qualified patients, the aid is given as a one-time grant.

The Umbrella Scheme of RAN has three components as under:

• Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN): Provides funding to government hospitals and institutes with super specialty facilities for the treatment of life-threatening conditions pertaining to the liver, kidney, heart, and other organs; the maximum amount of funding is Rs. 15 lakhs.
• The Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) provides funding for cancer treatment at State Cancer Institutes (SCIs), Tertiary Care Cancer Centers (TCCCs), and Regional Cancer Centers (RCCs); the maximum amount of funding is Rs. 15 lakhs.
• Financial aid for underprivileged individuals with rare diseases, limited to treatment in government hospitals or institutes with super specialty facilities for specific rare diseases; maximum financial support of Rs. 20 lakhs

NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME (NSS)

In the run-up to the elections, skilled volunteers from 153 National Service Scheme (NSS) units are volunteering to change the Kozhikode district.

Context:

• These committed volunteers will offer assistance to senior persons and those with disabilities, safeguarding their well-being and enabling them to participate in the democratic process.

About NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME (NSS):

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports of the Government of India oversees the National Service Scheme (NSS), a Central Sector program.
• It seeks to give young people enrolled in various educational programs the chance to take part in a range of government-led community service initiatives.
• While pursuing their studies, NSS encourages students to actively participate in community service.
• Launched in 1969, the year of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth, NSS involved 40,000 students from 37 universities.
• Through voluntary community service, NSS encourages students’ character and personality development.

Mount Erebus

• According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, Mount Erebus, an Antarctic volcano, is spitting out about 80 grams of gold worth $6000 every day. Nevertheless, no one may claim this windfall because to the isolated location, eliminating the chance of a gold rush.

How is Gold Being formed in the Volcano?

• At Mount Erebus, an Antarctic volcano, a geological process involving the discharge of gasses from deep within the Earth is forming and ejecting gold. Tiny gold particles are present in these vapors, and as they rise to the surface, they solidify. These gas pockets ruptured during the volcano’s eruption, scattering the crystallized gold throughout the local area and beyond.

About Mount Erebus:

• The southernmost active volcano on Earth is called Mount Erebus, and it is situated on Ross Island in Antarctica. It is a conical-shaped stratovolcano with layers of tephra, volcanic ash, and hardened lava. Mount Erebus is particularly well-known for its continuous lava lake, which has been active since at least 1972 and is one of the few lava lakes in the world with such a lengthy lifespan.
• It is Antarctica’s tallest active volcano. With a sad past that includes the infamous Mount Erebus accident, where an Air New Zealand plane crashed into it, killing 257 people as a result of an optical illusion known as a “whiteout,” it stands out as the most violent.