NEWS:TTD to step up surveillance on Tirumala trekking route to counter leopard threat

GS Paper 3 – Environment and Ecology, Conservation, Human-Wildlife Conflict

• Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) held a meeting to address rising leopard movement near footpaths and Ghat roads.
• Plans to enforce short-term and long-term mitigation through MANIMAL Plan, garbage control, and increased surveillance.
• Wildlife Institute of India and Forest Department to assist in reducing human-animal conflict.
• Alipiri footpath (2.5 km) identified as high-risk; joint patrolling and surveillance to be intensified.
• Measures to include camera traps, bio-fences, pepper sprays, and shopkeeper restrictions to create a “No Leopard Zone”.
• Multi-agency coordination involving TTD Forest, Revenue, Panchayat officials.

• Camera Traps: Automated cameras activated by motion or heat, used for wildlife monitoring without human interference.
• Bio-Fencing: The use of physical and biological barriers (like thorny bushes or chili-greased ropes) to deter animal movement into human zones.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: Interactions between humans and wildlife leading to negative outcomes such as injury, death, or economic loss.
• MANIMAL Plan: A localized wildlife management strategy integrating man and animal safety, specific to the Tirumala region.

NEWS:Energy and efficiency: India must reduce its power consumption by increasing efficiency

GS Paper 3 – Energy, Environment and Conservation, Infrastructure – Energy, Climate Change

• Despite increased electricity generation and renewable energy growth, India still faces peak power deficits—widening from 0.69% (FY20) to 5% (FY24).
• New power generation is slow and capital-intensive, particularly with fossil-fuels; hence energy efficiency is the most viable solution.
• UJALA scheme completes a decade; LED bulb prices dropped from ₹500 to ₹70, with 37 crore distributed and 407 crore sold.
• The Street Lighting National Programme installed 1.34 crore LED streetlights, saving 1,500 MW peak demand.
• $10 billion saved and 9,500 MW of avoided generation capacity (equal to 19 large coal plants).
• India’s peak power demand hit 250 GW in 2024, driven by urbanisation and rising cooling needs.
• Still, 70% of electricity comes from coal; India aims to cut 90 GW of coal-based capacity by 2032.
• Emphasis on improving energy mandates for sectors like MSMEs and buildings.

 UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All) programme.

• The initiative evolved into the world’s largest zero subsidy domestic lighting programme with more than 36.78 crore LEDs distributed across the country
• Launched in 2015 and initially labeled as the LED-based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP), it aims to promote the efficient usage of energy for all i.e., its consumption, savings and lighting.
• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a government company under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power, has been designated as the implementing agency for this programme.
• Every domestic household having a metered connection from their respective Electricity Distribution Company is eligible to get the LED bulbs under the Scheme.

NEWS:Why has the monsoon come early this year?

GS Paper 1 – Geography: Climatology, Indian Monsoon

• Southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24, a week earlier than usual; earliest onset since May 23, 2009.
• Since 1970s, data suggests systematic delay in monsoon onset by a few days.
• Early onset does not guarantee above-normal rainfall; historical data (2009) shows early onset can still result in drought.
• Current onset coincides with neutral ENSO conditions, but there are hints of El Niño development later in the year.
• Monsoon trough and low-pressure systems around Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea influence Kerala onset.
• Local factors like land-sea temperature contrast, jet stream shifts, and tropical Pacific SSTs contribute to variability.
• Early rainfall observed along west coast and northeastern states in recent weeks.

Detailed Insights:

• The science behind monsoon onset remains inexact, and predicting exact arrival is still a forecasting challenge.
• While ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) conditions heavily influence monsoon behaviour, other factors like MJO (Madden–Julian Oscillation), ITCZ shifts, and western disturbances also play roles.
• Current patterns suggest a strong pressure gradient over the Arabian Sea, favouring low-level monsoon winds toward Kerala.
• There is also a decline in pre-monsoon rainfall and warming in the Indian Ocean, both altering monsoon dynamics.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• El Niño & La Niña: Ocean-atmospheric phenomena involving Pacific Ocean SST anomalies. El Niño often weakens Indian monsoon, while La Niña strengthens it.
• Monsoon Onset: Defined by parameters like wind direction, cloud cover, pressure patterns, and rainfall thresholds over Kerala.
• Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO): A major intra-seasonal atmospheric fluctuation influencing monsoon bursts and dry spells.
• Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): An SST gradient in the Indian Ocean that can modulate monsoon strength.

NEWS:Conservation of dugongs must remain a top priority for India

GS Paper 3 – Environment and Biodiversity Conservation, Marine Ecology, Government Initiatives and Species Protection

• Dugongs (Dugong dugon), the only herbivorous marine mammal found in India, are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by IUCN and ‘Regionally Endangered’ in India.
• Dugongs inhabit shallow coastal waters—mainly Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, and Andaman-Nicobar Islands.
• Highly dependent on seagrass meadows for survival; habitat degradation is the primary threat.
• India declared its first Dugong Conservation Reserve (500 sq.km) in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, in 2022.
• Dugongs have low reproductive rates, with one calf born every 3–7 years; population growth is slow (~5% annually).
• Threats include:
  • Habitat loss due to dredging, fishing nets, tourism, land reclamation
  • Illegal hunting
  • Climate change and extreme weather affecting coastal ecosystems
• India is a signatory to the CMS Dugong MoU, reinforcing its commitment to dugong conservation.

Mains Mock Question:
India’s energy challenge is not merely one of production but of efficiency. Examine the role of schemes like UJALA in addressing this challenge and suggest measures to further reduce energy demand.