Delhi-NCR continues to grapple with a severe air quality crisis as a toxic haze envelops the region for the third consecutive day, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the 'Severe' category at 404. This persistent environmental emergency coincides with significant developments in forest conservation and agricultural reforms that hold crucial importance for UPSC aspirants.
Delhi's Air Pollution: A Persistent Public Health Emergency
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data reveals that Delhi's average AQI index stands at 404, only marginally better than Wednesday's reading of 418. This prolonged severe air pollution episode has raised serious concerns about public health and the effectiveness of existing mitigation measures.
Key questions emerging from this crisis include: the primary reasons for air pollution in India, measurement methodologies for air quality, government initiatives to control pollution, the role of stubble burning, and the functioning of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Supreme Court's Landmark Decision on Saranda Forests
In a significant environmental verdict, the Supreme Court has directed the Jharkhand government to declare the Saranda forests as a wildlife sanctuary and conservation reserve. The bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Vinod Chandran prohibited any mining activity within a one-kilometer radius of the forest boundary.
The court emphasized the constitutional mandate under Articles 48A and 51A(g), along with Section 26A of the Wildlife Protection Act, requiring the state to declare 31,468.25 hectares as the Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary. The ruling specifically exempted six compartments while ensuring that tribal and forest dweller rights remain protected under the Forest Rights Act.
Saranda forests, meaning 'seven hundred hills,' cover approximately 856 square kilometers in West Singhbhum district, with 816 square kilometers designated as reserved forest. This biodiversity hotspot houses elephants, four-horned antelope, sloth bears, and three crucial elephant corridors.
New Seeds Bill 2025: Stringent Measures for Agricultural Quality
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has unveiled the draft Seeds Bill, 2025, proposing mandatory registration of seed varieties and stringent penalties for violations. Once enacted, this legislation will replace the outdated Seeds Act of 1966.
The draft Bill categorizes offenses into three types: trivial, minor, and major. Major offenses include supplying spurious seeds, distributing non-registered varieties, and operating without proper registration. For these serious violations, the proposed penalties include fines up to Rs 30 lakh and imprisonment extending to three years.
This legislative update comes at a crucial time when India's seed industry has evolved significantly from the Green Revolution era, with private companies now playing a substantial role in hybrid seed development.
Economic Implications: Revocation of Quality Control Orders
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has revoked 14 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) affecting intermediate goods in the textile value chain. This decision comes as the textile sector faces stress from cancelled US export orders following the imposition of 50% tariffs.
The rolled-back QCOs include essential input materials like Terephthalic Acid, Ethylene Glycol, Polyester Industrial Yarn, and Polyester Staple Fibres. This policy adjustment follows a Niti Aayog report highlighting operational complexities caused by mandatory standards on raw materials rather than finished products.
Industry representatives anticipate further relaxations, including possible revocation of quality standards on viscose fibre and textile manufacturing machinery, to support the struggling sector.
Climate Change and Emissions Outlook
According to the Global Carbon Project study, India's carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel sources are expected to increase by just 1.4% in 2025, significantly lower than the 4% growth recorded in the previous year. India's fossil fuel-related emissions reached 3.19 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024, projected to rise to 3.22 billion tonnes this year.
Notably, the decadal growth rate of India's emissions has decreased from 6.4% during 2005-2014 to 3.6% in the current decade (2015-2024), indicating improvements in the carbon intensity of India's economy.
Security Alert: Ricin Toxin Concerns
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad recently arrested three individuals, including a doctor with a Chinese medical degree, for allegedly attempting to produce ricin toxin. This lethal chemical compound, extracted from castor beans, is listed as a Schedule 1 toxin under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Ricin functions by attaching to ribosomes in cells, stopping protein synthesis and potentially causing multi-organ failure. Its high toxicity and relative ease of production make it a significant security concern, with historical instances of criminal use including the infamous assassination of Bulgarian journalist Georgi Markov in 1978.
These interconnected developments spanning environmental conservation, agricultural reform, economic policy, and national security present comprehensive preparation material for UPSC aspirants, covering multiple dimensions of governance and current affairs.
