Bannerghatta Leopard Safari, India’s Rooftop Solar (RTS) Growth, Geological Heritage of India

Report on the Status of Leopards in India released in February 2024

• The 5th cycle leopard population estimation carried out by the NTCA and WII with State Forest Departments, as part of the quadrennial “Monitoring of Tiger, Co-predators, prey and their habitat”.
• India’s leopard population is estimated at 13,874 individuals, representing a stable population.
• Madhya Pradesh houses the largest population of leopards in the country, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• IUCN categorises Leopard (Panthera Pardus) as Vulnerable in its Red List of threatened species.

• South India’s first and the country’s largest leopard safari was inaugurated at the Bannerghatta Biological Park.
• The safari area is demarcated and fenced as per Central Zoo Authority guidelines.
• Eight leopards have been released into this open forest area, which features undulating terrain, natural rocky outcrops, and semi-deciduous forest.
• The area is enclosed with a 4.5-meter-high vertical chain-link mesh and inclined MS sheets.
• Bannerghatta is home to a significant population of free-ranging leopards (Panthera pardus), and highlighting these predators is essential.
• Bannerghatta National Park:
• It is located near Bangalore in Karnataka.
• The park is renowned for its rich biodiversity, including a butterfly park (one of the first enclosed butterfly parks in India), a zoo, and a safari park, where visitors can observe animals like tigers, lions, and elephants in their natural habitats.
• Additionally, the park is home to several endangered species like Asian Elephant, Indian gaur, Tiger, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Wild dog, Wild pig, Sloth bear, Common mongoose, Pangolin etc.
• Bannerghatta National Park also supports various research initiatives and conservation programs aimed at preserving the region’s natural heritage.

Dig Deeper: Which features of the leopard allow it to flourish in almost every district of India and exist around human habitats?

Renewable Shift

• Renewable Energy Shift India has committed to sourcing nearly 500 GW of electricity from renewable energy by 2030, aiming for nearly half its projected installed capacity.
• Coal remains a mainstay of power generation, as nearly half of India’s installed power generation capacity (about 205 GW).
• However, RE accounted for 71.5% of the record 13.6 GW power generation capacity added in the January-March quarter this year.

• Prolonged exposure to coal mining pollutants has caused widespread respiratory and skin diseases among workers and residents in six Indian districts, according to a survey of 1,200 households by the National Foundation for India.
• The affected districts are Koriya and Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), Dhanbad and Ramgarh (Jharkhand), and Angul and Jajpur (Odisha).
• Key findings include:
• 65% of participants reported health issues like chronic bronchitis, asthma, eczema, dermatitis, and fungal infections.
• Dhanbad has the highest annual hospitalization expenses at ₹28,461 per household.

Dig Deeper: Read about Hasdeo Forest Area Protests over coal mines.

• India’s installed rooftop solar (RTS) capacity increased by 2.99 GW in 2023-2024, the highest growth in a year.
• As of March 2024, the total installed RTS capacity in India was 11.87 GW, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• The Roof Top Solar programme:
• India launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in January 2010.

Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

• It is a flagship initiative to fit one crore households with RTS systems and help them get up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
• An average system size of 2 kW for targeted households will result in a total RTS capacity addition of 20 GW.
• The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹75,021 crore, which includes financial assistance for consumers, incentives to companies, local bodies and model solar villages.

• In 2015, the government revised the target to 100 GW by 2022, including a 40-GW RTS component, with yearly targets for each State and Union Territory.
• In December 2022, India had an installed RTS capacity of 7.5 GW and extended the deadline for the 40-GW target to 2026.
• Potential of Rooftop Solar Programme:
• India’s overall RTS potential is approximately 796 GW. By 2030, RTS alone needs to contribute about 100 GW by 2030.
• As of March 2024, Gujarat tops with 3,456 MW RTS capacity, followed by Maharashtra, with 2,072 MW. Rajasthan’s highest RTS potential of 1,154 MW is driven by streamlined approvals and incentives.   
• Investments in training programmes like the ‘Suryamitra’ solar PV technician programme initiated in 2015 will help build a skilled workforce.

Dig Deeper: Read about the PM-KUSUM scheme.

• Multi-omics combines genomics with proteomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics to tackle diseases comprehensively.
• India’s use of genomics has transformed the diagnosis, management, and treatment of diseases like tuberculosis, cancers, and those caused by antimicrobial resistance.
• Genomic Projects:
• Genome India Project: Completed sequencing 10,000 genomes from 99 ethnic groups to develop a reference genome for low-cost diagnostics and research.
• IndiGen Project: Sequenced entire genomes of 1,008 individuals in six months to create a pilot dataset for analysing genetic diseases and developing affordable screening approaches.
• Disease-Specific Initiatives:
• The Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance Consortium aims to sequence 32,000 clinical strains, map genetic diversity, and develop a sequence-based method to determine drug resistance.
• Mission Program on Pediatric Rare Genetic Disorders (PRaGeD) is a PAN-India initiative funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for pediatric rare genetic disorders using next-generation sequencing.
• The Indian Cancer Genome Consortium and the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas project aim to identify genetic variations linked to cancer risk and treatment response, facilitating personalized treatment strategies.
• Genomics and metagenomics are used to analyse antibiotic resistance,

Dig Deeper: Role of Genomics in Vaccine Development and list major Covid vaccines developed using Genomics.

• India’s diverse landscapes, ranging from the world’s highest peaks to low-lying coastal plains, have evolved over billions of years and feature a variety of rocks, minerals, and fossils.

Geo-Heritage Fossil Park sites identified by GSI

• Narmada Dinosaur Fossil Park (Gujarat) – Site with dinosaur fossil remains.
• Kachchh Fossil Park (Gujarat) – Fossil site with marine reptile fossils.
• The Precambrian Fossil Park (Rajasthan), is renowned for 1.8-billion-year-old stromatolite fossils.
• The Gondwana Fossil Park (Madhya Pradesh) has well-preserved plant fossils from the Gondwana period.

• These geological features tell India’s origin through scientific interpretations, marking them as non-cultural heritage.
• Geo-heritage sites provide educational spaces for much-needed geological literacy.
• Significant Sites and Challenges
• The Dhala meteoritic impact crater in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, is between 1.5 to 2.5 billion years old.
• The Lonar crater in Buldhana district, Maharashtra of around 576,000 years ago, is another notable site.
• International recognition of geological heritage, such as UNESCO’s 1991 symposium.
• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has notified 34 geological monuments but lacks regulatory power.

Dig Deeper: Read about the world’s oldest known Ostrich Egg nest found in Prakasam District in Andhra Pradesh.