24th December 2024, ISSUE NO.

46

TABLE OF CONTENT
FEATURE ARTICLE CASE STUDY OF THE WEEK
• Climate Change, Food Security and • Namakkal’s Water Management
Climate Smart Agriculture

NEWS IN BRIEF PLACES IN NEWS

• Millets-A Super Food : India can Lead • Silkyara
the Way • Hanle
• New Rules Under the Water Act 2024 • Tenkasi
• Singalila National Park
KEY TERMS • Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary
• Astro Tourism
• Tropicalisation MCQs
• Cape and trade system
• Fortnightly Kosmos MCQ Practice
• Transitional fuels
• Fujiwhara Effect • MCQ Answer with Explanation

FEATURE ARTICLE
CLIMATE CHANGE, FOOD SECURITY AND
CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE
Why In news: According to the Global Food Policy Report , climate change may push many Indians towards
hunger by 2030 due to a decline in agricultural production and disruption in the food supply chain.
BACKGROUND:
• Global food insecurity had already been rising, due in large part to climate phenomena.
• As temperatures rise, the yields of food and cash crops in South Asia are expected to decline, putting
pressure on food security in the region.
• India, home to 1.4 billion people, is ranked 107 out of 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index, indicating
a serious problem. It is projected that a 2.5 to 4.9 degrees Celsius increase in temperature across the
country could lead to a decrease of 41%-52% in the wheat yield, and 32%-40% in rice.
• Effects on the nutritional quality of grains- an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere will
have an adverse effect on nutritional quality. A decline in the nutritional quality of grains could exacerbate
“hidden hunger”, a form of under-nutrition.
• At the same time, the way that food is often produced today is a big part of the problem. It is estimated
that the global food system is responsible for about a third of greenhouse gas emissions— second only to
the energy sector; it is the number one source of methane and biodiversity loss.
HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS DISRUPTING FOOD PRODUCTIVITY AND CAUSING
FOOD INSECURITY AROUND THE WORLD
• Climate change impact on agro-ecosystems:
• Impact on food availability (productivity):
» Direct impacts include effects caused by a modification of physical characteristics such as temperature
levels and rainfall distribution on agricultural production systems.

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

» Indirect effects are those that affect production through changes on other species such as pollinators,
pests, disease vectors and invasive species. These indirect effects can play a major role. They are
much more difficult to assess and project given the high number of interacting parameters and links,
many of which are still unknown.
» Rising global temperature will affect wheat production in all producing countries as wheat has a
relatively low optimum temperature. For tropical climate systems, extreme heat limits the length of
the growing season. For example, in India, the Indo-Gangetic Plains could become significantly heat
stressed by 2050s potentially causing losses of 50 per cent of its wheat-growing area.

• Climate change affects capture fisheries and the development of aquaculture in marine and freshwater
environments: Impacts occur as a result of both gradual atmospheric warming and associated physical
(sea and inland water surface temperature, ocean circulation, waves and storm systems) and chemical
changes (salinity content, oxygen concentration and acidification) of the aquatic environment.
» Increased occurrence of coral reef bleaching has been observed, threatening habitats of one out
of four marine species. Various fish species are already migrating pole ward, resulting in the rapid
“tropicalization” of mid- and high-
latitude systems.
» A large scale redistribution of global
marine fish catch potential is forecast,
with a decrease of up to 40 percent in
the tropics, and an increase of 30 to 70
percent in high-latitude regions.
» Climate change generates considerable
uncertainty about future water
availability in many regions: It will
affect precipitation, runoff and snow/
ice melt, with effects on hydrological
systems, water quality and water
temperature, as well as on groundwater
recharge.
» An increase in temperature will trigger
increased demand for water for evapo-
transpiration by crops and natural
vegetation and will lead to more rapid
depletion of soil moisture.

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

Case study
• India’s climate is projected to increase by 2–4°C by 2050 with some marginal changes in monsoon
rain in monsoon months and large changes in rainfall during non-monsoon months. An increase of
2°C in temperature could decrease rice yields by
• about 0.75 tonnes per hectare in the high yielding areas. Impacts on production translate into
economic and social consequences, affecting food security: Climate change affects food security in
all its dimensions: access, availability, utilization and stability.
• Climate change affects food production, and thus food availability : Climate change will impact the
livelihoods and income of small-scale food producers and also, through food price increases and volatility,
the livelihoods of poor net food buyers, restricting access to food.
» Climate change can have a variety of impacts on the quality of drinking water, which is key to the good
absorption of nutrients.
» Climate change has been found to have an impact on food safety, particularly on incidence and
prevalence of food-borne diseases.
» Increased climate variability, increased frequency and intensity of extreme events as well as slow
ongoing changes will affect the stability of food supply, access and utilization.
• Net effects of climate change on food security depend on vulnerabilities of affected systems.
» Way forward to ensure availability of food
» Climate smart agriculture: Agricultural sectors must become climate-smart to successfully tackle
current food security and climate change challenges. Agriculture, including forestry and fisheries, is
crucial for food security and rural incomes as well as other essential products, such as energy, fiber,
feed and a range of ecosystem services. Climate-smart agriculture is a pathway towards development
and food security built on three pillars:
1. Increasing productivity and incomes,
2. Enhancing resilience of livelihoods and ecosystems and
3. Reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.
Climate-smart agriculture contributes to a cross-cutting range of development goals. There are many
opportunities for capturing synergies between the pillars of climate-smart agriculture, but also many situations
where trade-offs are inevitable
• Agro-climatic planning: Switch to less-thirsty crops for dry regions. For example, rice farmers could switch
to crops that require less water such as maize or legumes.
• Invest in food processing and storage: Importing countries can develop local food processing and storage
industries to increase the shelf life and safety standards of food, as food spoilage becomes an issue under
warmer and more volatile weather conditions.
• Diversify sources of food based on emerging climatic patterns: Policies encouraging diversification should
consider similar climatic zones. Countries within the same climate and geographical region are likely to
face the same climate impacts. The concentration of imports from a particular climatic region will not
reduce the risks associated with climate change.
• The 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit called on the global community to focus on global
efforts and contributions to transform food systems. To meet the challenges of growing demand and
food insecurity, we need to improve productivity through sustainable agriculture and farmer incomes.
Digital transformation is key to driving innovation and adaptation in the agri-food sector. As well as
making commitments—at all levels, including local, state, and national—to strengthening the resilience
and sustainability of food systems, policymakers should invest in strategies and solutions to mitigate the
effects of climate change on food systems.
WHERE TO USE IT ?
Paper1 : Climatology (Global climatic change), Economic geography (World agriculture, Food and nutrition
problems; Food security)
Paper2: Agriculture, contemporary issues

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

NEWS IN BRIEF
MILLETS -A SUPER FOOD: INDIA CAN LEAD THE WAY
Why in the news : Odisha Becomes First State In Country To Release Four Landraces Of Finger Millet .

• India, the largest producer of nutri-cereals, has initiated steps to boost exports. India accounts for an
estimated share of around 41 percent of global millets production.
• India produces more than 170 lakh tonnes of millet, which is 80 per cent of Asia’s and 20 per cent of
global production.
• Millets have been reduced to “orphan crops” over the years, planted largely in marginal areas prone to
moisture stress.
• Between 2003-04 and 2021-22, India’s millet output has actually fallen from 21.32 mt to 15.92 mt.
• Not only has the consumption of millets declined, but the area under production has been replaced
with commercial crops, oilseeds, pulses and maize. This has resulted in changes in dietary patterns with
preferential consumption towards fine calorie-rich cereals.
MILLETS AS SMART-FOODS: SIGNIFICANCE AND BENEFITS:
• Health and Nutritionally Rich: Millets are nutritionally superior to wheat and rice owing to their higher
levels of protein with a more balanced amino acid profile. Similarly, the dietary fiber content of millet
is also higher compared to some of the staple cereals. Millets also contain various phytochemicals

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

which exert therapeutic properties

owing to their anti-inflammatory
and anti-oxidative properties. The
nutritionally superior traits — which
significantly address the problem of
“hidden hunger” arising from the
consumption of energy-dense but
micronutrients-deficient foods —
are present in other millets too.
• Climate Resilient: Millets are the
backbone for dry land agriculture.
They are hardy, resilient crops
that have a low carbon and water
footprint, can withstand high
temperatures, grow on poor soils
with little or no external inputs and
are thus termed as the ‘miracle
grains’ or ‘crops of the future’.
In times of climate change, they
are the most secure crops to small
farmers as they are the hardiest,
most resilient and climate adaptable
crops in harsh and drought
environments.
• Ecologically Sustainable: Millet
production is not dependent on
the use of chemical fertilizers.
These crops do not attract pests,
and a majority of the millets are
not affected by storage pests. Thus,
the use of pesticides is also not
mandated.
WHY IS INCREASING THE
CONSUMPTION AND
PRODUCTION OF MILLETS
IMPORTANT TO INDIA?
• Millets are primarily grown during the kharif season in rainfed areas as these crops require less water
and agricultural inputs than other cereals. It has great potential to generate livelihoods, increase farmers’
income and ensure food and nutritional security.
• Will help double farm incomes and encourage farm diversification is to make millet production attractive
by introducing millet cultivation in areas where farmers’ distress is visible. For instance, the cotton
dependency of Vidarbha’s farmers and economy is well-known, especially in the arid zones. The region in
Maharashtra is also known as the farmer suicide capital.
• Will help tackle distress linked to feminisation of agriculture associated with rural to urban migration of
male counterparts.
• Millet can solve Indian malnutrition problems: India still has one of the worst rates of child malnutrition
in the world. Millets, being super foods, are high in both macro-nutrients, like proteins and fats, and micro-
nutrients, like iron and calcium and can guard us against many vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Example:
inclusion of millets in Mid-day meal program.

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

INITIATIVES TAKEN BY INDIA:

• In view of the nutritional value of the millets, the Government has notified millets as Nutri-cereals in
2018.
• The Government, under the Sub Mission on National Food Security Mission (NFSM) -Nutri-cereals, is
creating awareness among farmers for Nutri Cereals (Millets) such as ragi, sorghum, bajra and small millets
through demonstration and training.
• National Millets Mission (NMM): launched in 2007 to promote the production and consumption of
millets.
• The Government is popularizing Nutri-cereals through Research & Development support.
• Price Support Scheme (PSS): Provides financial assistance to farmers for the cultivation of millets.
• The government has introduced millets in the Public Distribution System to make it accessible and
affordable to the masses.
• Union Budget 2022-23 highlighted that support would be provided for post-harvest value addition,
enhancing domestic consumption, and for branding millet products nationally and internationally.
• A major initiative was taken by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare by organizing a
‘Special Millets Lunch’ for MPs in the Parliament in 2022.
• By declaring 2023 as ‘The International Year of Millets,’ the UN General Assembly has set the tone for
increasing the area of cultivation of millet across the world. India, which is the world’s largest producer of
millet, is taking wide-ranging steps to implement the benefits of this opportunity
WHERE TO USE ?
PAPER1 (GENERAL STUDIES) : Climatology (Global climatic change), Economic geography (World
agriculture, Food and nutrition problems; Food security)
Paper2 (GENERAL STUDIES): Agriculture, contemporary issues

SOURCE:
https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-becomes-first-state-in-country-to-release-four-landraces-
of-finger-millet-ragi/

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

NEW RULES UNDER THE WATER ACT 2024

Why in news : The Union Environment Ministry notified new rules for violations of the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) (Manner of Holding Inquiry and Imposition of Penalty) Rules, 2024.

ABOUT :
• Initial Applicability: The Act initially applies to the states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the union
territories.
• Court Cognizance: Complaints can be filed by authorized officers from the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), Pollution Control Committees, and Integrated Regional
Offices of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as well as other designated individuals.
• Consent for Establishing Industries: Operating an industry without obtaining the necessary consent from
the SPCB is punishable by imprisonment for up to six years.
• Monitoring: The Act imposes penalties for tampering with monitoring devices used to assess whether
industries or treatment plants are set up appropriately. Penalties range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15 lakh.
• Penalty for Other Offences: An unspecified offence under the Act currently carries a maximum punishment
of three months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both. The Bill proposes removing imprisonment
and instead imposing a monetary penalty of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15 lakh. Failure to pay this penalty may result
in up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of twice the penalty amount.
• Appeal: Appeals against penalty orders can be made to the National Green Tribunal, which requires a 10%
deposit of the penalty amount for the appeal. The penalties collected will be directed to the Environment
Protection Fund.
• Appointment of Adjudicating Officers: The central government appoints adjudicating officers, with a
minimum rank of Joint Secretary, to determine penalties.
• Appointment of SPCB Chairmen: Under the Act, the chairman of an SPCB is nominated by the state
government. The Bill introduces the provision that the central government will specify the nomination
process and the terms and conditions of the chairman’s service.
NEW RULES UNDER THE WATER ACT 2024
• Shift from Criminal to Civil Penalties: The violations under the Water Act will no longer attract criminal
charges; instead, they will be subject to monetary penalties.
• Exemptions to ‘White’ Category Industries: Industries classified as low or non-polluting, known as “White”
industries, are exempt from requiring prior permission to operate under the Water Act.
• Empowerment of Authorities: Authorized officers from the CPCB, SPCBs, Pollution Control Committees,
and Integrated Regional Offices are empowered to file complaints to adjudicating officers for specific
violations.
• Role of Adjudicating Officer: Adjudicating officers, with a minimum rank of Joint Secretary from the
state government, are responsible for managing complaints, issuing violation notices, and overseeing the
inquiry process. To ensure efficiency, the entire inquiry process must be completed within six months of
issuing the notice.
WHERE TO USE ?
PAPER III (GENERAL STUDIES): Environment Legislations

SOURCE :
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rules-under-new-water-act-notified-how-inquiry-and-penalties-
process-will-work-9665847/
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/water-act-concerns-with-latest-changes-indicate-need-for-more-
comprehensive-water-governance

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

CASE STUDY
NAMAKKAL’ S WATER MANAGEMENT
• Tamil Nadu’s Namakkal district became one of the best district in India in terms of groundwater availability.
The district’s comprehensive approach, involving community participation, rainwater harvesting,
sustainable agriculture, efficient water management systems and robust policies, has yielded tangible
results.
• The district also focussed on creating artificial recharge structures. The district implemented widespread
rainwater harvesting systems across residential and public spaces.Rooftop collection systems, percolation
tanks and check dams were constructed to capture rainwater and replenish the groundwater table.

WHERE TO USE?
PAPER I ( GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL ) : Regional Planning
PAPER II ( GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL) : Resources

Key Terms
1. Astro Tourism: It is a type of tourism that involves visiting astronomical facilities, such as observatories,
and observing astronomical phenomena. It also combines a broader sense of ecotourism, where the
visitor experience is about interacting with nature.

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

2. Tropicalisation : It refers to the process by which temperate

ecosystems are transformed due to the movement of tropical
organisms towards higher latitudes. This transformation
occurs as a response to rising ocean temperatures. As
ocean temperatures rise, extreme winter cold events in
North America are decreasing. This leads to the poleward
expansion of tropical organisms, sometimes displacing
temperate organisms.
3. Cape and trade system: Cap and trade, also known as carbon
trading, is a market-based policy that limits emissions from a
group of emitters. It provides economic incentives to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide. Cap and
trade lets the market find the cheapest way to cut emissions.
4. Transitional fuels: A transitional fuel is a low-carbon fuel
that can replace higher-carbon fossil fuels to reduce CO2
emissions. Natural gas is an example of a transitional fuel.
5. Fujiwhara Effect : It is a natural phenomenon that occurs
when two nearby cyclones or hurricanes spin in the same
direction and interact around a common center. The effect
gives the appearance of the storms interacting in a dance-
like manner.

Places in News
1. Silkyara:
• Silkyara Bend–Barkot tunnel is a 4.531 kilometer (2.815 mile) long, two-lane, bi-directional tunnel that
will connect National Highway 134 in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. The tunnel is part of
the Char Dham all-weather accessibility project.
• Approx: Uttarkashi

2. Hanle
• It is a village in the Leh district of the Indian state of Ladakh.
• It is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, which is home to some of the world’s highest major
astronomical telescopes.
• The observatory is known for being an excellent location for visible, infrared, and submillimeter
observations.
• Approx: Leh

3. Tenkasi
• It is a town and the headquarters of the Tenkasi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
• It is known for its waterfalls and temples, and is famous for its Courtallam Falls and Kasi Viswanathar
Temple.
• It is known as the Kasi of the South, referring to the Kasiviswanathar temple.
• The temple is believed to have been built by a Pandyan King, King Arikeari Parakrama.
• Approx: Tirunelveli

4. Singalila National Park

• It is a national park in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India.

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

• The park is located on the Singalila Ridge at an elevation of over 2,300 meters above sea level.
• It was established in 1986 and is managed by the Government of India.
• The park is known for the trekking route to Sandakphu that runs through it.
• Approx: Darjeeling

5. Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary

• The Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary is India’s first sanctuary for slender lorises.
• The sanctuary is located in the Karur and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu.
• This is part of the Tamil Nadu government’s on-going efforts towards conservation of endangered and
vulnerable species in the state.
• Approx: Dindigul

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

FORTNIGHTLY KOSMOS MCQ PRACTICE

1. Which of the following releases the Global Food Policy Report?

a) World Health Organisation
b) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
c) International Food Policy Research Institute
d) Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

Answer: C
• India’s risk of hunger could rise by 23% by 2030, according to the World Food Policy Report: Climate
Change & Food Systems published recently by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
By 2030, climate change might cause India’s food output to decline by 16% and a 23% increase in
the number of people at risk of becoming hungry. According to projections, there will be 73.9 million
hungry Indians in 2030, and that figure would rise to 90.6 million if the consequences of climate
change were taken into account.

2. Consider the following statements:

1. Millets are hardy, resilient crops that have a low carbon and water footprint.
1. Millets are largely a kharif crop in India.
2. Jowar is the largest millet crop grown worldwide.
Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D
• Statement 1 is correct: Millets are the backbone for dry land agriculture. They are hardy, resilient
crops that have a low carbon and water footprint, can withstand high temperatures, grow on poor
soils with little or no external inputs and are thus termed as the ‘miracle grains’ or ‘crops of the
future’. In times of climate change, they are the most secure crops to small farmers as they are the
hardiest, most resilient and climate adaptable crops in harsh and drought environments. Sorghum
(jowar) is the largest millet crop grown worldwide. United States, China, Australia, India, Argentina,
Nigeria, and Sudan are the top jowar producers. Another important millet crop is called bajra, and
certain African nations as well as India grow a lot of it.
• Statement 2 is correct: Millets are largely a kharif crop in India.
• Statement 3 is correct: According to data from the Agricultural Ministry, three millet crops—bajra
(3.67%), jowar (2.13%), and ragi (0.48%)—accounted for nearly 7% of the nation’s gross cultivated
area in 2018–19

3. With reference to the Mammatus clouds, consider the following statements:

1. They typically form alongside big cumulonimbus clouds.
2. They are formed in equatorial region only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 Only
b) 2 Only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

Answer: A
• These are some of the most unusual and distinctive clouds formations with a series of bulges or
pouches emerging from the base of a cloud. The shape of mammatus formations can vary widely; from
the classic protruding shape, to a more elongated tube hanging from the cloud above. Mammatus
clouds are usually formed in association with large cumulonimbus clouds. Typically, turbulence within
the cumulonimbus cloud will cause mammatus to form, especially on the underside of the projecting
anvil as it rapidly descends to lower levels.

4. “Fujiwhara Effect” was seen in the news recently. It means –

a) “Cyclonic vortices ,where two nearby systems close the distance between their low-pressure
circulations.”
b) The outcome of the chaotic motion of heavenly bodies.
c) The outcome brought on by rising atmospheric methane levels.
d) The convergence of polar ocean currents close to the equator.
Answer: A
• The Fujiwhara effect, sometimes referred to as Fujiwara interaction or binary interaction, is a
phenomenon that occurs when two nearby cyclonic vortices orbit each other and close the distance
between the circulations of their corresponding low-pressure areas. The effect is named after
Sakuhei Fujiwhara, the Japanese meteorologist who initially described the effect in the 1920s. Binary
interaction of smaller circulations can cause the development of a larger cyclone, or cause two
cyclones to merge into one. Extratropical cyclones (midd and high latitude lows) typically engage
in binary interaction when within 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) of one another, while usually smaller
tropical cyclones typically interact within 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) of each other.

5. Consider the following statements:

1. The Karakoram Anomaly is the phenomena where the glacier mass in the Karakoram does not diminish.
2. It is associated with the “resurgence of Western Disturbances (WDs)” phenomenon.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 Only
b) 2 Only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
• The ‘Karakoram Anomaly’ is termed as the stability or anomalous growth of glaciers in the central
Karakoram, in contrast to the retreat of glaciers in other nearby mountainous ranges of Himalayas and
other mountainous ranges of the world. The researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education
and Research (IISER) Bhopal have taken a significant leap and attributed this phenomenon known as
the ‘Karakoram Anomaly’. They have linked the recent resurgence of western disturbances (WDs) to
this phenomenon.

6. Where is Singalila National Park located?

a) Odisha
b) Assam
c) West Bengal
d) Bihar
Answer: C
• Singalila National Park is a National park of India located in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
Singalila National Park, situated on the India-Nepal border, is one of the most exotic Himalayan forests
in India and one of the best locations to find the elusive red panda.

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24th December 2024, ISSUE NO. 46

7. Consider the following in reference to “Yaya Tso”:

1. It is first Biodiversity Heritage Site in Himachal pradesh under the Biodiversity Act.
2. It serves as nesting location for birds such the bar-headed goose, blacknecked stork, and Brahminy duck.
3. It is one of India’s top locations for black-necked stork breeding.
Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
• Yaya Tso, a lake in Ladakh renowned as the “paradise of birds. For animals and birds such the bar-
headed goose, black-necked stork, and Brahminy duck, it serves as a nesting location. It is one of
India’s top locations for black-necked stork breeding. The Chumathang Village Panchayat, Biodiversity
Management Committee, in collaboration with the Secure Himalaya Project, has designated Yaya Tso
Lake as the first Biodiversity Heritage Site in Ladakh under the Biodiversity Act.
8. Which of the following statements with respect to Ken-Betwa river Interlink project, is/are correct?
1. It is the first river interlinking project in the country.
2. The project’s objective is to move extra water from the Betwa river to the Ken River in MP.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 Only
b) 2 Only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A
• One of the first river interlinking projects to be executed in India is the Ken-Betwa link project, which
is one of the National Perspective Plan’s (NPP) objectives. This project seeks to increase potable water
supply, offer yearly irrigation for almost 10 lakh hectares throughout the states of Madhya Pradesh
and Uttar Pradesh, and produce 103 Megawatts of hydropower in the Bundelkhand region. It will join
the Ken and Betwa rivers, transfer water from the former to the latter, to irrigate agricultural tracts of
and supply drinking water to the Bundelkhand region.
9. Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary is located in:
a) Karnataka
b) Kerala
c) Andhra Pradesh
d) Tamil Nadu
Answer: D
• The first Slender Loris Sanctuary in India will be located in Tamil Nadu. It will be known as the Kadavur
Slender Loris Sanctuary and cover 11,806 hectares in the districts of Karur and Dindigul, including the
Kadavur Taluk in Karur and the Dindigul East, Vedasandur, and Natham Taluks in Dindigul.
10. Where is Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary located?
a) Haryana
b) Punjab
c) Gujarat
d) Maharashtra
Answer: A
• Asola-Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli hill range on Delhi-Haryana
border lies in Southern Delhi as well as northern parts of Faridabad and Gurugram districts of Haryana state.

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